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I had a trully upsetting and shocking experience today. I just feel so angry about it. I have two students of afro-carribean descent. I'll call them Julie and Tommy. Julie is from a rather well to do family from London. She speaks in very pronounced English and is a lovely, kind intelligent woman. Tommy (my fav...shush) is a 21 year second generation Nigerian from Manchester. They are fab students and I am proud of them both. They are just coming to the end of an 11 week placement where they have been racially abused every day. Called the N word, monkeys, asked if their hair was real or if people could touch their skin. Julie was even asked why she speaks so posh as N...... don't talk like that! I almost cried when she told me. She said for the first time in her life she wished she wasn't black! I am just trying to process this. Obviously they have been pulled off that placement and official processes will now take place but I having been trying to understand what I felt. I just realised it's guilt. I am so sorry. Julie said she had never experienced this in multi-ethnic London, I hate that anyone would think this is normal for the north of England. I feel terrible that my student got told to leave a country that she was born in. That people are so ignorant and so cruel. You know what, she even tried to defend them. I am so sorry for what we did...when I say we...I mean us, the white anglo saxon Europeans. We did this. Both these guys are heading for very high class degrees. Tommy particularly is very bright. I am disgusted that he was told the only things black lads can do is play football or box. (His ethics assignment got 93%!) I am white, ginger, professional and I suppose reasonably priveldged. However for the first time in my life I trully feel angry by how damaging racism is. I would appreciate your thoughts because all I want to do is cry.

Amisja 8 Mar 7
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38 comments (26 - 38)

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2

The "I hate you because you're different from me" attitude is the inner working of a small, ignorant mind revealing its fears and insecurities. Consider the source and dismiss it for what it is; the verbal diarrhea of an idiot.

These people and their stupidity are beneath the rest of us. Don't give them the power to upset you.

Unfortunately it can't be dismissed. This was a healthcare environment and as such are overseen by a public body.

@Amisja I understand this happened in a professional environment and there's likely going to be HR involvement. My advice was meant for you personally since you referenced crying and being upset by their behavior.

2

I'm sorry for the pain this is causing you and the kids, IMO a lot of this is being brought to a boil by the trump effect and I'm afraid it is not going away soon enough for me.

1

Jayne; I have no words of wisdom, only want to say that I feel your pain, and admire that you feel so strongly for your students and their predicament.

1

so those high class degrees mean what, really? is that important in this context? White folks love to attack "hate" but are very reluctant to attack white supremacy.. even deny it exist..

High classification. 2:1 or 1st.

@Amisja care to explain your comment so I won't guess what you mean?

@Touched Sorry, I don't understand.

@Amisja high classification 2:1 oe 1st.. i don't understand the reference..

@Touched [thestudentroom.co.uk]

@Touched Both my BScs are 2:1s. One with a commendation, meaning it should have been a first but for unforeseen circumstances.

I have marched against white supremacists. They exist. They have no place in modern life. You are attacking the wrong ally.

@Amisja no you marched against racist, I don't think you've marched against white supremacy. Look I ain't mad at ya..the rabbit hole is deep for both of us.

@Touched hmmmm I think I did. Antifa are definitely opposed to white supremacy.

@Amisja i beg to differ..they are speaking about racism and equality, not white supremacy. different animals

@Touched wtf?

@Amisja racism is a part of WS.. like a Venn diagram that touches upon one another..white supremacy is further down the rabbit hole..most whites don't even consider what they are doing to support it because it's "normal" for them and makes sense to them..I'm not saying you support these things because I don't know you, however capitalism, religion, school curricula, police, seemingly benign laws, inheritances, ownership of land and resources, political structures..i could go on and on

1

Crying is good as it will reset your brain chemistry, hopefully. The struggle is never over. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. I am observed bigotry. 1964 the schools were desegregated in the US which caused mass resistance by the euro descended. The next generations must step up for liberty or lose it. Liberty & justice for all. Not just for those who mirror our heritage. I am tired of seeing the resilience of bigotry in the human species. So I have become a recluse regarding human interaction. This site is about it as I can not abide the bigots that are reproducing out there.

