Being black in the US vs the UK: There's a big difference | Alvin Hall | Big Think
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2018
- Being black in the US vs the UK: There's a big difference | Alvin Hall
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Author Alvin Hall is a huge award-winning financial advisor and broadcaster in the UK, despite being born and raised in poverty in Florida. He feels, though, that he wasn't able to break through in American media because America, he feels, still has a lot of inbuilt racial prejudice. He posits that since he doesn't fit into the narrowly defined idea of what a financial advisor should look like in the U.S., he fell through the cracks and didn't get a fair chance. In the UK, on the other hand, "they'll give you the opportunity- even if it’s the opportunity to fail, but it’s an opportunity that you can turn into success."
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ALVIN HALL:
Alvin Hall is an internationally renowned financial educator, television and radio broadcaster, bestselling author, and regular contributor to magazines, newspapers, and websites.
For five years on the BBC, he hosted the highly rated and award-winning series, “Your Money or Your Life,” on which he offered both practical financial and psychological advice to people about how to take control of and fix their financial problems. His radio program, Jay-Z: From Brooklyn to the Boardroom, won the Wincott Foundation Press and Broadcasting Award for the best radio program for 2006. Hall has also hosted programs on current events and contemporary art for BBC Radio 4 including After Katrina and most recently, Alvin Hall’s Generations of Money. An eight-part television series for BBC World News called Alvin’s Guide to Good Business was broadcast internationally in 2010. In the US, he is a regular contributor on personal finance and the economy on NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin.
Among Hall’s bestselling books are: You and Your Money: It’s More than Just the Numbers, Your Money or Your Life (winner of the WHSmith 2003 People’s Choice Award), What Not to Spend, Getting Started in Mutual Funds 2nd Edition, and Getting Started in Stocks 3rd Edition. His children’s book, Show Me the Money, has been published in over 20 foreign-language editions. In the US, the book has been named a Best Children’s Book of the Year (2009) by the Bank St. Book Committee, which is run by the Bank Street College of Education. It was also named a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (2009) by a joint project of the National Book Council for Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council.
Hall lives in New York City where he designs and teaches classes about the investment markets for financial services companies, banks, regulatory authorities, as well as information and technology vendors. His acclaimed classroom programs and speaking engagements have provided thousands of people with a solid grounding in such topics as the workings of financial markets, investment products, effective investment strategies, reducing debt, planning for retirement and personal financial management. Alvin Hall is a member of the NYSE Euronext Financial Literacy Advisory Committee to help develop programs to improve knowledge about all aspects of personal finance among the general public. He is also on the Acquisitions Committee of the Studio Museum in Harlem.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Alvin Hall: Two facts. One, I define myself as a black man first, because that’s what you’re going to see when you look at me. Being gay is something I define myself second, third, I can’t decide really. But it’s not everything I am. It’s a part of a complexity that I am. And that’s not backing away from the fact that I’m gay. It’s just that there are other aspects of my personality which are much more important to me and how I negotiate the world.
My career in the UK and other parts of the world really came about because someone there saw my talent at being able to talk about money, personal finance, cultural issues, and my curiosity, and opened the door for me. I don’t think that I would have had the same opportunity in the United States.
Why not? Partly because when people look at me they don’t see my skill sets and they’re always filtered through their own prejudice.
In the UK and other parts of the world - not all but many - people will give you credit. They’ll give you the opportunity- even if it’s the opportunity to fail, but it’s an opportunity that you can turn into success.
I don’t think that what happened with my career in the United Kingdom would have happened for me in America. I don’t think that the affection that the people in th...
For the full transcript, check out bigthink.com/videos/alvin-hal...
When you came to England, they see you as an American first.
Exactly
Only when he starts speaking if not they will think he’s West Indian
Exactly what I was thinking. They trust him more partially because of his American accent.
They see you as black American first, but aren't nearly as race obsessed as Americans (Black or White). I've been to England many times
@@senoracheapee1864 yup thank God we're civilised here.
He is not being racist in any way ,he is merely pointing out the fact that there is a more tolerant attitude in the UK than in his home country.
It's due to necessity; we're a so much smaller than continental USA, if we don't tolerate and embrace our black countrymen (that historically were never actually enslaved in UK) we would've sealed our demise. The USA was built by white and blacks, the Uk in the 20th century also.
James D also England is a country not a race. Florin gets owned twice..
This guy grew up in the 1960’s and 70’s in the south so of course his views are going to be very skewed when comparing to 21st century U.K.
