Why does this e-mail bother me?

[janet118]

I received this e-mail from a woman at work. She's always sending the latest joke, video, photo, cute stuff, etc. to everyone on her contact list. Usually I just look at them and then delete them. But a couple of days ago, she sent me this one:

"Do you know why it's so cold?

"Because almost every white person for 200+ years said, 'It will be a cold day in Hell, before a black man becomes President.'

"Enjoy the weather."

Why does this make me angry? Am I over-reacting?

Before and/or if I discuss this with her, I would like to have a better understanding of why it bothers me. Does it bother you? Why?

Can you help me figure out what's so irritating about it?

Thanks.

[lapfog_1]

1. I think it bothers you because it's a racist POS email.

And if she sent it from her work computer, you should save it and turn it over to human resources.

[Schema Thing]

3. It's not racist

It's a harmless joke with a lot of truth underlying the humor.

[MercutioATC]

5. You obviously haven't received the DU memo.

EVERYTHING is racist.

:eyes:

[Jax]

27. MercurtioATC....' NOTHING IS RACIST SHUT UP'

read you ENOUGH.

keep howling 10 years into the 21st Century about 'EVERYTHING is racist'.

howl away, racists do that.

Really, howl away 'EVERYTHING is racist".

Keep it up.

[MercutioATC]

33. I never claimed that "nothing was racist".

However, I don't believe that everything is racist, as some here do.

The OP is an example of something I do not find racist.

[janet118]

11. Okay - but it's not really funny . . .

And I'll bet that there is an even larger percentage of black people who never expected to see a black president in their lifetimes.

[Bitwit1234]

29. Truthfully I expected to see a black man president before

I saw a woman. People in this country are racist, we know that, but the men in this country, would blow the white house up before they let a woman be in charge. We saw how the left bloggers treated Hillary Clinton.

[proteus_lives]

20. +1

[dysfunctional press]

26. how is it racist...?

and yes, that's a serious question.

[pipi_k]

35. That's what I'd like to know too...

Oh, sure, we often get the explanation that it's "covert racism", which could include just about anything under the sun, and gives people the chance to be morally superior to anyone who doesn't, or can't, see something that's pretty much invisible to them. Sort of like someone claiming they see leprechauns everywhere, and anyone who can't see them must have something wrong with him/her.

So anyway, I'm asking the same question...what exactly is "racist" about this alleged joke...

[lapfog_1]

47. Let's see...

"Because almost every white person for 200+ years said, 'It will be a cold day in Hell, before a black man becomes President.'"

so, first assumption is that every white person so despises black people that "it'll be a cold day in hell" before a black person is elected President.

Second assumption is that Black people are somehow "different" than White people, different enough to not be worth voting for.

Both are based on race. Either the assumption that "almost all" white people are racist (clearly not true, white people VOTED for Barack Obama), or that they have a reason to be racist (blacks somehow are not capable of being President).

So, no matter how you slice and dice this, it's racist (either against white people OR against black people, depending on which way you view the material).

Let's change it a bit.

"Because almost every white person for 200+ years said, 'it will be a cold day in Hell before a black man wins the Masters, so why bother letting them join the country club'"

Almost the same joke, but the racism is a bit more obvious.

[dysfunctional press]

48. wrong.

"so, first assumption is that every white person so despises black people"

first of all- it says NOTHING about despising black people- black people would have said exactly the same thing for those same 200+ years- it's merely recognizing a political truth of the times...and recognizing that racism exists is not in itself racism.

"Second assumption is that Black people are somehow "different" than White people, different enough to not be worth voting for."

the only 'difference' recognized in it is the color of the skin- and again- calling out racism is not racist.

you need to stop trying to read things into something that just aren't there.

[Shining Jack]

46. "save it and turn it over to human resources."

Yes,absolutely ! Lets ruin her life because she sent a stupid ambiguous joke.The HS would not take any chances with this and she would get the boot.According to the OP "She's always sending the latest joke, video, photo, cute stuff, etc. to everyone...". I'm sure that she's in fact full of hatred and that her usual behavior is just a cover.:sarcasm: (Just in case).

[lapfog_1]

51. If someone is passing around such "jokes" in the office

yeah, they should be fired. They aren't hired to pass jokes around, and this one is over the line.

