Racial Discrimination: Has it happened to you?

[:1]There's no huge, immediate news story behind this post. No raging controversy, per se. My girlfriend and I had been discussing the topic yesterday and it made me curious enough to make a poll. She gave me an account of a few instances that she had seen of discrimination against others, herself, both here (U.S.) and abroad.

So, has it happened to you? If you feel comfortable enough, share the details of what, where, who, the result, etc.

Please keep this limited to race/ethnicity.|||One of my friends routinely gets searched when traveling because of how he looks. He looks arabic, but he's actually italien.|||I'm not sure how I should vote. I've definitely seen it firsthand (at college, a dormmate was black and during African American awareness month or whatever it's called, there were some people who made fun of him because of it).

As for myself, I've lived in a black neighborhood before. One of the earlier days, I was out looking for the mailbox with my white roommate. Some kid saw us, noticed we looked lost, and immediately pointed to a white woman, because of course we would be searching for the lone white woman. After we explained we had just moved in and were looking for the mailbox he was real polite and showed us where it was... and then (I'm assuming because he thought it would be the only reason why white people would move into the area) offered us some weed.

Is that racial discrimination? I'm thinking yes, but he'd probably offer to new black people to the neighborhood too.|||I don't travel(in RL) but I have been a part of many communities on the Internet and the people I have developed acquaintances and friendships with do not discriminate against my race/religion/nationality. All of them know that I am from India and most of them know that I am a Muslim. Anyway it is not just about me; with one or two exceptions, they don't discriminate against anyone's race. On the other hand, a good number of them find it very hard to accept *** people, especially male ones. Even the most liberal minded ones say, "I am OK with whatever choices you make but please don't kiss in public, I can't answer my kids' questions."|||I've seen it and heard about it happen to a lot of my friends who aren't straight white guys. Hispanics, black people, muslims, *** guys, women...

I once worked with this black dude who was a raging racist, hated all white people. One of those people who thought that wasn't racism. He had it in his head that I am a racist and even went around telling other black employees I am; they laughed at him.

Alas, I am a white guy, so I've never been discriminated because of my race, though, like I said, I've seen a lot of it.|||I've been discriminated in Guild Wars for being black... even though I'm not. One of those WTF moments, but I suppose that doesn't count. I guess the moment you are offended by someone's racial slurs, you must there for be black (according to internet logic).

However, a female friend of mine gets often searched on airports because of her arabian looks. And my Vietnamese girlfriend gets asked a lot of questions by airport security when ever she visits. I feel really bad for her. Also, there are some friends of mine that apparently think using the N-word is okay as long as you're making a joke. And they act all confused when I tell them I don't like it. I have atleast one close friend of mine who happens to be black, so when anyone uses racial slurs, I find that very hurtful. They also easily make sucky-sucky-five-dollar jokes, which I don't appreciate either, but I don't think they understand why I might find that offensive.

I've never been discriminated for being white, but I HAVE been discriminated for being an Atheist (apparently we are the root of all evil in the world. I'd like to think I'm only responsible for some of the evil in Tyria, but the entire world might be a bit too much credit).|||I can't answer the poll; I assume it's really directed at minorities and I'm your basic WASP, although you can use the P for Polish instead of Protestant.

As for seeing it firsthand, I suppose I have to a minor degree. Nobody being kicked out of a restaurant because they're the wrong color, nobody being beaten up because they're dating a white girl. Nothing worth reporting on unless you want to consider the reverse discrimination I see in present-day hiring practices sometimes.|||Have I personally been discriminated, because of my race? No

Have I been discriminated because of my nationality? Yes, to a minor degree.

Have I been discriminated because I am short? Yes, probably for the last 35 years, but I don't really care anymore.

I usually quote Mark Twain: "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."

PS: I have witnessed racial discrimination on a verbal level, but e.g. never seen somebody hit because he was black.|||Quote:








I can't answer the poll; I assume it's really directed at minorities and I'm your basic WASP, although you can use the P for Polish instead of Protestant.




I'm WASP-y, too. You can answer. That was actually part of my curiosity, since I don't recall experiencing any 'real' instances of discrimination.|||I was with friends traveling once, all Americans and one Canadian, guess who got searched leaving and coming back to the US. We thought it weird especially for how mundane our business was for traveling.