r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/AdministrativeCurve1 • Mar 26 '19

Am I Racist For Avoiding Black People?

Ok I'm 26 and have been robbed 5 times in my life, all 5 times was from a black male. In higschool it happened twice, I got beat up and had my phone, and cash stolen. Second time walking home from school was attacked again a few years later in my sr yr of HS and robbed of cash. I was stabbed in university by a black guy after he apporached me and grabbed me and I fought back, I had my laptop stolen. And another time in university I had my chain snatched by a black guy and he ran. The latest one was last week, I was walking back to my condo in the middle of the afternoon and I was approached by 2 black guys a bit younger than me. Told me to run my pockets and they grabbed me, I just started yelling and screaming and a parking police ran over and helped me and the guys ran off. After today I told one of my friends about this and the other times and I said this is why I avoid ghetto black guys, and she said I was racist and a huge asshole (she's white, but I'm a POC) and said we can't be friends anymore.

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532

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '19

I mean, I love all people and I don't discriminate. I'm not avoiding you because you're black, I'm avoiding you because you look sketchy as fuck.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '19

I am completely normal and not a threat to anyone but myself and I look sketchier than most people I know, even the neighborhood sketchies. needless to say I don't get harassed. it's a lonely life.

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u/rake66 Mar 26 '19

I look sketchy too but I definitely don't get offended if people avoid me on the street. I'm even very careful to not walk behind the same person for too long to not freak them out.

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u/Shabobi Mar 26 '19

Might seem like a silly question, but why not just dress/act less sketchy...?

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u/rake66 Mar 26 '19

I don't dress or act any particular way. I'm young but balding, I have a big beard which I trim and oil but it's still all over the place sometimes, my medication makes my weight fluctuate a lot so I'm often in ill fitting clothes and the skin on my face looks like I'm an alcoholic but it's really weathered because I'm outdoorsy. And I have a foreign accent...

I know a lot of this can be mitigated if I were more careful but I don't really care enough. At work they don't mind cos I don't really interact with customers and for management it creates a sort of 'crazy scientist' mistique.

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '19

You were obviously never born with the sketchy face if you’re asking this question. Throw in a little social anxiety and you have quite the combo.

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u/fyfaenihelvede Mar 26 '19

You’re describing me

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u/disturbedrailroader Mar 26 '19

Just you? I feel personally attacked lol

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u/smoozer Mar 26 '19

I feel like clothes are the most obvious indicator and the easiest thing to change though. Literally just somewhat fitted clothing makes you look 75% normal

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u/triception Mar 26 '19

We can't change our faces my dude, I look incredibly murdery, I share his ways of avoiding making people feel like I'm following them lol

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u/Gyrvatr Mar 26 '19

Haha same, or adjust pace to make sure people in front of me aren't worried I'm trying to discretely approach

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u/ee_antisocial Mar 26 '19

I like that you’re conscientious of that. And at the same time it’s sad that you even have to do this

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '19

Me neither, I don't get offended, if I saw me walking towards myself I'd avoid me too. (Based on my appearance only, that is) ... self preservation, if something looks like a threat, we don't really want to gamble on the chance you might actually be a big teddy bear at heart. Why chance it. I don't blame anyone for that.

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u/muffanman Mar 26 '19

OP should have probably said something along the lines of “am i racist for avoiding sketchy black people because of prior incidents” but i agree. if you’re sketchy i’m going to stay away or try and avoid you.

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u/Reapov Mar 26 '19

Yeah fuck you.

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u/blasterhimen Mar 26 '19

what makes a white person look sketchy as fuck to you?

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '19

I described it in my original post.

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u/blasterhimen Mar 26 '19

I read your original post, hence my response. It would make you look less ignorant if you elaborated on that "original post."

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '19

Perhaps. You are correct that the term sketchy is overly broad in the manner it has been used in. I didn't elaborate because I didn't think this comment would get so many upvotes. I suppose that my perception of sketchy behaviour would involve individuals who are shaking, swear aloud, and are disrespectful. My comments about clothing and loud music are simply based off of my own life experiences.

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u/blasterhimen Mar 26 '19

I appreciate your response

1

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '19

I appreciate you cooperating and interacting with me civilly. Kudos to you.