Black people:

[IntruderLS1]

Just trying to get some attention with the title.

My wife and I were out shopping today, and while she was trying on new clothes, a very charming black Briton wandered in. We talked small talk for 5 or 10 minutes or whatever, then went our separate ways.

Two years ago I spent a week in London for Christmas. Talking to this gal tonight reminded me of an observation I made while I was there.

In England, there was no sub-culture that I could detect with the different ethnic groups. Black people, white people, brown people, Asian people (oriental for you English chaps on site) they were all just Britons. Same accents, same speech patterns, etc...

I wonder why that isn't the case here in America? I'm not saying for sure weather it's better or worse, just curious. To me, the racial tension felt to be almost non-existent, and I suspect that was the reason.

What are your thoughts? I know we have some people here from England. Do we have any Americans of African decent here to speak up?

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

SRC is black dutch or something. lol. hehehheehe <3

 

[IntruderLS1]

Oops... Wrong forum.

Would one of you fine admins please move this over to philosophy and debate for me? :embaras

 

[AUDRAA]

moved and a mod moved it for you not an admin

 

[IntruderLS1]

LOL I suck at this.

Thanks.

 

[elluko]

I've never talked to a British black person, but I do watch Fresh Prince of Bel-air a lot.
I think Geoffrey counts.

 

[Homer]

i think alot of it comes from the hate and cruelty from groups like the KKK.

 

[dt3]

Did Britain have a long drawn out civil rights movement? I honestly don't know, but there was a long period in our history where we kept black people seperate and there only interactions were with each other. Maybe that has something to do with it :dunno

 

[Homer]

Did Britain have a long drawn out civil rights movement? I honestly don't know, but there was a long period in our history where we kept black people seperate and there only interactions were with each other. Maybe that has something to do with it :dunno

I think your right it goes hand in hand with what i said.

 

[dt3]

I think your right it goes hand in hand with what i said.

Your post is what gave me the idea :cool

 

[Homer]

the sad thing is i see no change in the near future , not untill we fight corrupiton in government/religion insted of each other.

 

[IntruderLS1]

Yeah, at first I thought of the slavery thing too, but I don't think that could be it. Slavery was a European tradition for much longer than it was an American. I don't remember off the top of my head when Briton gave equal rights to people of color, but I don't think it was far removed from the American Civil War.

What about pro's and con's? Do you think we benefit from people of different ethnic groups having their own sub-cultures, or do you think it makes us a weaker people as a whole?

I can see it both ways. As a businessman I would tell you that diversity makes the workforce a more vibrant, flexible place. As a citizen, I think sharing a similar history and background would end a lot of misunderstandings and hatred.

I think it boils down to basics (as usual). People all want to be treated equally, but maintain their differences. To me these two ideas are very hard to put into the same bed.

 

[IntruderLS1]

the sad thing is i see no change in the near future , not untill we fight corrupiton in government/religion insted of each other.

I don't know if I would share in that pessimism. When I look at the trends in my own family, I can see racial tension fading fast. My great-grandparents didn't like blacks. My grandparents were uncomfortable around them. My parents are minimal, closet racists (i.e. they judge early, but treat fairly). Personally, I really enjoy knowing different types of people. I secretly hold several stereotypes, but I don't force people into them. If they show me different, I'm cool with that. I plan on raising my son to have no fear or preconceived ideas about people different than him.

Look at Obama's run for president. 15 years ago, it would have been a joke. Today, the guy has a shot.

 

[dt3]

What about pro's and con's? Do you think we benefit from people of different ethnic groups having their own sub-cultures, or do you think it makes us a weaker people as a whole?

I know plenty of white boys who love rap, so I think they'd say sub-cultures are a good thing :tongue: Honestly though, I can see it making us "weaker people as a whole". But at the same time our nation is known for being a melting pot. So to me, diversity is what we have in common/gives us national pride, if that makes sense.

I don't know if I would share in that pessimism. When I look at the trends in my own family, I can see racial tension fading fast. My great-grandparents didn't like blacks. My grandparents were uncomfortable around them. My parents are minimal, closet racists (i.e. they judge early, but treat fairly). Personally, I really enjoy knowing different types of people. I secretly hold several stereotypes, but I don't force people into them. If they show me different, I'm cool with that. I plan on raising my son to have no fear or preconceived ideas about people different than him.

:withstupid:Well said.

 

[Homer]

i think the media is a big part of the problem to.

 

[SRC]

SRC is black dutch or something. lol. hehehheehe <3

black dutch is a type of american indian you nerd LOL

 

[Peter Parka]

To be honest the black people over here have intergrated themselves into the community a lot better than other ethnicities which is probably a lot of the reason why. The Chinese and the Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshes seem to keep themselves seperate a lot more which is a shame but probably a lot to do with the racism they experience.
There was a lot or racism to blacks especially when all the West Indians came over in the 50s and 60s and during the popularity of the NF in the 80s but I'd say it's mostly died down these days and that racism against blacks while still around isn't as common experience as it used to be. I guess a lot depends where you live. In London its a lot more tolerant than in other parts of the country where there isn't nearly as many blacks.

 

[Ria]

In many of the big towns, the black/asian population is plenty, but tolerated much more by the whites' these days.

Racist comments/titles are not tolerated here and white people are subjected to punishment should the wrong word(s) be said.

I remember in the 6o's though, black ppl were being accepted a bit more and I had a number of black friends. I still do and a few Asian friends. I was told by those bringing me up, that black ppl were worthless. I always grew up despising my family for that, as I like ppl who have lovely personalities and who are nice to others', so I rebelled against what they said, although the way I was treated, I had to keep most of my thoughts to myself.

I like my friends, no matter what colour/nationality.

Blacks/asians do enforce racist complaints and get heard though, but when black/asian ppl make a racist remark to white ppl, it is not heard by authorities on the same scale, but that's no reason for others' to 'hate' the ethnic population. It's not their fault.

I think there will always be racism in some ppl, but it has lessened over the decades.

It's each to their own, but I get on with them as do many other ppl.

 

[TripSevens]

Racism is alive and well in the US, although it has moved from more overt individual discrimination to more of an institutional or structural discrimination that is harder for most people to pinpoint.


Great Britain isn't without her own issues. The immigrant groups there (like much of Europe) experience high levels of social and economic marginalization. Minorities there tend to live in concentrated areas and often work in unskilled labor or other lowpaying jobs. I believe it was in 2001 that there were race riots that the government eventually linked to social and physical segregation.


Great Britain outlawed slavery about one hundred years before the US.

 

[Ria]

Well, they are not really minorities any longer, but there are still parts of England whereby segregation of the Asians/blacks live, but they do keep themselves to themselves mostly, rather than mingle with the rest.

It just has to be accepted with ppl more really, that this is how they wish to live.

It isn't so true though that they take on the low paid jobs - there are a large number of asians who have all the big houses, good expensive cars, they can afford for their kids to go university for instance - I never would be able to unless I won the lottery.

Still, that's how it is and that's what a lot of whites' are opposed to, which helps to cause conflict between them and the blacks.

I accept ppl as I find them, no matter, personally. If they are good ppl, they will be friends of mine. If not, then no matter who they are, they will not.