Poll: Question for the visible minorities, have you ever wished you were white?

[Lufia Erim]

Preface : im black

Now that thats out of the way. I have a question for the other 5 visible minorities on this site (joking).

Have you ever wished you were white? why or why not?

Personally, i have. Very often even. Probably to ab unhealthy degree even. But i can't help but wonder what it would be like to be on the otherside. If I'm being honest i think my life would be a little easier if i was. Not to say being black is an automotic fail at life or being white is an automatic win. I just feel like most situations would be easier if i was white.

 

[FalloutJack]

I dunno, man. It didn't exactly help the Irish.

 

[Rosiv]

Being 1/2 black and 1/2 "asian" I have never been seen as either, so I feel it would be eaiser to be white, since I think no one really questions someones background if they look like their hertiage. I often get sick of tellng people I'm not indian or hispanic or hawaiian, etc...

 

[FPLOON]

Yes, when I was in elementary school... At first, it was just to blend in with the rest of my white friends as well as to convince one [white] female friend that I did not look like, let alone grow up to be, a child's equivalent to a potential rapist... Then, in middle school, I got the nickname "The Black White Man" because I acted more whiter than my white peers... Now, I would only wish upon that if I had the power to shapeshift at will...

Anyway, at this point, it would be pointless because all it would do is prove an old saying that's based on a poorly, though-out stereotype, "at best"... Besides, given the friends I hang out with now, I'm their only black friend as far as I'm aware of...

 

[Ihateregistering1]

I'm white, and I am so fucking glad for that. There's way too many racist white folk out there that want nothing more than the eradication of non-whites, and had I been born to somebody of any other race to the same community I was born to, I'd have to encounter them daily, especially at school, not just in classmates, but in teachers as well.

Where the hell do you live, in a secret Nazi base under the ocean? I've lived all over the planet, and I've never encountered white on black racism to that insane of a degree en masse.

 

[Kae]

Do I sometimes wish that my life was in easy mode and that I hadn't been born in 3rd World Country?

Sure, not often but I have, being a white person in a 1st World Country would be easier, but for the most part I'm pretty OK with how I am, I look pretty good which is nice and my voice is good enough that I don't have any complaints about it besides that it sounds awful when I try to sing, but to be honest I don't really consider my physical body me, the only part of me that I consider me is my consciousness, even if I somehow became a brain in a jar I'd be OK with it so long as I'm able to still interact with stuff, I don't know that stuff doesn't matter.

 

[Eddie the head]

I'm white, and I am so fucking glad for that. There's way too many racist white folk out there that want nothing more than the eradication of non-whites, and had I been born to somebody of any other race to the same community I was born to, I'd have to encounter them daily, especially at school, not just in classmates, but in teachers as well.

Where the hell do you live, in a secret Nazi base under the ocean? I've lived all over the planet, and I've never encountered white on black racism to that insane of a degree en masse.

I imagine the Bible belt of the United States might have some really raciest people.

Yes, when I was in elementary school... At first, it was just to blend in with the rest of my white friends as well as to convince one [white] female friend that I did not look like, let alone grow up to be, a child's equivalent to a potential rapist... Then, in middle school, I got the nickname "The Black White Man" because I acted more whiter than my white peers... Now, I would only wish upon that if I had the power to shapeshift at will...

Anyway, at this point, it would be pointless because all it would do is prove an old saying that's based on a poorly, though-out stereotype, "at best"... Besides, given the friends I hang out with now, I'm their only black friend as far as I'm aware of...

My brother use to call one of my friends in high school a black wigger. He fit that description well.

 

[Hoplon]

Being 1/2 black and 1/2 "asian" I have never been seen as either, so I feel it would be eaiser to be white, since I think no one really questions someones background if they look like their hertiage. I often get sick of tellng people I'm not indian or hispanic or hawaiian, etc...

You're Hiro Protagonist? Cool. Sorry couldn't resist the snowcrash reference.

 

[Queen Michael]

My black cousin Jeffrey said he wanted to be white at least once.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

It's like Louie CK said - white people aren't better, but being white is better. Generally speaking.

 

[Lawbringer]

White Brit here: I imagine there is going to be a whole lot of 'grass is greener'. I enjoy some elements of being white insofar as avoiding the prejudices that people have socially about non-whites and certainly I appreciate that. On the other hand, white people certainly face hostility from some non-whites simply because we are white. This happens with starting regularity because it's *okay* to be racist to white people. The irony is not lost on me here!

When it comes to employment, the fact I am white means I fall into the statistic of being more likely to have better education and encouragement from peers and family to push on in life. On the other hand, it does mean I face a tougher challenge once in work because I am actively discouraged from applying for more senior positions when companies are keen to hire BME candidates to show how diverse they are. I don't begrudge this fact - it's just how life works, and I just have to do a little more to stand out.

In short...don't wish to be something you're not. It's easy to underestimate the advantages you have in life, whilst simultaneously imagining that 'they' have it better. Obviously this is to be taken with a massive pinch of salt and I am applying it to healthy people in the first world. I wouldn't apply it to people who are severely disabled or refugees or others who do not benefit from their situation.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

No. I'm very proud of my ethnicity, both of them. (I'm half-Hawaiian, half-Puerto Rican.)

Also, where I live (Hawaii) is pretty ethnically diverse, so I never had the problem of feeling left out because of my race nor did I had to deal with racism. The closest thing to that is when stupid people think you live in grass shacks.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

I'm white, and I am so fucking glad for that. There's way too many racist white folk out there that want nothing more than the eradication of non-whites, and had I been born to somebody of any other race to the same community I was born to, I'd have to encounter them daily, especially at school, not just in classmates, but in teachers as well.

