Is racism quite prevalent in the USA??

[effboysinthebut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.A.C. head. One more time. IT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION. I'm sorry about your experiences though.

It's ok, I don't lose sleep over it

And it may have been rhetorical but I'm sure some people from other countries really wonder that, that's the only reason I actually answered it

 

[NutMeg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Stargazer* Wow. First off, 50.7% of VOTERS voted for George Bush in 2004. That is not 50.7% of the nation. And you also conveniently ignored the fact that you mentioned 2 elections. In the first election, 47.9% of VOTERS (again not the nation) voted for George Bush. As for the rest, calling people who voted for someone you don't support close minded, ignorant or uneducated? Pot, meet kettle. Seriously, you might want to get your facts straight before you call other people ignorant or close minded.

No way Stargazer, you mean not everyone in nations that have democratic governments votes? *enjoys moment of private mirth*

 

[Kuuipo]

Hawaii is the most racist state I have lived in. I have witnessed children in my apartment complex coming home beaten up because they were white...or Japanese, etc. I have had patients say "I don't want a haole (white) nurse. " I 've seen local people beat up tourists because of their skin colour (I called the police). I'm a mixed person, there are a lot of mixed people, but their are a lot of pure Asian, Micronesian, Samoan, Marshallese, Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Visayans, Koreans, etc. It's a tiny little overcrowded island. Everyone wants the same things out of life, if they don't love their neighbor who happens to be a different ethnicity, just leave them alone and don't be such an okole and call names, throw things, etc.It is particulary difficult for whites, who are called haoles to their faces, and black people who are called popolos to their faces and treated like tresspassers by some locals. I've heard people resent certain races for coming here for medical help (Marshallese, Micronesian) and heard someone say "You and I are paying for it, its free to them" Well, hey illness knows no colour, they are sick, they deserve care. Who are you to judge. I hate it, I hate the racism. I hate judmental, prejudicial people. People all just want the same basic things in life and the world would be a better place if everyone said "Yeah, they may talk a different language and look a little different, but inside they are the same as me".

 

[Beauty Mark]

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Originally Posted by meaghanb2926 You have the DESIRE to travel though which is the key factor! I would say that the people I am characterizing as close minded and ignorant are the ones that have no desire to travel because they think leaving the comfort of the US is "scary."

But the example I gave you is someone who chooses to travel outside of the US, has traveled to quite a few countries, and yet remains very close-minded and ignorant.

 

[purrtykitty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meaghanb2926 You have the DESIRE to travel though which is the key factor! I would say that the people I am characterizing as close minded and ignorant are the ones that have no desire to travel because they think leaving the comfort of the US is "scary."

Why must EVERYONE be a world traveler? There are a few places I'd like to visit, but there are a lot of others I don't care to see. Why? Because I just don't want to...simple as that. With the internet and books so prevalent, I fail to see why it is imperative that everyone be a world traveler. I find nothing wrong with a person that doesn't want to leave the safety and familiarity of their home country. The only problem I see is when a person refuses to learn anything about any culture at all.

 

[Beauty Mark]

One of the most open-minded people I know I don't believe has traveled very far from his hometown.

I'm not sure why, since he loves interacting with immigrants or people passing through, as well as European history. He has the money, no responsibilities like kids, etc.

I think the problem is, though if people are stereotypical about a place, like if I wouldn't want to France because they're rude and hate Americans.

I reiterate that we may not have be anymore racist than anyone else. I don't believe that we should accept that and not work towards overcoming racism more and more, but we shouldn't stereotype the entire country. There's a lot of land and people here.

 

[JustDivine]

Racism is prevalent everywhere. Some places it's more obvious than others.

Because I live in London where overt racism is more uncommon these days, I've become used to a paradise where I feel inclusive and no-one bats an eyelid when I get on the bus.
But when I'm in continental Europe, it doesn't take long for the behaviour of others to remind me that I am an ethnic minority. I hate it passionately. There have been times when I have confronted people who have stared/looked down at me/treated me with disdain SIMPLY because I am not their colour. Often they're shocked that I can speak English.

