Is racism in America the equivalent to class-ism in the UK?

i live in the U.S so i could only give you that perspective.

people pretty much judge you by your race or you appearance. Its starting to change a little. I live in Los Angeles, so its really diverse here. Everyone is pretty kool.

BTW, i think your cute!

My feeling is that most racism in America (nowadays) is really a strawman for classism. African-Americans and Hispanics don't find all that much trouble (except maybe in the South) gaining acceptance as long as they're affluent and adopt the mores of middle-class America. When they act like they're still in the 'hood, though, they get treated like dirt. The same goes for "white trash". I mean how do you even come up with a term like that? It's not a racist term, it's a classist term. I think classism IS the unspoken prejudice of modern America.

Peace to you.

Most racism in America really is racism. Some of it is caused by ignorance (people believe every stereotypical story they have ever heard), other times it is a taught behavior. Children learn by example. A child raised in a home that teaches the child that other races are inferior grown up believing it. I grew up in a home like that. Fortunately for me, I was smart enough not to fall for it. This caused more than a few problems for my family. My father never got past the 8th grade in school. His father (english) was a farmer, his mother (german) was a stay at home mom who raised 13 children. I never understood where my father got the idea he was superior to most people (my grandparents weren't like that). But to hear him tell it, anyone who's skin was darker than his was an ignorant no accout piece of **** and needed to be sent back to where ever they came from. My mom's parents always called my dad's parents "white trash" because they were farmers and didn't live in town. It didn't seem to make any difference that my mom's dad was a drunk who made his own moon shine and ended up killing himself with it. I don't think it has a damn thing to do with class. If a black man is rich do you really think he will be treated better than a poor black man by people who really think their race is inferior? Not a chance. He will be treated worse because people think he is uppity and has forgotten his place in the world. They will think he only got his good paying job because the company he works for has to have the prerequisite number of minorities on their pay roll. Especially if those people feel he shouldn't make more money than they do or if they feel he took a job that should have gone to someone of their own race. Even people who are not racist are called ugly names by those who are. "****** lovers" etc. People don't want their children being friends with other children who are of a different race or religion. Children don't care what religion or race their friend's are. I know I didn't. I don't think I was even aware of it until I was talking about my best friend one day and my aunt asked me what my friends name was. When I told her, she asked if my friend was an Indian. I actually had to stop and think about it, because my friend was just my friend not some red skinned heithern my aunt thought she was. You talk about "well spoken, educated, good mannered, decency". I know people who are not well educated or well spoken who are good mannered and decent and first and foremost kind hearted, helpful people who would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. I also know people who are well educated, well spoken who have no manners and are not decent human beings. It isn't class man, it's simple human decency that counts. Better think about it man.

similar but harder to bring people up on it

its called judging on apperances and everyone does it

there IS racism here in the UK but its normally pakis been racist towards white people

seriously

English personal prejudices are great, we hate people from other parts of the country we dislike upper class people, lower class people. Youths are all branded evil. good times, good times.

I'd agree with you, but considering Americans like to practice both . . . . I'd just say we find any reason to pigeon hole people into crappy categories.

We suck that way, Americans.

EDIT: To Stranger On Earth below, just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't happening . . .

I could say i agree. THe us as a whole isnt a racist socity but people are still its dissapointing to see that today but it is that people are afraid of people and become racist

I don't see any racism. Or any homophobia either. The media is not reality.

can find swollen heads everywhere they are same but they have different theories and different words !

i agree with you... its very similar