It was said that the election of Donald Trump was a victory for anti-PC-culture. As in, now that Baby Fists McOrange is our president, “people” no longer have to be so worried about using the wrong language or accidentally offending anyone, and everybody can let their racist/sexist/transphobic/homophobic/bigoted freak flags fly out in the open. Well, that might be the case… except when it comes to people saying sh-t about white folks. Suddenly political correctness is a MORAL IMPERATIVE, Y’ALL. Otherwise all of the salty white tears will be shed because a black person DARED to refer to some white guy as “that white boy.” That’s it. That’s the racist pejorative that was thrown around in this story. This story involves an American Idol contestant from 2005 named Bo Bice. Bo didn’t even win American Idol! But he’s still around and he hangs out in airports, eating at Popeyes. That’s where this racist aggression happened.
He first made headlines in 2005, finishing second place to Carrie Underwood on American Idol‘s fourth season. And now Bo Bice is back in the spotlight — but for a very different reason. The 41-year-old singer and father of four made headlines recently after an employee at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen referred to him as “white boy.”
The incident happened at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Dec. 30, where the musician claimed a handful of African-American employees mocked his name after he had ordered — calling him “Bow-Bow,” “Boo-Boo,” and “Bo-Bo.” Mistakenly ringing his order in twice, one of the group called for him when his food was ready for a second time. That’s when Bice allegedly heard an employee yell, “He’s already got his — that white boy there.”
“If the tables had been turned and I, as a white male, treated any person of ethnicity any way resembling how she spoke to and treated me, I’d be considered insensitive and racist,” Bice wrote in a lengthy Facebook post about the incident. “Why is it that three or four Popeyes employees can openly mock a courteous PAYING customer in front of an airport terminal of people without any recourse and no apology?”
“I’m not a bigot — I love everybody,” he told Fox-5 on Tuesday. “If the tables had been turned and I used something as insensitive like that… I would be boycotted, there would be people not buying my albums, there would be people coming and picketing my shows and everything else.”
Bice left a complaint on Popeyes’ corporate number, but took to social media about the incident after his call went unanswered. This time, he threatened legal action.
“All I want is an apology,” he told Fox-5. “I don’t care if you’re Bo Bice, Bo Jackson, or Bo Diddly. When you’re walking through that airport, you should be treated the same. And when you’re giving your money to an establishment, you should be treated the same as anybody.”
In response, Mack II Inc. — which owns the Popeyes airport franchise — issued a statement to Fox-5, owning up to what happened and saying the company is “very sorry that the incident occurred and for any pain or embarrassment that Mr. Bice experienced.
“The company does not condone the behavior of one of our associates and we took corrective action as soon as we were made aware of the incident,” the company continued. “Also, we will require re-training of our associates to ensure this isolated incident does not occur again. In addition, Mr. Bice has been issued an apology by the General Manager. We value all of our customers regardless of race, religion, age, disability, gender, etc.”
Bo Bice magnanimously REFUSED to have the Popeyes employee fired, although he did name her (Shawana) in his Facebook post, and he also posted a photo of her on his Twitter. He’s actually been tweeting about this incident and posting long-winded diatribes on Facebook about it for days now. Bo, in the ultimate come-to-white-Jesus moment, actually wrote in one post: “The backlash on social media from speaking out proves my point that we have a major problem with racial prejudice in our country and society.” O RLY? The backlash against a white guy crying bitter, salty white tears is what made him realize that there’s a problem with racial prejudice in this society. Not all of those times that cops shot unarmed black men and boys. Not the systemic disenfranchisement of minority voters. Not the election of a man who called Mexicans “rapists” and promised to create a database to track Muslim citizens. This incident at Popeyes was Bo Bice’s racial eye-opener, y’all.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Shocking. Another white person getting upset over perceived racism. I am shocked.
At the risk of sounding like an overeducated East Coast liberal, being okay with referring to a white person’s skin color but not a black person’s skin color fails Kant’s categorical imperative test. (E.g. If it’s not okay with one group, it shouldn’t be okay with all groups.)
Come back with that when there has been systemic racism (including slavery, apartheid, segregation, police shootings, redlighting, etc.) against white people for centuries.
NW, then let me ask you this: what purpose does it serve to refer to white people by their skin color when it’s not okay for black or brown people? Retribution for past wrongs? Momentary feeling of power over another? What does that do, in the long run? What does that change? I would argue it changes nothing.
@MamaHB
It’s not about restitution, it’s not about momentary power, it’s about understanding that historical context creates differences in the way language is perceived.
The language you use here suggests to me you do not understand the issue, because you are framing it as a way to regain power.
Calling someone white boy does not have the same history as calling someone black boy. It’s because white boy doesn’t come with decades of discrimination, violence and hatred. I’m not doing this topic complete justice, but I think google can help you if you are honestly interested in learning the answer to your questions.
I’m with you on this Honey Badger.
But it’s a difficult proposition to apply Kant in a sociological context, don’t you think?
MHB misapplies Kant here.
It is okay to refer to someone’s skin color. If I see one black person in a room full of whites, and someone asks me who Susan is, I say “the black woman.”
I’ve seen white people bend themselves backwards trying to say “Umm…the one with the blue coat, no the other blue coat, no…with the scarf, no the other one…” when they can just say “the Asian guy” and get it over with. It’s almost like treating skin color like a deformity that no one is supposed to notice instead of an identifying factor like hair color.
Agree with Mamabear: Racism comes in all shades and colors.
I don’t like to hear people calling whites crackers, or beckies anymore than I can stand the n word and taunts being used.
Seen, read and experienced racism on both sides of the aisles and wish to heck it would all stop. No one should be called out on the basis of their skin color, black, brown or white.
Maybe I am more sensitive to it all because I am mixed race and see both sides of the issues and hear both sides of the insults.
Salty tears to go around for everyone. Wish we could all get along and all the
name calling and insults would stop.
I understand what you’re trying to say by leveraging Kant, Mamabear, but I’d argue that it’s a misapplication of the categorical imperative.
We’re discussing a sociological construct, yes? Deontology is a lovely concept, but the application of it towards institutionalized precepts actually creates a logical fallacy in this circumstance.
Prejudice and racism aren’t just objectively defined terms in the dictionary. Racism in this country has been, for hundreds of years, a defined power, from slavery and Jim Crow, to shitty access to good public education and criminal justice. Anyone can be prejudiced, but racism is a pretty well defined sociological concept with easily recognizable applications. Was the employee out of line, rude and unprofessional? Absolutely. Is there a Kantian lesson to be applied? I don’t think so.
Now let’s suggest we’re not talking about an 18th century hypothetical, and go with the idea of the applications of perfect/imperfect duty. Kant’s ethical principles relied on a vacuum, a perfect social contract theory in which all individuals were treated in an egalitarian manner. He presupposed a world in which he added this layer of perfect duty atop the individual understanding the balance of individual rights and effectively the golden rule. But that’s problematic, because Kant was talking about free white dudes in Prussia.
