(I work at an auto and diesel repair shop, and I happen to be a young female. I write estimates, talk to customers, order parts, etc…)
Me: “[Shop]. How can I help you?”
Customer: “I need a quote on my truck.”
Me: “Sure, what kind of truck?”
Customer: “Are you the service writer?”
Me: “I am.”
Customer: “Are you the only service writer? No men?”
Me: “Just me. [Old Male Coworker] left a year ago.”
Customer: “Can I talk to anyone else?”
Me: “Sure. Hang on just a minute.”
(Transfers phone to one of the owners, who is an office manager.)
Owner: “Hi, this is Jane!”
(This happens about once a month.)
(A coworker comes up to my desk to drop off some paperwork. He notices a photo on my desk. I am white.)
Coworker: “Who’s this?”
Me: “My son.”
Coworker: “Your son is black?”
Me: “He’s adopted.”
Coworker: “Oh. I think it’s great that gay couples can adopt.”
Me: “Yeah, it certainly makes us happy.”
Coworker: “It stops you contributing to the gene pool.” *walks away*
(I live an a pretty diverse neighborhood. I have just gotten into the line at the DMV, when a woman gets in line behind me. We are the only two white people in the short line, which we will get through within five minutes.)
Her: *whispering to me* “Don’t you just wish that immigration control would storm in and shorten this line up for us?”
(I turn to see her smiling at me, waiting for me to respond in agreement.)
Me: “I’m not too concerned about how long the line is. I’m just bothered I have to deal with a racist old bag while I wait.”
(She scoffed and looked away. She spent the remainder of the wait muttering to herself about how she would have to pay for all the insurance for THOSE people, and that they were just going to end up running over white kids.)
(I’m a trans woman in my mid-twenties. I’ve been out to my parents for about six years at this point, but haven’t been able to start transitioning. A few days before this, I finally figured out how I can start transition and have talked to my mother to let her know where I’m at with everything. It’s Dad’s turn now, so I start telling him that I’m planning on transitioning and we have a long chat about it. When the chat’s basically over, I go to get a cigarette. My dad’s never really liked the fact that I smoke, so I turn back as an afterthought.)
Me: “For what it’s worth, at least I’ll have to quit smoking.”
Dad: “For what it’s worth, I think I’d rather you smoked.”
(I’m the only dark-skinned person working in my branch. I’m pretty used to snide commentary from customers, but this one…)
Me: “Good afternoon, sir!”
Customer: “Wow, I’ve never gotten any brown sugar lovin’ before! Come give me a kiss!” *makes a kissy face at me*
Me: *too dumbfounded to speak*
Customer: “I’m just kidding, I need to deposit these.”
Me: *still so dumbfounded that I run his transaction and send him on his way without speaking another word*
Coworker: “I cannot believe that just happened.”
