Assimilation Nation: Tossing the American Salad - What's In A Mane? Pt. 2

Last time on Assimilation Nation: Tossing the American Salad, we followed Shareice to work and saw what happened when we did her hair in a way that was different from the norm yet fitting with some of the stereotypes and biases that face African Americans on a daily basis. The next day we dressed Shareice in her normal business attire, but this time fitted her with a glorious black power Afro. It spanned two feet and was rounder than Mother Earth itself. Shareice does one simple reshaping before heading into the office building. The change is instantly noticeable.


8AM: Shareice walks into the building where several of the African American associates were sleeping on blankets on the lower level. An overseer sits in the corner napping with a walky-talky in his belt. Shareice grabs the walky-talky, finds the nearest desk and stands upon it.

Shareice: ATTENTION AFRO AMERICAN ASSOCIATES OF WENTWORTH MILLER!

The associates on the ground floor wake up with a start. Shareice looks up and sees other associates peering tentatively over the railings above. They see her powerfulness and begin to join together.

Shareice: CHANGE! Is coming. UNGAWA!!!!!!

Afro American Associates: UNGAWA!!!

The contingent stands up and rids themselves of their oppressive clothing trading it instead for designer suites, Kente cloth, and glorious hair. The overseer wakes up and notices the disturbance. He reaches for his walky-talky and frowns in dismay as he realizes it's gone. Shareice holds it high in the air and smiles proudly.

Shareice: You lookin' for THIS boss?!

She turns the radio to all frequencies and delivers a message to the higher-ups.

Shareice: REVOLUTION IS UPON YOU! YOU WILL BOW DOWN! RISE UP AFRIKAN PEOPLES, RISE UP AND TAKE WHAT IS YOURS! Now, where are my messages?

Rachelle: Right here soul sister! You have a meeting with that jive honky Mr. Johnson in an hour.

Shareice: Thank you Sister Rachelle, power to the people.

Rachelle: Right on!

Shareice makes her way to the elevator and is met by Paul who has a cup of coffee for her.

Paul: I know you take it black, just like me.

They board the elevator which stops as normal on the 15th floor. John is standing there looking dejected. Out of Shareice's sight we see a group of black men on either side of the elevator watching in a menacing manner.

John: Shareice hi!

He runs on the elevator making sure not to muss the Afro.

John: Soo.. what was all the business yesterday? Ahem, umm.. it was pretty crazy, huh? You know I'm not usually so-

Shareice: Funny John, I don't remember telling you to speak.

John: Ma'm, yes ma'm!


9AM: Shareice goes to her office to prepare for the meeting with John. She comes out later and goes to the mailcenter to make copies. She runs into Carole.

Shareice: Good morning Carole.

Carole: Hmph, some morning, it seems something has gotten into the water.

Shareice: Oh really? How do you mean?

Carole: Well for one thing, you have different hair again.

Shareice: I'm sure I don't look like a Stephanie today.

Carole: No, but I prefer it.

Shareice: Then you also prefer my foot up your whitey ass and you'll get that preference if you call me out my name again White Devil!

Carole: BRING IT ON! You think this changes anything girl? You think just because you come sporting some Afro it makes anything different? I OWN YOU!

Shareice: Oh hayle naw she didn't! AHHH!!!

Shareice rushes Carole slamming her into the north wall. Carole karate chops her in the back and sends her flying across the room. Shareice recovers before hitting the ground and tumbles into an expert back hand stand inverted lotus kick.

Shareice: My people have suffered in this place long enough. That ends today.

Carole: You are nothing and your people are even less. You gave us the reigns yesterday, and today we will tighten them!

Shareice: Yeawwww!

Shareice roundhouse kicks Carole to the gut and plants her on the ground.

Shareice: Now you listen woman. You had your time to shine, but today is a day for reawakening. Today is about the future, and that future is BLACK! Now what's my name?

Carole: Your name is Ste-

Shareice: MY NAME IS WHAT?!

Carole: Shareice! Your name is Shareice.

Shareice gives Carole a final headbutt knocking her unconscious.

Shareice: And don't you forget it bitch.

She grabs her stack of reports and leaves the room to finish readying for her meeting.


