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I can& #39;t specifically say a lot of what I would like to about working at Lab Zero publically, but I will share this. I was made extremely uncomfortable after Mike Z made racist remarks towards me on several occasions and after learning how he sexually harassed a female coworker-
Among many other deeming forms of harassment. scapegoating, gaslighting, verbal threats of physical harm to me, Mike Z made an extremely problematic and racist remark to me a total of THREE times. Each time I politely explained to him the racism and asked him to never repeat it-
I was geeking out over the Smash Ultimate announcement at my desk. Mike sits directly next to me. He leans over and says" Awww that& #39;s so cute" I turned to him and say... "What& #39;s so cute?" What are you talking about? Thats& #39; a weird thing to say to me and about me? -
He then says " It& #39;s so CUTE that YOU are into video games."
I am extremely annoyed at this comment.. " Why is that cute?!" I& #39;m a game artist and I& #39;ve been playing games my whole life?!" - Mike Z- " Oh it& #39;s cute because you LOOK LIKE A THUG." -
I am extremely annoyed at this comment.. " Why is that cute?!" I& #39;m a game artist and I& #39;ve been playing games my whole life?!" - Mike Z- " Oh it& #39;s cute because you LOOK LIKE A THUG." -
For context. I& #39;m Latino, very native facial features, My head is shaved because I& #39;m going bald, I wear athletic Nike shoes ( VERY CLEAN ) and gym shorts ( I get hot easily ) I wear anime shirts to work like Omocat or anime Ts from shows I like. I have one large tattoo on my arm.
Now the FIRST time this happened I laughed it off but also at the same time told him hey man, thats& #39; a really fucked up thing to say " Oh I don& #39;t mean it in a racial way" Nooo but you really do though... Please don& #39;t ever repeat this statement to me again. He FORGOT he said it -
HE FORGOT he said it and repeated the SAME "JOKE" to me two more times at work. The 2nd time I explained to him that this profiling was really hurtful. I told him how the police have harassed me in LA and OC and that I fear my life sometimes because I get profiled as a thug-
HE INVALIDATED my experience and fears. He shrugged off my life and said it& #39;s not a big deal and that I was "exaggerating" and that "people don& #39;t actually do that or think like that"
My hands were SHAKING. I wanted to fucking slap this man. At the time, he represented a white man in power who refused to see my reality and refused to apologize. Something I& #39;ve had to deal with my whole life. I told leadership and SHE did nothing-
"Ok Mike, imagine you see a latno dude with tattoos that you dont know running towards you wearing what I& #39;m wearing "gym clothes" at 10pm at night. You are alone. How do you feel? Dont answer out loud"
ok imagine a white guy in the same scenario. Gym clothes and tattoos-
ok imagine a white guy in the same scenario. Gym clothes and tattoos-
