Can people of any colour be racist?

[Ninastar]

I want mature responses only please. No name calling/baiting/picking on posts etc.

I know this is a sensitive issue for some, but please look at this subject with an open mind.

I've been working at a school full of Muslim children for the past week and it's been... eventful. I've had some really nice moments and I've had some truly awful moments. Most of the kids have literally no respect, but I don't think that's anything to do with the fact that they are Muslim. It's more so to do with the fact that it's such a rough and scary area.

Anyway, more to what the thread is about.

It was my first day at the school last week (I'm in a year 4 class) and most of the kids were all happy to meet me and it was really sweet. However, I asked one of the boys to stop 'roughhousing' with another boy much smaller than him cause the smaller boy was clearly distressed and he got really annoyed with me. He said 'Miss, do you have a dog?' and I was like... 'No, why?' and he was like, 'Cause I'm going to get my dog on you.' and I was just like so shocked that a kid would say that. I was still in shock so I said 'Why would you do that?' and then he mumbled something that I didn't hear. His friends around him gasped and I was like 'What did he say?' and one of the girls was like 'Miss, he said it's because you're white.'

I literally didn't know what to say. I've never left a child without telling them off for doing something bad but this time, I just walked away. It bothered me a little but then I realised that it might have just been to make me leave or whatever. Anyway, I asked the teacher about it later and she said that this boy makes a lot of comments like that and that his family are pretty racist. She says his parents pretty much don't care how he acts up in school.

It annoyed me because there would be such outrage if it was the other way around. I don't like hatred of any kind, so the comment has really annoyed me and I've been debating about posting this thread since it happened. But I've heard the opinions of a lot of the teachers at the school and it's given me the confidence to post it on here.

Do you think that people of any colour can be racist? Or would you class this as something else entirely? I just wanted to see some opinions on here.

[sassysocks]

I want mature responses only please. No name calling/baiting/picking on posts etc.

I know this is a sensitive issue for some, but please look at this subject with an open mind.

I've been working at a school full of Muslim children for the past week and it's been... eventful. I've had some really nice moments and I've had some truly awful moments. Most of the kids have literally no respect, but I don't think that's anything to do with the fact that they are Muslim. It's more so to do with the fact that it's such a rough and scary area.

Anyway, more to what the thread is about.

It was my first day at the school last week (I'm in a year 4 class) and most of the kids were all happy to meet me and it was really sweet. However, I asked one of the boys to stop 'roughhousing' with another boy much smaller than him cause the smaller boy was clearly distressed and he got really annoyed with me. He said 'Miss, do you have a dog?' and I was like... 'No, why?' and he was like, 'Cause I'm going to get my dog on you.' and I was just like so shocked that a kid would say that. I was still in shock so I said 'Why would you do that?' and then he mumbled something that I didn't hear. His friends around him gasped and I was like 'What did he say?' and one of the girls was like 'Miss, he said it's because you're white.'

I literally didn't know what to say. I've never left a child without telling them off for doing something bad but this time, I just walked away. It bothered me a little but then I realised that it might have just been to make me leave or whatever. Anyway, I asked the teacher about it later and she said that this boy makes a lot of comments like that and that his family are pretty racist. She says his parents pretty much don't care how he acts up in school.

It annoyed me because there would be such outrage if it was the other way around. I don't like hatred of any kind, so the comment has really annoyed me and I've been debating about posting this thread since it happened. But I've heard the opinions of a lot of the teachers at the school and it's given me the confidence to post it on here.

Do you think that people of any colour can be racist? Or would you class this as something else entirely? I just wanted to see some opinions on here.

Yes definitely. Some try to suggest only whites can be racist, but of course that is bull. Racism is racism regardless of what colour/race the person who practices it is.

