Round here, when you're nice to the average person - like, when you feel for him and treat him right, he'll treat you back like an idiot. In fact, to him you're but a fool [toye], and the next thing is: "haral ma dem nax (dorg) suma toye bi" [let me go and cajole (wring) my cut out of my idiot]." As if you're not helping at your own will.
Act like you're his master and he'll gladly be your servant, because he loves it when obedience and servitude is imposed on him. In fact, being so bossy towards him makes him call you his "toubab." Not "toubab" as in white man, but as someone characterised by valour and good management. He'll value this "toubab's" 50 Dalasis more than yours that is ten times more. So, the "toubab" label is apparently a badge of honour.
Yet he'll secretly grumble when this "toubab" eventually arrogates what's his; how foolish? Tell you this: no matter how much you love doing it, acting as if you're only useful in an inferior capacity is self demeaning, and not even the 13th Amendment can restore the loss of pride therefrom, because it only abolished involuntary servitude, not what you accept, do, or give on your own free will.
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