Nobody Knows the Trouble Wednesday One-Liners Seen

Hobo to white guy walking with three black friends: What's up, slave owner?

–The Village

Girl on phone: We should practice selling ourselves to each other.

–Subway Sandwiches, 38th & 7th

Crazy man on train: America! America! Anybody wanna buy some white people?

–A Train

Ditzy girl to friend: So I had this black boyfriend one time, and we had to break up because he kept talking about slavery. I was all, hello, I'm Czech, my people were slaves too.

–Columbia University School of Social Work

Overheard by: Eric

Black toddler to mortified white nanny: Wanna play slave?

–Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Posted on July 10, 2015
All Wednesday One-Liners, Black People, Breaking Up, Brooklyn, Chelsea & the Meatpacking District, Columbia (& Barnard), Columbia University, Crazies, Crazy, Friends, Girls, Guys, History & Geography, Hobos, Kids, On the Subway, One-liners, Questions, Race, Restaurants & Cafes, Shopping, Should've Used a Condom, Street, The Village, Wednesday One-Liners, Weirdness, White People, Wishes & desires, Women

I Know About Signs Of Sun-Damage…

Teacher: Do you know anything about gang signs?
Ginger student: Do you think I know anything about gang signs? I'm as white as can be!

–Stuyvesant High School

Posted on July 8, 2015
Crime and Punishment, Questions, Race, Students, Stuyvesant, Teachers/Professors

Get Your Own Annoying Routine

8-year-old boy to friend: You can't stop me, I'm the Indian man! You can't stop me, I'm the gingerbread man! You can't stop me, I'm the Jewish man!
Friend: You can't stop me, I'm the Indian man!
8-year-old boy: All the single ladies! All the single ladies! If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it!
Friend: You can't stop me, I'm the Indian man!
8-year-old boy: Stop with the Indian thing!

–McDonald's

Overheard by: Brittany

Posted on July 6, 2015
Friends, Kids, Marriage, Race, Restaurants & Cafes

We Blame Barbie for This Conversation.

All beauty, no brains brunette: No, John, he's not all the way black, his mom is white and his dad is black. He's just like 1/16th black, or whatever that comes out to.
John: Dude, really? I take it math wasn't your strong point in school.

–Bryant Park

Overheard by: Sky

Posted on July 5, 2015
Bryant Park, Colors, Education, Girls, Race

Exactly Half

Hipster guy: And then we wandered down the street into Bed-Stuy, like into the projects, and these guys were screaming at us, like, “You in the wrong part of Brooklyn, white boys!” …but Marcus is half black!
Hipster girl: Oh, so it's not entirely ironic when he freestyles?

–Hayden Residence Hall, NYU

Posted on July 2, 2015
Hipsters, NYU, Questions, Race, Singing, Threats

As If She Gives a Fuck What Coloreds Say

Girl from upstate New York: So are there a lot of colored people in Connecticut?

Long pause.

Black girl: We say black people now.

–FIT

Overheard by: LL

Posted on June 30, 2015
Black People, College, Girls, Questions, Race, U.S. Geography, Words

Overheard in the Headlines: The Jackson Verdict

White guy on cell: Look, he was tried by a jury of his peers, they were all white, and they let him off.

–Whole Foods, Union Square

Overheard by: riptorn

Posted on June 29, 2015
Crime and Punishment, On Cell, One-liners, Race, White People, Whole Foods

Can Civil Engineering Correct This Lack Of Civility? Discuss.

(nurse with elderly lady on wheelchair comes against Asian American pregnant woman with baby in stroller)
Nurse: Oh my, I'm sorry! (pulls back to let woman and child pass)
Asian American pregnant woman: Oh, I'm sorry, I can…
Senile old lady: Get out of the way, chink!
(infant cries)
Asian American pregnant woman: Excuse me?
Nurse: Oh my god! I'm so sorry.
Senile old lady: Don't apologize!
(nurse backs up and lets mother and child through)

–Washington Square Village

Overheard by: zgoldberg