Making an anecdotal contribution. Kenyan here. I have observed that white people are given preferential treatment and have (strangely) experienced racism against black people in my own country. I have, more than once heard people, mostly uneducated people, saying how much better things would be if we were still colonized.
Examples of preferential treatment/racism include, faster service for white people at restaurants and clubs, being denied entry to a club because 'it is full' and seconds later a couple of white people walk right in, and in one memorable instance a security guard had the gall to try and deny me an open parking spot so that a white person could have it instead. The latter got a stern talking to by me.
All is not positive for the white man though. There is the 'white tax' where prices are instantly increased when a white person is the one shopping and people are always hitting them up for money because white people are perceived to be wealthy.
>>All is not positive for the white man though. There is the 'white tax' where prices are instantly increased when a white person is the one shopping and people are always hitting them up for money because white people are perceived to be wealthy.
They're not wrong, they assume a healthy looking white man in Kenya must have money. Honestly, it's hard for me to imagine any situation where a healthy looking white man in Kenya would be poor.
Also, as a American born Nigerian myself, when I'm in Nigeria my relatives there have to do the bargaining. I might look like every other Nigerian, but the moment I open my mouth revealing my "oyinbo"(white people) accent, the price doubles for anything.
Kenyan here as well. I too lament how Kenyans always treat foreigners better than they treat their own. Your story reminds me of the time when a Chinese restaurant in Nairobi was denying entry to black Kenyans [1], and this policy had persisted for a very long time, and nobody had the courage to step up and speak about it, up until the constant media exposure embarrassed people into speaking about it. When I travel to other countries I have to deal with prejudice and racism, it is just a major drag that I experience the same in my own country.
Anecdotal contribution as well, but I've noticed that Nigerians and various other West Africans tend to be more comfortable in their own skin than Kenyans, although I'm sure you'd hear similar stories of this type from them as well.
I imagine the 'white tax' and better 'white service' are both caused by the belief that white people are wealthier. The club might expect a wealthier person to spend more, or a security guard might expect them to tip better. So it's somewhat rational (if unfortunate) to give wealthier people preferential service.
I guess the long term solution is to reduce economic inequality between racial groups.
I hate to say it, but it doesn't have to do much with race, but more of the perception of "status" of the person.
I have been in Sweden few times (I am white), and when people hear me talk, and know that I am visiting from NYC, I get a bit of more friendlier service.
Including getting in a club as a single guy, because I had a california ID, while some Swedish guys were being left outside.
Swedes have a high affinity for America in general, and are extra friendly if they hear you are from the States, and often (with some small talk) you will get preferential treatment.
In NYC you will notice this "differential" treatment according to your status every day. A simple experiment you can run: Go to a good cocktail place/bar with normal t-shirt/jeans clothes, and go to the same place dressed sharp. You will get a lot better and faster service if you are dressed really well (and your perceived status is higher), while if you are dressed like a schlub, you might not even get in the place.
I think it is not just about race, but more of the perceived status of the person. It happens that most countries in Africa have very low GDPs, while most countries in Europe, and north america (US and Canada), have very high GDP. If you are an average person from those countries, your purchasing power is higher, and hence you will be given the preferential treatment.
One player, the 'dictator', decides how to split a cash prize between themselves and the other player, the recipient. The recipient has no input into how the prize is split.
Would "white-person" be more accurate here? Do the authors intend to suggest that gender contributes to the effect they claim? [edit: removed silly question]
Did they run the same experiment but with people from different backgrounds and ethnicities excluding Europeans and then compare the respective results and come up with a conclusion?
Otherwise, it's just a hasty conclusion with unsound methodologies employed in the process.
Well, I did the reading for you, and the answer is no. The control was a Sierra Leonean and the test was a white American. Page 8 on the paper (click one of the links above).
[+] [-] IllusoryReverb|10 years ago|reply
Examples of preferential treatment/racism include, faster service for white people at restaurants and clubs, being denied entry to a club because 'it is full' and seconds later a couple of white people walk right in, and in one memorable instance a security guard had the gall to try and deny me an open parking spot so that a white person could have it instead. The latter got a stern talking to by me.
All is not positive for the white man though. There is the 'white tax' where prices are instantly increased when a white person is the one shopping and people are always hitting them up for money because white people are perceived to be wealthy.
[+] [-] smtddr|10 years ago|reply
They're not wrong, they assume a healthy looking white man in Kenya must have money. Honestly, it's hard for me to imagine any situation where a healthy looking white man in Kenya would be poor.
Also, as a American born Nigerian myself, when I'm in Nigeria my relatives there have to do the bargaining. I might look like every other Nigerian, but the moment I open my mouth revealing my "oyinbo"(white people) accent, the price doubles for anything.
[+] [-] stuxnet79|10 years ago|reply
Anecdotal contribution as well, but I've noticed that Nigerians and various other West Africans tend to be more comfortable in their own skin than Kenyans, although I'm sure you'd hear similar stories of this type from them as well.
[1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3010690/No-blacks-Ch...
[+] [-] klipt|10 years ago|reply
I imagine the 'white tax' and better 'white service' are both caused by the belief that white people are wealthier. The club might expect a wealthier person to spend more, or a security guard might expect them to tip better. So it's somewhat rational (if unfortunate) to give wealthier people preferential service.
I guess the long term solution is to reduce economic inequality between racial groups.
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] threatofrain|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ardit33|10 years ago|reply
I have been in Sweden few times (I am white), and when people hear me talk, and know that I am visiting from NYC, I get a bit of more friendlier service.
Including getting in a club as a single guy, because I had a california ID, while some Swedish guys were being left outside.
Swedes have a high affinity for America in general, and are extra friendly if they hear you are from the States, and often (with some small talk) you will get preferential treatment.
In NYC you will notice this "differential" treatment according to your status every day. A simple experiment you can run: Go to a good cocktail place/bar with normal t-shirt/jeans clothes, and go to the same place dressed sharp. You will get a lot better and faster service if you are dressed really well (and your perceived status is higher), while if you are dressed like a schlub, you might not even get in the place.
I think it is not just about race, but more of the perceived status of the person. It happens that most countries in Africa have very low GDPs, while most countries in Europe, and north america (US and Canada), have very high GDP. If you are an average person from those countries, your purchasing power is higher, and hence you will be given the preferential treatment.
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] mafribe|10 years ago|reply
TL;DR: Sierra Leoneans' behaviour is influenced by how they want to be seen by others, with an aim towards maximising their own benefits.
[+] [-] josu|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nailer|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] alwaysmetara|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dalke|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] chubalub|10 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] jessaustin|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fein|10 years ago|reply
There has to be some term for this... The making of unneeded comments on an article that have nothing to do with the study; PC Pedantry perhaps.
At least one of the authors is a woman.
[+] [-] eru|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] Sexagesimal|10 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] notNow|10 years ago|reply
Otherwise, it's just a hasty conclusion with unsound methodologies employed in the process.
[+] [-] noobermin|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sp332|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Sexagesimal|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] swampthinker|10 years ago|reply
Care to elaborate?