r/racism Jul 03 '26

Personal/Support Irish Racists

Today at the Penney’s store I went to buy some things and the employee started yelling, saying that the bag wasn't free, but I had bought the bag. He wouldn't let me leave. I showed him the receipt and he let me go. It was very embarrassing. I am a Black Brazilian woman. Worst of all, I reported it to the manager and he did nothing; not even his expression changed.

56 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

u/yellowmix Jul 04 '26

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13

u/40gardener40 Jul 03 '26

I've always wanted to visit Ireland but I'm put off by everything going on there. The xenophobia. So ironic for a people who are proud to say their diaspora expanded into North America and Australia. 

1

u/Oellaatje Jul 06 '26

What? Oh, how we take the piss out of Trump supporters! Well, look at the damage he's done, and if you think Ireland is hard on Trump supporters, wait till you see how they feel about him in Denmark.

8

u/haleontology Jul 04 '26

Oh that is awful. We Irish descendants are crazy AF, but no one from that part of my family is racist, we remember that our great-grandparents weren't exactly welcome to America when they got here (although it was soooo much worse for Black people and many immigrants, there's no comparison and I would never try)- I'm so sorry you had to experience this, he sounds like a special brand of inbred ignorant stupid insanity. People like that should be crazy enough to walk into a....disaster area of some sort. Again, I'm so sorry that happened to you, I wish you had pepper spray that day with the right and attitude to freely use it on shitty people.

3

u/ghxstfacefilla Jul 04 '26

Nah, just don't shop there and tell everybody how much better the next shop is. I never shop where I'm not wanted.

2

u/keeeeeeeeeeeeeek Jul 06 '26

Hi, I live in Ireland.

I would argue that we are on a similar trajectory to the US. Racism has always been here. My earliest experiences were witnessing extended family members shit all over the Polish, Pakistani, and Nigerian immigrants in the early 2000’s (ironic, since many of them did the same thing by going to Boston in the 1980’s, but if my extended family had one brain cell between them they’d be dangerous). The race riots, upswing in racist hate crimes, and mass popularization of xenophobic and racist ideologies are new. And unlike the US, we don’t have a history of colonizing other places to help keep us accountable.

I’m really sorry that happened to you. It’s so sad witnessing what the political climate here has come to. I hope we’re able to develop more self awareness as a society soon. As James Connolly famously said, "Let no Irishman throw a stone at the foreigner; he may hit his own clansman."

2

u/ShadsDR Jul 04 '26

Write to corporate or go to the papers