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Part of the beauty of the internet is that it gives rise to concepts and communities that probably wouldn’t exist if the internet wasn’t a thing. And it can get so niche that it would make you wonder very hard as to how it got there in the first place.
One of the more interesting communities online is the r/AccidentalRacism subreddit—a portion of Reddit dedicated to pointing out times when innocent things appear to be racist, though it's totally unintentional and, while some some of it may seem offensive, the community makes it clear that racism is not cool.
We’ve collected some of the most upvoted posts from the subreddit that today has a bit over 450,000 members. Scroll down to check it all out, and why not leave a comment and an upvote on the ones you found most “oof” worthy.
More Info: r/AccidentalRacism
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#1
A Perspective They Didn't Imagine Would Happen
#2
Does This Count?
#3
Some Muslins Are Good IMO
#4
Mad Dragon 2 years ago (edited)
If its a black bear, make yourself seem big and make a lot of noise to scare it away. If it's a brown bear (grizzly), lay down and play dead. It may investigate you, but will probably lose interest. If it's a polar bear, you're going to die.
#5
Stereotypes, Amiright?
Mermaid Elle-Jaye 2 years ago (edited)
Are we just making up definitions for racists now, that’s not racist 😂 he even thought it was funny.
#6
Rosa Barks
#7
He Learned A Language, But Alas, The Wrong One...
Random Person 2 years ago
That seems like the kind of thing to check before you learn a new language lol
#8
It Looks Like Your Mouth Is Open
#9
These Plates Are Color Coded
#10
Apple Strikes Again
Jo Choto 2 years ago
This is a massive issue with technology that has been developed by white people for white people. When I want to take a picture of my family, my phone generally can't even recognize that there are faces on the screen (they are black). Never mind being able to differentiate between non-white people. There is a lot of work needing to be done by technologists of all nations to get this problem fixed.
#11
The Sight Right As You Enter My Local Grocery Store
#12
Officials Are Führious
Random Person 2 years ago
ok but to be fair who was playing pokemon go in the holocaust museum
#13
The '90s Were Wild
#15
Segregation At Its Finest
#16
Ouch...
Cactus McCoy 2 years ago
I THINK I remembr this one to be staged for the lols back in the days...
#17
I Love Shoe Boxes
#18
Hmmm
#19
Suspicious Salt Shaker...
#20
This Bot Refusing This Guy’s Actual Name
#21
Did Someone Blink?
#22
I Has A Black Baby
#23
Spice Level: White
#24
So That's What Clean Hands Look Like Huh
Deutschland Mädchen 2 years ago
After a long day of gardening, Joe was happy to wash off the dirt covering his whole arms
#25
A Very Interesting Adjective For Describing The Colour Of A Car
#26
Just A Tad Worse Than “Redskins”
Dana Ondráčková 2 years ago
It had to be inside joke of the players themselves like "shiz There is like 90% Black in our team, lets make a joke out of it!"
El muerto 2 years ago
most probably a southern school that "is proud of it's history"
Load More Replies...
Nicki 2 years ago
I don't even want to know what their mascot looks like...
Load More Replies...
Travis O'Donnell 2 years ago
Robstown, Texas. Unintentional racism, they go by " The Pickers" it's the largest producing area of cotton in Texas....but still not sure why they chose that as the mascot.
Vincent Walsh 2 years ago
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whos idea was this
Sarah R. 2 years ago (edited)
Tw for slavery and racism towards black people - when African American were enslaved, they were forced to pick cotten.
Load More Replies...
Charles Williams 2 years ago
It's a high school near Corpus Christi, TX. Many in the community are proud of their history of family members being cotton pickers and don't want the name changed.
phil blanque 2 years ago
I don't know. People of all colors picked cotton, and it was very, very hard work and poorly paid. I think I would be honored to compete under this name, fighting as a representative of underdogs.
