Racism in Europe???

[Jayla]

Hi, I'm planning a trip to western Europe for next spring and since I'm black, I want to know what countries or cities to avoid due to racism. So far, I'm planning on going to London, Paris, Nice, Rome, Naples, Capri, Milan, Barcelona, Ibiza, Athens, and Mykonos. If anyone has any tips, please let me know. I hate being uncomfortable, I hate being one of the only black people in a city, and I hate being stared at or talked about so if I can avoid this or at least be prepared to deal with it during my trip I will forever be grateful. Thanks!

[voyd]

Originally Posted by Jayla

I hate being one of the only black people in a city

Uh, if you're afraid of that, then the EU might not be your first choice.

Perhaps the Carribean or Africa, instead?

[simply_angelic]

You very well might be the only black person around at times...but chances are you wont be discriminated against for it...the EU is pretty liberal, you should feel right at home, even if you are the only black person in sight. Hell, I'd even venture to say that i got discriminated against more in Africa in one day for being a WHITE person than you will in your entire trip....but that's just my 2 cents

Open your mind...it's ok to be different. The most difficulty you'll have is probably more likely to be language based than anything. If you dont make an effort in their language it's quite possible they'll be rude to you...

But good luck! Your trip sounds like a ton of fun! I loved Europe...

[joe7f]

Hi Jayla welcome to the boards! First, awesome looking trip you got planned!

I am not sure where you live in Canada, but unless it is in a pretty big city I would have thought you would be used to being the only black person in town :D

Racism exists in Europe like it does anywhere else but in the big cities you mentioned you will run across people from all backgrounds. You can't control how other people feel about you or if they will stare at you (I get stared at and I am pretty darn white) so you either learn to deal with it or you stay home (we don't tend to encourage the latter around here ).

Also, in Canada and the US we tend to be fairly hypersensitive regarding racial matters. Take the recent case of the Spanish basketball team pulling their eyes back saying they are ready for the Beijing Olympics. It was not racist it was just not PC. There was no implication of Caucasian superiority. While the UK and US were all foamed up over it I kept thinking about how rowdy Spanish soccer fans throw bananas at black players. That photo was some tame stuff by comparison.

Anyway, racism should be low on your worry list. I would suggest you concentrate on getting your hostels lined up, money saved, and backpack purchased instead

--Joey

[aliz]

I haven't been to the other places lately, but London & Paris you'll have no problems.

[MeTurk]

Ya London and Paris have a big black community. You do get a fair bit of Racism around Europe, it's a small minority that would be to coward to say anything to you in public though. You'll also get the reverse of it in small towns like mine where we only see black people on TV and get a bit star struck.

The strangest thing about racists in Europe is they love rap music. I remember saying this to one lad and he replyed they don't count their American???

[mbo108]

You might want to check out Elliott Hester's Adventures of a Continental Drifter. The author is black and he talks about his experiences traveling the world and frequently his race and his travels intersect, usually in positive ways. Some places you could be a rock star. I know in Iceland all the girls were flocking to the black Americans who live there (as professional basketball players - yes apparently they have professional basketball in Iceland).

Good luck on your travels...

[expatben]

Being a white man its kinda hard for me to comment about racism in London and Paris although I have been to both. I will say that as has been said before in Paris there was a black community and I assume the same can be said in London. I would not worry too much about it though as I am sure you're not the first black person to go to either city.
Your route seems awesome though and it would be a shame to deny yourself the experience of Europe because of a few biggots. Racism like many things are international I am afraid.

[voyd]

Originally Posted by joe7f

Also, in Canada and the US we tend to be fairly hypersensitive regarding racial matters. Take the recent case of the Spanish basketball team pulling their eyes back saying they are ready for the Beijing Olympics. It was not racist it was just not PC. There was no implication of Caucasian superiority. While the UK and US were all foamed up over it I kept thinking about how rowdy Spanish soccer fans throw bananas at black players. That photo was some tame stuff by comparison.

Gee, I'm "hypersensitive" if I find reducing people to exaggerated caricatures racist and offensive? For some reason, jokes aren't that funny when only one side is laughing...especially when countries are supposed to be coming together in goodwill for sport.

Look, everyone knows the accepted Asian sign in photos is this:

Spain asked for some blowback for making such gestures in national ads directed at their Olympic hosts. It's frankly amazing that they would even think to do such a thing. I mean, I can only imagine what they would do if Africa hosted the Olympics - pose in Blackface or gorilla suits?

[mollymore]

Originally Posted by voyd

Gee, I'm "hypersensitive" if I find reducing people to exaggerated caricatures racist and offensive? For some reason, jokes aren't that funny when only one side is laughing...especially when countries are supposed to be coming together in goodwill for sport.

Nope, voyd, I agree with you completely.

[Canadian Bacon]

Originally Posted by Jayla

Hi, I'm planning a trip to western Europe for next spring and since I'm black, I want to know what countries or cities to avoid due to racism. So far, I'm planning on going to London, Paris, Nice, Rome, Naples, Capri, Milan, Barcelona, Ibiza, Athens, and Mykonos. If anyone has any tips, please let me know. I hate being uncomfortable, I hate being one of the only black people in a city, and I hate being stared at or talked about so if I can avoid this or at least be prepared to deal with it during my trip I will forever be grateful. Thanks!