I’d maybe go with Schopenhauer on this one, that empathy is the basis of morality. I love Kant as much as the next gal, but it’s hard to throw the categorical imperative out as a test of ethics here.
It’s not okay from a managerial view of a crew member making a derogatory remark to a paying customer. Racism comes in all colours, same as stupidity and lacking respect. She needs training, a write-up and for us all to move along with daily life.
Since he can’t distinguish rudeness from racism it seems unlikely he’s ever faced any form of racism.
Umm… but he IS a white boy.
Exactly what I was thinking…
I really think people should use other descriptive terms than rely on skin color as the go-to…but … sigh…I don’t know. I’m about as far left as it will go but yes sometimes I think there is too much PC in this world. Just makes for everyone getting pissy all the time…
I agree. But if he’s the only white guy in the place, it’s a lot quicker and easier to identify him to others as white than to sidestep the issue in the name of being PC and saying “the guy with the glasses” or “the jerk in the three-piece suit”. If he were seven feet tall, nobody’d blink an eye if someone referred to him as “the really tall dude”. If skin color, hair color, height, wearing glasses, etc. is *the* most singular trait that helps identify someone in a crowd, it only makes sense to refer to it. It’s when such a reference is used to the exclusion of any other, when no such physical reference is needed, that it becomes a problem.
I’d tell Bice to lighten up, but hey, he’s already WHITE! I’ll show myself out…
This guy picked the wrong episode for his 15 seconds of Twitter fame for sure. And don’t get me started on his crying.
However, my question on the whole scenario is: If the employee wanted to refer to Bo, could they have said “the fries go to that white guy over there”. There seems to be something provocative at the very least about the specific term “white boy”.
And as someone said earlier, is this how we solve centuries of racism, by letting each aggrieved group get their turn at being the name caller? Seems not the most effective way to move forward, but maybe that’s the way it’s going to be.
Perhaps I am wrong about this but when describing somebody, if physical characteristics are necessary, I use what they look like. So if bo bice had crazy blue hair I would say “that guy with the blue hair. If he was standing next to a black man with similar
Physical characteristics I would say “that white guy over there”
No offense but I find that kind of handwringing about refusing to acknowledge a person’s race as a descriptive silly. Making a point of ‘not seeing race’ doesn’t actually do anything about racism. Much healthier is being respectful and listening to each other.
@Luca76, isn’t Crowdhood saying they *would* use race as a descriptor?
@luca- I was saying I do use race as a descriptor when it is the most clearly defining. I do try to pick a characteristic that is unique without referring to race two men are about the same height, same colored hair and same weight but one is black and one is white I am going to say “I meant the white guy or the black guy”. I do see color, I never said I didn’t. I actually hate when people (almost always white) say that they don’t because it’s easy for them to “not see it” since they are the majority. Calling somebody black or white is not an insult.
So sorry I misread
@luca- no worries! The type of people you described are the worst so I am glad
You are taking them down across the internet 🙂
Well at least from now on, fast food workers everywhere will know to describe him as “that washed up, thin skinned crybaby loser from American Idol.”
Yes! LMAO.
and here I thought you were against name-calling and childish antiques.
That’s true, he is. So if there’s another incident similar to this one, involving WHITE employees and a BLACK customer, then it should be ALL good. Yes? Thanks.
Dahlia: It isn’t “all good” either way. Work places are supposed to abide by policy, rules and laws that are in place for a reason. Courtesy and common sense are being replaced by rudeness and whatever goes is okay.
Fast food restaurants could use a policy such as the Starbucks policy of asking for the customer’s first name which is written down for their drink order.
When a beverage order is ready one is called out by one’s name and not their skin color.
This was a workplace. There are laws in place. The laws were broken. The employer, Popeyes, then did exactly what it was supposed to do in accordance with the law. Corrective action being some sort of corrective action for the individual employee, which could be a verbal warning, a letter of reprimand, a suspension depending on whether the employee had prior transgressions, and re-training for all involved.
Bice may be a jerk (don’t know) but in a workplace the laws apply and he did have a legitimate complaint to bring to the company. He then was a jerk to bring his whining to social media.
I’m honestly baffled by a lot of the comments on here. I’ve worked phone support. I’ve worked food industry. I’ve worked retail. There is not an instance in which it is appropriate to be condescending to a customer. If you’re in a customer facing position – you don’t get to turn around to your coworkers and talk about the customer as if they don’t exist because you’re not addressing them directly.
You act professionally in front of customers. I don’t care if you’re serving fast food, or if you’re a doctor. You act appropriately, and address/refer to people politely. Don’t call grown women ‘girl’. Don’t call grown men ‘boy’. Don’t single people out by race, or sexual orientation or anything like that. If you can’t find other ways to describe a human being, get a better vocabulary. I don’t care if it’s ‘easier’ to say “the white boy” or whatever. You’re at work. You’re not there to do what’s easiest for you; you’re there to serve the customer. How hard is it to motion towards the person you’re talking about? How hard is it to say “The man with the glasses standing by the door” or whatever.
Erinn, I agree with you. Common courtesy is all that’s needed.
Well said Erin. I’m not going to mock him for whining. He’s a paying customer therefore employees should be professional. Also Popeyes has a number system. There is no need to call customers by their racial features.
He’s a 41 year old man. You’re a grown woman but your white male bos refers to you as “girl.” How does that feel?
The workers sounded unprofessional but racist? Yeah this guy is just whining for attention.
I just got crappy service at KFC a couple of days ago. I’m not crying over it.
+1
This. Honestly, I would be peeved too if people mocked my name, but to make it about race because he was called “that white boy”? Attention wh*ring on a really sad and ignorant level.
Yay. Here are my people.
Was it rude? Unquestionably.
But to claim that this was evidence of racism? I just don’t agree with that.
Exactly. I don’t believe for one moment that he felt racially discriminated against. He got his little feelings hurt about their mocking his name, made a complaint, saw it didn’t get him a free bucket of chicken, and took it to the next level with the “white boy” nonsense. Now that his social media whoring got him some more attention, he’s gonna work it for all it’s worth.
Also, if he’s from Georgia, I will bet my yearly salary that’s not the first time he’s been called “white boy” or that it’s anywhere close to the worse thing he’s been called.
please take all the seats.
YASSSS! The whole damn stadium of seats…
He overreacted on social media and got self-righteous, but if the events occurred as written, the restaurant created a hostile atmosphere for a paying customer, the employee was rude, and all should have been called out for it.
If he considers that hostile then he shouldn’t leave the house and stay home in a protected bubble. Or get a bodyguard and a pair of ear plugs.
If people are rude to you, you have a right to feel it and to complain about it. I think he went over the top with social media, as I said earlier. And yes, I’m sure he’s now the toast of Fox and the white supremacist sites. But the people were rude to him. True.
When you’re in the service industry you don’t get the luxury of being flippant.
