The last couple of years have taught us that racism, unfortunately, is still alive and well. It's hard to understand why on Earth is it so prevalent in 2021, but here we are, discussing basic human rights.
True, the barriers are breaking down and the discrimination that seemed impossible to overcome a few centuries ago is beginning to crumble, but we still have a long way to go. And it's evident even in everyday life.
In an attempt to figure out how to tear it down at the root, Reddit user godfatherdoh recently posted a question to the platform: "If a person tells you angrily to go back to your country, how [do] you respond?" And they got plenty of answers! Here are the ones that everyone upvoted the most. Maybe they'll give you some ideas too.
This post may include affiliate links.
I’m Native American (Oneida Nation) soooooo go back to your country. Checkmate biyatch
There's a great fantasy book called Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger, a Lipan Apache author. There's a plot point where a vampire attacks a Native character and the character says, "this is my home; I didn't invite you in," causing magic to pull the vampire from the Native lands. It's a really good book with lots of other twists and turns if anyone is interested.
Related fun: pretend to not understand racist jokes and ask for them to be explained.
"My country sent me here as punishment."
Your people dragged me over here, so now I'm staying. Deal with it.
From a black guy I know when he was told to go back to where he came from: "My family were bought and sold as slaves over here and mistreated. First of all, that voided the warranty and second, are you going to pay? Unwanted goods don't return themselves. Besides, I bet you don't even have the receipt do you?"
Ok, I'd be happy to. Technically I would just have to move about an hour or so East to the Mohawk valley and rejoin the Iroquois nation. Oh, and I'll need you to reinstate the Iroquois Nation
So this actually happened to me in college and i responded to the person that i would happily do it but as a immigrant i enjoy stealing jobs from the Americans.
Not my fault my great great great great grandmother stole bread and got sent here (Australia).
This actually happened in my family too, traced them back recently. One of them fought at Gallipoli so maybe that paid the debt in full
Honestly? I'd give them a shake of my head and move on. Anybody who speaks to me like that is just wrong. The fact that they say such things is a reflection of their character, not yours. The freedom of speech allows you to speak freely, it doesn't mean you need to be heard. And nothing drives these people more insane than not being heard.
The perfect answer is..... "mark them absent, like their comment never even existed"
Burst into tears and blubber, "You got me! I can't afford my own countryI! have to live in my parents' country! It's just a rough patch, okay?
Patient was being a [jerk] and screamed at my charge nurse, "I'm going to have you deported!" I know the hospital that nurse was born at because of a conversation we'd had a couple weeks prior. I snapped back, "To where? (Next town over)? She was born here, knock it off!"
I’m First Nations bro, you go back to YOUR country
YES! I have an "Indian Status" card. I have legal rights in both the States and Canada. YOU go back to whatever country your family came from.
I've heard one of our residents answer: 'Ma' am, I'd love to. Unfortunately, there's a war going on that has already pretty much destroyed everything I hold dear and they were coming for me too. Would you have stayed?'
Something along the lines of……
“I can’t, because they said I’m a [jerk] and a moron so they sent me here to live with my own kind … especially you.”
"Okay...."
*pause*
"...want me to do it again?"
i dont own a country
I would sincerely ask "Why would I do that?"
LPT: Curiously replying to aggressive statements makes them fall on their face 100% of the times.
Mmm nice, not snarky, just a little drawing pin on the path of mindless hate
I remember my white boss saying "they" should be sent back to their country. I turned to my white coworker next to me and said, "Can you imagine all the white people returing to Europe? People at the local reservation would be ecstatic to get their land back." Coworker laughed with me and boss remained silent."
"I've gotten a DNA test and genealogy research to show that I have over 30% DNA of the Chichimeca and possibly Aztec people that had migrated from New Mexico about a thousand years ago. My shower thought is wondering if that is enough for me to stay if "everyone returned to their country.
I came here to take over, not ever going back.
My people have been here for hundreds of years before this country was founded so maybe you should go back
While this should not be taken as advice since it could backfire and may not be the right way for a lot of folks to handle the situation, when someone is raging at me a smile and a "have a nice day" really seems to piss them off much more than a middle finger or an "F-U". It can be an almost impossible strategy in many instances though
Possibly the best answer (even if not the funniest). Politeness can be a massive insult
In my mind I say something really clever and hurtful back! Especially since my family has been here for four generations!
In reality, every time this happens my face gets hot, and all I can muster is to roll my eyes and fight back angry tears. It sucks.
Ask them to pay for my fare
They would say, “Gladly!” You then pull the phone out and say, “Great! Let me gather my clan. About 84-ish people would not be too taxing for your wallet? Appreciate that mate.”
“Get the vaccine.” Those are almost always right wingers so that ought to trigger them pretty good.
Just reply with a content smile and say (as per Avengers Endgame):
No. No I don't think I will.
I was hoping for something with Thor's line about going for the head.
I am in my country.
Don’t say anything, just laugh at their ignorance.
Note: this post originally had 42 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Last time I got said that, a coworker which happen to be from the same country of origin said "nah, we don't want him back there anyway".
Tbh, I'd sit them down and have a whole lesson on the history of immigration and xenophobia. We'd talk about how their grandparents immigrated, how immigration laws where I live have changed in recent decades to make it easier for the rich, educated, and white to immigrate and harder for everyone else, how anti-immigrant rhetoric is senseless fear-mongering, how immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native born citizens, etc. They would immediately regret engaging me in conversation. (If anyone is curious about any of this, John Oliver has a great intro for U.S. immigration: https://youtu.be/29lXsOYBaow)
I've been told this. "Go back to your country!" and I said, "Which one?"... and they said, "Europe!" That's 1. a continent and 2. I have Native American great-great-grandparents, so how much DNA exactly do I leave behind, and how? Which body parts does which country of ancestry get? I don't even come from one continent, let alone one region of one, soooo....
You could become my neighbour, move to France! But I would want you here in one piece ;)
Load More Replies... Last time I got said that, a coworker which happen to be from the same country of origin said "nah, we don't want him back there anyway".
Tbh, I'd sit them down and have a whole lesson on the history of immigration and xenophobia. We'd talk about how their grandparents immigrated, how immigration laws where I live have changed in recent decades to make it easier for the rich, educated, and white to immigrate and harder for everyone else, how anti-immigrant rhetoric is senseless fear-mongering, how immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native born citizens, etc. They would immediately regret engaging me in conversation. (If anyone is curious about any of this, John Oliver has a great intro for U.S. immigration: https://youtu.be/29lXsOYBaow)
I've been told this. "Go back to your country!" and I said, "Which one?"... and they said, "Europe!" That's 1. a continent and 2. I have Native American great-great-grandparents, so how much DNA exactly do I leave behind, and how? Which body parts does which country of ancestry get? I don't even come from one continent, let alone one region of one, soooo....
You could become my neighbour, move to France! But I would want you here in one piece ;)
Load More Replies...