What's the most racist thing that's happened to you personally?

Question

I am a white guy, which sounds so dull I'm changing the pronunciation right now to "whih TAY" and you have to refer to us as the "whih TAY" tribe, but anyway, anti-white comments don't really even register with me. Actions can be awkward though.

I had a philippina friend in college who would always say, "you can't understand, it's an Asian thing," whenever I asked any kind of cultural question.

Worse though was when I sit down with a black guy friend in college at dinner and the rest of the table was black girls. My friend had to go, and after he left, all the black girls got up and moved to another table. That was socially awkward.

I'm sure somebody has worse stories like being chased by hillbillies with torches or something.

Answer 1

Once while I was working at a Forever 21 downtown, in the dressing room, I asked a girl who happened to be black to get me a dress in another size for a customer. She gave me a dirty look and told me it wasn't her job, although it was, and went to a group of girls and stared daggers at me.

One of the white girls from that group came over and told me that me that she thought I was a racist because I asked HER about the dress instead of a white girl.

Pretty ridiculous, hmm?

Edit:

Um... what's the thumbs down for? That's NOT ridiculous?

Answer 2

Wow, some of these are really sad, including yours, Mr. Whih-TAY. :-)

My experiences are pretty superficial in comparison and I have enjoyed friends of every race throughout my lifetime. One thing I hear on a regular basis is that I'm cool, especially for a white girl. Well, can't I just be cool as a person? Also, after awhile, they will forget I'm white, which is actually a good thing, but it can get a bit dicey. Once a group of Mexican friends started telling jokes about white people and one guy said, "Watch it, I'm half white!" Everyone laughed and then I said, "Um, excuse me, I AM white!" I kept it light-hearted but they felt bad and admitted that they kinda forgot I was a white person. Other instances that happen fairly regularly are when I'm introduced to my friend's friend of a different race (they are the same race, a different race than me). It usually doesn't go so well and I can tell the friend isn't too keen on me being white. (I hope that made sense, it's Friday and I'm kinda tired.) The worst was probably at a funeral for a member of my husband's family...(amazing how these memories come back, eh?)...I went outside to have a cigarette and saw hubby's cousin, his wife and a few others I recognized...after I finished the ciggy I joined them. I quickly realized that not one of them was about to say one word to me, let alone include me in the conversation. I found it very rude and hurtful and soon after walked away. I told my hubby about it and he said that his cousin's wife is a snob and not to let it bother me. Well, it did bother me, whether it was due to me being white or due to the fact that not one of them had any social graces whatsoever.

My husband, on the other hand, is followed in the grocery store on a regular basis. He says it gets a little old.

Since we are an interracial couple (black/white w/3 kids), our family certainly has had its fair share of stares, but nothing really bad has ever happened. We live in a very diverse large city, though. I've heard some horror stories!

Answer 3

I have had several experiences also. I went to an all white high school and people used to spit on me or throw garbage at me or just make comments when I walked through the halls. I always dreaded when the bell rang and I had to switch classes because I knew I would have to make it past these people one more time. BUT the worst thing so far has been just recently at work my manager actually gave me a $.05 raise!! And everyone else in the store got $.30 to $.50! Even a guy that has had sex in her office, stole, and left the store on the clock to go have sex w/ some girl got more than me! And I know it was based on who she liked and didn't like because I put in the MOST hours there and everyone thinks I am one of the best workers! I am patient though and am currently looking for a new job and as soon as I find the right one I am gone!

Answer 4

I know what you mean, I have so many little socially akward situations too. I am also from the "whih TAY" tribe and just try to live. When I was in the Army I was stationed in D.C. and it happened all the time, white-black, white-asian whatever. It was really annoying.

Answer 5

When I was 7 on the school bus a boy called me a N*****.

When I got older in high school a girl told me that," They don't have my kind of people at our school, that they don't say dog and homie there."

I have had people wave confederate flags in my face.

My ex-boyfriends sister who was Hispanic told me that people should not mix with n*****.

I have experienced alot of racism. It has made me somewhat hate full towards society as a whole. I have lost my love for humanity.

Black girls told me that I was not black because I am mixed with white. This is racism that I have experience from my own race. ( I live in the South, this is why I have probably experienced so much. )

But, the least amount of racism that I have experienced has been from my husbands family and their friends. My husband is Cambodian and his family accepts me. Most of the young Cambodian people in his church have mixed with different races and have mixed kids. They are very accepting people.

Answer 6

I have had many racial encounters, but in the Southwest US where I live racism is more suttle and hidden. Its not as upfront and in your face as it is in the NYC where I am originally from.

Growing up I encountered many racial things as a child,some of which I did not realise was racism until I was an adult. I have experienced discrimination from blacks, Asians, Mexicans, and whites. Through it all God gave me the victory to over come these incidents. All I can do is praise him, because I am still here. He found it fit to wake me up this morning to live another day!

Amen

Answer 7

None, I had problems with a black guy, with that black gut, not with all of them, In th Army had problems with the white Americans, since I'm white, American Citizen, but Latin, not with all of them, so Americana aren't that bad. I've learned to judge people for their individual actions, not color, religion, language, nationality, etc. I had problems with my own cultural group and I don't judge them, but I do it in the same way I judge all the other ones, as an individually actions says.

Answer 8

Whih tay those chicks who moved from the table are ignorant. I have been called half breed, ni**a, sp**, puss colored etc etc. Not recently though this back in the 90's. Things have changed alot or maybe its just gone underground.

Answer 9

I am white. About 19 years ago I worked for Pizza Hut as a waitress & we were told in training to serve the first slice of pizza to every customer. One night I was serving a black family & as I started to pick up the spatula & serve the family the father said "That's O.K., I'll get it.". I didn't think anything about it until I was leaving the table & I heard him say, "I don't want no white girl touching my food." That upset me greatly because I don't have a prejudice bone in my body. I have every color of the rainbow in my family tree.

Answer 10

Hmmm....I would have to say my worst expericence is when I was in my early teens...Being American Indian ....I have been called Redskin, Squaw, Red N***er.....in school I had a teacher call me her little Squaw and I hated that crap....she was ignorant to say the least as my late grandmother would say.....most of my friends growing up have been, black , chinese and Hispanic, growing up I had alot of problems with whites.....I guess I hung around people of color because I was of color myself...and if anyone could understand what I was going throught would be someone who was not white......but as I got older and wiser I found there is good and bad in all colors.......what use to get me was when I was older and I would be talking to someone who was white and they would say stuff like...."Oh I have black friends"...I have latino friends......but than in the shadows you would hear a different tale...especially when they got around other whites.....I have much respect for anyone because we are all the same ......like I say Racisim is about Fear......when people are afraid they direct themselves in a different manner......in the words of Rodney King....."Cant we all just get along?"