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Racism - goes up in north
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"After travelling the world and calling this beautiful country home for over twenty years, I have lived without incident and contributed millions in taxes. But a recent experience has shattered my long-held perspective. I no longer see the same nation. South of Birmingham, people appear less overtly racist, yet there is a noticeable chill — a coldness that withholds simple smiles and basic human courtesies. North of Birmingham, the warmth and friendliness are genuine, but so too is the racism — sharp and unmistakable, especially toward anyone with an Indian skin tone. It doesn’t matter if you’re from India, Iran, or anywhere else. The moment your complexion fits that profile, the prejudice surfaces. What strikes me most is how Black communities seem far less targeted by this wave, while people with Indian features now face a heightened risk of racism that feels both sudden and widespread. This is not the Britain I once knew — and that realisation cuts deep. " Maybe it’s linked to economic disparity, The North generally being less affluent than The South? The huge increase in net migration over recent years? Interesting you make a distinction with black people, no idea why that may be. Maybe blacks are generally seen as being poor, thereby not to be envied & resented as much? No idea really just speculating… | |||
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"OP - how is it in Wales ?" Cardiff is more open to accepting Indian features person than Conwy or Bangor. | |||
"After travelling the world and calling this beautiful country home for over twenty years, I have lived without incident and contributed millions in taxes. But a recent experience has shattered my long-held perspective. I no longer see the same nation. South of Birmingham, people appear less overtly racist, yet there is a noticeable chill — a coldness that withholds simple smiles and basic human courtesies. North of Birmingham, the warmth and friendliness are genuine, but so too is the racism — sharp and unmistakable, especially toward anyone with an Indian skin tone. It doesn’t matter if you’re from India, Iran, or anywhere else. The moment your complexion fits that profile, the prejudice surfaces. What strikes me most is how Black communities seem far less targeted by this wave, while people with Indian features now face a heightened risk of racism that feels both sudden and widespread. This is not the Britain I once knew — and that realisation cuts deep. Maybe it’s linked to economic disparity, The North generally being less affluent than The South? The huge increase in net migration over recent years? Interesting you make a distinction with black people, no idea why that may be. Maybe blacks are generally seen as being poor, thereby not to be envied & resented as much? No idea really just speculating…" Don’t think it has anything to do with economic disparity. You connecting blacks not facing same level racism to their poverty is quite bizarre?? | |||
"After travelling the world and calling this beautiful country home for over twenty years, I have lived without incident and contributed millions in taxes. But a recent experience has shattered my long-held perspective. I no longer see the same nation. South of Birmingham, people appear less overtly racist, yet there is a noticeable chill — a coldness that withholds simple smiles and basic human courtesies. North of Birmingham, the warmth and friendliness are genuine, but so too is the racism — sharp and unmistakable, especially toward anyone with an Indian skin tone. It doesn’t matter if you’re from India, Iran, or anywhere else. The moment your complexion fits that profile, the prejudice surfaces. What strikes me most is how Black communities seem far less targeted by this wave, while people with Indian features now face a heightened risk of racism that feels both sudden and widespread. This is not the Britain I once knew — and that realisation cuts deep. Maybe it’s linked to economic disparity, The North generally being less affluent than The South? The huge increase in net migration over recent years? Interesting you make a distinction with black people, no idea why that may be. Maybe blacks are generally seen as being poor, thereby not to be envied & resented as much? No idea really just speculating… Don’t think it has anything to do with economic disparity. You connecting blacks not facing same level racism to their poverty is quite bizarre?? " Why is it bizarre? If your average Whitey from Blighty sees ethnic minorities generally doing a lot better than them why would that not increase the likelihood of bitterness in some small minded people ie racists ? As I said, just speculating. What do you think the reasons are? You rolled the ball on the subject? Enlighten us? | |||
