I was just accused by a co-worker of being a racist. I think that would be news to my biracial stepson, eh?
Here is what happened. A guy at work says: "I used to have a black cat with a small white dot on it, I called him 8 Ball". My young black female co-worker says "I had a friend that had a cat named 8 Ball". So I say "Was it called 8 Ball for the same reason?" and she flipped on me and said that I was a racist and that was a racist remark. I tried to apologize and explain, but she said for me to leave her alone.
Now, we ALL joke around with each other all day, so this isn't lie I never joke around with people. The girl in question and I had a great relationship up until today. My intent had nothing to do with race. I had friends(white) in the past that had some shady dealings, and I could see them calling a pet 8 ball.
I don't know what to do here. This is at the workplace we are talking about, and something like this could put my job at risk.
Any thoughts and/or advice would be helpful. Thanks.
Here is what happened. A guy at work says: "I used to have a black cat with a small white dot on it, I called him 8 Ball". My young black female co-worker says "I had a friend that had a cat named 8 Ball". So I say "Was it called 8 Ball for the same reason?" and she flipped on me and said that I was a racist and that was a racist remark. I tried to apologize and explain, but she said for me to leave her alone.
Now, we ALL joke around with each other all day, so this isn't lie I never joke around with people. The girl in question and I had a great relationship up until today. My intent had nothing to do with race. I had friends(white) in the past that had some shady dealings, and I could see them calling a pet 8 ball.
I don't know what to do here. This is at the workplace we are talking about, and something like this could put my job at risk.
Any thoughts and/or advice would be helpful. Thanks.