Lap TV - Yeah i agree with that, if he free up in New York or California his views would probably be different. Also the southern US still has issues with racism (stemming from their historical racism).
mike saunders
The uk is more institutionaly racist than the USA.
Here in the UK it's more a class thing than race
Also we are more racist towards islamic people than black people. Where as the usa has a more history with black people
@@jplegend98 right but aren't refugees and legal immigrants perceived differently also?
@@TheFallenXL generally but some extremists see them as worse
I think it’s this way for all of Western Europe
@@psq6214 I agree,,
We Brits do have a fondness for a well-spoken gay.
Quite right, and why not?
LOL right on
Well, I'm British and I have been in Britain for 20 years and my time there was quite well. I was sat upon my bed and I just had to type this comment.
The only American gay in his village
For well spoken people in general too
As an American, that has traveled all over the U.K., I understand this sentiment to exact precision. For whatever reason, my skills and talents are rejected in America, however those same skills and talents are glorified in the UK. The British have a deep and found respect for talent and skill and as an American it’s very much appreciated.
@Biggest Natural Muscle no we Brits hate you americans it's just you americans like the uk and if your wondering we British kids at school mock you guys just saying
@Biggest Natural Muscle We judge people as individuals, not as a collective. This is why. Well most of us do. No the far left who try and judge everyone the same no matter if they have skills or not.
@@michs8775 NO WE DONT EVERYBODY AT MY SCHOOL MOCKS AMERICANS AND THERE LANGUAGE
@@jshuabrown9968 Lol true
jøśhúá browń that’s a lot of talk from a country that went from owning half the world to being the size of Michigan
I remember being in Paris, in one of the subway stations, I accidentally walked very close behind a french white lady (she saw me) but she never once flinched or grabbed her purse. I'll never forget how pleasant that felt for once not to be looked at as something "other", like in the states.
That is a sad reflection on society. I am glad it was pleasant experience for you, but it makes me sad that it was out of the ordinary. I grew up in the UK and this is normal. Everyone regardless of sex, race or anything else is a human being at the end of the day. You are either a nice person or you aren't. That is all that should matter.
Wow :)
I'm Asian living in Britain I disgusted how people looking at me here. I love going to Paris because French looking at me as a normal human being.
Puta S - Are you South Asian like Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan?
@@mjpleusch I live in the UK too, and it's true. Racism isn't a thing here. Sure, there are sick people who discriminate, but it's not like America. We don't see people as labels because they're not, we see them as this person and that person.
Superb monologue!
As a white dude from Romania that i am, i have worked with black men from both societies and i have to say that there is a huge difference between the cultures, the black men from USA tend to be a little bit more intimidating but that's just a defence mechanism that society pretty much programs into you, but once you get to know them and they know you percieve them as just a black man, as an adult , as a friend or a father to someone they are really warm hearted people and really cool to hang with and learn alot of stuff.
Props to you sir for showing others how they need to change their society.
so you are a racist?
you seem racist
@@Momoa786 this is where you're mistaken bro, not sure how much you know about my country, but we have a multitude of cultures here as well, I don't like to make asumptions but I'm pretty sure you view eastern europe as just 1 thing.
As a Brit I swell with pride hearing this
WL1988 you literally swell from hearing this? whatever floats your boat.
WL1988 - Don’t, the US is not a good benchmark to compare yourself/your country to. Get higher standards.
Countries like Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, France are good benchmarks to compare to.
@@lunaluna6459 countries that have had to deal with an extreme amount of diversity in a democratic state like US has
Maaan swell
@@lunaluna6459 You have clearly never been to most of them countries.
Many black Americans do great in finance positions in the UK.
And, a few black British do great in America.
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Piolatus Why not? Of England.
Piolatus of the English land, everybody can share. David Lammy, MP calls himself an Englishman. It’s more than tribe, it’s the mores, the ways, the feel of the land.
Piolatus There’s still plenty white.
Piolatus Is that racism? I think so.
Very true, I'm a mixed guy and have lived in Zimbabwe, South Africa, UK, US and Denmark. I have never had as much anxiety just from existing when I was in the US, where i lived i couldn't walk about outside past 11 without a cop asking me where I'm going and what I'm doing, the healthcare was also stressing one bill and I would be crippled financially.
The fact that he is American probably works to his advantage in the UK as well, but he is right, it is a better place for us black people than the US.
That is not exactly true.
No one cares about Americans at all here. So no, it doesn’t give him a benefit. However, if it was the other way round, and he was a black British in America. I’m pretty sure yes, it’d have an effect.
