Ciao a tutti! Il mio bambino di 33 anni di 3 anni è da Sofia ma si è trasferito in America quando aveva 12 anni con la sua famiglia. Parlano tutti bulgari e recentemente hanno ottenuto un condominio in modo che possano visitare ogni anno. I suoi genitori e la zia vogliono (28 donne americane nere) visitare la prossima estate e sua zia continua a dire che le persone mi amerebbero ed è entusiasta che venga a venire, ma il mio fidanzato non vuole tornare indietro e ha paura che le persone saranno razziste nei miei confronti e che farà sembrare la sua famiglia e la cultura. Continuo a dirgli di non preoccuparci e che non penserò diversamente a nessuno di loro (sono sempre stati gentili con me e mi hanno trattato come una famiglia) e che posso gestire il razzismo ed essere l’unica persona di colore attorno a un gruppo dominante (recentemente è andato in Giappone e hanno avuto 0 problemi quando si trattava di correre) ma non si muoverà e ora mi preoccupo se forse è peggio che immagino che sarebbe stato. Le persone sono apertamente razziste o diranno solo cose alle tue spalle? (Sto imparando bulgaro da solo e conosco le capacità di conversazione di base in modo da poter parlare e capire un po ‘) Dovrei essere preoccupato per la violenza e l’aggressività in faccia? Qualche POC ha esperienza con questo?
https://i.redd.it/tx19x2euz5nf1.jpeg
di sdavism168
43 commenti
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His facial expression has all the answers you are looking for.
[Here’s the experience of another POC in Bulgaria](https://www.reddit.com/r/bulgaria/comments/1n3x5t3/visited_bulgaria_for_the_first_time_and_i_fell_in/) (from this sub)
Happiest Bulgarian
Really depends where you go, but it’s entirely possible you have a chill and enjoyable experience. It is kinda weird for him to be so against it, it’s not like we’re an apartheid state, we just have dimwits here and there.
Doesn’t the police just shoot black people at random in the US? How racist does he think people are here?
I think people in Sofia, and other major cities, are civilized enough. If you are respectful and behave properly. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Some kids might stare at you, but that’s it.
If you judge by western standards Bulgaria is HYPER racist. If you judge by a lighter set of standards, Bulgaria is pretty racist.
People who will tell you Bulgaria isn’t racist are out of their mind and deserve no consideration of their opinion.
Manliest Sofianets, right there. I’m sure if shit hits the fan you can protect him.
Jokes aside, everything’s going to be alright, don’t worry.
PS:
I hope this is karma farming made up story.
There’s a definitely racism towards POC. Sometimes is subtle, sometimes is more obvious. In Sofia where people are used to seeing tourists from other countries, I believe you’ll be fine. Yes, there will be stares (and possible a comment or two), but nothing too rude. Outside of the capital you might have different experience. But then again, it depends where you go and what you do. Overall, I think you should be fine especially if you’re visiting with your BF.
Unfortunately, there is a chance you might has a negative experience with somebody who is racist, but the chance is not higher than in the US. Chances you get shot by a policeman for sure are a lot lower here.
I got spit on by a guy huffing glue on a tram and I’m white. There were some black folks walking around Sofia and they got some stares, but honestly people were too busy hating on the romani folk to be racist to anyone else. People are generally nice to foreigners, in my opinion.
There are racists everywhere… it’s up you to decide.
I very highly doubt anyone would be racist, some people might just stare or give you looks, but that’s about it. I don’t know if your bf has been to Bulgaria at all since he moved away, but things are way more different than they were 20 years ago, fuck it, 5 years ago even. Up until a few years ago it’d be so rare to see a person of colour, I’d see maybe one a year, I remember once I saw two at the same time on the train who didn’t know each other and I was baffled. But these days there’s much more diversity, generally tourists and nobody minds them. You should be fine 🙂 I hope you get to come and enjoy your trip!
Nobody will care about you
Racism here is mainly expressed by stares and comments behind your back. Just stay away from groups of young people dressed in black or with shaved heads. Those punks are not racist, but rather rude to everyone equally.
Zero people will be racist towards you, we are busy hating each other, don’t worry. 😀
You’ll be fine, my fellow American. You won’t be in any danger, and indeed – esp in Sofia – you’ll probably have a great time. But he’s the one who might get pissed if/when you’ll be discriminated.
It will be fine
You shouldn’t be afraid of racism, but find a manlier boyfriend cause you are gonna get hit on a lot lmao
I’m not from Sofia and I think you will be very fine in Bulgaria. In my home town I even think men will look after you and try to flirt with you and girls might be a bit envious.
However you are with your boyfriend and everyone will respect that.
Have fun in Bulgaria!
