I wonder if having absolutely no white friends until I was 6 is why I don't give a shit about race. Everyone I knew back when I was living in San Jose was Mexican, Black or Asian. I have no memories of playing with any other white kids until my family moved to the central valley when I was 5 going on 6.
Yuuup, people don’t believe me when I say that my pasty white butt was in the minority growing up. I’m pretty sure my middle school in SJ was about 50% Vietnamese only, not even accounting for other POCs.
I think I was like six years old when I talked to someone, and he said no hablo English, and I freaked out, because it was the first time that I encountered someone who spoke a different language.
Years later, Sesame Street would start showing segments in English and Spanish.
There were 3 black kids in my neighborhood growing up, all from the same family. Their parents were white. I didn't know what "adopted" meant, so I thought that under certain conditions, white parents could have black kids.
My high school was about 2000 students, and only one of them was black.
I didn't see my first truly black person, skin so dark that it glowed blue under florescent lights, until my folks took us to tour the Smithsonian in DC. I was 10ish? I saw her on the Metro and couldn't stop staring (sorry). Opened my eyes to just how wonderfully diverse people could be.
24 Comments
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 66 pts · 57d
I wonder if having absolutely no white friends until I was 6 is why I don't give a shit about race. Everyone I knew back when I was living in San Jose was Mexican, Black or Asian. I have no memories of playing with any other white kids until my family moved to the central valley when I was 5 going on 6.
proudblond@lemmy.world · 36 pts · 57d
Yuuup, people don’t believe me when I say that my pasty white butt was in the minority growing up. I’m pretty sure my middle school in SJ was about 50% Vietnamese only, not even accounting for other POCs.
DagwoodIII@piefed.social · 13 pts · 57d
I can't remember who said it. Chris Rock, maybe?
If there are 10 Black kids in a school with 500 White kids, the White parents will tell you their school is integrated
If there are only 10 White kids in a school with 500 Black kids none of the parents think the place is integrated.
Seleni@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 56d
Y’know, sometimes I forget Chris Rock used to have a functioning brain.
chatokun@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 56d
Ah, did he go the route of Chappelle? I haven't seen anything recent.
Seleni@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 55d
Sadly yes. I think he lost himself in his stage persona.
chiliedogg@lemmy.world · 44 pts · 57d
My sister saw a black Cabbage Patch kid in Toys R Us and said "Ewww - burnt baby."
Saapas@piefed.zip · 16 pts · 57d
A kid in a train with her mother. Black person comes in, the kid goes "mom look, a monkey".
Yikes
Malyca@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 56d
Oof kids are brutal
MeowerMisfit817@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 56d
Once a guy online told me he heard someone at school tell some kid "He turned black because he did tons of evil deeds.".
uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 37 pts · 57d
I think I was like six years old when I talked to someone, and he said no hablo English, and I freaked out, because it was the first time that I encountered someone who spoke a different language.
Years later, Sesame Street would start showing segments in English and Spanish.
Malyca@lemmy.zip · 19 pts · 56d
This is so sweet lol. Goes to show racism is always taught.
vleep@lemmy.zip · 18 pts · 57d
When I was 9 My parents took me to toys-r-us to get a GI Joe. I picked the black one which really irritated them “but ur white”?! Yea, no shit.
TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 57d
It's like the bizarro version of the Mormon story of the Lamanites.
The_Lurker@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 55d
There were 3 black kids in my neighborhood growing up, all from the same family. Their parents were white. I didn't know what "adopted" meant, so I thought that under certain conditions, white parents could have black kids.
My high school was about 2000 students, and only one of them was black.
I didn't see my first truly black person, skin so dark that it glowed blue under florescent lights, until my folks took us to tour the Smithsonian in DC. I was 10ish? I saw her on the Metro and couldn't stop staring (sorry). Opened my eyes to just how wonderfully diverse people could be.
yermaw@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 55d
Its not impossible for a black baby from white parents.
https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2003/mar/17/features11.g2
Rare as anything but still.
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 6 pts · 57d
When faithful Mormons get their own planet to rule over in the afterlife, they do this. Not many people know this.
yakko@feddit.uk · 5 pts · 57d
If MJ could do that whole arc in reverse, why should it be impossible?
Lumidaub@feddit.org · -2 pts · 57d
MJ had medical conditions and tried to make the best of them. It's also cool to let the man rest now.
Edit: what offensive thing did I say?
24_at_the_withers@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 57d
Nobody gives a fuck about letting a notorious pedo rest.
Lumidaub@feddit.org · 6 pts · 57d
Thank you for at least some explanation. I still don't think it's necessary to talk shit about his medical issues.
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 57d
We knew a few Mormons, quote unquote
Pilon23@feddit.dk · 3 pts · 57d
Reminds me of this song: https://youtu.be/egxzdZ_dUP0?is=lqS7qcixm11mvojY
fartographer@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 56d
The Jerk 2: The Unjerkening