Was I accidentally racist when I mixed up two South Asian clients?

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

Yesterday there was a handsome Indian client named Raj, who wanted to purchase a big amount of products from our company and got in touch with me.

Today someone very similar looking with similar looks and hairstyle came and smiled to me like he knew me, and he looked so smiley while greeting me like an old acquaintance , I assumed that was definitely Raj and he said “Oh, that’s you!”

I said “I remember you from yesterday! You are Raj, aren’t you?”

and it was so awkward , he turns out from Sri Lankan company and definitely wasn’t Raj.

to come out of this situation I came up with the stupidest excuse me

”My bad, you do look like Raj. Both of you are handsome!”

We ended up making a deal and laughed at it together. He was pleased to have been called handsome.

But I felt so stupid hehe, he really was handsome though

Updates

3 mo

AI changed my question, original one was “Have you ever been accidentally racist?”

Updates

3 mo

“My bad. You don’t look like Raj. But he was handsome! And you are handsome like him.” - that was it.

[molonski2]

Actual question = Yes I have , though racist ( unintentional ) stereotypes, mainly with Indians / Asians / Afganis in my previous land business.


On the " Update " = they have turned it into a completely different inferior question? Different meanings.

[msc545]

Sometimes people indeed do look alike or pretty much so. I think he was glad to be called handsome and I wouldn't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

No. I can't really tell black people apart. It isn't a race hate thing, sometimes people just can't tell

[Paige2006]

Of course not. The racist term is WAY overused

[Kaneki05]

That's not what racism is, confusing people who look alike is not racist.
You can easily find lookalikes in any race.

[TallAnon]

Accidentally and racist don't fit together. Being racist requires intent.

[beefcakebradybatson]

No. I sometimes (but not often) confuse folk. It's only racist if you ascribe certain negative (or sometimes positive) traits to them as a group.

[Grond21]

That's not racist at not. Not even remotely

[NathanDavis]

no... racism is hatred and wilful ignorance

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Yes, you were accidentally racist

[bowenw]

No, you didn’t say anything racist.

[Anonymous]

They all look alike

[Amur8711]

No you were not racist.