How bad is racism in FSU?

[andrewfi]

I have yet to hear that usage, in Russian, in many years. I have heard nigger used in English and for the reasons I gave.

As yet, with the possible exception of yourself Leslie, the others concerned have not heard it used in Russian either, only in English and also the homonymic confusion when their girlfriends used the Russian word in English.

I think I can safely stand by my earlier comments that it is possible, but not likely.

[PeeWee]

I have yet to hear that usage, in Russian, in many years. I have heard nigger used in English and for the reasons I gave.

As yet, with the possible exception of yourself Leslie, the others concerned have not heard it used in Russian either, only in English and also the homonymic confusion when their girlfriends used the Russian word in English.

I think I can safely stand by my earlier comments that it is possible, but not likely.

I have heard it said only in English spoken by a Russia. What else would I know? Which lead me down the path to the learning of the Russian simular...baklazhan.

Peewee

[SANDRO43]

The Russian word sounds, to me, like baklazhon. It was explained to me that it might be a French word but that it does mean "eggplant." баклажан

The French for "eggplant" is "aubergine", a term I saw used in some US supermarkets, too.

[Oiler]

Racism is prevalent in every country and the FSU is no exception. Generally when condtions are poor, there is more racism but every country has far more rational people who do not judge others by color or culture alone. I wouldn't worry about it unlee you go to seedy areas.

[LatinSwede]

Over here in the States people ask me the dumbest "What are you/Where are you from" questions possible.  It's kind of annoying when I'm a born and raised US citizen, my main language is English, and somebody starts talking to me like I just got off the boat.  If they are so eager to learn of other peoples cultural heritage, they need to buy a nice thick Anthropology book, wth lots of pictures, at Barnes & Noble.  That would be more educational and productive instead of asking stupid things to random strangers in the checkout line, or at the mall.  Just because I don't look like you, does not mean I want to discuss my ethnicity.

The worst racism I got in the UK was "Oh a bloody yank!" trying to get a beer in a pub.  Next time I'll just say I'm Irish.  My friends say I do a very good Irish accent.

[dostogirl]

I have heard stories of skinhead gangs roaming the streets of Russian cities beating up and attacking non-whites. 

I would not be concerned going travelling in Russia. It's quite different when you actually live there. My family happens to be non-caucasian and with every day racism is getting worse. Right now it's at the point when I am seriously concerned for my family. There are no laws protecting people from hate crimes (as far as I know), on the contrary, a lot of officials, those who are supposed to follow the law in the first place, support anti-foreign policies. It's very difficult to live in Russia being non-russian and non-caucasian. What's more upsetting, is that a lot of those Russians come to the US with a racist attitude. I don't know one single RW I've met here not being racist. They don't like Mexicans, they don't like Blacks, they don't like Indians...it's really sad. 

[LatinSwede]

Last summer I told one of the Russian girls I met (guest worker) about my concern.  She giggled and said "oh you're not very dark! You''re okay."
 
As for the issue of blacks, they are in my family down in Panama.  I'm glad my lady and I knocked this issue out early in our relationship.  In the states, my extended family is lilly white midwest.  In Panama my relative vary in color.  Yes I got black people in the family. She tells me she wants to see my humid and rainy little nation.   So I didn't want her to have a heart attack, when a tall negro walks in the living room, and I say "that's my cousin!"  Unlike the US, it's normal and acceptable for a Panamanian to say "hey blacky!" or "what's happening darky!".  The most deliberately rude word I've heard them use for blacks is "Chombo" which is about as close to the "N-Word" here as one could get.

In the Netherlands people say "Negar" (gutteral G).  The hypersensitive politically correct would piss their pants if they see a Dutch Christmas.  In November, you have Svart Piets walking in the streets giving kids presents.  Excited little kids say "Svarten Piet" when they see them.  They tell the children if their are bad Sinta Klaus will dip them in black ink, and take them back to Africa.  Oh Yes, he comes on a ship, not a sleigh. Anybody in Holland/Belgium can correct me if I'm wrong.  I've been away a long time.

[Bruno]

The hypersensitive politically correct would piss their pants if they see a Dutch Christmas.  In November, you have Svart Piets walking in the streets giving kids presents.  Excited little kids say "Svarten Piet" when they see them.  They tell the children if their are bad Sinta Klaus will dip them in black ink, and take them back to Africa.  Oh Yes, he comes on a ship, not a sleigh. Anybody in Holland/Belgium can correct me if I'm wrong.  I've been away a long time.

You have Sint-Niklaas the 6 December, followed by the Kerstman ( Santa Claus ) the 25 december.

Zwarte Piet ( zwarte mean black in Dutch) work with Sint-Niklass... He punish the child who are not good and make all the big work for Sint-Niklass...

Sint-Niklass is coming by ship from Spain... Het kersman is coming with a sleigh...

It is two different personage and you mix the two... 

[LatinSwede]

Yeah, I've been away from Holland a long time.  Not only did I mix up the Dutch Christmas characters, my Dutch spelling has become worse.  Hopefully by fall, I'll be back in Nederland for a good week.  Then I'm leaving for Odessa to bring my lady home.

[FunIndieBloke]

Seems like you just  need to be smart where you go and don't go alone. Stay near groups of people, maybe know there the nearest cop is. I did not see any skin heads in Moscow. I just did not see any so it does not mean they are not there. I felt safe walking in Red Square at 1am. Keep your eyes open and your senses keen.

Michalengo told of a robbery that he was involved in. Barcelona, I think? In my travels I have had but two minor problems. Once in Syndey that I was able to handle and once in Lahina.. That one made me mad. Three locals had spread the American flag across the sidewalk just across the street from the Blue Max. if you wanted to walk you had to either step over the flag, on the flag, or cross the street and then back. The entire idea was to provoke a fight because if you stepped on the flag well then all of a sudden your patriotizm was in question. I am a no nonsense guy and a true patriot. I made sure that they picked up the flag.  My point is that you can find trouble anywhere you go.

I would wonder about London. Your own backyard. A Brit that I know was telling me about a sport once called "Paki Bashing". Apparently there were some young Englanders who resented the fact that so many folks from India had taken residence in England. I don't know how an Indian becomes a Pakistani but maybe it is the simular appearance? Anyway the sport was to locate a Paki and then proceed to beat the crap out of him. Had you heard of this before or was he telling me stories?

Peewee

Hi PeeWee,

Racial tension is here in Britain like anywhere else.  In more affluent areas, the problem is not as bad.  I haven't heard or seen "Pakistani hunting" personally, but tensions between South Asians (the largest ethnic group in the UK) and whites can simmer over into unrest, as they did in the Leeds/Bradford riots a year or so back.  However, here in London pretty much everybody who lives here is from somewhere else that racial tensions are minimal, unless you count Barking and Dagenham...

[LatinSwede]

I was actually that there are many south Asians in London.  Otherwise, I wouldn't have found any decent places to eat.  Can you say Bricklane? Curry is good.

[LatinSwede]

If I get the crap kicked out of me in the FSU, it's probably because they think I got lots of money.