Racism alive and well

TeddyTedson · 10-04-2011 06:31AM #1

Just got a taxi home after a night out. My taxi driver was Nigerian and I was asking him about any racism he's experienced whilst working during the night as a taxi driver.
He told me people have simply refused to get into his taxi after he's pulled over after seeing he was a black man...
This is not the first time I've heard this.
Several black taxi drivers in Dublin have told me of a ridiculous abuse they've received from Irish people on Saturday nights home from town.
To me it feels like it's people copying American suburban culture where middle class white kids feel like the black population has had a negative effect on their lives.
I think all Irish people should never forget we are a nation that for years have been happy to flee to all parts of the world to set up shop and expect to be accepted.
I'm sorry for the **** explanation but I'm obviously still drunk and this is kind of embarrassing to me as a proud Irishman.

Chaotic_Forces · 10-04-2011 06:43AM

Fecking honkeys and their damn cracker racism! Also, IBTL.

TeddyTedson · 10-04-2011 06:46AM

Do I have a point or am I just a brudy drunk?

MagicSean · 10-04-2011 06:52AM

I think all taxi drivers get abuse in fairness. The problem with Nigerian taxi drivers is that people just often assume they aren't local and when you get a taxi you want someone who knows the area. Also, some women don't like the way some nigerians talk to them. This is understandable as nigerian culture is still pretty sexist.

I dont think it's based purely on racism or a fear of anything serious. It's not like women think they are going to be raped, or worse yet, be mentioned in a rape joke.

Chaotic_Forces · 10-04-2011 06:55AM

Racism is still around in Ireland. The problem with taxi drivers is that (as best of my understanding) is that people are just able to exchange the taxi plates to someone else. So they're basically able to sell them to Nigerian folks, amongst others. And it's also the fact that Nigerians seem not to have an understanding of the area compared to a taxi man working in Dublin/Cork/Galway/X for the last 15 years or so.

That and taxi drivers are people and people are racist fu*ks.

kelle · 10-04-2011 06:59AM

I rarely use taxis as I don't drink, but the rare times I do I will only use one with a lady driver. It's my choice, I pay for the service, my personal safety is at stake so I feel I am entitled to pick and choose who I travel with.

I guess that makes me sexist.

JONJO THE MISER · 10-04-2011 07:01AM

aww teddy what will you get up to next?

Chaotic_Forces · 10-04-2011 07:05AM

kelle wrote: »

I rarely use taxis as I don't drink, but the rare times I do I will only use one with a lady driver. It's my choice, I pay for the service, my personal safety is at stake so I feel I am entitled to pick and choose who I travel with.

I guess that makes me sexist.

That's different. Choosing to say "I feel more comfortable with a woman driving" is a lot different from saying "I won't use that taxi because of a man is driving it and I hate men because I'm an idiot". That's basically why racists operate that way.

brendanL · 10-04-2011 07:16AM

Ok first off, you can just buy a plate regardless of who you are, but to drive a taxi you have to of passed the psv test which partly consists of a county where you will be working area knowledge test. You cannot simply just buy a plate and start working.

Irish people abroad were treated like dirt when they emigrated to some countries, just because as a nation we emigrated a lot, does not mean we should automatically welcome others with open arms.

People are people, most want the middle 50s white taxi driver because he looks like he knows the area. Any black taxi driver is unfortunately getting used to being thought of as not the perfect guy to hop into the car with.

There was news awhile back saying one particular rank in Dublin had drivers that would 'discourage' black drivers from coming back. My dads a taxi driver and he said, honestly regardless off colour the regulars don't like anyone down there on that one rank.

Finally, the customer has a right to choose, so if he wants to choose his driver based on colour, then he is entitled to do so. Regardless of whether a driver has lived in the area his whole life, most people see black driver and think, meh he won't know where he's going.

There's also an industry knowledge test atm, which all drivers need to pass so they can renew their license, I seen my dad study for it, he passed, but honestly I can't help but think its been created to cut out people with bad English out of the industry.

JONJO THE MISER · 10-04-2011 07:18AM

this place has gone mad , finally a poster talks sense aka the previous poster.

kelle · 10-04-2011 07:21AM

Chaotic_Forces wrote: »

That's different. Choosing to say "I feel more comfortable with a woman driving" is a lot different from saying "I won't use that taxi because of a man is driving it and I hate men because I'm an idiot". That's basically why racists operate that way.

My point is, a person using a taxi on their own can't be considered racist if they feel more comfortable travelling with somebody they are familiar with, for the reasons mentioned in my post. It's completely different to refusing to be served by a non-national worker in a shop or examined by a Nigerian dictor!

