So my boss was joking...I think

Before today my boss said one thing about my hair and referred to it as "Negro hair". Him being an older black man I just let it roll of off of my back. Today though I was so excited that I learned how to do coils that I did my front then put on a hat for work. When working it was slow so to make conversation I showed my boss my new coils. He then asked me "Is your mom a new Negro?" I was so confused by this question, but now thinking about it maybe he meant an African immigrant. I answered him saying "No actually she has nice wavy hair.". Then this conversation turned an almost racisted turn...no it was racist. My boss says "Well you know that you are more evolved right?" I just gave him a confused look again. He explained "Well white people hair is straight like an animal. Since your hair isn't like a monkey's you are more evolved. Don't tell anyone I said that." When he says this I look at my closest white manager not believing he said that. No one heard. What do you think? I've never heard of he whole evolution theory and I think it's bull. I dont really like thinking my hair as Negro hair either.

He needs to be documented, I would go chain of command and let who ever is over him know about the comments

Yea when I told my dad he said the same thing. He thinks the guy is an asshole. I'm not sure how I would go about going over his head though. I just wish someone else heard too.

deeply_rooted_chick wrote:Yea when I told my dad he said the same thing. He thinks the guy is an asshole. I'm not sure how I would go about going over his head though. I just wish someone else heard too.

Start writing down his comments with date and time then submit to a supervisor over him or to HR.

Definitely not apprpropriate for work place or anytime at that!!! Definitely document it withyour other manager or someone for that matter. That is not acceptable, Negro hair what is that??? WHO SAYS NEGRO ANYMORE!!!!!!

That is what my dad said. He's older around 40s so he's probably stuck on that.

MORE EVOLVED!?!?!??! smh...... definitely report this guy. totally inappropriate.

The fact that he said "Don't tell anyone I said that" is asking for some sort of retaliation. I agree with the fellow ladies - he was out of line.

from the time he made the first comment about "negro hair" i woulda just stayed away from him...because he is bound to say more ignorant stuff...(ex. ur more evolved, etc) so, with that being said, i wouldn't even bother to show him my coils. i know i am coming off mean, but I am just saying the truth. in any case, it is interesting how now he is an evolutionary scientist... u should document the comment and the date and time and be prepared to file a complaint in HR

mverde3 wrote:The fact that he said "Don't tell anyone I said that" is asking for some sort of retaliation. I agree with the fellow ladies - he was out of line.

My thoughts exactly. He knew what he said was beyond out of line...which just goes to show that he wasn't "kidding". That needs to be documented asap.
Sounds like he's stuck in that "middle-passage" era of people that think we need to be 'equivalent' in every aspect to races other than ours.

It's not appropriate, professionally but more than that he's just wrong, morally & ethically. smh

I'm only 27, but since when do people in their 40's regularly use the word negro? lol. My mom is in her late 50's and doesn't talk like that. This guy sounds like he's out of control! What is a "new negro" anyway? Sounds like he's a tool to me!

yeah, exactly!!! what da heck is a "new negro"??? really, mr. evolutionary scientist??

I was hoping he was in his 80s or something to account for the use of the word "negro". LOL And he's black, too? What an odd conversation...

Honestly, I'd chalk it up to plain out ignorance or insanity rather than a racial issue simply because it's the most bizarre line of reasoning I've ever heard...and I've heard a lot. He must be insane. "New Negro". LMAO

New Negro is a term
popularized during the Harlem Renaissance implying a more outspoken advocacy
of dignity and a refusal to submit quietly to the practices and laws of Jim Crow racial segregation. The term "New Negro" was made
popular by Alain LeRoy Locke.

Wikipedia New Negro

Okay, I just learned something new.

what a ridiculous person!
incredibly unprofessional and inappropriate! and by saying "don't tell" means he knows he could get in trouble for saying things like that in the work place..
since he's your boss and can't just avoid him, document his comments and next time he says something like that go over his head to his boss or HR..

Definitely report what was said, and get documentation.
As a side note, "The New Negro" is a good book, you all should read it

"New Negro?" WTF?

This guy's in his 40's? Well, I'm 40 and I can tell you that the term Negro went out of fashion years before I was born. Nobody in my family uses the term, not even my grandparents and they'll both be 80 this year. It's totally inappropriate as everyone else said.

He sounds straight crazy to me! I'm pushing 40 and never have I used the word "negro" in casual conversation! I have no idea where he got his line of reasoning but you definately need to tune a deaf ear to him... he doesn't necessarily sound racist, just ignorant!

Boondocks, anyone?

I am almost 50 and in the late 60's, early 70's when we started using the word Black, even the older folks stopped using Negro as a description. Document. This is just the beginning for him. It's just going to get worse.

swoodward wrote:Boondocks, anyone?

I am almost 50 and in the late 60's, early 70's when we started using the word Black, even the older folks stopped using Negro as a description. Document. This is just the beginning for him. It's just going to get worse.

OMG, Uncle Ruckus did use that term on the Boondocks*
I don't know what in the hell it means...it's just ridiculous and the fact that this man is Black just adds to the madness.

Free2Be wrote:I was hoping he was in his 80s or something to account for the use of the word "negro". LOL And he's black, too? What an odd conversation...

Honestly, I'd chalk it up to plain out ignorance or insanity rather than a racial issue simply because it's the most bizarre line of reasoning I've ever heard...and I've heard a lot. He must be insane. "New Negro". LMAO

ITA! And don't be surprised if he has had other inappropriate conversations with other employees.

Document and stay away from him, other than to discuss work only when needed. He might not be stable...new negro....evolved....monkey's hair....WTH!!?

Maybe it depends on where you're from, because I've definitely heard people use the word negro, though not in a work setting. I've heard family members etc. use it in more casual settings, or in joking ways. Also, he may have been using the term in the context of "The New Negro." Still, the whole evolution exchange was inappropriate, and you can and should complain about that.

yea, "new negro" is a (derogatory) term used to describe black people who have degrees or are middle class & up. (These days one doesn't follow the other!).
POS. (sorry, that wasn't nice.) When people use it they are pointing out that the person in question is different than the rest of "us" or "them", depending on who is saying it.

I'm sure we'll get past this one century.

Y'know, the more I read what he said, the sadder he seems.

I'm a little confused. Clearly the conversation is racist, but he was saying that white people are less evolved because their hair is more like an animal's, right? Was that what he was saying? Anyways, yea, definitely document it, and if you ever feel bothered by him again, report both incidences.