Have you ever faced racism? How did you react?

Question

Gigi2019 · Accepted Answer

If it's extreme verbal abuse, you "could" report it, but, there has to be strong evidence and/or reliable witnesses to this hate crime. And, if it is nuanced racism; even if you have a videotape of the incident, it could be open to misinterpretation. Everything requires indisputable proof when it comes to the criminal justice system. You should report the crime to the police PDQ. IF you have airtight proof that a hate crime has been committed, you should also immediately lawyer up and sue all parties involved, if you can (and if they're worth suing). If you would rather take matters into your own hands and slap the crap out of someone that calls you something vile, you should also be prepared to go to jail for assault and battery. Verbal abuse is not usually viewed as a legal excuse for putting your hands on the person who insulted you. People still find ways to do just this, however, and many seem to get away with it. It depends on how slick you are and how much you're willing to risk for some comeuppance. Personally, I tend to ignore "'most" insults and I attempt to avoid or block foolish people as much as I possibly can.

Msputiton · Accepted Answer

Yes.
First time.
I was 9. My white best friend at the time, parents found out i was black.
She told her she wasn't allowed to be my friend because black people are evil. (I cried)

When 12. A group of white guys like 16 to 18yrs old drove by screamed out " go back to Africa stupid monkey" (imy family originates from Jamaica and bahamas not Africa and I'm a 2nd generation American citizen.)

Some white kid thought it funny to dress like a member of the KKK and walked around holding a noose up to black people as he walked by them.

Recently my white teammates were being loud and obnoxious at the hotel. Me and my black teammates were sitting quietly in the conference room.

The hotel manager came straight to us and walked right past the white members on our team (who were causing the commotion) and told us we had to leave the conference because we were disturbing the other guests.

I have several more stories but this should do for now.

Thingsby · Answer

Oh, yes. I'm mix-raced, half white and Filipino and grew up in a Philippine province that's fairly cut-off and underdeveloped.

"Foreigners" were few and far between, for a decade of my existence there, my dad was the only caucasian I've ever seen. So my brother and I were a minority there and ostracised and bullied for the way we looked and the fact my father was a foreigner.

Cano (short for Americano. They believed anybody of caucasian descent was American. My dad isn't American by the way) was a daily slur thrown at my father, brother and me. And it wasn't uncommon to hear somebody say in broken English or their mother tongue, "fuck off back to your country Cano." Kids fresh out of kindergarten followed the racist adult's ways and spat abuse at us as well, even going as far as to throw stones at our windows or sticks onto the spokes of our bicycles or motorbikes.

We used to run an Inn in that province... and boy... the number of fights and drama that took place in our establishment because of racists was soul-crushing. These "customers" would swan in as if they owned the place, relished the thought of foreigners serving them, and would misbehave to deliberately get a rise out of us.

I don't know how many times a local knocked stuff over and immediately ordered me to pick it up after them, only to laugh at me as I did it.

Besides it being demeaning, it was dangerous too. There was always the risk of being singled out as a victim of kidnapping, robbery or straight murder if you insulted the wrong people. My mum had an affair with a young local guy who ended up blackmailing her to give him money (even threatened her with a gun in public... in our Inn). The guy targeted her because he knew she was married to a Cano and believed all white people were ultra-rich.

We were scammed by Filipino relatives and locals constantly. I can't remember how many times my mother and her family stole my things and would say "your daddy is a foreigner, he can buy you another one", or coax me into telling my dad to buy them gifts.

Also, from experience. I was sexualised as a child or at least desired, most especially by local men. I could not be left alone with any guy, not even family. I could never figure it out if it was because they found my mixed features attractive or they simply wanted to take revenge on the "white-man" through his offspring.

I stopped speaking the vernacular of the province, distanced myself from locals, stuck to homeschooling and kept the company of animals rather than befriend local children or cousins.

I left that horrid province two years ago and moved to a more cosmopolitan and developed part of the Philippines. I haven't heard one racist comment since I moved here and I've begun socialising, growing a good circle of friends (both Filipino and foreign). The scamming is still present... but whatever, corruption is just how it is in this country. It's more fun in the Philippines... am I right?