Spring Fisk 2 years ago
wooops :*-( my family would say cotton pickin and I never though that it was a race thing. I thought it was like making fun of farmers and that was ok because our family was farmers. But then later on I was like "is this racist?" I guess the slaves picked a lot of cotton- but on the other hand so did a lot of none slaves?
Casey Horn 2 years ago
if their town has a lot of cotton fields and cotton is a big part of their economy, this is no different than the nebraska corn huskers. we still pick cotton today. but due to America’s history, this can get weird.
Dave P 2 years ago
you know Cotton Picker is a legit job that employs hundreds of thousands of workers in the US? Yes, at can have a racist connotation to slavery, but is also can just be this school is in a cotton region and this is a reference to the local economy like the U of Nebraska's name is the Corn Huskers, because Corn Husking is the local economy.
Andy Acceber 2 years ago
You know that cotton picking is mostly down by machine now? This would be like naming a mascot, "The Tractors." lol The "legit job" argument doesn't work here.
Load More Replies...
#27
I Never Knew This Product Existed!
#28
Sign Me Up!
#29
Bad Name Placement
#30
Open Yer Damn Eyes
Ryan Deschanel 2 years ago
The most frustrating thing with IA is you can't yell at them to explain they are wrong.
#31
Thank You Bing! Perfect Translation
#32
I’m Sure Adolf Would’ve Agreed
#33
Knew It
#34
Co-Worker Asked For A Snickers. She's Jewish
#35
My Friend Thought The Picture Was Going To Have Both Of Us Chilling On The Couch
#36
Which One Is The Correct Side?
#37
Lost In Translation
#38
This Chair With “Sailboats”
#39
Smash Immigrants... Welcome Racism
#40
Hol Up
#41
This AI With A Little Bit Of Bias
Mimi La Souris 2 years ago
the AI is correct, the skin tone is the same, on this photo (I checked with Paint)
#43
It Meant To Say “Glitter”
#44
When You Like The Food But Not The People
#45
I See Where This Is Going...
#46
Damnit, The Title Was Actually “How To Create Your Own Jewelry Line”
#47
Clutching At Straws A Bit Here But I Still Had A Good Chuckle
#48
This Is Getting Really Annoying
#49
Damn
Ryan Deschanel 2 years ago
The gate is open. The black llama is a free llama! If it wants to hang out on the other side of the pasture, it is its sacred right!
#50
Oh [Crud]
![Oh [Crud]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/accidental-innocent-racism-subreddit-51-6206731d788a6__700.jpg "Oh [Crud]")
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Shelp 2 years ago
Most of them are pretty far-fetched, if you want my opinion. Funny, but very far-fetched
Chucky Cheezburger 2 years ago
Yeah, some of these have to be taken out of context to be racist. Some were just funny, like the lowest spice level being "white".
Load More Replies...
Jo Choto 2 years ago
Most of these are very silly and funny. I'm hyper sensitive to racism, but I don't necessarily think everything is racist!
Adrian 2 years ago
But you can take almost anything and make it racist if you try hard enough.
Load More Replies...
Who Panda 420 2 years ago
My friends mom was a dog breeder. The dogs she bred came in red, black, tri I think. One day in the restaurant after the show she exclaims loudly how the black b***h isn't performing right and how she can't be working with her anymore. Place went silent. Omg bet she never made that mistake again.
LeeBreezy 2 years ago
the oversensitivity in some of the comments can be funnier than the actual post sometimes.
zovjraar me 2 years ago
oh my, most of these were very funny. my black co worker and i make fun of me being white and him being black all the time. i asked him if i could ride with him and he said he didn't want to get pulled over and shot. it's a sad truth but joking about it is a way to discuss it without getting into a big depression.
