Chick #1: You know, a year ago I didn’t even know who Tracy Chapman was.
Chick #2: Even I knew who she was, and I’m not even black!
Chick #1: Well, I’m not black in the ways that count. I’m not outwardly, identifiably black…Well, except for my skin color.
–Broadway & 116th
Columbia chick: … And what I’m really interested in studying is how computers are for us what slaves were to 19th century slaveholders.
Columbia dude: That’s very interesting.
Columbia chick: I mean, the way we treat them like commodities…
–Columbia University
Black bag lady: Oh, look, I like this samurai boy here…
Attractive Asian man, passing: Ah, thank you for getting the cultural reference right!
Black bag lady: You married?
Attractive Asian man, walking away: No, I'm gay!
–Long Island City
Mom: You wanna play with my iPod? I put your favorite Bieber songs on there.
Three-year-old: He not my favorite anymore.
Mom: He's not? How come?
Three-year-old: Mommy, he's just a white boy from Canada.
–Uptown 1 Train
Overheard by: not a belieber
Asian woman #1 (reading ad for tv show): This looks kind of like Dynasty. You know, rich people stabbing each other in the back.
Asian woman #2: Oh, please. Look–the whole cast is white. I see conniving white people all day at work: why watch them again when I get home?
–4 Train
Overheard by: Iris K.
Black girl #1: I told all my white friends that I would be offended if they didn't get me a Kwanzaa present.
Black girl #2: What? I told all my white friends that I would be offended if they did get me a Kwanzaa present.
–Union Square
Latino cashier #1: … And then he said he couldn’t tell us apart.
Latino cashier #2: That’s so insulting! Why wouldn’t he be able to tell you guys apart? It’s not like we’re Chinese!
–8th & Ave C
Overheard by: m.
Little girl: Daddy, what’s wrong with Chinese people? Why do they never smile?
Dad: It’s because they’re robots.
Little girl: What about black people? Are black people robots?
Dad: No, not that I’m aware of.
–4 train
Overheard by: Audrey
Black teen #1: Word up, nigga.
Older black man: No, no, no, sister. Don’t use the N-word. Please. Anything but that. Show some respect for your sisters and brothers.
Black teen #2: Fuck you, nigga! You’re not my father!
–B train
Overheard by: PDJ