He absolutely overreacted by throwing it out on Twitter. If it was a problem, he should have contacted a manager and discussed it with them quietly. But the person working was still rude. Not racist. Not even the worst thing to say. But it’s just stupid. Don’t call a grown man a boy, regardless of race. You don’t get to act however you feel like when you’re the one providing the service someone is paying for. Especially in a chain restaurant.
Why not “the guy standing over there” or “the guy in the glasses”.
“The term boy is primarily used to indicate biological sex distinctions, cultural gender role distinctions or both. The latter most commonly applies to adult men, either considered in some way immature or inferior, in a position associated with aspects of boyhood, or even without such boyish connotation as age-indiscriminate synonym.”
You just don’t do that when you’re at work. Racial issues with the word aside – it’s still condescending. Even if you don’t like a customer – you still have to behave within the company expectations.
Workplace laws were broken. An EEOC judge would very likely consider that treatment of a customer hostile.
It is very difficult to get a judgment of a hostile work environment based on a single incident, and this certainly wouldn’t pass muster. It’s poor customer service, little more.
Adding: It’s also not an EEOC issue.
First of all this crusty nobody got one of the girl’s in trouble who didn’t even do anything. He had no idea which one of the girls called him “the white boy.” Whoever said it clearly wasn’t talking to him and was talking amongst her co-workers to let them know whether he got his or not. As someone who works in the service industry, describing folks in a crowded environment is hard so yea skin color sometimes comes into play when I’m talking amongst my co-workers to make sure that everyone has gotten taken care of. No we don’t use the N word or say the word Cr@cker.
This nobody sounds like he’s butt hurt because the girl didn’t refer to him as Bo Bice. Because everyone knows who Bo Bice is.
If he was upset, he should have talked to the manager and if it didn’t workout there then take it to corporate. His overreaction to what happened is what makes me not feel sorry for him one bit. Think about it…he most likely got a minimum wage worker fired during the holidays…and it was the wrong worker!
Sorry but I have no sympathy for this person who happens to be white. He’s now just realizing there’s racial injustices. Puhlease. Big cry baby is what he is.
As somebody who works in labor law, including workplace discrimination, yes there was wrongdoing here by those employees. He did take it to corporate and corporate handled it appropriately. His mistake and wrongdoing was going to social media.
+1
OMG, did you see the video news segment where he talked about this? Dude f-ing cried because this and said he was ashamed for America. I am not shaming him for being a man that cries, but for this bs overreaction to an innocuous moment in his life.
This is a prefect example white fragility and how much some of them so desperately want to be oppressed.
Yeah, you have to watch the video. I’m so embarrassed for him.
This is what kills me
‘Oh SJWs, always crying about words and wanting safe spaces, they need to learn to deal with reality’
*Gets called white, or worse yet racist, one time, throws a fit and a press conference to cry
Alt righties are, hands down, the biggest crybabies there are when it comes to demanding coddling and criticism-free zones. All of their throwing “snowflake! safe space” at others is, make no mistake, 100% projection.
Exactly. The hypocrisy is unreal. *goes off to breathe in a paper bag*
Geez how hard for him. Has he met a minority? We deal with numerous microagressions DAILY. Sit down with your white tears FFS
Daily. Constantly. If someone referred to me as a “black girl,” I’d go “meh” and go on with my life. That he’s literally crying over this on the news is just ridiculous. This is what has given rise to the age of Trump – (certain) white people feeling affronted by the very things they’ve subjected others to for millenia.
Are you serious????
Yeah I’ll be skipping that vid. Not trying to die of second-hand embarrassment.
“Second hand embarrassment?” I don’t understand that. I don’t feel ashamed or personally embarrassed when a stupid, ignorant, spoiled, or mean white person does something appalling—any more than a black person should feel personally ashamed when a member of his own race does something unjust. Each person represents himself/herself—not their entire race. To believe otherwise is to condemn/condense all people into monolithic racial groups, in which no one thinks or acts as anything other than “everyone else” in that race. That is a sort of racism in itself, IMO.
You don’t feel embarrassed by white people? Good for you!
I feel embarrassed every day by the ignorance displayed by white people and sure, it would be great to be able to point to them and say “it was just that white guy, we’re not all like that” but it doesn’t work that way. As a race, we ARE responsible for the behavior of white people towards minorities and PoC.
Maybe the problem is that too many of us DON’T feel a sense of responsibility as to how white people conduct themselves. But I guess that’s just another example of white privilege: we get to be treated as individuals while black people and other minorities get lumped together.
@kitten-
Thank you. You saved me from having to try to address that.
“This is a prefect example white fragility and how much some of them so desperately want to be oppressed.”
PREACH.
They want the “special treatment” of an oppressed people without any of the pain.
I clicked on the link to find out who the hell Bo Bice was.
I’ve never heard of him. I’ve never watched American Idol or any talent shows like that. Obviously not a fashionable person. Those earrings Bo!! Oh! The suit! Yikes!
He has albums and shows to boycott and protest? Huh. Who knew?
Ha, I wondered the same thing. This, though, was a pretty ingenuous way of getting it on people’s radar, I guess.
What is wrong with someone saying that white boy at a white boy!?? I mean not super professional of a Popeyes Airport employee but still NOT racist, you silly white boy.
Just for argument’s sake: if a white person were to refer to a black man as “black boy”, would that be the same as a black person referring to a white man as “white boy”? If “white boy” is a non-racist descriptor of a white male, then “black boy” should be a non-racist descriptor of a black male, right?
“Black guy” is okay, but “boy” was historically used to address black men as a way of demeaning them and putting them “in their place”, so that specifically wouldn’t be a good choice of word. But “guy”, “kid”, sue, why not.
I think so. I worked at Boys and Girls club where the majority of the other employees were black. My coworkers would describe the kids when we were talking about them, as that black kid or that light skinned kid. They were just doing it to describe the kids it wasn’t racist. And it’s not racist for me to refer to someone as that black guy or that black girl. I think a lot of white people are just scared to say that black girl, because they think it is racist to describe someone as black? As long as I don’t say it was disgust or disdain like THAT black girl then it’s not racist.
No it’s not the same thing to call a black man a ‘boy’. Up until Jim Crow black men were addressed as boy whether they were 9 or 90 and the intent was to demean them.
Calling a white guy a white boy only brings to mind that awful song from the 70s.
No. Because in history, there has never been anything wrong with being a “white boy”. It’s the best/easiest thing to be, historically speaking. Conversely, there has been lots of trouble being a black man, and even worse a black boy, because the term boy was used to purposefully further demean black men. There’s context to racism, always. And these annoying “well the opposite thing doesn’t mean the same thing” arguments are non-sensical because of that.
@ Emily:
I posed a question for conversation’s sake. That’s it.
It is wrong because it is a violation of the EEOC and most state workplace anti-discrimination laws.
