Detroit Firefighter dismissed for bringing a watermelon on first day...

[ankhheru]

In all the job's I've worked on nobody has ever brought in a whole watermelon. Nobody. I've worked around some of the whitest of white folks. I'm talking pumpkin spice coffee drinking, bonfire having, natti ice drinking white folks. I'm talking about where im the only black person on a raisin in a bowl of milk type shit

It's always been fruit trays. Occasionally for special personal milestones you might receive one of those fruit basket type things but not a whole fucking watermelon. I find it hard to believe that not one person he told his intentions to didn't say shit.

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

I have a zero tolerance policy for racist jokes and games. It would be all fun and games until they leave blatantly racist shit on your desk. Nooses and Buckwheat dolls and shit. Then your running to HR and guess what? Your both fired.

I hear ya, corporate america is a little different then the fdny tho..

I just dont get offended by things like watermelon, its part of our history..

sheeet even they even found watermelon seeds in King Tutankhamuns tomb..

Pharoah food son, if racist knew that fact they would stop them watermelon jokes overnight..

but a noose is a whole other ballgame... that would be dealt with much differently

 

[ankhheru]

I hear ya, corporate america is a little different then the fdny tho..

I just dont get offended by things like watermelon, its part of our history..

sheeet even they even found watermelon seeds in King Tutankhamuns tomb..

Pharoah food son, if racist knew that fact they would stop them watermelon jokes overnight..

but a noose is a whole other ballgame... that would be dealt with much differently

I was referring to you handing out potatoes and tomatoes. That's how shit starts. They get comfortable real quick and next thing you know you had to slap someone or they go to HR on you. I cut that shit short. If a co-worker tries to tell me a Mexican joke I shut that shit down. The next step is black jokes or them making racial jokes as you walk up and they say some shit like, "ain't that right so and so?" And now it's perceived your making racial jokes and comments.

 

[man-machine]

I'm on the fence only because white folks eat more watermelon than we do. They freaking live for melon balls. I saw two white co-workers fussing with each other over one of them taking all the watermelon jolly ranchers last week.

I'm not sure I would have asked for his job, it would depend on how his behavior and attitudes toward black folks were otherwise. If he has no known issues, I would have settled for sensitivity training.

As an adult I've gained a complex about water melon and fried chicken, but not everyone is aware of the racial baggage associated with it. Not even all black folks are aware these days.

I agree. It might have been worth a closer look. If this was the deep South and the firehouse had a minority of black folks working there then I'd be suspicious. This dude is only 40 yrs old. Born during the height of Disco. He may not be aware. I have run across numerous Young Black people who simply aren't aware of some of these racial stereo types. If we don't know we can't be surprised if others don't know.

 

[RoomService]

A nigga apple

 

[Camille]

I agree. It might have been worth a closer look. If this was the deep South and the firehouse had a minority of black folks working there then I'd be suspicious. This dude is only 40 yrs old. Born during the height of Disco. He may not be aware. I have run across numerous Young Black people who simply aren't aware of some of these racial stereo types. If we don't know we can't be surprised if others don't know.

And then people want this post racial society, yet want to keep all the old slights in remembrance. It's a fine line to walk, though. How do you balance awareness and move past hurts at the same time? Do we ban watermelon from all public social events involving black people?

If it were something blatant like he presented it using a fake slave dialect or something then I'd agree there was awareness, but there is no evidence that he did anything other than bring some fruit. A lot of menfolk don't cook. Now there could have been in the back of his mind a stereotype planted that black people like watermelon, just like we hear white folks like cheese and mayonaise, but that doesn't mean there was malicious intent or an intent to ridicule. His class is standing by him. If he was a habitual line stepper I don't think they would do that.

 

[Darth Furious]

The fire department has long been an institution that blacks and females were kept out of via changing the rules anytime we close to being hired. A lot of original black firefighters had to sue to get in and most municipalities don't want that kind of heat ever again due to some racial or sexist type shit. The fire department is considered a liability to the economy of most jurisdictions because unlike the police, we do not charge and most don't levy fines on the people they serve so law suits are swiftly avoided. With that being said, trial firefighters (first year firefighters) can be let go for damn near ANY reason. That guy coming in the door appearing to offset the balance sent up all types of red flags and him being probationary didn't help. Detroits high ranking officials saw what they deemed as a potential unnecessary problem and mitigated the situation, it's what firefighters are trained to do. He'll be alright, all he needs to do is start a gofundme and he'll make a million bucks off the situation.

