Racism: Not in my experience (living in, move to, places)

[cynmkolohe]

Hi Tarnor--and welcome to the forum!

I've said most of what I have to say about racism and such issues in the past on this forum, so that is not what I want to address here, except to say that if you do ever get to visit Hawaii and you have the opportunity to sit down with someone like Jungjohan, you will quickly realize how powerful these kinds of stories are.

For those who move to Hawaii, to be able to "talk story" about what life has been like in Hawaii throughout the decades and to take in the accounts of men and women who lived it is like collecting treasure. It is part of what pulls you into the history of this place and teaches you how fine the balance is...some of what you hear isn't "postcard paradise" material. Sometimes it is harsh, chilling reality. But if it is truth, there are lessons to be learned. It is part of what begins to tie you to what Hawaii really is--good, bad and sometimes ugly, but always powerful.

I think Jungjohan is working on a book???? If true, I'll sign up to buy a copy now!!

[Jungjohann]

Maybe a little off topic, maybe not.....When I was living at Uncle Willies up on Welekehao Street, and wasn't tending bar, would hang out on the picnic table under the plumeria tree, with Kahale, Kaiwe and Uncle Willie, drink a few beers and talk story. I didn't have any Ka'ao, stories, at the time, being brand new dumb haole kid and all, way back in 1975.....So, we're sitting there, this big Dodge Charger pulls up, it's kind of leaning to one side, and the BIGGEST person I had ever seen in my life kind of struggles his way out the car door, carrying a box. I'm thinking "who the heck is this guy, and why the box??????", Kahale shows the guy a place to sit, and introduces him...."Tom, dis is my brudah Gordon, but everybody calls him "Porkchop", don know why??" Anyways, Gordon, aka Porkchop, aka Porky once you really got to know him, starts laughing, and pulls a chess set out of the box, looks at me, "Hey haloe boy, you play chess?", "Yes", Porkchop, "Good".......I think out of the hundreds of times we must have played, I may have beat him a dozen or so times, and, it may seem odd, picture a 400 plus pound man stroking a ukulele, but he could sing falsetto like nobodies business, absolutley beautiful, would give you chicken skin!!!! Miss those days.......

Oh, Manoa and Kolohe, very well stated

Aloha
Name of the book is Vineyard Street Stories, hopefully pau by Christmas, just need to find a publisher

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by Jungjohann

Name of the book is Vineyard Street Stories, hopefully pau by Christmas, just need to find a publisher

Please be sure to let us know where we can buy it when it's out. If you're worried about the "no advertising" rule here, send some of us the info by DM, and we'll get it posted:

"Hey Brah! Read this really akamai book called 'Vineyard Street Stories' - bought it at ........................'

[jayhawkfan96]

I had relatives that lived in Waimanalo for years. From listening to them I think the locals are weary of anyone who moves in new, especially a lot of the vacation home crowd, because so many people move there to get the island lifestyle but don't want the inconveniences. So they try to change a lot of things when they don't live there full time. It's the same thing you see in a lot of tourist areas. The only difference in Hawaii is that whites are a minority. So they see it as racism.

[Tarnor]

manoagirl, who told you, that europeans don't consider us-americans white? That's wrong. From an european point of view, even many mexicans, cubans and argentines are white.
Apart from that, in germany nobody think in terms of truer white or something like that, we don't even count skin colors or ethnics. you're german or not, depends on your passport.

[newUHprof]

Originally Posted by manoagirl

Many Caucasian people do it also but they are not accustom to being judge by brown, yellow or black, due to the fact that most of the time Caucasian people are the Majority.

This is so key to the whole discussion! White people are used to being the purveyors of racism (even if only unconsciously), not the victims of it (even in mild forms). So when *anything* happens to them because of their skin color -- outrage! How many of them get as outraged when they're in LA and they see someone cross the street so as not to pass a bunch of black kids? See someone lock their car doors because there are some Mexicans walking by? How many of them confront the store security following around the couple with the dark skin?

(Spoken by a white girl getting used to not being in the majority, seeing her white privilege dwindle away, and feeling ok with that.)

[manoagirl]

Originally Posted by Tarnor

manoagirl, who told you, that europeans don't consider us-americans white? That's wrong. From an european point of view, even many mexicans, cubans and argentines are white.
Apart from that, in germany nobody think in terms of truer white or something like that, we don't even count skin colors or ethnics. you're german or not, depends on your passport.

Aloha Tarnor that is refreshing to read that things are changing. There is always hope in the new generation. Perhaps you don't have that view but there are some Europeans that do count skin color or ethnics. It was a friend of mine who lives in Germany who told me that, as I had stated that was probably an extreme view, and was not implying that all Europeans felt that way.

[aha33456]

When you mix with the real locals the racism is always there. It's not necessarily overt - more of an undertone. White in Hawaii probably feels like black in Alabama.

I have heard horror stories about the racist kids in the public schools though. Avoid the public school system in hawaii at all costs.

[manoagirl]

Originally Posted by aha33456

White in Hawaii probably feels like black in Alabama.
.

That sounds like nonsense to me because how would you know that to be a true statement unless you are a black person and have lived in Alabama before? White Americans in Hawaii are treated no better or worse than any other minority, it is just that other minorities don't complain as much because they have become accustom to being treated as a minority among other racial groups and it is easier for them to adjust.

Being a minority is a new concept for most white Americans and when they come to live on the Island for the first time that learn to share the experience of what it feels like to be treated as a minority. Some can't deal with it because they feel they are entitled to be treated better not equal, because they are white and therefore leave the Island . Many times these same people will say derogatory things about Islanders due to their lack of coping skills. While many others white Americans (Haoles) stay on the island and learn to have respect and appreciate the beauty of Island people and their culture and become true pioneers in racial relations. Mainland Haoles have much to learn from the local Haoles, they are way ahead of you in regards to racial relations. Hawaii is a great training ground for the future of mainland America.

[silang_mabele]

I am a graduating high school senior from San Francisco and I'm possibly considering going to college in Hilo. One of my main concerns is fitting in. I am Middle Eastern/White but I grew up in a primarily Chinese community and can speak Chinese fluently (Cantonese and Mandarin). However, growing up in San Francisco has been difficult because of this and I have had many years racism directed toward me (for being middle eastern, for being white, for speaking Chinese etc.) Which put down layers of insecurities upon myself.
Would Hilo be the right place for me? Of course, I understand no matter where I go I will have some trouble fitting in as well as racism and should learn to take it with a dose of "good humor" but I am speaking on a grand scale comparing my childhood/academic life in San Francisco. Right now, my other choice is a school in London which doesn't have the majors that Hilo is offering me which brings up yet another deciding factor...
My main reasons for wanting to go to UH Hilo are:
A change of environment - I want to move out of California and experience somewhere new
The small class sizes - I have always gone to very large urban schools
The science majors offered - I hear they focus primarily on field work which sounds EXCELLENT

Any advice? =]