The EEOC has no standing with regard to a single incident of a customer complaining about racial bias. Racial discrimination in public accommodations – which is what this would fall under – would be investigated by state and federal Civil Rights Divisions.
You’ve posted that a few times and I’m curious as to how this violates anti-discrimination laws. As far as I know, the law does not preclude anyone from using racial descriptors, just that race (and other protected categories) may not be used to provide or not provide services. Nor was the racial descriptor used as an insult (like the “n” word). Not being adversarial, just curious.
Because they were already making fun of him before they used the racial descriptor. That bumps it up.
This isn’t an EEOC issue, in spite of what you have said multiple times; Bice is not an employee of Popeye’s. He has no standing to file a complaint with that agency. Could, conceivably, an employee make a claim? Based on this single incident? I mean, sure they can try, but it won’t go anywhere.
Racial discrimination in public accommodations (i.e., the service industry in handling customers) is an issue for state and federal civil rights divisions to investigate. And no one is going to open a file over this.
But the EE stands for “equal employment.” He wasn’t employed there.
What a whiny little manchild. I could see being annoyed with them making fun of his name and maybe privately contacting the company with the feedback. But blasting it all over social media and literally crying about it on the news (of course, a local Fox affiliate, which probably has a hotline for “White People Feeling Wronged”)?
Well, at least Donnie has another potential performer for the Inaugural!
Maybe THAT was his end goal? Being invited to sing at the inauguration? Lord knows he has nothing else going on right now.
Probably. Before yesterday, who outside of his immediate family remembered that Bo Bice existed?
This. I can understand being annoyed and talking to the manager just to alert them to the employees’ behavior, but FFS, crying about it on Fox News and social media? Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. Get over yourself, dude.
Why is he complaining about the term “white boy” when they made fun of his name? Mocking his name is why he should be mad, not that they used the term “white boy”. Mocking his name is why there were super rude and should be reprimanded.
This is what I was thinking. The employees were 100 percent rude to him in mocking his name. And I have no issue with him complaining to corporate about it. His making this a racial issue is what makes me SMH. Posting long diatribes about it and crying on the news is where I go from sympathy to disgust. He’s absolutely milking this for attention and the idea that he’s comparing this situation to what black people and other minorities go through every single day makes me hopping mad.
“I would be boycotted, there would be people not buying my albums,”
Are there people who DO???
Lol, good question. This is the first I have ever heard of this guy.
Now there are. The AltRight is stroking it to this idiot. In fact, I wouldnt be surprised to see him singing at the inauguration.
Exactly what I said down thread. I’m willing to bet he went public with this for precisely that reason-and it will probably work.
Trump voters will probably buy them now.
That was my first reaction. Unlike other American Idol also-rans, I haven’t heard anything about Bo Bice since he lost to Carrie Underwood…or Fantasia…or Ruben Studdard or whoever it was before i stopped watching.
I actually haven’t watched AI in years, but I remember him. He had a lovely voice and a wonderful soulfulness to him (he also had long hair and looked like a hippie back then). I didn’t know he were active, or I could be one of those people who had his album (well, maybe not, I think he sang his own song once and it wasn’t to my taste). He has talent for sure.
Light a candle for white men, today. And remember to call your congressman. Do something to end the suffering endured by white men. #triggered #whitemenmatter.
Done!!! 😂😂😂😂
Lol. Hilarious article.
I’m betting he was offended by the word boy. White man may have been ok in his view. Calling a black man “boy” is loaded with a history of oppression, and is never OK. There is no such history regarding white men, so he needs to relax. It’s dismissive but not racist. On the other hand I’d fire any employee who mocked a guest’s name.
Thank you! Everyone acts like there is no historical precedent to racism.
They also seem to be unable to understand the concept of context. It’s so depressing.
“I’m not a bigot – I love everybody” If you are not a bigot, why do you have to tell the world you are not one? No one was implying you are one. Makes me think he is trying to deflect some nasty crap ready to come to light
Because that’s how our society has trained us. If you’re NOT a minority, you have to say “I’m not racist.” So people’s panties don’t get in a bunch!
I’m upset that you didn’t post the video of his interview about the incident.
HE CRIES AT THE END. The dramatics of it all. Give him the Oscar right now.
I laughed so hard at this.
I mean… maybe they recognized him, but as it was 12 years ago didn’t remember his name?
Maybe, because fast food places get orders wrong occasionally – his order was made by mistake a second time?
Maybe an irritated employee pointed out (perhaps too loudly) that the dude already got his food the first time?
Done, done, and done.
What a super douche.
So I guess someone is angling for an invitation to perform at Trump’s inauguration, then?
Because I honestly can’t think why he would think that anyone would care about this except to get some press. It’s not like he has a lot going on for him.
Damn, he’s the only “famous” person I’ve met and now he’s gotta go make an ass of himself. Bo, just no sweetie. You are a white boy, sounds like they were simply referring to you and not using it as some type of racial slang, which wouldn’t be offensive either. Perfect example of how disconnected white men are right here, oh poor you, the world is so mean to you and is out to get you!
I work in a building surrounded by entertainment studios so sighting A listers are a norm. My Mom and several relatives are also part of the industry. But I tell you, I get so hype when I encounter former reality show contestants. Constantine Maroullis, Bice and Ace Young are on my top stalk list if I ever get to hear they are in town.
Lol. he’s my only claim which is sad, and it was long before American Idol, he was just some douche who kept hitting on my friend.
Well I guess I can count those long blonde hair twin singers that were famous in the 80’s or 90’s, one of the was Gunner, can’t remember the other😂😂
Can we discuss what he is wearing?
Jewellery of a pirate, suit of a daring banker, buttons of a lounge singer, then the intellectual glasses.
I don’t think I’ve seen this look before.
That is the look of a guy at some dive bar near closing time, who is desperate to hookup with someone. The guy who has had too many peppermint schnapps shooters( got to have fresh breath!) comes up to you slurring” Have you seen my girlfriend?” and you go “No, what does she look like? ” He replies” Just look in the mirror” and he downs another shot and grins
That imagery is so intense. I can smell him. It’s the overwhelming stench of CK one and the aforementioned alcohol schnapps breath.
He will also only buy shots for himself, thinks buying girls drinks is for schmucks and hates dancing unless its grinding up on you without your consent.
Can I just say, that this thread right here has me grinning like a loon.
Btw, do loons actually grin?
LMAO! You guys are hilarious 🙂
Inauguration advisory: Bo Bice will perform right after Rob Schneider-Scott Baio juggling act. Later Antonio Sabato will recreate his stunt in Celebrity Circus.
HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am almost positive that I have visited this particular Popeyes at ATL more than once, and my suspicion is that Bo is not nearly as innocent as he claims. My take is that Bo behaved like an entitled jerk towards the staff who were probably trying desperately to keep up with a nonstop stream of harried customers in what is undeniably one of the world’s busiest airports. I think he probably whined a bit too much or demanded special treatment and may have even tried the “Don’t you know who I am?” shtick on them, which would explain why they mangled his name. Of course the employees were wrong to be rude to a customer, but I do not think referring to him as a “white boy” was the horrific racist slur he makes it out to be. Chances are, after all, that he was one of only a few white customers in attendance, and as one of my black friends asked on Facebook, “Shouldn’t Bo Bice have known that he would be called a white boy in a Popeye’s?”