"After travelling the world and calling this beautiful country home for over twenty years, I have lived without incident and contributed millions in taxes. But a recent experience has shattered my long-held perspective. I no longer see the same nation. South of Birmingham, people appear less overtly racist, yet there is a noticeable chill — a coldness that withholds simple smiles and basic human courtesies. North of Birmingham, the warmth and friendliness are genuine, but so too is the racism — sharp and unmistakable, especially toward anyone with an Indian skin tone. It doesn’t matter if you’re from India, Iran, or anywhere else. The moment your complexion fits that profile, the prejudice surfaces. What strikes me most is how Black communities seem far less targeted by this wave, while people with Indian features now face a heightened risk of racism that feels both sudden and widespread. This is not the Britain I once knew — and that realisation cuts deep. Maybe it’s linked to economic disparity, The North generally being less affluent than The South? The huge increase in net migration over recent years? Interesting you make a distinction with black people, no idea why that may be. Maybe blacks are generally seen as being poor, thereby not to be envied & resented as much? No idea really just speculating… Don’t think it has anything to do with economic disparity. You connecting blacks not facing same level racism to their poverty is quite bizarre?? Why is it bizarre? If your average Whitey from Blighty sees ethnic minorities generally doing a lot better than them why would that not increase the likelihood of bitterness in some small minded people ie racists ? As I said, just speculating. What do you think the reasons are? You rolled the ball on the subject? Enlighten us?" Unlike Black communities, whose cultural presence dominates Western visibility — from hip-hop stages to NBA courts, blockbuster films, and vibrant street _estivals — people with Indian features remain strikingly absent from the spotlight that shapes mainstream perception. You rarely see them owning the nightclub scene, casually sipping beer in afternoon pubs, or commanding the screen in high-octane Western movies and TV dramas. There’s no equivalent to Notting Hill Carnival drawing massive crowds in their name. Toned, charismatic bodies aren’t celebrated as symbols of Indian cool. Stand-up comedy circuits, chart-topping music, and bedroom scenes on screen? The representation is minimal, often reduced to stereotypes. They exist — hardworking, successful, and integrated into the economy as doctors, engineers, tech leaders, business owners, and taxi drivers — yet remain somehow hidden. Present in the workforce, invisible in the culture that Whites consume daily. This creates a peculiar bias: not the loud, confrontational kind, but a quiet dismissal born from unfamiliarity, negative news cycles, and a lack of that magnetic charisma projected through entertainment. The result? Economic achievement without the social currency. Wealth through intellect and grit, but little of the admiration, desire, or effortless attention that cultural dominance brings. Success in boardrooms and hospitals, yet sidelined from the arenas that define “cool,” desirable, or fully belonging. It’s a bias of erasure — harder to fight because it’s subtle, rooted in low visibility rather than overt conflict. | |||
"OP - how is it in Wales ? Cardiff is more open to accepting Indian features person than Conwy or Bangor." funny you should mention bangor as it has an enormous acceptance of eastern culture as it goes .... probably more than most of the uk | |||
"After travelling the world and calling this beautiful country home for over twenty years, I have lived without incident and contributed millions in taxes. But a recent experience has shattered my long-held perspective. I no longer see the same nation. South of Birmingham, people appear less overtly racist, yet there is a noticeable chill — a coldness that withholds simple smiles and basic human courtesies. North of Birmingham, the warmth and friendliness are genuine, but so too is the racism — sharp and unmistakable, especially toward anyone with an Indian skin tone. It doesn’t matter if you’re from India, Iran, or anywhere else. The moment your complexion fits that profile, the prejudice surfaces. What strikes me most is how Black communities seem far less targeted by this wave, while people with Indian features now face a heightened risk of racism that feels both sudden and widespread. This is not the Britain I once knew — and that realisation cuts deep. " I'm sure if you were to ask people in black communities they would probably have a similar opinion. Obviously it's impossible for me to understand your situation as a 50 something year old white man. But I think several factors are in play here: Certain parts of the media and politics in particular are Certain fellow in charge over in the US have worked extremely hard to create divisions in society, undermine community and solidarity by sewing hatred and fear, this has fed ignorance. Social media playing a HUGE fundamental part with large unregulated opinions being allowed to be transmitted to easily influenced, you could in fact have a case for saying the right wing media is grooming the nation. We live in a divided country and it's getting worse. The part of London i grew up in not far from Southall my school was probably 70% non white and growing up you just didn't notice the colour of skin because it was so diverse it seemed perfectly normal. When we moved to Hampshire 25 years ago I couldn't believe how racist people were/are, it was like a 70's unfunny sitcom, sadly it seems to be getting worse. The media whipping people up into a frenzy and with the same media petrified of picking on black people maybe brown is a soft target ?? OP I'm genuinely sorry that this is something you have felt the need to highlight and if you feel the same there's certainly many more who probably feel the same also. Has peoples misunderstanding of religion fed this hatred do you think? With Reform in the ascendance i can only sadly see this getting worse. Peace and love. | |||
