TO THINK MIXED RACE PEOPLE ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY?

[MyBaby1day]

As a young woman who is half Asian, half English I think this is so. I also have an illness (and maybe good genes too ) that also makee me look a LOT younger than my age and when people see me quite a few (especially women) smile like cheshire cats.....maybe I'm just being too suspicious but somehow I don't always think it's genuine. Kind of like spot me (smiling)......"oh sweet half Asian girl"...I walk away....YUK!, how could her Mother! . Then you get people who as soon as they see a white woman in tow with a clearly looking half Asian person....lets just say the look on their face says it all!. Some people are cool with it but I just think when it happens it's oppressive and wrong!. I NEVER judge other people (who behave in a reasonably decent way) and think everyone else should be the same. Before anyone asks I am very happy about my racial heritage, tapping into both my Asian and English roots (the Asian side kind of dominates) but overall love it. I must also be fair and say I have also had prejudice of some Asian people also (but not half as much). I just thought I'de raise the issue!, it might help in the fight against racism. Your thoughts?.

[worldcitizen]

And still on a totally different note, it is unacceptable to make fun of people based on their hair colour or which region they come from (sheepshagger). It's awful and I have no tolerance for that. Zero.

[JaquelineHyde]

Nelly perhaps you could tell my dc's how silly they are to be getting upset at being called dirty face at school because quite clearly she couldn't possibly be getting bullied at school because she is too 'cool'

You clearly don't have a clue what you are talking about and need to shut the hell up!

[NellyJob]

children are nasty, my dd gets called pigface cos she has a turned up nose....
another kid I knew was called 'ginger jew' at his lovely church school.
I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone, chill out.
My comment was based on what I have noticed.

[FreudiansGoldSlipper]

That is not nice your daughter or the little boy being called horrible names. But saying mixed race children are seen as cool is still not seeing them as individuals is it it is deciding for them their personality

[Latara]

It's no 'cooler' to be one race than another; & no 'cooler' to be mixed race than not.

Personality counts for a lot.

& jealousy is often an issue - if eg. a mixed race girl is attractive looking (not because they are mixed race but just because they happen to be pretty) - then unfortunately some jealous haters will pick on the most obvious thing to 'bring them down' & that will often be their race - therefore they get racist abuse.

Teasing someone for being 'ginger' isn't the same - a person can dye their hair if they get really upset (personally i love ginger hair though). Hair colour is external.
But race & ethnicity are seen as an internal as well as external concept (mainly by racists actually). That is why racism is so nasty & evil.

Btw - the insult 'ginger jew' IS racist - because Jews are a racial group as well as a religious group.
If a jewish person converts to eg. Christianity - they are still considered to be racially Jewish by many Jews; & by anti-semites.
For more info on that particular subject: Google Israel's 'Law of Return' for example; also 'Chabad Lubavitch' for Jewish views on their racial identity / ethnicity.
For historical anti-semitism based on the Jews as a separate race; google 'Nazi Racial Laws'; also note that in Nazi Occupied Channel Islands people with only 1 Jewish grandparent were ostracized by the Christian churches there.

For historical racial laws against mixed race people of any race mixtures (including Black) then google 'Jim Crow laws', 'one drop rule', & again 'Nazi Racial Laws'. Also google 'Anglo-Indians' & read about how they have been treated by both the British & Indian establishments.

Even now; there are many horrible people around who are racist against people who are mixed race; even if it's just a great grandparent.
Those racists are best ignored; but it's useful to be aware that there are unpleasant people around who think like that.

'Ginger' on it's own IS NOT racist because it's just a hair colour & that can be changed (not that it should be because IMO ginger hair is lovely).

Race is seen by many people as an internal as well as an external concept; that is why racism is so wrong & damaging.

[worldcitizen]

Latara thanks for all your input, but nevertheless I have a different stand in regards to sheepshagger and awful ginger comments.

To insult a let's say Welsh person as a sheepshagger and everything else accompanies these sorts of insults, knowing what historical relationship the English and the Welsh have, well to me this is as bad, I am sorry.
I didn't say these things are racist. I have not said that. I also said they are not comparable, and still in my book I have zero tolerance for this and make mayself heard.
This is all about what sort of hotbed exists in a society, nation, or group for all sorts of insults and put-downs,
Lots of these insults get downplayed, and I feel even your post as great and informative it is, sorts of downplays and compares.
A person who is insulted and put down for something which is part of their body, language, accent, regional heritage etc. feels hurt no matter what.