Fellow ATLien here, hi! And yes. All of this right here.
Can you imagine if every person of color cried on the news every time they were called “black guy” or “black girl”? They would have to dedicate an entire segment to it, because I’m sure it happens every day, many times a day. But this poor muffin gets called “white boy” ONE TIME in his life and it’s national news. White masculinity is so fragile it needs an otter box.
^^haha, perfect comment. +100
I suspect you are right. It doesn’t make any sense that they would start mocking his name the way they did if all he said was “Bo” when they took his order. That’s not an uncommon name, especially in the South.
Now … if he gave his full name “Bo Bice” and acted like an entitled jerk. [“Don’t you know who I am?”] That’s a different story. It would also make more sense as to why they seemed to be repeating his first name during the mocking “Bow-Bow” “Boo-Boo” “Bo-Bo” “Bo Bice”
The making fun of his name was rude, that I agree on. Calling him white when he IS white is a stupid thing to be upset over. I grew up in a very racially mixed area and was often referred to as ‘the white girl’, handled it without getting butthurt. What does he have to boycott, anyway?
The Popeyes’ employees were rude, plain & simple. They knew what they were saying & how they said it. But it’s definitely not the same as if Bo we’re to use a racial slur towards them. I think that’s his point tho. If we (as a country) are trying to move forward than referring to someone’s as “whitey” or “white boy” is probably not helping. It would be just as rude if I said that “black dude”. It’s all about delivery & tone that make a statement. Bice REALLY could have handle this differently. This certainly isn’t going to bridge any gaps, that’s for sure.
Nope ‘whitey’ is not the same as ‘white boy’ not rude to say black dude. It was wrong of them to make fun of his name but there’s nothing wrong with using words to describe someone.
Maybe YOU don’t think it’s rude, but I’m sure there’s “black dudes” who’d prefer to be referred to differently! Do not misconstrue the point! That’s not the appropriate way to address or describe customers/guest in the service industry….or really any business. Call me privileged but I don’t want to be called that “white girl over there” when I’m a paying customer…. by ANYONE…white, black, hispanic…Saying the blonde lady or even that young white lady is more appropriate. Treat people how you want to be treated. Is that so hard?
Kittenfarts first off you said saying ‘whitey’ which is an intended slur is the same thing as saying ‘white boy’.That’s just plain false. It’s not the same and I’m guessing you’d admit that since you didn’t argue that point.
As for whether someone calls you a white lady, me a black lady or someone else a black dude. I’d say it’s all about intent using words that are accurate as a descriptive as long as they are said with respect is fine. Look people that work at the Popeyes airport are probably not going to be delivering 5 star customer service. Making fun of his name is the bigger problem in this case.
Luca if you consider addressing someone appropriately as 5 star service than enough said. It’s simply common courtesy. What if Bo Bo as they called him said these workers must be uneducated since they clearly think that’s an appropriate way to treat customers. Wouldnt that be rude or even demeaning?
Absolutely!
“I’m not a bigot — I love everybody,” he told Fox-5 on Tuesday. “If the tables had been turned and I used something as insensitive like that… I would be boycotted, there would be people not buying my albums, there would be people coming and picketing my shows and everything else.”
You mean somebody’s actually buying his albums?
He’s hoping to get a spot at Trump’s inauguration.
He doesn’t have to hope there’s plenty of room. All he has to do at this point is get his manager to make the call.
True 🙂
Well, we haven’t heard from him since 2005. I’m figuring we’re now good til at least 2029 when someone at a Starbucks refers to him as “that old guy” and he pitches another hissy fit.
Who? Someone desperately wants to to wring those last few seconds of their 15 minutes of fame.
What is so hard about understanding that racism is subject to context? That the conditions under which it occurs are immediately relevant? Racism is not a word. The n-word is racist because of the conditions under which it was used. When African-Americans use the word with each other, it is not racist. When white Americans use the word, it is.
Seriously, why is that so hard?
“White boy”–unpack that term for a minute. “Boy”=a word used by white people to refer to black Americans and “put them in their place”. Clearly a term that black culture would absorb and use, simply because it was so common in their daily lives.
“White”–referring to race isn’t racist. If he waa the only white person in the restaurant, it’s just efficient. And again, since black culture is saturated in the language of race–thanks to white Americans–it isn’t surprising that race would be a definitive characteristic observed by a black American (or any American, really).
Why is this so hard for white people, especially, to understand? It’s like they lack the mental acquity to grasp context. They can only think in the most simplistic way about race. “If this were reversed…” Ok, yes. If ALL of American history were reversed, yes. Otherwise no, it isn’t racist, you whiny little dimwit.
So any race can treat white people however they want because of history?
@kittenfarts is that what I said? Read more closely and think harder about the argument I made. If you’re a white American, thinking harder about racism is your obligation to society.
Exactly Greenie, people (white people) are giving this the air and connotation which they ascribe to HOW THEY USED the term (To minimize personhood, back in the days) nnot how Black people would use in their vernacular… which brought me to my point downthread… People don’t really have an understanding at all of how Black People a certain age and under… no actually I’m gonna say Black People really talk in casual conversation amongst themselves
@qq yeah and asking black people to now meet standards once again set by white people (FINALLY, after centuries of no change in how they treated black Americans) is STILL white people telling black people how to behave. And it’s still white people failing to take responsibility for how THEY shaped African American culture.
Well, honestly, this is hard for me. So, “boy” was used to put black people into place, so it’s ok for them to use it back? That’s supposed to be easy to understand and to accept? Like, easier than “how about nobody use it, except when talking to actual boys”? That’s not easier, no?
@Timbuktu–not quite. I take issue with anyone who criticizes the EFFECTS of white supremacy on African American culture without identifying their CAUSE. So if you want to critique a black American’s use of the word “boy” to refer to someone, ask yourself first why that word is prominent in African American culture in the first place.
Say we were talking about black Americans who are rioting in inner cities (a repeat occurrence in US history) rather than simply using the word “boy”. I maintain that it is deplorable for white Americans to sit there and cry over black Americans rioting. Why? MLK gives an answer in his speech to nation’s social scientists in 1968 shortly before he was assassinated:
“The policymakers of the white society have caused the darkness; they create discrimination; they structured slums; and they perpetuate unemployment, ignorance and poverty. It is incontestable and deplorable that Negroes have committed crimes [i.e. urban riots], but they are derivative crimes. They are born of the greater crimes of the white society.
