why do so many people look down on africans and asians as though they're a lower class?

Question

just because some come from 3rd world countries or they speak with an accent? my husband is from kenya and some people speak to him like he's five! and talk about things to do with money like he won't understand!?? enlighten me. i've got my thoughts but i'd like to jear yours. also if you're from a different country and have lived in uk/america, have u noticed this?

Answer 1

Hi Rachie,
The problem of looking down at people because they do not speak the local language fluently is a common problem everywhere. Sadly, some people believe that if you do not speak "their" language, you are not smart enough.

Some people, do speak slowly when they hear someone speak with an accent to prevent miss-understanding, you should not get mad at them, they do not want to act rude or indifferent to the person, but try to have a polite way of not offending you by speak fast to cause a miss-understanding.

I have lived in Sweden, Ireland, UK, US and now live in France and seen the same behavior everywhere.

I had a lot of problem in Sweden before I spoke fluently, specially when I was working during weekends to make some money while studying for computer micro electronic (ASIC design), I could see the same behavior among average Swedes who would ask me so many really silly questions about me and my life, how I felt about living in such a rich country, if I had problem speaking with a woman, if I could talk to someone who drinks beer or vodka etc. But after a while, when they start to know me and they realized that I was not a "bum" just because I spoke the language with an accent, they would change their behavior and things got more comfortable and easy.

Fortunately for me, I look like an average Joe and speak pretty good English, so I never had any problem with this kind of behavior in the Ireland or US. But I could easily see the hostility and dislike against dark skin people, for some strange reason, even the dumbest idiot in my office in Ireland thought he was better than my Nigerian friend who was a doctor, just because the person was black and spoke English with a beautiful African accent that I really loved. Sadly, a lot of people felt the same way about him and his family and that was why they left for the UK after less than 2 years, when he could not take it any more.

My favorite Swedish teacher used to say, that racism is a sickness that we all have, it can easily take over your way of looking at others and the way you live, but if you fight it on a daily basis, judge yourself the same way you want to be judged by others, and everything you think about the behavior of others, you put yourself in the same situation and think how YOU would like to be treated and thought about, in that way, he said, you will have an excellent relation with every one, you will look beyond their skin color, their look or their language skills, and will make your life so much easier and much richer.

The best lesson he thought me was, don't be discouraged if you find some people to be difficult to deal with, every society has them, stupidity is the part of human nature and has not national or racial boarder, just treat the idiots like idiots and forget about them.


So, I would say, hang in there, just be polite and look at things from the bright side, some people who treat your husband like a 5 year old, may be the nicest people in your neighborhood, or the dumbest idiots on the block, in both ways, treat them nicely and they will change, and if they don't, "fo'get abaut'em" as they say in NY!

Cheers,
/Farhad
Iranain Born Swede living in the French Riviera

Answer 2

It may be true that many people do this, but certainly not all people.

Many people are ignorant or stupid themselves, and they act accordingly. I knew a woman from Uganda who was incredibly bright, educated, and successful... and she told me that she met a woman once in the States who talked to her for a few minutes, then turned to a friend and said, right in front of her, "It's amazing, she sounds intelligent!"... as though that didn't seem possible.

Racism is still rampant, and it goes well past a Western bias against Africans and Asians. Racists come in every color, and somewhere, someone hates you for the color of your skin or the country of your origin, no matter what that is. Such is the sad state of affairs in the world today, though it's nothing new.

Hopefully, as the world gets "smaller" though ease of travel and the advancement of technology, more and more people will come to understand others and drop the massive, blanketing stereotypes will still see all too often.

Answer 3

First of all, Africans have once been slaves. Although Nelson Mandela had made it illegal to discriminate them, he could not completely remove the discrimination in peoples' minds. Schools teaching slavery doesn't help either. Immature children learning about the discrimination back then would only make them follow the trend. Therefore, African discrimination carries on.

As for asians, I think it must have something to do with the Pearl Harbor, where Japs treated them badly. The Japs had spreaded the discrimination out by that act. So they still look down on them

By the way, it is mostly the British who does that ( I think)

Answer 4

I am African living in Africa. On a trip to Switzerland, I noticed most Africans tended to stand around the streets hours on end whereas the Swiss were busy. This can certainly create an impression.

It is bad to look down on anyone. Africa has so much potential but most who can make the change run away to lands where they are discriminated. when they come back, they want to show off. isn't this also a stereotyping against the locals?

Answer 5

The reason is cuased by the law of nature we call karma. Karma is a law of life that ensures that life balances itself out at the end of the day...during the Polarians or Atlantis civilization, black ruled the then known world. They looked down on white as if they were slaves. In fact, they were subjected to slavery at that early dark ages.......too bad.

The wheel of karma always turns and turns... the white turned buying blacks in slavery. The lords of karma want them to test the same bitter pill they gave to they fellow human beings(white). The slavery was stopped though but the effects have changed to discriminations of all sort, looking down on certain people and all that. Thats also why some black still hates some white and why some white hates blacks. This terrible past expiriences are deep buried in the sub-concious mind of people(Blacks & whites).

Only LOVE heals all wounds.

Answer 6

Well..some people still have that kinda ignorance attitude towards coloured people, even with ASIA..people might think that people from 3rd world countries or Asia will never changed and stay as what we are in our 'so called primitive year)..Anyway i just hope people will not be such a racist and try to respect other people norms and values as well as their believe as through this we will understand why certain people can do this and some cant. Accept people the way they are not what we want them to be.

worLd PEACE

Answer 7

i only know what i know ,and history has shown the world that anyone who has ever attempted to help those in the Sudan,especially more recent in my minds eye Somalia where our people went to help,to feed,and bring medicine were shot down,and their dead bodies drug through the city streets. any place where starvation is so easy though food could be plentiful,any place that can never seem to pull its on self up by its own boot straps,and progress are indeed 3rd world.
further all of my interactions with these people has been one of trust,and hope yet ending in their corrupt nature.
In so far as Asians or almost any other group of people I do not see this,nor have I had these negative interactions-as i said i only know what i know.

Answer 8

I certainly have noticed a difference. Unfortunately I think most of it comes down to appearance. Just the fact that these people can be identified out of the crowd. I think they stand out even more if they are in a new area and have different mannerism, or look a bit lost.

Answer 9

I have no problem with either group and I tend to like Asians for some reason maybe because the ones Ive met are really polite.

Answer 10

Im an asian too.Never think asians and africans are lower because we should never measure people from their skin color.we have to measure people from there heart and I believe asians are very good at heart and very helpul.Come to an asian country you will feel the difference.They can be so kind hearted because of that never think they are cowards.