ChatterBank1 min ago
Getting Your Shoes Shined
35 Answers
Hi there.
The other day me a few friends were walking when we saw a few poor lads shining shoes so we decided to get our shoes shined as well as be charitable as it was near christmas. There were 3 white lads and one black boy who i purposefully walked pass as it felt extremely embarrassing and reminded me of slavery days ( I'm caucasion ) I did at the end give the white shoe shiner who done my shoes a twenty pound note and said loudly "This is for all of you to share" as i didn't want my issues to be the reason why the black kid didn't eat that night as my friends also out of embarrassment had gone to the white boys and left the black boy out.
Have any of you been embarrassed at the shoeshiners or in a similar situation? How would you have acted had you been in my position that night?
Ron.
The other day me a few friends were walking when we saw a few poor lads shining shoes so we decided to get our shoes shined as well as be charitable as it was near christmas. There were 3 white lads and one black boy who i purposefully walked pass as it felt extremely embarrassing and reminded me of slavery days ( I'm caucasion ) I did at the end give the white shoe shiner who done my shoes a twenty pound note and said loudly "This is for all of you to share" as i didn't want my issues to be the reason why the black kid didn't eat that night as my friends also out of embarrassment had gone to the white boys and left the black boy out.
Have any of you been embarrassed at the shoeshiners or in a similar situation? How would you have acted had you been in my position that night?
Ron.
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Indeed maidup, i have no qualms with the boys cleaning my car, mowing my lawn or painting my fence but for some reason i froze when it came to getting my shoes shined.
Many thanks khandro for showing me how to view past q's and a's as i did wonder earlier on how to do this once you've built up an archive of q's and a's.
Thank you for the warm welcome bigjack and on that note i will retire for the night.
Have a pleasant evening all.
Ron.
Many thanks khandro for showing me how to view past q's and a's as i did wonder earlier on how to do this once you've built up an archive of q's and a's.
Thank you for the warm welcome bigjack and on that note i will retire for the night.
Have a pleasant evening all.
Ron.
//Myself I would have gone to the black boy, they may have more experience handed down//
That's a terrible thing to say - not to mention patronising. How on earth can we expect to see an end to discrimination when our own attitudes, in effect, maintain it? There’s nothing degrading in young people being enterprising – and that’s what these boys are. They’ve come up with an idea to make some money and they should be applauded. I see no difference in paying to have shoes cleaned than having a car washed – or my hair or nails done. I wish them every success - and I hope they turn their small enterprise into a bigger business and make pots of money.
That's a terrible thing to say - not to mention patronising. How on earth can we expect to see an end to discrimination when our own attitudes, in effect, maintain it? There’s nothing degrading in young people being enterprising – and that’s what these boys are. They’ve come up with an idea to make some money and they should be applauded. I see no difference in paying to have shoes cleaned than having a car washed – or my hair or nails done. I wish them every success - and I hope they turn their small enterprise into a bigger business and make pots of money.
// I did at the end give the white shoe shiner who done my shoes a twenty pound note and said loudly "This is for all of you to share" //
Unfortunately by walking past the black guy, what you did makes you subconciously racist. What you should have done is to ask them all if their shoeshine business was being run as a co-operative, ie. All sharing proceeds. This then completely answers your question with no racism involved.
WR.
Unfortunately by walking past the black guy, what you did makes you subconciously racist. What you should have done is to ask them all if their shoeshine business was being run as a co-operative, ie. All sharing proceeds. This then completely answers your question with no racism involved.
WR.
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