Still think it's the second worst though! Did you know that if mental health is concerned with a black person the police are automatically called in the UK! So in theory your paying taxes for them people, who could actually kill you!
Charles Blake that statement made no sense whatsoever. Please rephase
@@charlesblake2280 you get help in the UK where as in the US cops just kill you. You get taken to hospital here.
I am mystified by some of the comments here. Alvin didn't say anything about communism, neither was he racist about white people. In Britain, when he appeared on our screens he was an instant hit for his warm personality, his great sense of humour and his clear non-judgemental way of explaining to people how to manage their finances.
Here he is explaining the difference between how black people are perceived in UK and US. Many PoCs have said the same. It's not because Americans are bad people, it's the legacy of slavery. Sure, Britain made money off the slave trade but slavery was not a part of the basic economy and we didn't have a civil war over it. The US has a lot of healing to do over the race issue. We all thought it was the end of it in the Sixties, then we thought it was the end of it when Obama was elected. But it just goes on and on.
They will still be doing it in a 1000 years I think, they can get lower grades under affirmative action and be chosen to be surgeons the whole thing is a joke !!! I will choose the Indian doctor over a black one.
Blado Well if your dad can't be bothered to stick around your life will be harder, blame that on the white man as well I guess.
Exactly what Alvin is saying here!
You are mystified because you are stupid Hilary. This man is a Racist. And the worst kind of racist. He's the kind that tries to make other people into racists. You should hate him, and this video. There is only one Human race. And if you are not a Human First. You are the racist. Do you understand?
This is what niggas in the US call "Uncle Tom". He's using his black skin to try and further divide black people from white people. And he is delusionally suggesting every white person in the US is racist, but not in the UK. Even though the British started the African slave trade and supplied America with ALL their black slaves. And even though Prince Harry could no more marry a black girl than a horse in the royal stables.
This is 9 kinds of fukery. But you are too stupid to realize it Hilary. And you will also be too stupid to realize I am telling you this as a human.
Hilary Easton
The thing is, no group of people will ever feel equal.
Everybody feels oppressed, even the wealthy by the majority.
And no group is ever going to turn around and say "okay, now we're even". The options are that group members either feel guilty or victimized.
I would like to see every organism achieve optimal levels of happiness. But the irony is that fighting for equality, once you're already equal, is simply fighting for superiority. And the best way to do that is to not realize you're doing it.
Now I'm not saying whether equality has truly been achieved or not. I wouldn't be able to know.
But I'm just pointing out the risk that people don't really realize comes along with fighting for equality.
Before the holocaust, the Nazi's pointed to rich jewish bankers and their whole slogan was Equality, they saw Jews like my grandparents as Priviledged.
My point is, what sounds nice can be much more dangerous than what sounds obviously horrible.
I’ve tried to explain this phenomenon to my family since they live in both the U.S. & UK. It’s been my direct experience.
As someone that’s grown up in London and then rural England, I’m still surprised to see how socially segregated people of different cultures and communities are in the US. Since I was a kid I’ve just seen people as people and nothing else. Sad this mindset isn’t as common in the states
Exactly same here
The other is here in the states it’s so big and there’s people that never travel outside of even their own towns so they’re always with their groups of people
Absolutely. The housing segregation in America really did surprise me.
Same
I would rather live segregated. I live in the United States. There is alot of racism here. I'm tired of hearing blacks crying.
Thank you man. As a brit I feel like that we are being attacked from all sides at the moment. It's nice to hear someone say something kind about us.
We kinda deserve it. But it’s up to the new generations to give people a reason to say a nice thing about Britain.
@@dmcd3895 Bull.. Fucking.. Shit.. WE did nothing to earn it. I will not saddled with sins of old, dead men whose actions were out of my control. You can shoulder that guilt on your own. I only take the blame that's due to me.
@@pirateman1144 I 100% agree. When I wrote this comment two months ago I held opinions I now look back on and cringe at.
@@pirateman1144 thank you for having sense..
As an Asian and, I feel the current government is the most racist and divisive, that I've experienced in this great country. A PM who calls black people piccaninies, Badenoch and Kwarteng seem to forget they're black and as for Priti patel, she's the brown face of racist policies, if she was a white woman, she would have been labelled a racist andost her job ages ago.
Well I noticed the bow tie first!
That is a nice bow tie.
