I'm supposed to be getting work done right now, but I have something on my mind that I need to get out.
I went to the hot tub tonight with two of my best friends. We were put in a situation to where we had to share the hot tub with another group of people. My friends are both white, the other group two blacks and a Hispanic. Well, you can just sit such a small space with strangers and not converse with one another. One of the black guys poked fun at the white people and brought up random stereotypes about white people. I could tell my friends were getting defensive. I smiled.
Later, I was alone with one of my friends, and he was upset and said, "Those people were so racist. I can't believe they had the nerve to say those things[...]" I smiled again, looked him straight in the eyes, and said, "I loved it. They were making fun of you two, and it was refreshing because the majority of the time I'm the one who is put into those kinds of situations, especially here in College Station." We talked about it for a little bit, and it ended with an apology from him. "I'm sorry if I ever have put you in the situation where you're uncomfortable or frustrated like that." I responded, "Don't apologize. I just want you to be aware. I let stuff like that roll of my shoulders."
Clearly, there are more whites residing in College Station than blacks, and coming from a private, Christian school equated to the same thing. I have always expected to have a majority of white friends, classmates, and professors. Along with that, I also have always expected to be put in a lot of somewhat uncomfortable situations that I will just have to let go. I have heard my friends use the n-word (not directed at anyone in particular) or make a joke about black people or comment about a place being "ghetto" or "scary" because there are a lot of black people. Most of the time it's something I can easily blow off, but when I'm around people who I don't know or do it consistently, yes, I do get offended but I move on from it. If I got mad every time someone said something a little "off" about me or my skin color, I would not be friends with the people who have gone out of their way to help me when I needed them. Some of them are even the same race as me! Hell, I pick on my friends.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that jokes are meant to be funny. We all make jokes and unless you would like to stop making jokes yourself, don't get too upset when the jokes on you. It's not worth it to dwell on something as intangible as words. There are much more important things to worry about. Learn to pick your battles.
I agree with what you say. It is all about accepting things about yourself and others. I am guilty of making jokes, and then getting offended by others who makes jokes not about race, but about other things that affect me. I can see your point. I still make jokes, but they aren't from any cruel stance on black people nor were they ever...in fact, I think I make fun of the Jews more. So I don't think you have to worry about hanging out with me. :-)
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