Overheard at Arby’s

Posted on September 19, 2003 in The Orange

A white teenaged counter-helper and a Latino assistant manager were chatting at the Arby’s Roast Beef down the hill. The counter help leaned against the shake machine while the assistant manager checked the trash and the levels of the sauces. The teenager mentioned that his father was a manager and made over $100,000 a year. He looked forward to the day when he could have a “real job”.

“This job,” said the Latino, “is a job. It’s hard, very hard.”

Definitions at work here: real job for white teenager equals easy money. Real job for Latino means you earn the money by the sweat of your brow.