Chaotic_Forces · 10-04-2011 07:26AM

brendanL wrote: »

Ok first off, you can just buy a plate regardless of who you are, but to drive a taxi you have to of passed the psv test which partly consists of a county where you will be working area knowledge test. You cannot simply just buy a plate and start working.

There was news awhile back saying one particular rank in Dublin had drivers that would 'discourage' black drivers from coming back. My dads a taxi driver and he said, honestly regardless off colour the regulars don't like anyone down there on that one rank.

Finally, the customer has a right to choose, so if he wants to choose his driver based on colour, then he is entitled to do so. Regardless of whether a driver has lived in the area his whole life, most people see black driver and think, meh he won't know where he's going.

I thought the problem was that even Nigerians or whoever can buy them, instead of "earning" them; at least according to a view drivers that's the view they expressed. Since to "earn the right" to drive a taxi, you should be living in the country at least 10-15 years... apparently. Though that was mostly just said by extreme xenophobic type taxi drivers.

It's regulars at the ranks that are fine; they just want it to be for the regulars. But in general, there is a very unfortunate view that black taxi drivers are just "ni*gers stealing our customers", as said by a charming fellow to me before.

kelle wrote: »

My point is, a person using a taxi on their own can't be considered racist if they feel more comfortable travelling with somebody they are familiar with, for the reasons mentioned in my post. It's completely different to refusing to be served by a non-national worker in a shop or examined by a Nigerian dictor!

Perhaps but... isn't the problem with racism in the taxi industry from within, rather from the few people that just dislike and distrust black people?

Oh_Noes · 10-04-2011 07:44AM

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Do I have a point or am I just a brudy drunk?

You make a very good point. There is no historical or cultural basis for racism in Ireland. We haven't had huge numbers of Africans coming here and taking jobs or breaking the law. I hear it all the time, "bloody foreigners" and the like. It's easy prey for the traditional Irish begrudger that wants to make himself/herself feel bigger by putting someone else down. Having a different skin colour is cannon fodder really.

I honestly do think that a large number of people here will just see American television and take the extreme stereotypes and use them to discriminate. It's absurd in reality.

10-04-2011 08:14AM

I'd put my bottom dollar on more fake taxis and rip offs being carried out by non-Irish (proportionately). Call me racist, I couldn't care less.

AnalogueKid · 10-04-2011 08:25AM

I personally don't give a flip where the taxi driver is from, although I must say when it comes to rounding down fares then the Irish are the best. I've had a couple of really sound Iranian and Kurd (I think) drivers in Dublin - mad Dublin accents on them.

If a Nigerian taxi driver stops for me, I'll get in and I've had a good bit of banter with some of these lads too. I hate to sound like I'm defending some of the bigots - but as these drivers aren't as familiar with Dublin, then they don't always go the right way. Just tell them which way you want to go if you're that worried about it.

There was one occasion where I was about to step into a cab with a couple of friends and as soon as they saw it was a Nigerian cabbie, they refused to get it. I was mortified, the guy is only out trying to make a few quid and then when somebody sees the colour of his skin, they change their mind. I never had these mates pegged as racists, but that's exactly what they are.

Edit to say - The only time I was scared of a cabbie was when an Irish cabbie locked all the doors and refused to let us out because me and my mate had indicated we were going to vote "Yes" in the upcoming divorce referendum. We had to threaten to break the windows to get this mouth foamer to let us out.

Cookie_Monster · 10-04-2011 08:54AM

sure nothing wrong with a bit of friendly old racism

wolf moon · 10-04-2011 09:12AM

a girl i know said that she doesnt get to the taxis with african drivers not because of a colour of the driver, but because of the smell. she said she's tried a number of times and in a number of taxis the smell was there. she is not comfortable with it, so she does not get into african taxis. she isn't racist, although she refused to be politically correct and say that there is no smell, while its there.

Chaotic_Forces · 10-04-2011 09:13AM

wolf moon wrote: »

a girl i know said that she doesnt get to the taxis with african drivers not because of a colour of the driver, but because of the smell. she said she's tried a number of times and in a number of taxis the smell was there. she is not comfortable with it, so she does not get into african taxis. she isn't racist, although she refused to be politically correct and say that there is no smell, while its there.

There are taxis made in Africa?

wolf moon · 10-04-2011 09:16AM

Chaotic_Forces wrote: »

There are taxis made in Africa?

/sure could have phrased it better, meant taxis with african drivers of course/

10-04-2011 09:20AM

Chaotic_Forces wrote: »

There are taxis made in Africa?

Classic reply.. Well done you funny fuker. And yea, there are cars made in Africa so I'd assume that some are made into taxis.

