I always feel on edge and nervous around black people

Icalasari

Every other race is fine, but black people always put me on edge, worried that I will offend some how For example, right now a black lady is sitting beside me and I feel tense and claustophobic currently

MadassAlex

Unfortunately, oftentimes Aboriginal Australians make me somewhat uneasy. It's extreme bullshit; I know I shouldn't discriminate based on race and I do my best not to, but there are a significant amount of Aboriginal people that play up to the stereotypes. Although given that my experiences with them have almost exclusively been on the street in a working-class context, where every race can easily be poorly represented by their black sheep, if you'll excuse the term.

I think it's more the setting and attire, though. I don't get that anywhere else.

What makes it worse is that I've only ever suffered violence at the hands of other white people, so there's no tangible reason I should feel this in my gut. -_-; It feels kinda bad admitting this, but I take solace in the fact that I recognise its irrationality and that it's a gut feeling that can be surpassed.

RedEyedAbyss

"Although given that my experiences with them have almost exclusively been on the street in a working-class context, where every race can easily be poorly represented by their black sheep, if you'll excuse the term."

Yeah, it kind of becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I'm guessing they're treated just as horribly there as they are in Canada.

MadassAlex

It really is.

What most non-Aboriginal Australians don't hear about, though, are the peaceful protest movements that have been started by Aboriginals. While they've made significant headway in establishing official, lawful advancements for their race, little has changed in the public eye.

As usual, many initiatives to assist them started by whites are quite condescending. This results in the Aboriginals being somewhat less than cooperative, which I feel is justified. Instead of seeking compromise, whites try to have Aboriginals live their way of life entirely. I don't know for sure, but I suspect Aboriginals feel this to be an incredible insult after the many years of subjugation. This, along with many other factors, means that Aboriginals are not only a minority, but an extreme minority in urban areas. Most of them live in the countryside.

On the bright side, things are getting better. Slowly. Very slowly.

captainbrass

I'll admit to being nervous if a group of young black guys in hoodies walk down the street towards me, because of the gang associations, even though most black kids aren't involved in gangs. I wouldn't feel threatened if it was a group of black women or older black men, and I might feel just as nervous if they were white or Asian guys dressed the same way.

So perhaps I'm just ageist rather than racist.