Question about how people may perceive me....

[justjones]

I was wondering...do people automatically stereotype an African-American with dreadlocks as liberal?

Not that I care. It's just that I am working through this temp agency since I am unable to find full-time, permanent employment for the first time in my life thanks to this supposedly "booming" Bush economy :eyes:.

I have an assignment at this investment management firm, so it is very corporate and I am getting the "conversative" vibe, meaning I sense pro-Bush attitudes. After all, it is all about the money for these folks. I heard some chick talking about how she's a radical because she supports a "flat-tax" or something like that the other day. Of course, I kept my mouth zipped tight because I need to eat, but my ears and eyes are wide open. It's kind of like doing a sociological observational study whenever I go into the workplaces because of the various hierarchies, office politics, etc.

At any rate, I was thinking, rather relunctantly for various reasons that I won't go into here, about applying for this full-time position at the firm, but then I got to realizing that as I make various assumptions about them, they are making assumptions about me. I'm just trying to figure out what they may be.

Now, I would like to believe that job performance and attitude and all that count for more, but I'm just talking purely on a superficial level....if you see a black woman with dreads, do you make assumptions about her politics?

Everyone's thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated, as it would assist me in manuevering through this matrix:). Of course, I will probably apply for the position anyway, I just want to know what to expect, be it rejection or whatever. Thanks ahead of time!

[Shell Beau]

1. I try not to automatically assume anything, but I must

say that "cool" comes to mind. :shrug:

on edit "cool" as a good thing! Laid back! And there is no logical reason for me to think this way either :shrug:

[justjones]

13. well, i think i'm pretty cool:)

:D

But I don't know about the rest. Thanks for your reply!

[RandomKoolzip]

2. Honestly, yes. I'll admit to a bit of prejudice about this.

When I see a black guy or girl with dreads, I automatically assume that they're liberal in their politics...but I guess that's just because I cannot possibly imagine a black person misguided enough to vote republican.

[justjones]

15. As I suspected....

I guess I have to face the reality that my hair gives my politics away, which isn't really something I considered before. I guess that's why some people cut them off, but that's actually a reoccurring nightmare I have....cutting my hair off and totally regretting it because of all the work that I put into them.

Oh, and I never, ever, voted Republican in my life!

Thanks for your reply!

[swag]

3. You nailed it.

I see a black woman with dreads and I think she's got progressive politics.

Best wishes,

Another Liberal who works in an extremely Republican investment firm.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

4. No

What a hoot. It never occurred to me to link dreadlocks and liberal politics.

Think that's the old Angela Davis Afro syndrome? Anyone with dreadlocks is probably a Communist and will probably be holding up an armored truck or helping prisoners break out? Or something like that?

People are probably just afraid of you because you're "not like them." Oh, and they're probably just afraid of your hair, because they're morons.

Apply for it. Get everything you can. At the worst, you'll be their token minority, and, if that happens, I say, honey, milk it for all it's worth.

Good luck!

[justjones]

18. It never occurred to me to link them either....

but I was being stupid. Of course people judge on appearances.

As for being the token minority, it's not as easy as it appears to be, especially when it comes down to things that really matter. The token minority is always one step away from being thrown back with all the other minorities from which they are being set apart. I will never be the token minority again, which has caused me major problems in the past and I suspect will cause me even more problems in the future.

But what can I do but do me :shrug:.

Thanks for your reply!

[redqueen]

5. I sure don't!

I've met too many republicans that you wouldn't think by looking at them were republicans not to EVER assume anything about someone else's political leanings.

[justjones]

19. I know. There's probably some staunch African-American Republican...

with dreadlocks somewhere, which wouldn't surprise me in the least, but would be bizarro world nonetheless. :scared:

[redqueen]

20. Here's one... that didn't take long to find!

http://www.opinionjournal.com/cc/?id=110006616



Rasta Republican
Meet Los Angeles's Ted Hayes. He's black, dreadlocked--and belongs to the GOP.

BY JILL STEWART
Thursday, April 28, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT

(snip)

More blacks than ever support vouchers and faith-based initiatives, and side with President Bush on gay marriage. Mr. Hayes recently made the transition himself, ending a long journey for this former leftist who founded Dome Village, an outcropping of pod-like homeless shelters along the freeway in downtown Los Angeles.

