Calling out racism/discrimination not directed towards your demographic

[Banana]

Has anyone ever called out people who spout racial slurs or discriminatory comments that's not directed toward themselves?

If so, what was your response to them?

Personally, I find someone who comments on how racism/discrimination is wrong, when it's not directed towards their own demographic, seems to hold more weight in the offender's eyes. Even more so if the offender and person correcting him/her is of the same race.

[Anaestacia]

^I can agree to an extent. But at the same time if they were not of the same demographic, the commentor is judging by some other foreign terms, foreign norms or practices outside the cultural sphere of the offender.

I don't see how the commentor's thoughts would weigh more in that respect unless there was some superiority complex surrounding that culture or ethnicity.

Even if they were the same ethnicity, I don't think I would consider either one more weighty. Where have they been? What are their experiences? One may be a little less worldly than the other and that is -their- reality. Their words hold just as much weight in their surroundings. Outside of that, yes, it would seem inappropriate. Even inadequate.

I've confronted people who've used FOB and chink. The ones I knew were worth talking to. The rest, I don't waste my breath. Not everyone is wired to process that information.

[Chad]

Yeah, this guy came to my house when I was having a small party and started talking shit about black people, although he called them something else much more offensive. I made him leave. Predictably, some other asshole had to speak up and accuse me of being "too pc and uptight" so I had to make him leave too.

[mizhi]

Has anyone ever called out people who spout racial slurs or discriminatory comments that's not directed toward themselves?

If so, what was your response to them?

There was a day a couple of months ago where I was listening in on a boisterous conversation between one Korean-American officer and some other officers (Army). They were all joking around and ribbing eachother. At one point though, someone said something that would have crossed the line into unacceptible hostility in a more northern state. So I said, "Yo, ___, don't you find that racist shit offensive?"

He shrugged, and said, "No, it's all in good fun."

So I shut up, but now I have a question in my mind: if I point something racist, and I'm not the target, and a person who is the target isn't offended, what is the correct action on my end?

[deez nuts]

i normally would join in unless it's directed at asian; no wait, actually just chinese.

[kimpossible]

^And even then mainlanders are fair game.

[LaiSteve66]

One time in 9th grade, my friend who I was sitting with drew a Swastika and flashed it at these South Asian people and I was like "Hey don't do that!"

[TB4000]

If you point it out, they basically call you a *insert racial term here* lover. "Why you so protective, you fucking one of the girls or something?" I have actually heard that before. Not directed at me, but overheard it.

[hkRT]

There was a day a couple of months ago where I was listening in on a boisterous conversation between one Korean-American officer and some other officers (Army). They were all joking around and ribbing eachother. At one point though, someone said something that would have crossed the line into unacceptible hostility in a more northern state. So I said, "Yo, ___, don't you find that racist shit offensive?"

He shrugged, and said, "No, it's all in good fun."

So I shut up, but now I have a question in my mind: if I point something racist, and I'm not the target, and a person who is the target isn't offended, what is the correct action on my end?

You should not shut up. You didn't have to ask them whether they find the racist shit offensive. If it is really racist, you should stand by your principles and tell them many people including yourself find it offensive and disrespectful (doesn't matter if you are the target or not), even if this one particular person somehow thinks it is in good fun. But first, what exactly did they say and in what context? Who said it?

[Chu Chi]

What is a "demographic"?

How many "demographics" exist?

Who makes these decisions?


CC

[Flow to Live]

Today in my speech class a hispanic guy said something racist about South Asian people(Indians) and there were no Indians in our class-- sad part was i thought it was funny but at the same time I knew it was wrong and didn't do anything about it.


It went something like this:

Teacher: Andrew, tell us about your experience in interacting with different culture.

Andrew: Well, I once worked for these Indian people and they ate werid stuff, and they smelled werid. There not too good with paying because they always want to keep there money and never pay me.

Teacher: Is that all?

