Am I over thinking this or would you feel isolated too?

[Badmumaward]

I work in a corporate role team of 30 people. I’m the only black person in the team (which already makes me think things) I do feel like the diversity hire sometimes.

We have a teams chat for us advisors to ask questions between eachother. Someone may ask a question and I will respond with some advice I never get a thank you. I finished work early the other week I asked for someone to cover the inbox as I just had my wisdom teeth removed and a root canal. No one offered to cover the inbox nor did anyone check if I was ok.
Today I asked for someone to book a room for me as our booking system never lets me book a certain room. (something we always do) no one responded carried on with there chit chat.

No one from our team actually talks to me apart from my manager who checks in on me now and again.

AIBU please be honest? I don’t know if it’s just me jumping to conclusions.

What happens with other staff members if they do the same thing? What are your relationships like with other staff members in general?

I have worked in teams where people were just very adverse to helping each other, never a thank you, any requests for cover etc get ignored, by everyone, but obviously that is different to if that is not the norm and only applies to you.

Eugh. This is the worst. In my old job I was also in one chat like this (thankfully not my core team, but a project I was on). Very bitchy people in general to be fair. For me it wasn't related to skin colour but more background/personality ~ the others were friends, went out drinking after work etc. Obviously their prerogative but I tried to connect and chat and was stonewalled every time 😂 I left the project in the end.

Even setting likely Racism aside, it sounds like a horrible place to work.

Taking into account you’re the token black hire, it sounds like a very horrible place to work.

I have no idea what you can do about it - try the Black Mumsnetters board? (I don’t read the board but I think they are a good crowd).

If you ask a room full of people to do something, everyone will assume someone else will do it. Pick a name, ask them specifically, give accountability.

Regardless if you're being unreasonable to this point, if it's in your head and you're seeing something from nothing, take away from this to give accountability to actions rather than just throw them out there and walk away. Don't leave something til someone has owned it.

Full disclosure, I am mixed race (but 'look' black enough for people to have seen me as such if that makes sense).

I don't think this is automatically a race issue, but I think race and the associated attributes you have as a person from your environment, can be a component of a vital word which I despise - 'culture'.

I used to work in an office with lots of Kirstys, Nathalies, Lauras. Blonde hair or dyed such, well turned out, middle class, they drive Sportages and Audi Q3s . Very chatty, very outgoing, always hosting after work drinks..............

....for those people who fit their visual and spoken aesthetic.

I was mixed race, no outward signs of success despite having plenty of disposable like they did, and living in zone 2 in London not a suburb.

I don't think they despised my skin colour or found me anything but pleasant and helpful. I just didn't "fit".

This is a big problem, but it's also a hill many people defend and die on because of folks right to self organise as they choose.

It is unprofessional however not to acknowledge a colleague for writing helpful advice at work. This is a problem and maybe something you could raise with your manager to help them see how you feel you are perceived?