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This Black Guy Drew What It Was Like Being The Only Black Man In A White Office In The 60s, And It’s Worse Than You Think
There's a lot of drama and discrimination in the workplace, but probably only a handful of people have experienced the race discrimination as much as the people of color who started entering predominantly white offices a few decades ago. Tom Floyd was born in Gary, Indiana in 1929 and operated his own advertising firm before working as a designer for the Inland Steel Company. There, his insights on racism dynamics were formed.
"As a 'BLACK' white collar worker having willingly and conscientiously taken an active part in America's leading social pre-occupation... An experiment called 'Integration' ... I feel compelled to assess my total experience on discrimination, and perhaps the experiences of other Blacks by saying…. 'INTEGRATION IS A BITCH'...," Tom Floyd commented.
Floyd used his personal experience as the only black man working in a white environment in the 60s, showcasing the absurd reality he was forced to be a part of. The cartoonist was a proponent of meaningful racial understanding and cooperation. His comic series 'Integration is a Bitch' was released in 1969, a time where the vast majority of works like it were rejected by publishers, too scared to deal with such a sensitive subject. Luckily, Floyd's work managed to squeeze its way into the pressing machine, and people say it's relevant even today.
Scroll down to check Floyd's vintage-style comics filled with disgraceful discrimination examples and best comebacks to the shortsighted racists themselves.
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Did You Know Him?
Clap Clap Clap
It's St. Patrick's Day..... Where Is Your Shamrock? It's Black History Week Where Is Your Dashiki?
Oh No Fred..... He Works Here
Ya' See... Thay're Taking Over....
It's A Brilliant Idea.... Who Helped You With It?
... And This Is Our Negro!
We Had A Nice Colored Man Cuttting Our Grass Yesterday... And You Know.. He Didn't Steal A Thing....
It's honestly horrifying that people I knew or even was related to may have thought that saying s**t like this was not only ok but a complement
If I Told You A Joke.... Would You Get Offended? ... And Then This Colored Guy Said..... And Then This Hillbilly Said.......
Having to train myself to not read the titles because they give it all away.
Rape! File This.....
Very true today!! An extension of the second panel would be if he looked would be a replay of the first, or a cry of harassment.
Thats Right, Ali... Hit Him... Knock His Head Off...
Sorry... But All Of The Men Are Out Of The Office Now.. Could You Call Back Later?
Maybe They Don't Serve People In Sport Coats... Maybe These Waiters Don't Like To Be Called Boys
Some Negroes Beat Up My Boy Last Night!
Here Are Some Of My Kids Old Clothes... I Thought That Your Kids Could Use Them....
I get how this is disrespectful and distasteful, but in reality I'm gladly accepting alllll the handmedowns. Kids grow like crazy, it's hard to keep up!
Race Is Unimportant At Abc Engineering. We Got Three New Employees..... 2 Ones And 1 Five
My dad told me this is how his university in DC coded students in the 60's. He was a 3.
Hi Boss.. Remember That Problem That You Couldn't Solve.. Well I Just.....
Oh, they take it equally "well" from anybody, regardless of their color/sex/religion.
We Can't Give You A Raise Simply Because You Are Colored...
....now You Speak In This And... And...
Hi 'Ya Fellows! Good Morning Whitey
We Felt That You Would Like A Window With A View.....
Eh.... No Seats
Racism aside, if I walk into a bar with a friend I'd prefer to sit together as well.
The Following Words Are Never To Be Used When Addressing A Black Person
Have You Seen My Coin Purse?
Average Looking... What Do You Mean... My Blond Wife Is Average Looking...
Shoot, if a coworker sees a picture of my wife he better say she's average looking.
What Do You Think About Negroes In The Street... I Mean.. Crime In The Streets....?
When I Was Young I Belonged To A Gang,... But, That Was Different... I Have Nothing Against Negroes... Some Of My Best Friends Are Culturally Deprived. If You Think We Mistreated You Blacks... Look How We Did The Indians
Shh.... Here He Comes!
One Of Your Soul Brothers Beat Me Up Last Nite!
