Race

Young white daughter: Mommy, what's a black artist?
White mother, awkwardly: It's an artist who's…well, black.
Young daughter: Then how come you said you don't like them?
White mother, looking around nervously: I didn't say that, honey. I just said I don't like these paintings. The colors are too dark.
Young daughter, loudly: That's because he's black!
(mother hurriedly pulls daughter out of the room)

–The Whitney

White guy: Where do you live?
White girl: The Upper East Side. Where do you live?
White guy: I just moved to the city, I live in Harlem.
White girl: Oh, that must be scary.
White guy: Nah, it's not scary. I'm from Northwestern Florida so I mean I'm used to black people…plus, I play basketball.
White girl (nods in complete agreement): Oh, you're fine then.

–Bowery Bar

(waiting in line at the DMV)
Black supervisor with thick Jamaican accent to preppy white mom accompanying her daughter: You sit down. (mumbles something else)
White mom: Did he say “only Africans wait in line”?
White daughter: No, mom, “only *applicants* wait in line.”

–Harlem DMV

Hipster guy: Ever fuck a black chick?
Buddy: I don’t get involved enough with the chicks I fuck to learn details like that.

–Court & Joralemon St, Brooklyn

Overheard by: Big Larry

Male law student: You know who I feel sorry for?
Female law student: Who?
Male law student: A black guy with a small dick.
Female law student: Why?
Male law student: Because the expectations are so much higher.
Female law student: You mean, like, with you it’s just expected, right?
Male law student: Not me. I’m hung like… like a black guy.
Female law student: You mean like the black guy who isn’t well-hung?

–Brooklyn Law School library

Overheard by: Big Larry

White boy #1: Hey, do you watch wresting?
White boy #2: No, I’m not that white.

–Columbia University

Guy: So where did you say you are from again?
Southern girl: Alabama.
Guy: Hmm. I’ve never been to Alabama. I’ve been to Louisiana, though.
Southern girl: Ugh. It’s all the same thing. If you’ve been to one racist, idiot hellhole, you’ve been to them all.

–F train

Bag lady #1: Keep movin’, lady! You just keep movin’!
Bag lady #2: I don’t acquiesce to no Irish! I don’t acquiesce to no Irish! I’ll cut the police commissioner’s neck off! I’ll cut his neck off!

–7th Ave, between 23rd & 24th

Overheard by: CKJ

Black guy #1 listening to cell: Yo, no nigger should leave a weepy message like that. Nigger is soft.
Black guy #2: Stupid nigger.

–19th & 7th

Overheard by: CG

Black girl #1: I'm just too black.
Black girl #2: Oh my god! You are so racist!
Black girl #3: You are just like Oprah! You be hatin' on your own self!

–Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island