Growing up you don't really pay attention as to what you say and the affect it may have on a person and their race. As a Person of Colour I'd grown up to accept what was thrown at me. Yet, at times the things that my friends said to me just didn't sit well enough.
Hearing words such as "You speak very well for an Indian" to "Where are you really from?" was often brushed off simply because I was taught that way. My parents came to this country in an early age and in order to get by they simply accepted what was thrown at them.
It makes me think about how the lack of education stops a person from wondering what really is racist and what isn't. Unfortunately, in today's world racism is so casual to the point it is just accepted and unquestioned. As a person of colour I am expected to accept the stereotypes that are portrayed. Even, if the said stereotype is portrayed as positive it still is a stereotype. We're expected to fit into the perception that people have of us.
When I chose to do an Arts degree, something I wanted from a young age, majority of my friends and peers joked as to why I wasn't studying to become a Doctor. It didn't really occur to me how, I guess, rude this was until now. Sadly, casual racism is around us every single second of the day. It affects not only how others views us but how we view ourselves as well. Hearing that Indians should be Doctor's didn't feel good to hear as if I suddenly had this expectation placed on upon me that I couldn't achieve.
Yet, it's hard not to blame people for being casually racist as this is simply embedded into their minds. Adding to this, many are not happy with change and when you label someone a racist or try to educate them they seem to take it the wrong way. Even through media and film it is constantly enforced to the point that it is hard to break away.
So, really - how can we break away from casual racism when it has been normalised to such a point that people do not question it?
Sources: http://alltogethernow.org.au/news/10-signs-of-casual-racism/
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ReplyDeleteNice post. I totally agree with you. It seems as if casual racism is turning into new racism and people aren't aware of being racist. It has got to the point where some racist comments aren't actually seen as racist comment but are seen as a way of life. I feel we possibly cannot break away from casual racism because it is being normal throughout society.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with you. Casual racism has become so 'normal' that when you point it out people just think you're being overly-sensitive or uptight.
ReplyDeleteI found a good article about casual racism in New Zealand here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11490650
One part I wanted to point out was Winston Peters outraging Chinese home buyers last year by joking that "two Wongs don't make a white". He clearly thought it was hilarious, but it's a clear example of casual racism.