Comments on: Spain’s commitment to racism “will never end”

By: Ron Dey

Ron Dey — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:56:44 +0000

Dont know exactly what is the position of Indian Population in Spain.
As a global Traveller, I go to many places in the world. So , here is my experience snapshot of Spain:
Me: I am an Indian National. But being from Kolkata(Calcutta), I have mixed origins, I am 1/4th British(Grandmom..), but i look exactly like any other Indian person, a tad taller than most(190 cms) but I am not lanky. Slightly brownish eyes and hair but it is inconceivable with my skin tone, which is quite tanned. So I look like “very Indian”…

1. At work: First, welcomed(due to my work qualities) but was a bit left out from the team. But once I quipped about my british origins in a small coffee discussion, in the next day I was invited to a lunch party, a football match, a disco etc etc etc… not before(15 days later).

2. I usually get stares on the streets, sometimes for quite long with the quizzical-dog expression. It does make me feel, that I am still not integrated.

3. when strolling around the Sol, tribunal, Gran Via area, I have received few comments…. mostly in spanish, but i could understand the tone quite well, and mostly by young groups, often accompanied by giggles from the female counterparts on the group..

4. In clubs like Joy Eslava, Pacha, I always got preferential treatment from the bar-tenders and bouncers standing outside. But once you get inside, you would always feel, that you are not very welcomed by the crowd. It is partially because I dont speak Spanish and mostly because my skin tone is brown(I think).

5. On trains and metros I have seen another example. If you sit in a seat, and if you are not fair skinned, people would avoid sitting next or even in near vicinity to you….

So I can safely comment that, Spain is racist… not all, but a substantial quantity of people. They are not violent, but they would do enough to make you feel, that you are not welcomed and you should forget about trying to integrate with them………

By: Craig

Craig — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:19:15 +0000

Ive lived in Madrid for 4 years and people are VERY racist.
Ive heard old lady’s yell at south americans “Go back to your country” in such a way it reminded me of the movie Schindlers List when a young girl screams with hate “Goodbye Jews!”.
People say the most offensive things and dont care. If it is of some consolation to some brown or black people. spaniards dont like ANYONE other than themselves. They hate germans and britons alike, they call nordic or anglo people “guiris” and say they are dumb and pale people who dont know how to eat, live and such.
Because of this idiotic mentality the french would say in a despotic way “Africa starts from the Piriness down”.
Doesnt say much about the french either.

By: Marlon

Marlon — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:15:37 +0000

The shame is that despite once being prolific invaders and enslavers, Spain has since become perhaps the most culturally rich and historically ethnically diverse nation in Europe…its a shame we are only coming to think of them as they were in times of old… as vicious racists. But most of think they have no problems..so what can you do?

By: Sathish

Sathish — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:22:38 +0000

Cool down ! Cool down! . Racisim exists in different form in every country.
Dont argue between urself. its waste of time and energy

By: benjamin

benjamin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:48:17 +0000

and as far as spain is concerned, i almost have pity upon them, looking at them as almost like a repressed ignorant little child. Many of them seem to proudly, boastfully display their ignorance to the rest of the world. Spain is still very communistic in nature and it will take a long time for them to catch up with more socially-integrated advanced cultures. But surely spain doesnt stand alone, i can name quite a few other european countries that need to step out of the dark ages sort a speak. Its funny how america these days gets the bad wrap when america has shown the world the most advanced platform of multi-cultural unity and rapid social change than any other nation to date. Which has bred great free-thinking attitudes and intellectual, scientific, spiritual advancements and breakthroughs. That is why american culture is everywhere. The culture of a people is the blood of the people, and when multi-culturally unified skies the limit. Unfortuneatly we are entering a new era as a world society, we only got a fair brief taste of this experiment which seemed to work and grow stronger. But its proving more and more everyday that evil and deception, ignorance, and spiritlessness is taking over. There is a great division happening these days, where will u stand?

By: JaquelleSade

JaquelleSade — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:11:28 +0000

It is hard to believe that in the 21st century racism is still around but in fact it very much so is! For the people on here who are saying everywhere is prejudice are right but that is NOT an exscuse to put up with it. When we talk of the variety in nature it is seen as such a beautiful thing yet in this world we are all made up of different colours, tones, shapes, accents, hair etc, should we not be celebrated as a beautiful variety of beings? As much as this theory is great but it is after all only just a theory however we must remember football is a career not just random lads on the pitch, in our work places the smallest racial remark can lead to the sack so why should it be any different as a footballer!!? We all have different views on this topic, the best thing to do is if you know something will offend someone don’t say it, only a damn fool would do that. In addition to this as a proud black young lady I feel the term “coloured” people is dated and un-kind, do not use it, it is offensive.

By: Viko

Viko — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 06:27:29 +0000

@ Varun

“People from South Asia were taken all over the world by force, So you statement that Asian people were now slave treaded is factually wrong.”

Not once did I make a statement about people from South Asia being traded as slaves, unless you consider the Aboriginal people to be from that region, which goes along way to prove your ignorance.

You go from saying “England is nowhere, even with a huge colonial past, most if not all of it racist” to “Not all might hold the same view, but enough do for it being loud enough and emanate at various times in various forms”, come on mate, make up your mind, is most or all of England racist or is only some?

“Spain might have racist elements so does England, saying others parts are more racist is itself racist.
Thus goes the so called racist–racist argument”

No one is saying that England doesnt have racist elements. It does. Just like everywhere in the world. But its so out in the open in Spain. Nothing is done about it and no one is punished. Yet you try to say the Premier League is as bad as La Liga. Racism is an attitude and the Spanish seem to be accepting that some people and some teams will have that attitude. The tolerance of racism in English football is zero. So if you were a black footballer looking to make a decision of whether to play in England or Spain and felt that the only thing you had to look at was the tolerance of racism, which would you pick?

By: scousewoman

scousewoman — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 19:06:46 +0000

Varun, I’d say the ethnic Asians that are English tend to play cricket and they are fantastic!