[FreudiansGoldSlipper]

do people really truly believe that men in wales have sex with sheep, or that people with blonde hair are not as intelligent well maybe a very few. do people really believe that because they are from a white christian european background that they are superior to others yes sadly many many do this has changed the course of our history this is why we celebrate a black man being a president

name calling is horrible racism is far deeper and has a bigger impact on society. have i been upset that my mum has been called a dumb blonde no not really as she is certainly not and i know she laughs at it, did it upset me deeply to see my dad spat at in the street and told to go home yes. that is not to say i can speak for others who have been called names but there is a simple comparison to the difference the feelings behind these actions how they have had an impact on millions and millions of people?s lives

i do not think Latara post was playing down name calling it can be very damaging and hurtful there is no excuse but it has an impact on that person not on society or on whole communities and families

[worldcitizen]

I said clearly that I am not disagreeing and that what I am sharing is a different thing, nevertheless I believe the down-playing and comparing of who has more right of feeling mistreated is not beneficial.
Negative impact on one person is one person too many.

This is why also usually do not suspect racism much as I tend to look at the situation and the people involved and have more a tendency to view things as simply rude or ill-mannered or hurtful and pint that out rather than screaming racism, and in my experience this has made my life with others so much easier as I am not being paranoid all the time and I am also not demeaning myself to have constantly a victim philosophy part of my daily thoughts and part of how I view others and their reactions towards me.

[MrDobalina]

its really disingenuous to compare racism to name-calling blondes/gingers/sheep-shaggers IMO

you cant even have a conversation about it, if that is your starting point

and someone who reasserts this viewpoint, has no intention of having a serious on-point conversation about racism, either....

[worldcitizen]

This is all I said, no comparison to anything and not put on the same level with what was previously discussed. Do people like to misunderstand on purpose and take things out of context?

Exactly, ginger and sheepshagger is appalling. I call out anyone I hear expressing this and it's neither funny nor a joke nor anything in my book!!!!

And still on a totally different note , it is unacceptable to make fun of people based on their hair colour or which region they come from (sheepshagger). It's awful and I have no tolerance for that. Zero.

I didn't say these things are racist I have not said that. I also said they are not comparable , and still in my book I have zero tolerance for this and make mayself heard.

[MrDobalina]

why detract from a discussion about racism by talking about sheep-shagging insults at all if you are not comparing the 2? if they are not on the same level then why try to minimise racism like that?

[worldcitizen]

Freudian wrote this
But blonde jokes as tiresome and upsetting as they can be are not racist, neither is ginger or sheepshagger and so on

And I responded with this
Exactly, ginger and sheepshagger is appalling. I call out anyone I hear expressing this and it#s neither funny nor a joke nor anything in my book!!!!

How is this distracting, please????

[worldcitizen]

So is this not in context of an exchange posters had, and it has been established it's NOT racist but to one tiresome and upsetting and I agreed and went further by saying I find it appalling and it's not funny in my book.

What is your issue???

[Frontpaw]

I don't think mixed race people are treated any better or worse than non mixed backgrounds (although a mixed Pakistani/Arab friend gets nasty comments from either side of her backgrounds - and I mean really nasty, but most white Brits assume she is Pakistani). My Indian/white Scottish friend grew up with people assuming she just had a 'nice tan', which really hacked her off.

I got bullied because of red hair and a wazzy name. A boy at out church was bullied because he was a black albino (with orangey- white hair). My sister had wild hair and glasses. My brother was/still is short.

Kids bully because they can. I think if someone is obviously mixed race then people are curious, but know that its none of their business, so probably stare rather than ask or comment. DS is mixed and I have only had one 'there's a bit of something there...' comment. Funnily it was from someone who came from the same place as his dad (but looked very white european) and did apologise when I bristled at the comment (as I was genuinely speechless).