ChiTown33 · Answer

Yeah I was at a pick-up basketball game. I was on the sideline waiting to play in the next game. As per traditional pick-up game rules the next 5 challenge the winners of the game. A group of 5 black guys show up and they decide they're going to play next without even asking me. While it's rude and against the rules it's not necessarily racist. So they play the next game I don't even really challenge the legitimacy of them playing together instead of me. As they were taunting me on the sideline before the game made it pretty clear they didn't have any respect for me. I knew this was all going to backfire on them because if they lose the jokes on them. They could've had me on their team. But if they won it'd be even worse because then they'd have to play against me the next game😉. So to my delight they won and the next game I had definite motivation to play my best. It took about a half dozen made buckets for them to start taking me somewhat serious then when they decided to I was rolling to much for them to really stop me. Then they started in with the insults and physical play. OK, I'm not afraid of of playing physical but I'm not trying to get into a fight either. So when they doubled or collapsed on me I was able find an open teammate (s) who thank goodness were on that game. Finally it came down to game point. I didn't mention I'm 6'5" so in most pickup games I'm the tallest or one of the tallest so I usually play the 5 position. But being big I've always prided myself on my shooting and passing ability. So I get the ball deep in the corner and the guy said this pasty face whiteboy can't shoot anyway and he backed off me. So I took it and buried it and won the game. Undeterred he turned looked at me and said "lucky shot". At this point I'd had enough and I said "what do you call the other 75 I made on the far court before you showed up". And he said "you couldn't make it again". And I said "you want to put some money on that". I'd be happy to take your money. At that point the next 5 on the sideline were telling those 5 to get off the court since they lost and I listen to them continue to make comments about me being a crazy cracker etc. As they walked to the sideline. My team was able to hold the Court for as long as they were there that day and each time they played us we beat them. Finally they left. But just because I was white they assumed I couldn't play. And even after I proved I could... repeatedly. Their prejudice was unrelenting.

HighValue · Answer

Mostly in the workplace by being passed over for promotions and jobs due to quotas so they would hire Black people to fulfill those quotas. I even ended up having to train one that was promoted to a site supervisor instead of me, but she had less experience and didn't know how to do many things for the job, yet because she was Black and a woman she got the promotion.
At some medical clinics, both me and my mom different times would get passed by other people that came in later than us by racist Hispanic women that worked at the front desk in order for them to let in other Hispanic people ahead of us.
When I worked in after school programs, me and the only other White guy working at my site were not given a classroom for our students, even though we had more seniority than others. It was an Asian supervisor at that time. She refused to order requested supplies for our classes too, but would order the same kind of stuff for other non-White people.
Not being eligible for some exclusive grants (free college money) since I am not Black or a woman.
Sabotage at work due to my race. I witnessed it happening to a White girl I worked with too that was new and she didn't understand why until I pointed out that it only happens to the White employees.
Co worker comments I overheard where they said they should never allow any White people in any leadership roles because nobody wants them anymore.
A principal not disciplining students that frequently said racist things about the only White student playing on the soccer team, but gave severe week long punishment when they said only 1 thing to a Black student. (Not even the "N" word if you were wondering.)

This is just SOME of the stuff I have experienced in the school system. In my experience, there has been lots of racial discrimination in the school system in California. It is quite liberal though so it isn't unusual for them to be racist.

BlackBeauty90 · Answer

I remember working for an East Indian in my field. Which is medical.

I'd been working for him for quite some time, had done very well. He hired another East Indian as a part-time employee I was supposed to train. As he was opening a new business.

What did he do the first time he came to the initial/first business after this East Indian had been hired. Blatantly ignored me and asked the East Indian how he was doing training-wise, etc. Didn't ask me how new East Indian was doing. Normally managers, owners, etc. may ask a trainee but they're going to put more merit to the trainer's comments.

Newly hired East Indian lied saying he was doing good. I say lied as I'd been in that day early to do everything for that newly hired East Indian so I could attend the grand opening of second business without being bothered.

And let's just say new East Indian was borderline useless. Nearly killed someone. And I got so fed up of the manager/owner taking his peers' sides I quit. He's fucked now.

Oigit · Answer

I had a really good African American friend named Daren growing up. My younger brother and I went to his place for his birthday. A friend of his from the apartment complex he lived in came over as well. His friend kept asking Daren why my brother and I where their. Daren said because we where his friends. After some back and forth between Daren and his friend things got heated between those two. His friend said he hated my brother and I because we where white. Things got even more heated between those two and they got into a fight. His friend got sent him and Daren's mom was pissed about everything.

