How do I cope with being the only Black Person?

Before anyone gets offended please understand this isn't meant to offend anyone. As a Black person things are just harder sometimes for example I have to contstanly police my actions to avoid being the "angry black woman" even though people are being blatanly rude/ignorant/racist.


I have recently started a new job and I am the only black person. The only reason I bring this up is because my manager has asked me to come in and sign an equal oppurnities form. I am not sure if this is standard practice but it did throw me off slightly. Also I honestly struggle to relate to some of my co workers,there are just slight cultural diferences between us and frankly some of them are not very bright(for lack of a better word). They are just typical party drunk make up english people and I am just not like that. I though enjoy going out and make up like the next girl but that is not my life.

I was recently in the same situation and had to deal with some very ignorant comments eg why dont black people like the sun? in Africa do you use fork and Knives? and people constanly asking to touch my hair or asking questions about my hair. I absolulately hated it ! as a matter of fact I mentioned this to a co worker and she said "I believe it may just be your personality and if this happened to someone else this wouldnt be a problem".

I know I shouldnt expect my new job to be the same but things started the exact same way at my previous job and I reallly do not want to be in the same situation.


So everyone How do I deal with this? I dont want to be unhappy again and I like my job.

Before anyone gets offended please understand this isn't meant to offend anyone. As a Black person things are just harder sometimes for example I have to contstanly police my actions to avoid being the "angry black woman" even though people are being blatanly rude/ignorant/racist.


I have recently started a new job and I am the only black person. The only reason I bring this up is because my manager has asked me to come in and sign an equal oppurnities form. I am not sure if this is standard practice but it did throw me off slightly. Also I honestly struggle to relate to some of my co workers,there are just slight cultural diferences between us and frankly some of them are not very bright(for lack of a better word). They are just typical party drunk make up english people and I am just not like that. I though enjoy going out and make up like the next girl but that is not my life.

I was recently in the same situation and had to deal with some very ignorant comments eg why dont black people like the sun? in Africa do you use fork and Knives? and people constanly asking to touch my hair or asking questions about my hair. I absolulately hated it ! as a matter of fact I mentioned this to a co worker and she said "I believe it may just be your personality and if this happened to someone else this wouldnt be a problem".

I know I shouldnt expect my new job to be the same but things started the exact same way at my previous job and I reallly do not want to be in the same situation.


So everyone How do I deal with this? I dont want to be unhappy again and I like my job.

If you don't want to "offend", then why seemingly use Black to mean African?


Axalia's link would be hilarious if it wasn't such tragic, racist "You're a victim" propaganda.

If you don't want to "offend", then why seemingly use Black to mean African?

With respect she isn't being offensive.

She is the only black person in the workplace. There are no other persons (whether Africans, West Indians, Black British, Black Americans, Black Swedes, Australian Aborginals etc) of her skin colour in the workplace.

However, because she is African, her colleagues ask her questions about Africa and Africans rather than about Jamaica or Atlanta.

If you don't want to "offend", then why seemingly use Black to mean African?


Axalia's link would be hilarious if it wasn't such tragic, racist "You're a victim" propaganda.

You don't necessarily have to be like your friends to get along with them. Maybe you're underestimating them as well, there's always more to a person than being drunk and makeup
And the comments and stuff...that's got to be annoying I understand completely. People as me "do you ear curry everyday?" and "are your parents going to arrange your marriage?" it drives me mental. But I i'm getting used to it and you will too.

Hi there,

I understand how you feel. Although I'm not black I was the only Asian person in my class. And in my workplace.

I'll shortlist some things i learned:
- You'll be the token black friend/co-worker now. Anything you do may be held up against your race and analysed. Stereotyping tends to be worse if you're female too. I would say the first thing is to be aware of this. It's not usually pleasant but we all do it actually. For example I'm sure you recognise that not all English people are the same, but you might think they're "typical" English guys if they get drunk. The same way if you're a good dancer it might be because you're black. If you're angry it may be linked back to your race and perhaps even crime statistics. Often it's usually innocent (we do it to help our brain accept new things as normal i think). But be aware and accept this and it makes the journey smoother
- develop a sense of humour rather than getting annoyed. It will make people warm up to you and thus treat you better be welcoming and friendly ^.^
-try and understand the other sides to their personality. Some people are as shallow as 2D puddles but others are more than what meets the eye. Sometimes it takes weeks to get to this stage.
- remember it's probably not their fault that they're ignorant. Like I've said it's happened to me - an Asian. It would probably happen to a white man in a non white environment too. This is the first step in multiculturalism. Own it and take it as an opportunity to subtly educate people.
I'll be honest, i was raised with parents who dont particularly think well of black people. But the first black friend i made was so lovely and patient and nice that i don't even listen to people's stereotypes of blacks now. It broke that wall that older generations had instilled in us (wrongfully)

Before anyone gets offended please understand this isn't meant to offend anyone. As a Black person things are just harder sometimes for example I have to contstanly police my actions to avoid being the "angry black woman" even though people are being blatanly rude/ignorant/racist.


I have recently started a new job and I am the only black person. The only reason I bring this up is because my manager has asked me to come in and sign an equal oppurnities form. I am not sure if this is standard practice but it did throw me off slightly. Also I honestly struggle to relate to some of my co workers,there are just slight cultural diferences between us and frankly some of them are not very bright(for lack of a better word). They are just typical party drunk make up english people and I am just not like that. I though enjoy going out and make up like the next girl but that is not my life.

I was recently in the same situation and had to deal with some very ignorant comments eg why dont black people like the sun? in Africa do you use fork and Knives? and people constanly asking to touch my hair or asking questions about my hair. I absolulately hated it ! as a matter of fact I mentioned this to a co worker and she said "I believe it may just be your personality and if this happened to someone else this wouldnt be a problem".

I know I shouldnt expect my new job to be the same but things started the exact same way at my previous job and I reallly do not want to be in the same situation.


So everyone How do I deal with this? I dont want to be unhappy again and I like my job.

I guess the best way is to poke fun at yourself, I find the more touchy you are about the subject the more people play on it. I had a lovely black girl in my French class and it took about two years before I could take the p!ss about her being black and she could take the p!ss about white girl stereotypes, it was a great level of friendship with some friendly racism involved. Try not to upset yourself about people being thoughtless, they probably don't even realise they're being an arse.

I guess the best way is to poke fun at yourself, I find the more touchy you are about the subject the more people play on it. I had a lovely black girl in my French class and it took about two years before I could take the p!ss about her being black and she could take the p!ss about white girl stereotypes, it was a great level of friendship with some friendly racism involved. Try not to upset yourself about people being thoughtless, they probably don't even realise they're being an arse.

There is NOTHING friendly about racism, you entitled person. Why did you want to take the piss out of her skin colour? Too blatant for you to gloss over? Didn't know skin colour was so important until I came to this forum to see ignorant posters like you.

Keep anon or delete

I would not compare your treatment with being black. Curry and negative stereotypes of black people are not the same. It's just food, nothing drastic; don;t know why you even stated this. Everyone loves a curry for goodness sake, they are just taking a mickey. Your experience and her experience are not the same, and cannot be compared. Black skin is seen as inferior to any race. Asians have fairer skin, are portrayed as smart, have European hair, suck up to white people ( sorry if uncalled for, but Asians love fair skin, this is a widely known fact, any one that says something different is not being trustworthy- skin lightening is a big business in Asia and Asians are afraid to be darkened in the sun). There are negative stereotypes of Asians e.g. terrorism, but this is based on religion or being short etc. This is nothing compared to what black people face.