White people expected to be racist?

[scraparcs]

Do people expect you to hold negative stereotypes about other races and ethnicities? Have you ever had people tell you that Mexicans did nothing but party or that black people were lawbreakers and expect that because your skin lacked pigmentation that you'd agree?

I'm interested in hearing about this phenomenon, I keep experiencing it and I'm very puzzled.

 

[cantata]

No, they don't.

But then, I come from a very liberal background.

 

[quatona]

Do people expect you to hold negative stereotypes about other races and ethnicities? Have you ever had people tell you that Mexicans did nothing but party or that black people were lawbreakers and expect that because your skin lacked pigmentation that you'd agree?

No, doesn´t happen often to me. If so, it´s usually stereotypes concerning nationality rather than race/skin colour.

I remember hearing quite a few statements about blacks, though, to the effect of "a white could never sing/dance/move... like that".

 

[cantata]

I remember hearing quite a few statements about blacks, though, to the effect of "a white could never sing/dance/move... like that".

Argh, yes!

There's not really any such thing as positive discrimination, I don't think...

 

[Athene]

Yes that's happened to me a few times, not so much now because I do frosty disdain extremely well.

 

[Pogue]

Not really, mainly because I grew up in a very racially homogenous, rural area, so there just weren't really any stereotypes floating around. When people expect me to agree with certain beliefs, I don't think it's because I'm white- it's probably because I'm fairly middle-class and because I'm a student, so they expect me to fit a certain cliche, but I don't think it's really a racial cliche.
There have been people who expect me to be homophobic because of my religion, which does annoy me. But that's off-topic.

 

[clarksided]

I live in southeastern Louisiana, so of course I've had this happen to me. I just ignore it.

 

[Khameo]

Stereotypes exist for a reason.

 

[Steezie]

Stereotypes exist for a reason.

Stupidity and narrow-mindedness is certainly a reason


As to the OP, yeah I've had that happen a lot. A lot of the older guys in construction are the real rigid conservative types and they say stuff to you thats often really racist, sexist, or otherwise of bad taste with the expectation that I'll agree. Usually I just kinda smile and nod and let it blow past (You CANNOT afford to get black-listed in this job). But if I have the opportunity I remind them that most of their co-workers are Hispanic and I've protested alongside La Raza, so that kind of talk wont find much audience with me

 

[Beanieboy]

I would suggest reading some books on Seeing Whiteness.

I have been amazed seeing whites say things like, "I thought you people had rhythm," or "Mexicans are taking our jobs" (at McDonald's? Cleaning our toilets?), etc.

But racism is often even more subtle.
Someone will say, "i was in an elevator with a woman and a black guy, and it was funny because we were all quiet, just staring up at the numbers."

What race was the woman? White. She was referred to as "a woman" but the race of the man, although not relevant or important, was differentianted. Why? Because he was seen as "other."

As a gay man, I can relate when someone calls and asks for Mrs. Beanieboy. I say, "My mom?" They say, "no, your wife." I say, "HE'S not here right now."
Were I to call a straight person, and ask if their boyfriend was at home, wouldn't they be offended? Then why should I not be when someone assumes that I am hetero?

I don't think people of color enjoy being thought of as "the black guy" or "the asian guy" or "the latin guy." My Asian friends have told me on a number of occassions of ignorant white people that say, "HELLO! CAN YOU SPEAK ENGLISH????" to which they say, "Yes, and I'm not deaf either!" Many of my black friends, ones who are accomplished, have Phd's, talk about DWB - being pulled over for Driving While Black.

Now, put yourself in that position, where people are always treating you like that, and you will understand why you, at times, might encounter their frustration - because they put up with it all the time.

 

[PassionFruit]

I would suggest reading some books on Seeing Whiteness.

I have been amazed seeing whites say things like, "I thought you people had rhythm," or "Mexicans are taking our jobs" (at McDonald's? Cleaning our toilets?), etc.

But racism is often even more subtle.
Someone will say, "i was in an elevator with a woman and a black guy, and it was funny because we were all quiet, just staring up at the numbers."

What race was the woman? White. She was referred to as "a woman" but the race of the man, although not relevant or important, was differentianted. Why? Because he was seen as "other."

As a gay man, I can relate when someone calls and asks for Mrs. Beanieboy. I say, "My mom?" They say, "no, your wife." I say, "HE'S not here right now."
Were I to call a straight person, and ask if their boyfriend was at home, wouldn't they be offended? Then why should I not be when someone assumes that I am hetero?