I don't blame the kid for it. Because his parents are the ones that he inherited his attitude and views from. According to Daren's mother that's where the kid got it from. So the entire thing simply caused me to believe more in what I have been saying before it happened. Kids are born a clean slate and racism is a learned trait. If people want to ensure their kids isn't racist they can't be racist themselves or bring their child around people that are. That is very true during a child's early development years.

ohshee · Answer

I have the very first time was the worst because I didn't understand it my step dad and I were driving down the road and a car cut us off my stepdad I've never ever heard him cuss a day in his life and all of a sudden this car cut this off and I hear you fucking N word
He is pissed off he's yelling screaming cussing he looks over to me and he says call that fucker a N word I shook my head no.. he yelled at me again and he said I told you to say it. I shook my head no. Well the car had taken a left and I'm glad we couldnt get over anout 3 more blocks we had to take a right. I just wanted to hey home.. he's still yelling at me. We hey home he tells me to go to my room.. 10 min later he walks in my room takes off his belt and hit me with it yelling. when I tell you to day something you say it.. do you understand he had my arm in one hand and the belt in the other one I think my feet touched the ground twice he dropped me walks out 10 min later
My mom walks in and ask me what happened I told her and I said oh you know what that word means she said you don't want to she stormed out of my bedroom and then all of a sudden I could hear them yelling and her telling him you never teach you in that ever what is wrong with you for the longest time I didn't know what it meant whenever I hear that word I get pissed off I get angry

HighlyVolatile · Answer

I got it a lot in mild to extreme forms (everything from being forbidden to enter an establishment on account of my race to little things like people joking about Asian stereotypes right in front of me).

I usually didn't mind but there was one time that I remember where I made some acquaintances in the US and they kept saying they have a friend I have to meet.

So I met this friend of theirs and he was from Viet Nam and they left me with him! So then I was like, "Uhh... So you like rice?" Like WTF am I supposed to say?

Biancam13 · Answer

Yes. I am mixed. When I was younger I used to look more Asian than I do now, and I had this friend who would call me “ching Chong Chang” and tell me I smelled of noodles. She was just ignorant. She was also a little insecure tbh so I think she was just projecting insecurities.

Recently, in asia when I was on holiday, I had locals ask to take pictures of me and kept touching my face “because I’m an alien to them”. It was a small village. Not racism but definitely weird and doesn’t happen to foreigners in the UK.

Ram0n83 · Answer

At a past employer I was subjected to falsified misconduct reports and discipline, and threatened with termination over allegations that were proven false.

The department head once commented that he knew one of the supervisors was lying, but he did nothing and kept the disciplinary records on my file, anyway. He also said that I should listen to a lower-level supervisor (who was Black) than the white supervisor that was higher-up. He was telling me to do something that was completely contrary to policy (like it would be at any other employer).

I eventually found another job and quit.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

Down south hell yeah, went into a corner store literally everyone in there dropped what they were doing to stare at me and this has happened on many occasions when I’ve been down south but I just ignored it and got what I needed, one time though I was in Louisiana at a gas station when this random guy called me the n word, the only thing that stopped me from punching him in the face was the fact that I was in a rural area at like 7:00 o’clock at night and I was with my girlfriend so I wasn’t about to risk our lives over ignorance like that.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, I was at Walmart waiting for my ride I was sitting on this bench. So I moved down in respect to giving this Hispanic woman and her children a place to sit. She talked to her kids in Spanish and was very rude towards me. If looks could have killed I would have been dead this is the first time I was facing racism cause I'm a white guy. No matter what, I treat all Race/ Cultures/ Religions / Genders, etc with respect I once
was at a doctor's appointment and gave an African American woman who was elderly and a victim of polio so I let her sit in my seat she thanked me.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Yeah, in Taiwan. A lot of the locals were treating me differently because of my race. It was things like not wanting to sit next to me in a subway, serving Asian customers first and in general giving them better treatment. And one lady in the train took her mask off and got me sick on purpose, and one guy thought we were gonna steal his umbrella.

And also in Grenada. It wasn't as bad, but once we got outside of the "tourist" areas, it was pretty obvious from the behavior of the locals that they didn't like White people in "their" areas.

Cathy7734 · Answer

A while ago I was standing in line at a restaurant. A black man approached me and told me I'm a White Supremacist and I'm destroying this country (USA). You should have seen the hatred and anger in his eyes. I stood there shocked because this never has happened to me before and I didn't know how to react. I decided to ignore him and it was my time to be seated.