I can't with these dumb muthafuckas man. Always wanting to break bread with the enemy.

And then people want this post racial society, yet want to keep all the old slights in remembrance. It's a fine line to walk, though. How do you balance awareness and move past hurts at the same time? Do we ban watermelon from all public social events involving black people?

If it were something blatant like he presented it using a fake slave dialect or something then I'd agree there was awareness, but there is no evidence that he did anything other than bring some fruit. A lot of menfolk don't cook. Now there could have been in the back of his mind a stereotype planted that black people like watermelon, just like we hear white folks like cheese and mayonaise, but that doesn't mean there was malicious intent or an intent to ridicule. His class is standing by him. If he was a habitual line stepper I don't think they would do that.

And THIS was my point exactly. How are these dudes cool with him after the fact? Or unless they all stupid and too fucked up to even realize what he was doing? Or did he grow the shit in his own watermelon garden and bring it in for them to share? Or is he just a dumbass cracker ass cracker?

The first article gives one point but then the pic with all the darkies around pasty whitey shows another. Can we not see the subversive? Are we listening for dog whistles that might not be there?

The black public enemy part of me says fuck that white nigga. But the rational side of me says don't be so damn sensitive about everything.



I had Chinese food one day at work - I offered some to my boy at lunch. He said nigga I aint Chinese I'm Korean. He started laughing, I did too but then I thought- he lucky I didn't slap him in the face with the plate for calling me nigga - but then he refers to himself as nigga all day when the whiteys aint around.


Strange world we living in folks.



oNE

 

[^SpiderMan^]

The fire department has long been an institution that blacks and females were kept out of via changing the rules anytime we close to being hired. A lot of original black firefighters had to sue to get in and most municipalities don't want that kind of heat ever again due to some racial or sexist type shit. The fire department is considered a liability to the economy of most jurisdictions because unlike the police, we do not charge and most don't levy fines on the people they serve so law suits are swiftly avoided. With that being said, trial firefighters (first year firefighters) can be let go for damn near ANY reason. That guy coming in the door appearing to offset the balance sent up all types of red flags and him being probationary didn't help. Detroits high ranking officials saw what they deemed as a potential unnecessary problem and mitigated the situation, it's what firefighters are trained to do. He'll be alright, all he needs to do is start a gofundme and he'll make a million bucks off the situation.

This right here. The generation before us really had to fight and faced blatant racism. Our generation faced/faces a gentler and more hidden racism and tend to be less tolerable of the BS.

 

[^SpiderMan^]

And in other news...

Black Detroit firefighters defend white recruit fired over watermelon

DETROIT (WJBK) - A fired Detroit probationary firefighter is getting a big show of support.

Robert Pattinson was fired after bringing a watermelon to his new post at Engine 55 at Joy and Southfield after some African-American firefighters there were offended.

Pattinson, a 41-year-old from Fenton is white, told FOX 2 by phone that it was not a joke. But Fire Commissioner Eric Jones officially discharged him afterwards.

But Tuesday a social media post by Tadarius Spearman stuck up for Pattinson including a group photo of him with other African-American firefighters.

"Just want to let everyone know he's a real amazing dude and it was all good intentions," he wrote. "And our entire class (is) supporting him in this. Especially us African-Americans and that's all that needs to be said. Stay up brother. #DFD."

Last week Jones released a statement to FOX 2 saying there was zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior inside the Detroit Fire Department.

"On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Engine 55, a trial firefighter (probationary employee) engaged in unsatisfactory work behavior which was deemed offensive and racially insensitive to members of the Detroit Fire Department," Jones wrote. "After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the best course of action was to terminate the employment of this probationary employee."

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/loc...-stand-by-white-recruit-fired-over-watermelon

When will we learn?