Racist or Just An Abuse of Power? You Decide!
Last Friday I was talking to a friend's daughter about what it was like when I was seven years old, as she turns seven soon. I told her all about how seven was my best year, how I felt like I'd fully left behind babyhood and was 100% girl rather than baby, how seven became my favorite and lucky number and still is to this day, how second grade was my favorite grade, and everything about seven was just plum awesome. So, in honor of second grade, and Molly's upcoming seventh birthday, we're going to do this blog post (somewhat) current events style, like I used to do in Mrs. Firestone's class.
Who: the F Market Muni driver, and a black woman with three young children
Where: on Market Street
When: Sunday afternoon
What: the train was stopped at a stop, and the driver told the woman she had to fold up her stroller before bringing it on the train. The woman then asked the driver if he would let her on for free (cost is $2, kids under age 5 are free). The driver told her he'd let her on for $2. She said she didn't have money and asked again. He said again, she could get on the train for $2.
He then closed the doors and moved the train up a few feet. He then said into the microphone, "And she's still breeding." I was shocked. If you want to think things that's fine, but some things simply should not be said. Especially when you are wearing a uniform representing a company, you should not be stating your personal opinions about things. You should certainly not be broadcasting those opinions by using company equipment. The black woman heard what was said, and yelled at the driver. Much of that yelling involved curse words.
There was a lot of talk on the train about what happened. A handicapped woman was very vocal about how right the driver was. If we have to pay $2, everyone should have to pay $2. I thought her statement was stupid, since as a handicapped person she only pays .75 cents. She also felt that the black woman had an entitlement attitude and she needed to be taught a lesson.
The man sitting next to me, who loudly told everyone he was from New York, as if that gives him impressive credentials on such issues, decided the train driver's statement was borderline racist. A couple of other people said it wasn't racist, because the black woman was wrong to want to get on the train for free (which is a nonsensical argument). One woman thought the statement wasn't racist because the black woman is teaching her children to ask for and expect handouts and to be upset when they don't get them. Again, bad argument.
What are your thoughts? Was it a racist comment or inappropriate or was the driver right?
Who: the F Market Muni driver, and a black woman with three young children
Where: on Market Street
When: Sunday afternoon
What: the train was stopped at a stop, and the driver told the woman she had to fold up her stroller before bringing it on the train. The woman then asked the driver if he would let her on for free (cost is $2, kids under age 5 are free). The driver told her he'd let her on for $2. She said she didn't have money and asked again. He said again, she could get on the train for $2.
He then closed the doors and moved the train up a few feet. He then said into the microphone, "And she's still breeding." I was shocked. If you want to think things that's fine, but some things simply should not be said. Especially when you are wearing a uniform representing a company, you should not be stating your personal opinions about things. You should certainly not be broadcasting those opinions by using company equipment. The black woman heard what was said, and yelled at the driver. Much of that yelling involved curse words.
There was a lot of talk on the train about what happened. A handicapped woman was very vocal about how right the driver was. If we have to pay $2, everyone should have to pay $2. I thought her statement was stupid, since as a handicapped person she only pays .75 cents. She also felt that the black woman had an entitlement attitude and she needed to be taught a lesson.
The man sitting next to me, who loudly told everyone he was from New York, as if that gives him impressive credentials on such issues, decided the train driver's statement was borderline racist. A couple of other people said it wasn't racist, because the black woman was wrong to want to get on the train for free (which is a nonsensical argument). One woman thought the statement wasn't racist because the black woman is teaching her children to ask for and expect handouts and to be upset when they don't get them. Again, bad argument.
What are your thoughts? Was it a racist comment or inappropriate or was the driver right?
Labels: How RUDE, Overthinking, People watching, Playing in SF
posted by Green at 10/26/2009 05:23:00 PM
14 Comments:
Racist AND hugely inappropriate. Unbelievable. I would have reported the driver to Muni.
Totally inappropriate. And very sexist. I don't know about racist. Methinks he might have said the same were she white. I think the key here was that she was a woman with children asking for help. But maybe he would have let her on if she were white; we just don't know. Maybe I'm missing the subtlety here.
1. Anyone who insists that it was racist has an agenda. It cannot be determined whether the comment was racist from the information given. If the driver would say the same thing about *anyone* in that situation then it was not racist.
2. It was inappropriate, and especially so because, as you pointed out, he was representing his employer.
Ken
Innapropriate yes.
Racist no.
Sexist no.
He never mentioned race and his comment had nothing to do with being a woman, men 'breed' too (again inappropriate choice of words).
I think the bus driver did the proper thing by not letting her on for free, it's not his bus and his job is to collect the correct fares from everyone.
