Race and racism anon meme thing

[dreamer_easy]

International Blog Against Racism Week begins tomorrow, 6 August. Before the week officially starts, I'd like to try something a bit dodgy.

For the next twenty-four hours, you can leave an anonymous message here with any questions you have about race or racism. IP logging is off and there are no LJ Toys or other IP-capturing stuff to worry about.

I know many people are afraid to say or ask things about these subjects, for fear of looking stupid or causing offence. I'll delete anything that's obviously just supposed to be abusive, and anything that uses insulting words, but otherwise, anything goes. POC, please be warned: that means there may be annoying, frustrating, or offensive material - you may prefer not to read the comments left here.

I can't guarantee answers to questions that are posted, but I will try to respond if I can. I won't judge or lecture anyone for honest curiosity or confusion. (Keep in mind I'm just a well-meaning White middle-class liberal, and no expert on racial issues.)

The twenty-four hours is up, folks! You can still post anonymously, but IP logging is back on. Thanks for your comments!

Comments

[thegameiam.livejournal.com]

Are you sure that they were actually called "black" as opposed to being called something else? I know the signs in New York used to read "no Jews, dogs, or Irish allowed" (according to my grandfather zt"l) - they didn't just call them all "black." Now, from a Jim Crow drinking fountain point of view, they'd be "white" and "colored" - so I can easily see how "colored" really meant "other."

Of course, I consider all of that completely appalling, and a blemish against the history of the US.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

A quick Google turned up a summary of a book called "How the Irish Became White", which gives some details. Malik says the Irish were called "savage" and "bestial", compared to apes, and by the racist science of the time, were classified as "Africanoid".