Will it "ruin her life"... I don't know.

And I have no idea about her motive or the state of her hatred or non-hatred.

That's not the point, it's the misuse of company resources and (probably) company time.

She wants to sit at home, on her time, and pass around all the jokes she likes from her own personal computer, even to co-workers, I have no problem with that.

[gateley]

2. It would bother me because it's blatantly racist and it's incredibly disrespectful

of the President. And that she (and others she represents) feel it's okay to make racist "jokes". People like this make me feel as though I'm suffocating.

Not that you asked, but if I received this from her, I'd just say 'please don't send me any more hateful e-mails like this, I find it offensive. Thank you."

[janet118]

8. The weird thing is I don't think she knows it's racist

She's a pretty nice lady and I'd like to explain to her, as nicely as possible, why this is disturbing to me and why she should not be sending it out to anyone. I have a feeling that unless I word my reasons clearly and succinctly, she will just shrug it off as me being too "liberal" or having no sense of humor. Just saying it's racist or hateful don't make for a teachable moment. I'm trying to figure out a diplomatic way to tell her why I found it so disturbing.

[CTyankee]

37. Why can't you just ask her nicely to elaborate on why she liked the joke?

Draw her out. But be honestly interested in her response. Let her talk. The more she explains the better you'll understand her motives. Don't assume anything.

I personally feel that this kind of "joke" demonstrates a perpetual fascination by some white people in the country with "race." It truly boggles my mind that people see our president primarily in terms of the color of his skin. I don't "get" it. But that said, it doesn't mean that those people are all hatefilled racists. It means that their thinking has not evolved to the point that transcends race. I get the feeling this lady is one of them, but I wouldn't automatically assume that their is a virulent bigotry there...

[janet118]

40. Good idea!!!

thanks

[Oregone]

9. What are its racist implications?

Just curious if you can give me a full run down


The only thing I can see is the racist generalization that almost all white people in the last 200 years were racists. But that could actually be excused as hyperbole used in a humorous context, based on historical events.

But if you replaced "almost all" (careless hyperbole) with "many", well, what are we left with now? Still offensive and racist, or just a joke?


------------


On edit: 'It will be a cold day in Hell, before a black man becomes President.'

Thats not even a statement which would signify racism when a white person says it. That could just be someone's perception of reality in the face of past events. Someone could really feel that America would not accept a black person, although they would personally. Im simply missing the racism in totality here so if you will...

[dysfunctional press]

25. it mentions white people, black people, and hell...

it's sooooo obvious. what more needs to be said?




















:sarcasm:

[pipi_k]

36. Uh, oh....

Is Hell....


segregated??????



Black Satan -----> :evilgrin:

White Satan -----> :evilgrin:





:+

[Dappleganger]

30. It's very racist

and I'd probably complain about it higher up. The workplace is no place for shite such as this.

[dysfunctional press]

45. how is it racist?

let alone "very" racist...

[Hekate]

4. If you want to give a soft answer you can point out that it perhaps inadvertently crosses the line..

... into racism, and she may not have intended to do that. It will give her an opportunity to deny she meant that and then to shape up and be more thoughtful about her spam.

Hekate

[Ozymanithrax]

6. Wait until the Christmas office give exchange and...

giver her a white pillow slip with eyehoules cut out.

[Oregone]

7. Let me check to see if that makes my outrage list

Nah, I think Coulter said something offensive tonight, so the 100th place is taken

[provis99]

10. is she equating America with Hell? That's my understanding.

That's the way the joke reads.

[janet118]

13. That's true . . . maybe I should be offended

because she badmouthed my country. :-)

[Oregone]

14. Not exactly. Its not all flowers and roses.

Unemployment is quite high. There are two wars. The economy is broken. Healthcare is fucked. It is in a "hellish" state.

Ive considered that sadly, it may only be in spite of how screwed up America was that they would consider picking a sane (and black) person over a crazy over-patriotic loon like McCain. When things are sliding off a cliff from trickle down corporatist bullshit, America looks left. When they fix it, they look to the right for their tax cuts.

Honestly, the more I think about this email, whats the big deal?

[Ganja Ninja]

38. Exactly.

America is hell with a black president. Ha Ha Racism is so funny.

