"Well, I prefer to work for white men."

Recently, while having a conversation with a friend she mentions that she preferred to work for white me. She expressed that she felt that they worked the hardest and were the easiest to get a long with. At first I didn't really say anything except, "Umm...okay." After I changed the conversation to something else she eventually came back to this topic and continued to press the issue. When I finally gave in, I explained why I felt that the development of stereotypes, like the statement she had made, had the potential to be incredibly disadvantageous to women and minorities. That her statement reflected her feelings not just towards white men, but particular groups of white men and how the fragmentation helped to reinforce particular types of work cultures. Her eyes glazed over after the last bit and I again changed the conversation to Eyrka Badu's new album.

In retrospect, I guess what bothered me most about this conversation is that it was coming from a very hard working black woman. My friend bust her ass every day to earn the respect of both her co-works and colleagues and I guess I find it very hard to understand how someone who works so hard to combat stereotypes is so increasingly complicit in their re entrenchment.

In thought,
BEN