Have you experienced racial prejudice?

[Bini]

Have you experienced prejudice based on your race?

This happened very recently. My husband who is Caucasian and some coworkers (also Caucasian) tried a Mexican restaurant that was recommended by some friends that happen to be Hispanic. I'm not sure how else to describe this place but it's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall establishment but apparently authentic. If you have cleanliness issues, you just might pass on this particular joint. Long story short, they beat the lunch crowd and were the first customers, they ordered and ended up waiting 40 minutes for their food. During that time, the place filled up with what appeared to be regular patrons, and table by table, they all received their orders. Their waitress kept telling them that their meal was on its way. She spoke some English so DH never used any Spanish. Needless to say, they were disappointed with the service and DH had mentioned that it was his gut instinct that they purposely served them last because they were White.

Update, DH said he's not going to let one bad experience ruin it for him. He said that the food was good, and today, he went back there again. Lol. Only he said that he'll order in Spanish and tell them that they really enjoyed the food last time.

[Guest]

I can't think of a time, except that my Filipino friend calls me "cracker" sometimes. LOL

The closest I can think of is in regards to finding work around here. It's getting harder to get a job in any kind of service industry if you're not bilingual.

[Suzie]

Have you experienced prejudice based on your race?

This happened very recently. My husband who is Caucasian and some coworkers (also Caucasian) tried a Mexican restaurant that was recommended by some friends that happen to be Hispanic. I'm not sure how else to describe this place but it's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall establishment but apparently authentic. If you have cleanliness issues, you just might pass on this particular joint. Long story short, they beat the lunch crowd and were the first customers, they ordered and ended up waiting 40 minutes for their food. During that time, the place filled up with what appeared to be regular patrons, and table by table, they all received their orders. Their waitress kept telling them that their meal was on its way. She spoke some English so DH never used any Spanish. Needless to say, they were disappointed with the service and DH had mentioned that it was his gut instinct that they purposely served them last because they were White.

Update, DH said he's not going to let one bad experience ruin it for him. He said that the food was good, and today, he went back there again. Lol. Only he said that he'll order in Spanish and tell them that they really enjoyed the food last time.

Well, sometimes it's not racial prejudice but just crap service. If you tell me your husband heard one of the waitresses make a comment or make a face or something then I think perhaps could be racial prejudice. Keep in mind that for our Latino amigos, "gringos" usually tip best if they are happy with their food, therefore in this particular scenario I am not sure it was racial prejudice.

[Bini]

Well, sometimes it's not racial prejudice but just crap service. If you tell me your husband heard one of the waitresses make a comment or make a face or something then I think perhaps could be racial prejudice. Keep in mind that for our Latino amigos, "gringos" usually tip best if they are happy with their food, therefore in this particular scenario I am not sure it was racial prejudice.

Bingo. According to our friends, they have always experienced excellent service there (and everyone that day did too but my husband and his coworkers) and after hearing my husband's story in more detail (I just summed it up in a nut shell), I'd agree that there was some racial prejudice going on.

[Smudge]

Being English living in rural, small town Scotland I have received alot if racial abuse and my mother's neighbor (my childhood bully) even tried to run her over.

When I was living in Birmingham I lived in an area that had a large Asian population. Not long after I moved I phone the doctors at the end of my street to ask about registering and everything was fine so I head along to fill out the paperwork. As I walk in I notice from the info board pictures that ALL the staff are Asian as are all the patients. I go to the desk, standing because I am so VERY white and all of a sudden the piece of info I didn't have that hadn't been a problem when I called was ... I put 2 and 2 together and realized it was because I wasn't Asian.

My final experience was with campers from inner city Boston and was more like reverse racism in that they were convinced that everything was cos they weren't white. When in reality were treated all the girls exactly the same.

[bytor2112]

Growing up I and others experienced some "bullying" by groups of blacks. Was it because I was white and would not want to resist against large numbers? Probably. Does that make them racists? I don't think so...

