OK, time for me to be the black sheep…
uh, I mean, let me put on my black hat…
um, let me play devil’s advocate and ask what exactly is offensive or racist about what Joyce said? Yes, she pointed the difference in race. Obviously she never met someone who wasn’t caucasian before now, and thus a novelty. She also said it was really neat. Do I blame Sarah for reacting how she is? No. But I don’t think Joyce crossed a line here.
It’s condescending and figuratively reduces Sarah from being an individual to just a member of group. Maybe not racist per se, but certainly a demeaning thing to say.
I agree, the thought process she shows here is definitely less offensive than a lot that come out of backgrounds with limited exposure to minorities. I mean, even if you’ve been raised to be the most accepting person in the world, it takes time to just get used to seeing people who are physically different from you. But people who are really dedicated to being accepting of those differences get their brain-to-mouth filters installed properly. It’s one thing to notice that you’re around black people for the first time. It’s another to be all “OH HEY I AM SURROUNDED BY BLACK PEOPLE.” Especially when you’re talking on the phone to someone about your roommate who is totally sitting there in the room with you.
Jack Faire
Honestly I never got that? I have never met someone who had never known a redhead before who said, “It’s like a novelty”
What she said is demeaning and reducing Sarah to a group. Skin color is one aspect and has nothing to do with who a person is. People put too much stock in skin color and then get pissed when there are those of us who no more notice it as being a big thing than the fact someone has green eyes.
billydaking
Of course, by identifying as African American, Sarah’s in a group. Just like Irish American, or Asian, or homosexual. It’s not the same as someone having green eyes, which is why there are laws protecting the rights of the former and not the latter. Society has already put them in that group; ignoring that fact when criticizing someone’s individual reaction to it is narrow-minded.
And yes, for somebody who’s grown up in a singular racial community, it does feel strange. I grew up in a WASP community. On a trip through the South years ago, I stayed in Sumter, SC, but got lost and wound up driving around the city for an hour. I then realized that I was the only white person there–this largely middle-class city was populated by Africian Americans. And people were staring at me as I was driving by. I was suddenly the minority.
Sarah being black has not bothered Joyce in the comic. Racism by definition is either intolerance toward a specific racial group or the idea that color determines someone’s ability to achieve (i.e., whites will always be superior to blacks, or blacks will always be better athletes). Joyce has not done that here; she’s simply noted the racial difference between her and her roommate and notes that it’s a novelty *for her* to be living with some from a different racial group–which is the TRUTH since she’s obviously never had any kind of relationship with somebody outside of her own background. So, in a private conversation with her best friend, she said something that obviously can be taken the wrong way.
Rycan
You would be surprised how insulated some white neighborhoods can be. My elementary school grade level had one black kid, and I don’t think there were any Latinos. All-white faculty too, I think. Then I went to a middle school in another neighborhood on a variance, and suddenly there were non-whites of all sorts!
No, this isn’t the deep South – I’m talking about my experience in Washington State.
ThatGug
I think society will grow alot when we realize that being raised in , and acclimated to an inherently racist society isn’t an excuse.
I have a rule of thumb. One of the best ways to identify someone doesn’t realize their own prejudice is when they are accused of it they go “No I’m not! I- ect”. Someone who tries to weed out any prejudices they have and truely sees others as people seek to find out anything they do “wrong” and fix it. So the “proper” response would be something full of confusion and question. “wait, what? What did i say”
Basically everyone is inherently racist and prejudiced. Its part of our instincts to catagorize people, and make assumptions because we cant perfectly remember everything.
The key is learning things and being able to identify when you may be wrong or have the wrong perspective. WHich is why one of the most prejudiced things to do is to tell someone else they aren’t being discriminated against. Unless you are the same nationality, race, religion, sex, orientation, gender, then the first thing you should ask when you think someone is “wrongly” accusing others of being prejudiced is “am I in fact the one who is wrong”. and then proceed from there.
Mostly I think it’s how she thinks rooming with a black person is a NEW and EXCITING experience, like she was rooming with goddamn Mickey Mouse.
Piesaac
It probably is a new and exciting experience for her. I’d lay money that Sarah is probably the first black person she’s interacted with over an length of time.
Here’s hoping she picks up some education from more than just her classes…
ThatGug
ORLY? Cus the only thing she’s displayed thats different is being more mature, educated, and grounded.
Also she’s an aethiest.
Not like she even has slang or any “cultural” motifs.
