This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
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Not Mastering The Cash Register = Stupid
During my first week at Chick-Fil-A, I was put on cashier and was still learning how to function in everything.
One of the managers at the time was a black male who came up next to me while I was ringing up a customer and called me stupid because I hadn’t mastered the cash register in record time.
I wonder why he felt comfortable calling me stupid and calling me the name in front of a customer. Since I know I’m not stupid, his behavior was primarily unprofessional versus insulting.
Name Calling Followed By Weak Threats
He also threatened to put me “in the back (aka the kitchen)” if I didn’t smile more (it’s not like anyone else was smiling crazily, so I wondered why he felt the need to point that out in me).
I was already on bathroom duty, so I didn’t mind being in the back. Plus, the people in the back were cool. There is nothing wrong with working in the back.
Unfortunately, his effort to make a legitimate threat didn’t intimidate me.
The Worst Part
Race shouldn’t matter in cases like these; we should treat all people with respect and kindness.
But it hits a little deeper when someone from your community cuts you down.
I was surprised at how the black guy consistently treated me, and I was only in high school while he was a full-fledged adult.
Like bro. Chill.
To this day, I remember sitting in my car as I was headed in to hand the senior manager my notice.
Not only was the black manager consistently aggressive towards me, but another woman of color was also on me for some odd reason. It was time to head out.
Peace.
I will never know what it was about me that bothered them so much since I showed up early, did my work, and cleaned well, all while managing school and two other part-time gigs.
Who knows.
That was my first and last fast food experience.
Can We Focus On Building Each Other Up?
Many of my negative career experiences have primarily been by African-Americans, which still baffles me.
I think of another instance where black women criticized how I dressed and documented my every move on paper.
Another black woman (who wasn’t my manager) told me I couldn’t wear a white shirt to work, but my manager never said anything of the sort.
Another black woman told my manager lies about me to sabotage my job. Interestingly enough, she is the one who ended up getting let go.
The funny part about these experiences was I stayed to myself and did my work. I’ve never been one to get involved in workplace drama or even friendships because it’s not my style.
There is no winning in attacking people in your community.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.