>Went to the wine store last night in a different hood.
>
>I was third in line. I had my bottles, I was on the way to
>dinner with folks. Dude at the register was plain and cordial
>with each person in front of me (thank you for your business!
>have a wonderful evening!), but when he got to me he
>immediately tried to be down on some "What up B! How you
>living?" (think Micheal Rapaport going from accent to
>blaccent)
>
>Some other telling things happened during the transaction, but
>this part of the whole interaction gives me a bit of pause.
>
>I have no problem with someone being "down" but I do have a
>problem with someone dropping into total informality just
>because of my skin color.
>
>Even if dude was black I would still have a moment where I
>would think to myself "you don't know me, how you just going
>to assume we cousins already?"
>
>Most of the time a smart employee will feel things out before
>just going into some "he might like this shit" areas of
>rapport. I say this as someone who has a ton of retail
>experience in my work history.
>
>
>You feel this or nah?
>
>
>
>oh yeah,
>
>potential possibility #1; maybe dude was from around the way
>and was just being himself
>
>potential possibility #2; this is NY, dude coulda been all
>sorts of high yellow/white Carribean
>
>