I Think That Racism And Accusations Around It Are Sometimes Taken Too Afr

[Raidergal2022]

A few years ago I would say I had empathy for people of ethnic minorities as I believe there are injustices and biases.

However lately I have often thought that sometimes people take this over the top. I have just read a short article about a child/boy of African ethnicity who was arrested for urinating in public. Even before reading the article I had an intuition that the claim of racism would be brought into the and I was right - the mother of the boy stated that if her son was a white boy this wouldn’t have happened. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/quantavious-eason-senatobia-public-urination-b2408549.html

I also saw an example of this with my own eyes when I was working on hospital wards. A therapy assistant was trying to get a patient out of bed and a nurse of ethnic minority came to give meds. There was a verbal conflict between the nurse (who wanted to give patient his meds first) and therapy assistant who insisted he sat out in his chair first.

The assistant got stroppy and said ‘fine give him his meds’ before leaving. The nurse looked at me and said ‘does she not like black people, she just doesn’t like the colour of my skin’ I pointed out that the assistant was probably just stressed and the nurse said ‘it doesn’t matter I am stressed, I am going to put a complaint’.

In my eyes the assistant could have handled things better but the altercation had absolutely nothing to do with race.

So whenever I read similar accusations instead of empathy I have started to just feel a bit annoyed.

[andy-hughes]

Situations vary, as do reactions.

Some people see racism where none is intended, some people don't see it when it is.

I think you have to work on a case by case system.

[Raidergal2022]

Good point Andy, you have got me thinking. Humans are naturally biased and have a tendency to favour people similar to themselves, not just with race, but with any factors like personal background, personality, hobbies etc. I suppose the challenge is differentiating this natural bias from behaviour that is true racism.

[andy-hughes]

I would agree with that.

I am lucky not to have to live with racism regularly, but I have experienced it.

It would be more helpful if people addressed genuine racism, rather than using the sensitivity of the issue as a weapon

[jno]

I have seen white boys urinating in public and never heard of one being arrested. Do you have evidence that this woman is wrong?

[andy-hughes]

Jno - Evidence is based on fact. Whether or not someone is right or wrong is based on opinion.

You can't use evidence to support or contradict an opinion.

[Zacs-Master]

Unless you’re black, it’s impossible to say whether certain situations would cause offence to you, personally.

Does the fact that some people use their skin colour to claim racism?……..absolutely.

[jno]

andy, the mother claimed as a fact that if it had been a white boy he wouldn't have been arrested.

Is there evidence proving her claim is wrong?

[andy-hughes]

Jno - You can't cite evidence to support a potential scenario either.

No-one can provide evidence why something hasn't happened,because if it hasn't happened, it can't be used as evidence.

[royfromaus]

jno
I have seen white boys urinating in public and never heard of one being arrested. Do you have evidence that this woman is wrong?

__________________________
I do
She's wrong.
Although this story is American not British.

[Hopkirk]

It's known as 'playing the race card'

[Iamtheoneandonly]

Racism can affect people of any background, it's not limited to just black people, although black people like to shout "racists" at any opportunity.

[THECORBYLOON]

'although black people like to shout "racists" at any opportunity.'

Is that not a racist comment?