Bow ties are cool
I expected him to say "hello there! Jolly good weather today, isn't it? I'll just have a sip of my Earl Grey and get started"
Lol it's a nice bow tie
I noticed he wears glasses first
Britain focuses more on class than race. In the county I live in, being white is the minority & my county isn’t the only one. As well as this, where exactly I live is FULL of people from all different parts of the world. The difference is, we’re all grouped together under one label of “working class benefits cheats” and looked down on/spoken to poorly cause of that. Me, a white British born girl, is seen in the same light as my neighbours, a Slavic man, a lesbian couple & an Indian man, because of where we live.
Classism is the big issue in the uk.
As a black woman,born and raised in Britain.Given the choice.The US,or the UK.The UK all the time.Britain has it's faults,and yes,it is also a racist country.But we are not fearful of the Police.I'm happy to call them,if needed.
We have free Health care,yes the money is taken from the taxes we pay from our wages.
We have a benifit system,to help those in need.(ln some case's,i do believe it is taken advantage off).
But over all,i feel safe,happy,and excepted.And people try to look out for each other,especially at this moment in time,with the pandemic.
I'm a fellow black man from the UK, and I agree with you. We have our issues of racism here in the UK, you know what I'm talking about, when those so said fools want to start calling us n****s, when they are ready. But I do think the USA is on a whole different scale when it comes to these things.
I'm Zambian and White.
@@TheAlmightyRedPillNation I think that the people who call you this racist word are offended by fate. Who are very unlucky in life.
@@DukeWilliam21 By the way, I also have a lot of blood mixed in.
@@Cerber.himera I Pure White
I’ve loved Alvin for years. His show on the BBC years ago helped me curb my reckless spending and set me on the road to solvency.
God, bless him. He saved my life. xxx
I loved his programme and watched it religiously. I was always really good at budgeting and still am, but I used to love seeing what a difference he made to people. So glad he helped you!
Alvin's programmes in the UK were really interesting and entertaining. He is very, very good at what he does. Aspects of recovery from Covid would be a useful topic for him to tackle.
The people in the comments saying he was treated better in the UK because he was american clearly have no concept of the attitudes british people have towards americans.
Im not saying I agree with these attitudes but I'm just saying british people have far more positive attitudes towards people of colour than to people with american accents
Very true, these people have no idea of our distaste for Americans and their ott patriotism.. I was thinking the comments were strange as I was reading through them
We British are quite reserved really. The stereotype of Americans is that they are the opposite. Nationality and culture is more important by far than race. In fact, in WW2, when British pub owners were asked to segregate between US troops, they chose to ban white americans rather than black americans, because the black americans "had better manners".
I work with an argentine, an italian and used to work with an American, he was actually a really humble guy.
lol no you fucking dont
You guys can't even tell the difference from a Canadian and American accent.
Well maybe some of y'all but most of the time, a Canuck would get confused with an American unless they're from Quebec.
Alvin Hall is a good and genuine person.
Alvin Hall's genuiness is written all over his face. A good human being.
"The spirit of liberty is so deeply ingrained in our constitution that a slave, the moment he lands in England, is free."
Sir William Blackstone 🇬🇧🇬🇧
"As soon as a person set foot on English soil, he or she becomes free."
Lord Henley 🇬🇧🇬🇧
"As soon as a negro comes to England he is free."
Judge Holt 🇬🇧🇬🇧
"The air of England is too pure for a slave to breathe, and so everyone who breathes it becomes free. Everyone who comes to this island is entitled to the protection of English law, whatever oppression he may have suffered and whatever may be the colour of his skin."
William Murray 🇬🇧🇬🇧
@The505Guys I agree.
@The505Guys yeah
@The505Guys Given that Blackstone had 8 children who all died before maturity I suspect he wouldn't care who they married.
The Henleys seem to be producers of male children.
Murray had no natural children but took care of his nephew and niece when their parents died. When his nephew brought his half-African daughter back Murray paid for her education.
Holt was something of a misogynist with no children,
To imply apoplexy at the thought of a daughter (or son/adopted son) marrying an African is profoundly racist and pushing your own prejudices on men 3 centuries dead.
@Adolf Hitler the vast majority of people's over the whole of history are never treated equally, just think about that for a bit.
@Adolf Hitler For someone with a profile name like that you have no right to speak on the subject.
Piss off and come back when you're willing to take things a bit more seriously.
I wonder if we will ever be able to have a comfortable, reasonable conversation about race without people discrediting others.