The fact is the writer intentionally wrote her with those various flaws that niaeve people have.
Hmm, I think it falls under the category of unintentionally offensive. African-Americans may be a novelty to Joyce right now, but that doesn’t mean Sarah will like being called a novelty due to her race. Right now, it’s a learning process – Joyce learns what’s offensive to others through embarrassing blunders, then learns to watch her mouth, and finally learns why it’s offensive. Fortunately, her head hasn’t been filled with pre-conceived notions regarding blacks, it seems.
Look around and you will find/No one’s really color blind/Maybe it’s a fact we all should faaaaaaace (FAAAAAAAAAAAACE!!!)/Everyone makes judgements/Based on race.
people are amazing on here. seriously, joyce is being racist here. it’s not intentional, but it’s still racism. it’s out of her ignorance, sure, but the two things are not mutually exclusive. the excuse that she’s apparenly never been around black people before doesn’t make it less offensive that she thinks another person of a different race is a novelty (as if being white is some default).
Happy Ham Ham
But doesnt racism meen that you dislike that group or person because of their heritage?
Yeah, I mean, it’s not as if Sara’s a PERSON, or anything. She’s just black.
TauAngelicus
So because Sarah is a person, then the new experience of having a black roomate cannot be a “novelty” to Joyce?
Hmmm. Either someone is drinking way to much PC brand kool-aid or needs to go back to english class. Probably both.
Fit-to-freak
Here’s my thing: it could be considered mild and unintentional racism because she’s putting Sarah in a group because of her skin color and not just as Sarah, but the offense is less about rasicm than just a personal insult. Trying to imagine this in terms of gender helps. Joyce wasn’t saying anything bad about Sarah because of her race- or making any comments about it at all really. She just slighted Sarah a little bit on a personal level- but not BECAUSE she’s black. Mostly, what it is is mildly awkward because you don’t generally go around talking about race like that- so it’s another way of showing Joyce’s cluelessness. I don’t think Sarah’s taking it more personally than ‘Joyce is weird’ and she shouldn’t.
fit-to-freak
What the fuck why did I ever write this. I disagree with this so much now. I think it’s def. racism (which has many forms and invades a lot of our everyday lives) and Sarah can react however she wants. jesus I hope I’m better now.
Hmmm. Either someone is drinking way to much PC brand kool-aid or needs to go back to english class. Probably both.
Before you call the grammar police, read your own definition:
“_something_ new or unusual.”
Referring to someone as a “novelty” and therefore a “thing” is indeed, racist.
The E-man
I don’t think she’s referring to Sarah as a thing, I think “novelty” is referring to either rooming with a black person, meeting a black person, or Sarah’s being black.
I’m not sure if that is better, but I definitely don’t think Joyce thinks of Sarah as an “it”.
I know you can’t tell, but this Black woman is giving you the same disapproving stare Joyce is getting.
I mean really, “most people black people”?? Really???
Milosh
Yes, really. Lots of white people are afraid of saying anything race-related at all in front of black people for fear that they’ll somehow say something offensive. My point is, this usually isn’t warranted, as most black people aren’t so easily offended. I say “most” because, obviously, that’s not always the case. Again, just going by experience here.
Odd that you only took issue with the phrase “most black people” when I said “most white people” in the same sentence.
Angel H.
As a Black woman I took offense to your saying “most black people” because you implied that you knew the thoughts and motivations of “most black people” when it’s obvious from your statements that you know few, if any. It wasn’t until this recent post that you clarified by stating you were just going by your own experience, which you should have done in the first place.
fit-to-freak
odd that you don’t understand that black people have experienced and still do experience systematic and destructive discrimination based on race. white people haven’t, so no, it doesn’t fucking matter if some says ‘most white people’ dear lord.
Naivety has nothing to do with racism. Naivety is lack of experience. Racism is lack of intelligence despite experience.
JK9000
Well, that’s kind of what I meant. Racism comes about when folk dig in with a naive opinion don’t budge. They don’t just start out going “You know what? Fuck black people.”
Ristar
yeah, just like Home Economics classes are early-stage cooks. and a love of cooking is early stages for obeisity.
Uh…huh. If I’d ever said that about either of my previous roommates, my mother would have broken all the laws of physics to get to my dorm room for a “come t’ Jesus meetin’.”
I cringed more at some of the overly pc responses here. Joyce started off describing her roomate as a lot of people would, with a physical description and at the same time pointed out the absurdity of the PC stuff by saying, “African-American. Black. Whatever you call it.”
