Nope, we agree on that. I think the UK is in denial about racism in the same way that Americans seem to agree they are in denial about class
Ah, sorry for misunderstanding. I guess your actual point is about halfway between my two first impressions.
See, the thing is, like heyiya I have found american discussions of racism very useful. I'd say 90% of what I've read has been applicable, and 90% of the unapplicable 10% was just written with the assumption of an american audience. The remaining 1% (where americans give spurious advice about how to deal with race in other countries based on false assumptions) can be pretty annoying, but in my experience those americans will admit they're wrong when politely corrected. But I realise that sort of thing is very subjective, and obviously your experiences have been different.
Then again (based on your responses to other people in this thread) I tend to disagree with your perception of "conflict based" attitudes to race being a primarily american thing. I was brought up in a socialist/marxist environment (so, not your typical aussie :)) and thus was taught to see everything in terms of a class struggle and class privilege, of us working class against the rich oppressors. Now, there are some aspects of that attitude I've come to disagree with (especially as I become increasingly rich!) but it still very much informs my viewpoint, and it feels, to me, very much of a piece with similar ideas about race, gender etc (which were, too a lesser extent, also part of my upbringing). I think it's also worth mentioning that my family despise Americans as symbols of everything that's wrong with capitalism, so would be deeply offended at the idea they have an "american viewpoint" :P
Re: As a fellow non-American...(admittedly not a Brit)
Ah, sorry for misunderstanding. I guess your actual point is about halfway between my two first impressions.
See, the thing is, like
Then again (based on your responses to other people in this thread) I tend to disagree with your perception of "conflict based" attitudes to race being a primarily american thing. I was brought up in a socialist/marxist environment (so, not your typical aussie :)) and thus was taught to see everything in terms of a class struggle and class privilege, of us working class against the rich oppressors. Now, there are some aspects of that attitude I've come to disagree with (especially as I become increasingly rich!) but it still very much informs my viewpoint, and it feels, to me, very much of a piece with similar ideas about race, gender etc (which were, too a lesser extent, also part of my upbringing). I think it's also worth mentioning that my family despise Americans as symbols of everything that's wrong with capitalism, so would be deeply offended at the idea they have an "american viewpoint" :P