[MyBaby1day]

@Latara, agree with you 100%, if someone is mixed race and pretty, the race of the person is the easiest thing to bring them down and I think that is a fact!. I couldn't have said it better myself. I just look for something I deem as inadequate about them, did it the other day!. It's wrong and all racism is appalling.
@Jacqueline, well you don't have to feel sorry for the pretty/beautiful women but the lack of sympathy may extend to you and your DC's someday. I saw a word of wisdom online a few days ago, it read-'Beauty Is Only A Short-Lived Tyranny'!!

[MyBaby1day]

@LDNMummy, YES!!, agree with you 100% too!, I often think of the "nicer" comments and it's like you're novelty and an exotic pet. Even when I am amongst younger people (children) I will normally sap a lot of the attention due to being MR. And yes, "aren't mixed race people adorable" lol. Very true, you lot that diagree with me just simply don't understand, if you did you wouldn't be saying those things. You really have to walk in a persons shoes first.

[HardlyEverHoovers]

Worldcitizen I really agree with you about adopting a thought process that avoids a victim mentality, as this is a very negative way to live in the world and will only affect your interactions with poeple in a negative way.

[OrangeandGoldMrsDeVere]

At the risk of his all kicking off...
That M&S campaign used to piss me off. The mixed race model rarely had any clothes on. She seemed to be the one in the bra and pants or nightwear/swimwear.

[worldcitizen]

Thanks Hardly

I believe there is not only the outer world to point fingers at and to make the others feel responsible for everything.
I believe the inner world which needs working on, needs to mature and grow as well.
Very, very important to take into consideration.

There are folks out there who don't even consider a nasty attitude or a "personality-in-need-of-some-adjustment" as a possibility for lots of communicational mishaps in their life.
And yes, very often this sort of negative attitude is already noticeable form afar. Communication and interaction starts much earlier than the first spoken word, if this makes sense.

[giveitago]

@LDNMummy, YES!!, agree with you 100% too!, I often think of the "nicer" comments and it's like you're novelty and an exotic pet. Even when I am amongst younger people (children) I will normally sap a lot of the attention due to being MR. And yes, "aren't mixed race people adorable" lol


Seriously - you think you sap attention from kids?Where the hell do you live?

I'm from the same mix as the OP - I'm average looking at
44 and not stunning and and I certainly don't sap attention from kids. I'm not
a gifted or talended person. I'm well educated but no more than anyone else.

Where on earth does the OP live? I'm curious. I've shown this thread to my dm and she's laughing her 74 year old head off.

[LDNmummy]

geegee

"I wonder if the op and ldnmummy when describing the staring, the muttered comments, the touching etc realise that this is something that mnmany young attractive women who look a bit 'different' get?

Or are you only allowed to describe it as racism if you're dark skinned? I'm mixed race, but its two European races, and very blonde, a d you probably wouldn't believe some of the comments I get, or the staring. I've had comments about everything from the shape of my nose to the colour of my hair and am often asked 'youre not from around here are you?'. I had to you're all an ambulance once, and the ambulance men told me my lips and eyes were swollen as they were an 'unusual shape'.

I've never gone on the defensive thinking this is racism. Just as most blonde women with a non British ancestor who've been called a 'dumb blonde' or similar haven't done either. A lot of this is par for the course if you're an attractive female."

Firstly thank you for the attractive female comments.

Secondly, I am not dark skinned and have even had people start a conversation with me in Russian on more than one occasion so don't look mixed in the way you are thinking. Racism is racism no matter what skin tone you are.

I definitely look like I am 'not from around here', but no one can ever describe where they think I could be from.

The comments are not just mutterings, I have had full on in my face comments before too.

For example I was once on a packed train with my very English looking ex who is every bit a northern lad. We were standing in the middle of the aisle and the very obviously English guy standing next to us practically growled 'yeah you would wouldn't you' as my ex leaned in and kissed me. He proceeded to stand there and pass racist comments between himself and another person till we got off the train.

Blonde jokes are not race related, they are a feminist issue. You are not lynched for being blonde (not that I am aware of anyway), but you are lynched for being non white, so very different thing IMO. Its the motivation behind the comments that matter.

If people comment on your facial features and hair in a derogatory manner and link it to your heritage then that is racism. If they are simply stating that you are 'not from around here' as a fact, then its not. There are a lot of intricate factors that come in to play when defining these things.

Sorry its late so apologies if I am rambling.