Racism, White Supremacy, #BlackLivesMatter

[milon]

Hi all,

I'm going to start by saying that, as suggested by my avatar, I'm a white male.  I grew up in southern Canada, and I live in northern USA (I'm a dual-citizen).  My background is very white, mostly blue collar workers.  My heritage is mostly English and German.  In other words, I'm a member of the dominant culture of my region.

I have recently been learning about the systemic racism within my culture, and I suspect it pervades most of the so-called "First Nations" countries.  I had no idea the cultural advantages I have over others simply because of the color of my skin.  I assumed that White Supremacy was something that died with Hitler, and I thought that #BlackLivesMatter was just a bunch of angry people who happened to be black.

I think I've been wrong.  I think there's a real problem here, and I think I've even been a part of it (unintentional & mostly unconscious, but that doesn't change the reality of it).  I'm probably not saying any of this well because this is a new realization for me that I'm trying to process & understand.  I want to learn more about this issue, and this a global & diverse community.  I'd like to hear your thoughts & experiences about about these topics.  Have you experienced racism on either end?  If you don't mind saying, what's your culture, your skin color, your heritage?  Are you in a majority culture or a minority?  Do you see racism where you live?  Do you see white supremacy as a reality?  What's your experience with BlackLivesMatter?  etc?

[Mossy piglet]

My town is like 95 percent white, so there isnt any room for racism where I live.

[milon]

That's the kind of area & mentality that I grew up with.  And it doesn't usually line up with reality.  Here's two things to consider, but I really encourage you to do your own research:

http://www.tolerance.org/article/racism-and-white-privilege

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/04/10_ways_white_people_are_more_racist_than_they_realize_partner/

EDIT - I think what I'm starting to see is actually more along the lines of white ethnocentrism than outright racism.  It's much less obvious and just as damaging in the long run.

[Kryc8]

I live in Poland so seeing black person is super rare but I watch many independent american and british news which have diffrent opinions about diffrent things.

Now about black people I don't care about them that much because they are for me just like other normal people and they have rights like everyone else (In Orlando people were killed not just gays , gays are't new species but people no matter if you agree with them or not).

I don't know about all black live matters supporters but everytime when I see video with them I just get angry. From all I seen they are calling everyone who isn't black a rasist especially Donald Trump and his supporters who never said anything rasist about black people. I think that whole black live matters is just copying "feminists" strategy (I mean feminists that almost all the time want you dead after they see you in the bus). There was a case where a white cop shooted black men evidence suggested that men attacked the cop and cop killed him in self defence. After this black people went crazy and started to beat cop and people on streets, devastate cars and shops. They acted like victims but they were in fact a rasist group that was assaulting others.

For me if you're minority that not should mean that you're should get better treatment. Others have problems too. And If you think that there is real problem with racism don't use strategy "everyone who isn't me is Hitler" but be calm and respectful and be aware that others can be right and maybe you're wrong.

As always sorry for my English ;p. (If some parts sounded rasist be sure that It probably because of my english and lack of focus when I write long post)

[Mossy piglet]

The thing we have to remember is that people remember the tragedies and forget the rest. When we hear about Rhodney King or more recently what happened in ferguson we don't think about all the times a white cop didn't shoot a black person. While there are racists and probably always will be, the vast majority (in at the least the u.s.) of people see all races are pretty much equal.

[Simon_The_Space_Engineer]

I'd have to say that there is some bits and pieces of racism here and there that aren't very obvious but what I have noticed is that people tend to be extra careful about what they say around black people, presumably because they are afraid that the "racism" card will be pulled for something as little as a disagreement on opinions. I had some kid at my school (complete jerk who loved to be annoying, and also happened to be black) try to pull the "racism" card and call me a racist after I told him to shut up and leave me alone so I could finish what I was doing in solid works. He could have been any skin color out there and I still would have told him to stop. Keep in mind though that a lot of communities like the black lived matter supporters usually have an extreme side to them and that's what gets noticed the most and sets their reputation (also applies to a lot of other communities such as furries, some gaming communities, and feminists to name a few off the top of my head). For how everyone is treated though I feel it's completely the same for the most part (aside from a few things that both sides are guilty of such as overreactions and not responding in an appropriate manner)

Basically I feel usually everyone is treated equally asides from a few blacks attacking whites by abusing the racism card and a few advantages that have been seen for a white worker compared to a black one. Both of which can be improved.
(Anything that may sound racist is not intended to be since I was being blunt about how I feel about this topic)

[carbon]

The thing about protesters is that they tend to be younger, louder, more passionate and less nuanced than the group/movement they represent. Folks who don't fall loosely into those categorizations tend to not show up to protests regularly and certainly wouldn't be leading them. It takes a special sort of person who is willing to drop everything in their life on short notice, drive potentially hours to the location and shout enthusiastically outside for hours in all sorts of weather.

