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.
You probably don’t like the title of this article, but it’s true
At this point, I simply collect and observe the experiences; it’s fascinating to watch how black people with an implicit preference for white people interact with other black folks.
Furthermore, it is disappointing and demonstrates how slow progress will be in our community if we can’t all consistently get on the same page and uplift each other.
My Four Primary Experiences
A Black manager at a food chain called me (a high schooler at the time) stupid in front of a white customer.
A black flight attendant questioned if I was sitting in the front of the plane (as if I didn’t belong there) and told me I couldn’t put my bag in my overhead compartment, but the white man sitting next to me could and wasn’t questioned if he was sitting in the front of the plane.
Four black colleagues who were never my direct managers pinpointed things I was doing wrong more than right and criticized me about petty matters that had no direct impact on the business outcome.
Two black people tried to sabotage my career even though I was successfully fulfilling my role at the company and didn’t have a close relationship with them.
Experiences like those listed above depict black individuals who lack regard for one another in critical environments.
Black people insulting and putting down other black people in front of a white person is not uncommon.
Transportation has been one of the most frequent places where blatant discrimination occurs. Now we can sit in front of automobiles, aircraft, trains, and buses. So why do we act like this is a problem or question blacks when they sit in the front?
The workplace is a crucial place where black people are discriminated against in both minor and significant ways.
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History is, in a way, repeating itself – except through us.
Why Do Black People Treat Other Blacks So Poorly?
Some might attribute it to many of us possessing the crab mentality, which is basically true.
Research has shown that many of us treat each other like sh*t because we’ve been conditioned to and have seen others treat us this way through the centuries.
Blacks Prefer Whites
“Other research has also shown that black participants tend to have a strong pro-black explicit bias.
But a conflict emerges: When blacks are asked about their predilections, they express a solid preference for their group over whites, but, in general, performance on the IAT suggests they subconsciously hold a slight preference for whites over blacks.”
Blacks Perpetuate Racism
“This dynamic is obviously a direct result of racism.
Too often, racism is seen as a social phenomenon that happens to black people.
But it happens through black people as well.
That is, the negative associations thrust upon black people, and black culture can color how we black people view each other.”
Sources For Both: Theodore R. Johnson – The Atlantic
When you’re raised in a society that teaches and treats you as a second-class citizen, you naturally respond by treating those who look like you as you’ve been enculturated to view yourself.
A Black flight attendant gave the white male better service
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.