[MMM]

Originally Posted by inuzuki8605

In my experience, Japanese people view African Americans as they do other Americans. (They don't really know enough about them, other than the BS that's on T.V., Movies, and Music, to make a judgment call on who or what a black person can offer.) When I went to Japan 2009-2010, I went with three other white Americans. The Japanese never called me Black, they called me American. They didn't assume I came from Africa because I was black, they didn't treat me any differently than they treated the white Americans I came with.

I am not going to try do discredit your experience, as it is YOUR experience. However, I think it is a little short-sighted to think that Blacks and Whites are seen the same in Japan by all people. You hit the nail on the head when you said most know nothing but what they see on TV. Unfortunately, that's where they learn about Black people because there is little chance for actual interaction.

Originally Posted by inuzuki8605

Thinking more and more about this... I don't think that there was a time in history when the Japanese had a problem with Africans or African Americans specifically. The problems in that regard started in the Western world and I believe that some people still try to push the beliefs that they grew up with or where exposed to on the Japanese and their way of thinking as if they, too, think like the western world. Like RealJames was talking about his gf's grandparents. They aren't racist because he is white, they are racist because he is foreign. If it were someone like my brother, a black man, they would be the same way, not because he's black but because he's foreign.

I am curious if RealJames's gf's racist grandparents would be so excited about her choice for a mate if he was Black instead of blond-haired and blue-eyed. Only he can answer that. (and if he already answered that, I am sorry.)

Originally Posted by inuzuki8605

MMM, I asked you when you lived in Japan because it's very easy to judge the reactions of a society based off of the time period you experienced..... It was quite some time ago that you experience day to day life in Japan and times have definitely changed since you lived there.

I understand what you are saying, but in the 13 years since I have moved home, I have been to Japan probably 12 times, and nearly a year put together. For my work I talk to Japanese people every single day. I don't usually talk about these issues, but I am not seeing this interracial revolution you and RealJames are talking about. Digging deeper he called his gf's gps extreme racists. That lines up more with my experience. It isn't racism out of hatred, but racism out of a lack of experience.

Originally Posted by inuzuki8605

There were A LOT of people that wanted to take my picture or touch my hair (I have dreads) or even touch my boobs!!!!! (Japanese girls.... I guess to make sure they were real haha) But I never thought that they were my friends just because I was foreign. They didn't do that with my black friends from Kenya or France. I really believe it was my personally, my interests, my willingness to be outgoing (even when my Japanese wasn't good yet) that won them over.

Only you can determine why they wanted to be friends with you. I wouldn't dare make a guess.

Originally Posted by inuzuki8605

Nyororin makes a VALID point.

I hope you aren't implying what I think you are implying.

Originally Posted by RealJames

I don't want to turn this into a white/black prejudice issue of modern society, but as far as that goes it seems like all the black people I know in Japan are a lot happier here than they were back at home (my best friend is a black guy that lived in the same town as me back in Canada, and moved here after I came here, it's from him I'm getting most of this opinion).

How long has he lived there?