I don't think people of color enjoy being thought of as "the black guy" or "the asian guy" or "the latin guy." My Asian friends have told me on a number of occassions of ignorant white people that say, "HELLO! CAN YOU SPEAK ENGLISH????" to which they say, "Yes, and I'm not deaf either!" Many of my black friends, ones who are accomplished, have Phd's, talk about DWB - being pulled over for Driving While Black.

Now, put yourself in that position, where people are always treating you like that, and you will understand why you, at times, might encounter their frustration - because they put up with it all the time.

I don't think it's a matter of whites expected to be prejudice. I came to the realization that sometimes whites don't realize their prejudices. Which makes me realize how powerful stereotypes can be. I've been stereotyped, but sometimes it's just out of cluelessness.

 

[FaithLikeARock]

I have been criticized for not agreeing with a racist person in the form of "You're not really white!"

But mostly what I get is when the subject comes up, there is a sudden silence. Where I live, racism is a lot more subtle. I once dated a boy who was black (he turned out as a soul mate but I believe the soul mate and the S.O are two separate people) and my family got all excited and were constantly talking about it. And then I mentioned his ethnicity and all of a sudden it was an unwritten rule that we couldn't talk about my relationship in the home. Whenever I brought it up I'd get what was basically a "Oh that's nice honey".

The same goes for everywhere else. We have our open racists but most of the time it's just "If we don't associate with them then it's okay." My aunt is probably the closest to open racist where I live, what with her "races shouldn't live with other races and Africans and Mexicans should go back to their own country because this is America" rants.

 

[Steezie]

But racism is often even more subtle.
Someone will say, "i was in an elevator with a woman and a black guy, and it was funny because we were all quiet, just staring up at the numbers."

What race was the woman? White. She was referred to as "a woman" but the race of the man, although not relevant or important, was differentianted. Why? Because he was seen as "other."

I think thats kinda pushing it. You arent saying thats un-true about the guy, he IS black and you are mentioning it as a descriptor, not as a slur.

Simply acknowledging the color of someone's skin and using it as a descriptor isnt racist

 

[NavyGuy7]

Not to mention one tends to think inside their race. when one white guy is describing this scene to another guy, "woman" is all is needed. To specify what man was in the elevator, he mentions the race, so the other man will not think it was simply all white people in that elevator.
Whether it's racist or not IS kinda pushing it.
But I'm sure the same applies to any other race. I'm sure I've been talked about as "white boy" a couple of times, at least... maybe.

 

[MoonlessNight]

I imagine it is similar to why my fellow graduate students often assume that I am an atheist/agnostic/apatheist. Or a democrat for that matter.

In other words the people who assume that you are racist because you are white do so because the white people they know and hear about tend to be racist.

 

[Soul Searcher]

I can't say that I have experienced this though I have known some racist people who seemed surprised that I do not agree with them.

 

[cantata]

I try very hard to remember to say "white" when I'm describing a white person, but it's so ingrained to just not mention race unless you're talking about someone who isn't white that I find it extremely difficult.

Perhaps it is racism. It's certainly a habit of mine that I dislike and aim to change.

 

[BlackBerry]

But racism is often even more subtle.
Someone will say, "i was in an elevator with a woman and a black guy, and it was funny because we were all quiet, just staring up at the numbers."

What race was the woman? White. She was referred to as "a woman" but the race of the man, although not relevant or important, was differentianted. Why? Because he was seen as "other."

I think you have a point here. Another example would be labels like "African American". I wasn't born in Africa and I've never been to Africa, yet I am African American. Funny how I don't hear the label "European American" used at all. Caucasian people in America are simply "Americans".

 

[Pogue]

I think you have a point here. Another example would be labels like "African American". I wasn't born in Africa and I've never been to Africa, yet I am African American. Funny how I don't hear the label "European American" used at all. Caucasian people in America are simply "Americans".

I think you're right in that there's a European/American difference here. In Britain (and in most other European countries I know of) we just say 'black people', but I understand that in America, the term 'African American' is generally preferred?

 

[AmericanChristian91]

I try very hard to remember to say "white" when I'm describing a white person, but it's so ingrained to just not mention race unless you're talking about someone who isn't white that I find it extremely difficult.

Perhaps it is racism. It's certainly a habit of mine that I dislike and aim to change.

Ya that is weird. When i refer to people that are Caucasian i dont call them White people but for some reason when i am sometimes referring to someone who is not White i sometimes say Black guy or Asian guy. Its not Racist but the reason i probley say that is that Whites are a majority in America so you are more used to seeing White people. I take no offense if someone calling me a white guy since that is who i am. Everyone should be proud in who they are.