Forgetfulness or racism?

[almostwitty]

The Evening Standard carries a story about a black couple, outraged that their waitress scribbled ‘black couple’ on their bill, when they were the only couple dining.

The thing is, I’ve kind of done this myself while running my parents’ Chinese takeaway, scribbling descriptive notes on their order because I have a huge tendency to forget which order belongs to which customer. I’ve even done it when there’s only one customer – after all, another one will inevitably walk in and I’ll get all confused.

I’m not so sure I’ve gone as far as just describing someone in terms of their race, but there have been other unflattering descriptions such as baldy, NHS glasses etc. But if I went to a restaurant, and saw that scribbled on my order was “fat balding Chinese man”, I’d be a tad put out to say the least.

It’s certainly racism in the sense of discrimination against or antagonism towards other races, but there are probably bigger battles to fight. Like the woman at Question Time taking Jack Straw to task over African-Caribbean versus Afro-Caribbean while one of Britain’s biggest bigots sits on a panel next to Jack Straw. And then there’s the controversy in China over a “Chinese Idol” contestant who’s half-Chinese, half-black…

Ooooh it’s complicated. But I’d rather we just end up dealing with people based on whether they’re nice to us or not…

Mirrored from almost witty.

Comments

[chiller.livejournal.com]

It’s certainly racism in the sense of discrimination against or antagonism towards other races

IS it?

I don't see it. They weren't being denied a service or called a name, they were being described. Is saying that someone's black per se insulting?

And damn, that restaurant needs to number its tables.

[almostwitty]

Well, IMHO, purely in the dictionary definition it is. Because by identifying them on the grounds of race alone, you're making a distinction/discrimination between them that you wouldn't necessarily make with a majority-colour couple.

But as I said, there are very practical reasons for doing this, and it's not racist in the sense of evil discrimination.

I am quibbling with terms at this point, in a very scientist "cannabis isn't as dangerous as alcohol" kinda way.

[chiller.livejournal.com]

I worry that descriptions are viewed as racist, purely because it suggests that blackness itself is inherently something that shouldn't be mentioned. I wish it was viewed as a statement of pride:

"You're black."
"YES, I am!" etc.

But if the couple are offended, they're offended and one can't suggest that they are wrong to be offended. It just seems a shame.

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

To me it seems to be majority/minority issue. It isn't very likely that someone would write 'white couple' on a bill in the US/UK, but they might very well do so in a country where a different skin tone is the norm, so I don't think I'd call it discriminatory as such.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

To be fair, I might if I were black. What I'd write is whatever makes it easy for me to remember someone. I'm white, most of my friends are white, so white isn't a trait that describes someone in my mind. While black or asian are traits that describe way less people that I come into daily contact with.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

I agree here. I see no racism in calling someone black or asian or hispanic. I get really irritated when people refuse to describe someone by race.

"Which one is he? Well, you know. he's tall and he has brown eyes. I think he was wearing a blue coat."
"You mean the only black guy in the entire building?"
"yes, that one"

Irritating as shit. Just say, "the black guy". it's not an insult. He's black. it's not racist to notice someone's race.