[MTVN]

Yes.. though I do think it's a bit different in that white people are not going to and never have suffered from institutionalised racism in this country, so it is harder to relate a case of a white person suffering racism to that of a non-white person. Still obviously very unpleasant though and its sad that that happened with you

[Creggle]

The theory of only white people can be racist is ridiculous :laugh:

[Udanax]

Plain and simply, no. They can be prejudiced towards white people (and I wouldn't blame them tbqh) but racism incorporates lots of different aspects.

[Daniel-X]

Absolutely I think it's ridiculous when people think it's only whites who are racist.

[Smithy]

No, racism is based on a system of oppression, other races can be prejudice but not racist

[hijaxers]

I watched something on tv this week discussing exactly the same situation you are talking about, and they are trying to get teachers to report exactly this kind of racism , i think it may have been The Big Question aired on Sunday morning - so it may well be worth a look regarding advice.

[Firewire]

No, racism is based on a system of oppression, other races can be prejudice but not racist

pretty much this

[Mystic Mock]

Anybody can be racist.

[Northern Monkey]

Yes of course anybody can be racist.
I went to a quite rough school which was in a mainly Pakistani area and i remember when i was walking home or out on dinner groups of Pakistani lads driving past and shouting 'white bastard' out of car windows.I remember being called 'milky bar' and other stuff.Racism is universal.

[Ninastar]

I totally agree with people saying it's different. You're right. But I think anyone who calls anyone out based on their skin tone, is just plain racist. Yeah, some people have had it worse than others, but it doesn't make it right to make fun of skin colour now. Again, IMO, it's just plain racism.

[Northern Monkey]

I totally agree with people saying it's different. You're right. But I think anyone who calls anyone out based on their skin tone, is just plain racist. Yeah, some people have had it worse than others, but it doesn't make it right to make fun of skin colour now. Again, IMO, it's just plain racism.

I agree.Suppose a white person goes to live in say Pakistan or Nigeria or any non white country.Say they get racial abuse hurled at them,Then obviously it is racism.So then take one of those people hurling the racial abuse at the white person and bring them to Britain and they do the same thing here.Does it then stop being racism?Imo no it is still racism wherever we are in the world.

[Niamh.]

No, racism is based on a system of oppression, other races can be prejudice but not racist

I agree with this. The only time I ever experianced something like the story you told Caitlin was years ago when I lived in London. I worked in a bar so I would finish work late and get the tube home, it was about a 10/15min walk from the tube station to where I was living and one night on the way home a group of Asian guys started shouting stuff at me as I passed them, I ignored them and kept walking and one of them shouted "stupid ****ing white bitch" I was taken aback because it was the first time someone had used my colour as an insult against me but because as a white person I haven't been treated badly because of my skin colour it didn't effect me really (other than just being intimidated because a group of guys were harressing me late at night while I was on my own) what did effect me more was other occasions when the fact that I was Irish was used as an insult against me and that's because I felt there was a deeper history behind that, if you know what I mean? which I would imagine black people or Asian people might feel like?

[Marsh.]

I agree with this. The only time I ever experianced something like the story you told Caitlin was years ago when I lived in London. I worked in a bar so I would finish work late and get the tube home, it was about a 10/15min walk from the tube station to where I was living and one night on the way home a group of Asian guys started shouting stuff at me as I passed them, I ignored them and kept walking and one of them shouted "stupid ****ing white bitch" I was taken aback because it was the first time someone had used my colour as an insult against me but because as a white person I haven't been treated badly because of my skin colour it didn't effect me really (other than just being intimidated because a group of guys were harressing me late at night while I was on my own) what did effect me more was other occasions when the fact that I was Irish was used as an insult against me and that's because I felt there was a deeper history behind that, if you know what I mean? which I would imagine black people or Asian people might feel like?

Good comparison and illustrates the differences well.

[Marsh.]

That post wasn't meant to sound like a pretentious teacher. :unsure: Apologies.

[Niamh.]

That post wasn't meant to sound like a pretentious teacher. :unsure: Apologies.

:laugh:

[Marsh.]

:shocked:

Don't judge me. :omgno:

[Niamh.]

