That is one of the best illustrations of the principle of privilege that I've ever seen, unfortunately. Because my name is not perceived as "marked", I have the "privilege" of people taking me seriously on the phone. I get to not realize that that level of blatant racism is still prevalent - that people can and will actually *say* things like that. Out loud! Jesus Haploid Christ on a pogo stick! What rock did these people crawl out from under, and can we drop it on them?
I would have been happier not knowing. But I would have been happy because I was believing a lie. The idea that people have to deal with assholes like this every day makes me ill.
Knowing it's happening is the first step to stopping it. Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-29 02:19 pm (UTC)I would have been happier not knowing. But I would have been happy because I was believing a lie. The idea that people have to deal with assholes like this every day makes me ill.
Knowing it's happening is the first step to stopping it. Thank you.