Racism in Barcelona.

blacktsalagi wrote:

This post began in 2010 and yet today, is still being added to. It's nice to see that people aren't trying to avoid the subject of racism. As well, people of many nationalities / "races" / ethnicities have contributed. To me this continues to confirm that "racism" really does effect everyone.
Personally, coming from a multi-ethnic background I've always understood this.
I'd like to share an anecdote about a countryman I met here in Barcelona.
- When I lived in Sants, I kept hearing someone in the building speak english...with an accent similar to mine. Knowing I couldn't be the only "yankee" in Sants, I was still thrilled of the possibility of another one being in my building. This went on for about three weeks until I finally saw the person in passing. I said "hello" and he replied "hola"... I thought perhaps I had made a mistake. Until, One day, the timing was perfect and I found myself riding in the elevator with him. I said, "hi, how are you?" He looked at me a little puzzled. Yes, I knew what was going to happen. lol He replied with a dry, "fine." I proceeded to ask him where he was from and he turns to me, and speaking in his best TEFL teacher language, begins to actually explain, "the geographical location of his state within the u.s. and that it was called the ""mid-west"", blah blah blah..." lol  I just looked at him, as if he were an idiot, (because he was), and said, "you DO realize that I'm from the u.s. as well, don't you?" He looked at me in disbelief... and then confusion.

I've come across north-americans like him many times before in europe. They are prejudice against "ethnic-people" from their own country, (for whatever reason), and they don't really expect to or want to see "them" in europe. People-of-color from other countries? Sure, that's ok, but NOT their own. LOL
Having been to the mid-west of the u.s. many times, there are "white" people, who have never actually met a person-of-color, as strange as it may sound. This in no way means that they are "small minded"... Please remember that the u.s. is very big and there is a lot of isolation in certain parts.

The way I see it, Spain's version of prejudice, is no different than any other country's.

bachlet wrote:

Hi Ed,
I feel so sorry for this and in the same time I feel secure that i'm not only the one who lived this situation. I thought that this behavior was reserved to moroccan people taking in consideration the immigration problems between our countries and my religion. But when i read all the posts, i realized that the racism don't have a nationality or religion it's just confirming the nature of human being wherever they are.
I'm living in Barcelona since 1 year, studying an MBA and trying to work as freelance but as it said in major posts, the catalan people are very closed and refuse to treat with foreign people. I'm living in the exiample too and when they ask me for my address, they are surprised to know that i'm living there...since now the only friend that I have is Moroccan and it's really difficult to live without social relationships. It's really disgusting. SO, I'm happy to share with all of you this experience, it allows me to understand more what happen in this country. Good luck for everybody.   
Ouafaa Bach

No dear Sir, They are not racists at all. They are business people. They know that the local people, who know the market prices well, will not have even a single drink in the pub for the prices demanded, they will enter, dance and knowning a nearby place that is economical, will buy the stuff from there. Most of local guys buy their own bottles and hide them in nearby places. They come out, sip it and enter again. Let me tell you a real story. An American lady entered a restaurant in Ramblas, ordered for some stuff and a bottle of wine. The waitor presented a bill of 370 Euros. The lady carried only 260. She pleaded a lot and nobody wanted to listen. She started crying and eventually her two children too started crying. Finally, the restaurant staff kept her mobile and a watch and let her go. That is the type of business these clubs, pubs and many restaurants do. Do you thing that they can do that to me? No. Now if you want to call the police, do you think the police does not know about all this? Well, they are well aware of this. And they are unfortunately a part of it. There are factions within the police as well. They have their favourite bars decided and go in civil clothes, enjoy their drinks and come out. Everything comes at a price.

Fortunately, I discovered very soon that the Catalan people hated Spanish language. So if someone objects to you over that just start speaking English. They love English. You will be highly respected.

Third, Do you know which is the national game of Spain? Well, it is Jealousy. They want to see you at lower places. When you show them that you have resources and/or you are intelligent, they will start creating hurdles in your way. When you say you are without money (even if you have something) and need a help and are looking for a job, they will try to help you.

Once I met a nulti millionaire guy in Barcelona. He showed me his collection of watches. Then finally he said "This is the best piece in my collection. I stole it." Many times I really do not understand them. But it seems that this is allowed by culture. You can see many youngsters stealing and snatching in Barcelona. They learn it from schools and colleges. Ask any police person. This is a fact. That is why they are racial when you enter  a shop to buy something.

If a flying crow *** on your head, do not start thinking that he is in love with you. That is exactly the case when someone starts following you in a superstore.

When someone says, I want to live in this area and a Spanish says normally the foreigners do not live in this area. The person really means that it is too expensive and he or she would not spend that much. Normally, there are areas dominated by rich people with all the luxuries. That is not prohibited for you but if you are about to spend 3000-4000 Euros, you need to be someone special.

The salary scale in Spain is very low. That is a fact and she really wanted to help you. Do not get offended.
Before coming to Barcelona, I have spent 5+ years in Germany. I had money. I used to spend a lot every evening.

One day, I thought I should work. I was offered a job at night to help make “churros”. Do you know, how much I was offered? Just 20 Euros per night. I just laughed at myself. I changed my habits of spending as I had plans to stay here.

The guy checked your stuff when you came out of the market because there is a fool in you like it is in most of the tourists. They just do not know the right way. They are half lost.

At places frequently transited by the foreigners, the Spanish are already habitual to it and they will understand you and treat you well but if you go to a store like IKEA where the expert local middle class people go to buy economical and you actuate like a lost sheep (I am sorry for the words..), the security person will check your bags. Whenever you encounter a situation like that and see a security person heading towards you, do not hesitate. Start moving towards him and tell that you need his help.

Explain the reason. He will also be comfortable. Otherwise he will have to run after a person who has just now stolen something from the store.

This is just a way to explain you the facts.
Immigrants bring a lot of trouble? That is not a fact. In 1990s, the Government of Spain legalized the immigrants and issued visas from their home countries to work in Spain to balance the births and deaths ratio. Eventually, there was a boom in the market. That boom was converted into a balloon by the local people from Spain who exploited the foreigners.

Every immigrant that you find here excels in his and her native country. It takes a lot of effort and money to come out, to buy air ticket, to spend nights in hotels. There is a visa process and the person has to clear that.

Do you think that the foreigners are rotten eggs in their home countries? No Sir, I have seen most talented and hard working persons amongst the immigrants. They are the one who are holding the economy of Spain up. They are the ones who open the shops and work day and night seven days a week. They are the moving force behind the economy of Spain. I have witnessed how they renovated the rubbish shops of Barcelona.

But that is nothing. We live in an ever changing world. The people start respecting you when they know you better. That is adaptation.

Many years back, whenever any foreigner went to my village in my home country, small children would gather and start running and dancing behind your vehicle. At least it does not happen in Barcelona.

If you do not like something about Barcelona, never criticize it directly. Your staff works like x department in my country. Once, I had to criticize someone, so I told the engineers faculty in mayor’s house that in my hometown, when a team of eight does the work of a  single person, we call it ayuntamiento and it is same here. They were all laughing. So remember the bird *** on your nose.

And if you want to see a smile on a spanish person's face, just tell him that the people in my country are not that intelligent like you. I always say, "I left my country because there were not many plates in my country and I am in the habit of spoiling many plates when i dine. Eventually, I left my country and settled in Spain."

Well, I should not forget to invite you at Gandhi Restaurant Hindú located at Calle Balmes, 21, Barcelona.