Would you class this racism? Or even negative talk?

[Aragon of Odin]

Ok, so something came up at work that I had to deal with and I'd like an outside opinion on the matter.

Employee A suggests to employee B that employee C might be bleaching. Employee B tells employee C.

Employee C takes offense to this and kicks up a fuss which I have to deal with.

I'm not sure that this should matter, but both employee A + C are black(C being lighter skinned then A) and employee B is white.

Personally I think it's just because C dislikes A which is why this has become a problem. When I think about it I don't see how it could be taken even negatively, all that was suggested was that they may be bleaching.

So I looked up how common skin bleaching really is, there's 1000's of products being sold everywhere, pharmacies grocery stores etc for the purpose of bleaching.

So BG, would you in any way deem it as being a racist act to suggest a black person might be bleaching?

[thetruepandagod]

U in the middle of some light skin dark skin nigga shit, stay out. If you didn't even know bleaching was a thing you are in over your head.

[BerenTebogo]

People bleach their skin?

What the fuck.

[Ksandra]

People bleach their skin?

What the fuck.

[thetruepandagod]

People bleach their skin?

What the fuck.

Cmon bruh, this is as popular as tanning is in the states. Look at skin whitening in India, Africa, literally ANY asian country. Ya'll seriously ignorant of the light skin dark skin divide that happens right now?

[Gryffes]

It's INSANE how popular it is in asian countries.
Didn't know it was a thing in murica though.

[Andalusian girls]

i can't imagine many contexts where the comment was made benignly given how tied to identity skin color is for most black Americans. the accusation is often a kind of Uncle Tom/house slave shorthand castigating another for being ashamed of their racial identity.

but ultimately it really depends on person A's intentions eh. maybe they just like to sit around telling tales in school.

[thetruepandagod]

I literally can't see that kind of statement coming from any place other than jealousy and accusatory unless he were to walk up to person C and ask for a product rec cuz his shit lookin good and milky.

[Aragon of Odin]

U in the middle of some light skin dark skin nigga shit, stay out. If you didn't even know bleaching was a thing you are in over your head.

Kind of hard to stay out when you're the one in charge on shift.

I knew it was a thing, just didn't know how big of a thing it actually is.

[thetruepandagod]

Kind of hard to stay out when you're the one in charge on shift.

I knew it was a thing, just didn't know how big of a thing it actually is.

Well have fun then it's really just standard office cattiness in my view, but it is most definitely linked to some uncle tom racial identity like AG said.


If you want you can spend all day on tumblr and various blogs until you become an expert on colorism. By expert I mean the total opposite of course.

http://fandomsandfeminism.tumblr.com...ht-skin-person
http://www.newstatesman.com/society/...blem-dark-skin

[Zetanio]

Kick that can upstairs.

Wash your hands of it.

Call HR.

Seriously dude. Don't touch it.

[zoobernut]

Ok, so something came up at work that I had to deal with and I'd like an outside opinion on the matter.

Employee A suggests to employee B that employee C might be bleaching. Employee B tells employee C.

Employee C takes offense to this and kicks up a fuss which I have to deal with.

I'm not sure that this should matter, but both employee A + C are black(C being lighter skinned then A) and employee B is white.

Personally I think it's just because C dislikes A which is why this has become a problem. When I think about it I don't see how it could be taken even negatively, all that was suggested was that they may be bleaching.

So I looked up how common skin bleaching really is, there's 1000's of products being sold everywhere, pharmacies grocery stores etc for the purpose of bleaching.

So BG, would you in any way deem it as being a racist act to suggest a black person might be bleaching?

Having just done harassment training today at my work I would venture a guess that it really doesn't matter if it is "racist" or not what matters is if Person C perceives it as negative language that creates a hostile or uncomfortable work environment.

This shit is so subjective that as a supervisor you pretty much should take it to HR so the business and you can cover your asses. Then you create a paper trail to refer back to later. If Person C kicked up a fuss then you have to treat it as a legit concern on their part and not dismiss it because you think C dislikes A.

Short answer: Go to HR and ask for their help with the situation that is their job.

[thetruepandagod]

Get a can of house paint and color everyone that comes in green so no more problems happen.


Also have hulk themed friday parties.

[Gredival]

1. Regardless of whether or not it's racially motivated, it could be plain harassment. Get HR and get away.

2. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 recognizes discrimination based on color as a distinct and separate form of discrimination from discrimination based on race. This would include acts of discrimination between two persons of the same race and/or national origin where the animus originates in the perception that the other doesn't represent their people correctly (e.g. one black employee calls another black employee Uncle Tom). GET HR.

[Galkaeater]

fire them and hire men instead

[Jefe]

But grills get paid less; meaning the company will be able to hire more of them for less and increase profits, brah.

Anyway, when I was supervisor I directed all grievances to my title ix coordinator. Stay away from this shitshow.

[The Stig]

Negative/offensive, sure, but definitely not racist.

Turn it around, what if Employee A, who's white, says to Employee B, who's black, that he/she thinks Employee C is tanning their skin (who's white)... would that still be racist? lol

[Byrthnoth]

Eh, difference being that tanning is a way for the economically and socially dominant race to get more attractive while bleaching is a way for black people to look more like the economically and socially dominant race.

[The Stig]

Hahahaha.... fuck, I wasn't expecting that response. Tapping out!~

[thetruepandagod]

Eh, difference being that tanning is a way for the economically and socially dominant race to get more attractive while bleaching is a way for black people to look more like the economically and socially dominant race.

But bleaching is popular in countries where white skinned people aren't the dominant race. Unless you count them as the dominant race worldwide then I guess that's would be something.