tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810802181257758585.post2657509787340315630..comments2023-10-15T00:19:53.170-07:00Comments on Diary of a Black and White Family: Adventures in Retail- The Delimma of the Black MermaidKaryn L. Folanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238726147581833093noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810802181257758585.post-90137255205792051022010-08-31T13:53:00.037-07:002010-08-31T13:53:00.037-07:00'Could I have asked "Why aren't the b...<i>'Could I have asked "Why aren't the black ones on display?" or "Do you ask non-black customers if they'd like a black mermaid?" without sounding like I'm accusing someone of racism? <b>Are those questions really accusations in disguise?</b>' </i><br /><br />They don't have to be.<br />In answer to your question "What would you have done?" I would have asked those questions in the most non-accusatory and neutral tone of voice I could muster.<br /><br />But I wouldn't have refrained from asking the questions.<br /><br />Now whether that would have been enough for the clerk, or whoever received the question (the manager, perhaps?) *not* to take it as an accusation?<br /><br />That's another question altogether, and one I'd submit is entirely "on them". <br /><br />After all, I'm sure I don't need to tell you how many people -- generally (though not always) white -- have asked for the vaunted "benefit of the doubt" after asking a question of a person of color that, even if just thoughtless instead of intentionally hurtful, was followed by the protest "But I didn't <i>intend</i> to be racist!" as a slipline for evading any racist impact of the question.<br /><br />Now, if they'd refuse *you* the same "benefit of the doubt" in asking *your* questions, even when you suspect they'd ask for that ol' benefit when asking *their* questions (with the additional benefit of their privilege!), well ...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05369413434919970036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810802181257758585.post-58562507458657538362010-07-21T21:58:45.193-07:002010-07-21T21:58:45.193-07:00-I would have said the same thing you did. You got...-I would have said the same thing you did. You got to the point<br />-I don't believe that you missed an opportunity because your presence with your husband and child opened the clerk's eyes to a different kind of family.<br />-It is a waste of time to speculate ont he reasons the black princess was locked away in the back:it could simple or complicated either way that was the reality of the situationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810802181257758585.post-10539967290597771602010-07-20T12:28:10.293-07:002010-07-20T12:28:10.293-07:00K, you know I can't really write down in a pub...K, you know I can't really write down in a public forum what I would have done and said. But know this, there are Budinskis in all races, shapes and genders. Perhaps your experience was nothing more, and nothing less than that.....but, I guess you could have said "Thanks for the info., but why do you care so much?".<br /><br />MonasaxMonasaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11175639459243770875noreply@blogger.com