1

Very sorry to hear that, and more than sorry to hear that you are upset by it , as you naturally will be. But you must keep the stiff upper lip both for the sake of your students, and because if you allow it to ruin even a small part of your life, then you are letting the racist bullies win a small victory, since they no doubt would like to hurt you for your crime in their eyes of not being racist, nearly as much as they would like to hurt your students.

Lip stiff uppered!

@Amisja Well done Hug icon sent.

1

This is an example of people that have no limits and will openly be racist, it hurts, it undermines the will to do things, and then you know that are the ones that are not openly racist, but will not give a job to a non white unless pressured to do that, or be more resistant to do business. And all this missed opportunities slowly create the racial gap in societies, even after generations.
In my home country the "whites" (most of them just light skin mixed and not full european descendants) have a lot of racism, and then they complain when traveling to europe or USA and being treated as latinos...

1

Why are they the ones having to leave?

That is adding extreme unfairness to what they have already endured.

Especially if they are so close to the end of the assignment.

End of the placement, plus it is usual practice to pull students out of placements for safeguarding concerns.

They will pass

1

The ameriKKKan Racist Approach had been Exported to Other Countries. People act Surprised when I tell My Story that I didn't Learned Meaning of the Word Nigger until I was 27 Years Old. We Live in Such a Sad World... Mankind is Doomed.

I hope not Mr Gipsy

I'm curious why you would blame the USA for racism in the UK. The English were involved in the African slave trade 40 years before there were any English colonies in the USA. It seems like (if anything) the English should be blamed for racism in the USA:

[abolition.e2bn.org]

@Gooniesnvrdie ,
divide & conquer. trump is succeeding with it.

@Amisja I don't know if we are doomed, but, here, in the states, racism has been on the rise once again. It disgusts me. "Everyone" says one step at a time, but that isn't working. Those at the top need to be held accountable.

As a teacher, in some cases, and I do not take pride in my actions, but if I saw bullying, especially racist bullying I spoke up. And if nothing was done, and I could, I hate to say this, but I bullied the bullies. I am sure it did worse things in the world of Karma if such a thing exists. I am proud of the times I stood up. I am proud of my students who thanked me. I am proud of their achievements.

Sorry for what you are seeing. Another one of those no simple answers for a complex problem.

@Gooniesnvrdie I am Puertorrican, Born and Raised in the Island. I never been Racist toward Mexicans... Why Would I? When I visited England with the Navy... I wasn't white or black, I was simply what I was... a Representative from the West Indies. I learned from My European GFs that there is no white, yellow, red or black skinned... Only in ameriKKKa. I dildn't learned the meaning of the word Nigger until being 27 and in US Navy Boot Camp... But You Speak as a True Apolologist that see Racism Everywhere so... Can't be that Bad... Thank You for Representing AmeriKKKan Racism as a Normality. Here it is... EXHIBIT "A".

1

I honestly don't understand it either. It's truly mind boggling to me how people can discriminate others based on their skin color. Something that is literally determined by the sun and how close your ancestors were to it. It's an adaptation, nothing more.

Those colours are so beautiful aren't they?

0

I too used to not get it til I went to college n had a few close black friends/band mates, saw how police treat em, shop owners etc. the extra things they have to worry about in rural areas are unreal. The movie Green Book was supposed to be a historical account but people of color still damn near need one to find safe passage in the backwoods parts of our countries.

White people just can’t see/hear/believe how POCs still get treated until they spend enough time in proximity to see it for themselves. Telling educated people they don’t β€œsound black" is common here too and I can imagine little else that would be as insulting. If someone said that to me I would wind up on the news real fast. When even white people are getting tired of white peoples nonsense...