For Heaven's Sake, George.... Tell Them How Well We Treat You!
I Don't Know What Happened..... When You Came They All Moved
Well-We Won't Be Needing This Anymore.....
You Two Probably Know Each Other.....
.... Now Lets Face It... If Blacks Were On Top... They Would Treat Whites The Same Inhumane Way.....
Hire Some Negroes.. Quick! Look, Boss.... I Got Our Image Maker
Discrimination Complaint.....? See Mr. George Brown
'we Are Pledged To Do All In Our Power To Assure Genuine Equality Of Opportunity In Employment...'. In Comparison With Other Bigoted Companies, Abc Engineering Is Very Outstanding. We Do Everything To Make Our Employees Happy Here!
Make Sure That These Pictures Are Sent To The Black Dispatch..... Afro American News, Etc.
Years ago, I worked for a company that has been around for over 100 years. In the hallway hung a photograph taken in the 1930s (not a typo) of the executive officers. As you'd expect there were white dudes -- and one black man, standing tall and proud in his business suit, the head of their secretarial staff. There were no women, no Irish, no Italians, no Catholics, no Jews. Today that same company touts diversity, and have a multitude of VPs among minorities and women. Yet it's still pretty much a WASP men's club at the top. The glass ceiling is still around, it's just moved to a higher floor.
May I Sit Here Or Are You One Of Those Black Militants
Because there can't possibly be another reason why people wouldn't like this guy sitting next to them...
...you're The First Colored Fellow That He Has Ever Seen....
But, We Thought He'd Make You Feel At Home!
Illustration By Tom Floyd
George... A Cup Of Coffee, Light On Cream
I Got This Job Because I'm Colored. Why?
Does He Get A Report Too?
Ya See..... They All Can Dance
Boo!
7 More Minutes Of Integration!
Ya' Know,... I Wouldn't Mind If A Nice Colored Fellow Like You Would Live Next Door To Me
I Think George Is Trying To Tell Us Something
There Is No Need To Write In Your Race On This Application... Just Put... Where You Live...
What... You Don't Like Watermelon, George? George.... We Have A Treat For You...
This is one I've never understood. I guess as I grew up I simply never knew all these particular racial stereotypes regarding foods. I still don't know a lot of them and when I learn about them they still confuse me.
Your Report Was Good.... But.....
Let's Get One Thing Straight... You Weren't Hired To Solve Engineering Problems....
Boy... Do You Need A Haircut!
Hey, Doc... Here Is A Good Heart Donor Prospect....
We've Always Had An Outstanding Integration Record
Let Me Show You How To Do That!
So there was whiteplaining in addition to mansplaining. No surprise there.
There Were Some Cute Colored Kids On Tv Last Night
See.... Here Is Proof That You Deprived Guys Can Make It
He's Got A Knife! No.... For The Third Time I Don't Carry A Knife!
Still Want To Buy My House? It Will Be A While Before The Neighbors Get Use To You!
Illustration By Tom Floyd
The start of a "witch hunt". White men frequently assumed any working woman was a fair target for their groping. But were obsessed with "protecting" such women from ..>>insert the n word <<. Accidental bumping like this could start horrific attacks on both the black person and the women. So he would be justifiably afraid. If a black woman could even get a job, things were much worse for them.
Don't Call Him Boy!
I'm not sure I understand this one. Isn't the other guy trying stand up for him.
Soul Brother..... I'm So Glad You're Here....
I Made Them With Peanut Brittle And Nigger Toes
I Belong To The Naacp... I Send My Daughter To An Integrated School.. But... I Still Can't See Open Housing
Only At Abc Engineering Could You Find Fringe Benefits Like This… Ah… Miss Jones… I Simply Detest Exhibitionism…
Now See Here, George, Somebody Has To Be Low Man On The Totem Pole
I would also like to express my annoyance at the term "low man on the totem pole". I don't know why anyone started assuming that totem poles were like... a hierarchical thing. There are a bunch of different types, with different purposes, but I've never heard of one that's listing people in order of importance.