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Comment by Swizec | Hacker News Reader

I too have noticed the same. While the part of Europe I come from is completely white for various reasons, nobody really cares about race. If anything we'll make jokes about ethnicity. But they're only jokes, no systemic segregation happening.

Then you come to the US and it's all about race race race and more race. Even in what is supposed to be their most progressive city - SF - it's just about race race race. Even street comedians/entertainers will play the race card every two minutes.

Honestly, it's boring. I understand that US likes to codify class issues as race issues, but ... stop. Call them class issues, and address them. Turning class warfare into race warfare doesn't help anyone. You are born with your race and you can't change it. You are born with your class, but you can change it.

Focus on that part.

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> While the part of Europe I come from is completely white for various reasons, nobody really cares about race.

Maybe because in a homogeneous society, there's no reason to talk about race.

> Then you come to the US and it's all about race race race and more race.

Maybe because unlike the parts in Europe that you mentioned (which were completely white), there are different races here.

> You are born with your race and you can't change it. You are born with your class, but you can change it. Focus on that part.

People here are NOT discussing race because they want to change their races. They are discussing race because just like sexism, homophobia, etc, racism against anyone (even if they're doing well professionally) is something to highlight, acknowledge and work towards getting rid of.

I'll certainly want to be in a country that actively talks about race than a country that doesn't. If you think not talking about race means there's no or less racism in Europe, then just look at soccer / football.

> I understand that US likes to codify class issues as race issues, but ... stop. Call them class issues, and address them. Turning class warfare into race warfare doesn't help anyone. You are born with your race and you can't change it. You are born with your class, but you can change it.

This is a very European attitude, to the point where four European countries have gone so far as to remove the word "race" from their lawbooks[0]. The problem is that removing actual racism isn't as easy as simply erasing the word, and by removing the word, we remove the ability to take effective action to combat racism.

This isn't turning 'class warfare into race warfare'. Masking racism in this way makes it impossible to address, and thereby perpetuates racism.

[0] e.g. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/12/francoi...

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