There are other prominent black Republicans in California, of course, such as syndicated radio host Larry Elder and community relations expert Joe Hicks. But even among these unusual thinkers, Mr. Hayes stands out. He's an intense critic of L.A.'s powerful "black old guard"--Democratic politicians, charity bosses and inner-city preachers who, for a generation, have responded to poverty and illiteracy by demanding government programs and blaming white racism.

Not surprisingly, plenty of people wish pesky black Republicans like Mr. Hayes would just slink away. He has skewered L.A.'s entrenched black leaders as "Negro officials," and he has the street cred to get away with it. As L.A. endured another crisis between black leaders and cops recently, he refused to denounce police for shooting dead a 13-year-old, Devin Brown, after a car chase. Instead, Mr. Hayes's press release faulted black church leaders who, despite their great power, rarely point to the lack of parental responsibility.

A totemic figure in L.A., Mr. Hayes has long emphasized problem-solving and individual responsibility. If you want to stop kids from shooting people, Mr. Hayes has told appalled black preachers and activists, stop blaming cops and "white folks" for urban tragedy and start blaming the lackadaisical inner-city family culture you support.

[crispini]

6. Yes, I would assume that she is liberal.

And I wouldn't be surprised if your new coworkers assume that too.

Speaking only for myself, however, I try to only make those assumptions (ANY assumptions) mentally in my head, not to EVER articulate them or act on them, and to always be prepared to change them. Also, of course, people's politics don't have sh*t to do with their work ethic or skills, and for your (possible) employer to even consider assuming that is probably illegal.

Good luck! :hi:

[justjones]

21. Thanks, crispini....

I'm not so much concerned about my peers as I am about the ones who have the power to hire/fire me. Most of them are white males. Am I wrong in assuming most of them are Republicans? I don't think so. This is an investment firm with a "conservative" reputation, which predominantly applies to their approach to money, but when it comes down to it applies to their approach to social policy as well, except that this will never be an explicit topic of conversation, especially in the workplace (although I know it will eventually come up in casual conversations, which I will avoid in the workplace from here on out).

[Heidi]

7. I have a deep and abiding love for dreads . . .

and know some folks associated with Jamaica, Nine Mile, etc., so dreads have no negative connotation at all with me.

Go for whatever dream you have, and let your dream, hunger and qualifications shine past your hairstyle and skin color. If you do that and you're not hired, you'll know you did the best you can do by your _self_.

(Belated welcome to DU, too. :hi:)

(Edited for spelling.)

[justjones]

22. Heidi, thanks for the reminder:)

Go for whatever dream you have, and let your dream, hunger and qualifications shine past your hairstyle and skin color.

Your sentiments capture the essence of how and why people of color have survived:).

[cleofus1]

8. i am putting myself in "their" place

a black woman with dreads

A. Listens to either hip/hop or reggae
B. Smokes the Ganja
C. Either votes Democrat...or not at all
D. Has relatives in Jail
E. Dresses Flashy
F. Talks Loudly
G. Has socialist sympathies
H. Can be counted on to give personal observations
I. Comedy relief...

[Canedawg]

10. LOL!

Good stuff, especially D: Has relatives in jail.

LMAO

[justjones]

12. LOL!

Okay, I may fit the bill on 5 out of the 7 things...I won't tell you which ones:).

But I refuse to fulfill "I"....I won't play Steppin' Fetch It for nobody (note my deliberate use of the double negative. Classic!)

[cleofus1]

14. personally...

i would probobly be thinking about how much time we could spend together...you sound like a great person...

[Texasgal]

9. I would try not to stereotype

based on appearance. I like dreads myself... :P

However, for those folks "assuming" or "snickering" under their breath, or outloud....

Politics has no room in the workplace...EVER. I would report anyone who discusses anything political to HR. It is never appropriate.

Good luck.... I know what it's like... The surgeons I work for are all extreme wingnuts!

[justjones]

23. Wow. Most surgeons are already arrogant dickwads....

but extreme wingnut surgeons....holy crap! I feel sorry for you:(.

I know, politics don't belong in the workplace. I learned that the hard way, unfortunately. It's just hard hiding my contempt for the neo-Nazis among us, so I would rather not know who the neo-Nazis are and just speculate. It's much easier to deal with them that way:).

