Two of the interns at my work are friends who go to the same school, have been friends since freshman orientation. They have the same common (for their generation) first name and same very common last initial. One is black and one is white. They refer to each other as "Black ______" and "White ______" and encourage friends, instructors, and now us to do the same.
Well, someone took offense. I actually think it's kind of cute, and most of us have fallen into using it too, but I wondered what others thought.
2007-10-26 10:18:32 · 9 answers · asked by GreenEyedLilo 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Calling any attention to someone's race is always a touchy area. What is fine and understood within a circle of friends can often be misinterpreted by people outside that circle.
I think their arrangement is kind of cute and shows that they are totally comfortable with who they are.
However, such things are generally not a good idea in a work place. One big problem is that someone may think it is okay to call someone else Black Lilo, or Yellow Tilly while Lilo and Tilly may be very uncomfortable with that notion.
I wish it were the case that nobody was uncomfortable with race, but unfortunately, we aren't there yet.
2007-10-26 13:01:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a white person I have noticed something kind of interesting... people are afraid the say BLACK. Sort of like even saying the word tastes funny to them. BLACK is beautiful! Say it loud! At least its not "Pretty Tiffany and Ugly Tiffany"
2007-10-26 17:27:42 · answer #2 · answered by carolynmphs 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't promote it, but it wouldn't bother me. I don't like promoting differentiation based on skin color, even if it is mostly harmless.
I don't really see how someone could get offended. THEY aren't the one being referred to as "Black" or "White". I don't, however, see why you can't just call them Jennifer Smith and Jennifer Sanders. It's two words just like "Black Jennifer" and "White Jennifer".
I guess I just think it's kind of stupid in all honesty.
2007-10-26 17:31:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they don't have a problem with it then why should anyone else? They created the nicknames for their own personal use so if they're having fun with it people shouldn't care.
By the way, I think it's cute too!
2007-10-26 17:24:56 · answer #4 · answered by Tiacola Version 9.0 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If they are okay with it, then there is no reason why anyone else should matter. People blow things way out of proportion these days.
2007-10-26 17:24:00 · answer #5 · answered by quietgirl 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If they're okay with it, then no one should complain about it. It's not like they're trying to be controversial. They're just having fun.
2007-10-26 17:28:14 · answer #6 · answered by fuzz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think, as long as they are fine with it, I don't see a problem.
)o( Blessed Be!
2007-10-26 18:14:54 · answer #7 · answered by whillow95 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't see anything wrong with it, if that's what they want to do.
2007-10-26 17:40:41 · answer #8 · answered by shermynewstart 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sure, why not.
2007-10-26 18:39:52 · answer #9 · answered by Ranz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