10AM: Shareice walks into the office of Irv Johnson ready for the follow-up meeting from yesterday's contract signings. Irv has his back to her and is rustling through some papers in a file cabinet across the room.

Shareice: Good morning Irv.

Irv: Damnit Stephanie, it's Mast-

Irv turns around to see an angry black woman in an Afro that only seems to be growing larger.

Shareice: Irving I have known you for more than seven years. I was there when your first child was born. Now I don't know what the hell got into you, but that ends today. My name is Shareice, and you will congratulate me on the fine work I did to commandeer that contract yesterday. And you will do it now before I beat you down.

Irv: Ma'm yes ma'm! Shareice ma'm, congratulations on the work you did to bring us the account. You will be duly compensated in your next check!

Shareice: Good, thank you Irving.

Irv: Permission to be frank, ma'm?

Shareice: Permission granted.

Irv: You look so regal and beautiful, I was wondering if perhaps you might want some milk in your coffee today?

Shareice: Irving!

Irv: I love you Ms. Shareice!

Shareice: Irving we're going to close up these contracts and delegate their maintenance tasks to the responsible parties and we'll never speak of this again!

Irv: It's because I'm white isn't it?

Shareice: Irv what did I just say!?

Irv: Yes ma'm, business only ma'm!


12PM: After the meeting Shareice remembers to go to legal to check on Melvin. She boards the elevator where she sees John is now acting as operator.

John: Which floor my Ebony Goddess?

Shareice: Take me to legal please.

John: With pleasure Mistress Moore.

Shareice arrives and notices that Melvin's office is no longer a windowless room in the back, but instead the coveted corner office with views of the growing city.

Melvin: Shareice, welcome, come in and talk with me!

Shareice enters the office to see the man who acted originally as overseer was no shining Melvin's shoes.

Shareice: Well Melvin, I see a lot has changed up here.

Melvin: It certainly has Shareice, let's talk. You may go Johnson.

Johnson: Yes sir, thank you, it was an honor adding brilliance to your footwear.

Melvin: That's enough William.

William leaves the room as Melvin points to a straw chair with a wide peacock style back and a red velvet cushion.

Melvin: Have a seat dear.

Shareice: Melvin, when I started this experiment I had no idea what reactions would occur, but I certainly wasn't ready for the way a simple hairstyle effected everyone so much.

Melvin: The effects on the white people were important Shareice, but what was even more surprising, especially to myself were the response from your fellow colleagues of color. I find when people are forced to fend for their lives, they will instinctually split into the contingent that fights, and the contingent that goes along with the flow hoping for a natural change.

The wounds of slavery are deep in this country and penetrate not just the hearts, but also the minds and souls of those effected by it. Yesterday was nothing compared to the centuries our people have suffered. It was so easy to regress back into those old methods, but I'm glad to see it was easier to come out when given a leader.

Shareice: It was so hard though Melvin. When Carole called me Stephanie it was as if my whole sense of identity flew out the window. My entire morale came crashing down over something so simple. I've worked so hard to get where I am, always with the issue of my race just on the inside of my peripheral vision. I lost sight of it and assumed that now these people will accept me because of the wonderful work I've done. It only took one day for them to see me differently and respond in a negative manner! It's completely unfair.

Melvin: It is unfair, but right now that's life. As a woman, as an African American, and specifically as an African American woman it is up to you to cultivate and cater your own sense of self worth, because no one else is going to do it for you. It's going to be hard, but until times change you have to be strong and confident and not allow anyone to redefine or take away who you are.

Shareice: That's easier said than done Melvin.

Melvin: But it can be done Shareice, it must. Now you and I need to clean up this mess. Yesterday was one extreme and today was quite the other. I suggest we get together and bring this office to a compromise we can all live with.

Shareice: I agree. Thank you Melvin.


Shareice and Melvin spend the rest of day putting discrimination and harassment stipulations into the company's mission statement. They hold workshops on diversity and really get the co-workers not only to open up about their grievances, but put plans into action of how to satiate those concerns.

We will check back with Shareice at the end of our journey, but first we must go to another location to test another type of discrimination.

