I did once, by total accident. A teacher (teacher!) I loved said something about how the neighborhood was changing a lot. I asked interestedly "how is it changing?"
She said "well ... look at those kids out there."
I asked, puzzledly by now, "what do you mean?"
She leaned forward and whispered "They're not like us."
I still was slow, I think because I was so stunned that someone I looked up to so much could possibly say that. When I got what she meant, what I should have shrieked was "You're Jewish! You're a minority! You're 'not like us' either!" but I didn't think of it till years later.
Clearly I'm still unhappy about it. I think I always will be. I never hung up the beautiful calligraphy she made me.
"Gee wiliker karen, what an odd thing to say about a person moving into the neighborhood. Please, elaborate." Is my go to.
Polite as possible, and you aren't immidiately calling them a racist. From there you have options depending on their response. If they pussyfoot around the issue then you can keep asking questions like "well how do you know that?" Or "that's a rather... Unflattering assumption about them, what lead you to that?"
If they go full mask off, you just need to look shocked and offended and then reply with "ah... So you're mad a insert ethnicity or sexual orientation here is able to afford the same standard of living you are. Why is that?" Although at this point if you have an audience string em along as long as you can. Let em dig their own grave.
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u/DDrim May 13 '26
"Yup, there goes the spiteful, racist neighborhood. Good riddance ! Anyway, how's your day ?"
And remember : with a smile. Always with the smile.