I'd rather be ignored than paternalized. The other day, a white woman walks to me on the street & randomly hands me $5 to "Thank Me" for risking COVID as a food-delivery man. I said, "No, I live here." Liberals/Progressives see black folks as people to pity like hurt puppies.
This is Manhattan. When upper class whites see a black person on the street, the assumption is, "lower class." She didn't assume that I lived in the neighborhood. She looked so confused when I said, "I live here." I didn't get mad because she meant well. "Bless her heart."
Last night, while ordering food at the Irish Pub, when the server came to the window, she asked the white guy standing *behind* me what he wanted to first. Yes, behind me. He signaled to her to take my order first. Remember, this is "liberal/progressive," "blue" New York.
Last year, I was venue shopping for a scholars dinner with my 22 year-old white assistant. Me: a suit with no tie. My assistant: wearing a shirt, rolled-up sleeves and a tie. When the manager came out to discuss the rental agreement, he primarily and only spoke to my assistant.
One summer day, I was picking up shirts from the cleaners and a man in the elevator said he felt bad for us "delivery" people b/c of the heat. [BTW, conservatives, in my experience, just ignore my existence rather than engaging it to "help" or for pity]
In New York, being a full professor, with 10 books, and four academic degrees means nothing when you're a black male:).
