for reporting my manager

[Jillyhere]

Advice very much appreciated. I work for an educational establishment. Last month we had a training session on managing students who mis-behave. My manager who i've always suspected was a racist made the following comments "the reason ethnic minorities hang around so much after class is because they know if they return home they will be forced to work in their shops". This was not said as a joke. Indeed, there were fifteen members of staff present, including someone who originated from the West Indies. This individual was rightly upset, hence, my decision to report the manager in question. The fact that he wasn't joking disturbs me even more.

I would like to ask those far clever than me whether or not I was correct in reporting this individual. Deep down, I know this statement is wrong. However, I find myself questioning myself. I'm afraid I am new on here, butr can assure you my concerns are very much genuine. If the matter is dismissed, who can I go to?

I always find its good to try and judge each story on its individual merits where possible cashncarry. How can you possibly judge when you don't have all the facts in hand (as i don't either).

Cashncarry. Thanks for your input. As I said, I asked the question, and I got me answer. I'm of Irish descent, but I don't know anyone in my family that did tarmacing. I value what everyone has said. I think that maybe that I was right to raise my concerns. However, I feel I took the wrong route. Its important to add, that at no time did I accuse any one of being a racist. Indeed, I merely raised my concerns. In addition, given that I was in a training session, I asked if this wqas the view of one person or my employer. I very much look forward to seeing the evidence to back up this individuals claims.

Under-emotion is over-rated solesource - I can't bring myself to type lol just as I can't bring myself to abbreviate the word "you" to "ya" - it's just an extra letter fgs

I must say that I am thoroughly depressed with having the piss taken out of me for standing up for what I think is right. Smacks of playground bullying. It also goes quite against the spirit of MN I think but perhaps I don't know it as well as I thought I did.

Hey ho - such is life. Don't worry - I won't let it stop me in my hysterical PCness

Yes it would be interesting to hear his pov. Post back if you are able to.

So it's suddenly ok to make gross sweeping generalizations on the grounds ethnicity now is it?, I am really shocked that people think that that kind of comment is acceptable!
If the manager had actually knowledge to back up his statement he should have explained it.
Also look at the context, it was in a session on managing behaviour, implying that the hanging around was bad behaviour caused by the parenting of an ethnic group. That, by definition, is at best a prejudiced point of veiw!

I'm with you cashncarry - these type of idiotic generalisations and their apologists are a complete joke.

My dad had the same happen to him - he's a scientist of some repute, and yet he once had the local MP run up in the street to him going

'How's the shop doing!'

My dad, being the chap he is went - 'Superbly - thanks for asking', but it is the implied assumption that anyone of a certain background must be working in a corner shop that makes me laugh. Indeed, I've faced the same, despite working in a highly skilled job. It's might occasionally be well meaning, but I roll my eyes at it all the same.

One time a chap at work asked me if I was going out with my 'Ethnic friends' for lunch, despite knowing I don't have the slightest affinity with anything other than English culture, as I was brought up here. Infuckingfuriating.

Its a regional thing cashncarry, ya, you. But obviously not to your liking. Well you cant please everyone and i wouldn't bother to try.

Being over sensitive as you are cash is not healthy. Face up to your own experiences do not project it on others. but I guess screaming racist about naff all is less scary.

Nice one Cashncarry. The word 'Stereotype' springs to mind. To be fair if the individual in question can back the claim in question up with evidence, then I guess I owe an apology. However, why on earth would someone from France, Germany, Australia etc, be forced to work in a shop?

JillyHere - glad it's been a helpful thread for you. Certainly been an eye opener for me. at "tarmacing" though - very apt!

I should make it clear that perhaps the reaction to my comment is because I used the word racist. Yes, I do believe the comment is racist for the reasons set out in my post where I defined what I believe to be racist. That is quite different from labelling someone racist. As others have said, I don't know the man - you do and you had those sort of vibes from him.

Casual racism is one of my personal bug-bears - as if you hadn't already guessed - so I think you did a good thing and you should be proud of yourself for challenging erroneous assumptions on the basis of race wherever you find them. Did you tell your West Indian colleague what you were going to do? I wonder if he said something himself. I know I wouldn't have even if I was mortally offended - most likely because of the reactions of some of the posters on here. It's one thing defending your position on the internet to a barrage of personal comments - quite another to do it in real life.

Yes Jilly - how I would LOVE to be presented with evidence that all or even most ethnic minority parents used their children as unpaid slave labour in their shops.

I must confess to have a chuckle at Slobby's scientist Dad and his polite response to the MP but also to "meeting ethnic friends" - wtf are those??

So tomorrow I tell my manager my Sikh colleague is a racist.

I have no idea cashncarry wtf ethnic friends are! This comment came from a chap who really, really should have known better too, but yet there's still that latent thing in the back of people's minds that everyone conforms to stereotypes and probably sticks to their own - despite them having all the evidence in the world to the contrary. Drives me up the wall, but I'm learning to laugh it off and act like my Dad does

SoleSource. Why do you think your Sikh colleague is racist? Btw, racism is not acceptable in any form.

That is disgusting though slobby, and not something you should have to laugh off. What did you say to your colleagues comment?

Because he/she always asks sole if they've have chips for dinner. That's not racist, that's just because the chap is either a shit wind up merchant, thick or completely ignorant.

It's hardly in the same league as stating that an entire ethnicity forcibly puts their children to work in corner shops, but sole seems to think it is, or is attempting to make a facetious point by doing so.

I have to admit noqontrol that I was so flabbergasted by it, that I let it slide. I wouldn't report or do anything about it as we are genuinely friends. It's just that sometimes people do make really, really silly comments and it can be quite an eyeopener that attitudes/beliefs/assumptions like that still exist.

Telling me what I should deem to be racist are you?

Understood. But still a bit shite.

Have you met my Grandmother?

Yes, Slobby "facetious" is the right word for that particular question - I love that word but can never spell it! I will endeavour to be more like your Dad I think - his gentleness sounds inspiring particularly given what he must have had to overcome to attain his role. Hopefully my kids will be less "emotional" due to the fact there will be less acceptance of fuckwitted racist comments in the future

Well ... one can only hope!

Slobby you've added corner shop to the guys original comment how can you say you are judging op in a neutral manner you obviously are making assumption about what the guy meant.

I'm anti racist but deal with true racism- ignorance is not the same thing. W

Come on, I think it's patently obvious what the chap in the op meant.