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I could use some words of wisdom, friends. I don't have any family to turn to. I am all alone here. I turned to this community for support. Please, be gentle if you have some harsh words. I do hope for some constructive feedback, but if negative, please, message me privately. I don't want to start a controversial thread.
So, I am the only Caucasian empoyee at the branch of an educational institution. I drive an hour each way to work and for the most part I really enjoy teaching and I feel like I am making a difference. But this is week 5 and I am really struggling not giving a F, as my friend suggests. I am experiencing a strong issue of racism rearing up its ugly head. I was encouraged to speak to a higher up, which I did. He basically told me that since no one actually said out loud the words black vs white it's in my head and I am probably just gunnysacking. I left unheard. I resigned to just sweep it under the rug and keep on trucking. But the problem persists. Today, the problem surfaced again in an ugly way and I am struggling. I've never been a racist, dated people of different races and ethnicities. But today, more than ever, I am seeing the racism toward me, as a minority here. I am the only educator at this branch as well. The other 2 individuals are support staff. I am doing my best to help all my students, esp the ones who are very low academically. yet, I am told that I am singling a black student out. He's been disrepectful toward me on a few occassions and not doing his work. Just collecting his hours. Then he got brave enough to call me a F B the very next day, got suspended for a few days and everything is hush hush now. No one spoke to me about the incident. More has happened since. I used to go to work excited to teach, but now I am scared to open my mouth. For the first time in 8 months I have medical insurance and benefits, a FT job. I am not a quitter. But I am really struggling with the lack of team work and support in helping these students. I don't know if I should go higher up in the chain of command, to the president of the educational faciltiy or just continue to document things, gunnysack them, as the previous person stated. I don't want to stir anything, especially as a new teacher. But the hostility is so blatantly open it scares me. On one of my lunch breaks one support staff saw me on this site and gasped before I realized he was looking over my shoulder. He Asked me if I am one, to which I replied that I don't discuss my faith or politics at work. I am at a total loss. If I just continue documenting nothing is going to change and I am going to drag my feet with work. If I speak out I might not be heard, as no one actually said the word race. I don't want to be paranoid and start recording every encounter. What would you do? THanks

ForeignNata 5 Sep 19
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34 comments (26 - 34)

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0

If you can, record and document. After you do that, go back to HR (or whoever you talked to the first time) and play the recording and show your documentation. If they still won't do anything file a complaint with the EEOC. Another alternative is to go to the media with all your evidence, however that could bite you in the ass.

I would also keep looking for another job.

0

So when you went to the supervisor he said you're gunnysacking, but then said he can't do anything? So why would he think you would go to him again? Did you bring one issue to him or numerous? What racist thing actually happened that you claimed?

3

I can’t say what you should do but what I would do in that situation is stay cool, start looking for another job, not necessarily with the intention of taking it but as a backup so you can negotiate from a position of power, or to fall back on if things go south. Then I would try to make a friend, to have an ally there, and then make another. Meanwhile I’d take it all as a challenge, do the best I could do with the bad situation, and not worry about the outcome because I had made every reasonable effort to cover all my bases while being fair and humane to all others concerned.
If another job comes through that actually looks more appealing... I’d be gone! If things start to turn around before a better job shows up... I’d feel triumphant, but I’d prolly still keep an eye on the job market; that really sounds like a permanently stressful environment.

skado Level 9 Sep 19, 2018
2

Being Hispanic... I can say I had received more racism from blacks than of whites despite my non white skin color. I had to live outside of usa to learn that races are not colored!!! You have to be True to Yourself. To think that a "minority" in this country will not use numbers to his/her advantage when available is pretty Naive. Go with your Conscience. Keep a ledger, document everything. I know is a Tough Spot for you because the "minority" in your workplace rather have another "minority" in your place. Like sharks... if they smell blood in the water... they will feel empowered!!! Give the grades they deserve. Found another place to work... this is about You and should be about You. Nobody else is going to look out for you and america in all different manifestations, still sucks. Find a better place to work. And wishing you the Best of Lucks.

3

As others have advised.. the most likely path to being happier will likely require you to find a different job. In the mean time, don't give up, with time a different path will likely open itself up to you.. it could even be as something as simple as you need to be there a certain length of time before your accepted.

0

I don't know what to tell you, people will try to help you but everyone has a different opinion and do things differently. While you're working there keep your journal going, write down everything. One thing for sure is to try to find a better workplace. I believe you will make the decision when the time comes for the best or for the worst. I'll be here and support you, specially after passing through a similar situation, not as heavy as yours though. All the best, don't give in, never surrender.

3

you have fallen in with a bad crowd. you didn't go looking for it and you had no way of knowing. Unfortunately the only person you can change is yourself. The other people, no... So it looks like you will have to get another job.

Pretty astute for such a youngster.
😉

@bigpawbullets Aw thanks for that! But I'm officially retired and have worked my share of jobs with good and not so good groups.

3

Don't quit your job..... yet.
But immediately, like YESTERDAY! start searching for your new job. You're in a lose/lose situation. There is no positive outcome path there for you.

Thank you and I am in the works for a job that requires 2 years of paperwork, I am just floating. In the meantime, I am working 1 FT and 2 PT jobs to stay busy, productive, and less lonely. Job hunting is draining. But I made almost the same amount of money working 2 PT jobs from home, just no benefits and med insurance. I was really hoping to be part of a team, meet people. I've worked from home after the divorce.

@MissKathleen
Well said.
Did we just adopt another one?
😉

2

@ForeignNata -- Natalie, one of our obligations to the self is to be aware of our surroundings and circumstances so that we can avoid overloading ourselves with stress. Stress is not good for us and it is also not good for those with whom we interact. This sounds like one of those situations wherein there is no real solution. That is, it appears to me that you might find some workaround, but be left with a constant source of stress with no way to alleviate it. I hope I'm wrong, but I would resign myself to being prepared to leave if it happens to be a no-win situation. You owe it to yourself.

Thank you! It is stressful and all the other instructors are looking for other jobs, some are just retiring. THe director of the program just got fired, no one knows what's going to happen to the program.

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