I'm going to take a moment of your time to talk about something that really annoys me. I am a 6'7", 23 year old black male who is constantly asked whether I play basketball or if I live in the "hood" among other stupid things. While I don't agree with the reasons, I understand why people ask me if I play basketball, I mean who wouldn't ask someone of my height and race. I just don't appreciate it when I tell them I don't and then it becomes some sort of interrogation which often lead to a rude retort such as you're "wasting your height". Same goes with me not being some gangster from the hood. I feel like I'm less of a person in some people's eyes because I don't fit these stereotypes and their imaginary views of what a black male my age should be. Here are a couple of conversations I've had recently dealing with both subjects. Sadly these aren't even the worst I've gotten.
Conversation 1
Co-Worker: You go to school?
Me: Yeah.
Co-Worker: Yeah? What school?
Me: CSUN, trying to get out of there. I've been there forever, haha.
Co-Worker: Where? The hood?
Me: Huh? No…CSUN…
Conversation 2
Co-Worker: You live around here?
Me: Yeah.
Co-Worker: Where you from?
Me: Van Nu-
Co-Worker: Watts?! Hahaha I'm just kidding dawg.
Me: *Nervous Laugh* Haha…
Conversation 3
Co-Worker: Damn this guy is tall. You should seriously play basketball.
Me: I was never good at it.
Co-Worker: Yeah but you're tall. You would be a sick ass basketball player or a football player. You'd be a pretty dope lineman.
Me: *shrugs*
Dude that was a totally awesome intro. This was good man :)
ReplyDeleteNice entry :)
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