Admitting you're a Racist

Jeanwah

I was notified by a good friend last week that she is racist after years of thinking that she wasn't. And she tells me this news like she's happy about it and then actually waited for me to come back with an "I am too", which never happened. After numerous times of her proudly admitting this and explaining why, I had to tell her to simply "STOP TALKING!" It just hurt my ears. I don't judge my friends, they're good people, but I just wanted that conversation over with.

So this got me thinking. How many people do you know who actually admit being racist and are proud of it? It's certainly not common. And to admit to such a nasty value is beyond me.

Byrnzie

My mothers boyfriend constantly uses terms such as 'Wog', 'cookie boy', 'Coon', Paki', 'Jock', 'Wop', e.t.c. I just ignore him. I figure that nobody's gonna change the mind of a 56 year old. I just don't respond to him whenever he throws such words into a conversation.

SatansFuton

Well, at least she can admit it. I know so many people who are racists, but in complete denial over it. The problem here seems to be that instead of admitting it is a problem, she is apparently proud of the fact. That's a bummer.

brianlux

Racism is definitely not part of my make up.

I did have a friend once who said in earnest, "I'm not biggoted, I hate all assholes equally." That sort of made sense for a few seconds until I thought a) I'm sure I've been an asshole before (or even worse, a hemorrhoid- assholes serve a useful purpose) and b) hating people serves no useful purpose what-so-ever.

Later, the same friend said, "Any guy with a crew cut is an asshole. Anybody!" Well, yeah, this was back in the early '70's but still, give me a break! Besides, we've determined assholes serve a useful purpose so I have no problem with crew cuts either. Not my style, but each to his own.

No... no racism for me either. I'm for Eracism: http://www.eracismfoundation.org/

Hugh Freaking Dillon

a guy I know (hesitent to call him friend) knows he's racist. one of his best friends was chinese, and he'd make racist cracks at him in public all the time. made me really uneasy.

he's a fucker.

ShimmyMommy

You know, I have been a situation much like this. Except that the person thinks it's okay to tell racist jokes because they are friends with me. Like "being" friends with a coloured-person is an automatic white card to spread hate anyway. So not only do they hate, but they think it's okay to use the very people they hate to spread it too. I even remember the person being called out as a racist by someone else, and they rebutted, "Oh for G-d sake, my close friend, Shimmy, is coloured, so I am not a racist because she is my friend." :shock:

*shakes head*

haffajappa

the only time i'm racist is against my chinese-canadian friend.
and the only time she's racist is with me.
i guess that's a double standard and offensive to some people but we joke about each other being asian.
:oops:

Thoughts_Arrive

I'm not racist, I hate everyone equally

You know that tshirt?

Godfather.

"So this got me thinking. How many people do you know who actually admit being racist and are proud of it? It's certainly not common. And to admit to such a nasty value is beyond me."

I know a few and I know some who just don't give a dang, a person is a person till they prove them selfs different,there are racist in every group people but as someone on here said that the word itself is abused
to a point that if 2 person's of different color don't agree on something sooner or later 1 will be labled a racist.

Godfather.

zarocat

Racism to me is the ugliest. Not only is it offensive and repressive but it keeps you, as an individual, from learning.
I'm Sicilian (We know the history of that, right?) and a family member married someone of Canadian decent who is racist. His children have Greek, Arab, Africa, Norman in them because of the Sicilian blood but he fails to see this. He will not recognize it. Every time I hear one of his son's spew racist remarks, I make a point to remind them that they come from Sicily. It's useless though because on the outside they portray that they don't give a shit. On the inside, I couldn't tell you but I do know what's on the outside comes from the inside.
I'll give you an example of my experiences with them because it's not just name calling.

