Assumptions and stereotypes

The rain was just starting and I stopped the car to pick up a friend at the bottom of the hill near our house. Two young men jumped in beside her. When we let her out at the top I asked her if they were friends. “No”, she said, “I don’t know them”. They were either opportunists, or just thought that we were being generous to all the passers-by who happened to be around when we stopped.
This assumption that we will give a lift to passing strangers, even in towns, is widespread and is undoubtedly based on the colour of our skin. It also illustrates one of the most enduringly frustrating aspects of living here, because it is based on the deeper assumption that all white people are rich and generous. Now, this is fairly valid, because most of the white people here are missionaries or aid workers, or tourists who are also likely to be disposed towards generosity in the face of the widespread poverty they encounter.
However, all of this means that every time you help someone you are reinforcing the stereotype. The individual is assisted, but the idea that you can get money by being around white people is strengthened. There is no way out of this, or none that I have yet thought of, but it can be very wearing to be constantly seen as a source of money.