In part that is due to inexposure to different cultures, through lack of travelling. It is also due to ignorance and pure intolerance.

Is racism prevalent in the USA? IMO, yes, and it took me just one trip there to work it out. Not exactly hurrying back....I was quite happy to go home to be honest. Lack of travel must have at least something to do with it.....the amount of people I met (and know of through friends) that have never left their state, talk less of the country. To drive through an area where everyone stares at you because you're not white.....in America??? 2008???? Wow. I thought America was more advanced than the UK in that respect.

I'm not saying that no travelling=ignorance=racism. But I do think that if you don't travel and you don't live in an area which is substantially culturally diverse (and I don't just mean that there are some hispanic people in your neighbourhood...I mean real cultural diversity) then what is your incentive and method for experiencing/learning about people other than those in your city and your state? A lot of racism is borne out of ignorance..........whether the intentional "closed mind" is there or not. You don't come across diversity, you won't experience it and you may not truly understand. There's more to it than books/internet will tell you....

Institutionalised racism IMO is one of the biggest forms of active discrimination today. On an individal level, between you and I, we could look down at each other because of our differences/speak badly about each other etc...but employers and authorities can and are actively exercising racism.
I know places where they put CV's with ethnic sounding names straight in the bin.
I know people who are more than qualified with excellent work experience who can't get employed in their profession so are taxi drivers/cleaners/shelf fillers. I'm not one to always call the race card, but some situations are objectively unjustifiable...
I know people who have experimented with using a pseudonym on application forms to increase their success rate by using an "English" sounding name. The fact that people even think of stuff like this is evidence enough of racism IMO.

That's why most companies/organisations here have to implement a diVersity quota with a number of ethnic minorities they must recruit......how about being told you got your job because you were "black and female, so ticked the boxes to get the company out of trouble"??

To be honest, I think racism will unfortunately always be here. There will always be people who will tell you they're not racist but actually don't consider others to have equality of rights and standing. All the legislation in the world can't change that. Neither can any "Declaration of Human Rights and Equality". A few legalistic words can't change deep seated prejudice. I don't know what the answer is.

What I do know is that I personally try to rise above it, to not adopt a "victim mentality" and to allow my character and ability to try and dispel unfounded preconceptions about people with my ethnicity.

 

[Beauty Mark]

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A lot of racism is borne out of ignorance..........whether the "closed mind" is there or not. You don't come across diversity, you won't experience it and you may not truly understand

What's weird about some racism is quite a few people know, at least on some level, that it whatever they believe about x group isn't really true about a lot of them. Like people who went to college with me and are racist towards white people; they liked quite a few of their professors, who are white.

Quote:

But I do think that if you don't travel and you don't live in an area which is substantially culturally diverse (and I don't just mean that there are some hispanic people in your neighbourhood...I mean real cultural diversity) then what is your incentive and method for experiencing/learning about people other than those in your city and your state?

Some people are genuinely curious about each other. Books aren't the end all, be all, but it's a start. I think it's hard to say how people, even when traveled, truly experience a country. If you stay in touristy areas and don't go off of it, I don't know how much you'll get a feel for what x-people are like.

 

[AdlersMommy22]

my town was on Jay Leno's Top 10 most racsist towns in the US (north pekin, south pekin, and pekin)... which is ridiculous. I mean--- it was back with my grents generation but not my generation at ALL. I dont know anyone who is racist.. its nuts.

Anyways- I dont know if racism is more prevalent in the US... Im not sure.. because i have nothing to compare it to.. but I personally am not racist at all.

I love all people, all the time!

YAY FOR LIFE!

 

[blazeno.8]

Yes, there's racism in the US. It's more prevalent in some communities than others. That being said I found that some of my worst experiences with racism came from when I was in Europe.

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

Unfortunately, I think it is. And it kinda sickens me to think that a lot of the racial uprising and oppression that occurred in this country was very recent, even though we're a relatively "new" country compared to others.

