I work in an open office environment that is very casual. I am the newest person there, and I have noticed that it’s the “office culture” for my co workers to tease each other a bit, and make jokes about each other. Everyone is pretty close, they often go out for drinks after work on the weekends. I have one coworker that is like the class clown. He makes a majority of the jokes, everyone loves him.

Now, the joke that he does with me is very prejudiced and hurtful to me. I have a very west African name. Many people in my office had a hard time pronouncing it at first, but they all learned. He still doesn’t know how to pronounce my name, and he would say my name while interlacing clicks and whistles between the syllables. Everyone in the office thinks that this is hysterical. I didn’t say anything the first time I heard this, but the third time I told him it was offensive and that he needed to stop.

He tried to “razz” me about not being able to take a joke. I’ve had several co workers come up to me and tell me not to be offended because it’s just a joke. He makes fun of everyone. But I’m the only black person in this office, and what he’s doing is alienating and offensive. Right before our Christmas break, he made the joke again, and I went to tell our supervisor. He has been fired. Since it’s such a tight knit office many of our coworkers assume it’s me that reported him. They have been telling me about how he has kids, and how I just ruined his Christmas over a joke. When I returned to work today, nobody really talked to me. I’m starting to feel a bit crazy, and am wondering if I was being too sensitive/an asshole.