After a hectic morning at work
I rush down to the cafeteria
I purchase my lunch - Avocado and Egg Sandwich
And I find myself wishing I was eating some Jollof instead
I chose a cosy spot at a nice little corner
Where I can watch everyone go and come
Looking all dressed up and so serious
Walking so quickly, One would think the devil was chasing them
I watch and shake my head
And momentarily consider if I'm cut out for the corporate world
I notice that all the people walking past are either Caucasian or Asian
I see a few people that I know, I wave and smile
Then I see one man who stands out among the crowd
Well, probably because he is black
And, no, he is not the security guard
I watch him as he makes his way towards me
'Why is this man walking towards me?', I wonder
A little annoyed because I 'd rather have my lunch alone
'Hello', He says in a thick british accent
'Hi', I respond, in some accent
'I noticed you sitting alone. Do you mind if I keep you company'
I thought about how many people were sitting alone in this huge place
Why did he have to come and eat with me?
Humph... 'Sure', I replied
Disclaimer : This is not meant to be racist or offensive. Its a simple observation. Just something to think about however you like. I can give you a few things to think about if you want...
Why are there so few successful black people in the corporate world? Why do black people feel the need to 'bond' with other black people at all cost? Why are you smiling at me because I am black, when you did not smile at the Indian who just passed by, when you don't even know me from Adam? How do you tell someone you were looking forward to a quiet lunch in a work setting?
Ok, peace and love folks, peace and love! mwuah!!
I've often asked myself some of these questions then I wonder. Would I feel better if they ignored me? maybe not...
ReplyDeleteI dont like it when, fellow nigerians attach themselves to me too when we are in a diverse environment but i see the reason they do it.......It is because there are not so many 'of your kind' in that environment so we usually want to identify with 'our' own
ReplyDeleteBlack people will not want to 'bond ' in Nigeria because we are all black but if you are igbo nd you go to the north, you will seek out and 'bond' with igbo people there.
Its about identifying with your own
Sorry for the mini blog...lol
@ Myne Whitman - I know right! i wonder...well, if they ignored me, and everyone else ignored me too that would suck. I dunno, sometimes its awkward, cos u're trying to stand out, not as the black girl who hangs out with only black people, but the friendly, all round person who can kick it with everyone. Sometimes a group of black people, some fine intimidating...
ReplyDelete@ ttlolla - culture & Identity, i know what u mean. We always try to find people to identify with. I guess the only time it really bothers me when people do this is when i don't want to kick it with them, when i dun feel like smiling, and when i dont want to talk...lol ...
Interesting post. I, too, get annoyed when 2 black people are expected to get along merely because of a commonality in skin colour. However, in my little forays into the London corporate world, 98% of the black people I saw were wither the cleaners or security guards so maybe by this man trying to forge a bond, he's trying to create some sort of support system for the definite minority?
ReplyDeleteprobably.
ReplyDelete