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I'm annoyed by this article for lots of reasons, but mostly because it resonates. It would take all day if I tried to tell all the stories. Folk relentlessly doubt that I do what I do--for no discernible reason except that I'm a black woman nyti.ms/2GcK386
Old lady next to me on a flight a few weeks ago was the funniest. I was working, but she wanted to talk. So I obliged.
OL: What do you do for a living?
Me: I'm a professor.
OL: A COLLEGE professor😯?
Me: Yes
OL: But don't they need Phd's?
Me: I have a Phd
OL: No. I'm confused.
OL: What do you do for a living?
Me: I'm a professor.
OL: A COLLEGE professor😯?
Me: Yes
OL: But don't they need Phd's?
Me: I have a Phd
OL: No. I'm confused.
I laughed, wrapped it up and turned back to my work. But versions of this happen ALL the time. A student once came to office hours, looked at me curiously & said: "So how did YOU get HERE?" with precisely that emphasis. He later said, "I knew there had to be an explanation."
On occasion, it would be fine. On a constant basis, it's annoying & reinforces the feeling that I don't belong. At the same time, I have the option of touting credentials that convince people I'm worth something. Working class/poor Black + Brown folk have no such recourse.