I think people are wired to be prejudiced against the unknown and races are different. Anyone that says black people aren't different from white people is being dishonest. From a white perspective....black people look different, they are proportioned differently, their hair has a different texture, they speak differently, they act differently...and while I am not black, they view us the same way. Different doesn't mean bad...it just means different. The same can be said for Asians and Latinos....

Do we treat people from races differently because they are different? Do we misunderstand each other sometimes? Do we jump to conclusions that someone is being racist? Can people be insensitive? Can you dislike white people and prefer your own kind and not be a racist?

I think...yes to all the above. I suspect that is why the commandment to love one another as we love ourselves is so doggone hard to do.

[Quin]

Most of my life.

It's always quirky to be in a place where my skin & eyes are the norm. Whoa. I'm invisible!!! Check it out! Oh. Whoops. Not that invisible. Mental note... Next time ask for a different superpower.

Q

[TalkativeIntrovert]

I travelled to Italy in my 20's. I am blond hair, blue eyed and very white.

An Italian friend in Australia taught me a few words before I left, and of course he delighted in teaching me swearing and insults.

Came in handy as I was often swore at by the locals for doing nothing more than walking down the street. Mostly by the older ladies, occasionally by the older men.

Often I would be left standing at the counter while Italian looking people were served first.

I was always modestly dressed and tried to respect the local customs. Where possible I used basic Italian words and apologised for my lack of them!

This is not serious racial prejudice compared to what others endure, but highlights that it does happen.

I am married to a Maori and we have never been discriminated against in Australia or New Zealand.

As for discrimination for being female - definitely!

[skalenfehl]

Never!

[beefche]

On my mission in Bulgaria, I had a companion who was American-Chinese (her parents were born and raised in China, but she was born and raised in America). We went to a Chinese restaurant in Bulgaria and ordered our food (in Bulgarian). When our meal came, the waitress handed me a fork and handed my companion chopsticks. We ended up switching because she didn't know how to use chopsticks!

[pam]

I felt like a minority in my high school. I do believe there were more blacks, latinos and filipinos than caucasions. If you saw our choir picture in the year book I'm the only blonde. :)

Recently a friend (I use that term very loosely) posted on her facebook page regarding her daughter who just got out into the mission field. She said her daughter's companion didn't like her at all. She then went on to say that the girl was from Korea so it was understandable since all Koreans are extremely rude.

Well, I'm never one to remain quiet when I hear or read racist stereotyping or derogatory remarks. So I pretty much spoke my mind. I guess people don't like that. :) But I really don't care.

[Roseslipper]

unfortunantly people are prejudice but not all people are. BUt 2 many are, just another tool that satan uses.

I guess we cant like or love everyone like were suppose too, but cant we just respect people have common curtasey. wow what a concept!!!

[Traveler]

Have you experienced prejudice based on your race?

....

Yes, I have experienced both sides of prejudice - and it is much more difficult to get over being the giver having to ask for forgiveness than the receiver offering forgiveness.

The Traveler

[mirkwood]

Yep. I was the only white guy on a golf course crew of mixed Hispanics and Mexicans. Not all them were racist, but there were definitely some who were.

[Magen_Avot]

I was denied opportunities because of the color of my wife's skin and told that I had lowered myself by marrying her (all this said in the presence of my wife). She's Native American and I'm Caucasian. The confessing BP explained, in the busy church hallway, that he felt convicted of practicing unrighteous dominion and asked us to forgive him.

Awkward on several levels. Funny though,... things didn't change in the least that I'm aware of.

A current and new experience is a co-worker who is Caucasian accused me, a Caucasian, of being racist against him. It seems that when I spend my off hours in my apartment (room) ie. "avoiding him", and having been critical of certain things he's done, (such as taking the carpet I purchased and placed at the front door to our building) that I am expressing my 'hatred' of him.

I'm not even sure how to respond to that.