"After travelling the world and calling this beautiful country home for over twenty years, I have lived without incident and contributed millions in taxes. But a recent experience has shattered my long-held perspective. I no longer see the same nation. South of Birmingham, people appear less overtly racist, yet there is a noticeable chill — a coldness that withholds simple smiles and basic human courtesies. North of Birmingham, the warmth and friendliness are genuine, but so too is the racism — sharp and unmistakable, especially toward anyone with an Indian skin tone. It doesn’t matter if you’re from India, Iran, or anywhere else. The moment your complexion fits that profile, the prejudice surfaces. What strikes me most is how Black communities seem far less targeted by this wave, while people with Indian features now face a heightened risk of racism that feels both sudden and widespread. This is not the Britain I once knew — and that realisation cuts deep. " You say you've "contributed millions in taxes", which means you must have earned many millions in Britain, so you haven't done too badly here, have you? As very much of a Southerner, I can tell you that, in general, we treat everyone not from around here with a polite, but very mild disdain.  | |||
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"Sexanthem… Sorry that’s your experience and Im not condoning racism at all, however, the government has and has always had a ‘put up and shut’ approach to dealing with immigration. They have never been bothered about what the indigenous uk population want. I’m sorry to say." That sounds like a justification for racism in a thread about a North/South divide from the OP's personal experience. | |||
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"As someone who is part Indian and traveled to India a few times. I can honestly say Indians are more racist against each other than anywhere I've been. They hate each other, if they are from another state, caste or religion. The aggressiveness can be quite open. As someone born and brought up here, I find the UK quite a tolerant place. Apart from the 70s, I've not experienced racism in Scotland. Though from family I have living in England, they have still had odd experiences of it. I think because I sound and dress like the locals helps, plus in Scotland the immigrants tend not to cluster together apart from one area of Glasgow. " Agree about Indians in India but I am talking about U.K. not India, so thanks for deviating everyone. | |||
"As someone who is part Indian and traveled to India a few times. I can honestly say Indians are more racist against each other than anywhere I've been. They hate each other, if they are from another state, caste or religion. The aggressiveness can be quite open. As someone born and brought up here, I find the UK quite a tolerant place. Apart from the 70s, I've not experienced racism in Scotland. Though from family I have living in England, they have still had odd experiences of it. I think because I sound and dress like the locals helps, plus in Scotland the immigrants tend not to cluster together apart from one area of Glasgow. Agree about Indians in India but I am talking about U.K. not India, so thanks for deviating everyone. " Apologies if my post did not meet the strict criteria of your thread. | |||
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" Unlike Black communities, whose cultural presence dominates Western visibility — from hip-hop stages to NBA courts, blockbuster films, and vibrant street _estivals — people with Indian features remain strikingly absent from the spotlight that shapes mainstream perception. " Hmm... Now if people from the Indian subcontinent got shipped off to the Americas to work the plantations, then there might be a similar representation in the world's biggest cultural export generator... We all live in America... " Agree about Indians in India but I am talking about U.K. not India, so thanks for deviating everyone. " Do you want to share more about the overtly racist incident that you encountered? Otherwise, people are just going to speculate wildly, or deviate more. | |||
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"...and the native white community feeling of being used by them." Is this really a thing? Whites feel used by Indians? | |||
"...and the native white community feeling of being used by them. Is this really a thing? Whites feel used by Indians?" I've heard it used by girls who says they don't date Asians. Remember most UK people bundle all South Asians into one group. The reason being given is because of what I mentioned in my previous post. It's mostly girls who are looking for a relationship leading to something long term, and are lied to by people with no intention of anything long term. I think though this was more a case in the 70s and 80s. Things seem to be changing now, am seeing more mixed marriages now. | |||
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