Have you ever been accused of being racist?
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Yup.
Me and a few college chums used to say words that are considered racist, there was never any malicious intent behind them. We never said them to anybody outside of the group or around anybody that could be insulted by it.
I stated such things on this site and got a torrent of "you're racist", which isn't true. Hating somebody due to skin colour is like hating them for being blonde or for having brown eyes.
It's like we were mocking the racist names rather than the people it's usually addressed to, for more info on the subject please read movie bobs article about calling a 9 year old a ****.
On the topic of racism, why is it not ok to say "I've got black friends" in response to "you're racist"? If you have black friends how can you hate black people? (sorry for reducing racism to white people hating black people, I know there are people of every skin colour who hate people of any other colour)
Me and a few college chums used to say words that are considered racist, there was never any malicious intent behind them. We never said them to anybody outside of the group or around anybody that could be insulted by it.
I stated such things on this site and got a torrent of "you're racist", which isn't true. Hating somebody due to skin colour is like hating them for being blonde or for having brown eyes.
It's like we were mocking the racist names rather than the people it's usually addressed to, for more info on the subject please read movie bobs article about calling a 9 year old a ****.
On the topic of racism, why is it not ok to say "I've got black friends" in response to "you're racist"? If you have black friends how can you hate black people? (sorry for reducing racism to white people hating black people, I know there are people of every skin colour who hate people of any other colour)
Hi all,
So I stumbled across this thread because I literally just got called racist, for the first time in my life. I was on public transportation on the way back from a country music concert with my friend. Both of us are white. I was wearing a cowboy hat for the concert, but because my friend didn't have a cowboy hat, I'd lent her a Civil War reenactor's cap that had two crossed rifles on it. While we were on our way home, a drunk (white) guy came up to us and started asking us about the history of the hat. I told him it was a Civil War hat and yes, it was from a Southern soldier's uniform. I honestly had never thought about anyone thinking the hat was racist, as it was just made for reenactments and to do any kind of reenactment, you obviously have to have hats from both sides. The musicians that were playing were Southern so it just seemed normal to bring a Southern hat. I calmly explained the reasons for having the hat. The guy went totally crazy. He immediately assumed I was from the South (which I'm not) and the first thing out of his mouth was "Number one, we totally slaughtered you," which seemed a little irrelevant. Then he went on calling us racists, comparing us to being Nazis, saying it was like having a swastika, saying he was ashamed I was American. Other people in the train car took our side and asked him to back off. He then started walking around the train car and saying, "What's your problem, I'm just trying to deal with these racists over here," saying the hat was offensive to everyone and I owed everyone on the train an apology. It got to the point that I was legitimately scared for my safety and that of my friend. He then went and pointed at the only dark-skinned person in the train car and said, "You're offending him," and the guy he'd indicated shook his head as if to say no, we weren't. Another guy on the train ended up having to break it up, asking him to move along. Because my friend and I were both upset, other people on the train started to reassure us. But I'm still really shaken up. I think of myself as very sensitive to race issues and I do try to be really careful, and my friends are from various ethnic backgrounds. Even though I'm very into country music, I boycott anything with a confederate flag on it (and that's a lot of stuff). I just don't think of that hat as a problem because it's just a historical recreation of what actually happened, not a statement in support of anything. I'm definitely not taking the hat out in public again anywhere after tonight....but I'd really appreciate some opinions or advice on what happened. I really didn't mean to offend anyone.
So I stumbled across this thread because I literally just got called racist, for the first time in my life. I was on public transportation on the way back from a country music concert with my friend. Both of us are white. I was wearing a cowboy hat for the concert, but because my friend didn't have a cowboy hat, I'd lent her a Civil War reenactor's cap that had two crossed rifles on it. While we were on our way home, a drunk (white) guy came up to us and started asking us about the history of the hat. I told him it was a Civil War hat and yes, it was from a Southern soldier's uniform. I honestly had never thought about anyone thinking the hat was racist, as it was just made for reenactments and to do any kind of reenactment, you obviously have to have hats from both sides. The musicians that were playing were Southern so it just seemed normal to bring a Southern hat. I calmly explained the reasons for having the hat. The guy went totally crazy. He immediately assumed I was from the South (which I'm not) and the first thing out of his mouth was "Number one, we totally slaughtered you," which seemed a little irrelevant. Then he went on calling us racists, comparing us to being Nazis, saying it was like having a swastika, saying he was ashamed I was American. Other people in the train car took our side and asked him to back off. He then started walking around the train car and saying, "What's your problem, I'm just trying to deal with these racists over here," saying the hat was offensive to everyone and I owed everyone on the train an apology. It got to the point that I was legitimately scared for my safety and that of my friend. He then went and pointed at the only dark-skinned person in the train car and said, "You're offending him," and the guy he'd indicated shook his head as if to say no, we weren't. Another guy on the train ended up having to break it up, asking him to move along. Because my friend and I were both upset, other people on the train started to reassure us. But I'm still really shaken up. I think of myself as very sensitive to race issues and I do try to be really careful, and my friends are from various ethnic backgrounds. Even though I'm very into country music, I boycott anything with a confederate flag on it (and that's a lot of stuff). I just don't think of that hat as a problem because it's just a historical recreation of what actually happened, not a statement in support of anything. I'm definitely not taking the hat out in public again anywhere after tonight....but I'd really appreciate some opinions or advice on what happened. I really didn't mean to offend anyone.