People throw around the word “racism” way to much. Minority gets asked for ID, cops are racist. Minority gets caught with drugs, again cops are racist. Minority running for political office, at some point someone mentions they should play the race card and imply the other guy is racist. It gets old and stupid real fast.
I cringe at you white-knighting for an imaginary person, then using that as an opportunity to get on your soapbox about how those darn minorities are always trying to use race to sneak their way out of the natural consequences of their drug-having, cop-annoying ways. What’ll you do for an encore, start complaining about how rap isn’t “real music”? Maybe a snide comment about how much money basketball players make!
The thing here is that Joyce was being rude BECAUSE of Sarah’s race, that makes it not mere rudeness, but racist. It tells Sarah that the trait Joyce knows her most for isn’t what she wants to do, what she likes or dislikes, or what she believes, but the color of her skin. Joyce doesn’t mean any harm by it, and probably doesn’t know any better, but it doesn’t make it not racist.
Neil
“It tells Sarah that the trait Joyce knows her most for isnāt what she wants to do, what she likes or dislikes, or what she believes, but the color of her skin.”
That is practically all Joyce knows about Sarah! I mean “She used to have a druggie for a roommate and didn’t like it” would just be weird and a generic “Uh he’s nice” would piss me off more than if someone said “My roommate’s a cripple; it’s kind of a novelty” would. Then again I’m a member of a far less public minority because there’s no damn controversy about it. In short I /Have/ been called a novelty due to a surface thing and found it mildly stupid. They were not saying I was a thing; nor were they treating me like a social pariah. They were just ignorant; which is not synonymous with racist or prejudiced or hateful. I also noticed that not a single person saw Sarah as a bit bigoted over her earlier comments about homeschooling. After all I found her judging Joyce’s social abilities based on how she was educated as offensive as Joyce’s comment if not more so.
The E-man
Your post, sir, is awesome. I don’t think it could be said better.
I kinda feel worse about how Becky reacted, not at Joyce’s comment. Sort of cause she’s kinda right. Out of all the Walkyverse characters I can actively remember, Sarah is one of three who is black.
I get the impression that Sarah was staring at Joyce before the phone call began. Mostly for accepting a date from the first guy she saw her meet.
Off the top of my head, I can think of Walky, Sal, Sarah, Hooks… ok, in my head I thought I was going to have a lot more names when I started typing this.
However, I can vouch for Joyce’s impression. It wasn’t until I joined the Army that I was first exposed to what I guess would be termed “Black Culture”. Although, in my defense, there was no internet or VH1 at that time and MTV was just starting. Different types of music, beliefs, slang, attitudes… it was indeed a novelty.
A few miles marching with a rucksack is a whole ‘nother type of novelty.
192 thoughts on “Roommate”
Tahuk
Haha HA!
Unfortunate.
Coppermouth
Oh…..oh wow.
David Herbert
Yikes… So she’s unintentionally racist… okay…
Rognik
OK, time for me to be the black sheep…
uh, I mean, let me put on my black hat…
um, let me play devil’s advocate and ask what exactly is offensive or racist about what Joyce said? Yes, she pointed the difference in race. Obviously she never met someone who wasn’t caucasian before now, and thus a novelty. She also said it was really neat. Do I blame Sarah for reacting how she is? No. But I don’t think Joyce crossed a line here.
NF
It’s condescending and figuratively reduces Sarah from being an individual to just a member of group. Maybe not racist per se, but certainly a demeaning thing to say.
bramblepatch
I agree, the thought process she shows here is definitely less offensive than a lot that come out of backgrounds with limited exposure to minorities. I mean, even if you’ve been raised to be the most accepting person in the world, it takes time to just get used to seeing people who are physically different from you. But people who are really dedicated to being accepting of those differences get their brain-to-mouth filters installed properly. It’s one thing to notice that you’re around black people for the first time. It’s another to be all “OH HEY I AM SURROUNDED BY BLACK PEOPLE.” Especially when you’re talking on the phone to someone about your roommate who is totally sitting there in the room with you.
Jack Faire
Honestly I never got that? I have never met someone who had never known a redhead before who said, “It’s like a novelty”
What she said is demeaning and reducing Sarah to a group. Skin color is one aspect and has nothing to do with who a person is. People put too much stock in skin color and then get pissed when there are those of us who no more notice it as being a big thing than the fact someone has green eyes.
billydaking
Of course, by identifying as African American, Sarah’s in a group. Just like Irish American, or Asian, or homosexual. It’s not the same as someone having green eyes, which is why there are laws protecting the rights of the former and not the latter. Society has already put them in that group; ignoring that fact when criticizing someone’s individual reaction to it is narrow-minded.