None of us has any idea what another person's experiences are like. Why is it preferable to attack what they say rather than listen? They dont understand your experiences either, should they attack you out of lack of empathy and ignorance?
i wish we could talk about race without calling entire nations racist
Very interesting perspective. Back in the early 80's I was at Uni and i got to know an American exchange student. I remember her asking if I knew someone who could give her a lift into town. I said yes, I have a friend ,Larry, who is going to town and i'm sure he'd be happy to give you a ride. Next day she came up to me and said 'wow, how cool that you didn't mention he is black'. I was stunned. It never crossed my mind to mention it....Larry was Larry and a friend.
W Girl L you
Here in the US race is “noticed”, obviously everyone notices race but i don’t know another way to explain it
I'm an American first.
And once more people stop referring to Black people(Non immigrant) as "African American" can we start to move on.
I live in america.im eritrean(horn africa)first.i dont care about people what they think on me.
Yes. Goes for other minorities too. When you're not white your American side is ALWAYS second. Like you're not a regular American, you're African American, Mexican American etc but white people are never called European American or Irish American, they're just American.
Most of Britain is of Irish, scandanavian, germanic ancestry but we don't say I'm Irish English, I'm Swedish English, I'm German Scottish. Your just American.
@@joannamonique707 people call me italian american all the time lol maybe because we are dark whites idk
@Dj O.B The horrible truth is that it goes back to slavery. When cargo holds full of people were being shipped to the States no-one cared enough to get their family trees so black Americans tend to have trouble tracing their ancestry past a certain point. African American is the catch-all term that spawned from that.
Black Brits have a much easier time tracing their ancestry to a specific country of origin because the vast majority are descended from immigrants, not slaves. There's no disconnect between them, their Britishness and their Afro-Caribbean ancestry. It all flows together.
As a mixed person living in a very white part of England, I can say that I fell very comfortable here. Not one problem. Also, in the UK in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s we had hardly any discriminative signs for black buses and white buses etc. In fact the British government invited the Caribbean to help rebuild the UK after the Second World War. I’m happy to be mixed and British! ❤️🙏🏼
The505Guys I am British. That’s a fact.
I'm more British than You
lol you're a clown
@@DukeWilliam21 so what does that mean mr piggy?
@@musicviews9328 What does means? Means I'm Native than you, mr/miss monkey
I'm a straight white American male from a small rural town, and I love this video and his message. Because I'm hearing about a person doing great things regardless of what others think.
@The Truth hurts In what way ?
@Hello Mate in what way any evidence?
Watched your programs and they’re great. We love eccentrics and bow tie immediately announce it, then you have great voice and accent and are so articulate, it’s all a winner in the UK.
I think one of the main difference with the UK and US is their histories with black people, in the 50's post-ww2 UK originally offered Carribeans, Indians and Pakistanis the opportunity for work because the economy was doing so well at the time. So a lot of black people know their family history and roots in the UK and have a sense of individuality over here.
However, in the US black people were brought over as slaves and were pretty much were dehumanised and treated as a commodity and probably a lot of black people today in the US would not be able to trace their family heritage.
Britain is so cultural marxist and post modern progressive globalist their police and politicians have overlooked, aided and abetted the culturally and religiously aggravated child gang rape enslavement of tens if not hundreds of thousands of their girl children by disgustingly sexist, racist and primitive cultures grotesquely overrepresented in these hideous crimes for the sake of political correctness. As an Asian brown man that could pass as middle eastern, I would take America's bluntness, mass shootings, and greater conservatism any day over the horrific shame that Brits have brought to the civilized world. A more disgusting and sudden fall from grace I've never seen.
Speaking of 50's, I think I saw some old American news calling them N word. Might be even 60s
That is an example how different it is.
Where do you think Black Caribbeans were originally from?.Did they not experience the trans atlantic slave trade either?.They were brought to the Caribbean from Africa just like AA's were brought to the U.S.The only difference is where the boat stopped.In fact slavery was going on for 200 yrs in the West Indies before AA's even stepped foot in the US.We've both lost our family heritage,cultures,original languages ects.Don't downplay our struggles just because you're not well studied in Caribbean history.
Nonsense britain invited people from British overseas territory’s At the time now (common wealth countries) to come and help re build
England after the war. Nothing to do with economy doing so well.
