- May 7, 2013
- 699
- 303
I remember years ago while I was working as a guard full-time and going to school part-time, one of my co-workers, an older brother about 5-10 years older than me told me the more education you get, the more butt you have to kiss. The guard force was about 98% black, and it was already compared to a plantation. Then as I got closer to graduation, I remember this older brother who was about my fathers age, coming in drunk one evening, and we got into a heated exchange. I know it either had something to do with me getting ready to graduate, or me going to a new career as an IT professional. I can't remember which one was ticking him off because I graduated and left that job in the same month. As a matter of fact, I began seeing the true side of several of my co-workers when I was nearing graduation, the older ones in particular. But I think this argument happened more likely because I was leaving that job. That's when you really, really begin to see weird things like this in particular, happening on your job. This older brother was relieving me that day, and I was about to get off of work. So the argument didn't last long, and we all knew he had been drinking, so everybody kept it hush-hush.
The following day, this same older brother, who had been drinking the day before came in talking trash again. He was a loud mouth senior brother, and I never seen anybody out talk him. This time when he relieved me, he blunted out, "They're still going to be prejudice like they are at this job". Instead of being defensive like I was the day before, I replied, "Thank positive, my brother". He got so mad when I said that that he almost bit his tongue, and he never did get his sentence out. He knew I was messing with him, plus he knew he started it. Plus I didn't respond with a haymaker, so he was caught off guard. The next day when he relieved me, he acted more like a senior brother. I'm not saying he wished me good luck, but he did try to act more positive. I guest somebody, perhaps a supervisor, sat him down and told him how ridiculous he looked, trying to dash the hopes of a young brother, young enough to be his son. His initial negative attitude surprised me myself, coming from a brother old enough to be my father.
Whether or not either of these two older co-workers were right, they don't need to be telling this to younger brothers, while we have so many in the streets or going to the prison system instead. So what were they telling me I should have done, just accept the plantation conditions on that job, with the low salary we were receiving there. It just irritates me when I see some of these senior brothers dashing the hopes of younger brothers, without offering any solutions for them. I was well aware of the things that these two co-worker were telling me, and the possibility that it may not be as rosey on the other side as one thinks. I wasn't all that young. Just working that job gave me a hint of how bad racism can be at any job. Plus you could see it just by going on all those job interviews.
But what's just as sad about this whole story is, both of these co-workers were right, and some. What that previous co-worker, the one about 5-10 years older, told me about the more education you get, the more butt you have to kiss, was something I didn't totally believe. But it turned out to be very true with my life experiences. As a matter of fact, I was practically punished for going to college and getting an education, and trying to get ahead, and God saved me. I'm not saying black people shouldn't get educated, but I do say we need to get educated about starting our own businesses. For those of you who been to college or know other people who have, what do you have to say about this brothers overall stance on education? I'm not asking if you thought he was wrong for telling me that, which I think he was, especially to someone who was already going, and who was already dedicated to his education. But down inside, do you think his overall stance on education was right, especially if you're black living in white America, and your education wasn't geared towards starting you own businesses.
The following day, this same older brother, who had been drinking the day before came in talking trash again. He was a loud mouth senior brother, and I never seen anybody out talk him. This time when he relieved me, he blunted out, "They're still going to be prejudice like they are at this job". Instead of being defensive like I was the day before, I replied, "Thank positive, my brother". He got so mad when I said that that he almost bit his tongue, and he never did get his sentence out. He knew I was messing with him, plus he knew he started it. Plus I didn't respond with a haymaker, so he was caught off guard. The next day when he relieved me, he acted more like a senior brother. I'm not saying he wished me good luck, but he did try to act more positive. I guest somebody, perhaps a supervisor, sat him down and told him how ridiculous he looked, trying to dash the hopes of a young brother, young enough to be his son. His initial negative attitude surprised me myself, coming from a brother old enough to be my father.
Whether or not either of these two older co-workers were right, they don't need to be telling this to younger brothers, while we have so many in the streets or going to the prison system instead. So what were they telling me I should have done, just accept the plantation conditions on that job, with the low salary we were receiving there. It just irritates me when I see some of these senior brothers dashing the hopes of younger brothers, without offering any solutions for them. I was well aware of the things that these two co-worker were telling me, and the possibility that it may not be as rosey on the other side as one thinks. I wasn't all that young. Just working that job gave me a hint of how bad racism can be at any job. Plus you could see it just by going on all those job interviews.
But what's just as sad about this whole story is, both of these co-workers were right, and some. What that previous co-worker, the one about 5-10 years older, told me about the more education you get, the more butt you have to kiss, was something I didn't totally believe. But it turned out to be very true with my life experiences. As a matter of fact, I was practically punished for going to college and getting an education, and trying to get ahead, and God saved me. I'm not saying black people shouldn't get educated, but I do say we need to get educated about starting our own businesses. For those of you who been to college or know other people who have, what do you have to say about this brothers overall stance on education? I'm not asking if you thought he was wrong for telling me that, which I think he was, especially to someone who was already going, and who was already dedicated to his education. But down inside, do you think his overall stance on education was right, especially if you're black living in white America, and your education wasn't geared towards starting you own businesses.