Don't judge me. :omgno:

I clicked the wrong one, it was supposed to be :laugh:

[Scarlett.]

Definition of racist:
A person who believes that a particular race is superior to another.

No mention of one specific colour, though I do agree that white people don't really face racism on the scale as other races. People tend to use the word racism in place of Xenophobia these days.


Xenophobia
Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries

[GypsyGoth]

I class it as racism. I think hating someone because of the color of their skin is racism.

[Marsh.]

I clicked the wrong one, it was supposed to be :laugh:

Oh, I get it now. :laugh:

[InOne]

Were you back in Bradford?

[Livia]

Black people can be racist against Asian people, Asian people can be racist against African people... anyone can be a racist.

[Ninastar]

Were you back in Bradford?

Keighley

:omgno::omgno::omgno:

[InOne]

Keighley

:omgno::omgno::omgno:

Christ. You were lucky to get out alive!

I was called White bastard at school a few times but luckily mine was fairly mixed. Some schools round West Yorkshire are 99% Asian. There was a doc about a brother and sister who went to a predominantly Asian school in West Yorkshire. The girl was okay because she decided to learn the language but the boy got a kick in and abuse daily.

[the truth]

I get confused by what word racism really means........to hate anyone for the colour of their skin is mental
then you have other racism or discrimination, some people hate too many foreigners, some just say it, some act on it and attack these foreigners which is racist
then you have the words people use, some words are offensive nasty , some words are racist especially when the intention is to hurt and offend
then you have ethnicity, religion, race...now I get confused
round these parts people are often heard saying they hate gypsies....but is the word gypsy racist now? are they meant o be called travllers...but they never travel? some pc people say were all the same....others say gypsies pay no tax they break more laws theyre generally more violent and badly behaved etc so are we allowed to say that or is that racist?
then we hear people say white trash and honky....the white man is the devil etc are the perceived minorities allowed to say more due to their struggles etc

nowadays the cat is out the bag, the scots don't want us telling them what to do....the welsh cry foul if we mention sheep, irish jokes are they allowed anymore and us English are getting paranoid can the celtic countries are allowed to say what they like about us with impunity

so im confused........I go back to Richard pryor......when he flew to Africa for the first time he stayed for a month he visited cities and towns and townships and the rich and the poorer parts...he saw black bosses everywhere , black politicians, black leaders, black men flying planes, black men running the police force, black men and women in charge .........".you got to go to Africa man , its beautiful........as I was leaving a thought occurred to me and suddenly I had an epiphany......I been here a month and I haven't seen any n*****s I haven't heard it I haven't said it and I haven't even thought it..........and I cried and I thought I got to reconfigure all this ****.......im never going to use that word anymore ..........and you can take that home with you"

[Ninastar]

Christ. You were lucky to get out alive!

I was called White bastard at school a few times but luckily mine was fairly mixed. Some schools round West Yorkshire are 99% Asian. There was a doc about a brother and sister who went to a predominantly Asian school in West Yorkshire. The girl was okay because she decided to learn the language but the boy got a kick in and abuse daily.

I know... It's so scary over there.

The teacher I'm working for actually told me that last year she had a gun pointed at her by an 11 year old. Seriously. She was horrified and didnt know what to do and told the school and the boy was arrested. They then found out it was only a BB gun, but it was one designed to look like a real gun.

and I've not seen that. Do you know what it's called?

[Ninastar]

and then on friday, two teenage boys tried to set a fire right at the school gates

:omgno::omgno:

[InOne]

It was called The Last White Kids - http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/30/race.world1

[Firewire]

I misunderstood the question, should've voted yes.

Yes, people of any colour can be racist. But, I don't think people can be racist towards white people.

[Daniel.]

Certainly not.

Being prejudice to a white person isn't racism

[Kizzy]

I want mature responses only please. No name calling/baiting/picking on posts etc.

I know this is a sensitive issue for some, but please look at this subject with an open mind.

