People have asked me whether I have ever experienced racism I always answer no. There have been instances that in hindsight may have been racially motivated, but I cannot truthfully say that anyone has done anything that could be classified as overtly prejudicial.
Any way yesterday I went to the nail shop...
Since this is the start of wedding weekend extravaganza, I had to get in there ASAP for a mani/pedi/eyebrow visit. I went to the nail shop closest to my house because it's the most convenient and there is never a wait. A little background: there is a man that works at this salon that habitually crosses the line as far as the things he says. Never anything particularly harmful but always inappropriate. Most of the time I just laugh and/or shake my head. No problem.
Well yesterday after receiving an exceptional pedicure I went to his chair for my manicure.
Fine. No problem.
As per usual nail salon etiquette he makes little small talk. As he begins my hand massage he looks at my ring and says:
"Oh it's very beautiful. very beautiful and nice! Wow"
Me: Thank you.
Here comes the convo:
"Is your husband black or white?"(mind you we've had this conversation before and he always replies "once you go black you don't go back, right?" in a salon with a lot of other white women! That's what I mean by his inappropriateness)
Me: "Black" (at this point I'm anticipating the "never go back comment", but oh no...)
"Reeeaalllllllllyyyyyy?????" he literally tilted his head and looked under the light into my face as to ensure that I was certain my husband was black and I was telling the truth.
I'm pretty sure he is.
Me: "Yes he is. What? Why are you surprised!?!"
"Ohh." pause. "Is he drug dealer?" He said it with such certainty.
In my head: WTF did he really just ask me that? Out loud? In front of all these people???
Me: "NO!!!" This time I tilted my head and looked him the face.
"Ohhh." pause. "Oh. He football playa?"
In my head: I'm about to head butt this fool!
Me: "No he works just like everyone else. He's an accountant."
"Really? Reallllyyyyy? How he know how to do that job?"
Now during this whole exchange my mind is racing a mile a minute:
Is this how the world perceives us? I should've known that I guess. Do we not have a highly educated President and First lady that are black as well? I really have no idea what to do. I need to get out of here before I say something I mean! If I would've said my husband wasn't black would his response been different? YES! I'm pissed!
I'm not generally one of those people that makes every issue a race issue but this clearly was. It saddened me that people like myself and my family members who excel and work hard in their respective careers will be seen as some sort of anomaly. I can speak for my family in saying that we were raised to work hard and do as best we can regardless of what path we took. No one is selling or doing drugs or professional athletes. We are a family of workers who contribute to society. The fact that any person, no less one working at a nail salon, would seek to minimize the strides my family and families just like mine continue to make all throughout this country, really pissed me off.
A part of me is always flattered when I can shatter people's negative perceptions, but yesterday I was just like who do you think you are?! I'm certain that it's just a small part of society that is so closed minded but that doesn't stop it from being shocking when you're confronted with it.
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 9:44PM 
