Could this be considered racist?

[thinglasse]

It’s a colleagues birthday at work soon. We get along very well and work closely together. I’d like to buy her a small gift, something that means something.

My colleague was born in Central America and is mixed race, grew up in Europe. I love visiting the region and have discussed at length with her about this. She’s given me tips about a future trip to her come country.

I have a coffee table book which has pictures from the region of Central America. I love flipping through it and guests like picking it up.

I was thinking of gifting my colleague a copy, but worry that this might be considered racist. Am I overthinking things?

I don't understand. Why would it be racist? It might not be the best gift as it's her home country so she presumably wouldn't find the photos as interesting.

I think that is a bad idea. I would never gift an immigrant a book with pictures of their country of origin because it feels like a hint to go back where you came from and how they don’t belong here, but there.

I would think of a gift for her as a person that isn’t about her foreigness, but for a hobby she has or something she likes.

No I don't think that's racist...but if you're questioning whether or not something is appropriate and you're not sure, then err on the side of caution I'd say.

I think the book is a reflection of your relationship. You’ve bonded over the region.

To avoid any misunderstanding you could add a personal note about why you chose that particular book for her and say how much you enjoy your chats.

For reference, I am white English living in England so don’t have any experience of being on the receiving end of “go home” digs. Hopefully never been on the giving end either!!!!

Obviously it would be different if I just bought them a book on their own country. It’s a book about the region (multiple countries).

Not racist but just weird.
I live in London. If I moved to (for example) Sydney, Australia I would be totally baffled if someone gave me a book of pictures of London as a gift.

I'd be thinking 'but I know what Brixton looks like - and it's nothing like that'.

I also suspect that some of these books are a bit 'look at the happy peasants, aren't they so colourful and bright?' for the Gap Yah demographic.

Not racist but a bit hit and miss.
Depends on her relationship to the region and how much interest she has in it. If someone gifted me a book about my country, I'd be a bit meh as it holds no interest to me and I have no attachment to it. Maybe I'd flick through it once to show DD, but that's about it.

I can't imagine under any circumstances why this would be thought of as racist. However, she might prefer something other than pictures of her home region.

Not racist, but a bit odd and potentially a slightly insulting. You say that you've talked about your travels to Central America. Has she said that she would like to travel more in Central America? If so, then I think it is an appropriate gift, if she hasn't, then no.

I spent a few years living in the US. If, during that time, an American friend had given me a book of photos of Europe just because that is where I am from I would definitely think it was a bit clueless.

On the other hand, if I'd talked to my American friend about how I wanted to travel around Europe more when I returned home imminently then some kind of photo travel guide would be a perfectly good gift.

Not racist, but if sounds as though your passion for the region is somewhat greater than hers and she’s more giving helpful advice for your travels than necessarily has the same level of enthusiasm. The book is likely aimed at tourists and travelers than people who already know a lot about their home country and surrounding ones’ most famous things - a bit like giving a Londoner living abroad a photo book of London and expecting them to be excited at photos of Tower Bridge and black taxi cabs! A coffee table book is a good gift idea, but maybe on a topic or country she loves more?

It's not racist, but it's a bit of a bad idea for a gift for her.

Why would she want books about her 'home country?'

I'm mixed race and there's a certain type of white person who feels that they have to constantly talk to me about things like Caribbean food, their black neighbour who's "ever so lovely", a black man they think is handsome etc. Are you this person? If so then for the love of God, don't give this gift.

Ironically these tend to be the types of people who claim they "don't see colour".

Not racist but seriously?
If someone was giving me a book on the area where I grew up (all exotic), I’d think they’ve lost their marbles tbh. I mean I know the area. Yes not the country but the whole area around it.
So unless it was about something specific that you knew I’m particularly interested in (let’s say some historical figure of the 1850 or some architecture of X town), then I’d find it really strange.

Also the idea that it’s her home country because she was born there when she has spent all her childhood somewhere else…..

Thats a huge assumption you are making there.

eg 2 dcs here, mixed ‘heritage’ as in 2 different nationalities for their parents.
One sees themselves as British first (born agd raised in the U.K.). The other sees himself as my home country (despite also been born and bred in the U.K.)
The assumption that this place she has never lived in is her ‘home’ country would annoy me tbh. She might see it that way. Or she might not. Stop assuming that because she is mixed race then she has to feel at home in a far away country rather than a European country.

Ah, op, you meant well and were trying to be thoughtful,but it isn’t a good idea. You’re thinking of it as you like the book. So she would, but put yourself in her shoes, if you moved abroad would you be pleased to receive a book of photos of England, or wherever you’re from. Most folks wouldn’t really. I mean they’d be polite. But it would be a no

when buying a gift it’d important to buy what you think the recipient likes, not something to yout own likes.

I really don’t think region/country is that different.