As a white American I do not look any different and have not experienced people making comments as I walk down the street due to my ethnicity. As a Jew, the racism is less predominant although it still exists. Today was a whole new experience for me.
As I walked through Angel with my Asian flatmates (Singapore, China, Hong Kong) and a Japanese friend we stopped at a cross walk and a British guy in a red t-shirt came up to our group and asked if they were from Japan. Then he said, or is it China. Then his tone turned and he started doing the 'eye thing' and making racial slurs. Rather than respond to his idiocy, we just turned and kept walking across the street.
It really frustrates me to have had this experience. That people are still so close-minded and just plain ridiculous. Racism is still quite a problem and unfortunately the best option is to just walk away. When someone is so openly racist, nothing you say can change their attitude or thinking.
Obviously not all of my experiences will be all rosy and nice...I was just hoping it wouldn't be on my second day here!
As humans, we have made choices over time to treat people wrong. Be it during the Crusades, the Holocaust, Ethnic Cleansing in general from modern times to the beginning of time. Such a simple theory - do unto others as you would have done to you.... still isn't taken seriously. Sad, very sad. Sorry that you had that experience Alyssa - but I love the choice you made.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. After everything we've experienced in our lifetimes, it shows we must remain vigilant and let people know that these ridiculous behaviors still exist.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year today. Always remember your roots.
Love ya,