Sean I’m British and of mixed heritage and I don’t know my family history
As a white European living in Europe I never "experienced" race as something defining because obviously most people look like me so I wouldn't be confronted with that. I'm from an immigrant muslim family and that's what I defined myself as - because it was what made me different. Don't understand me wrongly - even if I tried to fit in society would exclude me for being different and having an exotic name and so on. The first time I experienced myself as "white" was when I visited the USA for the first time. ALL THE TIME people would talk about race. I was asked 10753 times "what" I was and how comes I'm a muslim... as if religion and race was the same thing... That there are expressions only white people use or don't use, that there is food only black people eat or streets where only black / white people live. Sometimes I would hear white Americans saying very bad things about black Americans when there were no black people there and I would get confused because to me they had all the same nationality and religion. I didn't like being put in that role because I couldn't identify as what Americans consider white (even being a white woman obviously). In Europe there are black people but they know where they're from and consider themselves immigrants or children of immigrants.
@Zenbun Katatakala By your logic, whites do not belong in Africa, but it sure didn't stop them coming.
I'm british. I dont put labels on people everyone is human no matter what race religion or culture they are in. we are all people dont forget that treat everyone with respect. And you will get respect back
We have been having a big problem in the states with a large group of people judging a person upon their skin color and not their character. I hope they realize the bigotedness of their actions soon and correct themselves.
I'm trying to get out of the United States. It's not easy. I am looking for other nations to go to.
me too . i hate it here. I'm also looking to move to the uk
Yander Dreams - there’s Canada, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, New Zealand, Brazil, etc, etc.
A lot of African-Americans are moving to Gambia and Ghana nowadays.
I’m a black male in the Uk and I want to move to North Carolina I heard it’s great over their for black folk. In the Uk you’ll be an even smaller minority.
@@francisa7567 The grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side.. I live in NC so take it from me, dispel such notions from your head!!
Jeez why are there so many dislikes? Because he's telling the truth about racial inequality in the U.S.
No I think it’s mostly because a lot of black British people feel like it is diminishing the struggle they face in the Uk
Could be Americans. They tend to be very defensive of their culture.
As someone who is black and lived in the UK for a long time honestly England is a structurally racist and classist country. I don't like these comparisons to America because both countries have serious social problems with racism being one of them and I don't like this grading of racism that many people like to do. Racism is terrible despite who does it and what forms it takes.
Man's as sound as a pound. He's not a victim. He's talking about patterns he has picked up upon, to the best of his understanding. Sometimes there's a bit of reading between the lines of making a blanket statement (he makes one or two). We all do it. Of course not all people from the USA have unfair prejudices spilling out left right and centre. But the patterns are there enough to pick up upon. And he's very far from a stupid man.
The prejudices too, are understandable. We do band together. We've been doing it ever since we lived in caves. It kept us alive and feel stronger. But there's too many people who look for what divides us rather than what unites us. Left, right and centre.
start out looking for someone who will treat you well and find this person. just have nothing to do with anyone who does not want anything to do with you.
@Tracy Daniels Hi Tracy, I can see where you are coming from and history backs up your statement. However I think the term Black Folk is unhelpful, I don't think you should group people. it is like saying White Folk as if we should all be judged by our worst examples. I was brought up by my parents to understand that there is no sex, class or race divide, just people. People can be nice or nasty and that is it. The rest is simply prejudice. Your statement is incorrect, I as a white person have never displayed contempt, disrespect not unhealthy intentions to anyone, my family adopted kids from many war torn countries, I have african and vietnamese aunties and my cousins are a big mix. One of my aunties is gay and so is one of my daughters. I have no need to study your true history, I have known it all along, as I know about the indigenous Americans, Indigenous Australians and all the other countries and cultures decimated by the west in the last couple of centuries.
Tracy Daniels the fact you refer to “your people” is exactly what causes the divide. What do you mean your people? Please tell me it’s not the colour of your skin. As I said people should be judged by their actions and intent, nothing else.
@@mjpleusch I completely agree with you I don't discriminate on any race. I'm black and my family is mixed with all types of other races and I hold them to my heart dearly. I have different races of friends and we all come together fine and some of my family are gay and I totally respect them I adore it and respect it. So I can totally see where you're coming from and I believe that we can of all races stop the judgement and get along for once because of those who indulge themselves in racism and division they're missing out not us.
My background - midwestern USA - white - age 40. All these facts, like race, do provide context. Time and region you grew up in informs your life experience, as will race.
I think 90% of what the man said is true. The US is full of racism, though I think today a lot of it is unintentional/subconscious. Some examples, and remember, racism goes both ways.
- Black people are told growing up that white people will judge them by their skin color, resent their presence, and negatively impact their lives.
- White people are told that black people are angry with them over past injustices.