When we ask Negroes to abide by the law, let us also demand that the white man abide by law in the ghettos. Day-in and day-out he violates welfare laws to deprive the poor of their meager allotments; he flagrantly violates building codes and regulations; his police make a mockery of law; and he violates laws on equal employment and education and the provisions for civic services. The slums are the handiwork of a vicious system of the white society; Negroes live in them but do not make them any more than a prisoner makes a prison.
Let us say boldly that if the violations of law by the white man in the slums over the years were calculated and compared with the law-breaking of a few days of riots, the hardened criminal would be the white man. These are often difficult things to say but I have come to see more and more that it is necessary to utter the truth in order to deal with the great problems that we face in our society.”
~MLK Jr, Speech to the nation’s social scientists, 1968
@Timbuktu do you see the point? If white people want to complain about the effects of white supremacy on African American culture, then they need to address the cause. Only white Americans can do this. They built the systems that perpetuate racism. They are disproportionately represented in government and at the top of powerful industries and organizations. This is simply the social and moral responsibility of white Americans.
I’m just still not sure I’m convinced that calling someone a “boy” is the effect of white supremacy. I think it’s very common to use the word “boy” to get under a man’s skin, regardless of race. I come from a country with no black minority, I have heard some white men throw it as an insult at other white men. None of those men as a class or a race were ever “the help”, so I’m not sure that’s where they learned it, it’s just rather an obvious insult – question the man’s manliness.
I also think it’s a pretty big leap from “white boy” to “riots”, but since you brought it up: what DO you think the appropriate response for white people is? Like, I agree with you on everything, so we have identified the cause. At the same time, I also understand that those are average people whose homes, cars, and businesses got damaged in the riot. Often those people are ALSO black, or members of other minorities, and even if they aren’t, I’m white, but I’m not American, I guarantee you that you can search my family tree up and down, you’ll never find a slave owner or a colonizer. My country also never had African colonies (thus, no significant black population). So, if my business gets burned down, guess what I’m going to think of the rioters?
What do you think IS an appropriate action? Can I say “I understand why they did it, but I still think they should be punished”? Especially since, by all accounts, those who burn and break are very VERY often not people standing up for the cause, but rather looters who piggy-back off of a cause to profit (say steal cigarettes from a convenience store) or wreak havoc – not just among blacks, and not just in America, everywhere.
boy? In the United States, absolutely. “Boy” was 100% used to degrade grown black men. You encounter it in a lot of American literature from the period…this is widely understood. It’s still in use in some parts of the country.
I’m not comparing the objects of white criticism (use of language/action of rioting) but the act of criticism itself. I don’t think black America needs to be critiqued–white America does. I am categorically against respectability politics (if you’re not familiar with the term, it is used to describe usually black Americans criticizing other black Americans for their behavior. This is a form of internalized racism).
I think the appropriate action from white people is to pause, think, and empathize. The appropriate action from this who?15-min-of-famer would’ve been to laugh it off or, AT WORST, complain mildly to management. I think white Americans need to stop approaching other people as if white culture were the status quo; stop expecting other people to conform to your expectations. When you’re in a culture that isn’t familiar to you, make an effort to understand it. Would I complain if staff at a Popeye’s in Atlanta called me white girl? Are you kidding me? NO. I would be aware of where I was and adjust my expectations accordingly (and that doesn’t mean adjusting them down…it just means adjusting them to suit the situational context).
Likewise, I don’t really care about the property damage black Americans do if they riot other than to feel sympathy for the black people who incur losses. Why would I care about the prosecution of petty crime when the cause for the rioting–almost always police brutality and homicide–goes unpunished?? Again, it’s about white people taking responsibility for the conditions they created and the effects of their actions. I expect when white people start taking personal responsibility, many social issues will simply resolve themselves. And if they don’t, THEN I’ll start worrying about prosecuting derivative crime. I mean, it’s like complaining that a black student copied an answer from a classmate on a test when every single white student had the answer key. I’m concerned about the answer key.
If you’re from a country with a different history, by all means–think what you like. Your country didn’t organize socially, economically and politically around the issue of race (although I could get into the ways you probably benefitted indirectly from it). Therefore your context is different. But you should be careful about co-opting American language and culture when it comes to black people, because that emerged from an entirely different context.
Well, I guess we will have to agree to disagree.
I agree that this guy could have shaken it off – God knows, as a woman, I have shaken nastier comments than that.
However, on other issues, I’m fairly sure that “no rioting” expectation is quite universal, not white. I get just as annoyed when white soccer fans trash cities.
So, you wouldn’t feel sympathy for non-black people who incur losses? Don’t you think it’s extreme and, ultimately, wrong? What about poor white people who live in the same poor part of town as those black people? Syrian immigrants whose shop got destroyed? It’s all fair game to get your point across?
I don’t think personal responsibility is really possible when talking about the consequences of something that happened decades ago. The only personal responsibility I can take is how I treat the black people around me, how I let others treat them in my presence, and how I vote when chances to improve the conditions of those people are on the table. Everything else is not my responsibility, I’m sorry, I’m NOT taking personal responsibility for every racist jerk out there.
@Timbuktu, I suspect you probably don’t know that much about US history and culture. And you really aren’t alone in that, which is why so many white Americans have such shallow understandings of racism.
I could have identified you as white without you mentioning it–simply from your perspective. Riots are the social cost of white supremacy, and those costs should be born by complacent white society. The responsibility for rioting lies with the white people who created the conditions that caused it. The socioeconomic inequality of black Americans is not random or subject to high variance across individuals but a causal process that begins with white Americans. Anyway, I risk veering off into the jargon and terms of social science so I’ll stop there.
I didn’t mean that as an insult, btw (“I could have identified you as white”). Here’s an example of how race plays into your perspective: there is a wealth of data on rates of gun violence indexed by race. White people are far more likely to commit suicide, whereas black Americans are far more likely to commit homicide. Why?
The cause for this is often attributed to difference in individual perspective. When a white American is dissatisfied with his condition, he is far more likely view himself as the perpetrator of his own dissatisfaction. As a consequence, his gun violence is directed inward at himself. When a black American is dissatisfied with his condition, he is far more likely to view society at large as the perpetrator of his own dissatisfaction. As a consequence, his gun violence is directed outward (I know this is a cut-and-dried way of putting it).
Given American society, this is not unexpected. Among whites, who have always been afforded the most personal agency of anyone (“life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”), failure is often perceived as individual. But among blacks, who have always been afforded the least personal agency of anyone, failure is often perceived as imposed by society.
I see the identifier of whiteness in your perspective. “Personal responsibility” is a catchphrase among white economic conservatives who want to pretend that every individual in the United States has an equal opportunity to succeed (because this aligns with their fanatical belief in the ability of the free markets to deliver it). But this is factually incorrect–not simply decades ago but now, in the present. As a group, black Americans have a fundamentally different relationship with American society. And this is illustrated in virtually every socioeconomic measure you might find indexed by race.
