Is This Racist?

[Theland]

"Last Whites Of The East End," shown recently on tv, depicted really nice decent white people being fed up of being the minority ethnic grouping in their own area, and taking, "white flight", to Essex.

Religionists or atheist, deo you think this is racist?
Would you feel awkward as a minority in your own countr?

[Answerprancer]

No, the documentary is not racist IMO but "nice decent white people being fed up of being the minority ethnic" is IMO. Especially with regards to your use of the word "decent", which implies to me that you think the "minority ethnic" may not be decent.

"Would you feel awkward as a minority in your own countr?"

No more than if I was surrounded by raving religious nutters.

[fiction-factory]

At first I thought you meant was the title racist. If you did, I think that it is a little racist /insensitive since there would have been racism complaints if the title had mentioned Blacks or Asians - something like Blacks Take Over East End.
But your reference to nice decent white people and the fact that you didn't mention that the ethnic groupings were nice decent non-white people makes me wonder whether your point is something else.
Yes, I do feel a little awkward as a minority in some parts of my locality- if I walk into town I pass along a mile section where it is exclusively Asian and then a stretch where all the shops are Polish/Latvian or similar and groups of locals seem to gather outside the shops and block the pavement, but I just feel uncomfortable rather than unsafe and do not consider calling into the shops or chatting to anyone

[Old_Geezer]

Didn't see the programme. Unsure what you refer to religionists and atheists for. The discomfort felt by those involved may well be race related but it isn't racist of itself, for it shows no animosity to the individuals but merely relates to the natural feeling of no longer belonging in the place they grew up, due to a foreign culture now being not just significant but dominant. One's comfortable feeling of the familiar that one uses as anchor, has been removed. It is a reason why change ought not be rapid/dramatic and incomers try to integrate into the host community rather than group together recreating the culture they are familiar with, in isolated groups. But the fact is that incomers feel more comfortable being with others who feel the same, so it tends to happen.

[douglas9401]

It's much easier and quicker to create squalor in an urban environment than the more rural settings.
Not racist at all, just helping out by clearing a path for the re-creation of what was left behind either by the newer residents or their forebears.
Honestly, one despairs of this baiting.

[RATTER15]

Is this really a religious post?

and yes I would feel awkward if I was in the minority, particularly if the majority had changed the surrounding infrastructure to suit their needs.

[Old_Geezer]

I think I'll correct my last post to say that it is culture rather than race related. It certainly isn't religious or spiritual based only. (Maybe this should be moved into the parent forum ?)

[andy-hughes]

I didn't see the documentary, but in terms of the correct use of the term - simply advising that whites are a minority is not in itself racist.

Inferring that the incoming non-white population is dragging the area down by virtue of its presence, is racist.

Not having seen the programme, that's the only comment I am able to offer.

My view is not based on my atheism - I see no reason why this question is placed in 'Religion'.

[whiskeryron]

My brother in law who is white & in his late eighties lives in a now Asian area of Birmingham & his argument has always been '' I have lived in this house nearly all my life & no one will persuade me to leave'' He has very nice Asian neighbours & some of them work in the Birmingham fruit market. Because of the strictly very family Asian trend to be family orientated they treat my brother in law as one of their own & are constantly inviting him to eat with them & bring him surplus fruit & veg from the market. So enough of the anti Asian comments let us have a nice bit of fresh air blowing through this forum & say God bless or Allah be praised for at least some of our good neighbours.

[chanel5]

As in previous posts, Theland is asking an emotionally laden, leading question without defining the terms used. What is your definition of "nice" and "decent" in relation to "white" people? In fact, what is your definition of a "white" person?

[tamborine]

I used to haunt the horse market in Southall but its been chased out in favor of bangla bangla. Now, I dont feel safe within curry smellling distance of the place.

[andy-hughes]

tambourine - //I used to haunt the horse market in Southall but its been chased out in favor of bangla bangla. Now, I dont feel safe within curry smellling distance of the place. //

Why don't you feel safe?

[tamborine]

Men leer & compromise unaccompanied women, without recourse.

[andy-hughes]

tambourine - //Men leer & compromise unaccompanied women, without recourse. //

Should you not address this if you feel it is intimidating? I am sure there must be a constable around you could approach? Or if not, a call in to your local police station to advise them would help.

[Old_Geezer]

I think folk may be reading their own interpretation of the OP. Whilst it is possible Theland may have a hidden motive for the descriptions used, it really only says that the remaining original folk happen to be white, nice, and decent. I'm unsure there is reason to think otherwise. I'd suspect the majority of the new ethnic folk are beige (or darker), nice, and decent. But different.

[1ozzy]

There are many places in Oz that "white settlers" are the minority.
Even more so for the indigenous owners of this land.
How many countries have white men stolen and displaced the indigenous?
Real barsteward when it happens in your own land, eh?

[tamborine]

BUT I feel safe and welcome at Notting Hill carnival.

[naomi24]

No it isn't racist. That the area has changed beyond recognition for the people who were born and bred there is a fact of life.

[Theland]

High and mighty Theland baiters alive and kicking.
Oh gosh. Oh to be so intelligently rounded as some of my critics.

[Answerprancer]

Please don't dismiss people as "high and mighty" simply because you are void of any ability to debate further.

[Theland]

Debate? What happened to conversations? Anyway, nice and decent did not imply the Asians were NOT nice and decent. But Mibs said misery loves company, I go further and say that our DNA influences us all to feel more comfortable with our own kind with some exceptions of course.
But the imported cheap labour that benefits the rich causes problems for all of us who are left to get on with it, to the amusement of the 1 per cent.