[mirkwood]

I'm not even sure how to respond to that.

I have some suggestions, but they are not very nice.

[Windseeker]

Have you experienced prejudice based on your race?

Everytime I hear Chris Mathews.

[Magen_Avot]

I have some suggestions, but they are not very nice.

I'm sure the Captain Moroni philosophy may not get the results I would be hoping for and I would also prefer to keep my job too. I might add that there would be Less to repent of.

But thanks

[Bini]

I felt like a minority in my high school. I do believe there were more blacks, latinos and filipinos than caucasions. If you saw our choir picture in the year book I'm the only blonde. :)

Recently a friend (I use that term very loosely) posted on her facebook page regarding her daughter who just got out into the mission field. She said her daughter's companion didn't like her at all. She then went on to say that the girl was from Korea so it was understandable since all Koreans are extremely rude.

Well, I'm never one to remain quiet when I hear or read racist stereotyping or derogatory remarks. So I pretty much spoke my mind. I guess people don't like that. :) But I really don't care.

Pam, there were times that I wished my parents had moved the family to a bigger city consisting of a bigger melting pot because in a small town in southern Utah, I was the *only* Asian in my entire high school. We had a couple Polynesian kids and Navajos but their culture is still very different from what I was used to -- and, they were all Americanised -- I was the weirdo with a British accent calling soccer football.

[dahlia]

I was once called the N-word walking down a street in Amsterdam. Go figure.

[TalkativeIntrovert]

My husband was talking with a female co-worker who also happens to be a church member. Both of them are New Zealand Maori living in Australia.

The conversation they had was that she would not allow her children to date/marry anyone that was not Maori and a non member.

He reminded her that he married me - an Australian non-member, and that I am now an active member and he isn't!

She did not back down from her position.

Is that discriminatory thinking?

[Traveler]

I was once called the N-word walking down a street in Amsterdam. Go figure.

I am not sure that the N-word is always an indication of racial prejudice. Having grown up in the 50's and 60's in Utah I had never met nor conversed with a Black person. My first experience with Blacks was while serving in the army. I made many friends and the N-word was used a lot but in trying to fit in I quickly discovered that if I ever use the N-word the response from my black friends was not the same as when other Blacks used it.

It was not until I was living in Maryland doing government work at Pax River. My next door neighbor was Black and I swear the N-word was his favorite word. I asked him specifically why he would call white individuals the N-word but was quite upset if a white individual called him the N-word but not so from a black brother. I told him I was confused about why that particular word was such a problem and why he liked to use the word so much. I must be honest in that his explanation made absolutely no sense at all. My point to him was that if there is a racial bias in who can or can not use the N-word then that racial bias was itself a form of racial prejudice.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I believe it is possible to think someone as being racial prejudice when in reality it is more ignorance and misunderstanding or sometimes just stupidity. I realize that there is racial hatred and genuine prejudice - but that kind of stuff is the rare exception.

I thought once while serving in the military - in dealing with religious prejudice that G-d should someday teach my religious enemies a lesson. I would even pray that he would come to my aid soon. In a way he did. When it became apparent that lives were being lost - many of my enemies came and asked that I pray for them. They were only enemies in my mind - in reality they were my friends that needed a little help in understanding of it.

The Traveler

[pam]

Rereading this thread brought to mind an experience I had just about 7 years ago. I and another girl were working at a convenience store/gas station. I saw this guy out at the pumps and made a comment to the other girl that he was really really good looking.

She turned to me with a look of shock and said, "But Pam he's black." I probably returned the look of shock because I honestly had not met someone like that. As I mentioned earlier in the thread I grew up with a wide diversity of colors and backgrounds. It just floored me.

[abeChristianson]

I used to be picked on by Native Americans becasue I was white and in their school...

[LaughingMan]

More times than I care to admit. Its one of my "short fuse" buttons. My best friends have always been minorities. Some of the best people I know are Muslim or African-american.