Blatant racism

[G. Keenan]

I think you did the right thing by calling him out. When people get going like that I think they're sending out feelers for a sympathetic ear. I can't imagine (or at least hope) that racist people have all that many opportunities to let fly with what they'd really like to say.

I was in a bar once that was entirely Hispanic. You didn't hear any English spoken and the music was entirely Hispanic music. There was a great old dance party going on. It was cool. This guy who was tagging along with my group of friends makes a few racist comments that I tried to ignore. I figured he was just feeling really uncomfortable and out of place (one of those guys who would refuse to dance if his life depended on it). A while later he made a few more and I pointed out that we were in their joint and that everyone was having a good time but him. When he made more again a bit later I just lost it. I jumped up and got in his face and told him to basically shut the [expletive] up. That's what it took to get him to stop.

I felt really good about it.

[Radbird]

I felt really good about it.

I can totally understand that. Why are some people so hateful toward other cultures/traditions?

I had grandparents who spoke like that, and they lived in North STL. I was too young to speak out (at least, that was my excuse), but hearing what they said and then experiencing something different out on the street and through my life experiences in general, I understood the fallacy of their beliefs and recognized they were illogical and didn't square with reality.

So, from that perspective, seeing racism in my family was instructional and somewhat cathartic.

[cardsfansince82]

If it is someone older then I usually just don't respond. My grandpa makes a lot of embarassing comments but he is also from a different time. Not saying it's right but it was much more accepted and widespread and he's at a point in his life where you can't show him the error of his ways or convince him otherwise. I don't condone or encourage what he says (pretty much ignore it) but I'm not going to get in a huge argument and damage our relationship because he has been forming these opinions for a lot longer than i have even been alive and to try and change him would be pointless. People my age are a different story. They should know better and I will confront anyone on a matter like that. I'd also certainly end any relationship I had with that person.

[Tarver]

So for the second time in like four days someone has said some absolutely racist [expletive] to my face. The first was a joke. Whatever. It wasn't funny and I didn't know the person. I just walked away.

This last one just happened and really pissed me off. My grandmother's latest husband wanted to drive around St. Louis because they're in town for some reason. So we eat at Blues City by my house, drive towards the city by Union Station, the ballpark, landing, arch and all that stuff when he decides to go north up the river from downtown. I tell him it's not the best part of town but he wants to see it.

Anyway, I don't really know him, but the time I met him I got a really bad vibe. Basically just what he had to say about Obama and lower-income people not contributing to society etc. So I figured this wouldn't end well, however I was stuck in the backseat of the car.

I'll spare you what he actually said, but it ended with me telling him that his commentary on the run-down buildings and people walking along the street was incredibly offensive and to basically STFU when he tried to rationalize it. My mom and grandmother (also in the car) were pretty taken aback and my mom actually started crying. So now he's sitting downstairs and I'm just trying to ignore him so I don't say something I'll regret (well, I don't think I'd regret it, but he's married to my grandmother now).

I don't understand why people think this is OK. Has he just acted this way for his entire adult life and no one's called him on it until now? Is my grandmother OK with this? If it's because I'm white that infuriates me. I'm so pissed right now.

Do you remember what streets you drove on or what neighborhood?

SOME (ok, like 2) places up here have come a long way, and don't deserve yesterday's stereotypical BS. Others...

[Popeye_Card]

So for the second time in like four days someone has said some absolutely racist [expletive] to my face. The first was a joke. Whatever. It wasn't funny and I didn't know the person. I just walked away.

This last one just happened and really pissed me off. My grandmother's latest husband wanted to drive around St. Louis because they're in town for some reason. So we eat at Blues City by my house, drive towards the city by Union Station, the ballpark, landing, arch and all that stuff when he decides to go north up the river from downtown. I tell him it's not the best part of town but he wants to see it.

Anyway, I don't really know him, but the time I met him I got a really bad vibe. Basically just what he had to say about Obama and lower-income people not contributing to society etc. So I figured this wouldn't end well, however I was stuck in the backseat of the car.

I'll spare you what he actually said, but it ended with me telling him that his commentary on the run-down buildings and people walking along the street was incredibly offensive and to basically STFU when he tried to rationalize it. My mom and grandmother (also in the car) were pretty taken aback and my mom actually started crying. So now he's sitting downstairs and I'm just trying to ignore him so I don't say something I'll regret (well, I don't think I'd regret it, but he's married to my grandmother now).

I don't understand why people think this is OK. Has he just acted this way for his entire adult life and no one's called him on it until now? Is my grandmother OK with this? If it's because I'm white that infuriates me. I'm so pissed right now.

