“She’s 5 feet tall. Skinny. Teaches high school English. All-black high school,” said the white passenger in the front seat to the driver, also white. He was describing his son’s girlfriend, whom he had recently met.
I immediately heard this in my mind, which then led to an imaginary, broken record repeating: all-black high school. All-black high school. All-black high school.
Why did he mention that the high school where she teaches is all-black? I understand his implied point that she’s petite and teaching kids who are taller than her. But why did he mention race?
I’ve been a minority in educational, professional, social and religious settings for most of my life. But I don’t mention it. It’s not noteworthy. It is what it is. And I hate that overused statement but it’s true in this case.
I’ve noticed that many, not all, white people do this on occasion when telling a story about an encounter with someone who is not white. Why mention race if it’s not relevant to the story or punch line?
I am also curious as to why some white people whisper the word black when mentioning the race of nonwhite people when it’s irrelevant to a story or punch line?
I pointed this out to a white friend who has noticed fellow Caucasians doing this. And we are now in the habit of whispering the word “black” any time we use it in a sentence even if it’s not relating to race. Just because.
Perhaps it’s subconscious. Maybe white people are unaware of this phenomenon. I look forward to being enlightened.
Light and All Write 