I've been working at a school full of Muslim children for the past week and it's been... eventful. I've had some really nice moments and I've had some truly awful moments. Most of the kids have literally no respect, but I don't think that's anything to do with the fact that they are Muslim. It's more so to do with the fact that it's such a rough and scary area.

Anyway, more to what the thread is about.

It was my first day at the school last week (I'm in a year 4 class) and most of the kids were all happy to meet me and it was really sweet. However, I asked one of the boys to stop 'roughhousing' with another boy much smaller than him cause the smaller boy was clearly distressed and he got really annoyed with me. He said 'Miss, do you have a dog?' and I was like... 'No, why?' and he was like, 'Cause I'm going to get my dog on you.' and I was just like so shocked that a kid would say that. I was still in shock so I said 'Why would you do that?' and then he mumbled something that I didn't hear. His friends around him gasped and I was like 'What did he say?' and one of the girls was like 'Miss, he said it's because you're white.'

I literally didn't know what to say. I've never left a child without telling them off for doing something bad but this time, I just walked away. It bothered me a little but then I realised that it might have just been to make me leave or whatever. Anyway, I asked the teacher about it later and she said that this boy makes a lot of comments like that and that his family are pretty racist. She says his parents pretty much don't care how he acts up in school.

It annoyed me because there would be such outrage if it was the other way around. I don't like hatred of any kind, so the comment has really annoyed me and I've been debating about posting this thread since it happened. But I've heard the opinions of a lot of the teachers at the school and it's given me the confidence to post it on here.

Do you think that people of any colour can be racist? Or would you class this as something else entirely? I just wanted to see some opinions on here.

I wouldn't accept these threats, it's a racist thing it's a power thing If he makes comment's like that again I wouldn't ignore it.

[Amy Jade]

I would call it racism if somebody dislikes or hates somebody just because of their skin colour.

[jennyjuniper]

There are parts of some northern cities and towns, where a white person is in the minority and if you venture into those areas you are treated as if you don't belong there. This to me is racism, regardless of the fact that this is my country and (at the moment) whites are in the majority.

[Northern Monkey]

Racism does'nt just apply to certain sections of society.Anyone can be racist and anyone can receive racism.The definition of Racism does'nt exclude any race or creed.

[Cherie]

Racism does'nt just apply to certain sections of society.Anyone can be racist and anyone can receive racism.The definition of Racism does'nt exclude any race or creed.

.

[user104658]

Racism does'nt just apply to certain sections of society.Anyone can be racist and anyone can receive racism.The definition of Racism does'nt exclude any race or creed.
Pretty much this. Anyone can be racist.

I posted in another thread recently about the huge problems with widespread racism in Japan. It is mostly directed towards the small Chinese and Korean populations that have settled there, but it's generally quite widespread across the board, a lot directed at people of middle eastern origin and black people too. There's slightly less directed at white people, there are some quite unusual cultural quirks in Japan with whites (e.g. The tradition of the "heroes" in anime having exaggerated Caucasian features and villains often having exaggerated Japanese features), but racism against white immigrants exists there too.

It's more a sort of sweeping, casual racism than anything aggressive or forceful though. More like distrust / an assumption that anyone non-japanese will be "different" (and not in a positive way). Racially motivated attacks (physical or verbal) would be rare, however, there are examples of clubs / bars that do not allow foreigners to enter unless they are accompanied by a native Japanese citizen. Personally, I would call that unambiguous racism.

So, racism is certainly not restricted to "white people being racist against everyone else" or the reverse, with other races making racist comments towards white people. Racism can occur anywhere and doesn't have to involve white people at all.

If someone makes generalisations about an individual, mocks them, attacks them physically or verbally, or discriminates against them, purely based on their ethnicity, then they are being racist.

[Crimson Dynamo]

i think we in the UK get a bit muddled with racism in the USA and think its the same here

it aint

[Redway]

racism: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

I think that can apply to any race.

