People of colour/minorities cannot be racist?

[sundayrose10]

Do you agree with this statement? I was on a different forum where they discussed black people cannot be racist. Many said blacks/minorities could NOT be racist but there were an equal number also arguing that it was impossible. The reason they gave for the impossibility was that whites have the political and economic power to supress minorities.

Do you agree with that statement or disagree?

I know some people have a problem with the term 'people of colour' but I use it to include anyone who is not white. If it is relevant, I am black myself.

[giveitago]

Agree with birdsgottafly.

My parents of different races - my father experienced quite a bit more racism with his inlaws (ethnic minority in this country) than my mother did with hers.

However, any racism my mother did experience in society was more profound as it affected work chances etc.

[Birdsgottafly]

Onagar - have a look at the 'count me in' survey, you will find there is still a massive disparagement in the numbers of people sectioned according to ethnic background. The same figures exsist across employment, the removal of children and the justice system, unfortunatly. There is still a way to go in some areas but this can be said of other 'isms', sexism for instance.

It is policy makers that can cause the grouping as you describe. But in truth this has always happened. Every city has a 'china town' or an area were the jewish population tended to live, its nothing new just more visable because of colour and dress.

[onagar]

I think personal racism is all that is left in this country. We don't have any laws treating people differently because of race. Anyone can sit in the front of the bus if they want.

We do have people who are racist. Also a number of older people who may be unconsciously racist out of habit/upbringing. That is a problem that will be solved by time. The remaining active racists can be dealt with under current law.

I'm a bit concerned that new communities are appearing that are grouped/ defined by race. We want less of that and not more.

[Birdsgottafly]

Onagar- that is a perfect example of the personal, as quoted in my last post.

It doesn't stop us working on the cultural or structural but that applies to anyone of any colour.

[onagar]

Imagine an empty street. There are 6 of us and only one of you. We hate you for being the wrong color. It doesn't make any difference which of us is black or white or what the rest of the country/society thinks.

The whole power thing is nonsense. Inspired by an irrational need to make out all minorities are perfect human beings. Which doesn't allow for some to be guilty of racism. Some kind of guilt reaction to historical abuse I suppose, but it's time to get over that. None of us kept slaves and most countries have atrocities in their histories.

[Birdsgottafly]

shirl- what you are bringing up is the different forms of discrimination.
Personal; Cultural and Structual inpart a concept developed by Neil Thompson.

It obviously applies to any discrimination including racism.

[giveitago]

Anyone who is of a different ethncity of race from another human being can be racist.

That's pretty basic. But the difference is that some groups have more power than others so their racism can have a more profound affect.

[veronicadoll]

Did anyone read about that recent court case where pakistani? or afghani (not sure) men sought out white girls because they were easy meat At least thats what the judge concluded. Due to the muslim culture/ marrying customs and staying pure these men sought white, lower class and vulnerable girls to prey on. The story was very shocking considering it was real life and was full of details about how different ethnic groups see each other (racial prejudices). I dont believe a person needs to hold power to be racist. Power of what sort? Everyday people have the power to upset/ destroy other peoples lives with flippant remarks, power doesnt have to be economic or financial.

[shirl2010]

this statement presumes

1. non coloured ie. white people have the most power
   
2. only those with power can subject others to racism
   
3. people who are not white cannot subject each other to racist behaviours
   

of course racism occurs across all spectrums. the difficulty these days is identifying it because it is very submiliminal. however it definately exists.

i think the best thing to do when thinking/ dealing with racism is base your thoughts on your own personal experience. not hearsay. not what you have seen on TV.

it is 2011 afterall, not 1911

[Birdsgottafly]

bluepaws-its not about being PC its just plain basic respect to not use certain terminology. Its lucky that we have PC in the workplace so no-one has to suffer because someone wants to use a expression that there is just no need for.

[SpeedyGonzalez]

Bluepaws: don't call black and Asian people "coloured". Just don't.

[archieleach]

And transparencies creep up behind liberals and lefties and whisper in their ears, "go on tell that person they are racist" and the liberal does say this thing and other such things such as "go forth and multiply you fascist" without knowing howsoever such a thing has happened. And Lo these hearing of voices sendeth said liberals and lefties into the bedlam from whence they had sprung. As had their fathers, and their fathers fathers and...

[MrSpoc]

see thats why i hate them. Always camoflaged tov thier surroundings. you never know when they are about listening.

[LuckyWeKeptTheCot]

That's true but they could have fun standing in front of different backgrounds to match their outfits.

[MrSpoc]

but then the transparent race will also be coloured - god i hate them transparent race people. alaways walking around like they are better than everyone else.

[LuckyWeKeptTheCot]

In the end, aren't we all 'coloured' or 'people of colour' anyway? Unless there are any transparent races.

[confuddledDOTcom]

At secondary school I used to be friends with a group of Indian girls who were the most racist people and proud of it I've met! They didn't like Pakistanis, blacks or whites. I was the only white person they were friends with because they said I wasn't like other white people. They were lovely girls and I didn't realise until I was friends with them what they were like to others. I remember one of them said something to a Pakistani girl one day and I looked at her and said "If I said that I'd be in trouble for racism" she very dryly said "What are you talking about? That was racism." I was always careful not to join in with them or show approval (which I totally didn't approve of).

The school was mostly Asian and black pupils and I've seen racism from all angles there.

[xstitch]

Some people's experience of racism is being spat at in the street, having food chucked over you and having 6 youths follow you shouting swearing and threatening to teach you a lesson for being the 'wrong' race. It is certainly mine

[archieleach]

What I think is just as pernicious as treating people differently based on their colour/race, is the oppressive fascism of liberals who say that any comment is racist if it simply mentions another race/nationality/group etc - whether it is positive or negative. Eg "Thais are difficult to work with. I don't understand a lot of what they say because they drop the consonants at the ends of their words" "I like Greeks as they are emotionally honest"
Duh, as human beings we create stereotypes all the time to survive and navigate through life eg "driving fast is dangerous" "don't jump off high walls"
"don't go to Soweto at night"

[xstitch]

To say that white people having been guilty of racism makes all white people racist in itself racist imo.

Also imo anyone can be racist. Racism is prejudice based on someone's race.

[Gooseberrybushes]

I thought "coloured" was offensive because of its historical use, based in racism. I can understand that. It was used as a racist grouping, stereotype, I mean in South Africa it was used as a grouping that was part and parcel of oppression. I don't think it's particularly sensitive to dislike "coloured". I think this is where "straight" talk falls down. You might not mean anything by it but you ought to be aware it carries a world of inference that is extremely unpleasant.

[BrawToken]

I see this. And I know my response was simplistic - and was a response to the op, not your point, which wasn't racist FS.

I work in disability field and have seen many people being 'disablist' despite their disability. Which, I know is not the same as there are massive cultural differences to consider and consider it I will Off to work now, but will try and do some reading on this as it is interesting.

[FreudianSlipper]

coloured what does that mean purple with yellow and green spots

its not about being politically correct i do not know any black person that likes been called coloured (and no i do not know every black person), its a dated term that my nan (in a whisper) would use

people from any background can by prejudice, but to be racist you need to hold the power (or be of the same akin) to oppress any other group of people based on their race, this has not happened to white christian people but that is not to say that anyone who is white and christian has not suffered from prejudice

[BrawToken]

No, of course I haven't asked everyone, but there are plenty of research and studies which state this Why is it wrong to respect the wishes of people who wish to be referred to in a way which doesn't stigmatise them? The 'politically correct nonsense' is the reason our society (well some of it) has become more tolerant and equal.