Am I racist?

[blu_theatrics]

Hello ladies, if you look on the main Greek life page there is a post put up by an unregistered who says that your post is rasict and someother BS, I was about to reply, but being as that she directed the thing towards your org as a whole I though I would tell you all about it first

[prettygyrl]

Well we have a supply store owned by koreans where I live. At one time it was the only one around. They overpriced everything! Now we have one owned and operated by two young Black men. They are about to run those Koreans out of business. As far as people saying we are racist.... Please if the Koreans came into our neighborhoods and treated us with some respect then I am sure we would not have any problems with them. I remember when I went into this Korean shop before and when I walked in the little boy (about three or four) said "mommie look at that nigger". The lady grabbed him in a hurry and covered his mouth. He had to be taught that word. It pisses me of because they come over here to this country and have the nerve to look down on us. I guess they are just following the stereotype of us that is plasterd all over T.V., radio, and magazines. Its strange though how people are always so quick to come on here and call us racist. It makes my blood boil! We are victims of racism that comes from dam near every race in this country! Yet everytime we say something someone standing by ready to say we are this or that. I have a question for them though. IF WE ARE RACIST, THEN WHAT THE HELL WOULD YOU CALL EVERYONE ELSE? WHAT ABOUT JUST PLAIN DAM SATANIC!

[Wynna]

Well, I live in Compton too and I have had it with these stores. I am soooo tired of being disrespected and treated like some low-life that's beneath them. I found a wonderful African-American owned beauty supply store in Compton and will not go anywhere else. The people on staff, including the owner, are very personable and customer service oriented. I think it's time we start patronizing our black-owned businesses regardless of price. These Asian American store owners feel that they can treat us any way they want because we have no choice but to take it (inexpensive items....we don't have a lot of money...makes sense). No!!! It's time for our people to rise up!

[bdown4U]

SkeeWee14,
Why don't you just make it a point to stop patronizing her shop period? Are there any other stores that you can buy products from?

[mwedzi]

Good day all. I'm not a member of your organization, but my family is also from Compton (hey Chakalate, Deltabrat, Wynna) and I'm living in Korea right now, so I felt I should have something to say.

I must say I agree with the general idea that the reasons so many Asian immigrants to America are successful in business is because they simply place a higher value on starting and maintaining a business than we do, in general. And it is also true, in general, that they are more willing to share their resources for the chance of financial success later down the road, even if that means many people living in a relatively small space or not buying the name brand shoes as soon as there is a little extra money to buy them with.

I can at least say that in Korea now, the most common businesses are privately owned, from clothing stores to restaurants to convenience stores, as opposed to the big chains that are most common in the states. And as Code Blue said, they are a business and I seriously doubt they are going to care about giving back to the black community. It's not in the nature of a business to do so. It is just necessary that we start and support black-owned businesses.

And I also think the majority of black people who have patronized Asian-American stores have sometimes felt disrespected, as though it weren't the money we were handing over to the owners weren't their very livelihood. What power we have. And yet . . .

Anyway, I think the attitute does change upon arrival to America. That's not to say that while I sit here, the only non-Korean in a public computer room in Korea, there aren't people who think I am just inherently mentally inferior to them and ugly and "unsophisticated" or what now. However, the treatment I get from the average Korean in Korea is far superior to the treatment I get from the average Korean-American store owner in California. The worst thing I have heard a Korean (in Korea) say about me in my prescence in Korean was "her hair is strange" because they've never experienced it before.

Despite that the majority of western visitors to Korea note one of the biggest characteristics of Korea is its xenophobia. For most of these (white) foreigners, they really feel the racism (for lack of a better word at the moment) because it is the first time they have not been in the majority.

Sorry for the long post, but I just had to contribute.

[AKAtude]

Mwedzi,

Thank you for the contribution. Living in Korea gives you the opportunity to share a different point of view.