Job Discussion Forums

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:39 am Post subject:

Grow up. People will stare at you because you are a beautiful woman and you carry yourself as such, unless I'm sorely mistaken (which, based on your photo, I'm not). It's part of the current, dangerously ludicrous, political correctness for western women, black or white, to expect only those men whom the woman fancies to notice her ... attributes. Cover yourself thoroughly, as Muslim women do, when you're on the street, and the stares won't happen. Anyone who discriminates based on skin color is uneducated, ignorant, a fool, or all of the preceding, and isn't worthy of even being acknowledged, let alone considered. Go anywhere and do as you please and are capable of, but with awareness of existing reality, however misguided.

Amani Renas · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: The 3rd Dimension

Gamushara84 · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 32 Location: Earth.

hairyrambutan · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:09 am Post subject:

Zorobabel · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 82

We've had two African American teachers where I work. One finished his contract and left the country, which is pretty standard no matter your race. The other is still in the country--in his third year, I believe. Anytime I've ever met him he has talked about how poorly he is treated in Indonesia because of his skin color. But if it was really that bad, he'd leave.

I'm from KC in the US, which is about 40% black so I never heard any conversations that were blatantly racist back in the states. On the other hand, since I've come to Indonesia I've heard Indonesians say that Papuans (Melanesians) and blacks are stupid, violent, and scary. I'm going to go out on a limb here, though, and say that I think this is more religious than ethnic. The three times I've heard racist comments, they were being made by hardline Muslims. So I think it just fits their stereotype that eastern Indonesians are stupid, primitive, and Christian and must be assimilated by Muslim Malays.

I think you'll be fine as long as you know what you're getting yourself into. In Jakarta, you'll find the wealthier people are well traveled and fairly open-minded. I've seen a lot of black women walking around in the various malls here and they don't seem to be having any problem taking care of themselves.

Amani Renas · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: The 3rd Dimension

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

Quote:
The bar on Jaksa that has put a blanket ban on Africans is not run by Indonesians

I was in this bar on Saturday night and my wife, a friend of mine and myself were the only non Africans so whoever started this rumour is malicious and dishonest. i'm not talking about you rambutan but the people on Jaksa who have talked about this lately. I know the owner of the bar thru drinking there and he hasn't got a racist bone in his body.
Possibly the fact that he has such a successful business there is why people want to bring the bar down.

hairyrambutan · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

I thought it was a wild rumour myself until I witnessed a black man and his Indonesian girlfriend being asked to leave unless they had 'membership'. They sure as hell didn't ask me and my friend for our Absolute Executive Club cards and neither he nor I are by any means frequent drinkers there. Naturally, I intend to spend even less time there now.

Granted, this type of ban allows for some latitude, but it is still a ban against an ethnic group.

Nabby Adams · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 215

But what makes you think that he was being asked to leave because he was black?

ngantuk · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Indonesia

Discrimination is prevalent all over the place. It's not only occording to color or race .... Take the risk - it might be OK ....

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Indonesians are fascinated by differences. They are very curious. They ask questions that other Americans would never ask you. They don't do it out of rudeness. They also know lots of stereotypes. It's your (and our) job to dispel the stereotypes.

True story: A good friend of mine, an African American woman from Oakland CA, is an accomplished dancer. When she started studying Indonesian dance (Balinese and Javanese), the Indonesians were amazed and very pleased. She's traveled to, studied in, and performed in Indonesia many times. She has a huge number of Indonesian friends. And because she is dark and an accomplished dancer, they say that she's so much better than those pale white girls who try to mimic Indonesian dancing. She's often asked if she's Indonesian.

Amani Renas · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: The 3rd Dimension

hairyrambutan · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:31 am Post subject:

Amani Renas · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: The 3rd Dimension

hairyrambutan · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:41 am Post subject: