Racism and America

[Teuthida]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

And well working where I work, I find that Jewish people are still untrusting of a lot of people. I don't want to make a generalization on all of them. But I flat out once had a resident tell me she was disgusted that she had to eat off of plates and forks that non-Jews used.

I could see that. Dunno about the folks where you work but the really religious ones go to yeshivahs where all they come in contact with are other Jewish kids. Segregation sucks. Although an orthodox friend of my mother's daughter did drop out of school, dye her hair blue, then shave it, got a tattoo (which is forbidden) and gave up her dreams of being a vetenarian to work in a bike shop...so there's hope yet for some.

I live in one of the most diverse areas of NYC...according to wikipedia...and a lot of the time I'm the only white guy around. Sometimes I get weird looks...but that might just be because according to my girlfriend I dress like a mugger.

When I was younger (and not as pale as I am now) I usually got mistaken for being Hispanic. My first girlfriend who was Filipino seemed geniunely disappointed to learn I wasn't Puerto Rican like she originally thought I was.

I do have a Chinese friend who I'm sad to say is a bit racist towards non white and non Asian folks...well, towards less Americanized Asian people too.

My roommate from college was extremely self-conscious about people thinking of him as a terrorist for how he looked.

So yeah, racism isn't gone.

EDIT: Just remembered another. I was in LA about three years ago and while driving around three mosques were pointed out that were vandalized with broken windows and racist graffiti. So racism isn't tucked away in a few pockets of America. It's everywhere, even where folks are suppose to be the most liberal.