How races are seen in homogeneous Caucasian countries
Before I start, I want to warn that I’m not claiming that this happens in all only-white countries, but it happens in where I live and in surrounding areas. I think it’s important for me to write this because a lot of people are not aware of this, especially people from the USA, so please do take your time and read it (it won’t be long anyway).
Last night my parents and I were watching the movie “Loving” that just came out recently. The moment the movie started I knew what kind of problem is going to arise, but the only thing my parents saw at first was a couple having a baby and getting married.
At about 15-20 minutes into the movie I asked them: “Do you know what this movie is about?” The answer I got was “No”. Now let me tell you that my parents aren’t ignorant and when the Loving couple got arrested in the movie, my parents weren’t (too) shocked either, but them being a interracial couple isn’t something they perceived problematic from the bat, despite the plot obviously being set in the 50s (they even commented on it).
They know that in the past the black race was enslaved, they know that bad things happened to everyone who wasn’t white. However as someone who did not have that in their own culture, they see all of that in a somewhat abstract way. It’s like a story you were told but don’t connect to. The race was never an issue where I live and even though we are an almost completely white country, the race does not pose any issue. My parents don’t care who I’m going to marry. The employers don’t care what race someone is when they’re hiring, as long as they have what’s needed. I used to be the same, I never understood why is race STILL a problem until I started talking to people from the USA, until I started spending a lot of time on the internet and tumblr. I now understand, but many people don’t, because race ISN’T a problem to us. It is honestly very insulting when people try to play the race card in my country. Your culture IS NOT our culture. Your race isn’t a problem unless you make it a problem (and by trying to play the race card you’re certainly making it a problem. If people are not being nice to you I assure you it’s not because of your race, but because of your attitude). I really hope that, when you travel to countries outside the US, you keep in mind that you’re visiting cultures completely different than yours and that you ought to be more careful with jumping to conclusions. I, of course, do the same when I travel. Nothing is to be taken for granted when you explore new worlds, please keep that in mind.
