Race

Dad at hockey game: Wow, there’s like no black people here.
20-something son: Yeah there are, Dad. They’re selling stuff and cleaning bathrooms.
Dad: Aren’t you glad you weren’t born black?

–Madison Square Garden

Overheard by: Deb

Chick: There sure are a lot of old people in this line.
Boyfriend: No they aren’t, baby. Do you mean Asian?
Chick: No! I know the difference!

–53rd & Lex

Overheard by: Emily

Ghetto kid #1: Yo, Cam’ron be doin’ some gay shit!
Ghetto kid #2: Nah, but he always calls ‘no homo’ so it’s aight.
Ghetto kid #1: So if Cam’ron asked you to suck his dick ‘no homo,’ would you?
Ghetto kid #2: Well, if he called ‘no homo…’

–B9 bus, Ave M

Thug in Navigator: Hey! Where’s Brooklyn Bridge at from here?
Guy in car: Uhhh…
Queer in back seat: You’re asking three white guys in a Connecticut car? Fuck! You ain’t gonna make it.

–Flatbush Ave, off the BQE

Overheard by: TK, third guy from CT who didn’t know either

Gaggle of black girls shriek on street.

Hipster girl #1: Ew, what happened?
Hipster girl #2: Slavery was abolished.

–Houston & Orchard

Black woman: Oh, look at this, ‘The Collected Stories of Truman Capote.’ Wow, he really looks like who played him!
Black man: Let me see that. What? You think that looks like me?
Black woman: No, no, he looks like what’s-his-name, you know, the guy who played him in the movie.
Black man: Oh! Shit, I thought you said ‘he looks like you, playa.’
Black woman: Are you crazy?
Black man: He does dress like a nigga, though.

–Barnes & Noble, 82nd St & Broadway

Overheard by: Beeeej

Ghetto guy: Why I be so ashy?
White chick: It’s because you’re black, right?

–Canal St & Centre St

Son : We’re gonna get robbed and raped down here, we should have taken the bus.
Father: You only say stupid things.
Mother: Just hit him.
Son: Let’s get off at the next stop and take the bus.
Mother: Put your iPod away before those black guys try to rob you.

–Subway, near Battery Park

Overheard by: Mike Hunt

Black NYU boy: For some reason, every Asian here has a rice cooker.
Black girl: Why?
Black NYU boy: I don’t know, I guess because they’re Asian.
Black girl: That’s so stupid. I’m black, but you don’t see me with a chicken fryer.

–8th St & University Pl

Overheard by: yo mama

Hasidic Jew: Excuse me, sir, are you Jewish?
Man: Yes.
Hasidic Jew: The Messiah is coming soon. [To black woman:] Excuse me, ma’am, are you Jewish? I was just kidding.

–2 train

Overheard by: the rat