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"Being the Token Black Guy" (Original Post) Jamaal510 Oct 2014 OP
I can relate on other isues for being a token. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #1

Behind the Aegis

(53,921 posts)
1. I can relate on other isues for being a token.
Sat Nov 1, 2014, 02:31 AM
Nov 2014

I also have been around enough AA folk to know how they felt about tokenism. One school where I worked had a quota system, which I fought because it often produced very negative feelings from AA people. Many said it undermined their confidence because they didn't know if they were hired because they were the best for the job or just to meet the quota. Then, there was always Black History Month and all eyes turned to them. But G-d forbid they actually had concerns over racism or something along those lines, then it was an entirely different story; their opinions suddenly weren't sought out and often not heard.

Of course, personally, as a Jew, I always got stuck with Christmas holiday schedule because "it is not my holiday." While it wasn't my holiday, it was one of the few times we were off and still got paid, and could visit family. I have family. Also, I had to work all the Jewish holidays anyway, in a few cases, important school events were held and I wouldn't be able to get time off as they were "black out dates." I'll never forget how they wanted to "make-up" to the Jewish alum for scheduling Homecoming on Rosh HaShana...a pig-picking on Yom Kippur. See any problems with that?!

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