Origination: The Race Debate

I'm Not Racist But..
This woman from Sutton Coldfield talks about how she'd feel if an Asian family moved in next door.

Do you think what she's saying is racist?

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This video is remarkably illuminating. The main underlying problem is this lady's presupposition that she will have less in common with someone who is Asian than with someone who is White. It is very likely and not far fetched that she could have more in common with someone from a different ethnic group! It is difficult then for someone who displays this fundamental underlying belief in racial stereotypes to then be open in her interaction with her hypothetical Asian neighbour. The onus is then on the neighbour who is the target of her stereotyping to prove that they are not as she believes. This is a difficult basis for comfortable dialogue to take place and this is where separation begins. This lady honestly and genuinely believes that she is not racist, but if you examine her words she maintains that she certainly would interact differently with someone who looked "different" to her. When a relationship begins on this basis it is then sometimes futile to try and change someones ignorant and preconceived perception.
- Hello999, 31 August 2007

What about the caste system of india?where the light skinned brahmins think of the dark skinned dalits as untouchable,indeed the word dalit translated means quite literally untouchable,the asian community preaches one thing for whites then its totally different standards for themselves wheres this self rightousness when the dalits in india get treated worse than sh*t. If this woman is racist for wanting to mix with her own ethnic group then how do you explain the asian policemans association,black policemans association and all the other thousands of organisations up and down britain that choose their membership on the basis of race or ethnic origin? Its high time for these shameless double standards to either A)be dropped or B)be taken up by every other ethic group aswell,anything else is just PC horse manure.
- DirtyMilkman, 5 August 2007

To me the race thing is, pardon my french - Stupid. Everyone keeps talking about their own "kind". What kind is that? The kind with two arms, legs, a head etc? This comes from both black, white and pink people. I think we forget that at the end of the day, we are just HUMAN BEINGS.
- Ayja, 24 July 2007

If you strip down all the science language behind the racism. You could clearly see how this women is actually has described her racism statement through her preference to be better to interact with the same colour women (white) rather than a Hindi women. This kind of situation is the grass root problem of UK society, it happens in every aspect of our daily live. The whites feels better to share their laughs, love, fun and thoughts with their other white neighbours rather than the Hindi or other colour neighbours. That odd preference like this white women said is what we felt as an un-welcome and rather cold message by the whites. Therefore, we don't have more options rather than trying to seek other people who could possibly feel the same atmosphere as us, thus why we tends to be more comfortable to talk, laugh, and share our thoughts with other peoples that might have felt the same treatment by the whites. This kind of situation is the main factor as to why integration is such a difficult process in the UK copares to the USA. Based upon my personal experiences, it is more easy for us to feel welcome when talking to the Americans rather than the british people. There is a very small barrier being used by the Americans when talking, communicating, and interacting compares to the British. Therefore the integration process cant only be pushed from one side without the effort of the other side to try to welcome, understand and open their selves towards other cultures. Hope this would bring more colour to the whites.
- leeritenour, 10 May 2007

I have experienced racism regularly by Channel4 which is palpably the most anti-English organisation in Britain. This appalling broadcasting company denigrates the English and England at every given opportunity. What's the difference between the BNP and Channel4? Answer: The BNP says that nobody who is not white can be English. Channel4 says that nobody can be English, regardless of the colour of his/her skin. I'm English, not British, and no, I don't care what my racial origins are. I will never be British.
- slowpace, 7 May 2007

I am English and one of the experiences of anti English racism I have is with programmes like C4's 'The Seven Sins of England'! Why not a programme about the seven sins of Scotland or Wales. How about 'The Violence of the Irish'? The Irish have a history of murder and torture, so why not examine what makes the Irish such a violent race?
- HomeRuleforEngland, 7 May 2007

Interesting comments - they imply however that the only valid human interaction will be between homogenous individuals who share only similarities. Interaction with those who 'are like me' can be very soothing validating as it does our own culture and world view. Without balancing this however with the enriching experience of interacting with others of different race, culture and belief there is a grave danger of dividing the world into us and them, a foundation first for ignorance, then fear, then hatred. It also impoverishes our very experience of life. I give you an example: two years ago a Hindu family moved into the house three doors down from us. The wife was lonely at home when her children and husband were out and decided to take a job as an Avon lady, as my Mum used to call them, so that she could meet and interact with people in the neighbourhood. Before she could explain herself she had the door shut rudely in her face by almost every house in the predominantly white neighbourhood.only two people greeted her politely; her immediate neighbour who had previously met her, and my 18 year old son who was very friendly to her and invited her to call back when I was in. This she did, and I met her for the first time as she wept with hurt over the reaction she had experienced. My neighbours lost the opportunity of knowing this intelligent, humorous woman and I gained a friend who enriched my life in so many ways. We are both stong believers in our own faiths, she Hindu, and I Christian but I enjoyed learning all about Duwali and the festival of lights and seeing the colourful fireworks and she looked forward to attending the candle lit carol service at Christmas. Neither of us lost our own identities, beliefs or cultures in the exchange - rather we enriched each other's lives. Her husband had now been posted elsewhere and she has moved. I miss her and I am still sad at the behaviour of my neighbours.
- sos22, 4 May 2007

Dear onionpants25, The problem with this statement Why shouldn't a white person be able to openly express a preference for living among his/her own kind without being labelled and stigmatized as a 'racist' is that this is exactly what already happens. I am not so sure why White people do get so wound up about the word Racist. They seem quite happy being homophobic, sexist and displaying other isms. The time surly has come to ALL realise that this is a multicultural society and no matter what is said or attempted to be done, it will remain so. As for White people being dictated to and losing their freedom of choice this is just ludicrous. The fact is White people retain the powerbase in the UK and will do so for many more years to come I am sure. British culture has actually been developed over at least two millennium of diversity. The original Britons have long since disappeared leaving behind a people that reflect that immense influence that this country has had throughout its history. When black and asian communities stick together it's called 'solidarity' and applauded. If white communities wish to do the same it's condemned as racism. onionpants25, the solidarity that such Black and Asian communities have is in deprivation and marginalisation not the kind that I would suggest you would really wish to have? White people have nothing to fear from people of colour unless they fear that there will be some kind of retribution from these people for what Britain historically did in their ancestral homelands (but I doubt this very much, for quite frankly the weather here cools emotions down). Lets be positive about the future and realise the wealth of knowledge and skills that such diversity brings to this country. If we all work together amazing things could be accomplished.
- Serendib, 25 April 2007

Ah the pleasant face of racism. One could almost feel empathy with what is being said, but remove these words from the attractive and well spoken lady and place them in the mouth of an overt racist thug and perhaps the sentiments would seem different? It is the perceived liberals that I fear most for it is they who will turn a blind eye to the atrocities that their thugs will commit after such encitement.
- Serendib, 25 April 2007

Why shouldn't a white person be able to openly express a preference for living among his/her own kind without being labelled and stigmatized as a 'racist'? When black and asian communities stick together it's called 'solidarity' and applauded. If white communities wish to do the same it's condemned as racism. This is sheer hypocrisy and double standards. It's about time white people refused to be cowed into submission and shamed into silence by the word 'racist'. What happened to freedom of choice? Why should whites be dictated to, about who they choose to live among?.
- onionpants25, 17 April 2007

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