Look on the bright side--lunch was probably really good.

[JL21]

If it is someone older then I usually just don't respond. My grandpa makes a lot of embarassing comments but he is also from a different time. Not saying it's right but it was much more accepted and widespread and he's at a point in his life where you can't show him the error of his ways or convince him otherwise. I don't condone or encourage what he says (pretty much ignore it) but I'm not going to get in a huge argument and damage our relationship because he has been forming these opinions for a lot longer than i have even been alive and to try and change him would be pointless. People my age are a different story. They should know better and I will confront anyone on a matter like that. I'd also certainly end any relationship I had with that person.

This is where I'm coming from, too.

My cousin got married to a dingleberry a few years ago. I didn't really like the guy she married, but I don't really like her either so it was pretty much a wash in my mind. Out of familial obligation, I went to the wedding reception.

After the reception, a bunch of us went to a bar in the area (a smaller town in S.E. Mo, about 10,000 residents). While at the bar, I was standing there talking to a cousin that I do like when the douchebag newlywed walks up and joins the conversation. At that point, he noticed a mixed race couple sitting together at the end of the bar. And he launches into this really eerie rant about miscegenation. I let him get it all out (even though he'd have to be a complete idiot to not see how annoyed I was). After he was done, I told him this joke:

What do you call a black guy who flies planes?
Answer: You call him a pilot, you racist jackass.

He just chuckled weakly and said "Yeah, that's a good one" and then I walked off, determined to deal with him as very little in the future as possible. But occasionally, I run into him at family functions- once every two years or so. And every time I see him, I give him a good firm handshake and say "It's good to see you again, (Dingleberry). Hey.... do you know what you call a black guy who flies planes?". And every time, he says "Yeah, I think you've told me that one before". And every time I hope he freakin' realizes why I tell him that joke every time I see him.

[Popeye_Card]

Here's a quick story that's a bit disturbing.

My friends' ~7 year old niece was in town last year, and they were taking her on a walk through Lafayette Park. Now keep in mind that she lives in a small town in Illinois that is 99.99% white. Her father is a loser who spouts stupid stuff all the time. So anyway, they're walking through the park and some black folks pass by. She hides behind my friend as if they were grizzly bears. My friend asks what's wrong. She says they're black. My friend tries to explain that it's OK--that they're our neighbors. No use. She began crying because she was so scared. Really sad.

[BW23]

If it is someone older then I usually just don't respond. My grandpa makes a lot of embarassing comments but he is also from a different time. Not saying it's right but it was much more accepted and widespread and he's at a point in his life where you can't show him the error of his ways or convince him otherwise. I don't condone or encourage what he says (pretty much ignore it) but I'm not going to get in a huge argument and damage our relationship because he has been forming these opinions for a lot longer than i have even been alive and to try and change him would be pointless. People my age are a different story. They should know better and I will confront anyone on a matter like that. I'd also certainly end any relationship I had with that person.

This is where I'm coming from, too.

My cousin got married to a dingleberry a few years ago. I didn't really like the guy she married, but I don't really like her either so it was pretty much a wash in my mind. Out of familial obligation, I went to the wedding reception.

After the reception, a bunch of us went to a bar in the area (a smaller town in S.E. Mo, about 10,000 residents). While at the bar, I was standing there talking to a cousin that I do like when the douchebag newlywed walks up and joins the conversation. At that point, he noticed a mixed race couple sitting together at the end of the bar. And he launches into this really eerie rant about miscegenation. I let him get it all out (even though he'd have to be a complete idiot to not see how annoyed I was). After he was done, I told him this joke:

What do you call a black guy who flies planes?
Answer: You call him a pilot, you racist [expletive].

He just chuckled weakly and said "Yeah, that's a good one" and then I walked off, determined to deal with him as very little in the future as possible. But occasionally, I run into him at family functions- once every two years or so. And every time I see him, I give him a good firm handshake and say "It's good to see you again, (Dingleberry). Hey.... do you know what you call a black guy who flies planes?". And every time, he says "Yeah, I think you've told me that one before". And every time I hope he freakin' realizes why I tell him that joke every time I see him.

If you're talking about the town I'm talking about, that place is very racist. At all levels.

[JL21]

If you're talking about the town I'm talking about, that place is very racist. At all levels.

Same area, for sure... I don't know if it's the exact same town, though. Could be. And yes, it is really, really racist.

Though that doesn't explain the dingleberry, who's from Nashville.

[Popeye_Card]

Heard on KMOX this morning (CBS news).

White Voter: "I don't want to sound racist, but I can't vote for a colored man for president."


Hey buddy, if you don't want to sound racist, maybe don't say racist things.