Do most black people think everything is a black-white issue?

Question

I had a situation arise today while trying to go over employee issues with my employee. I'm white and she is black. No big deal, right?

After going over some things that needed to change in her job description, she got very defensive and the conference started to go downhill from then on. When I tried to point out the issue of the amount of time she had taken off for funerals (6 days), she got defensive and said, "I don't know how you people do it, but we do it differently?" I was sort of stunned.

I asked her, "Do you mean 'you people' as in white? She said, Yes, I mean white people. Us black people do it differently.

I then followed up and said this wasn't about a black-white issue. It was about an employer/employee issue.

Why is it when I tried pointing out the issue she had to bring in race as part of the problem?

It was so out-of-left field that it really bewildered me. I wasn't even thinking about things in that way, but yet it ended up that way. Duh

I did end up firing her because she kept raising her voice to me and wouldn't let me talk without interrupting. Besides I'm 8 months PG and my nerves were shot. Insubordination was the word I was looking for. Thanks.

BTW, I don't really think all black people are like her. I just wanted some input. Also, I have another black employee and went over the same changes and she was so understanding and respectful.

Answer 1

I don't think they do. Most are honest hard working people.
It sounds like your employee was just one of those that likes to push to try and intimidate and control. They come in all colors.
Some uneducated people, just have no idea of how the employee/ employer relationship should work. They lack the
ability to show proper respect. They should lose their jobs.

Answer 2

As a HR director myself, I cannot even tell you how many times that the race card has came up. I am black. It has come up with white employees, and other races also.Was she right, no. If that were me, she would have recieved disciplinary action for insorbortination. I would have in the least gave her a verbal warning. Now funerals is so.. . Be careful. Many ethnic groups see funerals as a entire religious ceremony that lasts for days. If that is the case, reprimanding her for it can stir up an whole can of worms. People have told me that I was unfair to whites, Indians, and even men. When someone is getting reprimanded they reach at anything possible. After this situation is dealt with, you need to have a conversation with her.If she truelly feels that she is treated differently due to race, you need to deal with that IMMEDIATELY!! You also need to make sure that no similiar feelings are going through the workplace. I would almost stake my career that there has been water cooler talk about the racist boss. This is a serious issue. Firing her is not the best route at this point. She will use it! She can cause real grief. If you have to fire her, make sure that every t is crossed and i is dotted.

I will share a story, then I will shut up(smile) A friend that is also in HR terminated an employee for very good reason. Constant call outs, no call and no shows. In a previous conversation the employee stated that they felt that they were treated differently due to thiier sexual orientation. It was ignored. Other employees were sympathetic to the employee. After the employee was terminated, he filed suit. Due to affadavits by other employees, a settlement was awarded and it was not a small one. So deal with it carefully. Good luck. If you would like to discuss this further ([e-mail])

I apologize for any misspelled words, I typed this in a hurry

Answer 3

You're only online seeking answers because you feel guilty. I say guilt has you. But, since I don't know you or her, I can't really give you a strong opinion on this question.

Unfortunately, somethings are black and white.

For example, if my co workers wanted to go to a bar, and chose to hang out at a bar fill with surfers, sorry, I can't relate. I'll end up leaving within 30 minutes max.

I don't think it's racist to see the world in black and white.

Some Black people believe that we are all different, therefore we have to acknowledge the differences and respect each other.

White people think we are all the same, and there should be no boundaries on any circumstances.

I believe differences are good.

Answer 4

@ martini, Yeah America is so racist that more blacks have immigrated freely to America than slaves who were shipped here. More black millionaires here than all Africa combined. immigrants willfully and illegally trying to get inn of all backgrounds. this nation is the worst.....except for all the others, on balance. But being on balnce isn't what utopian perfectionist leftists are about. Obama failing = American values and liberty SUCCEEDING. His big government solutions, though they may be implemented, are not viable, which means don't work. What's the value of your Solyndra stock? Riiiiight!

Answer 5

Black folks down south spend days burying their dead. Every kin folk imaginable comes home for the funeral from all over the country. So, she's right about Black folks doing it differently and longer. It's considered very rude to not invite the entire distant family to a southern Black funeral and you don't want that kind of reputation in the southern Black family. It reminds me of the old days and all of us could use some of that kind of family respect again in our modern culture.

When I am driving down the road and see a funeral procession coming at me, I pull over out of respect for the family Black or White. I don't leave till the last car with the headlights on passes by me.

When my dad died around 4:AM, he was buried by 1:PM on the same day, but that's White folks for you.

Answer 6

She is totally lying. She's just trying to make excuses for her taking so much time off. I'm black and we don't take 6 days off for a funeral. Well if it were a close family member like a mom, dad, sister, or brother that died I'd take a few days off. I'm sure that'd be understandable. But I think she was just using the funeral excuse so she could take time off work. I'd let her go!

Answer 7

IMHO if people are wrong and know they are wrong they will grasp at anything to make themselve look better. They play the race card. A rule is a rule is a rule. It pertains to all employees.
You did and said the right things. This person needs a serious attitude adjustment.

Answer 8

She was pulling the race card because she was getting reprimanded. I don't believe that all black people do this. She should have realized you weren't making a black white issue, that you are her boss and have the right to question her days off.

Answer 9

Well your going to have good white people and good black people. Your going to have bad white people and bad black people as well. But that's the some people are at times, not all may be like that. Might want to consider what she might be going through being unemployed, and other things that might be going on in her life.

Answer 10

Yeah it's quite obvious you're not racist but [some] black people do pull the race card over anything and this happens to be one of the times where it was pulled for no reason. Don't even worry about it.