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What is it like being black in the UK?
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Can your kids go outside in your neighborhood? Are the police life threatening? What does racism look like there?
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Black Americans who have lived in the UK. What are your honest thoughts on Britain and the black community here?
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Just curious as to what other black diasporas think of the UK, this question is aimed at those who have visited or have lived here before.
Top Comment: Black people continue being the funniest people I know everywhere I go lol
Pixel 7 Pro (Black Friday UK)
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Quite upset the phone wasn’t discounted for Black Friday (like in the USA) - anyone think they might save this for the 25th instead? It’s still on this “trade-in offer” sadly
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Thing is it was advertised to be featured in the Black Friday deals, turns out it was just an "enhanced" trade in price which was the same as the trade in prices a week ago, if not less.
How's black Friday in UK?
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Hey, everybody!
I've moved to UK about 2 and a half months ago and am still buying stuff for my place. I still need to buy a tv and was waiting for the Black Friday, but now I am wondering if it is worth to wait for it or if the deals coming up for "pre-Brack Friday" (what is this, anyway?) are pretty much as low as the prices will go.
Bonus question: recommendations for a 50" tv up to £400ish?
Thank y'all!
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Europe Black Population (2020)
Main Post: Europe Black Population (2020)
Top Comment: I don't understand how the estimation actually works.
Black People of the U.K., what are your views on culture and black people in the U.S.A.?
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I have been watching some british shows recently and the way that black people are portrayed is very different. I am simply curious about cultural differences and views that you have. Is racism similar to that in the U.S.? What social taboos are there in british society that concern you? [serious]
Edit: Thanks everyone for participating and answering! I really have enjoyed reading everyone's stories and getting their thoughts. This has been very interesting for me and I got much more out of it than I thought I would.
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I'm black and a dual citizen of the US/UK which lends me a fairly unique perspective as I can safely say that I have a really good experience of both. The racial and cultural perception is certainly different depending on where you are. Although Britain has its racial issues, they tend to be a bit more subtle. What I mean by this is that there isn't a certain black culture that one is expected to conform to. By comparison, in the States, as a 20something black male, there is a certain style I'm expected to conform to. I use AAVE when I'm in America, and play up certain aspects of my personality simply to avoid standing out -- It's almost as if you're expected to prove that you're "black enough." In the UK, there is far less pressure to conform. I can speak in my normal Edinburgh accent, not hide the fact that I like some music made by white people (a cardinal sin, it seems, for African-Americans), wear clothes and shoes not related to any kind of subculture, and interact with friends without having to conform to a standard.
That being said, the UK isn't exactly a racism-free utopia. It's just that the issues are different.
IAmA Black Guy (ask what you’re uncomfortable asking IRL)
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I know the conventional wisdom is that there are next to no black people floating around Reddit. I imagine there are quite a few more than conventional wisdom suggests. For a number of [unfortunate] societal reasons, having one’s race known can be a significant hurdle for blacks attempting to engage the community on nonracial topics.
Reddit can be a rather racist place -- and I don’t mean the blatant “white power” or troll stuff. The racism that works its way onto Reddit’s front page is usually subtle, and often subconscious, but that certainly doesn’t make it less corrosive. Society has become more sophisticated, and so to have its means of discrimination. Subtleness is in fact much more effective these days than the wild, KKK-type discrimination we’ve generally put behind us. My hope is that much of the racism that eats away at contemporary society (and Reddit) can be dispelled through open and honest dialogue. So, in that spirit, if you have questions about being black, or simply want to discuss race and race-related topics, I’ll do my best to answer thoroughly and honestly.
EDIT: Ok, this received a lot more interest than I anticipated. Sorry I've been a bit distracted. I need to leave for a bit, but will come back to this and try to get to as many questions as possible. If you have a genuine curiosity, please don't feel silly asking your questions, or that you shouldn't ask them. I will try to get to you.
EDIT 2: I think I've answered most of the questions. As I had to leave at one point, many of my more recent comments are buried to anyone who doesn't have all comments expanded (i.e. most people). There are still a couple more questions at the bottom and a few new ones coming in, so I'll keep at it. Thanks to all the other black Redditors that have given me a hand.
EDIT 3: I need to get a little sleep. There are a lot more questions still coming in. I'll try to get to more tomorrow.
EDIT 4: If you're black and feel like answering some of the questions below, please do. I won't be able to get to them all.
Created a FB page [http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002462818400] if anyone wants to continue the dialogue on a more permanent basis after this post fades.
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Excellent AMA, btw.
- This may seem like an odd question, so forgive me.. Ive always thought afros were awesome. What does an afro feel like? Is it...sort of solid? Could I easilly part it with two hands, or is it more resillient, like a soft sponge? Does it retain its shape on it's own, or does it require some sort of work to keep up....? Why aren't they more popular, like they were 30-40 years ago? it must trap a lot of heat...is it uncomfortable beyond a certain point? Or just impractical?
- Since it's an AMA....Do you feel self-conscious in a supermarket about buying racially stereotypical foods, like fried chicken/kool-aid/watermelon? If the answer is yes, fuck that shit, I will send you a watermelon to make up for it. No man should be denied watermelon. That shit is awesome.
- The "African-" prefix of African-American has never made any sense to me. For one, if you're black, and living in this country, your direct family ancestry has been here in America longer than most European/Caucasian families. I also think it marginalizes you guys.. In my mind, youre an American, period...No prefix required. besides, I've never known anyone black to object to simply being referred to as black. How do you feel about it?