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AIBU?

To ask how racist you think the UK is?

278 replies

HateWarts · 17/03/2019 08:23

I’ve seen videos on this before, I’m wondering how you feel about it.

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HateWarts · 17/03/2019 08:29

Would you say some races (including white people) are more discrimated against than others?

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ForalltheSaints · 17/03/2019 08:30

There is racism, but I think less than say 40 years ago, and a lot less than many other European countries.

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MoeAnna · 17/03/2019 08:31

Quite racist I would say.

Though I am white so can't really gauge from experience. Just from what I read and comments I've heard.

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Divgirl2 · 17/03/2019 08:31

Yes some races are discriminated against more than others. Ascot is seen as very high brow, but Cheltenham seems to be seen as a bit "nouveau" at the minute.

And don't get me started on the dogs...

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Flobochin · 17/03/2019 08:32

@Divgirl2 dogs?

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BertrandRussell · 17/03/2019 08:32

White people are not discriminated against in the U.K.
HTH

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Beamur · 17/03/2019 08:32

It depends who you ask.
Personally I don't know, I don't experience it.
Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
I'd ask someone who isn't white.

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SuperLoudPoppingAction · 17/03/2019 08:33
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CallMeCarolDanvers · 17/03/2019 08:34

I think that humans are generally inclined to be racist and are generally racist.

I think that in the UK there is generally a higher awareness of racism, and on a national level individuals and organisations try much harder here to address racist attitudes than elsewhere in the world, and I think the UK has come a looking way in the last 40ish years, but it's a constant battle that is unlikely to ever be completely won.

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hidinginthenightgarden · 17/03/2019 08:34

Hard to say. DH says it doesn't exsist in this country (England) but I think he just doesn't see it because he is white. (so am I so don't feel qualified to say).
I don't think people are out and out in your face racist like they were years ago but every day sterotypes still exsist.

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BertrandRussell · 17/03/2019 08:35

Actually- asking someone white is a good starting point. How do they talk about black people when there aren’t any around. A lot of the racism is behind people’s backs.

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53rdWay · 17/03/2019 08:36

Are the videos you’ve seen the same ones that have you the impression white people face prejudice in the U.K.? I think you need to watch some different videos.

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Marchinupandownagain · 17/03/2019 08:37

"White people are not discriminated against in the U.K"

Well, White British people aren't, but try being from Eastern Europe.

The UK is pretty racist, and hidinginthenightgarden's DH simply doesn't know what he's talking about, sorry.

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HateWarts · 17/03/2019 08:39

I am brown, Pakistani precisely and I have noticed racism between the pakistani and white races, it’s probably more casual now but a lot is still malicious intended but in cases both sides have definitely been racist towards the others. Do you not think white people experience racism even if it is a lower percentage?

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SuperLoudPoppingAction · 17/03/2019 08:42

It is just that the definition of racism (or one of them) is racial prejudice + power.
There might be prejudice against white people but I wouldn't think of it as racism.

I think it's becoming worse since brexit and trump getting in.

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PickledLimes · 17/03/2019 08:42

I find it to be very racist. I'm White and it never fails to amaze me how many people are willing to share their racist views with me, assuming that I feel the same. Seemingly incredibly nice people will suddenly start shooting their mouths off about asylum seekers, Muslims, Black people, Eastern Europeans etc. If I'm hearing that as a white person, what are people who aren't encountering?

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Spokk · 17/03/2019 08:43

Very racist and I think Brexit has given people the freedom once more to be open about it. And yeah, it does happen, to a lesser degree, to white people.

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MindyStClaire · 17/03/2019 08:43

White people are not discriminated against in the U.K.
HTH

I agree that white people (I'm white) experience privilege, in the same way that men don't experience sexism. But I think it's disingenuous to pretend that Eastern European and Irish people don't/haven't experienced prejudice in the UK.

I think there are many more racist places than the UK. But yes of course there is plenty of racism. Listen to the people who've experienced it, they'll tell you.

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FudgeBrownie2019 · 17/03/2019 08:44

I'm white and have seen/heard frequent racism over the last few years, especially when talking about anything to do with brexit/politics. We're in a fairly affluent Midlands village and there's a significant number of people on the local community forum who'll post something racist with "I'm not racist but" or "I'm friends with a Muslim but".

I think people are better at hiding it, but underneath there's still plenty there. And it's not a generational thing because my parents are in their late 60's and 70's and I've yet to hear them say anything racist even in their oddest moments.

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Gronky · 17/03/2019 08:45

Do you not think white people experience racism even if it is a lower percentage?

I think that, when it does very occasionally happen, it's more in the form of concerns being dismissed in an attempt to seem non-racist against BAME individuals and, quite often, it is other white people doing the dismissing (e.g. Rotherham).

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Sinuhe · 17/03/2019 08:45

Yes, the UK is racist across all ethnic groups. It just depends on the area you are visiting, if your skin colour fits in it not.
When I first came to the UK I was shocked about the amount of times physical differences are pointed out. This is done in every level. There seems to be a need for all this stuff, but all it does is get in the way of life and fuel hate.

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Beamur · 17/03/2019 08:45

I think I would differentiate between racism and seeing a cultural difference.
I notice if someone is different to me but I don't think much more deeply about it than that.
Have I been treated differently because of my colour? Quite possibly. But I can't really see that from someone else's perspective unless they tell me what that looks like to them.
Do I know people who have been bothered by racism? Unfortunately I do.

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surferjet · 17/03/2019 08:47

White people are not discriminated against in the U.K.

One of the most ignorant posts I’ve ever read on MN, & that’s saying something.

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SunnySomer · 17/03/2019 08:49

More than most realise, I think. My organisation has every inclusion policy under the sun which leads you to feel that it is an inclusive and tolerant place to work.... until you talk to someone from a minority racial group about their experience of working there. I think it’s very difficult to quantify based on gut feel about an experience that you haven’t lived.
Having said which, I think there is less overt racism now then when I was growing up (1970s). And casual racism is certainly less acceptable.

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Marchinupandownagain · 17/03/2019 08:49

@FudgeBrownie2019

Yup. Certain people like to spout that 'it's all those Boomers, lol we are so more woke than they are" but I've heard far, far more outright racism from those under 60 who one should think should know better. Heard some nasty (and some just silly stereotyping) stuff from my own gen too, sad to say, but it's not a simple equation.

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