I am writing to you in order to ventilate about a somewhat disturbing incident that occurred during tonight's class. Right after you gave us our in-class break, so tghat we could engage in peer discussions, I began answering a question put to me by my fellow student sitting next to me [who was using your laptop]. She wanted me to elucidate on my troubles passing the Basic skills & the ACT that were preventing my Teacher License. You were standing at the front of the class observing other discussions which at the time were lively yet not overly loud. Suddenly, at the table just behind our first table, the student who earlier congratulated herself on attaining a new job as a special educator para fervently interrupted the conversation between myself & the young lady at my table attempting to gain my attention. I responded and said yes what was going on. At that point, the student behinds us and a few seats over said "Shhhh, can't concentrate...I don't know, maybe it's your[mine] tone of voice that's carrying too much...you know-the base in your voice...!" My conversation partner & I looked at each other incredulously, because we both listened to the low-level rustle of multiple conversations all around us; realizing our volume wasn't out of sync with rest of the class. I then responded, " So what I hear you saying is you're being disturbed by the base-tone of my voice while I'm talking with my partner here? You know what, that could be considered as a statement implying a degree of sexism if not prejudicial regarding my age. Especially considering you haven't even introduced yourself to me! At what point do you not see the potential insult for what & how you are saying this to me and my discussion partner? So you think it is OK to just callously 'Shush' a man old enough to be your grandfather because the base in his voice is disturbing to you? And I don't see you making that statement to the other 2 males in our class sitting just as close to you either."
The incident ended on that note, after I asked the lady for her name by the way [She stated Jacqueline] and my partner and I shrugged our shoulders. For the sake of peace and conciliation, we did however drop the volume of our ongoing conversation just a notch while the bustle of classroom talk remained to override our own.
I explained to my partner that this was not the first time I'd encountered or heard about this type of confrontation within the milieu of certain professions. Black men specifically and men in general with heavy low voices have been targeted at times for not using "proper therapeutic vocal tones" acceptable to activities comprise of largely feminine co-workers. This has been seen especially in areas for which I have long-standing experience such as nursing, psychiatric milieu's, and teaching. Indeed, I've seen many a time the abrupt accusation wielded as an instrument of control whereas the accuser would often be heard later commenting how they 'put that guy in their place..." The insult of it lay in the implied attempt at "emasculating" the object of such accusations. I feel that while time and again I have usually overlooked such 'petty game-playing" there are moments when I need to address these acts as a matter of asserting my own respect and dignity. Yet, as I try to maintain the higher moral ground by somewhat overlooking such acts as misguided and immature, I also perceive that it may also be an attempt create a demeanor of nervous self-consciousness which is deeply embedded in how such accusers stereotypically see black males as a nuisance [at best] in current society...!
As such, I am very disappointed when these things occur & I have seen far too many instances of this sort of thing & more happening in Saint Xavier classrooms and within my fledgling experiences in the professional education milieu as well/ It is disturbing and disheartening because I really thought such atmospheres would be enlightened and above such misbehavior's. In any case, I thank you for allowing me to ventilate and I welcome/respect your views, if any, on such things. God Bless you
