That Time I was Snubbed by a Chicago Public Schools Teacher at an Engineering Competition

The other day, I was lucky enough to be a judge of an engineering competition at a college campus. This was my third one, having been invited back by the organizers of the event. There’s something powerful about being in a roomful of young creative minds in competition. At any rate, after I walked in, the organizers got me and the others oriented and pointed the judges to a sectioned off part where seating, food and beverages were available. I sat at an unoccupied table and listened to the loud chatter among the guests and participants. Shortly after I sat down, a gentleman in glasses and a dark overcoat took the seat across from me.

This is the tale of an uppity older Black man.

The Snub

When the man sat across from me, I saw a neat bald man with a perfectly trimmed salt and pepper goatee. He didn’t smile or nod his head, and in the brief moments that passed, I said, “Hi. How are you?” His gaze lingered a little longer on me, and then he looked away.

I didn’t know who he was, and I hadn’t met him before. Yet I knew who he was because I knew who he thought I was. His eventual conversation didn’t let me down.

He didn’t say “Hi” back or introduce himself.

Still, having given this older man respect by speaking to him only for him to basically sneer me down was a little defeating. We always hear about the lack of respect in society, especially towards the older generation. I’m a Millennial and still carry values of respect, especially toward elders.

At any rate, after being snubbed by the man, we might have exchanged some words. I believe he might have asked about the starting time of the event or something to that effect. He didn’t say “Hi” back or introduce himself.

… the other gentleman had taken the time to place his bag on the table…

So, I went and got food. I scooped pasta and broccoli onto my plate, alongside some other food items and grabbed a beverage. Upon my return to the table, the other gentleman had taken the time to place his bag on the table, cutting off the line of sight between us. He also turned his back in a way as so to not have to see me. Obviously, I took notice, but I simply sighed and shook my head. This is who this man was. Not to my surprise, when a coworker who happened to be white sat beside me and struck up a conversation with me, the older man took his bag off the table and decided to join in, giving us an unprovoked retelling of his life.

The Chameleon of a Man

“Hey, what’s going on? Good to see you, man,” my coworker said, taking the seat next to me as he set down his plate of food and beverage.

“Hey,” I said. “You were here last year. I remember you.”

Jacob spoke passionately of his high school and the opportunities made available for him.

“Yep. Jacob, Science Department,” he said, nodding with a smile.

“Oh, you work here? My name is Earl,” the other man said and hurriedly moved his bag so that he could now be seen. He also twisted in his seat to get a better view.

Without prompting, Earl tells us he’s a retired CPS teacher (or in the process of retiring. I can’t recall specifically), after having worked for the system for over two decades. He was now in his glory years, doing Adjunct work “full-time”, according to him. He actually meant “part-time”, since Adjuncts are by definition part-time employees.

[Earl] spoke of how opportunities are wasted on individuals who aren’t capable to begin with.

At some point, the conversation turned to education and educational resources. I listened to Jacob and Earl discuss high schoolers and what the students had access to as far as educational resources. Jacob spoke passionately of his high school and the opportunities made available for him. He expressed disappointment that those opportunities aren’t more readily accessible to a larger group of students.

Earl, on the other hand, argued that college isn’t for everyone. I’m paraphrasing here, but that seemed to be his overall argument. He spoke of how opportunities are wasted on students who aren’t capable to begin with. Most people agree that college isn’t for everybody. Most also agree that every student should have access to college readiness. This makes it more likely a student will go to college and also succeed there.

I spoke up and reflected on being part of a program called AVID while I was in high school.

Eventually, I spoke up and reflected on being part of a program called AVID (Advanced via Individual Determination) while I was in high school. The program took thirty “high-testing, high-performing” students from what was considered “high-risk” communities and poured resources into us. This included better instruction materials, updated books, field trips and higher expectations with a boost of self-confidence. Jacob further reflected on his high school success and what the accessibility to resources there played in his ability to attain a PhD.

Earl listened, and when Jacob and I were done speaking, Earl stood. “Well, I guess I’ll get going to start judging the competition,” he said in a defeated tone.

What Earl Learned

“YN” (short for “young nigga”) is a term going around being used to describe young Black men who appear “threatening” (as Trayvon Martin allegedly was maybe). So, it describes every young Black male or Black male that aged well. Because I don’t grow a beard and for other reasons that might be genetic, people often tell me I look younger than I am, sometimes by 15 years. When Earl sat down across from me, he saw a YN.

But when Earl saw me, he saw a YN, and in his head, YNs are a waste of time.

Although my coworker Jacob looks young as well, he’s white and can’t classify as a YN in his wildest dreams. But when Earl saw me, he saw a YN, and in his head, YNs are a waste of time. Probably mistaking me for a student initially, he likely saw a YN collecting government grants and wasting taxpayer dollars on a degree he’d not ever get.

To be a CPS teacher is to have accomplished something worth celebrating, but the worth of that diminished to Earl when he realized the YN sitting before him was a two-time college graduate who’s an Adjunct alongside him but also in his primary career. This went against every narrative he’d told himself about guys who look like me.

You never know who you’re snubbing.

Earl grew up with men who looked like me, the guys who “fit the description”. Some of them may have displayed behaviors he shunned. He grew to not only despise their behavior but to despise who even looks like them. In his mind, he might look like them to some, but he’s different. And he’s different from me which is why he chose to snub me.

The Takeaway

I met an older Black man who carried a bad attitude and a terrible outlook on educational viability among at-risk groups. He’s seemingly spent his entire life being “different” from those who look like me and himself. He didn’t introduce himself until a white coworker sat at the table and spoke to me. It was as if my knowing a white guy solidified that I existed or was worth some conversation, even if that conversation was mostly indirect. The point is, be kind, and judge less. You never know who you’re snubbing.

This article was written by Jermaine Reed, MFA, the Editor-in-Chief of The Reeders Block. He also works an Adjunct College Professor. Join the email list to get notifications on new blog posts and books. This article is 100% human-written. And remember, if you see an error, that’s what makes us human. Subscribe and share.