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Is it wrong If I feel uncomfortable when I'm the only black person?

rrc1594

rrc1594

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,772
My Job is having a company camping trip, which I felt like was thing they only do on TV. Well I'm not going because I'll be only black person there. Other then me there is like 1 black person in my section and he is one of those types who tries not it identify themselves as a black person. I'm be only black person in the woods with like 15-20 white people. I could take my GF, but she stans for NAV and I don't know if I can trust NAV fan in life or death situation. Is something wrong with me? If it was reserved and white person felt that way, it would come off a little racist. I'm I being racist?
 

Deleted member 4034

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
26,560
I wouldn't go simply because it's camping. What is even fun about that when beds exist. I ESPECIALLY wouldn't go if I was the only black person.

Just say you don't like camping.
 
DigitalOp

DigitalOp

Member
Nov 16, 2017
9,276
Theres 2 dynamics at play.

White people can virtually go anywhere they please and not feel out of place as a minority, thats why they get ragged on when they complain about scenarios like this.

Im sure you've navigated different events where this happened to you before, and it is uncomfortable. If you think you can tolerate it, sure I say bring your girlfriend, go have fun and don't think about it too much.

Esp if you have a coworker you get along with thats going, try to tag with them

but yeah camping? couldn't be me lol, I pay rent for a reason
 

Deleted member 21709

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 28, 2017
23,310
I always wondered, what do people that go camping do to maintain their Login bonus streaks and daily challenges?
 
teruterubozu

teruterubozu

Member
Oct 28, 2017
7,857
A company camping trip? Yeeesh. I could never work for a company with over-the-top team building shit like that, regardless of any comfort issues.
 
Fat4all

Fat4all

Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot
Member
Oct 25, 2017
92,598
here
why is your company torturing its employees with a camping trip
 
Volimar

Volimar

volunteer forum janitor
Member
Oct 25, 2017
38,345
Go or not, it's your choice.
Everyone else going? Will your absence be noted?
Though you'd probably be fine and I feel like depending on where you work this might make you miss opportunities for advancement.

On the the other hand, I don't know the extent with which your co workers make you feel uncomfortable.
Unless this is a case of you feeling that way whenever you're the only black guy around.
To be fair there's plenty of historical data to back up your unease, but I imagine in this case it's mostly in your head.
 
Zvonimir Boban

Zvonimir Boban

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,523
Nah I feel weird or notice if I'm in a room or team and everybody else is white.

I also wouldn't go on a company camping trip no matter what colour everybody is though.
 
newline

newline

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
475
London, United Kingdom
I wouldn't feel weird, but that's because I grew up in a ridiculously white area so I'm used to it. I can imagine if you're not though it must be pretty uncomfortable. Would probs avoid seeing as its not exactly an environment you can switch up quickly.
 
Sai

Sai

Prophet of Truth
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
5,606
Chicago
Nope, I definitely notice when I'm the only brown person and feel similarly.
 
Fat4all

Fat4all

Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot
Member
Oct 25, 2017
92,598
here
i'm reminded of Woolie when he was discussing the movie Get Out

"seeing another black person at a party full of white people is like seeing a bonfire in Dark Souls"

or something to that effect
 
bobbychalkers

bobbychalkers

Member
Oct 26, 2017
1,603
I'm the only black person at my company in a field that doesn't have too many of us in it. Honestly I'd bail too. It feels too good to go home and take the limiters off and just be myself in all my blackness.

Also its always time for some good NAV slander.
 
The Vathlonian

The Vathlonian

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
1,690
Hell no. The energy is totally different when you're the only person of color in a group. I was the only black dude in my high school and I went on a camping trip with a friend and once we got to the mountains his dad goes "Alright get the rope boys." He thought that shit was hilarious.
 
Spinluck

Spinluck

â–˛ Legend â–˛
Avenger
Oct 26, 2017
28,430
Chicago
Absolutely not, welcome to being black.

Hopefully you have a buzz cut or are bald so they can feel safe around you. Can't have "unprofessional" hairstyles scaring people.

I only have one friend group where I'm the only black dude but I have one other Asian with me.

Besides I have an extremely diverse group of friends. But I've been where you are OP and am conscious of it all the time. Can't help it 🤷🏿‍♂️.
 

Deleted member 17210

User-requested account closure
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
11,569
It's normal to feel a bit weird if you stand out. Even as a white person in a Western country, it happens to me occasionally. I'm married to an Indian woman and have been to many events over the years being the only non-brown person there.
 