[Helen 28]

Of course anybody of any colour can be racist, to say if your white and a black person hates you because of your colour is simply prejudice only is plainly ridiculous but very liberal and PC and oh so trendy.

[user104658]

Of course anybody of any colour can be racist, to say if your white and a black person hates you because of your colour is simply prejudice only is plainly ridiculous but very liberal and PC and oh so trendy.
Indeed, it doesn't make any sense really. Of course it is prejudice but... Prejudice based on race = racism. I don't know why the definition needs to be refined or broken down any more than that.

[Ninastar]

I misunderstood the question, should've voted yes.

Yes, people of any colour can be racist. But, I don't think people can be racist towards white people.

Certainly not.

Being prejudice to a white person isn't racism

I'm not having a go at either of you, but I wanted to know what you'd think if a non-white said 'All white people are disgusting and don't deserve to live' and meant it.

Would that not be racist to you?

Is it not just as bad as a white person saying that to a non-white person? Or do you think it would be worse for a white person to say that about a non-white person?

[Marsh.]

I'm not having a go at either of you

http://i.imgur.com/SOfKwZos.png

[Ninastar]

im not, you silly bitch, it's a question.

[arista]

pzUIUSV77k8

[Marsh.]

im not, you silly bitch, it's a question.

You're still having a go. Cool it Nadia. http://i.imgur.com/SOfKwZos.png

[Ninastar]

You're still having a go. Cool it Nadia. http://i.imgur.com/SOfKwZos.png

i'm clearly not, but whatever.

who is that anyway?

[Ninastar]

omg idk what that happened

[the truth]

we do ignore racism often against white people though....take Patrice evra v suarez........suraez guilty of racism...but evra had hurled all sorts of abuse his way too calling him some kind of Uruguayan slave etc and that was simply glossed over...just 1 small example of double standards...all laws should be equal and be applied equally

[Firewire]

I'm not having a go at either of you, but I wanted to know what you'd think if a non-white said 'All white people are disgusting and don't deserve to live' and meant it.

Would that not be racist to you?

Is it not just as bad as a white person saying that to a non-white person? Or do you think it would be worse for a white person to say that about a non-white person?

They would look pretty stupid as it's not a thought that crosses many people's minds. If I was confronted by someone who said that to me, I wouldn't believe that they truly meant it, even if they did. If I was threatened, I would believe them but I wouldn't report it as a racial attack. I would simply report it as harassment. I'm privileged as a white person. I'm not saying it's bad to be any other race, but white people just simple do not face racism.

Saying "All black people are disgusting and don't deserve to live" is completely unacceptable as black people still, to this day, suffer extreme inequality and discrimination. Until it happens to white people, it's not racism. Black people are scared to leave their homes in the U.S. in fear of getting shot. White people do not suffer this fear over their skin colour.

Black people can be racist towards other minorities like the Islamic community as they suffer extreme inequality and discrimination, probably worse in this day and age than black people do. But white people, simply, do not.

[Kizzy]

I thought prejudice towards another race was racism?

[lostalex]

white people are the least racist race in my opinion, based on my 33 years of experience on this planet. That being said, white people are also the most self-confident, and least insecure race.

I think because people that are minorities are so insecure, we end up feeling sorry for them, and they usually end up being painted as victims.

I'm a member of the most oppressed minority in the world, homosexuals, and i see it all the time, plenty of gay people take on a victim mentality, even when they aren't being victimized. The same is true of all minorities.

[Ninastar]

They would look pretty stupid as it's not a thought that crosses many people's minds. If I was confronted by someone who said that to me, I wouldn't believe that they truly meant it, even if they did. If I was threatened, I would believe them but I wouldn't report it as a racial attack. I would simply report it as harassment. I'm privileged as a white person. I'm not saying it's bad to be any other race, but white people just simple do not face racism.

