In the latest display of caucacity, North Carolina Zoning Commissioner Tony Collins is out of a job for ignoring a black woman’s request to be addressed by her earned Doctor title. After stating multiple times that she should be addressed as Dr. Carrie Rosario, Collins ignored her in a now-viral video, adding that it didn’t really matter.
Following the awkward and condescending Zoom call, the Greensboro City Council called a meeting and voted “unanimously” to give Collins his walking papers, the Charlotte Observer reports.
The incident occurred on Monday during a four-hour-long Zoning Commission meeting. Rosario, a UNC Greensboro professor, began to voice concerns over a development project starting near her home and how it could affect her drinking water.
“I think we’ve kind of lost our way on what we’re talking about here. We’re here to approve the standards that have been presented.” Collins said before addressing Rosario as “Mrs. Rosario.”
“It’s Dr. Rosario, thank you, sir,” she replied in a clear and loud voice. Ignoring her completely, Collins continuing to call her Mrs. Rosario instead of her Doctor title.
“It’s Dr. Rosario,” she repeated patiently. Collins doubled down and referred to her name title for the Zoom call, saying, “Well, you know, I’m sorry. Your name says on here, Carrie Rosario. Hey Carrie,”
Refusing to let him disrespect her, she repeated her Doctor title. “Please, sir, call me as I would like to be called. That’s how I identify myself.” Collins then had the nerve to tell her it “doesn’t really matter,” disregarding her request completely before repeating that her screen name read-only Carrie Rosario.
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Setting him straight, Rosario clapped back, “I’m verbalizing my name is Dr. Carrie Rosario, and it really speaks very negatively of you as a commissioner to be disrespectful.”
According to the Charlotte Observer, Greensboro City Council members agreed with the woman and chose to fire Collins in a unanimous vote Tuesday night for his complete disregard.
But these kinds of instances aren’t anything new for Black people.
In clear examples of white privilege, we have historically dealt with ridicule, disrespect on the job, and the occasional “homegirl” or “sister” from a white colleague. Luckily, Rosario wasted no time in shutting it down and speaking out on racial microaggressions.
Speaking on her right to speak up, Rosario told the Charlotte Observer, “I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt at first and corrected him, but as the exchange unfolded, it was clear that he was intent on disrespecting me. I was hurt, upset, angry — because this was a public forum — and the public should feel safe to be themselves, to present their concerns, and feel respected in the process.”
