5 ms·

Thank you for saying this. The fact is, as a black male, I sometimes feel prejudice against black males while walking at night. And I'm someone who is affected

Thank you for saying this. The fact is, as a black male, I sometimes feel prejudice against black males while walking at night. And I'm someone who is affected by that very same prejudice. I see all the same media as anyone else, which constantly portrays black men as a menace to society. Is a random black man actually more dangerous than a non-black man, in real life? I have my doubts. But for argument's sake, let's say it's true to a slight extent. That still means a given black man bares very little actual risk. Yet, what sort of psychological damage is done to us by being repeatedly subject to this treatment? It's an invisible tax we pay. I've been fortunate my whole life for so many reasons, but I have my own stories, like most other black men I know. I feel other types of prejudice too. I think step one is knowing this, step two is empathizing, and step three is advocating.

simonh 9y ago
In the area where I live there aren't very many coloured people. When I (rarely) walk at night I find myself estimating the social category of people. If I see a young man in sweat pants and a baseball cap, I think 'possible Chav' (low class white person here in the UK) and I'm wary. Low income young men are more likely to be a possible source of trouble. I think in the UK and US since black people are far more likely to be in a low income category than not, race becomes a proxy for that. Funnily enough, when I see a black person in the street at night here I'm more likely to have a positive attitude. Most of the coloured people living round here do so because they are quite successful. Also because there aren't many black people, such a person is perhaps more likely to feel out of place or potentially feel threatened or need help.
- faitswulff 9y ago
  > aren't very many coloured people Highly recommend using "people of colour," instead.
  - simonh 9y ago
    Fair enough, but that's more of an Americanism. It's not really used here in the UK.
    - twic 9y ago
      It's pretty unusual to say "coloured people" here in the UK, too. I usually phrase it something like "people who aren't white", clumsy though that is.

simonh 9y ago

In the area where I live there aren't very many coloured people. When I (rarely) walk at night I find myself estimating the social category of people. If I see a young man in sweat pants and a baseball cap, I think 'possible Chav' (low class white person here in the UK) and I'm wary. Low income young men are more likely to be a possible source of trouble. I think in the UK and US since black people are far more likely to be in a low income category than not, race becomes a proxy for that. Funnily enough, when I see a black person in the street at night here I'm more likely to have a positive attitude. Most of the coloured people living round here do so because they are quite successful. Also because there aren't many black people, such a person is perhaps more likely to feel out of place or potentially feel threatened or need help.

faitswulff 9y ago
> aren't very many coloured people Highly recommend using "people of colour," instead.
- simonh 9y ago
  Fair enough, but that's more of an Americanism. It's not really used here in the UK.
  - twic 9y ago
    It's pretty unusual to say "coloured people" here in the UK, too. I usually phrase it something like "people who aren't white", clumsy though that is.