Is it normal to experience this kind of racism?

62% Normal
21 Comments

I am a 24 year black man, I was born in Haiti but my parents were poor and gave me to adoption services, and when I was 3 years old I was adopted by a white American family. I was their first "child", and after me the couple had 3 biological children - two boys and one girl. Their youngest daughter, who is legally my sister, had her 10th birthday last weekend. She celebrated with a few friends and also because we live in Florida my parents decided to take us all to Disney World. I am a college graduate with a fulltime job but I was home that weekend so I chose to go with my family.

For the most part, we stuck together during the time we were there. But later that day, my younger sister wanted to go on a Spiderman ride and my parents and brothers were tired, so I decided to go with her because children are not allowed to ride by themselves. While we were standing in line, I could feel some people giving us funny looks and a white elderly couple was basically staring directly at us. I didn't want to do it, but my younger sister wanted to hold my hand because it was crowded and she was a little scared (and also excited) about going on the ride. That seemed to make things worse however. They didn't say it to my face, but I heard some white teenagers right behind me talking and using words like "ni**ger" and "pedo". That made me really upset and I wanted to turn around and say that she was my sister, but I didn't want to make a scene so I stayed quiet.

I am not so-called gangsta and I am respectful and responsible, but experiencing these kinds of reactions makes me very upset. I know there are good white people, such as my family who I love a lot and who respect me as an individual regardless of the color of my skin, but this isn't the first time that something like this has happened. And each time I am stunned at how ignorant people can be.

Voting Results
62% Normal
Based on 21 votes (13 yes)
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Comments ( 21 )
  • modernism
    8 years ago

    I'm sorry you had to go through that, along with your sister. It's sad to hear racism is still a current topic, but it unfortunately is.

    The elderly couple probably grew up with the negative view of different races present, and that is all they came know. Though that isn't an excuse for stupidity - I know many elderly people that don't have a jacked up perspective of things, let alone people.

    As for the teenagers, they're probably just plain idiotic. No matter how the world improves in it's social views, there will also be those few that just don't get it.

    Ignorance is a dreadful thing, though the best thing I could tell you is to know it is in NO way your fault. Ignore them and pay your attention to those who are worthy of it. You seem very nice, and the worst thing you can do is let them bitter you. Anyone with the slightest bit of common sense knows that skin color is legitimately nothing but a pigmentation and doesn't mean anything greater than that. Don't let anyone tell you different and go about your day without minding them - the best thing you can do is ignore them (or speak to them kindly, though with respect to yourself) and hope that the stupid in the world eventually dies out.

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  • VinnyB
    8 years ago

    Off topic, but I live in Orlando so it eeks me a touch, Spiderman is in Islands of Adventure, which is a Universal Studios Park, not a Disney Park, Back on topic lol...

    I get this occasionally for being gay. I had a similar experience in a restaurant recently. You will find ignorant people all over the world. There is really nothing you can do about it. You did the right thing, which was to not ruin your sisters birthday, and go about your business. It can be hard sometimes, but just know that they are ignorant, and move on. It is better than it used to be, as cliché as that sounds.

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    • VinnyB
      8 years ago

      And then he started talking to fake gypsysalor about setting his 10yo sister up to have sex with her when she turns 16, and I lost all sympathy for him.

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      • dirtybirdy
        8 years ago

        Wow. I just read on to see that. What in the ever lovin frak?!?!

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  • [Old Memory]
    8 years ago

    black teenagers say nigger too

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      it is uncivilized to do so

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    • modernism
      8 years ago

      No one said that was okay.

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  • Ace9
    8 years ago

    Don't worry about it bro, they're just stupid bitches being stupid :)

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  • Noitsnotal
    8 years ago

    Ya, it is, it would be interesting to see what this country would look like without a racist white majority. I think white people are in luck because when their demographic shrinks, and dwindles, and it will, I highly doubt they'll be treated as badly as they have EVERY minority in the U. S.

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  • dickwashington
    8 years ago

    im sorry that happened to you nobody deserves to be a victim of racism. the use of the word ni**er is absolutely unacceptable and the fact that it is still being used is a complete atrocity!

    i do have to admit seeing you and your sister together would confuse me quite a bit. however i would never jump to the conclusion you were harming her in any way.

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  • cozyinhere
    8 years ago

    I have one girl in my course who is completely horrible person. And as rasistic as ever could be. Once we talked about ebola virus in class and what she asked is: "Isnt that virus only for the dirty niggers?"

    What i did is i gave her a lecture about skin pigmentation and that people with dark skin collor isnt any different from anyone else!

    But ofcourse she stayed like: But i've read about it on the internet!

    All i could do is facepalm...

    There are always noninteligent, rude and ignorant people. You should'nt feel sad about yourself, you should feel sad for them. ;-)

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  • singinggiraffes
    8 years ago

    Rude !! I mean sure you would get a few stares but no people should not judge you like that in public! They should keep those remarks to themselves and go home and talk about it. It sounds like you live in a white majority neighborhood, so it may be common to get comments like those especially from older generations.

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  • LizardSkin
    8 years ago

    Your bleeding heart liberal parents should have left you where you were. Problem solved.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      everyone deserves a shot at a good life, i am blessed to be in the position i am today. i pray to Jesus every night for saving my soul

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      • LizardSkin
        8 years ago

        Well damn, maybe you should worry about that "world peace" goal of yours wise man instead of trivial things like racism and hurt feelings.

        As it stands, many, many, people don't get that shot at a good life. People have been getting slaughtered since about as far back as we can trace human history and now too in present time. There are no signs of it stopping anytime soon.

        Don't thank Jesus, thank your parents... unless of course you think you were deemed more worthy by some deity than the boy or girl next to you in the orphanage.

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  • theseeker
    8 years ago

    Not normal. It's not socially acceptable for a white person to use the word "n***er" around a black person. That's how people get fucked up, and well deserved too!

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    • LizardSkin
      8 years ago

      I've personally tested this theory, and it didn't work out so well for the nigger.

      You are nothing but one of the millions of indoctrinated scared little rabbit. Run rabbit run.

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      • theseeker
        8 years ago

        The use of the word is obviously seen as discrimination coming from a white person. We know every action has an equal and opposite reaction. What comes around goes around, and it's coming back around. If you keep that shit up it catches up to you. Eventually, you say it around the wrong person and it just might be the last word you ever say.

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        • LizardSkin
          8 years ago

          Nothing catches up to me son, I enjoy taking ass whoopings even more than I enjoy giving them. And I have taken them.

          I'm a glutton for punishment, pain is an honor, and anger is a gift.

          I would ask that, if it's so fucking offensive that they stop calling each other that "word."

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          • theseeker
            8 years ago

            The way I see it, in this world there's a lot of hatred, anger, pain etc. It's easy to let it all consume you and become part of it if you let it.

            As far as why they call each other that "word", I can't really answer that, but what I will say is I don't think it's the "word" itself that is offensive. It's everything that comes with that "word." You have to think about the people who introduced civilization, and what African-Americans went through compared to how things are now. When a white person uses it, it's different because of our history when white men would whip the shit outta African-Americans, rape black women, and treat them less than shit. The past is the past and we can't control that now, but that "word" basically ignites what happened then.

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  • thegypsysailor
    8 years ago

    You've been in the US for how many years and you are surprised by this? You must have lived your life in a bubble. TV, newspapers, the web and magazines are filled with stories of racism and prejudice.
    You need to grow a thicker skin and let the ignorant assholes act like the morons they are, without letting it bother you.

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