Bulgarians don’t have real prejudices or stereotypes toward black people. We don’t have any history with them like racist Americans do. We mostly know them from movies and songs. Black people are very rare here and will catch people’s attention, sometimes uncomfortably so, but we are more curious than anything. Also our common word for a black person is similar to the N word, but it’s not meant hatefully. If you can get over that, it’s fine.
What we are actually racist towards is Roma people. You should be worried if you look like them. But you don’t.
More than anything people will probably stare just out of curiosity. Bulgarians are massive starers in general, so that’s also just part of the culture. As a Bulgarian who lives in America and had a similar upbringing experience as your boyfriend, I go back home every year and have noticed more and more Black Americans and Brits visiting as tourists. Apart from that, there is a long history of Africans coming to Bulgaria to study medicine, so in Sofia and other big cities, I’d say people are fairly accustomed to seeing Black people. Overall, definitely not worth you missing out on the experience out of potential concern
Id care more about that moustache
You should be fine and are unlikely to come across anything too obvious. Just but aware that racists aren’t as embarassed about sharing their opinions as they would be in western opinions. You could come aross random people with fascist/nazi tattoos.
I’ve spent 7 years in sofia and things changed massively in that time.
He’s not entirely wrong, many people here can seem racist, but I think it mostly comes from a lack of interaction or communication with people of different skin colors (not just Black people). What you’ll usually experience is people staring, simply because diversity isn’t very common here. Even in the capital or bigger cities, while there is some diversity, it’s still not something most people are used to. That said, we’re generally open to conversation and connection.
So if you can get past the stares and the awkwardness, don’t give a 💩 about people’s attitudes, just grab a banitsa or try some musaka and enjoy your time here 😊
Girl, they’ll just say stuff behind your back and you wouldn’t even understand them. It’s fine
Smile, be polite, don’t be arrogant. If someone stare, smile softly and turn around. Bulgarians are not racists, on the contrary, people who tell we are – don’t really know what racism means. We are prejudiced through, mainly towards minorities who act and look out of the norm, just like in every other country. In Sofia there’s more diversity so in Sofia people are more tolerant and accepting. In smaller cities- not so much. so try to be mindful of your surroundings.
They call you n***er if you get close near people under 20 but otherwise no problems
Don’t worry, many Bulgarians have already lived all over the world and accept different races as normal. There will always be idiots who will stare at you or talk behind your back, but that’s inevitable. Times have changed and your boy should be more confident.
There may be some issues, and Bulgarian people tend to stare a bit at someond who stands out, but I think you’d be okay barring either of you doing something very unwise.
One thing you may want to know in advance – one of the traditional Bulgarian words for a black person sounds a lot like the N-word, but with an “e” instead of an “I”. It doesn’t have the same connotation and a lot of Bulgarians still use it as a neutral term, though less so in large cities.
It’s good that he is thinking ahead and being cautious. But racism? Is that really his concern? Not a random night gang attack, pickpocket or assault?
Your boyfriend is over dramatic (Bulgarian thing). There are black people living in Sofia… Yes they are rare but I personally know few. It’s not like they live in fear. Bulgarians are raised to be super cautious. We have sayings like ‘don’t sit on stone or you will get flu’, ‘don’t stay in the draft (wind) or you will get sick’. Mothers tell their kids ‘don’t run or you will fall’, ‘don’t run or you will sweat’ (by Bulgarian logic if you are sweating and there is wind you get instantly sick). Everything is scary for Bulgarians except not breaking laws and rules.
You are beautiful, everyone will love you. You might get extra positive attention actually. People in this thread are very odd…
Short answer: NO. There is nothing to worry about coming to Bulgaria and being a victim of racial abuse or being attacked. There are black people (not that many ofc) living here. Never meet any person of color or race being a victim of racial abuse here.
People might look at you, but don’t worry about it. They don’t see African Americans that often in real life, besides in movies or TV series.
People in BG are more likely to discriminate against his condition, than you skin complexion.
So what if they are, who gives a shit what others think and say anyway
You should be fine %100, the most you will get is small looks. Bulgaria (and esp Sofia) changed a lot in recent years.
America is way more racist.
i would say it depends because you never know what kind of people you will encounter; but mostly, i think you will be alright
I think Bulgarians tend to be more prejudiced towards Roma people. You have nothing to worry about.
We have racist people in Bulgaria, but I think the type of racism is not as aggressive as the American. People will likely stare at you (especially kids, because they are curious) and some might make offensive comments, but it’s very unlikely to experience direct confrontation.
Not really, we don’t have as much racism as Japan for example. There are assholes here too, but I wouldn’t say they’re many. And they’ll most likely do absolutely nothing to a woman.
The thing is, most people are not racist and are quite open, but the problem is that being racist is normal. Using racist slurs is part of speech, and discrimination toward dark skin ed people is everywhere. If you just come to visit for few days/weeks it will be fine,