And yes, for somebody who’s grown up in a singular racial community, it does feel strange. I grew up in a WASP community. On a trip through the South years ago, I stayed in Sumter, SC, but got lost and wound up driving around the city for an hour. I then realized that I was the only white person there–this largely middle-class city was populated by Africian Americans. And people were staring at me as I was driving by. I was suddenly the minority.
Sarah being black has not bothered Joyce in the comic. Racism by definition is either intolerance toward a specific racial group or the idea that color determines someone’s ability to achieve (i.e., whites will always be superior to blacks, or blacks will always be better athletes). Joyce has not done that here; she’s simply noted the racial difference between her and her roommate and notes that it’s a novelty *for her* to be living with some from a different racial group–which is the TRUTH since she’s obviously never had any kind of relationship with somebody outside of her own background. So, in a private conversation with her best friend, she said something that obviously can be taken the wrong way.
Rycan
You would be surprised how insulated some white neighborhoods can be. My elementary school grade level had one black kid, and I don’t think there were any Latinos. All-white faculty too, I think. Then I went to a middle school in another neighborhood on a variance, and suddenly there were non-whites of all sorts!
No, this isn’t the deep South – I’m talking about my experience in Washington State.
ThatGug
I think society will grow alot when we realize that being raised in , and acclimated to an inherently racist society isn’t an excuse.
I have a rule of thumb. One of the best ways to identify someone doesn’t realize their own prejudice is when they are accused of it they go “No I’m not! I- ect”. Someone who tries to weed out any prejudices they have and truely sees others as people seek to find out anything they do “wrong” and fix it. So the “proper” response would be something full of confusion and question. “wait, what? What did i say”
Basically everyone is inherently racist and prejudiced. Its part of our instincts to catagorize people, and make assumptions because we cant perfectly remember everything.
The key is learning things and being able to identify when you may be wrong or have the wrong perspective. WHich is why one of the most prejudiced things to do is to tell someone else they aren’t being discriminated against. Unless you are the same nationality, race, religion, sex, orientation, gender, then the first thing you should ask when you think someone is “wrongly” accusing others of being prejudiced is “am I in fact the one who is wrong”. and then proceed from there.
Zaratustra
Mostly I think it’s how she thinks rooming with a black person is a NEW and EXCITING experience, like she was rooming with goddamn Mickey Mouse.
Piesaac
It probably is a new and exciting experience for her. I’d lay money that Sarah is probably the first black person she’s interacted with over an length of time.
Here’s hoping she picks up some education from more than just her classes…
ThatGug
ORLY? Cus the only thing she’s displayed thats different is being more mature, educated, and grounded.
Also she’s an aethiest.
Not like she even has slang or any “cultural” motifs.
The fact is the writer intentionally wrote her with those various flaws that niaeve people have.
Emily
It’s not that she said Sarah was black, it’s that she said that was a “novelty.”
Rycan
Hmm, I think it falls under the category of unintentionally offensive. African-Americans may be a novelty to Joyce right now, but that doesn’t mean Sarah will like being called a novelty due to her race. Right now, it’s a learning process – Joyce learns what’s offensive to others through embarrassing blunders, then learns to watch her mouth, and finally learns why it’s offensive. Fortunately, her head hasn’t been filled with pre-conceived notions regarding blacks, it seems.
Matt
Everyone’s a little bit racist, sometiiiimes / Doesn’t mean we go around committing, hate criiiimes.
Noel Schornhorst
Look around and you will find/No one’s really color blind/Maybe it’s a fact we all should faaaaaaace (FAAAAAAAAAAAACE!!!)/Everyone makes judgements/Based on race.
Lokitsu
Hahaha! I love Avenue Q. I got to see it last year in NY.
Oh, and the song Matt and Noel are quoting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RovF1zsDoeM
NCP19
A “novelty.” Wow, somehow that’s EXACTLY how I figured Joyce would say something racist. Sweet sounding but…offensive.