Your view is that of a white person. You see individuals who ought to be responsible for their behavior. Of anyone, white Americans have always been treated as individuals and primarily in a racially-neutral (i.e. all white) setting. But black Americans have always been treated as a group, and almost always in a racially-charged setting. You are drawing from your understanding of an individual’s relationship to society and using that to evaluate the behavior of people who have a fundamentally different relationship.
Sorry, I’m having a hard time getting started on a paper today so here I am, blabbing it up.
@GW, thank you for taking the time to explain this so thoroughly.
just glad somebody found my response useful. I am happy to encounter people willing to listen.
You may be preaching to the already converted on this one a touch, in the sense that I get the differences on at least a grand level, but I have a hard time explaining them. And I’m not black, or asian, or anything but purebred white mutt. So I don’t GET get some of it. I need to hear it sometimes.
The more times I hear these issues stated differently, same message, different voice or viewpoint, the easier it is to explain to others. One of the scariest things to me is that I will be incapable of arguing or changing someones position, or even worse, solidifying it with my weak arguments.
So for that, the help with messaging, the exposure to good ideas straight from people who experience actual racist shit, thank you. You aren’t required to do that sort of thing, but man is it ever helpful.
GW, you blew my mind!
It is my hope that there will be more research devoted to the residual social, economic, health and political effects of White American racism on marginalized groups because goodness knows it’s a lacking area but your thoughtful, detailed responses give hope and inspiration (especially to public health/sociology nerds further interested in exploring this topic like myself 🙂
Excellent comments!
And of course, Fox is covering it.
Play that funky music…
Hahahahahahahahaha
Thank you! I was hoping someone would notice : )
*snort*
Lol
What a cry baby. She said the white boy already got his food and that required social media posts, calls to the company, and crying on tv?
Calling him white boy is in no way, shape or form the same as calling a black person the n- word. He clearly saw an opportunity to get some attention and took it.
Also he’s a dick for posting the girl’s name and picture online. Who knows what type of threats she’s getting now because of him.
I feel like my mission for the day is to sneak the phrase “salty white tears” into a conversation…hehe
Well I guess I should have the cashier at Kroger grocery store suspended and re trained.I asked to talk to the manager to ask him to order some Lay’s chocolate covered potato chips.I started talking to two White woman.The manager walked up to the cashier and asked her which customer wanted to speak to him she responded,”The black lady with the red jacket”.
I didn’t realize I should have been offended by someone describing me as a black lady but now, I know. Now I need to post my traumatic encounter on FB and contact my local news station.
#sarcasm
I can understand if he was offended by being called “boy”. I would say the white guy or white man.
There are chocolate-covered Lays potato chips?
Aren’t they more fragile than, like, this guy’s ego?
Marveling.
Yes There are Lay’s Chocolate Covered Wavy Chips.You can Google them .They are limited edition only sold during the holiday season.He told me to check on sites like Amazon.
Personally, I take issue with the use of boy (or girl) when referring to an adult. And that, to me, is rude. It’s condescending. I don’t take any issue with being called “lady” or “woman” but if someone was getting annoyed and called me “girl” I would find it unprofessional. I find it to be dismissive.
This F*cking butthurt loser Just got a Bunch of white boy emojis in his IG .. Just cause im feeling petty af
Wow….. so you’re a troll?!
Except you are a white boy, so…
This is a case of being rude not racist. I swear some people want to be offended so damn bad.
The employees were being rude and unprofessional, but gotdamn dude, chill and get some perspective. You had a bad customer service experience. It sucks, but you can walk out of that restaurant. A black person can’t walk away from being black. That’s the difference that makes them incomparable.
It just Occurred to me You guys REAAAALLLYYYYY need to read a bit more into AAVE before taking this “white Boy” to heart.. Like I’m saying a lot of “its discourteous” but then it dawned upon me… you guys really don’t know how Black People using African American Vernacular English talk amongst each other when not code switching for your benefit etc… which then kinda astounded me!
Hmm, but at the same time… I’m not American and my country doesn’t have a history of slavery nor a significant Black population (like, seriously, I think less than 1%, probably far less). I never knew that N word was offensive until I came to America. In fact, I still feel it in my bones that “black” is at least just as offensive in my language, because it feels like I choose to highlight the color of someone’s skin, rather than refer to them by a neutral race term. Sort of like saying “yellow” instead of “Chinese” or something. So, when I know the country of origin, I by far prefer “African” or “African American”, but I don’t always know.
Nowadays, more and more people try to stay away from that word, sometimes to comic effect even, choosing instead to refer to all black people as “African American”, even when they are African (we have more Africans than African Americans in the country, I think).
Do you think we should continue to work towards eliminating the N word from our polite vocabulary, or do you think black people should educate themselves on the neutrality of that word in my culture and accept it?
Honest question, because I actually had a black student (African) once, who said that honestly, once she DID realize that people didn’t mean harm, she didn’t mind the N word. But I also heard African Americans say that they were shocked and horrified to hear that word so much.
IDK timbuktu I’m also not a native speaker of EMglish I just happen to live in the south and have mostly black girlfriends so I KNOW how we speak to one another, I also am I’m favor of taking ownership of whatever word they want to use as it applies to them Bitch and N*gga being some of those Im not about self policing that or self Identity in Black people I go by whatever you/her/him tell me they want me to go by, The problem with your Understanding of White Boy/white guy ( Gringo/Gringa in my household) is that To ME that sounds like a simple ass descriptor of fact, you are thinking of it as something that one is to take offense to
Well, I thought gringo WAS meant to be insulting? That being said, my Mexican-born (but white) father in law does say that about other whites. 🙂
No, I think our difference of opinion is more about WHY “boy” can be a trigger. You think it’s because of the racial history, but I think that it’s a fairly common way to question a man’s masculinity within any race.
Also, if the picture on the avatar is of you, I love your hair.
Timbuktu Not particularly ( we are Dominican/assorted Latinified Euros and such ) even with like my Italian ( from Italy) Uncle there is an Understanding when we say Gringos we mean Just statement of fact White American, Negros is us ( and I KNOW some Black People in America Blanch at that) and then if they say Morenos I know they are trying to do that cute lil gross thing Latinos do where they act like Black Americans and Us are not the same black but my point is this, Nuance and is completely amiss on that guy’s head and whomever doesn’t get Idioms/slang/regional dialect and AAVE, I get what you’re saying about ‘boy’ im trying to shed light why is not the same thing as the N word at all least of all how it was used, Agreed to disagree.
Yes it is but its some kind of some other purple melange now
Oh, I never thought it was like N word. Clearly light years apart, those 2.
I think this is a huge part of the problem, QQ.
This is how we (we =white people) so often understand things: we refer back to ourselves and view incidents of racism within OUR context: our framework, our perspective, our views, our VERNACULAR, etc.
It’s too bad because this approach really eliminates the opportunity to have an interesting conversation that might precipitate a more nuanced, layered understanding of race issues. If ONLY we could just STOP with the “well, if the situation was reversed…” as a way of equalizing things which are simply NOT equal for a myriad of reasons both historical and social.
