Truth Merchants

Preston Swagger 18 September 2008 Ish You Should Know 355 views 4 Comments Print This Post  Email This Post

The gentleman in the picture is Eddie Black (played by Casey Washington).  He’s the star of the internet series BEING Eddie BLACK (notice which words are in all caps).  BEING Eddie BLACK is a brilliant comedy that explores the lines that black men and women have to walk while working in corporate America.  I had drinks with the show’s creator/executive producer the other night and he said one of the most accurately poignant things I’d heard:

White people can be white anywhere…

When it comes to speech, mannerisms, vocabulary, and dress — 90% of the white people that I’ve encountered in my several years in corporate America aren’t drastically different outside of work than they are at the office.

90% of black people are

I don’t mean to imply that once black people step out of the office it turns into a 40 ounce drinking ebonics-fest.  But there are differences.  Sometimes subtle…sometimes not so much.  My father taught me to be comfortable in my skin from the barbershop to the boardroom…and I am.  But I act differently in the two very different places.  I have to.  It’s a plight still pretty unique to minorities in general and African-Americans specifically.  Check out the site and watch a few episodes.  I think every black person who’s been anything from a temp receptionist to a vice president will be able to relate.  I definitely do…more than I do to…say…“House of Payne”…

I’m just sayin…

–Preston

P.S. This won’t be the last time you hear about this show.  We’re gonna make a few moves with this……AND SPEAKING OF MAKING MOVES