Thom Jones (and yes, he's heard it before) is a young homosexual man that happens to be very flamboyant. We will place him in an office environment with Steven Thompson who is also homosexual but much more introverted. How will the two of them together effect their environment and what kind of challenges will they face separately and together?

Find out next time on Assimilation Nation: Tossing the American Salad.

Assimilation Nation: Tossing the Americ an Salad - What's In a Mane? Pt. 1

Welcome back to Assimilation Nation: Tossing the American Salad.

Once again, I am your conductor on this train to enlightenment, Bruno Sharpei. Our first experiment involves Shareice Moore. Shareice is a small town girl who, due to being raised in the suburbs I assume, experienced covert racism on an astounding level.

Shareice: No one was really open about it, but they would just say things that wouldn't sit right with me. All of my friends were white, even everyone in my church was white, so when I heard something uncomfortable for me racially I wasn't quite sure where to reach out.

Shareice, please give us some examples to better illustrate your point.

Shareice: Well a large one happened when I went to a Cure Revival concert with my friends. I had a lot of people asking whether or not I was in the right place, since it wasn't a Hip Hop concert, or if I was there to add some r&b flare to the thing. There was also some talk of “filling the quota” that I didn't understand so I didn't respond to. The thing was that many of these people felt themselves to be liberal or open-minded and understanding so it was even harder to voice my discomfort, with thought that I may be too “PC”.

Shareice's experiment will involve certain stereotypes that have been placed on her racial community and how that stereotype effects the reactions of those around her and in turn how they affect her.

The title of this Case Study will be “What's In A Mane?” We will take Shareice and dress her in her normal business attire and insert her into a standard day at the office. The difference will be that instead of a bun or bob, her hair will be braided into identical plaits on either side of her head. To add credence to these plaits they will involved her hair in a natural state. Featuring rough, tight curls that when brushed creates rustic waves leading into more puffed plaits. Each with be banded and rolled over at the end.

Now the differences that we've highlighted may seem minor and nearly inconsequential but as we'll see the effects of racism are inherent and though the original responses may seem slight the resulting outcomes have the ability to grow exponentially thus perhaps creating a debilitating sense of worth in our participant.

We'll follow Shareice throughout the day and record the events of said day on an hourly basis.

Scene: Shareice works at Wentworth Miller & Associates in downtown Sioux Falls, SD. She is an accounts representative and holds frequent meetings with executives in associate offices around the city and state. She earns a very good salary and has positive rapport with her coworkers and clients. She's made sure that she falls into the corporate mold and always adopts a “professional” appearance. She goes the extra mile and makes sure that nothing on her person stands out in a negative way by wearing neutral colors and making sure her hair is tame and the same everyday.

Shareice: It's completely different from the way I was in college, but I found that the way I did my hair seemed to affect the way that some reacted to me, so I stopped being creative and started to assimilate. It's worked for me in the office, but I wonder what would happen if I were to push the envelope in one direction. Despite knowing me for so long would my colleagues treat me any differently if they saw me in a different way?

Let's find out Shareice. We'll begin your day, right now.

8AM: Shareice enters into the building in her usual get up but with her hair in the state described above. Immediately the receptionist, who is also African American takes notice.

Rachelle: Hey Shareice! Umm, what's up with the slave hair?

Shareice: Excuse me?

Rachelle: The Miss Celie braids? What's that all about? You know where we work, right?

Shareice: Rachelle I was just trying something new, I hardly think of them as “slave braids” my goodness.

Rachelle: Whatever, here's your messages.

Shareice feels a bit put off but decides to brush the incident away and makes her way into the company elevator. On her way to the 30^th floor they stop to pick up some people on the 15^th. Two of her associates, John & Terrence begin to get on but stop upon seeing her.

John: So, they're taking the elevator now?

Shareice: Yes John, I always take the elevator.

John stares at her coldly and Shareice begins to shrink slightly.

John: We'll wait for the next car.

Shareice: What? Joh-

Shareice is cut off when the door suddenly closes. She turns to her Caucasian suite mate Paul beside her,

Shareice: Paul what's going on today?

Paul winks at her and motions his head to the security cameras in the elevator. He puts his back to the camera and has a pad with a message on it pointed towards Shareice.

