What did you just say? Racist words. How would this make you feel?

@coolseeds (3919)
United States
July 4, 2008 12:12am CST
This is something that happened to me about 14 years ago and just crossed my mind. I lived the Washington D.C. area and was eating lunch one day. An African client named Basil sat down to eat his lunch with me. I don't mean African American. When I say Africa I am talking about the country. We are talking casually passing the time. Then he pointed at a black guy and said "Look at that *NggR* and started laughing. I couldn't believe what I just heard. I told him I don't know how it is in Africa but white people don't talk like that. It made me feel uncomfortable and I was offended that he thought of me that way. Do people from other countries think all white people use racist words?
4 people like this
9 responses
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Gee, I certainly hope they don't! Good for you to tell him that. Personally I wish no one would talk like that, especially using that awful word!
3 people like this
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
4 Jul 08
It was the last thing that I thought he would say. The guy is crude at talks about women. But a lot of guys do that. Now I wonder if Black Africans would discriminate against Black Americans.
3 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
14 Jul 08
In the bigger cities, it is common to hear those words coming from African Americans! I have even heard it spoken as a greeting from one African American to another African American!
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I don't know I live in the US as well but I do have a number or African friends yes from the country not African Americans and all of the Africans that I know hate African Americans. They actually call them Black Americans and the reason I have been told is because they are not from Africa. I think it is strange but who am I to judge. I have never had one of them use the "N" word in front of me because they know I would go off on them.
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Maybe he was trying to separate himself from the American Blacks that he saw and let you know that he was more like you than he was like them!
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
4 Jul 08
I am sorry that you had to go through that. He should have chosen better words to use or keep quiet about it. I never use those kinds of words towards others because it is very offensive. I am white but I am no better than anyone else. We all need to treat each other with respect.
3 people like this
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
4 Jul 08
It definitely made me think less of him. I worked in a conservative suit store so maybe he thinks all whites who wear suits are racists.
3 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jul 08
I really dont know but I know my parents always taught us to respect all people of all nations and not to use those racists words. We were to call black people black or negro but nothing derogatory at all. I hate it when anyone does that and seems to think its okay with me as I am white, 'well it is not okay and I do not use those words for anyone and do not let others use them either.
3 people like this
@ynigz1 (472)
• China
5 Jul 08
I don't know if white people use racist words. But I read a lot of those stories about this. I think it's hard for a people don't have a think, that want to speak with people from hometown. And if a people from a small city to the big city, the big city's people is look down him, it always happened. I think most people can avoid this area and races thoughts, most people are doing this look down people from small city, or don't like those people. This maybe the same reason, they think their race is best, and their city is best.
3 people like this
• United States
4 Jul 08
ugh i would have been so uncomfy at that!! i cant stand that word period!!
3 people like this
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
4 Jul 08
It was quite a surprise. Maybe he thought because I wore a suit every day I would think that way. I don't know but it was totally off the wall.
3 people like this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Honestly i would say yes..I hear it all the time.It is not right but it happens...I am friends,close friends with a black lady friend,and we go shopping together and we go out to eat and we have fun together...I would say she is my best friend,i could care less about what race she is,and she don't care that i am white either.I am not prejudgiest....My husband on the other hand uses the "N' word all the time and it really makes me mad...I always tell him someone is going to knock his block off...The thing is he loves my friend,he was just brought up in the old school,and i am trying to get him out of this habit.....
3 people like this
• United States
4 Jul 08
Stereotyping is probably responsible for a lot of the basic misconceptions in this world. I think it comes from narrow minded and uneducated people. My motto is , If you don't have an open mind then don't open your mouth. So sad but very true.
3 people like this
• United States
4 Jul 08
Alright this is coming from an African American, many countries around the world do not like Caucasian people, because of Forced Imperialism. Caucasians have always been known as conquerors and merciless people to many countries. Many countries where forced to give up their traditions and learn the Caucasian's traditions. Slaves where treated like savages, and the Caucasian slave master had called them "N i g g e r s", to describe them. So now black people in America had switched the "ER" in the word and changed it into a "A" I do not like both of those words, and I think all races should forget that term. As far as I know to answer your question many Africans do not like Caucasians, and besides that Middle Easterners, but I really do not know why they do not like Caucasians...
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
4 Jul 08
The guy was showing hate toward his own race. He as an African called an American a "N i g g e r". It was a sign of hate not respect. He wasn't praising him. He was insulting him. This was a white guy me and a black guy from Africa. He wasn't hating me. Or are you saying he thinks that I think that way and it is the only reason why he said it? Personally I think he sits with his African friends and talks like a skinhead. So do black Africans hate black Americans? Ps I hope you are not offended but you are an American. No one says I am a German, American Indian, Russian, Scottish, African, Polish American
3 people like this
• United States
4 Jul 08
Okay know you cleared it up for me, didn't really know what you meant so I took a guess, and missed... But yeah I know your my American brother, I only said that to different me so you know my race, So don't worry about what he said, just don't be around people like that, racist are freaking annoying with their jokes that only can be laughed at one way only. Peace
3 people like this
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
4 Jul 08
It floored me. Kind of like you wouldn't expect an old lady to say something like that.
3 people like this