And people know it's a problem, but still try to find ways to make themselves seem so aware of it so that they look open-minded. My personal theory is anytime you have to shield statements or actions with "Well I'm not trying to be racist but..." there's something not quite equal going on.

And we throw it around so casually in our society, especially in entertainment-- our comedy genre slings it around like shit on a wall. There are so many made up "humorous" names and descriptions for people of different races, and unfortunately, we laugh and allow ourselves to identify. I'm not going to act like some holy saint, cuz dammit sometimes it cracks me up, but that doesn't make it right.

I feel like I'm more aware of it now than I've ever been because 1) I'm one of very few non-hispanic employees at my job, and I rarely see a client that looks like me. And when I do, they're usually at our register making some sort of shady return or acting a fool, giving us all a bad name from the getgo. 2) I'm in an interracial relationship, my boyfriend's half white/half hispanic and his neighborhood is predominantly white, old people. His family and friends have accepted me very graciously, but some of the older white people in his neighborhood stare me down when I pull up and step out of my car, or ask me really ignorant questions (Is that your real hair? wtf Is that YOUR real hair? Or nose??) It's frustrating. It would be nice to wake up and live in a world and realize that the differences between us, black, white, Asian, Latino, were nothing but physical features that keep us from confusing ourselves with one another, but unfortunately, people assign them different, hurtful meanings =/

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meaghanb2926 You have the DESIRE to travel though which is the key factor! I would say that the people I am characterizing as close minded and ignorant are the ones that have no desire to travel because they think leaving the comfort of the US is "scary."

I've left the US only once, it was just to Mexico, so not a very long trip. Maybe leaving their comfort zone is "scary" to some people, just like foreigners coming to the US is "scary" to them. Going somewhere where you don't understand the customs, or know the language, or know the laws? It's scary! Maybe some people have the desire to travel and just don't have the means, so it overrides their desire. It's not fair to label people who don't travel, you're making a huge attribution error by assuming that the reason they don't travel is internal or a part of their personality. There can be other factors that influence why people choose not to go abroad, it doesn't mean they're "closed-minded" or "ignorant." Making statements the way you've made them in this thread, I'd be super quick to call YOU closed-minded and ignorant, but why would I? I don't know you and you don't know me, I don't know your life and vice versa, so it's an unfair call don't you think??

 

[rbella]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC_Pixie04 I feel like I'm more aware of it now than I've ever been because 1) I'm one of very few non-hispanic employees at my job, and I rarely see a client that looks like me. And when I do, they're usually at our register making some sort of shady return or acting a fool, giving us all a bad name from the getgo. 2) I'm in an interracial relationship, my boyfriend's half white/half hispanic and his neighborhood is predominantly white, old people. His family and friends have accepted me very graciously, but some of the older white people in his neighborhood stare me down when I pull up and step out of my car, or ask me really ignorant questions (Is that your real hair? wtf Is that YOUR real hair? Or nose??) It's frustrating. It would be nice to wake up and live in a world and realize that the differences between us, black, white, Asian, Latino, were nothing but physical features that keep us from confusing ourselves with one another, but unfortunately, people assign them different, hurtful meanings =/

I am so sorry this happens to you. That has got to be the most asinine thing I have ever heard. I hope your neighborhood becomes more accepting and you don't have to deal with such stupidity anymore.

 

[SparklingWaves]

Short answer - Yes.

 

[Jello89]

Racism is everywhere, I do not live in the Us so I would not know, but the impression that I get is a slight yes. It is also a part of their history. The ''whites'' and the ''lacks''. So perhaps this is why it seems that their is more racism towards this group of people. I live in Montreal. It is incredibly multicultural. Yet racism is still a part of our lives. It is not a big problem because we would be in trouble if it were since there is so many different people all around us. Its the little things you hear and see that make you feel sad. For example I used to give swimming lessons and a little girl told me that her mommy did not want her to be next to the black boy. It made me so sad to see that parents pass on these thoughts. As for the People not wanting their children to marry another person from a different ethnicity and other situations that are similar. I think its fear that drives those thoughts. For example. I am Italian. My parents moved here when they were 7. I have a boyfriend who is half Filipino and Half Bengali. His family is muslim. In my family's eyes this it is something terrible for me to be doing. They say I will never be happy because he is too different. I believe they dont want to lose their tradition. They move here to a new country and they want to try to make their culture survive here. I dont know if that really makes sense but its how I see it. If only we could avoid all of this everything would be great wouldn't it. But thats how it is.

