this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2024
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109
What would you have done? White guy observing anti-black racism. (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Vorticity@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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I'm a white guy from a fairly non-diverse city. I was at a grocery store today where a cashier opened up their line to serve me and, I thought, the person behind me. As they were serving me, though, they put up their lane closed sign right in front of the black man behind me. The buy was just trying to purchase some tuna, bread, and peanut butter.

The cashier basically decided to serve me, a middle class white man, but refused to serve the black man behind me. I was so shocked that I didn't say anything. It is possible that I misunderstood the situation but it seemed so blatant.

What should I have done in this situation? Should I have spoken up? Would that have just been more embarrassing for the man who was being discriminated against?

Honestly, I'm still just in shock to see someone treated so poorly when they were simply trying to buy food for themselves. I recognize that means that I'm sheltered but I also feel like I should be able to use my unearned privilege to help others who are being discriminated against.

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[–] aodhsishaj@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

"Oh I'm sorry I have a few more things to get." Then buy the stuff the dude had behind you and do not break eye contact with the cashier.

If the guy behind wants to pay you back let them.

Edit: I misread the typo ~~Also Boy is considered by some as a derogatory term especially when said by a white man about a black man~~

https://readerandtext.sunygeneseoenglish.org/2019/11/07/racism-in-the-word-boy/

[–] Bread@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I assumed it was a typo for guy, not boy.

[–] aodhsishaj@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago

Could go either way to be honest and not everyone knows it could be problematic. I'll edit my response if/when the OP clarifies the typo.

I'd like to clarify I'm not calling the OP racist in any case.

[–] Vorticity@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Ah, "buy" was a typo but it wasn't meant to be "boy". I know better than that. It was meant to be "guy".