Did your family members become more vocally racist after Trump?

[Anonymous]

I'm a minority who married into a white family. DH has always told me his parents were mildly racist, but they have never directed their racism towards me in any intentionally hurtful way. They would often say things here and there that were more ignorant or fearful of other cultures, like they would just call other cultures or foreign customs or movies or anything "weird". Overall, they knew better to show their racism to my face.

But in the last couple years or so, they have been bringing up more and more racially charged discussions - in my presence. Basically ranting agains the blacks, or other minorities who are acting poorly, or being responsible for being poor and lazy instead of more hard-working. Or some other incident where someone got in trouble for saying something against the minorities. Or ranting against immigrants, the chinese, or mexican. It's like they forgot I'm a minority, or they no longer care, or they feel more justified for their views now.

I feel it's because of the Trump culture. Has anyone else had this happen in their families?

[Anonymous]

No, because my family wasn't racist to begin with. Also not Republicans -- no one in my family or DH's has voted Republican since Bush I, except for Arlen Specter when he was a senator. You couldn't pay us enough money to vote for Trump or listen to his lies.

[Anonymous]

No,they got better somehow. My in laws were always mildly racist. You know, that weird racism that you see in 60-70 year olds where they don't quite get how what they are saying is racist. Mostly directed towards middle eastern/Indian/ sometimes Hispanic.

I think Trump (who they actually voted for and then later were disgusted by him) opened their eyes to how racist they could be.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Wow that's interesting. My in-laws were always stout republicans, but then switched to Democrats to vote for Obama. It was as if Obama's presidency helped them become more vocally racist, and then Trump helped to open up the floodgates. They're not Trump supporters though.

I feel like voting for Obama made them feel like they were giving blacks a chance and proved they were not racist. They were enchanted with the idea this was a nation which allowed a black person, through their own hard work, character, and drive, become the most powerful person in the country. And then were utterly disappointed with his performance once he was elected. And then felt justified for judging blacks who could not pull themselves out of poverty and addiction. Because if Obama could do it, anyone can do it.

Partly, I think they are grappling with their own racism - which maybe they didn't confront or talk about prior to Trump's presidency.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

So basically, you expect your adopted family to change in order to make you happy, just like you expect your adopted country to change in order to make you happy.

And you wonder why people oppose mass immigration? You wonder why you got Trump?

[Anonymous]

Sadly, your observations are probably accurate and common, OP, but I think the cause is multifaceted. Trump and Fox News/conservative media have given permission to previously quiet racists to reveal their true feeling by removing some of the social taboo against it. People with latent racist tendencies have also had their ugliest feelings stoked. But I also think that Trump and conservative media have created new racists. I am a big believer in the idea that racism can be taught and untaught at any age. I visited Sarajevo after the war. It took only a few years for a city that had previously been known for good and peaceful relations among diverse ethnic and religious groups to became a site of genocide. I'm not suggesting anything so dire might happen here, but it does make me view Trump as more than a temporary danger. Defeating Trump is not enough; Trumpism needs to be defeated as well.

The learning goes both ways, though. I would have never described my mother as racist but as an older, white, affluent woman, she was definitely blind to a lot of systemic racism. The Obama presidency changed that, though. She loved him, and seeing the way he was treated was a huge catalyst for her in rethinking a lot of her perceptions and beliefs. She's a pretty woke old lady now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically, you expect your adopted family to change in order to make you happy, just like you expect your adopted country to change in order to make you happy.

And you wonder why people oppose mass immigration? You wonder why you got Trump?

That was fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically, you expect your adopted family to change in order to make you happy, just like you expect your adopted country to change in order to make you happy.

And you wonder why people oppose mass immigration? You wonder why you got Trump?

Wtf, she said she’s a minority, she didn’t say an immigrant.

But since you mentioned it....you basically you think being hateful to immigrants is justified because immigrants/newcomers want to be treated well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically, you expect your adopted family to change in order to make you happy, just like you expect your adopted country to change in order to make you happy.

And you wonder why people oppose mass immigration? You wonder why you got Trump?

Where did OP say she wasn't American?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow that's interesting. My in-laws were always stout republicans, but then switched to Democrats to vote for Obama. It was as if Obama's presidency helped them become more vocally racist, and then Trump helped to open up the floodgates. They're not Trump supporters though.

I feel like voting for Obama made them feel like they were giving blacks a chance and proved they were not racist. They were enchanted with the idea this was a nation which allowed a black person, through their own hard work, character, and drive, become the most powerful person in the country. And then were utterly disappointed with his performance once he was elected. And then felt justified for judging blacks who could not pull themselves out of poverty and addiction. Because if Obama could do it, anyone can do it.

Partly, I think they are grappling with their own racism - which maybe they didn't confront or talk about prior to Trump's presidency.

It seems your in-laws we’re not aware of the fact that Obama is not a descendant of slaves. His mom was white and his father was a recent African immigrant. Big difference between that and black Americans who are stuck in a cycle of poverty that is directly related to their history of being enslaved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It'a ALL Trump's fault. REEEEE!

Yep and those who sat back and let him go on and on because they saw how they could use him to their gain.

[Anonymous]

My ILs have always made racist comments. I do think they are now emboldened and more proudly make those comments though.

DH is disgusted by them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow that's interesting. My in-laws were always stout republicans, but then switched to Democrats to vote for Obama. It was as if Obama's presidency helped them become more vocally racist, and then Trump helped to open up the floodgates. They're not Trump supporters though.

I feel like voting for Obama made them feel like they were giving blacks a chance and proved they were not racist. They were enchanted with the idea this was a nation which allowed a black person, through their own hard work, character, and drive, become the most powerful person in the country. And then were utterly disappointed with his performance once he was elected. And then felt justified for judging blacks who could not pull themselves out of poverty and addiction. Because if Obama could do it, anyone can do it.

Partly, I think they are grappling with their own racism - which maybe they didn't confront or talk about prior to Trump's presidency.

It seems your in-laws we’re not aware of the fact that Obama is not a descendant of slaves. His mom was white and his father was a recent African immigrant. Big difference between that and black Americans who are stuck in a cycle of poverty that is directly related to their history of being enslaved.

I thought his mom had an enslaved ancestor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow that's interesting. My in-laws were always stout republicans, but then switched to Democrats to vote for Obama. It was as if Obama's presidency helped them become more vocally racist, and then Trump helped to open up the floodgates. They're not Trump supporters though.

I feel like voting for Obama made them feel like they were giving blacks a chance and proved they were not racist. They were enchanted with the idea this was a nation which allowed a black person, through their own hard work, character, and drive, become the most powerful person in the country. And then were utterly disappointed with his performance once he was elected. And then felt justified for judging blacks who could not pull themselves out of poverty and addiction. Because if Obama could do it, anyone can do it.

Partly, I think they are grappling with their own racism - which maybe they didn't confront or talk about prior to Trump's presidency.

It seems your in-laws we’re not aware of the fact that Obama is not a descendant of slaves. His mom was white and his father was a recent African immigrant. Big difference between that and black Americans who are stuck in a cycle of poverty that is directly related to their history of being enslaved.

I thought his mom had an enslaved ancestor?

^ John Punch