About black people

[Nokkie]

well i dunno but here in america my moms like weird with colored people. i think its becuase she lived in a bad place where the colored were mean(u know like "gangsta&quot. that might explain somethings

[Frightend_Farang]

Talking with my (Thai) girlfriend one day, I was suprised to find out that she was afraid of black people. I still don't understand why. I tried to explane to her that I have many black friends in the U.S. and they are just the same as everyone else in the world. Instead of gaining a new prespective, she told me I was Ba because there are no black people in the U.S.

I love Thailand but it never fails to suprise me how unknowing some thai's can be about other cultures.

[dinkum]

I read somewhere that Indians are often hired as security guards throughout Thailand because people are afraid of their dark skin.

[Frightend_Farang]

That would work not a bad idea

[StevenRay]

You can't escape from racism or discrimination. It is in every country. Just take pride in who you are. I am a white American and I have been called some pretty bad names by other nationalities and races. But I don't let it bother me because I know who I am. I think in general that Thai people care more about what you are like rather than what you look like. And if you want to meet good Thai women that love you for who you are, don't go the red light districts.

[dci1812]

Quote[/b] (StevenRay @ Mar. 26 2004,12:47)]And if you want to meet good Thai women that love you for who you are, don't go the red light districts.

I agree. I am in the military. We go to Thailand often. I am always stunned by the number of people who never leave the bars and hotels of Pattaya. I have been there six times and NEVER stayed there for more than 15 minutes (until after I got married and took my wife and her family down to see what all the fuss was about). It really angers me when I hear someone talk about Thailand like it's only purpose is to provide cheap sex for tourists. I meet many people with those types of attitudes every day on my military base. Those people will NEVER learn that countries like Thailand have many things far more important than money and military might. I think America has MANY things it could learn from "poor" countries like my beloved foster-country Thailand. After all - what good is money and military strength if it doesn't have wise leadership (as in His Majesty in Thailand)? Without a kind heart and a rich history? Without tolerance for differences.
I know this forum is supposed to be about the "race" issue, but the issues raised by all of the responses just goes to show that even a country as wonderful as Thailand still has it's imperfections.
One point I would like to make - the one I originally wanted to make - is this: My wife was never a worker in a bar or red light district or anything close, but some of her friends here on base did. I am not sure what your idea of a "good Thai woman" is, but my wife's friends here are some of the finest people I have ever had the honor to meet.

[Ajink]

Well this world is very funny place ...try and open ur eyes to see it but someone will come and close it...

[imported_rontan]

Colour is only skin-deep, or so they say. Michael Jackson had his bleached. But, did that make any difference? In fact, when he was young and more innocent, and black, he was more popular and respectfully adored by his audiences.

[Stacker]

Cute comparison The saying goes only in America can a poor black boy grow up to be a rich white woman...Speaking of Michael Jackson

I feel bad for the experience as well, it is sad. But basically as was said one the first page of this thread the culture itself is attracted to lighter skin. Even among their own people. Light skin color is a status symbol (Michael Jackson would be a god in Thailand hehe) and Darker skin basically means you do hard labor working in the rice fields with fellow poor farmers. It is simply a cultural thing, not a race thing at all. Fear is a newer concept to me, my wife has a friend at work she talks about and calls all the time. One of her best friends and she is black, but I wouldn't associate fear with that relationship. But possibly walking on Thai soil is a different story, I mean in all reality how many black people do they see on a regular basis. Surely it is not LA or NYC

I think that the Thai people would recieve a similar fear if they walked into a small town in one of the farming states of the Midwest USA, or how about a Thai person going to Kenya for a week Assured it is not a race thing

[Satsabarn]

I think that toothpaste ad about the black-skinned guy rescuing the little thai boy's baloon says it all about what many Thais think about kon dam. Thankfully the ad is trying to educate the Thai population to not judge a book by its cover.