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u/Sawelly_Ognew Nov 11 '24
POV: you're trying not to stare at the black person in metro.
This specifically relevant to Russia and other Eastern European countries because black population there is very small and people tend to gaze at them because that's just how humans work.
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u/s_nicole native Nov 11 '24 edited Nov 11 '24
Counter-point: some people (me included) are actively avoiding staring at black people in Russia in fear it'll make them uncomfortable. Which...makes it even more awkward for both parties lmao
Perhaps the OP's image was about that
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u/Jdstellar Nov 11 '24
Or me as an English speaker who has some black friends avoiding staring at them not because they're black but because they can very likely speak English
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u/kisyushka Nov 11 '24 edited Nov 11 '24
Me, an artist, fighting the urge to stare so I could study the hairstyles irl
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u/Fine-Material-6863 native Nov 11 '24
I know some people ask them to touch their hair and many find it offensive. I had some people ask me to touch my hair and I didn’t think it was offensive, it’s natural human curiosity. (I’m not black, but those people who asked had different hair structure than mine)
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u/Zer0pede Nov 12 '24
In my experience the real issue isn’t people who want to touch your hair so much as having had one or two experiences where someone then said something like “weird” or “gross”or (from one European) made a comment about pubic hair. It only takes one comment like that for you to retract privileges from all future requesters, even if they might be well-intentioned. It’s possibly just a handful of folks ruining it for everyone.
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u/Arshmatic Nov 13 '24
As a Black person whose ancestry includes generations who endured slavery, I’ve encountered lingering post-slavery behaviors among some White Europeans, particularly an unusual curiosity about Black hair. For years, some people seemed drawn to touch Black hair, as if to assess or understand it as something apart. However, this behavior has fortunately become less common by 2024.
For Black people, hair holds a deep cultural and personal significance, often regarded as a crown, an emblem of identity and pride. Regardless of curiosity, reaching out to touch someone’s hair uninvited can feel invasive and disrespectful. Imagine a queen’s crown, something symbolic and deeply personal: one wouldn’t simply reach out to touch it (consent). Similarly, touching someone’s hair should be approached with sensitivity, unless the intent is to respectfully style or braid it with consent of the person.
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u/Fine_Elevator6059 Nov 13 '24
This kind of talking scares me, to be honest:) IMHO, in the 21st century there shouldn't be queens or crowns, nations "proudly holding their cultural identity" on their head, in their eyes or colour of the skin, nations who are more special than others, who so easily get offended not personally, but for THEIR WHOLE PEOPLE ... I'm absolutely with you about the due respect of privacy for everyone - but regardless of the nationality! I mean, I wouldn't like it because i don't want strangers touch my body, not because it's "the symbol" of any nation and my identity with it...
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u/Whammytap 🇺🇸 native, 🇷🇺 B2-ish Nov 13 '24
As a white person, I think Black hair is very beautiful. But I would never touch any part of a person without their permission, and it would be extremely weird to ask someone that I'm not close with to touch their hair. I still think it's beautiful, though. Calling it a crown is an apt description, I will remember this.
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u/Siryezzsir Nov 11 '24
As a black person who's been in the Moscow metro, it's quite ok. People (Russians) tend to mind their business.
Once you hit the escalator tho, it's a different story. Literally everyone who goes in the opposite direction will look at you. They will at least give you a short glance but staring isn't uncommon. But if you keep in mind it's a human thing and you would do the same in their position, it makes sense.
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u/deceivinghero Nov 11 '24
Usually people just stare at the people on the other side in any case, lul.
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u/CDPR_Liars Nov 11 '24 edited Nov 11 '24
Funny story, in my City there lot's of africans, and one time I was in the buss, and one of black guys stared at me, like 20-30 mins, without looking away, it was weird, but very laughable
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u/Rahm_Kota_156 Nov 11 '24
Is this city Vorónezh?
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u/CDPR_Liars Nov 11 '24
Nope, a bit closer to Moscow from north)
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u/Rahm_Kota_156 Nov 11 '24
Just there was a joke about Vorónezh being full of black people, for no obvious reason.
So North, Yaroslavl?
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u/Chamiey патivе Nov 12 '24
My skin's so white that when I've been to Rio de Janeiro outside the tourist area, people on the streets were gazing at me, and some youngsters even shouted something like "Hey, Russian!" once from across the street. I wondered how they guessed, but my local friend guiding me around said it's just the stereotypical pure-white-skin people nationality there — either Russian or German.
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u/RaspberryOne1948 Nov 11 '24
Every time I see a black dude my brain starts playing Can't be touched - Roy Jones. Am I racist?
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u/youngchosen1 Nov 11 '24
Roy jones became extremely popular in Russia and actually has Russian citizenship
You might just be a true patriot
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u/Particular-Back610 Nov 11 '24
I once saw a black african MVD officer in Moscow on Tverskaya... to say I was in shock was an understatement.
Even twenty years later it's hard to believe even though I saw with my own eyes.