Hey, don't worry about it. As a general rule:

old Europeans = passive-aggressive racists
young Europeans = cool as hell

There were exceptions, and I met a few really nice old Europeans and some really racist younger ones (especially in Admsterdam) - but generally the youth all over the world are the same, we like to chill and make friends.

Add to this the fact that pretty much 98% of backpackers are the antithesis of anything racist - and you'll be hanging out with backpackers most of the time - you'll be just fine.

[Canadian Bacon]

Originally Posted by voyd

Gee, I'm "hypersensitive" if I find reducing people to exaggerated caricatures racist and offensive? For some reason, jokes aren't that funny when only one side is laughing...especially when countries are supposed to be coming together in goodwill for sport.

Wow first I heard of this. Yeah those pic were fucking racist. Now I want to beat the shit out of the entire Spanish basketball team.

Fucking Calderon plays for the Toronto Raptors too... you'd expect a little more sense from someone who lives in a city with that many chinese ppl

[dudeman]

The only place I heard anything racist was in Amsterdam, people wise it was the worst city out of London, Paris, Madrid, and Pamplona.

[Elizabeth]

I met this Romanian guy who said he hated black people because (I'm paraphrasing here for decency's sake) they are more well endowed, so they were stealing all the women, his included, and infecting them with STDs. He caught an STD from a girlfriend. Anyway for anyone looking for some justice here, we met one of his friends and they were going on in Romanian about how they don't like black people. Well this black French speaking girl overheard them and slapped them.

OK but for the OP you prob won't have any problems. You're pretty much on the tourist trail there so they're used to dealing with people of all races and nationalities. London is a cultural melting pot, and Paris has some Haitian immigrants (not sure how many though). Elsewhere, people might be more curious rather than rascist.

[buzzingtalk]

TBH i get more racism in london for being a white girl with dreads than my black freinds do...london particularly is very open minded, but if your cautious then east london is by far the worst for racism -although funnily enough its the part of london that has the LEAST white people! - thats where im from. even then, though, its a very slim chance someone will actually act on it verbally. so dont worry - in the end, if someone is racist towards you, walk away knowing your a better person than them.

asterdam is a likkle bit worse, but as the same as london, very rarely will someone verbally or physically act on it. your more likely to get paranoid about acts of racism and presume someone is being it towards you than actually experience a racist attack.

dont worry about it, spend your time worrying thinking about how youll deal with it - like i said, walk away and know your better than them.

hit me up if your in london and fancy a drink!

[voyd]

Originally Posted by buzzingtalk

asterdam is a likkle bit worse, but as the same as london, very rarely will someone verbally or physically act on it. your more likely to get paranoid about acts of racism and presume someone is being it towards you than actually experience a racist attack.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps saying A-dam is so bad?

It may just be that different areas have different racial perceptions and preferences.

For example, in A-dam, I noticed quite a few VERY DARK Black women coupled with tall, good-looking White men. Now, you rarely ever see Black women with White men in the US (more just the opposite) - yet over there it was farrrrr more common. So, that would seem to imply that the US is actually more racist than A-dam?

As far as Blacks having the highest STD rates - well unfortunately there is actually statistical basis to that. For example, 42% of (American) blacks tested positive for herpes type 2 & 20% of Black men in Manhattan have HIV. Comparatively, about 1/6 of Americans as a whole have genital herpes and just .3% of Western/Central European have HIV. So whether he is "racist" or not, he is factually correct that Blacks do have much higher STD rates as a whole. Sorry, I know this is not PC (and no offense to anyone), but medically-speaking, those are simply the facts.

[Canadian Bacon]

Uhhhh.... this will likely be controversial Voyd.

Lets not also bring up stats at how Chinese ppl are bad drivers - although I (and you, i'm presume) are good drivers.

[dudeman]

Amdam wasn't that bad, its just the only place I heard any racist remarks yelled at people. I really like Amsterdam myself.

[NadiaInside]

Originally Posted by Canadian Bacon

Hey, don't worry about it. As a general rule:

old Europeans = passive-aggressive racists
young Europeans = cool as hell

Actually I agree with this.

I live in Copenhagen. Capital of Denmark - And I know you haven't got Denmark on your list, but just wanted to add in some of my 5 cents. In Denmark usually the old women/men are the discriminating racists... there's always one or two youngster with race issues, but if you come to copenhagen, you will find yourself surrounded by colors. Yes mainly white ones... but a lot of beige to blacks too. Noone stops and stares at you.

You should not let this be whats holding you back. It's like refusing to go to germany on account of being a jew: we've moved on from that sort long time ago. The only problem you could have in europe is in france; they prefer you speaking french and not with an accent.

[MeTurk]

Originally Posted by dudeman

Amdam wasn't that bad, its just the only place I heard any racist remarks yelled at people. I really like Amsterdam myself.

It's hard not to like the place when your stoned the hole time.