[Greyhound]

11. Generally, yes they do.

Especially in the 'conservative' industries. For myself I've never been able to keep my mouth shut, especially when they go into 'ditto head' mode. That's why I went my own way and have my own business now.

[justjones]

24. Sounds like we have a lot in common...

especially not being able to keep my mouth shut at times when encountering the wingnuts.

My long-term goal is to have my own business. but for now I have to deal with office political bullshit. I hope to be where you are one day:).

[dajoki]

16. i try not to assume anything

all my life i worked with a bunch of gun toting, rednecks who were MOSTLY conservitive, but not all. their life was hunting and work. i used to sit back and laugh while they would stab each other in the back for overtime, and cry to the boss when one got more hours than another. they would always ask me for my overtime and i'd tell them to take it, i have a life. but i think you should go for whatever you want and screw them all, your politics SHOULD NOT matter. good luck!!:woohoo:

[I Have A Dream]

17. They probably do. They also probably think that they're not very...

professional looking. (I don't feel this way, but many people in the corporate hierarchy are so into conformity that it really throws them when someone makes his/her own rules, which, to them, having dreadlocks would be.)

If you love your dreadlocks, I hope that you find a way to not have to get rid of them. I know that you also have to eat and if you have to do this, then you have to do this, but it would be like not being true to yourself in a way.

Good luck, justjones!

[justjones]

27. Thanks, I Have A Dream....

I haven't seriously considered cutting them off, but the thought has crossed my mind the past few days. It would just be easier, but only in the short-term. In the long-term, I would be conforming and not be true to myself, which goes against the reasons I grew them in the first place:).

[NashVegas]

25. I'd Assume You're an Apolitical Dope Smoker

Before anything.

[justjones]

29. Okay.

Dope smoker---> depends on what you mean by "dope."

Apolitical---> depending on how much "dope" has been smoked, i may be in different states of political consciousness, but never apolitical. if anything, it makes me more political.

[Java]

26. Sadly...

People do indeed prejudge other people based upon their appearances. It's just human nature, that is why so many people try so hard to blend in to try and look and sound like everyone else.

This is because we fear people and opinions that are different than ourselves. And when we fear something, it is human nature to attempt to attack it. It is a defense mechanism. Demonizing other people is the way that human beings rationalize their own abherrent behavior in order to avoid feeling guilty for their own actions.

Conservative people attack liberal people, and the converse is true. White people are afraid of black people, partly due to stereotyped images that they are bombarded with by hollywood and the news media.

You can tell if someone is afraid or uncomfortable around black people, by the way they are bending over backwards to be "PC". And yet...they don't socialize with black people outside of the work place.

If you are in a conservative environment, dress conservatively and professionally. Always make eye contact and greet people with a nod or smile when you are about 15 feet away.

By doing this the people who are around you will feel more comfortable in your presence. If they have a different opinion than your own in regards to politics or on social issues. Always agree with them, and add a rejoining comment that is supportive of their position.

And when you are at home and are in the company of your family and circle of friends, you can relax and be yourself. And vote your conscience during elections.

The Japanese have a saying: "The nail that sticks up will get hammered down."

[I Have A Dream]

28. I agree with most of this...

except the part about "always agree with them, and add a rejoining comment that is supportive of their position". I think that this is asking much to much of any person. No job is worth that, especially since the person can just not comment. (It doesn't earn the same points as agreeing with them, but it's not the same as arguing with them.)

(Unless you were being facetious, and I've just made a fool of myself! :) )

However, it really does sadden me to think of her cutting her hair since it seems to be so important to her.)

[crispini]

31. I disagree about the nail part.

Maybe it's just my experience in corporate America, but I have found that although you have to be cautious in a new situation, once you have "earned your stripes" and proven than you can deliver, nobody cares about your personal life or politics.

Of course I work in a technology company so who knows? :shrug:

[I Have A Dream]

32. Yeah, I also work at a technology company.

I really think that the rules are different for us.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

30. I do

I must admit.

But most of the dreadlocked people in my neighborhood of Brooklyn are also usually wearing bright rasta colors and a Marley t-shirt or something.

So that probably also factors into my opinion.

On edit: I should also add that people might assume I'm conservative due to my appearance. Young white male who's usually wearing a suit and works at a law firm down by Wall Street.

Of course that couldn't be further from the truth but still...