Would you consider this racism?

Mango-man · Answer

As a small kid (around 8 yo) a small group of street kids tried to steal my bike only because I was "white" and thus seemed as an easy target (And how do I know it was racism? Because they were calling me their slang word for "whites").
Luckily my parents were nearby to scare them away.

TheMVPofGaG · Answer

I have white privilege (a topic Ik a majority of white people would never admit themselves), so I haven't faced any racism myself. But I have a Lebanese & Syrian mother I'm not related to by blood, and I've seen her face racism. Many of my friends have also been victim to racially insensitive remarks. I know some people think racism isn't like it used to be, and to a degree, yes, but people would be surprised at how mainstream a lot of racist mindsets and stereotypes are. It's sad.

Changiis07 · Answer

I honestly haven’t and feel bad for the people that have because no one is born racist. That people that are is because they have been brought up thinking a certain way about someone that or they have had a bad experience with someone of a different race which makes them feel a certain way towards that certain race.

lightbulb27 · Answer

yes, twice I can recall, one I felt hurt and wronged. we mis so many opportunities to correct failing humans because of fear of repraisal and the excuse of race. We should rally behind "standards of behavior", which is culture and laws rather than race.

I've also been treated well by other people, races and cultures and that says... it isn't race, it's the human inside the skin...99% the parents doing. race is just a nice neat simple explanation to a complex human problem.

melanieeeB · Answer

I would say no, I have been pretty lucky. But also I don't think that racism is that much of a problem here, like it seems in the US, it's still exists and happens! Definitely! but not that much i guess.

And also like I encountered more racist comments when I was out with a friend, who is Asian, than when I was out with black friends and shit.

Crepe_tart · Answer

A little bit disappointed, it's the 21st century, people should have let go of that by now.

Oh and to that racist person who I encountered last week: going for vacations to your country doesn't mean I'm going to stay there forever or want to move there in the future.

Now_Here · Answer

Well not racism. But religious discrimination, sure. Many came up with what they heard with subtle aggression regarding the things they heard, it got cleared up on good terms. While I could overhear other insults but they'd still greet me so sweetly when we met personally lol. I could still detect a repulsive vibe but it didn't phase me much.

DermalPunch · Answer

I don't have time to detail all the racism I've experienced.

School, work, bus, hospital. Micro agressions I freeze and can't do the quick clap back.

At work there was overt racism but the all white supervisors and mediators just brush it all under the rug and protected the racist.

MrtoddsWildRide · Answer

Yep. If it was directed towards me then I either ignored it or called them a bigot and then walked off.
If it was directed towards a friend, I got more verbal
If it was directed to a woman I was with because some asshole doesn't think it's okay for us to be together, I got a LOT more verbal.

Staximus · Answer

Yes, one night I walked down the wrong street in Tijuana Mexico. A pickup truck with 6 drunk guys in the back and 3 in the front drove past me, and they started throwing beer bottles at me and cursing me because I'm white. I speak enough Spanish to know what they were saying. Sorry liberals, white privilege doesn't exist when you're surrounded by people who aren't white.

bolverk · Answer

Yes I have faced racism while working overseas, I would annoy the hell out of those getting in my face by either ignoring them or even better smile or laugh at them and remember I do not have to like them, I am in their country for a limited time and will leave at the end of my contract.

bannacookies · Answer

Just 2 weeks ago I had a woman run up to me at the park while I was sitting on a bench with a friend & yelled in my face calling me racial offensive words. Why? Because I was "ruining the park by not fitting in with the other races that were there"... oh brother.

skytatoe · Answer

I just told the guy he was wrong to hate on someone he didn't know for the place they were born in. Just as he didn't control his birthplace they didn't control theirs, and that shouldn't be a reason to hate someone.

Well he admitted 'yeah I know it's wrong, but...' and proceeded to tell me all about his hate for various people LOL

RationalMale · Answer

Yes, I've had racial slurs and threats yelled at me both when I used to work security and on my own time in Atlanta.

I reacted by remaining outwardly cool and confident. Having a concealed handgun on my person helped. A lot of black people hate Whites, just life.

Nagatoro · Answer

My ex boyfriend's Caucasian friends called me the "N" word for no good reason whatsoever. I told him about it and he just blew it off as, "They're just playing around". Then one day in the cafeteria, I walked by a table full of Mexicans and got called the "N" word again for no good reason. What I did that time was just get upset over it, but I didn't confront them or anything. I'm such a pussy.

