Racism

Obviously racism is prevalent in America but when you're at work, minding your own business and racism comes out of nowhere it is... just kind of stupid.

He is an Indian....from India

One day I was at work on the first Saturday of the month. Whenever it is the first Saturday of the month the hotel is normally sold out. The reason why is due to a large Antiques Faire in town. I personally love that time of the month because I get to see all of my favorite Antiques Faire people. The people who come are some of the nicest people I have ever met and I've never had a problem with any of them.

During this one Saturday when I was working someone from the Antiques Faire comes to check in. On the front desk counter there is a bowl of business cards with the name of the then manager, Condii, on them. Condii is Latina and therefore her last name is as such.

Hitler: Condii [LAST NAME]. Mexican right? Hmmm... well I'm happy to know this place isn't owned by an Indian. Indians keep their hotel so dirty. Every time I've stayed in a dirty hotel it has been owned by an Indian. This hotel is so clean I knew it wasn't owned by an Indian.
Working Girl: Are you here to check in?
Hitler: Yes, the name is...

I laughed. Not at the racist comments he made but at the fact that Condii's business card said "GENERAL MANAGER" not owner. The owner of the very clean hotel where I work is, in fact, an Indian man. An Indian man with an Indian wife and four Indian children. They own the hotel and he is an extremely hands on boss. He checks everything constantly. It's annoying how involved he is but his involvement makes for the highest ranked hotel in the area. I guess there are some clean Indians after all.

That's Racist....?

Four people walk through the door at the same time carrying a conversation with one another. In the front are two black women and behind them is a white male and a white female. The black women and the white male walk directly past the front desk and toward the dining area to check out the hotel. The white woman walks up to the front desk counter and asks to check in.

White Woman: I'd like to check in.
Working Girl: Sure. What is your last name?

As this woman is telling me her last name and pulling out her credit card, the black women come up to the front desk.

Black Woman: Um excuse me we were here first. Why are you checking them in before us. That's racist!

Both the white woman and myself are shocked. I thought all four of them were together and she thought they had already checked in because they continued to walk past the front desk.

Working Girl: Well I thought you were together.
Black Woman: Well we aren't!

I finish checking the woman in and she and her husband go upstairs.

Working Girl: Okay, what's YOUR last name?
Black Woman: You know we were here first!
Working Girl: Well when people walk directly past me and don't say they want to check in I assume they don't want to check in. All of you came in together, all of you were talking to one another and out of the 4 people that walked through that door, only 1 came up to me. I, just like yourself, am black. I'm not racist, I'm uninformed. I thought you were all together. I apologize that you weren't but she came up to me to check in whereas you walked past me.

Silence.

Black Woman: Racist against your own kind, though?


It's 2012

Back when it was actually 2012, I was at work finishing up some school work. A guest in the lobby watched me work and asked me what I was working on. I told them I was doing some school work. They then asked me about what college I went to, my major and all of the normal questions that you ask someone in college. Then I was thrown a curve ball.

Guest: So are you the first person in your family to go to college?

I laughed and politely said no but really? It's 2012. EVERYONE in my family graduated college. My grandparents were teachers. I don't think the guest was trying to be racist but that is question that I never thought I would be asked. I would be the black sheep in my family if I didn't go to college. I just wonder if this guest asks this question to every young person they meet who is in college. Probably not, but I'm glad I can help in not perpetuating the stereotype.

Tanning Bed Mom

Nearly a year ago I was working late as I usually do. My front desk agent, Vitooch, and I were doing our usual thing; laughing. Vitooch and I should not work together because we laugh entirely too much. Sometimes the laughter is so contagious that it never stops.

As Vitooch and I were talking and sitting in my office someone rings the bell at the front desk. Vitooch gets up to help the guest and as soon as she gets to the door she says "Oh" with a slight laugh.

I'm listening to her help this woman who is interested in reserving a room but she seems to be having a hard time getting her words out. I take this opportunity to get up and help. When I get up and walk over to my office door this is what I see:

This is a picture of Kristin Wiig on Saturday Night Live as the Tanning Bed Mom Patricia Krentcil. I didn't see Kristin Wiig or the REAL tanning bed mom but I saw something extremely similar. The woman standing at the front desk was so orange (a very dark orange) that I thought she wandered off from the Chocolate Factory.

As soon as I saw her face I walked right back into my office, covered my mouth and let the tears run down my face. I was laughing so hard but I didn't want her to know. I grabbed a cup off of my desk and walked back out to get some water. As I came around the front desk and behind this cartoon character speaking to Vitooch, I mouthed the words "OH MY GOD" to her and quickly scurried off.

I shouldn't have done that.

Vitooch busts out laughing mid sentence.

Oompa: What's so funny?
Vitooch: (wiping the tears from her eyes) I'm so sorry, my manager is crazy.
Oompa: Oh...okay.

As it turns out, Snooki couldn't afford to stay at the hotel and she went on her way. We both felt bad that we laughed directly in her face but we were too busy gripping our stomachs and grabbing tissue to truly care about her feelings.

I honestly don't think it's okay to get that hard of a laugh at some one's expense...but when you're a white, middle aged woman who goes out in public looking as if you need a Sunkist sticker on your forehead, you're kind of asking for it.