“Being black”: what is it cool for?

Dr Poonam Madar lectures in Sociology and Criminology, based in London. Her research interests include race, gender, and popular culture. She blogs at: www.poonammadar.blogspot.com and she tweets as @PoonamMadar To find out more, visit Poonam’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/PoonamMadar Not so long ago I began temping in an office in Central London. In the first few days, one staff member (a black man) welcomed me and we exchanged ‘hellos’. But when I asked his name, his eyes signalled to the further part of the room where the senior managers were sitting and he laughingly, but sarcastically replied, ‘They call me equal opportunities.’ Before I could react or even have the chance to catch his ‘real’ name he was already out the door.