But as I always say, it’s easier for people to understand things in the most simple way. We love out standards, our measures, our barometers–but not every social issue fits into a neat mold like that. Mostly, we need to do spend more time listening and less time challenging and asserting how right we are. We need to do less of “But in MY experience…” when it comes to race-related issues.
Kitten I love you! Happy New Year from St. Kitts.
“This is how we (we =white people) so often understand things: we refer back to ourselves and view incidents of racism within OUR context: our framework, our perspective, our views, our VERNACULAR, etc.” THIS THIS THIS AS FUCK! like I was just privately Talking to Almond About it cause it took me damned near the end of the post of reading this opprobium of some posters to understand Like WAIT WAIT .. they don’t know They truly don’t know how a southern Black Working Class person Speaks!!!!
I agree with you Kitten and QQ. I also think that occasionally some whites are so quick to point out the reverse racism in situations like this as if to say “see here they can be racist like us” almost like they’re finger pointing. It’s like a way of deflecting.
@Abbess Tansy spot on, good word. I find deflection so disorienting. Like what world am I in? In what world should I care about this incident of very-minor-completely-benign-technical-racism that made some white person feel moderately uncomfortable and out of place for two seconds….as opposed to the whole entire architecture that marginalizes black people as an entire group????
@Kitten nailed it; it’s false equivalence. It’s the shallowest understanding of racism possible–the strictest definition that takes no context into account. Kinda like how a 3 year old sees the world.
Honestly QQ I was thinking the same thing. That I’ve heard friends of mine at work, black men and women, refer to someone as “white girl” or “white boy”. In front of me. And I thought nothing of it and neither did they. Nobody was offended and no one should be. It was to me just a part of their vernacular I guess . Being rude is something else entirely. But this is not a racist situation.
I guess because I grew up with a diverse group of friends and now as an adult I also have a diverse friend group, I recognize the intricacies of AAVE and have never been offended by being called “white girl” or “white chick” because I have never found it to be offensive or racist in any way. I agree that some white people get way too upset over this stuff. It’s not like she said “that Trump loving white devil” so let’s not try to make it out to be that.
I think how much time you spend around people not like yourself is key in terms of how you respond to these sorts of situations.
Salty white tears. Salty black tears. Salty brown tears. Boo hoo.
Special snowflake is very very special.
Dear whoever you are: SHUT UP YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND.
And I doubt anyone is buying your albums any way.
Can we please stop the generalizations? I’m black and I always hate that things are narrowed down to “white people” as if one white person doing something means that all white people do it. No. This person is a asshole and he doesn’t represent white people as a whole.
I was raised to treat people how you want to be treated, and if I don’t want people to judge black people on the actions of one person then I will not do the same.
This guy, got offended by something that may not offend or bother you. Fine.
Personally, I wouldn’t have referred to him as that “white boy” because not only is it unprofessional, but I would not like anyone, even a person who was black to address me as the “black” anything. She could have said sir, or something else. Is it rasicst? No. It was rude and unprofessional.
That is my personal opinion. I’m not going to pick at him because he was offended by something.
He handled it wrong, he should have went to the manager instead of to social media and the news, if he felt it was that big of a deal.
Ugh I was so annoyed by this yesterday and I actually posted on Bo’s Facebook post that’s how peeved I was about it. Not that he’ll read my comment but I was so like how clueless can you be???
The employees were definitely in the wrong making fun of his name and calling him “white boy” which while not racist, was insensitive and made him feel singled out. If I worked in customer service I would never try to describe someone by their skin color. You don’t know how that makes someone feel whether they be black, white, brown etc. However he made a fool of himself by venting on social media and was completely unprofessional by naming the employees and manager and by taking a picture and plastering it on Facebook for everyone to see. And this is what pissed me off. Not only is he claiming to be a victim of racism (he is not) but he made the situation worse by publicizing the employee’s face and names. Social media loves a witch hunt and to destroy people over these kinds of things. They should not have done what they did but they also don’t deserve to be harassed and vilified thanks to Bo’s post. He was totally unclassy and should have handled it quietly. Hard for me to feel sorry for a white Christian male. He just comes across as whiny and entitled in his post.
Wow. I’m surprised at how many folks don’t see this as racism – which it is – plain and simple. Substitute any other race for white – and add the boy. Where I’m from – it’ll get you in a knock down drag out real quick. My daughter is biracial – Mexican and White. Racism towards anyone is not acceptable period.
“Play that Funky Music White Boy”
“Damn that White Boy is fine.”
“That White Boy can dance”
It’s about context
I live in Houston and have heard variations of these phrases dozens of times nobody got in a knock down drag out fight because it was obviously meant as a complement not an insult.
Personally I say White guy if the guy is over 25.
Not it is not racism. Racism implies a systematic power and cultural oppresion over the other person’s race. Therefore, while a minority can commit a hate crime against a white person because of his/her skin color, it is not really racism. Also lets remember that History and context can load an expression.
Now, I think the employee was rude af and she shouldn’t have say what she said or make fun of his name.
Oh for heaven’s sake. It’s Georgia. They work in a Popeyes’s at the airport. This was such a nothing incident– not even an incident.
Well, my bland white self has never heard of this guy before, but I will henceforth refer to him as “that white boy”. Good job with your entitled, racially-tinged hissy fit, That White Boy.
I am a minority and I am sorry but it is racist. I take great pains to not call anyone black, white, brown or yellow. Yuck! It is crass and not necessary.
Well I am black and I use black, white,latino,asian everyday just like I use tall,short,pretty,etc to describe people.Calling someone black is not an insult just like calling someone tall isn’t an insult.It is an adjective.
On side note—I love Popeyes Chicken. Only fast food chicken I really like to eat.
YES
Had white *man* been said rather than white *boy*, I’m betting we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Also, “person of ethnicity”? Good grief.
I am not sure, in an interview with TMZ he seemed to be upset with the white part.Also when he was asked about the race of the workers he said,” I don’t know because I don’t see color”. It drives me crazy when people say they don’t see color. Just say of course I see color but I don’t prejudge or discriminate based on color.
Totally agree it was the “boy” that moved this into an issue .
It’s hard to feel bad for this guy when he constantly whines about “the PC police” on his Twitter yet throws a hissy fit over this🙄
just not like it’s not cool to address an african american man as a black boy, it’s not cool to address a white man (caucasian?) man as a white boy. it’s not cool to do to ANY one. Its just not right. just be fair.
yawn
Agree, the employee was rude but the way Boo Boo handled it is disgusting. Taking pics of employees, rants on FB, expecting public apology, never asking the employees to stop, not calling popeyes multiple times, threatening lawsuits, not using the chain of command, changing his excuse on why he was crying, etc. The way he handled the situation is 10 times worse than what happened. Being Hispanic, i don’t think this was racist….i see this all the time across all races. Some people are just rude, get over it and move on.