Racist or cultural inappropriate jokes in professional settings. I’m an Asian living in US. 1. A white colleague (38M) joked with me saying most Chinese students studied abroad in US and steal knowledge and return to China and open their own firm right way (hinting that he is jealous about this fact). Well it is because it is actually hard to get a visa and stay here. It is easier to start your own company when there’s more opportunities because China is simply more populated. In this occasion the whole firm went through a four-hour diversity training but sadly such “bully” happens all the time. 2. A white colleague (62F) said in a team meeting that I did so well in a presentation that I won’t be forced to leave US. Of course she thought it was a joke. And I think most white people now are sensitive and paying more attention to the ways they treat African American but when they talk about diversity, I don’t think they pay equal respect to Mexicans and Asians.

To summarize, a kind and considerate person will think about what he or she says and the impact of their words. Rude people will frame their disrespect with “jokes”. And I can only choose the way I treat others and remind myself to be kind.