Black, White, Yellow & Brown.

I believe I am quite a tolerant person. In fact I know I tolerate most things a person probably shouldnt have to. I do this to avoid confrontation and to keep the peace. However the one issue close to heart, which I do NOT and will not tolerate is: racism (and for over the past 7 years the issue keeps popping up on my blog!). Not till yesterday did I realise how blinded and biased I have been with just one category of racism. These are the things you learn from being in a mixed marriage.

Prior to a recent incident, I recognised 2 major categories of racism : Negative and positive.

The difference:

Negative-The common sort that we observe and clearly understand as being wrong on many levels and laws now exist to protect individuals against such racism.

Positive-The category of racism people wont necessarily understand as its targeted primarily (but not exclusively) at Caucasians.

I have experienced both. However, negative racism is the one category I have grown to understand with much depth, having been about 6 years old when I first experienced it living in England!

The subject of positive racism was broached when a recent photo on FB which I actually thought was funny and not at all demeaning, in fact I piped in and said the photo was cool and 'liked' the photo! Big mistake (I have since removed my comment and 'unliked the photo).

A Caucasian serving a group of asians: Caption Photo: My times have changed from colonial rule and some comments to follow weren't very polite. Ie: Dont forget to wash my car after you finish serving.

I was told to turn tables around:

An asian serving a load of caucasians: Caption photograph: (Would anyone dare make any comments?) Or if they did and said 'Ah an Asian in his/her place. Clean the toilets after this!' That would cause a major uproar and I would be unbelievably offended!

Having tried to defend myself as to why I found the photo amusing and explaining that we were just having a laugh, I then realised I'm doing exactly what I said would never do: Make someone feel uncomfortable especially when its in relation to their nationality and race. I was gross generalising the entire Caucasian race and targeting someone who does not deserve it. So their ancestors were racist pigs doesn't make them racist too! Its not them being sensitive, its people like us who are being insensitive.

I have realised that I, Ms. Preachy Preach on racism, have been the ignorant one. Seeing someone I care, truly hurt from 'positive racism' broke my heart and to think I have been ignoring the subject for so long, it wasn't one incident but an accumulation of events.

What I have learned: There is no such thing as positive racism, there is only racism.