(I am studying before my next class with a colleague. My phone rings, which is weird because everyone who knows me is aware that I am hard of hearing and require assistance understanding phone calls. Since my colleague is there, I answer it and put it on speakerphone. She translates the call for me. She later told me that the caller was a woman with a very strong Indian accent).

Caller: hello, (my name)?

Me: who is this, and what do you want?

Caller: I am calling from the internal vehicle service department of government. I need from you-

(colleague signed that it’s scam nonsense, so I reply accordingly).

Me: No, you’re not.

Caller: *exasperated sigh and hangs up on me*

(The good news is, it’s been a while and they haven’t called back! I’m guessing they got my name from an illegal sale of customer information, since I had just signed paperwork for business recently).

(I am an elementary school teacher and wear my nerd pretty obviously while at school, including a “Doctor Who” Lanyard with a picture of a weeping angel on the back of my ID badge. I am on cafeteria duty and my badge has flipped over.)

Student: (eyes wide) Ms. (My Name)!
Me: Yes, (Student)? Do you need something?
Student: (grabbing my badge) I didn’t know that one of your family was a zombie!
Me:…Ok, then…

(Me and my friend aren’t the most popular In our school. A girl came up to us during lunch and started bullying my friend.)

Mean girl: *to my friend* oh god- you’re pretty but… you aren’t popular, maybe try to be like the other girls?

My friend: I don’t want to, so you can move along

Mean girl: yeah, but you’re not so pretty if you aren’t popular

My friend: again, I don’t care, move along

Mean girl: BUT YOU HAVE TO BE PRETTY! OTHERWISE YOURE UGLY!

Me: *to the mean girl* she said to go away

Mean girl: *to me* OH SHUT UP- YOURE ONLY MAD CAUSE YOU DONT LOOK LIKE ME

Me: dang, if I looked like you I’d sue my parents

She got mad and left, I know this isn’t the best story, but you should’ve seen her face!

(I wake up one morning, and go online when I find a message from a former coworker. We never really talked outside of work, and I never heard from her since she left, so I’m surprised to hear from her. Note: I am also black.)

Former Coworker: I have a pic of you doing something really stupid.

(I’m very confused about this so I talk about it with our manager when I get to work since he still somewhat keeps in touch with her. A day or so later, he comes up to me.)

Manager: Yeah, I asked her about that pic. She was talking about [Another Black Coworker].

Me: Wait a minute… are you telling me she confused me for THE OTHER BLACK GUY?! It was bad enough when customers couldn’t tell us apart, but she and I worked together! We don’t even look alike!

Manager: *sighs* Yeah… I know.

(Handing food out to a customer)
Customer: could I get some ketchup and mayo?
Me: here’s some ketchup but we done do mayo I’m afraid
Customer: why?
Me: I’m not sure, the company just doesn’t do it
Customer: so can I buy some?
Me: no, we simply don’t have it
Customer: so you don’t sell mayo?
Me: no, sorry
Customer: well that’s a much nicer way of saying it don’t you think