For that reason, I generally always strive to not judge a movement by the handful of protesters who happen to make it on camera for the evening news. For every 1 of them there is probably at least 100+ supporters sitting at home who are far more sedate and nuanced in their views but are no less committed to the cause.

[Coenmcj]

Definitely racism here in Australia, but a lot of it isn't really a thing about 'black' or 'yellow' or 'white' people so much as those that don't bother to learn the language before they come to work and live here, Sure colour based racism is pretty bad over in America, UK and elsewhere, but here it's not so much colour based as it is a foreigners ignorance of the culture and language.
If you can't speak the language, have no respect for the culture or it's people, you really need to go back to where you came from or learn to do so.

As an English speaker in a multi-cultural country, you'd be surprised how often you feel like an alien on a foreign planet, in my area we have a handful of districts and towns where there's maybe a dozen or so people that speak any English whatsoever. Getting on a train can sometimes be a daunting process as you have no idea if that string of sounds from a shady looking bloke was a death threat, a greeting, or just a cough.
As I typed this however, I realise this must be why people vote trump or Brexit.. A deep-seated fear of the unknown, but that's a different Topic altogether.

My experience with blacklivesmatter and other such Social Justice movements has been an awful one, you can't have a different opinion from them or you're labelled a racist/misogynist/bigot/nazi/etc.

Frankly, White supremacy died out here a decade or two ago, easily before the 2000's, people of different cultures and colours can have any job they like, any opportunity they like down here. A lot of "white supremacy" is just SJW's looking for someone to blame for their problems.

I have noticed is that people tend to be extra careful about what they say around black people, presumably because they are afraid that the "racism" card will be pulled for something as little as a disagreement on opinions. I had some kid at my school (complete jerk who loved to be annoying, and also happened to be black) try to pull the "racism" card and call me a racist after I told him to shut up and leave me alone so I could finish what I was doing in solid works. He could have been any skin color out there and I still would have told him to stop. Keep in mind though that a lot of communities like the black lived matter supporters usually have an extreme side to them and that's what gets noticed the most and sets their reputation (also applies to a lot of other communities such as furries, some gaming communities, and feminists to name a few off the top of my head). For how everyone is treated though I feel it's completely the same for the most part (aside from a few things that both sides are guilty of such as overreactions and not responding in an appropriate manner)

Basically I feel usually everyone is treated equally asides from a few blacks attacking whites by abusing the racism card and a few advantages that have been seen for a white worker compared to a black one. Both of which can be improved.
(Anything that may sound racist is not intended to be since I was being blunt about how I feel about this topic)

This, I've noticed more racism coming from the supposedly oppressed than from supposed white supremacists, Because of all these political correctness movements, you can't speak, breathe or move without offending and/or oppressing someone. Frankly, it needs to die, even here, where everyone is equal you have to put up with stuff like that.

Like Carbon's pointed out, the loud and obnoxious tend to be the fringe groups of the greater communities, yet they'll always get the greatest amount of notice, the majority 9 times out of 10 will be more reserved and out of the spotlight.

White male, Early twenties, Australia.
German/English Background

[billycop32]

California white dude here
While in my hometown I've yet to notice any racism against blacks or Hispanics, BUT I have noticed racism against whites here.
Back in high school, I dated a black girl for over 2 years and during most of that time, people who did not know me kept telling her she could do better.One day when we were walking to my house and she was upset over a bad day at school, a casual kiss on the lips to make her feel better was enough to get this statement from a black women in a passing car

"Get off her you white piece of trash!"

I will never forget her voice, words, or how that made me feel. so thanks for that you *****.
edit: (in the last piece above, i'm cussing at the lady, not any of you awesome people. toodles!)