Denmark forcibly sterilizing Greenland Inuit women, the general treatment of the Romani people, Brexiters crying about immigrants, oh hey look things are getting worse for black people, Zwarte Piet, golliwog dolls, the racism adjacent to Islamophobia…
It generally looks different in the US because a) the population is way less homogenous so different ethnic groups can both form distinct cultures and are more likely to interact with other groups and b) the core issues are baked into every facet of our history and fixing all of the lingering effects means actually facing and discussing all of it. This is complicated by a sizeable portion that are perfectly happy with a segregated society. We fought a war with ourselves about it and didn’t actually fix anything in that process. (I suspect that a great many Europeans are also happy with a segregated society, and as long as that segregation is along country or even village borders they can pretend it’s not the same kind of bigotry)
There is absolutely racism in Europe, as a continent. However, most US commenters here are conflating being less politically correct than the US with the de facto batshit insane institutionalized racism that still prevails stateside. Call me when EU prisons are used as slave camps (populated overwhelmingly by black people) or we have a para-military neo-nazi force arresting people because of the colour of their skin. Meanwhile black people get access to healthcare in the EU and have higher life expectancy at birth within the EU than the progressive polite US of A…
Also, since you mention Scandinavia you forgot the Sámi and the use of eugenics in Sweden well into the 60s…
The use of exaggerated black features to depict a servant that originated as a slave demon has nothing to do with racism?
This is the kind of stuff this post is about. It’s not that “Americans talk about race too much” it’s that y’all don’t talk about the problematic stuff enough so you don’t even recognize it.
Zwarte Piet is 100% a slave with all the traditional symbolism around the character. The fact that people call their role ‘helper’ or ‘assistant’ really does not change anything about the historical background of “zwarte Piet”
We are basically portraying a white man with black slaves as a great thing, and celebrate it. Combine that with the fact that it’s mainly directed at kids who are very easily influenced in such regards… It’s a bad tradition.
I know that for 99% of the people this probably isn’t the message they want to send, but even when not malicious it will influence the way children look at the world.
Why between the things that are genuinely bad (racism) you mixed in religion? Religion is a choice, and if you choose to believe bizzare fairy tales, I’m going to see you as as mentally challenged person.
Discrimination? I said “see you as”, which does not involve any real action, it’s just my thoughts about religion in general, does not matter which one
I never said I discriminate anyone. I almost never bring up religion in real life and I’m not racist. All these are wild assumptions. I’ll repeat my original comment - religion is a choice, it should not be put in the same sentence/context as racism based on someone’s skin color or ethnicity - something you didn’t choose or can’t change. Me shitting on islam or christianity is nowhere on the same level as hating all brown or white people. I’m sure there are many that see Arabic person and assume they’re highly religious, but for me that’s BS because I know too many ex-muslims
Denmark forcibly sterilizing Greenland Inuit women, the general treatment of the Romani people, Brexiters crying about immigrants, oh hey look things are getting worse for black people, Zwarte Piet, golliwog dolls, the racism adjacent to Islamophobia…
It generally looks different in the US because a) the population is way less homogenous so different ethnic groups can both form distinct cultures and are more likely to interact with other groups and b) the core issues are baked into every facet of our history and fixing all of the lingering effects means actually facing and discussing all of it. This is complicated by a sizeable portion that are perfectly happy with a segregated society. We fought a war with ourselves about it and didn’t actually fix anything in that process. (I suspect that a great many Europeans are also happy with a segregated society, and as long as that segregation is along country or even village borders they can pretend it’s not the same kind of bigotry)
Also, since you mention Scandinavia you forgot the Sámi and the use of eugenics in Sweden well into the 60s…
What about “Zwarte Piet”? That has nothing to do with racism.
The use of exaggerated black features to depict a servant that originated as a slave demon has nothing to do with racism?
This is the kind of stuff this post is about. It’s not that “Americans talk about race too much” it’s that y’all don’t talk about the problematic stuff enough so you don’t even recognize it.
That would be Speciesism just to be pedantic. But no, it really doesn’t and shows a poor understanding of the historical background of “zwarte Piet”.
Zwarte Piet is 100% a slave with all the traditional symbolism around the character. The fact that people call their role ‘helper’ or ‘assistant’ really does not change anything about the historical background of “zwarte Piet”
We are basically portraying a white man with black slaves as a great thing, and celebrate it. Combine that with the fact that it’s mainly directed at kids who are very easily influenced in such regards… It’s a bad tradition.
I know that for 99% of the people this probably isn’t the message they want to send, but even when not malicious it will influence the way children look at the world.
Why between the things that are genuinely bad (racism) you mixed in religion? Religion is a choice, and if you choose to believe bizzare fairy tales, I’m going to see you as as mentally challenged person.
Nobody asks anyone’s religeous opinions before acting in a rascist manner. First step is profiling (including race and clothing).
Also you make it sound like mentally challenged people deserve to be discriminated against
Nobody? I feel like majority does.
Discrimination? I said “see you as”, which does not involve any real action, it’s just my thoughts about religion in general, does not matter which one
People are bigoted against Arab and North African people based on the assumption of their religion, an assumption made from their physical appearance.
So am I not allowed to dislike religion because it’s origins are Arabic? What a stupid mental gymnastic. What about Christianity and Europeans?
Disliking religion is fine. Discriminating against Moroccan people on the assumption that they are Muslim is not.
I never said I discriminate anyone. I almost never bring up religion in real life and I’m not racist. All these are wild assumptions. I’ll repeat my original comment - religion is a choice, it should not be put in the same sentence/context as racism based on someone’s skin color or ethnicity - something you didn’t choose or can’t change. Me shitting on islam or christianity is nowhere on the same level as hating all brown or white people. I’m sure there are many that see Arabic person and assume they’re highly religious, but for me that’s BS because I know too many ex-muslims
But I’m talking about social trends across Europe, not you.