Shocked

Some people hold ‘unthinkinkingly’ racist views and others are ‘deliberately and knowingly’ racist. The effects of both are the same, but with the former there is a real opportunity to engage, and through conversation to expose the underlying racism. I have become pretty adept at challenging racist language and views whilst maintaining relationships. If we all cut off everyone whose views are different they would end up living in ‘echo chambers’ and lose opportunities to be challenged and changed.

Having said that, people who are knowingly and deliberately racist get short shrift from me.

I work with a lot of Indians in my job at a care home and I can honestly say they are really really nice people (well except for one!) and I would have no problem at all with any of them moving either side of me…or even both sides….

Friends of mine used to live in an area where they were many people of Indian origin. Many bought houses in their lovely road until they were the only non Indian family left there. They had such a good relationship with all their neighbours and were included in all their family celebrations. They did eventually move because they were unhappy with their son’s school. However they did smile because the neighbours often asked to be informed if they ever wished to move as they had friends or relatives who would like to buy their house!

Gosh Yorki you have very strong views. I see they have now deleted your post. That policeman should not have behaved like that to any person whatever their colour.

the underclasses!! Oh how terribly awful for you to have had to mix with such people esspee; especially when one is used to being with educated people in academia! Afterall, one knows that only the uneducated and underclasses are capable of grim behaviour, doesn't one?

Would you have had the same reaction 30/ 40 years ago? I think our generations have had to change, and become less racist. It was definitely there when I was young, and in all the upper generations.
Our children are totally different. My son was just saying yesterday, that they ( his generation ), don’t see colour or race, just people. I think that’s amazing and lovely to hear.
We were programmed differently, and it may just take longer for some people to change. Particularly if they’ve mostly been in predominantly white areas.

Be careful what you share with friends. You say she has always be kind and generous, I would think it’s a misunderstanding

Goodness me, Esspee' the "underclasses" ? Do you not realise how patronising and possibly racist that comment sounds? Rather ironic too. To suggest that it's only the uneducated and the "underclass" who could possibly be racist, beggars belief!

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Hithere

"16:34Floradora9

My aunt refused to sell to any people from India or Pakistan even when one gentleman arrived with a suitcase of money to buy her house. The twist to this tale is that her own mother was an Eurasian from India ."

That is so sad

And stupid. She was cutting off her nose to spite her face! Hopefully this sort of behaviour died with the older generation.

"16:34Floradora9

My aunt refused to sell to any people from India or Pakistan even when one gentleman arrived with a suitcase of money to buy her house. The twist to this tale is that her own mother was an Eurasian from India ."

That is so sad

Meanwhile, manager of Savills estate agents has been arrested for what were 'allegedly' his racist tweets.

I was really pleased when I came across an old friend on Facebook - exchanged christmas cards but not met up since I moved away 30 years ago. She and her family were a big part of my life at that time. Luckily before "friending" her I noticed the pretty extremist Right wing posts she was sharing, so regretfully I didn't renew contact. But our area was quite mixed ethnicity at the time, and we were close friends - I wonder, did she always have racist views which I didn't see as offensive back then, partly because she's grown more racist, partly because I have become more intolerant and challenging of casual racism when I encounter it? I think that's probably the case.

My parents were flat broke when they moved to London and I spent my very early years in an overwhelmingly West Indian diaspora area. Our neighbours and local community were wonderful to me and mum. When we had a bit more money and moved on to a snow-white area of Surrey, the taxi driver taking us to our new house said “good place this, no chocolate drops here”. I always remember having to ask my parents what he meant because I had literally never heard that phrase used before.

the underclasses !
would that be untermenschen ?

lemsip

Oldwoman70 I don't suppose she gave a thought that you would relate what she said on here even though is't anonymous.
we should all be careful what we say to our friends lol

you mean be careful to only reveal racism to like-minded others.?

I regularly see how education doesn't lead to understanding, I'm afraid.
I shall say no more.

My aunt refused to sell to any people from India or Pakistan even when one gentleman arrived with a suitcase of money to buy her house. The twist to this tale is that her own mother was an Eurasian from India .

My neighbour was an awful racist and I had to pull him many a time and walk away. We always said if we ever sold we would only sell to a black family! Awful to say but we are now one racist less due to death.

There are racists everywhere. I am sure there are many on Gransnet. Fortunately with education comes understanding and I must say that I have never seen any incidents of racism during my career in academia.
I lived for 14 years in a country where I was the minority racial group so I have been on the receiving end of racism. Again I never experienced this when with educated people, just the underclasses.
It seems to me that people at the bottom of society need to feel superior to someone else. Pathetic.

Oldwoman70 I don't suppose she gave a thought that you would relate what she said on here even though is't anonymous.
we should all be careful what we say to our friends lol

I was shocked in a similar situation, the couple who said that have now moved but I never thought about them the same again. I thought about things I should have said subsequently, but I was just struck dumb it was such a shock, they had seemed nice people. In the end the visiting the property Indians didn't buy, I'd not seen them and hope that other neighbour had not said anything, I'd have been friendly to them. New people instead are very nice but I'll always wonder if the Indian viewers were put off by the racist neighbours

Rather like living next door to nice people, who cares where they are from. Working life filled with lovely people from as far and wide as Iran, India, Africa. The sooner we learn to get along with each other ,the better. I’ll take it as far as to letting people waiting Asylum outcomes to work, as they do in Germany. Overcoming some peoples prejudice, though, will take a lot longer.

Every area is cosmopolitan these days and a mixture of every
nationality colour and creed are to be found living side by side
mainly in harmony. Times have moved on from late 60s-early 70s when I was younger and previous generations knew little about customs and cultures of different people of different backgrounds. I thought most people these days were aware of the changing face of our cities and towns.

Just a little shout out to the thousands of Indian Doctors who came in the 70s to prop up the health service. They worked in deprived areas such as the Welsh Valleys, (which the local Doctors shunned) My Ex was one of them. We loved working and living in the area. We hardly missed home, because of the warm welcome we received. Love Wales ???????