Ozacoter 2 years ago
My mum had a "I want to die" moment similar to those. She is a heavy smoker and she prefers the type of tobacco that in spain is called black (idk about how it would be called in english). Once a black man approached her on the street and asked her if she had more tobacco. She answered "Yes, black". The guy of course did not get mad but she felt horrible xD
Lousha 2 years ago
I came from a country that had almost exclusively white people so racism against black people wasn't really a thing, therefore it's not that ingrained in our brains. When I lived in the UK I got a care package from my parents and I took multiple food items to work to share with customers. I already poured a pack of candy into a bowl when I looked at it with "English" eyes and suddenly felt like not sharing... It's a candy that's been around for decades and it's black so its name is the Latin word for black. You do not want to whip that out in an English speaking country... As a child I never thought twice about it because to me it really just meant "black". We did share it eventually with a few friends, explaining at length before actually showing them the "racist candy".
Load More Replies...
Tiredofpayingforothers 2 years ago
It's no wonder the younger generation is confused about what racism actually is. The majority of these are not racism, just a bunch a cry babies looking for confrontation.
jk nbt 2 years ago (edited)
There are differences between black people and white people. Noticing the differences is not necessarily racist. A group of black people complained to the media a few years back because they were offended when the picture of suspected felons was broadcast. They said this was racist. No, it was not. The pictures of suspected felons of the all different races were put up, not just black people. The justification is that when a criminal is on the loose, the community needs to be warned and be on the lookout for dangerous, well-armed, violent felons who are on the run from the law. You don't want this person showing up on your front door and asking if they can come inside and use your phone. This bogus complaint was not respected by the media for reasons of community safety. Who keeps making this sort of bogus complaint?
Vuun 2 years ago
Whether something is racist or not depends on the intent, which means there is no such thing as "accidental racism".
Kori Chamberlain 2 years ago
So how would you title a post about things that look racist out of context?
Load More Replies...
Carol Bogdanowitz 2 years ago
This is getting ridiculous. People trying to start trouble finding racism in everything. I'm so over it.
jk nbt 2 years ago (edited)
the latest nonsense along this line by shouting "Racist! Racist!" is for some people to declare math studies in schools as racist because white people generally learn math better than blacks. They say this means math is racist. No, it is not. What a ridiculous accusation and complaint. There are fewer black engineers proportionally than white engineers because engineers have to be really good at math. This is not racist. The smart black college kids who apply themselves and have the "math gene" do as well as any white students. What the real world is has a lot to do with smart black people who are wise to how completely most engineers are exploited and mistreated (black or white). Upwardly motivated young black people can make a lot more money as successful businessmen, doctors, or lawyers. For 90% of the engineers out there, engineering is a horrible job with an extra 20-30 hours a week of free overtime followed by a layoff at project's end. You can't easily start your own engineering firm and go into business for yourself. (They never tell you this in engineering school). You can start your own business more easily a business professional, doctor, or lawyer. Young black people have been wise to this for a long time, and wisely find something else to do on the path to success rather than specialize in math studies or engineering. This is not racist, folks. Stop complaining with this bogus complaint. This is just good business sense on the young peoples' part. Good for them.
CbusResident 2 years ago
I'm playing a microscopic Stradivarius for each one of these incidents.
George C.P. 2 years ago
I remember when I was looking in Philippines for a body cream and all I could find were: white cream, extra white, shiny white, ivory white, white no tan, very white cream... Everything to make you more white 🤔
Shelp 2 years ago
Most of them are pretty far-fetched, if you want my opinion. Funny, but very far-fetched
Chucky Cheezburger 2 years ago
Yeah, some of these have to be taken out of context to be racist. Some were just funny, like the lowest spice level being "white".
Load More Replies... Jo Choto 2 years ago
Most of these are very silly and funny. I'm hyper sensitive to racism, but I don't necessarily think everything is racist!
Adrian 2 years ago
But you can take almost anything and make it racist if you try hard enough.
Load More Replies... Who Panda 420 2 years ago
My friends mom was a dog breeder. The dogs she bred came in red, black, tri I think. One day in the restaurant after the show she exclaims loudly how the black b***h isn't performing right and how she can't be working with her anymore. Place went silent. Omg bet she never made that mistake again.