There's SO much more in play, but even those two are enough. It doesn't even MATTER if they are true. Imagine I take you to a party, and I tell you "the people in blue uniforms are from a school that our school wronged in the past, so be careful around them, they're still quite upset about it, and on rare occasion turn violent". It instantly colors your view of any of those people, and even if you try to set it aside, will affect how you interact with them. It might be good advice, it might be a made up story, and it just won't matter. You will treat that person "differently" than you would a total stranger, even if to you that means "this is ridiculous, I'm going to be extra nice to that person to show them we don't need to feel badly toward each other". The other person might take your overly niceness as condescension.
Imagine this. What if I told you, again and again all your life, this simple statement: "People have done surveys, this is a verifiable fact. 40% of people with white skin will on some level dislike you for no reason that is your fault, and 5-10% of them will just flat out hate you. Be weary of that when interacting with them." (I'm making up the numbers, so don't fixate on that) All it will take is an occasional negative interaction with white skin people to make you get a GIANT chip on your shoulder about whether those white skin people are being fair to you. Imagine going through life with that, regardless of how often they actually meet true racists. It would be a reasonable reaction.
Honestly, I think the media tends to spotlight problems, and present them as "how it is" when really it is "how a small percentage of things go, while the bulk of interactions weren't worth reporting on". :) If you look at race relations in the US, outside the media, it's getting better and better year over year, though I admit we can score it that way because we set the bar so damn low in the past. ;) But there's no shame in admitting when things need improving. Humans are complicated things.
My God... you just explained the black/white racial dynamic in the USA clearer than anything I've heard in my life... I'm saving this as a quote, and I don't know how the fuck this isn't a top comment
I'm not from the U.S.A but I've lived all over the U.S.A....I currently live in Chicago and I've also lived in Milwaukee, Detroit, Indiana, and Minneapolis. Midwestern Americans are the most racist people I have met in all my travels. Much more racist than any other parts of America. Very friendly but extremely racist....a very layered, calculated, and subtle kind of midwestern racism....I never knew or understood what racism truly meant until I lived in the midwest....and to be honest with you, I never wish to deal with any midwest Americans again for the rest of my life once I leave Chicago. Americans on the coasts can be prejudice but I never detect full on racism from Coastal Americans. I honestly feel that midwesterners have mastered the art of fake friendliness, passive aggressiveness, smoke mirrors, and sophisticated forms of racism. Midwestern Americans are the worst ppl I've met on the face of this earth. You might be an exception but your fellow midwesterners are a disgrace to America. Even when a midwesterner smiles, you can see the evil in their eyes. So much evil and negativity with these people covered with fake smiles and wrapped with friendliness.....a certain hidden demonic nature about them that they try very well to hide....and I'm not talking about America as a whole. I'm specifically talking about Midwestern Americans of German/Scandinavian descent. My trust level for these specific type of Americans absolutely 0%.
@@ghanamafia7199 wow owow wow. I need to look in to this
@@virtualetude
Lol look into what?
Michael Gronowski - Such an insightful comment. I’ve even seen some of the things you’ve mentioned take place between white and black US Americans on the internet, so I can imagine it happening more frequently in real life.
Without the financial advice I saw on Alvin Hall's TV programs, I wouldn't be debt free now and well placed for retirement. So glad he came to the UK, it's America's loss that they couldn't see his potential.
Nice speech, this individual's ability to communicate and give an articulated, clear presentation is obvious. I simply can't understand this amount of dislikes. My belief is, if one honestly watches this video without too much bias and is equipped with a standard empathy system, it is difficult to miss that his relatively sober way of presenting his experience hides a significant amount of pain. Whatever your beliefs, honesty + sobriety + pain should not trigger a negative feedback, in a better world, even within the relatively anonymous environment of the RUclips comments. But again, that was the point of this video, right?
Who would dislike this video? Alvin is a treasure...we just don’t see enough of him! 💗
I've no idea who he is, but he comes across as an entitled narcissist and racist.
"I see myself as a black person first". There's your first problem. You aren't a black person, you're just a person. So long as you identify with your race and by your race, racism will continue. Because it's the foundation of racism. And guess what, black people do it far more than any other race, as polling shows.
"America didn't accept me because I wasn't wildly successful in an elite and rarefied profession"
No entitlement here. Both the US and the UK openly discriminate IN FAVOUR of black people, especially in media jobs. So he's talking the opposite of reality. You only need to watch US news, TV and adverts to see how over-represented black people are. Especially when you consider how much they underachieve educationally and economically, as a group.
I remember watching this guy on TV in my teens.
