People of Color Vignette #2
(no one race or ethnic group specified)

This is a story relayed by a white woman:

While visiting my friend in the hospital I went up to the nursing station to ask the white charge nurse about my friend’s discharge time.  There was a man of color standing in front of me attempting to convey to the charge nurse that there was an error in the paperwork she had given him.  The man spoke with an accent.

Although I had no difficulty understanding his words, she apparently could not make out what he was saying. Rather than ask him to repeat what he had said she simply turned to me, a familiar looking white face, asking "May I help you?"

I just pointed to the man and took a step back.

Questions for the reader:  Why do you think the white charge nurse
turned away from the man of color?   What do you think of the white
woman's response to the question, "May I help you?"

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