LeeBreezy 2 years ago
the oversensitivity in some of the comments can be funnier than the actual post sometimes.
zovjraar me 2 years ago
oh my, most of these were very funny. my black co worker and i make fun of me being white and him being black all the time. i asked him if i could ride with him and he said he didn't want to get pulled over and shot. it's a sad truth but joking about it is a way to discuss it without getting into a big depression.
Ozacoter 2 years ago
My mum had a "I want to die" moment similar to those. She is a heavy smoker and she prefers the type of tobacco that in spain is called black (idk about how it would be called in english). Once a black man approached her on the street and asked her if she had more tobacco. She answered "Yes, black". The guy of course did not get mad but she felt horrible xD
Lousha 2 years ago
I came from a country that had almost exclusively white people so racism against black people wasn't really a thing, therefore it's not that ingrained in our brains. When I lived in the UK I got a care package from my parents and I took multiple food items to work to share with customers. I already poured a pack of candy into a bowl when I looked at it with "English" eyes and suddenly felt like not sharing... It's a candy that's been around for decades and it's black so its name is the Latin word for black. You do not want to whip that out in an English speaking country... As a child I never thought twice about it because to me it really just meant "black". We did share it eventually with a few friends, explaining at length before actually showing them the "racist candy".
Load More Replies... Tiredofpayingforothers 2 years ago
It's no wonder the younger generation is confused about what racism actually is. The majority of these are not racism, just a bunch a cry babies looking for confrontation.
jk nbt 2 years ago (edited)
There are differences between black people and white people. Noticing the differences is not necessarily racist. A group of black people complained to the media a few years back because they were offended when the picture of suspected felons was broadcast. They said this was racist. No, it was not. The pictures of suspected felons of the all different races were put up, not just black people. The justification is that when a criminal is on the loose, the community needs to be warned and be on the lookout for dangerous, well-armed, violent felons who are on the run from the law. You don't want this person showing up on your front door and asking if they can come inside and use your phone. This bogus complaint was not respected by the media for reasons of community safety. Who keeps making this sort of bogus complaint?
Vuun 2 years ago
Whether something is racist or not depends on the intent, which means there is no such thing as "accidental racism".
Kori Chamberlain 2 years ago
So how would you title a post about things that look racist out of context?
Load More Replies... Carol Bogdanowitz 2 years ago
This is getting ridiculous. People trying to start trouble finding racism in everything. I'm so over it.
jk nbt 2 years ago (edited)
the latest nonsense along this line by shouting "Racist! Racist!" is for some people to declare math studies in schools as racist because white people generally learn math better than blacks. They say this means math is racist. No, it is not. What a ridiculous accusation and complaint. There are fewer black engineers proportionally than white engineers because engineers have to be really good at math. This is not racist. The smart black college kids who apply themselves and have the "math gene" do as well as any white students. What the real world is has a lot to do with smart black people who are wise to how completely most engineers are exploited and mistreated (black or white). Upwardly motivated young black people can make a lot more money as successful businessmen, doctors, or lawyers. For 90% of the engineers out there, engineering is a horrible job with an extra 20-30 hours a week of free overtime followed by a layoff at project's end. You can't easily start your own engineering firm and go into business for yourself. (They never tell you this in engineering school). You can start your own business more easily a business professional, doctor, or lawyer. Young black people have been wise to this for a long time, and wisely find something else to do on the path to success rather than specialize in math studies or engineering. This is not racist, folks. Stop complaining with this bogus complaint. This is just good business sense on the young peoples' part. Good for them.
CbusResident 2 years ago
I'm playing a microscopic Stradivarius for each one of these incidents.
George C.P. 2 years ago
I remember when I was looking in Philippines for a body cream and all I could find were: white cream, extra white, shiny white, ivory white, white no tan, very white cream... Everything to make you more white 🤔
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