How do you deal with subtle racism? Indian woman in Canada asks netizens

A non-resident Indian woman living in a town near Toronto in Canada shared her experiences with ‘subtle racism’ in a social media post last week. 

In a Reddit post, she mentioned instances like her ID being double-checked at concerts, assumptions about prices at nail salons, and being given unwelcoming looks at upscale restaurants, making her feel like she doesn’t belong. A recent spa interaction prompted the woman to share her experience with subtle racism.

“I was at a spa, and this white lady asked where I was from. I said India. Then she said, ‘Did you learn English after coming here? Your English is exactly like mine.’ I told her I’ve spoken English all my life, and she just stared at me until her pedicure was done, and she left. I didn’t even know how to react. It wasn’t aggressive, but it was so ignorant. Stuff like this happens too often, and it’s exhausting,” she wrote.

She also shared a ‘classic’ one where white people comment, “You’re not like the other Indians”, just because she is fair-skinned. “How is that even a compliment? How do you all deal with it? Do you speak up? Let it go? Educate them? I’d like to hear how others handle these situations,” she asked netizens.

Another user commented about their concern in Canada, writing, “Same, I live in Canada as well, I live near 2 schools and I get so conscious of stepping out whenever these high school kids are out, they are super racist”.

Surprisingly, a Reddit user shared in the comment section that, “My CFO asked if India got freedom or if we are still run by the British. I’m not even kidding”.

One user wrote, “The average American knows nothing about India except for what is shown on TV, which is often stereotypical. Hence the amazement at our English prowess.”