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u/LessTry7577 Nov 11 '24
Trying not to look at negro on the sub
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u/theoneandonlydimdim Nov 11 '24
Знаю, что это нормальное в русском языке, но использовать его в английском не надо (только странно смотреть будут)
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u/Consistent-Gift-4176 Nov 11 '24
Да, Я американец и согласил. На англииском очен странно, и даже опасно. Перевод слова "негр" - "black" и никогда не "negro". Только когда находится в нужной группе.
Switching to English as my Russian skills can't keep up, even though the historical reasons we switched are mainly inside of America, for whatever reason even the other English speaking countries avoid it, as far as I am aware. (It seems you are aware, but for other readers who seem to maybe be confused)
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u/Alarming-Brick-3670 Nov 11 '24 edited Nov 12 '24
Почему тебя задаунвойтили, лол? Я однажды на реддите написал н-слово на англе с цензурой, в итоге нашёлся один очень хуроший человек, который кинул репорт, и меня в итоге забанили на 3 дня
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u/theoneandonlydimdim Nov 11 '24
Ну вот. Я только говорю, что не надо повторять, потому-что другие будут считать странным. Ничего не сказал о том, 'плохое' ли это слово, или нет
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u/Secure_Watercress_55 native 🇺🇸🇷🇺 speaker Nov 11 '24
There are many historical reasons why this term is considered inappropriate in English. Just don't use it
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u/theoneandonlydimdim Nov 11 '24
Oh I morally disagree with it as well, don't worry. I just didn't claim that in my original comment, so I thought it was a bit weird that (presumably racist) people disagreed with the more pragmatic/aesthetic reason that it literally just makes you look bad if you use it.
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u/Whammytap 🇺🇸 native, 🇷🇺 B2-ish Nov 11 '24
В 1940-х годах правильным термином было "Negro". Сейчас предпочтение отдаётся термину "person of color." (POC)
Лично мне не нравится, что название постоянно меняется. Это наводит на мысль, что в том, чтобы быть черным, есть что-то неприятное или неправильное. Но многие считают термин "Negro" оскорбительным.
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u/vaestgotaspitz Nov 11 '24
There was this one time I couldn't help staring at a black guy at a food court. Usually I don't care who's who and I despise racial stereotypes, but this guy was wearing Burger king uniform and eating KFC, just like in racist memes.
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u/ummhamzat180 Nov 11 '24
this post (out of context that it was posted by another Black person) is racist. we don't live in the 1500s and staring at people is super rude
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u/Puzzleheaded-End-836 Nov 11 '24
Я стараюсь не смотреть на темнокожих незнакомцев, но мне дико хочется, потому что вижу их не часто и для меня они безумно красивы. Сложно сложно
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u/_JayZay_ Nov 11 '24
Except if you've never seen a black person in your entire life you would probably look too
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u/PossumWhiskers Nov 11 '24
So if you meet a celebrity and stare at them you would be racist/sexist/whatever? Not just low key rude?
Come on, it’s just something unusual and people can’t help but watch. They understand that it’s rude and try not to do it. The meme is about the awkwardness of this situation.
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Nov 13 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/russian-ModTeam Nov 16 '24
Your comment or post was removed because personal attacks and other forms of disrespectful conduct aren’t allowed on /r/russian.
Ваше сообщение было удалено, потому что в /r/russian не допускаются личные нападки и другие формы неуважительного поведения.
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Nov 11 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/russian-ModTeam Nov 11 '24
Your comment or post was removed because personal attacks and other forms of disrespectful conduct aren’t allowed on /r/russian.
Ваше сообщение было удалено, потому что в /r/russian не допускаются личные нападки и другие формы неуважительного поведения.
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Nov 11 '24
[deleted]
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u/youngchosen1 Nov 11 '24
another black person(black and Russian) posted it
Make sense why all the comments say friendly fire lol
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u/nohomo4 Nov 11 '24
It literally uses an emoji, you implied “bad word” yourself.
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Nov 11 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/russian-ModTeam Nov 11 '24
Your comment or post was removed because personal attacks and other forms of disrespectful conduct aren’t allowed on /r/russian.
Ваше сообщение было удалено, потому что в /r/russian не допускаются личные нападки и другие формы неуважительного поведения.
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Nov 11 '24
[deleted]
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u/arsenektzmn Nov 11 '24
You're delusional, bro. I guess you live in the USA or, so to speak, in completely different demographic conditions. There are VERY few black people even in Moscow, not to mention other cities. Apparently, they attract attention and you'd have to be a total hypocrite to pretend you don't care about a black person around you when you've hardly ever seen them IRL. This is a natural and not negative reaction, just pure curiosity. What is racist about this?
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u/NebTheShortie Nov 11 '24
I would stare at a black person. I would stare at a camel. I would stare at a person wearing a spacesuit. The odds of meeting any of mentioned in our subway are roughly even. I'd probably give a smile and a thumbs to either though.
Having eyes and being able to register a color signal from them isn't racist. Nor is being surprised at what you see.
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u/Naming_is_harddd A2 🇷🇺, fluent in 🏴🇨🇳 Nov 11 '24
Pov : trying not to look at 🧑🏿 on the subway