I can't believe racism is still out there

Hermia

Relocationrelocation wrote: »

Living in London does shelter you from racism, I have never encountered it here (I'm not white) but in other areas of the country, sadly I have. It's good to still be shocked that this happens because it means you have a good moral compass and know what's right and what's wrong. Also encountered it in Australia...

I agree re: London. I used to live there, but now live in the country and it really shocked me at first. It wasn't the EDL types that shocked me, it was more the matter-of-fact racist statements from nice normal people. What saddened me is how lots of people I meet think living in diverse areas must be dreadful and assume that there are divisions in those areas. I assume that is down to the likes of the Daily Fail only reporting the bad stuff. When I tell people that there are lots of great things about it and people do get along together they are really taken aback!

lostinrates

Hermia wrote: »

I agree re: London. I used to live there, but now live in the country and it really shocked me at first. It wasn't the EDL types that shocked me, it was more the matter-of-fact racist statements from nice normal people. What saddened me is how lots of people I meet think living in diverse areas must be dreadful and assume that there are divisions in those areas. I assume that is down to the likes of the Daily Fail only reporting the bad stuff. When I tell people that there are lots of great things about it and people do get along together they are really taken aback!

Not all rural areas are like that.

I have lived in both very isolated rural areas where, yes, there is a seeming 'white out' and people are very scared about jobs going to seaosnal migrant workers in agriculture which does bring comments born of fear as well as ignorance. But I live now in a less rural area which has a lot of movement and is characterised by MOD presence.

I would say the same 'closed mindedness' seen in some parts of rural uk is seen in some parts of any mono culture or colour cities too.

geoffky

Scratch the surface and it is rife...And anyone who believes otherwise is blinkered...

I live in a area where there are and has been four families who are of Caribbean descent and i know they have had problems over the years and i would hate to imagine the problems if we had a influx going by the hushed tones of racism i hear often from people.
Just because it can not be openly expressed, do not ever believe it has gone away.

meritaten

you don't even have to be of Asian or other ethnic origin to encounter 'racism'. My son, his wife and their friends were victims of Racism in a holiday park in Weymouth. They had disparaging comments directed at them - the bartender always ignored them and some of the park staff - including the park manager made racist jokes within their hearing. They describe Weymouth as a beautiful place with horrible people.

Oh, their ethnicity is White Welsh.

aileth

Now now don't be so mean about northerners. We don't care about skin colour, we just hate everyone.

Tropez

aileth wrote: »

Now now don't be so mean about northerners. We don't care about skin colour, we just hate everyone.

Good point, well made.

margaretclare

lostinrates wrote: »

Fwiw, DH (white, Jewish but not practicing, I.e. he isn't wearing any recognisable garb like a kippa or anything) has experienced racism in London. As have I, (white). And I've seen it and heard it across other cultures. I've also been in a situation where a client when I was a solitor's clerk asked to have me replaced because of their presumption of my religion (after a week of trial with good relations, because DH was at the same court and the family saw me chatting with him, (nothing inappropriate, the barrister actually said...hey your bloke is here in another court i just saw him, go and say hi....' and presumed correctly he was Jewish and thus that I must be and thus felt it untenable to have me there).


Life goes on. Its less bad here than in other places I have lived.

Interesting. I used to work as a maternity nurse, and when I was looking after one baby, I heard the mum's relations call me 'that shiksa'.

aridjis

margaretclare wrote: »

Interesting. I used to work as a maternity nurse, and when I was looking after one baby, I heard the mum's relations call me 'that shiksa'.

and for anyone (like me!) who didn't know what a shiksa is

http://theshiksa.com/what-is-a-shiksa/

lostinrates

margaretclare wrote: »

Interesting. I used to work as a maternity nurse, and when I was looking after one baby, I heard the mum's relations call me 'that shiksa'.

It certainly happens that way out too. I have been referred to just the same ( with derogatory intent) at a rather uncomfortable charity event. I'd forgotten that. Obviously didn't scar me. My fil was there, and I had to stand at the back of the queue for puddings, I was more upset about missing the best looking pudding than any racism tbh.

As I say, had and seen worse than here. As a child I got chucked of a first floor building at school for a combination of colour and dad's job. I can cope with the occasional name. Same as when I had a group of black girls speaking in London version of West Indian trying to intimidate me off a bus. I'd spent more time in the culture they were trying to reference than they had. Or probably their parents. :rotfl:

But then, I 'm not offended by people's colour or culture or assume that everyone sinks to the lowest common denominator.

indsty

It is sad that youngsters have to encounter ignorant people and cope with their derogatory remarks - I hope that when he gets back home you can talk about how it affected him. On the other hand, it is somewhat comforting to note that he had to travel all the way to Austria to have this happen, it says a lot of good things about the community and school in which he lives.