“If you need a way out, I can help you. The codeword is MOSES.”

Shareice is bewildered and makes her way quickly out of the elevator.

Paul: So I'll look forward to hearing from you about that proposition Shareice. We ALL will!

9AM: Shareice has been in her office returning calls and leaves to make some copies in the floor's mail center. She is collating her documents when Carole from marketing comes in. Carole is Shareice's superior and they have a congenial yet stilted work relationship.

Shareice: Good morning Carole!

Carole: Good morning Shar! Well look at you, your hair is different! I love it!

Shareice: R-really? Wow, that's great. You know I've only been in the office for a little bit today and I've gotten the oddest-

Carole: Yeah, it reminds me of a little sla- umm, French school girl.

Shareice: Really, because it didn't seem like that's what you were going to-

Carole: It's just precious, really it is! Except you look less like a Shareice and more like a... we'll say Stephanie. Yes, Stephanie.

Shareice: Umm, okay Carole, but there's no reason for that, my name is Shareice and I love my-

Carole: I'm going to call you Stephanie! It will be fun!

Shareice: I would rather you not, mostly because that's not my-

Carole: Look Stephanie, I'm trying to be perfectly reasonable with you-

Shareice: Carole please stop interrupting me! I am trying to tell you-

Carole: When did we get so familiar Stephanie? I think you should call me Mrs. Kowalski. And your insubordinate behavior will not be forgotten in your yearly review.

Shareice: What? My review isn't for another six months, and I've always called you Carole.

Carole: Well Stephanie, things are different now. I think there's something in the air, but the times are changing, and I like it. Get me some coffee and have it in my office in 20 minutes.

Shareice: Wait, you have an assistant for that, Car- Mrs. Kowalski! What's going on today!?

10AM: Shareice has a meeting with a prospective client. It's an important account and she has a preliminary meeting with her supervisors to straighten out the details before the clients arrive.

Irv Johnson (Vice CEO, marketing): Good morning Stephanie, good to see you on time.

Shareice: How.. I mean, sir, you know my name is-

Irv: That's hardly consequential right now Stephanie, I'd like to read over your presentation did you bring it with you?

Shareice: Well of course I did, but you've never proofed any of my documents in the past, why-

Irv: There's always room for change Stephanie, gotta keep your kind on your p's and q's.

Shareice: Why is everyone interrupting me to- wait, “my kind”? What exactly is my kind, sir?

Irv: I'd appreciate it if you not look me in the eye Stephanie, especially not in front of the client. Now normally we would let one of our more acceptable representatives do the presentation, but this firm takes kindly to those of your influence. As long as you're willing to participate we should be able to close the deal with little to no issue.

Shareice: Participate how, sir?

Irv: Oh you know Stephanie, just be pleasing, give them what they want.

Shareice: ...Superior service?

Irv: Whatever you want to call it, Stephanie. I'll let you change into something a little more appropriate. Perhaps something with an apron...

Shareice: Sir! I am NOT changing into-

Irv: I guess it's not necessary, you won't have it on tha-

Joe: Irv the clients are here.

Shareice: WAIT! I won't have what on? What are you talking about Irv?

Irv: The name is Master Johnson Stephanie, and the only reason I'm letting you get away with this lip is because you've been under my service for a while and we've become familiar. You will not pull this sassy crap in front of the client, is that clear? I swear, your kind has pulled some sort of revolution around here, it's time to get you back in line.

Shareice is shocked into silence and unable to respond due to the incoming clients. She carries the presentation off with little to no effect and thinks everything may have settled or been in her head. She begins to carry her head high after the successful meeting and goes to see the lawyers to process the newly signed contracts. She walks to the office of Melvin Brown, an African American colleague that originally suggested the firm to her over seven years ago.

12PM: Shareice walks into Melvin's office and stops dead in her tracks at the site before her. Instead of office furniture there is a lone grinding stone in the middle of the office. There are sickles, hoes, and rakes littered around the room and Melvin is sharpening a blade on the grinding stone when Shareice enters. Over his expensive Armani career wear he is wearing faded torn overalls and a straw hat on his head. Behind him there is a white man previously unknown to Shareice who is chewing a piece of straw and... whistling Dixie.

