Are Argentines racist?

I think if you go looking for it you'll find racism happens in pretty much every country in the world.

When I was young and lived in England I was always being called ''Jock'' and asked why I didn't wear a kilt!!

Despite what the researchers say, I am not too convinced there are too many of African descent in the dodgy areas of the big towns. In Uruguay , you will still see real black people in the barrios and some of the football players in the Uruguayan first division are black and 100% Uruguayan.

The mestizo type complexions I would argue are more from intermarriage with darker skinned people from neighboring countries.

But , i would say that many Argies are racists especially towards Bolivians and Peruvians. They will say it is only harmless and humourous banter . But I am not too sure

UK Man is right, you don't have to dig too far anywhere to find racism. BTW, the English mocking you was not racist.

As for Argentina, I would say it is more upfront and casual racism is accepted. It is also still more institutionalized here than some other places. For example, TV in Argentina is white. Mestizo populations here are "negro" by default and low people by default. Essentially Argentina classes a whole population as "Negro" even when they are not really black.

As for actual black people in Argnetina, they are few and far between enough to be a local attraction. I met a black family a few years ago when we took our daughter to have a haircut in their house. They told us if they go to the mall they are like famous people walking around with people staring. Btw, I understand if my pasty white was walking around in a mall in Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon, etc, I would be getting the eyeballs too.

UK Man , i hav enever got bothered about being called Jock , but I do draw a line at "Smelly Sock"

Schoolchildren can be relentless bullies, but I agree with Semigoodlooking that English kids’ hurling slurs at other UK kids isn’t racism.

On the other hand, negro de mierda is definitely racist. And as UK Man says, sadly, racism is almost everywhere. We’d all just like to expect better of our own countries.

Quote from Rice

Schoolchildren can be relentless bullies, but I agree with Semigoodlooking that English kids’ hurling slurs at mother UK kids isn’t racism.

It is really. It didn't bother me though as I knew they were just having a laugh.

Quote from UK Man

It is really.

How is it racism?

Quote from Semigoodlooking

How is it racism?

You know it isn't I know it isn't. However calling someone from Pakistan a ''Paki'' seems to be.

Quote from Splinter

I'd also add that political correctness hasn't yet pervaded Argentine society as much as everywhere else.

Understatement of the year!

Quote from Rice

Understatement of the year!

My wife thinks all Argy men are all male chauvinist pigs!! I mostly agree although I don't think it's as bad as it used to be. I certainly wouldn't like to upset some of the women I know....especially the missus!!

One reason of the racism in Argentina is that the most successful immigrants that we had, they come from Northern European countries.

Most of the women like to became fair hair, I never saw an authentic fair hair women wish to become brunette.

Also the german-saxon looking for a man (fair hair, blue eyes) are a clear advantage in this country, although few people will recognize it.

Northern european people brought us science, technology, hard working values. The others did a good job as well, but not so considered important,

I never saw a country without a hint of racism. Even in Italy, to be a northerner make a difference.

Completely agree, Carlos , that I’ve never seen a country without a hint of racism. We went to Rio for our honeymoon, and at that time, the people there claimed that Brazil was not only colorblind but oblivious to the shapes of the people who were poured into bikinis on Ipanema Beach. I’d guess that one is about as possible as the other.

Quote from Carlos

Also the german-saxon looking for a man (fair hair, blue eyes) are a clear advantage in this country,

Clear advantage in what areas?

If you want to be inside the high class, I mean, educated people, well mannered, some aristocratic entourage, and also among the great corporations in the highest level.

That is the plain truth. For that reason, the look of the late Maradona is exactly the opposite of that kind of person. Although for many, Maradona is an idol.

I expect that you are describing, Carlos , the discriminatory attitude held by the “We are European!” Argentina during the 19th and most of the 20th century. Because such a large part of the country now resembles Maradona more than Leif Erikson, perhaps that bias could be a thing of the past.

One example is Fernandez y Fernandez, who defeated the fair-skinned, European-looking Mauricio Macri.