Saying "All black people are disgusting and don't deserve to live" is completely unacceptable as black people still, to this day, suffer extreme inequality and discrimination. Until it happens to white people, it's not racism. Black people are scared to leave their homes in the U.S. in fear of getting shot. White people do not suffer this fear over their skin colour.

Black people can be racist towards other minorities like the Islamic community as they suffer extreme inequality and discrimination, probably worse in this day and age than black people do. But white people, simply, do not.

I get what you're thinking and fair enough, but it's not just black people who are afraid to leave their own homes in the states. You've never lived there. You don't know what it's like. Reading biased reports on the internet is NOTHING compared to living in the states. Most people are afraid to leave their own houses. It has nothing to do with skin colour. Yes, you get racist cops, but again, this is something that is ridiculously over sensationalized by the media and the internet.

I just think that hating on someone for their skin colour, no matter what privilage, no matter what history, no matter what skin colour the hater has, is just plain racism. I don't think there should be a hierarchy of 'who is allowed to be offended' because this is what it seems to be turned into.

[LukeB]

We do get some white people who have a "I hate black people" attitude

What if there is a black person who has a "I hate white people" attitude?
making them feel like ****, beating them up and bullying them because they're white? wouldn't that be class as racism because they are also discriminating?

This could be happening but we never know because they're like millions and millions of people around the world. I'm not saying it does but there is a chance of it.

[lostalex]

I get what you're thinking and fair enough, but it's not just black people who are afraid to leave their own homes in the states. You've never lived there. You don't know what it's like. Reading biased reports on the internet is NOTHING compared to living in the states. Most people are afraid to leave their own houses. It has nothing to do with skin colour. Yes, you get racist cops, but again, this is something that is ridiculously over sensationalized by the media and the internet.

I just think that hating on someone for their skin colour, no matter what privilage, no matter what history, no matter what skin colour the hater has, is just plain racism. I don't think there should be a hierarchy of 'who is allowed to be offended' because this is what it seems to be turned into.

What a load of crap! I've never met an American who is afraid to leave their house.

I have lived in Oakland California for 10 years, one of the most violent cities in the US(statistically) and I've never felt intimidated or afraid one single time.

[lostalex]

We do get some white people who have a "I hate black people" attitude

What if there is a black person who has a "I hate white people" attitude?
making them feel like ****, beating them up and bullying them because they're white? wouldn't that be class as racism because they are also discriminating?

This could be happening but we never know because they're like millions and millions of people around the world. I'm not saying it does but there is a chance of it.


we do know it happens, the most successful radio broadcaster of all time, Howard Stern grew up in an all black community, and he talks all the time about how he was beaten and abused atleast twice a day at school during his child hood.


X1Na3vzbpeI

Howard as talked about his experience being a white minority in a black majority school many times. He talks about the terror and horror he experienced at the hands of the black majority in a New York school.


83rAMTvq8P0

[Ninastar]

What a load of crap! I've never met an American who is afraid to leave their house.

I have lived in Oakland California for 10 years, one of the most violent cities in the US(statistically) and I've never felt intimidated or afraid one single time.

You might not, but I know a lot of people who do. I lived on the outskirts of Baltimore though, maybe that's why,

[lostalex]

You might not, but I know a lot of people who do. I lived on the outskirts of Baltimore though, maybe that's why,

well maybe they are associating with the wrong type of people. You can find dangerous neighborhoods and dangerous people in every single city on the planet. That's not an American thing.

[Ninastar]

well maybe they are associating with the wrong type of people. You can find dangerous neighborhoods and dangerous people in every single city on the planet. That's not an American thing.

That, I agree with. My point was that I don't think it's fair for a person to compare something, when they haven't lived in that place.

[lostalex]

That, I agree with. My point was that I don't think it's fair for a person to compare something, when they haven't lived in that place.

but when you say that most Americans are afraid to leave their houses, that is just silly. It's not even just silly, it's ridiculous. How the hell did Americans create the most successful economy in the history of the world if they are so afraid to leave their houses? That's just ridiculous hyperbole.