The most recent is this man (the father - who is not a man who doesn't know any better, but a man who'll tell you what everything means & how it should be done - he's one of those) joined a conversation I was having about the inner city of my city. He jumped in and began stating that we had all the issues of what we were talking about misplace or absolutely wrong. That's his thing. He does that. It's excruciating to witness ... anyway ... He asked if we actually saw the inner city and what it was. Firstly, I didn't understand the question but I guessed with a series of appropriate answers. He kept smirking and half heartedly shaking his head and just let out the phrase 'Blacks'. "Too many blacks", he says. Believe me, I don't let him get away with it. Unbeknownst to him, I had been spending a lot of time in the inner city as of late (volunteering), so I began comparing how many "Blacks" existed between the inner city and his suburban sprawl and where I'd come across 'blacks' traveling by public transit. Guess what? The inner city of my city has less blacks (Chinese, Arabs, Koreans, etc. etc. ... truly) in poorer areas than in the suburbs. It's all white people. I eventually brought that to his attention but I was ignored. Literally. This did teach me one thing though. That racists only see what they wanna see.
This happened about a month ago. Here's the funny thing. An African Canadian family just moved onto his street, literally, right across the street from his house. Hilarious. If he wants to sit on his porch, guess whose porch he'll be facing ...lol. Here's the kicker ... they're muslim too LMAO! I love it!

Jeanwah

I'm sure racism goes both ways, but it sure seems that the majority are more threatened by the minority which causes the racism. This is interesting to me sociologically, because why would those in the majority feel threatened to begin with!!? They're the majority! It just doesn't make sense to me logically.

And for the record, Like Green Day proclaims "I want to be the Minority", so do I. Because I'm embarrassed by the hatred of the majority. I feel the pain of already being a minority since I'm still disabled and have a child with a developmental disability. The view from a minority's viewpoint makes the big picture clear.

pandora

Most people don't even realize they are prejudice because they are
constantly judging everyone, its just the way they deal with people.

Labeling, generalizing, categorizing, putting others in a mold that fits
what they think they are.

Color, religion, sex, appearance, locality, political persuasion, economic status, disability...
on and on.

By taking another's individuality away from them and judging them solely on that,
they are being prejudicial.
This, for me, far worse than the occasional racist I meet in my travels.

Racism is often a taught fault... prejudice a choice... a way of forming opinions of others,
when that's a negative response everyone loses.

ShimmyMommy

Oh, just to add...I am still friends with that person. I have not broached the subject with her as I know I can't change her. It's not my job to change her. It's hers, and when she comes across a moment in her life where she has to make the decision, it will still be up to her. She is a good person and her heart is usually in the right place.

As for having prejudicial and stereotypical views of others, I actually end up wondering what shaped someone to have views like that. Usually it is a conditioned fear, learned through an (or many) experience. I could have chosen to hate based on many of the things I that I have experienced, however, I just choose not to let the fear rule me. To me, it's as simple as that. For others, it doesn't come so easily and I understand that completely.

BinauralJam

I hate tall people, anybody over say 6'2, fuck off, i shouldn't have to bend my neck that much to address another human being.

Thoughts_Arrive

BinauralJam wrote:

I hate tall people, anybody over say 6'2, fuck off, i shouldn't have to bend my neck that much to address another human being.

I am 6'2, am I acceptable?

BinauralJam

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

BinauralJam wrote:

I hate tall people, anybody over say 6'2, fuck off, i shouldn't have to bend my neck that much to address another human being.

I am 6'2, am I acceptable?

You should shrink an inch or two over your life time so i will give the benefit of the doubt.

BinauralJam

Also would it kill you to hunch?

Thoughts_Arrive

Hunching causes neck aches and back problems.
I hope I don't shrink, I hope I somehow get to 6'3 or 6'4.

_

There's a difference between racism & prejudice. We all have prejudices. But we can't set them aside unless we acknowledge them. Acknowledging our prejudices is the only way to AVOID being racist.

GTFLYGIRL

Jeanwah wrote:

I was notified by a good friend last week that she is racist after years of thinking that she wasn't.

I am curious... as to me this isn't very clear and really makes a difference... IMO.

Re: the above quote.

Did your friend realize she is racist after years of thinking SHE wasn't?

Or did she notify you that she is racist after years of YOU thinking she wasn't.

Who was caught off guard by this realization... just you or both of you?

Thanks....

Eliot Rosewater

I think that if a racist felt shame for being a bigot, they would possibly work on changing that flawed belief. Most racists I've ever known admit it and seem proud of it. They feel better about themselves by belittling others. I think it is apparent when someone makes racist jokes. They don't do so in a bashful kind of way. They're proud to be making fun of another race.