curious about prejudice towards immigrants

[edsperfect 25]

I am curious as to whether or not any of you have experienced any pejudice in US as to immigrants. My own experience has been there is very little towards those that come here legally and make a effort to assimilate into the society, learn the language, work, etc. In fact from what I see Americans welcome and readily accept them bt then i may be wrong.

[ace13 0]

Everyone thinks my husband is Mexican...and there are stereotypes about Mexican--and people have asked him if he is an illegal. Nice. real nice people

[pedroh 21]

na.. not anything offensive..

only the typical ignorant sh!t like 'oh.. are you mexican? you look puertorican, you don'l look like a mexican!!' (as if it were wrong to look like one lawl) or they ask my wife if we're married just for the green card and stuff...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I am curious as to whether or not any of you have experienced any pejudice in US as to immigrants. My own experience has been there is very little towards those that come here legally and make a effort to assimilate into the society, learn the language, work, etc. In fact from what I see Americans welcome and readily accept them bt then i may be wrong.

JMHO, but from what I can see, it's a lot easier if you're a white immigrant.

[evilcanuck 0]

I get told I dont 'count as an immigrant because I am white' or because I speak English LOL. I tell em how I had to go thru the same process as any other immigrant....they generally dont believe me but it gives me the opportunity to say 'o, so you dont have a problem with immigrants, you are really just a racist'

2 weeks ago I was at my nail salon, and some asshat was in there ranting and raving that his wife was 'ignored' in favour of a white client. If any one goes to nail salons you know about sign in sheets, this day they were particularly busy and they accidently skipped a name on the sheet, and it was his wife. Instead of saying something she left and went home, her husband comes in like a raving lunatic playing the race card (wife was black), and accusing the people in the salong of being racists, that white clients always get in ahead of blacs (funny I have had to wait my turn before and there have been blacks and asians and whites ahead of me, maybe i dont know the secret code or something). then the idiot yells out 'Everybody here better have thier greencard and proof they are here legally because Im coming back here tomorrow with INS.'

At which point I turned to him and said 'I dont have a green card' heh he ignored me tho, but I reallllllllllllllllllllllllly wanted to get into it with him. Here he is going on about racist ####### and he pulls that out...how racist was that? Just because they are asian, they must be immigrants, or have questionable status. I was offended as an immigrant. Jerk.

He was lipping off about how he served the country in the military, and worked for the federal gov't and was going to shut the place down because they were racists lol....the only racism flying around was his.

Being a white immigrant with no accent (hardly an accent lol) its easy to blend in and hear the way people do talk about immigrants and foreigners tho. They arent shy to be mouthy when they think they are in 'safe' company. heh

Edited December 9, 2006 by evilcanuck

[mmb 0]

I have had some problems but only once when I had left my fiance in hospital and got lost driving home. I stopped three times to ask for directions, in one place I was told we don't sell maps and heard the guy turn to his friend as I left and say "stupid foreigners" and at the last place I tried I was told "go back to your own f***in country".

Luckily after two hours of driving down the same road in the dark I saw a ploice car and asked the officer for help. He called his sister on his cell and with her help drew me a map to get me home as simply as possible.

I got home, called the hospital to check on my fiance who had nearly died just a few hours before then cried myself to sleep.

Luckily that's the only time I've ever had a problem.

[Ephesia 0]

I have not faced any discrimination or prejudice so far here in Indianapolis, IN. I am as Asian-looking as they come but speak 100% "American English". I cultivated the accent over our two-year courtship before I migrated here on the K1 because my husband had a difficult time understanding my accent over the phone even though I spoke excellent English (and still do).

I also never try hiding where I am from. I love declaring proudly that I am from Asia. Hubby and I also like telling people that I'm a mail order bride and that he found my ad on the last page of the catalog. The irony of this joke is richly appreciated by family and friends here who know me fairly well. They all know I am well educated and can hold my own in conversations. My co-workers think it's a riot when I make up funny stories about my upbringing and I leave books about my country on my desk so they can browse whenever they hang around my cube.

Total strangers don't think I am different. I look different (shorter, yellow skin, and too skinny for some) but I've not been snubbed. I've had some come up to me chat about the weather or something else totally random. I think this is also due to the wonderful character of this city. There are all kinds of people and most are tolerant at the very least. A lot of people I have encountered don't even care where I am from.

[ace13 0]

I have not faced any discrimination or prejudice so far here in Indianapolis, IN. I am as Asian-looking as they come but speak 100% "American English". I cultivated the accent over our two-year courtship before I migrated here on the K1 because my husband had a difficult time understanding my accent over the phone even though I spoke excellent English (and still do).

I also never try hiding where I am from. I love declaring proudly that I am from Asia. Hubby and I also like telling people that I'm a mail order bride and that he found my ad on the last page of the catalog. The irony of this joke is richly appreciated by family and friends here who know me fairly well. They all know I am well educated and can hold my own in conversations. My co-workers think it's a riot when I make up funny stories about my upbringing and I leave books about my country on my desk so they can browse whenever they hang around my cube.

Total strangers don't think I am different. I look different (shorter, yellow skin, and too skinny for some) but I've not been snubbed. I've had some come up to me chat about the weather or something else totally random. I think this is also due to the wonderful character of this city. There are all kinds of people and most are tolerant at the very least. A lot of people I have encountered don't even care where I am from.

Rock on Indianapolis

[Heracles 417]

2 weeks ago I was at my nail salon, and some asshat was in there ranting and raving that his wife was 'ignored' in favour of a white client. If any one goes to nail salons you know about sign in sheets, this day they were particularly busy and they accidently skipped a name on the sheet, and it was his wife. Instead of saying something she left and went home, her husband comes in like a raving lunatic playing the race card (wife was black), and accusing the people in the salong of being racists, that white clients always get in ahead of blacs

Nothing new here. it's the way of the modern day 'minority'.

