Racism Today

[superbadgirl]

As part of the package when switching P&C/Liability insurance, the new carrier will re-appraise all the properties. Quite an undertaking for an organization like this, as you can imagine, what with churches being scattered across western Washington.

The insurance company, lacking the manpower for such a task, has contracted with a third party. As expected, phone calls started coming in to verify that this was all on the up-and-up. We'll just forget that all congregations received a head's up from myself and from the insurance company that this would be happening.

So where's the racism in this story? There are separate appraisers for separate regions. The appraiser in Seattle proper and its suburbs is named Mr. Shultz and he's got no accent. The appraiser for the southern regions is named Mr. Tran and he's got a mild accent. Not one single person has called to make sure this wasn't hinky when Mr. Shultz was the assigned appraiser. EVERY single congregation called when it was Mr. Tran. It wouldn't have bothered me if it were just one congregation verifying Mr. Tran's right to appraise their property, but EVERY one?

What is it about Mr. Tran that makes people question him? Or, rather, what is it about people that make them question him?

Comments

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

That's one of those alarming tidbits that makes you wonder, "Would I have reacted the same way?" I'm not sure I can honestly say. It's disturbing.

[superbadgirl]

That's one of those alarming tidbits that makes you wonder, "Would I have reacted the same way?" I'm not sure I can honestly say. It's disturbing.

Yep, because I don't think it's inherently racist to call to verify that someone is going to come look at all your stuff, but being on my end it's distintly troubling. I'm sure no one that called even gave it a thought that their motivation was questionable in the least, just like we all rarely notice how biased the local news sometimes is regarding race.

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

Well, that's just it. When you get an unexpected phone call, it's hard to say what does or doesn't set off your "better double check" vibe. In this case, it seems clear that the accent is doing it (assuming there's nothing else in Mr. Tran's way of presenting his case that might seem disingenuous). I can sit here and say I don't think accents make me suspicious, but how can I be sure? It would be irrational in the extreme in my case, because everyone I've ever really been scammed by has been as "American" as I am.

But assumptions like these can stay buried in your head until something forces them out into the limelight. It's depressing.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

What kind of accent are you talking about? *ignorant Canadian*

Personally, I'd call to verify no matter what the dude looked/sounded like. Maybe the first guy you mentioned just had a more trustworthy way about him? Some people give off more of a trustworthy vibe than others. Then again... *ignorant Canadian*

[superbadgirl]

Mr. Tran's Chinese. Now, if they had said something like "I had a hard time understanding what he wanted" it would be one thing. My boss is Chinese and so's our printer and I do sometimes have difficulty understanding their actual speech. But they all understood him and knew that he was asking to set up an appointment, they just questioned his reliability. He had to call the Diocesan office and ask me to please assure people everything was on the up-and-up, which I knew and was already relaying to folks.

Calling to verify was fine...even though both the Diocese and the insurance carrier had provided information that stated this company would contact them to schedule appraisals, which should be verification itself, no? ;)

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

Hmm. That's weird then.

[superbadgirl]

Indeed. Just makes you stop and go hmmmm for a moment.

[travellingone.livejournal.com]

From my end? Prejudice.