TauAngelicus
Definition of NOVELTY
1: something new or unusual
So um, yeah if it is new to Joyce it is a novelty for her. Not racist in the least.
ashleyw
people are amazing on here. seriously, joyce is being racist here. it’s not intentional, but it’s still racism. it’s out of her ignorance, sure, but the two things are not mutually exclusive. the excuse that she’s apparenly never been around black people before doesn’t make it less offensive that she thinks another person of a different race is a novelty (as if being white is some default).
Happy Ham Ham
But doesnt racism meen that you dislike that group or person because of their heritage?
Kamino Neko
Yeah, I mean, it’s not as if Sara’s a PERSON, or anything. She’s just black.
TauAngelicus
So because Sarah is a person, then the new experience of having a black roomate cannot be a “novelty” to Joyce?
Hmmm. Either someone is drinking way to much PC brand kool-aid or needs to go back to english class. Probably both.
Fit-to-freak
Here’s my thing: it could be considered mild and unintentional racism because she’s putting Sarah in a group because of her skin color and not just as Sarah, but the offense is less about rasicm than just a personal insult. Trying to imagine this in terms of gender helps. Joyce wasn’t saying anything bad about Sarah because of her race- or making any comments about it at all really. She just slighted Sarah a little bit on a personal level- but not BECAUSE she’s black. Mostly, what it is is mildly awkward because you don’t generally go around talking about race like that- so it’s another way of showing Joyce’s cluelessness. I don’t think Sarah’s taking it more personally than ‘Joyce is weird’ and she shouldn’t.
fit-to-freak
What the fuck why did I ever write this. I disagree with this so much now. I think it’s def. racism (which has many forms and invades a lot of our everyday lives) and Sarah can react however she wants. jesus I hope I’m better now.
Angel H.
Before you call the grammar police, read your own definition:
“_something_ new or unusual.”
Referring to someone as a “novelty” and therefore a “thing” is indeed, racist.
The E-man
I don’t think she’s referring to Sarah as a thing, I think “novelty” is referring to either rooming with a black person, meeting a black person, or Sarah’s being black.
I’m not sure if that is better, but I definitely don’t think Joyce thinks of Sarah as an “it”.
SonicBlueRanger
I just read this as Joyce being Joyce not really trying to say anything Racist.
FFFan
Woo for isolated upbringing. =/
Kamino Neko
At this moment, Sarah’s probably almost wishing she’d got a stoner again.
Milosh
Doubt it. Her expression gives me the feeling of “OK that’s weird, but I already knew she was kind of crazy.”
In my experience, most black people are far less prone to offense than most white people seem to think they are.
TauAngelicus
You obviously don’t live in or near Memphis, TN. While what you say os generally true, the white people here tend to be right more times than not.
Angel H.
I know you can’t tell, but this Black woman is giving you the same disapproving stare Joyce is getting.
I mean really, “most people black people”?? Really???
Milosh
Yes, really. Lots of white people are afraid of saying anything race-related at all in front of black people for fear that they’ll somehow say something offensive. My point is, this usually isn’t warranted, as most black people aren’t so easily offended. I say “most” because, obviously, that’s not always the case. Again, just going by experience here.
Odd that you only took issue with the phrase “most black people” when I said “most white people” in the same sentence.
Angel H.
As a Black woman I took offense to your saying “most black people” because you implied that you knew the thoughts and motivations of “most black people” when it’s obvious from your statements that you know few, if any. It wasn’t until this recent post that you clarified by stating you were just going by your own experience, which you should have done in the first place.
fit-to-freak
odd that you don’t understand that black people have experienced and still do experience systematic and destructive discrimination based on race. white people haven’t, so no, it doesn’t fucking matter if some says ‘most white people’ dear lord.
RaijinK
Don’t freak out, everybody. So Joyce is a racist. Doesn’t mean that can’t change.
Joebo
Not racist, Naive.
JK9000
Eh. Naivety is really kind of early-stage racism.
TauAngelicus
Naivety has nothing to do with racism. Naivety is lack of experience. Racism is lack of intelligence despite experience.
JK9000
Well, that’s kind of what I meant. Racism comes about when folk dig in with a naive opinion don’t budge. They don’t just start out going “You know what? Fuck black people.”
Ristar
yeah, just like Home Economics classes are early-stage cooks. and a love of cooking is early stages for obeisity.
luke~
I think he was trying to make a joke using Joyce’s own words =X
RaijinK
Key word “trying”, eh?
Rognik
Don’t take it personally, Joyce. She does that to everyone.
Grrt
I am amused by your Amber looking up at luke~’s Amazi-Girl.