Someone used that ###### in front of me a few weeks back. I couldn't resist and said out loud, "What is wrong with you, you stupid ######".

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I get told I dont 'count as an immigrant because I am white' or because I speak English LOL. I tell em how I had to go thru the same process as any other immigrant....they generally dont believe me but it gives me the opportunity to say 'o, so you dont have a problem with immigrants, you are really just a racist'

Being a white immigrant with no accent (hardly an accent lol) its easy to blend in and hear the way people do talk about immigrants and foreigners tho. They arent shy to be mouthy when they think they are in 'safe' company. heh

I have noticed the same thing. People don't think of me as an immigrant because "after all, it's Canada" and are quite surprised when I tell them about the immigration process 'even for Canadians". I really like your comment "o, so you don't have a problem with immigrants, you are really just a racist" because it sure does seem to be like that. For a lot of people, if you look like them and sound like them, you're ok - but if you are different then you are probably an illegal immigrant. Geeze!

The one observation I have noticed - which isn't really to do with immigration, per se - is that when I moved down here a lot of whites (not all) who I encountered out and about (shopping malls, stores, etc.) were rather aloof and stand-offish and tended to be somewhat rude (no apologies if they pushed past you or stuff like that). Most Blacks, however, were really friendly, started conversations while standing in line, offered compliments or said 'have a great day' or stuff like that when passing in the parking lot and generally made me feel very welcome. Friends who came down from Michigan noticed exactly the same thing. What does it mean? I don't really know, but as a friendly person myself, it helped me feel more at home here when out and about.

[edsperfect 25]

I get told I dont 'count as an immigrant because I am white' or because I speak English LOL. I tell em how I had to go thru the same process as any other immigrant....they generally dont believe me but it gives me the opportunity to say 'o, so you dont have a problem with immigrants, you are really just a racist'

Being a white immigrant with no accent (hardly an accent lol) its easy to blend in and hear the way people do talk about immigrants and foreigners tho. They arent shy to be mouthy when they think they are in 'safe' company. heh

I have noticed the same thing. People don't think of me as an immigrant because "after all, it's Canada" and are quite surprised when I tell them about the immigration process 'even for Canadians". I really like your comment "o, so you don't have a problem with immigrants, you are really just a racist" because it sure does seem to be like that. For a lot of people, if you look like them and sound like them, you're ok - but if you are different then you are probably an illegal immigrant. Geeze!

The one observation I have noticed - which isn't really to do with immigration, per se - is that when I moved down here a lot of whites (not all) who I encountered out and about (shopping malls, stores, etc.) were rather aloof and stand-offish and tended to be somewhat rude (no apologies if they pushed past you or stuff like that). Most Blacks, however, were really friendly, started conversations while standing in line, offered compliments or said 'have a great day' or stuff like that when passing in the parking lot and generally made me feel very welcome. Friends who came down from Michigan noticed exactly the same thing. What does it mean? I don't really know, but as a friendly person myself, it helped me feel more at home here when out and about.

LOL you think they are rude there!! Try shopping in NYC sometime. I was stabbed in the ribs by an old lady with an umbrella once so she could get in front of me

[sarah and hicham 3]

This is a good topic.

I wondered about this because my husband is Arab. All of my friends think he looks more American than I do.

I think because of where we are (California) in a very small and non diverse college town that when people find out that my husband is from Morocco they say "oh that's sooo cool".

He was shy about it when he first got here in terms of being embarassed to pay at the grocery store because he was worried people couldn't understand him but now whenever he talks people ask him where he's from.

Much better than I expected although none of my friends or family have ever shown any signs of discrimination so I guess it's what I expected. They respect that he is working and trying to make a good life for us.

Sarah

[Heracles 417]

This is a good topic.

I wondered about this because my husband is Arab. All of my friends think he looks more American than I do.

I think because of where we are (California) in a very small and non diverse college town that when people find out that my husband is from Morocco they say "oh that's sooo cool".

He was shy about it when he first got here in terms of being embarassed to pay at the grocery store because he was worried people couldn't understand him but now whenever he talks people ask him where he's from.

Much better than I expected although none of my friends or family have ever shown any signs of discrimination so I guess it's what I expected. They respect that he is working and trying to make a good life for us.

Sarah

Your husband seriously looks of Greek or Italian decent..

[pedroh 21]

I am curious as to whether or not any of you have experienced any pejudice in US as to immigrants. My own experience has been there is very little towards those that come here legally and make a effort to assimilate into the society, learn the language, work, etc. In fact from what I see Americans welcome and readily accept them bt then i may be wrong.

JMHO, but from what I can see, it's a lot easier if you're a white immigrant.

yeah.. i agree

[Reba 2]

I have noticed the same thing. People don't think of me as an immigrant because "after all, it's Canada" and are quite surprised when I tell them about the immigration process 'even for Canadians". I really like your comment "o, so you don't have a problem with immigrants, you are really just a racist" because it sure does seem to be like that. For a lot of people, if you look like them and sound like them, you're ok - but if you are different then you are probably an illegal immigrant. Geeze!

I get the same thing. When I first moved here, a few different neighbours came to say hello, and all of them, every single one, went on and on about how happy they were that "no stinkin' Mexicans bought the house" and continued to curse at "all the immigrants". I reminded them that I am also an immigrant, and they replied "oh, but you don't count, you're from Canada" Gee....thanks The bigotry and racism in this town makes me physically sick at times. Neighbours will even over-price their homes when they're trying to sell because they think it'll keep the immigrants away. The house across the street was for sale for over 2 years! They finally broke down and sold it to a black family, because well...they're not as bad as Mexicans.