Was she being racist? I think so?

Question

This week, my brother14), cousin15) and I decided we would start workin out at the YMCA. We went Monday, Tuesday, then today. Thats 3 days we've gone. Today we worked out on the weights and while I was finishing a set of weights on the leg machine, my brother got on one of the bikes. I finished on my leg machine and my cousin and I stood and watched my brother on this bike. Then this older white lady who works for the YMCA comes and asks if they have been through some orientations that kids 12-15 should go through. I told her that the front desk never said anything and the other 2 days no one said anything, and the guy who also holds the same positon as her didn't say anything and he said hi to us as we walked in. She was kinda rude to. There were other kids in there to that looked under15 and I didn't see no yellow tag that they are supposed to have on them. If my brother wasn't using the machine inapropriatly, then why did she have to come and bother us? Am I wrong for my thinking?

Answer 1

No your not wrong. But dont get so worked up over people like that. That lady has a problem and its called power tripping. I think she would of bothered anyboy of any race, or color. You just happened to be the people she targeted in her quest for satisfaction of power. Whatever!! she works at the YMCA, her life probobly sucks anyway! Let it go mama.

Answer 2

Usually I just answer and then read what the others may have posted but this one had me a little puzzled. It's not a difficult question but as a black woman I know how you may have taken that as her being a racist but I didn't want to jump too quickly to that decision. For those who commented and in so many words stated that this young lady needs to get over the race thing are probably not black and need a serious reality check.
Racism is not a thing of the past and there is nothing to get over. It happens every day and you just can't understand this because you probably never had to deal with it.......

Now back to you SWEETIE....people can sometimes be ignorant and believe it or not, in many cases they may even us a justifiable explanation to be bias. With this being an older woman I am quite sure she was alive during the Black Revolution and knows nothing but what she grew up knowing. Now this doesn't make it right but even as an adult some people can not determine right from wrong but will have an insignificant excuse for it. In her case...using what her job requires her to do. I doubt very much that her job requires her to be a B*%tch or single out black children.

Have your parents go with you guys next time and have your mother speak to her supervisor. Everyone has a boss... she will have to answer to him or her and make sure that there is a complaint in writing and get a copy of it.

You see you don't have to always get angry or ignorant because someone else is being that. You can show this older woman that not only are you a young black lady, but you are more mature than she could ever fathom just by the way you handle yourself, conduct yourself and your choice or reasoning. Stick to this and you will grow up into a beautiful black woman with a good head on your shoulders.

Answer 3

She may have been racist, but I wasn't there, so I couldn't tell you. It's important to think the best of someone, before throwing the racist card at them, that happens too much in America. If I was training and a black lady said that to me, I wouldn't automatically think it was her being racist. Maybe she had seen all those kids before, and hadn't see you guys. Maybe she gave them the training, so she knew they had taken the class. Maybe you guys were using the equipment in a way that you shouldn't have. Some machines are complicated, and maybe she didn't want you to hurt yourself. Do yourself a favor, and assume racist as the last resort. It will make you happier, and you won't always wonder if your race was a factor. Stay positive, it will make for a more rewarding life.

Also, if she was racist, or treated you that way, just because you were black. This is a good opportunity to teach her something. Like you can be responsible, and follow the rules. She might have had a bad experience when she was younger that has made her this way. That is wrong of her to feel that way, but you need to be the bigger person, and help her with her ignorance.

Answer 4

I work at a YMCA in MD and I know in our health center, no kids under 16 are allowed in the weight room, and no kids under 13 in the cardio and nautilus room. Kids under those ages are not allowed in at all. Kids above those ages, but under 18 can take a youth strength training class to get clearance to work on the equipment. Here's where you likely ran into the issue...

The front desk does not automatically tell every kid going about this rule and procedure, because kids can use the pool or gym courts without these restrictions. At our Y, the guidelines are listed in our prgram guide, but we do not go over every single part of it unless asked about specific things (going over the whole thing would take about an hour). The staff in the fitness area on Mon. & Tues. may not have noticed, or may not have been doing heir job like they should have been. At our Y, we do not yellow tag people, though we have a record of all the kids who have taken the teen class.