Joe
Can’t begin to imagine what would warrant that thousand-yard stare.
It’s a mystery.
gangler
Looks like Sarah’s regular facial expression to me…
TheSoundDefense
Hey, I never met any black people before college either. It’s still strange meeting one. I just don’t say so out loud in front of them.
Angel H.
Try “hello”.
arjay2813
i think joyce’s mouth will get her in a heap of trouble
katie01
Uh…huh. If I’d ever said that about either of my previous roommates, my mother would have broken all the laws of physics to get to my dorm room for a “come t’ Jesus meetin’.”
Teowulf
I lol’d.
Randonimity
Would meeting an Asian American be as much of a “novelty” to her, too?
gangler
Faz perhaps?
Robert in San Diego
I think Randominity was thinking of Dina. If that girl ever gets out from behind that door, anyway.
gangler
Holy crap. I honestly did not know Dina was asian. I just pulled up the wiki to check. Apparently her last name is part of the pun #earthshattering
Undrave
You mean like Billie?
Robert in San Diego
Did everyone else cringe at Joyce in the third panel too? I remember how dumb I could be when I was a college freshcritter.
TauAngelicus
I cringed more at some of the overly pc responses here. Joyce started off describing her roomate as a lot of people would, with a physical description and at the same time pointed out the absurdity of the PC stuff by saying, “African-American. Black. Whatever you call it.”
People throw around the word “racism” way to much. Minority gets asked for ID, cops are racist. Minority gets caught with drugs, again cops are racist. Minority running for political office, at some point someone mentions they should play the race card and imply the other guy is racist. It gets old and stupid real fast.
Here, Joyce was just rude but not racist.
Deb
I cringe at you white-knighting for an imaginary person, then using that as an opportunity to get on your soapbox about how those darn minorities are always trying to use race to sneak their way out of the natural consequences of their drug-having, cop-annoying ways. What’ll you do for an encore, start complaining about how rap isn’t “real music”? Maybe a snide comment about how much money basketball players make!
tl;dr you’re far more racist than Joyce
airfox
But … rap isn’t real music.
-airfox
R
Tau,
The thing here is that Joyce was being rude BECAUSE of Sarah’s race, that makes it not mere rudeness, but racist. It tells Sarah that the trait Joyce knows her most for isn’t what she wants to do, what she likes or dislikes, or what she believes, but the color of her skin. Joyce doesn’t mean any harm by it, and probably doesn’t know any better, but it doesn’t make it not racist.
Neil
“It tells Sarah that the trait Joyce knows her most for isnāt what she wants to do, what she likes or dislikes, or what she believes, but the color of her skin.”
That is practically all Joyce knows about Sarah! I mean “She used to have a druggie for a roommate and didn’t like it” would just be weird and a generic “Uh he’s nice” would piss me off more than if someone said “My roommate’s a cripple; it’s kind of a novelty” would. Then again I’m a member of a far less public minority because there’s no damn controversy about it. In short I /Have/ been called a novelty due to a surface thing and found it mildly stupid. They were not saying I was a thing; nor were they treating me like a social pariah. They were just ignorant; which is not synonymous with racist or prejudiced or hateful. I also noticed that not a single person saw Sarah as a bit bigoted over her earlier comments about homeschooling. After all I found her judging Joyce’s social abilities based on how she was educated as offensive as Joyce’s comment if not more so.
The E-man
Your post, sir, is awesome. I don’t think it could be said better.
dchorror
I kinda feel worse about how Becky reacted, not at Joyce’s comment. Sort of cause she’s kinda right. Out of all the Walkyverse characters I can actively remember, Sarah is one of three who is black.
I get the impression that Sarah was staring at Joyce before the phone call began. Mostly for accepting a date from the first guy she saw her meet.
Zaratustra
And then saying she can change his jewishness.
Cholma
Off the top of my head, I can think of Walky, Sal, Sarah, Hooks… ok, in my head I thought I was going to have a lot more names when I started typing this.
However, I can vouch for Joyce’s impression. It wasn’t until I joined the Army that I was first exposed to what I guess would be termed “Black Culture”. Although, in my defense, there was no internet or VH1 at that time and MTV was just starting. Different types of music, beliefs, slang, attitudes… it was indeed a novelty.
A few miles marching with a rucksack is a whole ‘nother type of novelty.
Rognik
You forgot Mr. Walkerton. (I forgot the twins were half-black.)
dchorror