Fuzzy

Fuzzy

Completely non-threatening
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
18,127
Toronto
It's understandable if you don't want to go but you should know you're alienating yourself from your co-workers (especially if everyone else goes) and they WILL talk shit about you during the trip. I see it all the time with after work beers and the people that don't come.
 
DrewFu

DrewFu

Attempted to circumvent ban with an alt-account
Banned
Apr 19, 2018
10,360
I don't think it's unreasonable to feel slightly uncomfortable as the only person of a given race in any group. That's a completely normal feeling as a human being, regardless of your race.
 
Rosebud

Rosebud

Two Pieces
Member
Apr 16, 2018
43,507
Idk... I probably wouldn't camp with 20 straight dudes.

But tbh I would never go to the middle of the woods with people I barely know.
 
DigitalOp

DigitalOp

Member
Nov 16, 2017
9,276
The Vathlonian said:
Hell no. The energy is totally different when you're the only person of color in a group. I was the only black dude in my high school and I went on a camping trip with a friend and once we got to the mountains his dad goes "Alright get the rope boys." He thought that shit was hilarious.
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____

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,734
Miami, FL
I've been in this position for the better part of 10 years and have almost always opted out.

The instances I don't have the opportunity to opt out, people go waaaay out of their way to "accommodate/include" me by playing rap music or calling me J-dawg (my name starts with a J) and weird diet-racist shit like that. It's beyond annoying and not how I choose to spend my hard earned personal time.
 

Deleted member 3058

User requested account closure
Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,728
The Vathlonian said:
Hell no. The energy is totally different when you're the only person of color in a group. I was the only black dude in my high school and I went on a camping trip with a friend and once we got to the mountains his dad goes "Alright get the rope boys." He thought that shit was hilarious.
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DAMN.

Sorry you had to go through that. Shit like that is why you'll never find me outside of cell range.
 
nsilvias

nsilvias

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,718
it's not just you op. i feel uncomfortable whenever i go to neighborhoods that are mainly white. thats why i dislike anything to far from the city since it gets whiter the further out you go.
 

Deleted member 11413

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
22,961
The Vathlonian said:
Hell no. The energy is totally different when you're the only person of color in a group. I was the only black dude in my high school and I went on a camping trip with a friend and once we got to the mountains his dad goes "Alright get the rope boys." He thought that shit was hilarious.
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Uh....did you leave? That's fucking awful.
 
Boy Wander

Boy Wander

Alt Account
Banned
Oct 29, 2017
2,126
UK
rrc1594 said:
My Job is having a company camping trip, which I felt like was thing they only do on TV. Well I'm not going because I'll be only black person there. Other then me there is like 1 black person in my section and he is one of those types who tries not it identify themselves as a black person. I'm be only black person in the woods with like 15-20 white people. I could take my GF, but she stans for NAV and I don't know if I can trust NAV fan in life or death situation. Is something wrong with me? If it was reserved and white person felt that way, it would come off a little racist. I'm I being racist?
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How do you get along with your colleagues? Do you socialise with them at all? Do you actually want to spend time with these people regardless of what colour they are?

If you get along with them and enjoy socialising with them then go. Otherwise stay home.
 
AcridMeat

AcridMeat

Member
Oct 26, 2017
1,667
To elaborate on my post, don't feel bad.
____ said:
I've been in this position for the better part of 10 years and have almost always opted out.

The instances I don't have the opportunity to opt out, people go waaaay out of their way to "accommodate/include" me by playing rap music or calling me J-dawg (my name starts with a J) and weird diet-racist shit like that. It's beyond annoying and not how I choose to spend my hard earned personal time.
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Fucks sake that is stupid.
 

____

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,734
Miami, FL
Fuzzy said:
It's understandable if you don't want to go but you should know you're alienating yourself from your co-workers (especially if everyone else goes) and they WILL talk shit about you during the trip. I see it all the time with after work beers and the people that don't come.
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If they talk shit because you didn't show up they were talking shit way before a camping trip was on the table.

Also, (not directed at you personally, but) who cares about others talking shit? It's literally a thing humans do and other humans will never be able to stop it so why even care?
 
OP
OP
rrc1594

rrc1594

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,772
Boy Wander said:
How do you get along with your colleagues? Do you socialise with them at all? Do you actually want to spend time with these people regardless of what colour they are?

If you get along with them and enjoy socialising with them then go. Otherwise stay home.
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I get along very well with my co-works.
 
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