Chaotic_Forces · 10-04-2011 09:21AM

wolf moon wrote: »

/sure could have phrased it better, meant taxis with african drivers of course/

So is it just an African thing your friend has an issue with or just black men?

Deleted User wrote: »

Classic reply.. Well done you funny fuker. And yea, there are cars made in Africa so I'd assume that some are made into taxis.

Thanks!

SeaFields · 10-04-2011 09:32AM

There is some taxi "union" down in Cork that they refuse to let non-irish into it or some other such crap (there was a lengthy thread in AH about it.) Since I saw this on the news a few years back I'll get into a taxi with a non irish driver when I can. Fcuk em - probably tarring all of our lot with the same brush.

The last taxi got got the fella was from Sierra Leone. He knew the way to my front door and we'd a good chat about hurling on the way back.

stovelid · 10-04-2011 09:32AM

If they let me chant that Um Bongo ad in the back of the car after a few pints, I know they're good sorts and get my fare.

If they join in, they get a tip.

If they don't talk about the premiership, I hug them.

Max Power1 · 10-04-2011 09:45AM

I'll never get into a taxi driven by a black driver again.

They attempt to bring my to drumcondra from town via such places as donnybrook!!!!

Not a racist issue, more a lack of local knowledge issue.

(also, they tuukkk arrr jobbbsss :P )

Chaotic_Forces · 10-04-2011 09:51AM

Max Power1 wrote: »

I'll never get into a taxi driven by a black driver again.

They attempt to bring my to drumcondra from town via such places as donnybrook!!!!

Not a racist issue, more a lack of local knowledge issue.

(also, they tuukkk arrr jobbbsss :P )

Nope, that's the East Europeans.

I think we need a "why do we hate this people" topic. I mean we're so damn xenophobic, we don't even know what people to hate for what reason! I'll organize the first meeting of "Fu*k everyone but the Irish" for next Saturday. That should clear up who we're racist against.

iamstop · 10-04-2011 11:12AM

I feel an odd sense of pity for racist people.

mikemac · 10-04-2011 11:31AM

Chaotic_Forces wrote: »

I think we need a "why do we hate this people" topic. I mean we're so damn xenophobic, we don't even know what people to hate for what reason! I'll organize the first meeting of "Fu*k everyone but the Irish" for next Saturday. That should clear up who we're racist against.

Any "outsider'

Have had drivers in Dublin bitch to me about Meath. Drivers in Galway do the same about Mayo.

Drivers in Limerick can't as many of their local runs go to Tipp and Clare like Newport and the north west of the city

And now drivers have another outsider to complain about.

If there were no Nigerians or any immigrants, it'd be the new drivers or the drivers from Wicklow or some other target.

In the end, just select any car you want on a rank

Dudess · 10-04-2011 11:37AM

AnalogueKid wrote: »

The only time I was scared of a cabbie was when an Irish cabbie locked all the doors and refused to let us out because me and my mate had indicated we were going to vote "Yes" in the upcoming divorce referendum. We had to threaten to break the windows to get this mouth foamer to let us out.

:eek:

And didn't some gobsh1te threaten to kick someone out of his taxi back around the time of the 1996 Olympics because they said it seemed suspicious that Michelle Smith/De Bruin had won all those gold medals?

The Waltzing Consumer · 10-04-2011 11:50AM

Dudess wrote: »

:eek:

And didn't some gobsh1te threaten to kick someone out of his taxi back around the time of the 1996 Olympics because they said it seemed suspicious that Michelle Smith/De Bruin had won all those gold medals?

Ha, jesus that's crazy!

smk89 · 10-04-2011 11:51AM

My course in university has alot of people from Malaysia on exchange. The first week one said to me
"Whats your name?"
"Sean"
" I probably won't remember that, you all look alike".
She may as well have given me a get out of racism free card

The Waltzing Consumer · 10-04-2011 11:57AM

SeaFields wrote: »

There is some taxi "union" down in Cork that they refuse to let non-irish into it or some other such crap (there was a lengthy thread in AH about it.) Since I saw this on the news a few years back I'll get into a taxi with a non irish driver when I can. Fcuk em - probably tarring all of our lot with the same brush.

The only problem here is there are lots of organisations or unions that represent specific genders, ethniticities, nationalities, race and religions. I don't see a problem with that.

If there was an Africans drviers taxi union, that would obviously be a problem for you too because non-Africans would be refused entry? I don't see the problem and I certainly would not boycott any African organisation because they would not let others join. The same could be said for other nationalities, I don't see the problem.

I think the actual problem is Irish are the majority and this is their homeland so we have to be inclusive of everyone all the time or we are considered racist whilst minorities can be very exclusive on whatever basis and they are not considered racist simply because they are the minority. Don't really see the logic.

Racism alive and well

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