A few times but then I correct them by saying I'm Anti-Semitic good friends with many people of various cultures and beliefs!
But let's be honest here...
But let's be honest here...
Thanks for your response. I completely understand everything you're saying. Because people from my family fought and died in that war, I have affection for that hat and other Civil War memorabilia, and therefore wasn't thinking about the way it could affect others, and only what it means to me; for me, it's a way to remember those who died, regardless of what side they were on. The Civil War was a huge tragedy for both the North and the South, and though I do firmly believe that the South was in the wrong and am of course glad for the end of slavery and civil rights (though that came much later), I think of things from the war as a way to keep the memory of those who died alive. To me, even if what they were fighting for was wrong, most of them were just kids and it's still really sad that they died like that. It's sad when anyone dies like that. But now that I have been clearly informed about the way such things might affect others, the hat will stay at home unless it's in a reenactment situation. I really regret what I did and feel truly sorry for the behavior. I hope it didn't hurt anyone too much.
That said, I do feel like that guy was over the line in that once he had made his point, and my friend actually took the hat off, he continued to badger us until I felt worried for our safety. I'm glad he informed us of the effect of the hat, but wish he had done it in a less threatening manner.
That said, I do feel like that guy was over the line in that once he had made his point, and my friend actually took the hat off, he continued to badger us until I felt worried for our safety. I'm glad he informed us of the effect of the hat, but wish he had done it in a less threatening manner.
Only once. During a basketball match I played some good D against a fella who had been attempting to ridicule me before the match had even gotten started, not to mention throwing his weight around whenever he could and generally being a bully. I actually played within the rules, I just put more effort in because I was annoyed with him... but got an accusation of racism anyway.
It was probably wishful thinking on his part that it was because of differing ethnicity and not because he was an insufferable tool.
It was probably wishful thinking on his part that it was because of differing ethnicity and not because he was an insufferable tool.
Surprising no.
I am very aware of racism and am personally against it; but I believe that everyone is racist to a point. It could be as simple and there sexual preferences to how they feel about others unconsciously.
I believe that because I am so aware of it, and aware of how I am racist, it keeps my feeling and actions in check. I know I am racist so because of that I think very few people think I am racist.
I am very aware of racism and am personally against it; but I believe that everyone is racist to a point. It could be as simple and there sexual preferences to how they feel about others unconsciously.
I believe that because I am so aware of it, and aware of how I am racist, it keeps my feeling and actions in check. I know I am racist so because of that I think very few people think I am racist.
ohhhh yeah plenty of times, here is a funny story from high school:
Was walking down the hall with my friend john (me being a white guy and him a black guy) to class because we had a pass to go talk to a teacher then come back, and there were a few black girls at their locker a bit down the hall by the classroom that John and I were heading towards.
we were talking casually and all of the sudden he decides to yell out "WHUIITEEE POWERRRRR!" and proceeds to look at me really fast in utter shock that I would say such a thing, and in that moment all the black girls turn and look at me with the most pissed off face you can imagine.
of course, I was caught completely off guard and my brain just goes into "oh fuck" meltdown mode..
cutting out all the bullshit, i get sent to the principal's office, get a 10 minute stern talk about racism and how wrong it is to ever proclaim to have pride above another, and then i get sent back to class...all the while, my friend john is cracking up in the hallway as he was trying to get into the office to explain it was all a blown out of proportion joke.
eventually, the principal looked at us both in disgust and sent us about our way, but she was still super pissed off regardless.
I laugh at the story all the time, and my friend John still pulls stuff like that in public for shits and giggles, but it definitely sucked at the time and the principal never quite looked at me the same after that.
also obviously said a few really *bad* racial jokes here and there, that whole "taking it a bit too far" moments. (Don't worry, i'm an equal opportunist bigot, I make fun of white people the most, can't tell you how often I make fun of myself.)
Was walking down the hall with my friend john (me being a white guy and him a black guy) to class because we had a pass to go talk to a teacher then come back, and there were a few black girls at their locker a bit down the hall by the classroom that John and I were heading towards.
we were talking casually and all of the sudden he decides to yell out "WHUIITEEE POWERRRRR!" and proceeds to look at me really fast in utter shock that I would say such a thing, and in that moment all the black girls turn and look at me with the most pissed off face you can imagine.
of course, I was caught completely off guard and my brain just goes into "oh fuck" meltdown mode..
cutting out all the bullshit, i get sent to the principal's office, get a 10 minute stern talk about racism and how wrong it is to ever proclaim to have pride above another, and then i get sent back to class...all the while, my friend john is cracking up in the hallway as he was trying to get into the office to explain it was all a blown out of proportion joke.
eventually, the principal looked at us both in disgust and sent us about our way, but she was still super pissed off regardless.
I laugh at the story all the time, and my friend John still pulls stuff like that in public for shits and giggles, but it definitely sucked at the time and the principal never quite looked at me the same after that.
also obviously said a few really *bad* racial jokes here and there, that whole "taking it a bit too far" moments. (Don't worry, i'm an equal opportunist bigot, I make fun of white people the most, can't tell you how often I make fun of myself.)
Yes, when I told my friend I prefered Mitt Romney over Obama. I mean honestly, just because i didn't vote for him doesn't make me racist, I just don't agree with his policies. It was extremely irrational thought of my friend but then I discovered that this was happening to many people very often.
I volunteered at a food bank for a while, and we give out flowers to everybody if they want any. One day, we only had white flowers, so I offered a bouquet to everyone who came through. One black woman took me aside and told me quite sternly that she would not accept the flowers "on racial terms."
There was also one black kid in high school who called everyone who got mad at him a racist(which was everyone because he was an immense asshole).
There was also one black kid in high school who called everyone who got mad at him a racist(which was everyone because he was an immense asshole).
Actually no.
Though I guess I technically should be since I get nervous and intimidated by white people (does that count? I honestly don't get the intricacies when something is deemed as racist).
Though I guess I technically should be since I get nervous and intimidated by white people (does that count? I honestly don't get the intricacies when something is deemed as racist).
On the one hand, my first thought was "keeping it classy."Amethyst Wind said:
On the other, I've had this exact same experience, and I think I am slightly racist myself anyway. I've been stuck at a school where half the populace are black people, and most of them act like the stereotypical "swagfag" that will steal anything left unattended, sell drugs or rob people of said drugs off campus, raid people's cars for items, have sex at the local park during school hours or in bathrooms, walk around saying "swag," and constantly getting in trouble for fighting. I would like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes, there are just stupid people(and it doesn't matter if they are white, black, blue, or green), and there is only one word you can really use to describe them, and it's the same derogatory term they use to describe each other, which I'd much rather not say on this forum.
I certainly know I have negative views...or rather, subconsciously think negative thoughts and make assumptions about people of certain races, I try to be as fair as I can.
However, I was called a racist once by a REALLY annoying girl that also happened to be African American. I really couldn't stand being around her, she smelled bad, talked really poorly, yelled a lot, and was just a general miserable person. However, she shared my last name's first letter, so that meant I'd always end up paired up with her in the classes. (The desks were set up in twos) She for some reason felt the need to yell at me, always for something, so I told her one day to "fuck off or shut up". She shut up, but later went to a teacher and claimed that I hated her because she was black.
The teacher had known I really didn't like being around her, and believed her, and I was transferred to another class, AND they sent a note home. Thankfully my parents didn't take it very seriously.
Sorry, but just because you're a different race doesn't mean you get to act like an ass.
However, I was called a racist once by a REALLY annoying girl that also happened to be African American. I really couldn't stand being around her, she smelled bad, talked really poorly, yelled a lot, and was just a general miserable person. However, she shared my last name's first letter, so that meant I'd always end up paired up with her in the classes. (The desks were set up in twos) She for some reason felt the need to yell at me, always for something, so I told her one day to "fuck off or shut up". She shut up, but later went to a teacher and claimed that I hated her because she was black.
The teacher had known I really didn't like being around her, and believed her, and I was transferred to another class, AND they sent a note home. Thankfully my parents didn't take it very seriously.
Sorry, but just because you're a different race doesn't mean you get to act like an ass.
The only time I can remember was when I was with my friends waiting for the photographer to show up to take a team picture for soccer. All the team pictures were being taken today, so we saw the cheerleaders pass by to take their picture. There was this one really ugly girl who also happened to be African-American. I made a comment about her appearance, (I didn't say anything regarding her race in the comment) and my one friend called me out on it.
I used to be able to say that I had never been outright called a racist. Then the past two elections rolled by, and a disturbing number of people have made that accusation against me by virtue of daring to vote against Obama.
Let me try to untangle this a bit. The term actually is used to refer to the act of being racist against a race who represent a majority, in the US, its used in regards to racism against people of Caucasian descent. (which is moronic beyond belief in my opinion, racism is still racism, regardless of how large or small a percentage of the populace it is directed against, and should be referred to as such.)Milk said:
He complained that the term and the way people use it makes zilch sense. I happen to agree