[Prof Lester]

12. Well, it ain't really true..

But close to it. LOTS of white folks have felt that way and as I look around I see all kinds of 'em (ie., "teabaggers") who obviously still feel that way. But to say that almost ALL white people have felt that way is not true. I have a picture on my wall of a demonstration from when Martin went to the garbagemen's strike in Memphis.. and he went even though he was TOLD they would kill him for it.. and there on the street with Martin are a bunch of white men from the AFL-CIO with large signs saying so. I also have a picture of Dr. William Pepper.. who was Martin's lawyer and friend and who never stopped searching for the truth. He's the one showed that Martin was murdered by a conspiracy of people in the government of this country. This was proved in a court of law and decided by a jury.

Anyhow this doesn't look like racism to me. It looks like a reaction against racism. It says to me "Well, them white folks said a black man would NEVER be president.. now here one is.. so get used to it!"

[naaman fletcher]

15. Does she have an AOL email address?

I hate people who forward me endless crap. I usually have their stuff forwarded straight to trash.

[janet118]

17. Yes . . . she does n/t

[naaman fletcher]

18. How did I guess? :) /nt

[janet118]

16. Thanks for the help . . .

Maybe I'll just ignore it like I do most of her other stuff. I guess it could be taken a harmless joke. Heck, I thought it would be a cold day in Hell before we elected an inarticulate frat boy as president.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

19. It's pretty open ended

I think it could be taken a number of different ways. I really don't know if it's racist or sticking it to the racists.

[Jamastiene]

24. That is the way I read it too. It could be taken either way. n/t

[GoCubsGo]

31. Me, as well.

That was after I realized it wasn't going to turn into some stupid-ass climate change denial joke.

[ChicagoSuz219]

21. It depends...

...is it "satire"? ;-)

[MrModerate]

22. Whatever else it is, it's inappropriate use of a business' computers . . .

It's also evidence of pretty serious lack of judgement on the part of your colleague. And it's obnoxious. And racist to boot.

Let's see . . . inappropriate, ill-advised, obnoxious, racist . . . yep, that about covers it. I think those four would be plenty to irritate any sentient being.

[Art_from_Ark]

23. The joke is kind of dumb

but I wouldn't get my knickers in a knot about it.

[Confusious]

28. America is in hell because a black man is president.

Not one to call racism over every little thing, but it's rude and racist.

It's just hidden in a common joke.

[pipi_k]

32. In order to know if I should be offended by it...

I would have to know what was the intent of the person who first thought of this "joke"...which, BTW, I don't find very funny, no matter what its point is.

I don't know if it's intended to be "racist", or just, as someone said above, truthful...an attempt to be acerbically witty, perhaps.


I dunno... :shrug:

[janet118]

39. Yeah, I think that's why I find it so irritating

I couldn't quite figure out what I thought about it. If it had been funny maybe I would have been less confused. Come to think of it - none of her jokes are very funny . . .

The woman knows that I was a big supporter of Obama and Gov. Deval Patrick so maybe I was angry because I thought she was trying to say something personal about my politics. But I think I would have been bothered even if I didn't know the sender.

I'll just delete it and move on. Thanks for your help.

[pipi_k]

42. The irony of it would be

if the originator of the email was trying to be witty in a non-racist way but this woman who forwarded it to you misunderstood its real intent and was trying to get your goat...

yep...better just to delete and move on without comment...


:)

[janet118]

44. She ain't gittin' my goat . . .

thas fer dam shur. ;-)

[slackmaster]

34. The problem is that you haven't deleted it yet

Do it now.

[sinkingfeeling]

41. I don't find it racist nor offensive in any way. It a lame joke about the weather.

[gratuitous]

43. That's funny (peculiar, not ha-ha)

I'd always heard it would be a cold day in Hell before an American Vice President admitted to torturing people. Nation of laws, not men, and all that.

Anyway, if your "friend" thinks she's in Hell because it's so cold, it could be because that's where the last administration left us.

[Obamanaut]

49. I certainly don't know. Why DOES it bother you? Only you can answer. n/t

[ecstatic]

50. Maybe I've just become desensitized to BS

but it just seems like a grey area "joke." It's not funny, but I could envision whites and blacks sending out this email.