Shareice: M- Melvin, I was... umm, on my way to lunch, but I wanted to talk to you about-

Melvin: You see I'm busy Steffie, can't talk right now.

Shareice: Melvin what's going on? Who is this man?

Man: Don't matter who I am, what matters is why you ain't brought my beans and rice.

Melvin: What you done Steffie? What you done?

Man: Where're my beans girl?!

Melvin: Run Steffie, run like the wind!

Shareice turns and begins to walk briskly towards the elevator. She passes Carole who is on the phone.

Carole: One is getting away, alert security!

Shareice panics and breaks into a brisk run towards the elevator. As it open she sees John with a potato sack and a devilish grin. She runs away from the elevator.

John: Stephanie wait, come back, I have something I need to- Damnit! Close off the perimeter!

Shareice runs into the supply closet where she sees Paul. She runs to Paul with a pleading in her eyes and he nods.

Paul: What's the password, Shareice?

Shareice: You called me Shareice!

Paul: There's no time, what's the password?!

Shareice: MOSES!

Paul: Let's go.

Shareice was unable to give us the details of her exit because to do so would compromise the integrity of their exit strategy, but we're glad to report she made it out safely though slightly worse for wear.

Shareice: That was enough. I took the rest of the day off, I couldn't. I didn't know what to do, i just couldn't take it anymore.

Though the experiment was ended prematurely I believe that we gathered enough data to adequately fuel our results.

Join us next week on Assimilation Nation: Tossing the American Salad we will take Shareice and give her hair in the opposite direction. She will sport a proud indignant Afro and the results of this change and the reactions thereto will be recorded.

Pilot - Assimilation Nation: Tossing the American Salad

From coast to coast America seems to be a wonderland of cultural diversity. With Blacks, White, Latinos, Asians, Homosexuals, and everyone in between littering this fantastic country, it appears as a utopia of tolerance and ethnic integration. Unfortunately the so-called "melting pot" of America is boiling over. I, for one, like to think of America as a green salad where each of its sections sit segregated but noticeable in a bread bowl of borders. I feel that a dressing needs to be made to drizzle enlightenment over all of us, uniting us and making us an American entity. The melting pot needs to be over turned and the salad needs to be tossed.

This experiment will hopefully provide the oil base for that vinaigrette of connectivity.

First, perhaps I should introduce myself? I am Dr. Bruno Sharpei, Esq. I have studied human and animal behaviors for more than five years and I feel in that time I have accrued enough knowledge to begin bridging the cultural divide. As the homosexual son of an Afro-latina mother, and an Asio-Italian father, I've had a great deal of difficulty trying to find my natural niche. There are times when I feel more connected to the Afro-American side, and times when the call of the Orient settles heavily on my heart.

I've ran with several groups and each time I've been tested to see how loyal I am to any given cause. If I am black can I rap or write poetry? If I am Italian can I make a pasta sauce that is to die for? If I'm Latino can I dance the Rumba with the best of them and where is my accent?

America is rampant with created culture. Due to slavery and forced integration many people of color, and gays were forced to define for themselves what their culture represents in this country, and many have had their culture defined for them. Stereotypes can be damaging but many times they are also telling and definitive of a group of peoples. When drawing the lines in the sand of what is and what isn't, how do we begin to interpret the characteristics of each group and in turn how do these designations affect those who are a part of that group, but don't necessarily ascribe to these predetermined traits?

In the next few weeks we will take a look at situations where minorities are forced to fall to the polar extremities of their culture's perceived behaviors. We will study how these actions affect not only the minorities themselves, but also the social majority (read: white people) in their situations. Topics ranging from hairstyles to seductive behaviors, flamboyancy to intense pride will cause us to truly observe how our actions speak louder than our words and will hopefully guide us into a better understanding of how to top the American salad with the grated Parmesan of acceptance and understanding.

On the first segment of "Assimilation Nation: Tossing the American Salad" we will look at the issue of hair in the African American culture and how its various styles can cause a great number of things to happen when people assume the cameras are off. Come along with us next Thursday with a thirst for knowledge, and a hunger for the garden.