Try not to internalize your white guilt and beat yourself up but use it to recognize your privilege and use your privilege to speak up for those without. That’s all you can really do that I know of. Create those glares and awkward silences when people assume you’re as provincial as they are and tell an off color joke. Let other white people know how ignorant they sound and that we don’t do that anymore. Another useful tactic when someone starts going down a vaguely racist path of reasoning is to pretend not to know what they’re talking about and keep asking them to explain further until they get uncomfortable and stop. A wide eyed innocent look helps here if you can keep it up.

The type of person that you’re talking about may never be made uncomfortable though. I don’t know what to do about them other than reconsider our position on eugenics. if they’re still that openly racist in this age, I think I’m ok with sterilizing them.

"openly racist?????"

@Touched yeah, the type of person that would call people n words and monkeys to their face? What else do you call that? I realize that the entire system in the US and likely UK has a lot of baked in racism and that more β€œdiscreet” racism isn’t any better, but that’s the type we can do something about. The ignorant hicks that will just yell at someone are in a league of their own, dunno what to do about them other than take the warning labels off everything n let nature sort it out.

@Wurlitzer open racist aren't as much a threat than clandestine racism. if someone called me a N, i could put up defenses, but if they pass a law or side with an unjust law, that's a real problem.

0

Not surprised at all. Ignorance is everywhere. The kids will develop coping mechanisms to deal with non-blacks, and hopefully they will maintain a balance of seperating the low-lifes from normal people. Fact is, they will always remember those experiences and they should. As opposed to trying to shield them, which never works, a dialogue should be opened up on the subject. Another point, is I personally think it is a terrible idea to have black children in a completely all white/non-black environment. Kids can be terrible and the black/brown kids's scaring far outweighs any academic and intellectual stimulation. I raised 3 daughters and I have a daughter that was exposed to that level of ignorance for a brief time. She is a high achiever now, but she bitterly hates the teacher involved.

Now, I honestly believe things are worse now, than before and that is saying something.

They are adults 25 and 21

@Amisja they were from the Caribbean or an area there were majority black, then that explains a lot. An unfortunate part of life. They will adjust.

@BrentMBA2004 Nooooo they are English adult undergraduate students

@Amisja amazing they went that long without experiencing something like that. Too bad.

@BrentMBA2004 I know. Thats the upsetting thing

0

I am trying to understand. In my life today I'm aware that I have done a complete 360 on many things and this issue is one of them. I have a few black friends. My ex of 12 years was Kenyan. My radar picks up on whites talking trash and some of them do it unawares. Some are flat out racists. I'm aware that Julie and Tommy can be as intelligent as anyone else and they should be allowed to be anyone they want to be. Yet, I find ignorant whites arguing on how they would feel if "god had made them a black man." It's insanity! I don't want to cry about this issue or feel any guilt. I do feel badly about it and I avoid anyone who is racist in any way whether they are aware of it or not.

I do understand this. I think that was kind of my point. I have a mixed race sister, my ex was Jewish American, my cousin's wife is Puerto Rican. I hate racism. I hate it intellectually but I never felt it before. When my nephew comes and stays with me, he is my little chap. He is who he is. His race never even occurred to me. This has been the first time I felt it. Like really felt angry at other people's ignorance before.

@Amisja I have a neighbor who lives in the apartment complex next door. I no longer talk to him much and the reason is that once he told me all about blacks. He has no idea that my ex was black but he says "look at all the money we have spent to educate them." People like this are too frigging stupid to even know they are racist and they are a waste of my time. They are a disgrace!

I know you realise that 360 degrees is a circle which would leave you right back where you began. Perhaps you meant a "180 degree" which would leave you totally opposite from where you began.

@Countrywoman Thank you for the heads up. I always was bad at math. πŸ™‚

@DenoPenno awww we'll call you Spinning Deno πŸ˜‰

Sorry to belabor a point but your comment of having done "a complete 360" literally means that you made a full circle and returned to the point of origin. Might I ask if you did not instead mean that you did a 180ΒΊ - opposite of your original stand?!?

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