To think that you can't just excuse casual racism by saying that someone didn't mean it, is very young or was just joking?

[DrSeuss]

I pointed out to my line manager that the casual racism of two colleagues over lunch made me very uncomfortable. Among other gems, we were treated to the tale of a trip to a Chinese restaurant which employed Chinese staff( no shit? Really?!). And the first encounter of the niece of one of them with a person of Afro Carribean descent. She said they were just young, didn't mean it and we're often like that. I said that was bullshit, that 24 is not that young and that it didn't matter if they meant it or not, they still propagated this crap and I had had to listen while I ate. She spoke to their line manager, who also claimed that they didn't mean it but promised to speak to them. I also pointed out that we work with kids and would be obliged to report a kid saying what they had said. If it happens again, I plan to stand up, leave the table and say that I would prefer to eat elsewhere as I don't feel comfortable around such talk. Too much? Not enough?

I also pointed out that we work with kids and would be obliged to report a kid saying what they had said

If the conversation was such that you would have reported it if it came from a child, you should not have to put up with it from a colleague.

I went out with colleagues and we were all telling our favourite joke. My colleague told a racist joke and everyone giggled nervously but I stayed stony faced and when she asked why I didn't think it was funny I said I found it offensive and we left it at that.

her excuse was that she had spent a lot of time in australia and racism is far more acceptable over there!

'I didn't mean it!'
'So why did you say it then?'