A senior associate and colleague recently transferred from our NYC office, and I must admit, I have had been intensely attracted to him for several years. Our relationship has been strictly professional. We have had dinner meetings at the Harvard club and Yale club in NYC on several occasions. Since transferring to the DC office two months ago, we have had dinner at eight different restaurants.
I had become impatient, and asked him if he had ever thought of our
relationship becoming more personal and less professional. To my surprise he informed me that although he has great respect for me professionally, and finds me attractive he doesnt date white women. I was astonished and embarrassed by his candor, and I obviously misread the signals. I wanted to know why, and every answer he provided was unacceptable. I asked the following questions:
1. Is he gay or attached to someone? He said no he is not gay, he prefers dating black women.
2. Did he find me interesting? He said yes, but he would prefer to remain friends.
3. Is he concerned about racial scrutiny? He said no.
4. Is he concerned that this might effect his career? He replied no, but he would prefer to not participate in office romance.
5. If I were black would he take the chance of on an office romance? He said yes.
6. Had he ever dated interrcially? He said yes, through his highschool years,but has only dated black women since college.
7. At the time, I was aware that he is bi-racial, in response, I said isnt your mother caucasion. He responded yes. However he further stated that his father is black and therefore he too is a black man.
8. I said you mean you are bi-racial. He politely corrected me, no a black man.
(He looks about 62, with fair skin, green eyes, waving dark hair, and crisp dialect. He hardly looks black. I assumed he was Italian until I saw his college degree on the wall in his office. I inquired as to why one of the degrees on the wall in his office was from morehouse college, and another colleague informed me of his personal and professional background.)
9. The last question I posed, if your mother is white and father is black, why are you so against being in the same type of relationship, did you have bad experiences growing up? He said that he is not apposed to others choosing an interracial relationship. As a morehouse man there is no need for him to do so.
Then he asked me to respect his preference, and he changed the subject. I was thinking to myself, what the hell does that mean? As politically incorrect as this may sound, I understand why white men would not date black women. However, I DO NOT understand how a black man would not want to date a white woman who is on the same social and professional level with similar pedigree, that he says he finds attractive. I am insulted and embarrassed. On Tuesday, I will pretend that I have not a problem with his preference but I really have problem with it. It is more than rejection. I dont understand this concept.
2006-09-19
12:25:03
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11 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
in
Singles & Dating