She may not have been racist, but appeared that way because she was doing her job, while other's weren't. I run into that a lot, when people get upset because I ask them to do something that is a clear rule, but other staff do not enforce. It makes me, or her look bad, and I guess she got kinda mad that she had to do all that on her own, and may have been short or rude with you. The best thing to do is to check at the front desk, apologize for not knowing the policy, and maybe ask to speak to the director of the fitness center to express your concern about her behavior. If you do everything the rules say, and she is still rude, then there is a bigger issue for sure.

Answer 5

Yes your right, she was a racist for being rude to you.... By the way, you didn't mention your race...I guess it didn't matter... In fact - every time someone is rude to you = that is being racist (as long as the other person is white).
I'm white and when a black person is rude to me, my first thought is "this is a rude person". The thought of their race never crosses my mind.
The fact that you are "asking someone else" if it's racist or not may mean that it wasn't racism.
Does anyone know what "racism" is anymore?
People use "racism" for everything these days.
I can't believe it is already 2006 and most people still don't know what racism is. Hasn't history produced many examples of racism we can learn from?
Has anyone ever took 5 minutes to think how a Jewish person felt during the Nazi rule? Have you ever just took some time to understand how a person in Rwanda feels? Have you ever studied history and used your imagination to put yourself in another persons skin?
Not everything is racism. That lady could have slapped you and it still wouldn't have been racism. She could have even killed you and it would be hard to show it was racism.
Did she do anything UNIQUE to you BECAUSE of your race? Or was she just being rude and she would be rude to anyone regardless of race?.

Answer 6

I don't have enough information to tell you whether or not she was being racist, some people just have a nasty attitude and like to give people a hard time. I've been going to this gym for five years (I had a free membership from this apartment complex I lived at several years ago). Although I moved out of the apartment complex, I still go to the gym for free and the gym employees have never said anything. Well, I went a few days ago, and this girl working there had a snotty chip on her shoulder, she started looking up my account information and announced in front of everybody, "You know, your membership expired in 2003". What the hell was her problem? Thankfully, the manager told me not to worry about it. My point is, nasty people take a disliking to others for any number of reasons, not necessarily race, you can't please everybody.

Answer 7

honey just because someone was looking out for the safety and protection of you and your brother doesn't mean she was being racist. She was doing her job... Besides, maybe the other kids that were in there have been going there longer than 3 days and she already knew that they've been through the orientation. If a black older woman would have came and asked you the question and been equally as rude would you be asking if she was being racist? No. Aren't you however, being "racist" by assuming that she's racist just because she was white and in your opinion rude?

Answer 8

I hate to say this but she COULD have been racist, but there is also another possibility. Since you are new to the Y she may have just been honestly concerned about the safety of you and your family. The YMCA and most all other health clubs offer orientations to explain not only the rules of the club but how to safely use & clean the equipment. Talk to the staff about taking one of these orientations...and keep in mind she may not have been upset with you but at the other staff for not offering this service to you. Other than that keep your head held high and continue working out.

Answer 9

She might just be a rude person. I wouldn't read too much into it. If she acts nasty again, ask to speak to her supervisor and explain that she has been rude to you. No point in bringing color into it. Just b/c she's an older 'white' lady doesn't mean she's prejudiced. I think by you taking it to that level makes me wonder if you might be a little bit racist. Maybe she just came to you guys b/c of your age. Did you have your eyes on her the whole time? Maybe she said the same things to the other kids at another point in time or maybe they have been going there for years. You never know, don't automatically assume its a racial issue. That's not always the case. Good luck!

Answer 10

Yes....always seems in these situations people pull the race card.....its not right....maybe she was just trying to do her job and see if you guys had done the orientation....and from what you said is that she said you "should" take the orientation....you didn't say that she said if you don't take the orientation get out of the YMCA......has nothing to do with race.....AT ALL!....I really doubt the lady got that job by being racist......and I'm sure your not the first person of your race to walk into the YMCA.