Guanfei · Answer

A couple insults irl, mostly by arabs. Always about skin color.
Online too, more often, especially since the past years.
And from black people, mostly American, since all that BLM stuff in 2016.

Usually, I don't care much. It's just words.

ACR130 · Answer

Yup, the Best thing to do in that situation is to not get mad but agree with what they say and say something even more racist about yourself. It shuts them up and leaves them looking clueless. Then that's when you make eye contact and blow them a kiss and ask if they are bi curious enough to eat your ass.

Sour-rose · Answer

I didn't personally this one time but my co-worker went off on this guy because he said into the phone  "YOU SOUND LIKE A N**GER!" That moment was the greatest time at that place.

genericname85 · Answer

yeah i did. it was just a minor thing and not directed against me tho. i know i should probably have done something, though nobody was harmed and i'm not gonna risk my life messing with nazis, if nothnig really bad is happening.

Guccigabbana18 · Answer

Yes I have, from close friends usually out of jealousy and wanting to put me down. I don’t receive it from strangers though

crmoore · Answer

Yeah. I usually tell them they're being racist, as apparently it isn't obvious to them. Or I just shrug it off. That being said, it's not all that common (though much more common in the past decade than it was before).

Agape93 · Answer

Only by one person, but I just talked to my at the time boyfriend about his sister's conduct, and he and his family handled it from there.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

Yes. I always get the spot check at the airport. Not the extreme invasive one but the basic one. I'm a darker skinned white girl.

MrTaboo · Answer

Yes, affirmative action keeps a white guy like me out of many jobs. Because they don't have enough minorities hired. Even when in my area, minorities are only 5% of population.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

Well, if you want to ask about racism, just ask some of the racists here.

luvstoned4him · Answer

Never but if it does happen, I hope I deal with it right

Blackcupcake · Answer

no, not that I recall… but I did used to work at a bar and got a variation of super gross horny comments related to my skin color so that’s that🤡🤢

wheresmrcunnunglis · Answer

Im a black woman that works in Tech... need I say more?

jahaims · Answer

I used to get jumped/picked on for being white. Black kids that dressed or act "white" used to get the same treatment at that school. Always resulted in physical confrontation.

AllThatSweetJazz · Answer

Only as a “white” person from woke types. I’m half Melanesian, but I’ve only ever felt discrimination for the white part.

lovedejj_xo · Answer

Of course and I’m very bold I’ll speak up in your face. Which I do often to prejudice people at work.

notwoke · Answer

every day i have to work harder to overcome affirmative action and quotas that stack the deck against me

maverick2022 · Answer

Yes I've been called the N word by both white and black people that were mentally ill. I'm not sure it counts but it happened.

globetrotter22 · Answer

The last I heard is racism against white people doesn’t count

TyLeeAndPink · Answer

Pssshhh, yeah. I grew up thinking I was super ugly and unlovable. Racism is a nasty thing.

talka20 · Answer

When i tell em my country they ghost... so i dont do anything then cuz im ghosted

Jay3344 · Answer

A few Hawaiians were racist towards me once. Most are really nice just tan into a few bad apples. I stopped myself from reacting and kept on my way.

Exterminatore · Answer

Yeah. Black woman yelled at me: “white people is the Devil.”  I literally didn’t care.

RebeccaBI2000 · Answer

Plenty of times. I just don’t give them the reaction they are looking for

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Yeah, a pair of black dudes put a gun to my stomach and robbed me right near my grandma house as I was coming home from work.

NotAnActivist · Answer

Not really. I will admit that my attention and my racial jokes have led to my peers making racist jokes about me

Kiran_Yagami · Answer

Yes. I just walked away. It was a neighborhood I shouldn't have been in anyways. We're all better off if we just leave one another alone.

tiajoka · Answer

Yes, it's terrible obviously. But it's become so tolerated now. As a kid even it was

motownplayer2000 · Answer

Yes.. not much since I was outnumbered. Had to be smart

Kurdistan1991 · Answer

There are many in Turkey. For example, they say the best Kurd is a dead Kurd. Turks are really racist

krin_m · Answer

Yes, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt. When necessary, I have confronted the racist person, other times I have ignored it.

SignedAutographs · Answer

As a Jew, I'll ALWAYS experience it. Evangelicals HATE us

Have you ever faced racism? How did you react?

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