what was your first experience with racism?

Question

Mine was in kindergarden. I lived in a all white community, so I went to school with mostly white people. We had a class mascot (i guess you would call it) his name was mister bear and every weekend someone would get to take him home and they would write in a journal what they did with Mr.Bear that weekend. The following weekend , whoever had him last had to choose the next person to get him. I remember always being the last one to get Mr.Bear, and I remember know at age 5 that it was because I was black(my moms white dads black)or looked differntly from all the other kids. I was good friends with most of these people in high school and I don't think that any of them are racist I just think I was the first black person that most of them had ever seen. Once we were all in High school all the kids in town went to school together and things became much much more intergrated.

Answer 1

...my first experience was when I noticed my stepfather telling his subordinates that he didn't want to hire African Americans because they were too lazy...

he also called them names behind their backs...

I was really young when this happened.

A few years later I remember my elementary school in Mississippi (back in the early 80's) getting integrated for the very first time...I remember some of the kids (and even teachers) were being really nasty towards non-whites.

Years later I stand up against bigotry and cultural ignorance....I don't tolerate in the slighted degree any form of racism.....it's ugly, cruel and causes more problems for people and for society.

Answer 2

I was inadvernantly racist around the age of 5. (I'm white). My mom had been telling me not to be in the sun too much, my skin would get red. The next day, we rode the bus into the city. I saw the first black person I'd ever seen, a lady. I told my mom, "She stayed in the sun WAY TOO LONG!" My mother tried to hush me up, red-faced. The nice black lady just smiled and laughed.

Then, the first anti-race statement I heard was around the age of 8 or 9. I was at the public pool in the summertime. A friend looked over to a group of black girls swimming. This friend said, "They shouldn't wear blue, it just doesn't go well with their skin color. They should wear yellow or orange, it is more complimentary." (!)

Answer 3

As a white person I first experienced racism in high school. I was a great dancer and had several black friends who I went out dancing with. I remember one black girl actually got MAD at me because I could do a dance move she couldn't. She told me since she was the black one and I was white she should be able to dance better than me. Many black girls hated me solely for the reason I was white and dared to try to associate with them.

I experienced racism in a restaurant in a mostly black neighborhood. As I waited in line to order the cashier chose to act like I wasn't there and let every black person in line (behind me) go before me. When I got to the register he didn't even ask me what I wanted. He just stood there and looked at me like "what are you doing here?"

I don't want to write a book, though I could.

Racism goes all directions. Not just white against black.

Answer 4

When I was 8 years old we drove from to Miami to Orlando and I was absolutely shocked to see Bathrooms labeled "Colored" and "White," even separate drinking fountains! I didn't know what to do. When I found out what was behind it I didn't want to support that at all, but I really had to go! I headed for the "Colored" door, but mother pulled me back.

(After I grew up we lived in a Hispanic neighborhood and my son hated his golden hair because everybody else's was black. It's tough being different. More than tough. Jesus knows)

Answer 5

Hmm. The instance I can most vividly remember had to be when I was around eight or nine and I was driving in the car with my father and his girlfriend(My Mother and father were divorced, so I saw him every other weekend)

The conversation basically went like this:

My father: "Look at the black guy's car. He must be a drug dealer."

Me: "That's pretty racist."

My father: "NUUU IT'S NOT! This is a bad area... Besides they're the ones who are racist not ME!"

Me: "Uh-huh."

Answer 6

My parents (sadly) are sort of racist. The house next door is now for sale and my dad mentioned that the people looking into it were islamic. My mom just shook her head and sighed and commented that it could be worse and they could be hispanic.

I guess you could say I was horrified at what she said.

I dislike racisum, hopefully it will all fade with the generations growing older.

Answer 7

I could tell you a lot of stories, but the one that stands out in my mind is being told I couldn't move into the apartments I grew up in because they only rent to Mexicans now. That was their exact words.

Answer 8

I was the only white in my high school class. I got beaten up because they accused me of being a racist, rich, and smart.
I was smart, but not rich, or racist: they were.

funny how it went full circle though, I was became one in the end.

Answer 9

Around 1961, before i started going to school i called one of my friends the "n" word in front of my mailman who was black. He took offense, which surprised me because i didn't know it was a bad word or even what it meant. He confronted my folks about me hearing it from them...which i didn't, i heard it from my friends.

Answer 10

I was on vacation with my family at a Cherry Farm. There was a black family working or visiting there. There was a young girl named Condoleeza Rice I believe. My father had made some rude comments about how they live or dressed. I thought that they were very nice and considerate people. I wonder what ever happened to that girl.....oh well.