Is it right to expect people of your "race" to give you special treatment?

Question

just because you are from the same "race".?

Example- I expect you to do business with me just because we are both of the same race


I get appraoched by folks that expect me to "hook them up" (referals,contacts,etc)
just because we are of the same race.

And when I respond different from what they expected they look at me with disappointment.

How do I know they expect the "hook up",because they will start to talk about other races of folks in a negitive way as if it is "us against them". I am truley amazed at folks narrow minded ways of doing things.

I only focus on GREEN when it comes to business is always my response.

7 of 9-thanks for responding but,you lost me.............it sounds like more of a rant than anything.........read the other 18 or so posts, these will guide on how to answer a question

Answer 1

No, of course it's not right. I think this is more common in situations where the people who share a race also share a feeling of either victimhood or of being "in the same boat" as far as their relationship to the rest of the world. Shared experiences are a basis for cammeraderie and commiseration.

Imagine finding someone who grew up in your home town after moving half-way across the country. You automatically have a geographical interest in that person, because you know many of the same people and experienced many of the same things. That is going to make that person at least somewhat special to you.

While race used to be a source of much vicitimization, I don't think that is such a factor any more, particularly in less backwards parts of the country. I see black people being treated as equals by white people, indians and hispanics being treated with respect--a lot has changed. If people live in an area where a lot of racism results in real discrimination, then the feeling of "brotherhood" with other members of that race are going to be a greater factor.

Answer 2

Tradition is as part of a person as his or her family herself. I think it's only natural to expect at least a sense of camaraderie upon meeting with someone of our own cultural background.
Race is a broad term used differently by different people, even if referred to the same people. What is black to you, could be a puerto rican to someone else and at the end it might have been cuban. Race is a social construct, not biologically defined.
In any case, your response is the most appropriate. Nobody should expect special treatment from anybody. I suspect they might be playing the racial card either because they are racist themselves or because they really have nothing else to pull on you.
Business is business.

Answer 3

I think it is like that in a lot of different races because they feel that you are the same types of people so you have to hook them up. But I agree with you, it's all about the green paper.
I have seen this happen with hispanics.. If you speak spanish they will hook you up however, any other race especially black people they will turn them down.

Answer 4

Some christian business men say that they won't higher christians because they expect to get special treatment from their employee because both are christians..IE, the employee comes in late and the boss is suppose to look the other way.
I was in a unit full of black people and I..being white, was actually the minority, I had one or two white SGT's and you bet I exoected them to give me special treatment because I was white and a single parent, but all us white people (specialist and E-4 and below) were the only ones doing the work, so the white SGT wasn't going to give me a brake from being a taxi service and taking soldiers to and fro. What was worse, I was afraid to file an EO or IG (I could go to this agency and file a complaint and they would do an investigation to see if discrimination was happening) complaint and come back and have them work me harder.
Later when I got out of the army and my husband who was still in the Army took me to the BN picnic, I saw one of the SGT's who had me doing push-ups one day for saying no to her for taking my car to the motorpool again, I finally said "and take my car were, to what motorpool, I think not." what was she going to do, go run to the 1SGT and cry.

Answer 5

I agree with you, it is very narrow minded of people to expect you to do them favors b/c you are the same race. I wasn't expecting the last sentence in your question though. I would hope that you focus on maintaining your professionalism when conducting business, but focusing on money doesn't hurt either. =)

Answer 6

this reminds me of this incident in high school where a black student demanded that his black peer give him one of the chocolate bars he was selling as a fund raiser. the one demanding the candy bar had a tone coming from him as if the guy selling had an obligation to give him a free candy bar because they were of the same race.

personally, I never had someone come up to me and demanded that I give him special treatment because we are of the same race. it's pretty hard that I give someone special treatment when most of those contending in life is the same race as me. I never received special treatment in life because of my race. actually, I was scolded, pushed, and mentored evenly, just like any of my peers.

Answer 7

No, race has nothing to do with doing what's right. You only "hook" someone up if you want to bless them, (legally of course), not because they are the same race, that's prejudice. Don't worry about what people think of you because you don't do what they think you should do, they'll get over it, and if they don't, you're better off without them.

Answer 8

Of course not. Giving special treatment to someone because they are the same race is racist. It's also racist to expect special treatment due to the color of your skin. Thank you for being open minded. Just tell them what you've told us.

Answer 9

its all complete ignorance on their part. I dont expect any white man to give me special treatment...but I'm sure they would, not because I'm white, but because I have boobs!

haha, but seriously, racism exists and i looks as if its not going away anytime soon. So the best thing you can do is ignore it and focus on the green :D

Answer 10

I've never consciously experienced this with people of my own race (a fact which I find rather sad, to be honest), but I have seen it in others and joked about it occasionally.

It doesn't bother me.