 

[pangie]

racism is everywhere. you may not think you're racist but in some way you are. it's sad to say but it's true.

i'm asian and i know i throw out some racist remarks out there...i'm not proud of it but it's just who we are as humans.

wish we could go back to the days of being children, where color or religion didn't matter at all. you only cared about having fun.

 

[Beauty Mark]

I don't agree with that. I think everyone has some kind of prejudice, but I don't think it's necessarily linked to race. I haven't said anything racist, I don't cross the street when I see a black person, make assumptions based on race, etc.

 

[Aprilrobin]

I agree a lot with what Beauty Mark said above. Prejudice will always exist. In fact, a lot of scientific studies are finding that it is almost genetic... an instinct if you will -- not forgetting that we are animals.

However, we as humans have to rise above and make smart decisions about how we REACT to it.

I am not racist at all. As a white person, there is not one thing in me that makes me think that the white race is in any way, shape or form better than any other race. However, I can't say that I've never made assumtions, moreso based on culture I suppose.

Is racism worse in the US than every other country? I don't know. I think that's hard to gauge. It is most definitely a hot topic here on many levels. In some ways, I think it helps and in others it hurts. We have (I believe i'm right) the largest heterogeneous population in the world? Yet many, many, many very diverse communities (such as mine) get along in harmony.

It is tricky.

I don't think we'll ever be at a point as a country that we are "colorblind" nor do I think we should be really. A lot of people, especially from a "PC" platform, think we should be. What is that, a collective? We're all supposed to THINK THE SAME? Pretty scary.

Now again, I did NOT say that racism doesn't exist here. I know that in some areas it is HUGE problem. Sometimes it's subtle and sometimes it isn't.

I would just like to point out that as a country we have minority police officers, lawyers, judges, senators, governors, doctors, teachers, mayors and now maybe a black president. We have minority millionaires and billionaires. Of course the percentages are lower, but our population is what, 70% white? I'm not sure that the concept that "the US is very racist" is a very fair one.

 

[alka1]

The U.S. is made up of people from so many different cultural backgrounds. Racism is inevitable. Also, this country's history is pretty much based around conflicts involving race issues. Unfortunately racism is still pretty much alive in this country. Although it's not as rampant or 'in-your-face' as it once was (not always the case), it is still there.

 

[AdlersMommy22]

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Originally Posted by pangie racism is everywhere. you may not think you're racist but in some way you are. it's sad to say but it's true. i'm asian and i know i throw out some racist remarks out there...i'm not proud of it but it's just who we are as humans. wish we could go back to the days of being children, where color or religion didn't matter at all. you only cared about having fun.

I think theres a big difference between prejudice and racism. I have nooooo problem with people of other races--- but Im extreamly prejudice against some people and i dont mean to be !!! its just because of experience... For example: I really dislike getting SUPER old people @ my tables when im waitressing. They make me run my ass off, and i end up having to get like 41y4290814 cups of coffee and cream for them, they share food, and leave me $1.50 on a friggin $30 check. That happens ALL THE TIME.

But at the same time- last night I had these two people who came in and were awesome and left me a ten spot on a $28 bill... some people just break the mold ... I know my example isn't a big deal- and that doesnt mean i dont like old people, haha-- because those are sometimes the coolest people to talk to @ my work.. but on a normal basis they DONT tip well and its a waste of my time and sets me back when im trying to get stuff done... blah.

That's extreamly prejudice of me (shame on me. SHAME! grrrr) but not racist at all! =) I still <3 <3 <3 <3 old people!...as people!