I don't think there was anything wrong with the mother asking to ride for free, perhaps she was desperate and hopeful someone would help her. No harm in asking.
The only thing wrong in this situation is that the bus driver said what he said (and into the microphone which is disgusting!)...well that and the fact that nobody spoke up for the woman and told the bus driver he was totally out of line. I really hope someone complained about his behaviour.
Inappropriate. Plain and simple. Not racist - I imagine he would have said the same if it'd been a white lady who tried the same.
The driver is entitled to his opinion (also in this case, unfortunately), but he can damn well keep it to himself in the workplace!
For every 10 times I ride public transportation, I have to report the driver for something (bad attitude, bad driving). I usually call the bus company while still in the bus, give them the number of the bus, time and direction it's headed, description of the driver. If no-one tells them their drivers are behaving badly, how will they know?
I hope someone reported this guy.
To continue to make Mrs. Firestone proud:
Who: the woman
When: asking to ride for free
What: inappropriate since she knew the fare was $2, others on the bus paid the fare (whether $2 or $0.75) and the driver could lose his job if caught not collecting the fare
Who: the bus driver
When: telling the woman she had to pay $2
What: appropriate since it's his job to collect fares and not racist since he responded politely
Who: the bus driver
When: commenting about the woman into the microphone
What: inappropriate, rude and thoughtless but not racist since he didn't comment about her race, ethnicity or education.
I think the driver is a first class idiot however, the lady had some nerve asking to ride for free.
I bet some drivers have taken pitty on her and let her ride for free that's why she keeps asking.
Racist? He may very well have been card-carrying member of KKK but we don't know that from this snapshot of his day.
Right? Technically. He is doing his job. A bleeding heart (like myself) might say, oh for fuck's sake, grow a heart, how would you like it if it were your mother who desperately needed a ride and no one would give her a ride? So yes, in a black and white world (no pun intended) of right and wrong, he is right. In my sappy/sucker world, he is wrong for not reaching out to another human being.
Appropriate? He's as appropriate as a pole dancer giving it all she's got in a Jesuit monastery.
As far as the mother goes? Fuck, hasn't anyone seen the movie Happyness? Times are hard, people. And, granted I do judge that OctoMom or whatever that creature is called, no one should judge someone for however many children that person decides to have... unless it's OctoMom... then judge on.
I don't think it was necessarily a racist thing to say. Like Mama Nabi points out, he might be racist - might never have dreamed to say that if the woman weren't black - but we can't know from that comment.
Like everybody says (Mama Nabi most hilariously), totally inappropriate.
As for the lady - I can only say that when I was riding MUNI with 2 tiny kids, I got a ton of shit about having my stroller unfolded (you bet I kept my stroller open sometimes, it was way safer than balancing 2 tiny ones AND a closed stroller) - but on the other hand, plenty of drivers actually OFFERED me free rides, or took my $1.75 and didn't ask for the quarter I couldn't find in my diaper bag. I wouldn't have asked for a free ride, but I have no problem with the woman asking. I also have no problem with the response he gave her. I DO think it's rude to ask again.
long-winded enough?
oh, and I agree with the people who suggest reporting the driver - though I almost never report anyone.
OH, and happy almost-birthday to Molly!
Inappropriate? Yes.
Racist? Possibly, but can't know.
Sexist? I think so.
Key word is his use of the word "breeding." That's the reason I think his words are 1) borderline possibly racist and 2) most likely sexist. He shouldn't have said anything, but he could have simply put her down by criticizing what she actually did. But instead he chose to put her down as a woman and use a word that is normally used to refer to animals. "Breeding" when used with humans is not a neutral word.
I'm detecting a travel theme to your blog! :)
Seriously, it was a breedist remark, and someone in an official capacity should not be making any personal remarks, derogatory or otherwise.
I'm surprised so much conversation happened with the other passengers! Never would have happened in New York!!
Inappropriate but not racist or sexist. And trust me, I am not one to assume that racism and sexism doesn't happen on a daily basis, but this one I just think the bus driver couldn't keep his mouth shut on that day (or maybe he’s a loud mouth ass like Kanye West). However, I don't think the lady was right on insisting she get on for free. I've missed out on a bus ride because I didn't have the change...and I dealt. Having kids doesn't mean others should take care of them-that's the parents job. If you don't have the money, re-evaluate your life style. I come from a small (predominately white and native) town and have seen this attitude way too often- so from my standpoint it’s not a race issue or even a class issue. If she was short a quarter or two for food it would have been another story. I’m helping out my fellow Americans (education, healthcare), but to flat out demand a train ride is just silly.
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