Poll: Is this question still necessary?

[Shreddie]

A couple of days ago at work a coworker of mine approached me and asked if I'd be able to give a customer a drive home. I agreed and the two of us began walking to where the customer was waiting. Just before we got there my coworker stopped and asked me, "Are you okay with black people?"

I wasn't really offended or anything, but the question caught me completely off guard as my I scanned for signs of humour during the awkward silence that followed. There weren't any. He was serious.

So is racism still a big enough problem that we need to ask such questions or have we (mostly) moved past that as a society? Or does it simply depend on where you live? Personally, having never experienced or even witnessed any form of racism before, I would have thought that this question was unnecessary (at least where I live anyway).

What are your thoughts on this? Is racism or racial discrimination a problem where you live?

 

[Yumore]

I like to think that race isn't really a problem so much that one would need to ask that question to someone who's shown no signs of racism in the past

 

[Thaluikhain]

Well, where I live, racism has mostly died down to the extent everyone can ignore it if they choose. Or, to put it another way, if you ask that question, IMHO, most people will know they are supposed to say "No, of course not", but would prefer the people they don't have a problem with to be someone else's not-problem.

Except for the batshit crazy racists, still a sizeable minority of them, of course.

 

[AperioContra]

*thinks of Avenue Q.* ... nope

 

[wilsontheterrible]

>Is racism or racial discrimination a problem where you live?

Yes. I live in Detroit and between the Italian, Irish, Black, Middle Eastern, and Polish groups theres no end to the dislike and mutual distrust of other races. While violence is prominent in the city it's not racially motivated for the most part, the racism is mostly tacit and racial slurs are used commonly when in ones own circle.

I used to work for a college as a building attendant and was asked if I would be alright if I had to work around people of other races. I said I was fine with other people, so they had me stay around the lounge to break up fights. In retrospect I should have asked for a raise ~_~

There is racism EVERYWHERE, it's just not as blatent as it used to be.

 

[Tootiefly]

Racism, to me is pointless. My family many times have been victims of racism, for example, bullying.

Its just that we all have the one planet to share and have been doing so for thousands of years and even though conflict has lasted the same amount of time, I think that maybe its kind of time we just stop caring about stupid, genetic differences!

 

[Uszi]

I don't really have an opinion on your poll. Is this question necessary? No, I guess.

But is racism still a problem? Yes, yes it is.

 

[Johnny Impact]

Only 4-5% of the population is black in my area. Even if we had racists, which we really don't, there wouldn't be many targets for them. Most of the black people here are refugees from Somalia. It's easy to get government aid in my state so they come here. Of the blacks we do have, a large percentage don't have jobs, don't speak a word of English, but they drive brand-new minivans. I think the existence of a welfare system in which vehicles much nicer than my own are handed out for the asking is the real problem. People taking advantage of such a system is only natural, whatever their skin color. I got no beef with the people, only the system.

 

[TheLoneBeet]

I think it depends on where you live. In my experience my area is a grey zone. Some people are extremely racist and others are racially colorblind. I suppose it depends on the area you grew up in. For example; if you grew up in a larger city you probably encountered people of other races fairly early on in your life. However, if you grow up in a small town and never see people of other races; it's difficult for some people to grow accustomed to them later in life. It's a shame but that's just how things seem to be.

 

[Winthrop]

Snip

I see a lot of people hating muslims now and calling them terrorists. I do not agree with this of course so mods please don't ban me. I think he only asked to ensure that both you and the customer would feel comfortable. I know quite a few people who openly hate quite a few groups. I think asking if you aren't sure if the person is okay with another race is the right thing to do to avoid conflict and possible harm to the victim of the racism. I voted yes.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Race isn't the problem, it's the type of person. The type of person that can be obnoxious, or very anti-social tends to be a very real part of the black culture. More so than any other race it seems. Whites follow close behind. It's just the culture, nothing to do with race. It's a very unfortunate culture, but its there. And if the person says 'are you okay with black people?' I'm sure he's referring to the anti-social class of black people. Not making a terribly racist remark. Because like it or not, black people are kind of defined by this class of anti-social people. As a famous man once said, you're defined by your wrong doings, no matter how many good deeds follow.

 

[Shreddie]

And that coworker? Hes aware of it and probably wanted to avoid a conflict if he showed up with a black dude and it turned out that no, you are not ok with it.

I think asking if you aren't sure if the person is okay with another race is the right thing to do to avoid conflict and possible harm to the victim of the racism.

I have to agree, and I don't think he was wrong in asking, it's just that I was surprised by the question. Better safe than sorry I guess.

 

[Custard_Angel]

Saying that racism isn't a prevailing issue is a ridiculously misguided statement.

Racism is rampant throughout the world against every single race, skin colour, religion and whatever that exists.

Asking if you're okay with black people isn't offensive towards you, its defensive towards others, because nobody wants to deliver someone into the hands of a bigoted fuckbin.

Show me a nation of racially sensitive people and I'll show you a nation of guilty liars.

 

[DefinitelyPsychotic]

It depends on where you live. I live in New Jersey, and whenever a bank gets robbed or someone is murdered, and they're reviewing the incident on the news, it is done by a black person 9 out of 10 times.

Hey, statistics don't lie! You can never be too careful.

 

[Mitsu3474]

I live in the heart of Mississippi and racist is pretty much a non-issue except for a few stupid black teenagers acting very racist towards white, but I guess they grow out of that because I'm good friends with some of those same people now.

 

[Magicmad5511]

I love the fact that while some forums on the web simply discuss gaming, TV and memes The Escapist is here debating moments of philosophy, discrimination and the nature of our world we live in. Makes me proud to be a part of it.

OT
I'd say that overall racism isn't that much of a problem, and in ways is being self regulated because if someone is found to be racist in the average society the they are hated for it(which is ironic if you think about it). I'd hope that racism is a thing of the past but I know in my heart there are still small pockets who think its OK to discriminate because some one looks different or believes something different.I call this kind of people "ignorant dickheads". I hate that it is still allowed to happen in these small pockets and I think if it is found people should be arrested for it. Your race is not a choice, so why be judged for something you can't control.

 

[DefunctTheory]

The question is: Why would he ask YOU that?

In my experience, that question is never asked without some... prompting.