..am a road gyal.
So, I read the thread about feeling like one can't move from London because of lack of diversity elsewhere in the UK and was incensed about some comments about people assuming black people are drug dealers. And I thought, "wow, I'm not leaving London then, sad for those people'.
Less than a week later, I'm leaving my house and putting my children in the car, about to go about my business when a 'neighbour' comes up to me and starts talking about my front door (it's a bit different so I'm used to it). I make small chat, but like every Londoner, I have somewhere to go. Anyway, he looks East Asian, mid-40s, explains he just bought a flat on the road for his mother. Nice, bless. So I tell him the area is ok, but that I have seen some drinkers on the corner more than a few times, and I know a few cars by sight that sell deal drugs at the end of the road, otherwise, I think his mother will be all good, at least there aren't people hanging on the street all day and night. Then he says 'sounds like you're describing me'. I just look at him for a second thinking ' a ha, weird, but whatever I'm about to drive off anyway mate'. he says he actually grew up in the area and went to high school around here. Good good, great for you, nice, ok, gonna go now. So I say 'oh right, so you know the area, it's all good'. He then rejoins 'yeah, cos I'm a roadman'.
Now, I'm offended. I wonder how this is different to those neighbours in the hamlet asking their black neighbour if they are drug dealers, because to me this man is looking at a black woman and expecting she's ok, down with, inline, aligned, god knows, with local road man. Now, I do know what a road man is, but how the hell are you going to try to relate to me on that level, we're NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL MATE. I'm not on this at all.
Reminds me of the time I was looking for schools for my first born and one school I went the teacher showing me around kept on talking about how they can help parents with benefits and what I can and can't get ( I can't get shit, by the way, squeezed middle here). It's just more racist bullshit. I know in both cases if I were white with a blonde bouncing ponytail I wouldn't have been treated that way by those 'well-meaning' people.
Reminds me of so much BS, everyday BS.
It's minor, it doesn't hurt my life chances, but it's offensive. Really offensive. I'm not 16, and even when I was I wasn't impressed by someone telling me they're a roadman. I've seen him around since and he smiles at me like we're friends - we're not.