Where the hell do you live, in a secret Nazi base under the ocean? I've lived all over the planet, and I've never encountered white on black racism to that insane of a degree en masse.

I imagine the Bible belt of the United States might have some really raciest people.

Lived there for years. Are there some racist folks? Of course (like there are anywhere), but legions of people who 'want nothing more than the eradication of non-whites'? Not even close.

 

[Scarim Coral]

No for the most part. I will admit there has been one or two times when I imagine if I was white but hey, being Chinese is who I am. Just becoming a different race will just means I become someone entirely differently (genetic ahoy) therfore not "me".

Just to be clear, yes I had face a couple of descrimation/ racism but in saying so my is kinda small compared to those who has hasher treatment out there.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

I'm white, and I am so fucking glad for that. There's way too many racist white folk out there that want nothing more than the eradication of non-whites, and had I been born to somebody of any other race to the same community I was born to, I'd have to encounter them daily, especially at school, not just in classmates, but in teachers as well.

Where the hell do you live, in a secret Nazi base under the ocean? I've lived all over the planet, and I've never encountered white on black racism to that insane of a degree en masse.

New Jersey, the most democrat-leaning, liberal state in the United States.

Racism hasn't been eradicated just because we don't see it, people hide it now because they live in a time where their racism will be held against them. Of course, they're hypocriticial fuckwits, being afraid for their assholery being held against them while they hold something as trivial as skin pigmentation against others. While its causes their frustration and hate to fester because they're not as open about it, their racism doesn't really spread. It just causes already angry, bitter cowards to become more angry, bitter and cowardly. Some try to speak in code to try and find other people who are similarly racist without outing themselves as racists. Some just assume everybody of the same race around them thinks the same way, and then rave a bunch of horrific stuff, which isn't something exclusive to race and racists might I add. They're out there to be found, and you'll find them just about anywhere.

Really all you ever have to do to find these people is bite your tongue and blend in, and you'll encounter people who supply all the rope needed to hang themselves.. I'm reminded of the film Borat, where the actor just acted like he was from a backwards country. He didn't contest people and quite often he didn't even really lead them to say something most of the time. He just held his tongue a lot of the time, and thats how you get somebody saying that they wish they could go back to the good ol' days where they could lynching any queers to appear in a hit movie in many theaters across the nation. Or, alternatively, how the correspondants of The Daily Show to get people to say stuff like that they're blatantly trying to prevent people of a different race from voting because of their race. [http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/dxhtvk/suppressing-the-vote]

The Daily Show is a satirical news show, but even then, he openly admitted that this is basically entirely to prevent votes for Democrats. 2 people does not legions make.

Regardless, there's a significant difference between someone who is racist (a term that has been used to cover such an insane amount of things that it has nearly lost all meaning) and someone who "want(s) nothing more than the eradication of non-whites". Hell, even a person who flat-out told you "I think whites are better than the other races" (which is the dictionary definition of racism) doesn't automatically mean they wish to commit systematic genocide on over 50% of the world's population.

 

[mecegirl]

I've never wanted to be White but I have wanted to not have to deal with racism. Though this question reminds me of something someone said to me once. Back when I still practiced drawing I submitted a drawing to a high school art contest. It was a drawing of a White classmate. One of the attendees actually asked me if she was my alter ego. Somehow I managed not to look at her like she'd lost her damn mind.

 

[Lightknight]

Preface : im black

Now that thats out of the way. I have a question for the other 5 visible minorities on this site (joking).

Have you ever wished you were white? why or why not?

Personally, i have. Very often even. Probably to ab unhealthy degree even. But i can't help but wonder what it would be like to be on the otherside. If I'm being honest i think my life would be a little easier if i was. Not to say being black is an automotic fail at life or being white is an automatic win. I just feel like most situations would be easier if i was white.

Interesting thread, might I ask what sort of things you think would be easier? Were you born to a poor, middle, or upper class family?

I find the family wealth or poverty is much more closely tied to success than race. In fact, minorities with higher education have a significantly higher employment to population rate than whites, for example, and that's actually a statistic that is viewed more valuable than mere unemployment rate because it accounts for all work-age members of the demographic whereas unemployment does not count people who have given up looking for work. As such, I have wished that my family had been wealthy but I can't say I've done poorly for myself regardless.

I'm sure there are still other factors at play now, especially with horrors that racism is still producing all over the world like that horrendous church shooting. It just seems like relative income level is the single biggest thing. Slavery followed by blatant and widespread institutional bigotry (Jim Crow laws and such) really hindered the black community in taking their rightful place as equals and honestly hasn't been gone for that long. As such, being born black has a much higher likelihood of meaning that your family and your community are worse off than a white counterpart. This not only means you have fewer resources for education but your community itself is less of a resource when looking for work.

Sadly, with the current epidemic of black males not attending college the situation may spiral even further out of control while black females are attending college more than ever.

I'm not sure how the situation is going to resolve. I have no idea how cultural, social, and vestigial institutional practices and beliefs can be fixed any time soon and I'm not personally assured that they (the root causes) will fix themselves over time even now that the playing field has been equalized. Maybe as more and more members of the black community reach the higher levels of industry and wealth we will see them give more and more to their communities and that will be the turning point. I am gravely concerned for their future if not. I don't quite know if that's OK for me to admit that I am worried about the community but I am. I just have no freaking idea how to help.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

Hmm. I really don't care.

Being racial minority never bothered me much.

Edit:
which might have been contributed by the fact that I am in post-secondary education.
Asians(generally speaking) are significant minority here, if not majority.