Andrew: yeaa..... wait o yeah, once i ate a chessburger in front of them and they looked at me all werid and stuff because they can't eat beef or something like that.

And upon that everyone was laughing including me, for it was funny at the time. But that was fucked up what i did and should have spoke against Andrew racism.

One more thing, the teacher didn't do anything because she was straight from South Korea and didn't really understand the full context of what Andrew was saying. Werid thing is she is teaching a speech class.

[mizhi]

You should not shut up. You didn't have to ask them whether they find the racist shit offensive. If it is really racist, you should stand by your principles and tell them many people including yourself find it offensive and disrespectful (doesn't matter if you are the target or not), even if this one particular person somehow thinks it is in good fun. But first, what exactly did they say and in what context? Who said it?

I forget what exactly was said, but I know that all of the guys, the Korean-American included, were joking around. We're all Army, so we joke around alot and this was one of those times. That's part of the reason I didn't argue too much about it, the other reason being that if he wasn't offended, who was I to make a stink about it? Because you know that the next thing said would be, "Well, ___ isn't pissed off, and you're not Asian, so how can you know what's offensive or not?"

*shrug*

[TB4000]

An older guy here at the office just said about Al Michaels, "not to get all anti semite, but he's just too jewish."

[kpih]

For the longest time I was heavily involved in protests against racial profiling and police brutality in a SoCal city. Vast majority of the victims were Latino.

Racism is racism. To only focus on racism against a particular group is futile. The program is to engage racism and discrimination of all forms.

[soapzen]

Personally (and I won't say I'm right), I have mentally filed the full list of racial insults against every nationality.

So, depending on who's speaking, I ask them, "so what would you say if I called you/friend/mom/husband/wife a <insert the most denigrating comment I can think of for his race... and if there isn't one, the most denigrating comment about someone he/she knows or likes>, nothing personal of course, but I don't suppose that would hurt your/their feelings? After all, you're trying to hurt so and so's feelings the same way... ".

When they are white, I ask, "so what if I called you cheap trailer trash (said with a smile)?". If it's in polite company, I smile and say, "you're not racist are you? I thought only uneducated cheap trailer trash believed that stuff <shocked look>".

People don't relate to insulting others, only themselves. They have to be made to relate. And yes, this works for me very effectively.

When I was a kid, a little puerto rican boy called me a chink on the bus. I then called him a spic back. This resulted in a daily screaming match of racial slurs til the bus driver shut us both up (the decibel became deafening a few times). It only took a few days. However, not many people wanted to call me a chink again. It works for me, even if I don't recommend it to others as it's so childish (so I'm childish in my old age. Sux to be them).

I'd like to amend the above post to say that I don't do this to be racist myself. While I know many people find racism in every form abhorrent, I believe that the ONLY way people really get educated about something is when it hits home.

Equality doesn't come about when someone gets away with something that hurts someone else. It comes about when they are made to see how it can hurt THEM or the things THEY care about.

I'm ok with being racially insulted... so long as they are, and I'm perfectly happy to keep it up as long as they do, or til they apologize. I won't let someone hit me without hitting back, why would I let someone insult me without insulting back? You are not an equal til you can force them to see you as one.

This may be the result of always feeling 'different' my whole life. When you are bullied, and you bully back, you attract more friends. It works for whites and blacks too. Yes, you attract other bullies, and you attract bully followers.

Guess what? You get picked on a whole lot less, and you have the opportunity to educate bullies. Heck, I married a white racist bully, who learned his lesson very well. He's no longer a racist and pays all his employees the same fair wages for the same jobs regardless of race. He also won't tolerate racists either. In the good 'ol boy south, this is still a rare thing. Shock and awe works better than mild complaint almost every time in every circumstance.

But you never stop feeling alone and different, because unless you live in an Asian area, well, you are alone and different.

It occured to me that I'm not used to the more gentle Asian approach that I've seen here from some of the members, and I'm probably somewhat shocking to you all, judging by some of the threads I've read. If that's the case, well, I hope you get used to me:P.