Always loved listening to him, even when if he was just talking about economics.
Outstanding communicator - nice to see him again.
Being black and gay is a double challenge, respect to this guy, still being successful after those challenges, real fighter.
I have had a chance to visit the U.K I was actually treated quite well. Yes I am African American.
Me too.
I would definitely like to experience the British Black culture one day. Being a Black woman in America can be depressing when dealing with Black men. The issues just keep growing and no solutions are being looked at.
The sithuation of black women in england or at least in europea is very complicated . As in the USA there is alot of colorism but here is more with mixed girls (so light skin with curly hair ) vs black women
@@karinunawaifuu8055 I think we experience that as well, but no matter the hue we deal with a lot of various abuses from the Black men here. It's sad and tiring.
Creative Designs - a lot of black women in western European countries (including England) date inter-ethnically/inter-racially as well.
@@creativedesigns4007 damn it's depressing dealing with us?damn sis. What's going on? Talk to me 😁
@@rahzikashiharris9539 There's the cheating, lying, lack of accountability and responsibility, chasing after white girls, which has been on the rise lately, not wanting to excel in education, narcissistic behaviors, and so forth and so on. Dealing with that shit and seeing other Black women going through it too gets exhausting.
Lotta ppl commenting and disliking here out of kneejerk emotional reactions.
Watch the video, hear what the guy has to say before reacting. Yes he opens up with "I'm black" but I dunno, MAYBE see where he's going with it before jumping to a conclusion?
Well done to the UK for being slightly less systematically racist as America!
Unless you are black then you absolutely can't fully understand what it's like being black in society. As an educated, working class black woman I understand and have been racially profiled throughout my life on job interviews, in stores, and while driving. I do not think that everyone I come in contact with that's of a different race is racist. But it is something one may tend to keep in the back of their mind as a result of the racial inequality in America that no on can deny. My prayer is that we as Gods people and his creation can love each other regardless of skin color and race.
K Ann this is what i don’t understand about Americans and their education system, how are you lower class and educated? Americas education is fake.
@@jimbo7042 um sorry I don't know if I missed read anything but I kinda take this offensive. As a black child of two hard working black parents that are both middle classed. I have a great education and half the things and music we listen to some other races listen to not just us black people listen to the outrageous music and I as a black person carry self respect and so do others black people weather they're female, male, black, white or of any other race. So before you portray what you may see other black people do or say whether it's on TV or in public. I advise you to do more research before you go off on how low class or self respect of black people so call don't have.
jim bo the things they watch? The things they listen too? The way they walk and talk? Come on bro these childish comments. These bullshit is ignorant. I can’t believe this came out of a grown ass human being. You must be a child or at least a troll cuz you can’t be that stupid.
May I ask you what do black America watch then?
A lot of black Americans have style, swagger and there’s nothing wrong with that. Carrying yourself with joy, confidence , happiness and rhythm. White people should try that too, the suicide rate, depression rate, drinking rate and school shooting rate will decrease amongst white people. White people could not last a day being treated like a black person. They will probably shoot up the town and shoot themselves in the head afterward. (Okay yes I would ignorant at this point but I had to make a joke I couldn’t resist)
Mikayla Mickel well said, queen!
So true racism is something we need to be aware of but not focus on.
Haters will hate, it’s what they do best.
Meanwhile, Alvin Hall’s programmes on personal finance have helped loads of working people out of serious problems and he does it with style, compassion and affection. Those traits are an anathema to the right wing trolls infesting social media.
Its not as simple as that and there are left-wing haters and trolls as well infesting social media and the media in general. Its unbelievable how self-righteous and intolerant people become at those who don't agree with their every thought but they always think they hold the moral high ground.
Alvin , thanks for posting on RUclips . It has given me the opportunity to thank you for all the financial advice I have heard from you over the the years on the BBC . .At a time when I really needed some sensible financial guidance you were there .
You’ve been very popular here in the UK for many years now. I think we’re a bit like the Aussies , we believe in giving everyone a “Fair go”. If you’re good enough you can make it, if you’re not ,then you don’t. Skin colour is not a factor, your worth as a person is what counts here.
This is very easily explained. The Brits have a deep sense of fair play and it’s not out of place to give someone a chance even as this chap said if that was a chance to fail. However, if you’re from the wrong social class it might be a bit different but not too much.
Honest conversation is never racist just closed minds who fit open conversation to use it to fit there agenda....
My man keeping the bow tie alive
Bow ties are cool.
I am from England and all I see is a fellow human being
you felt the need to type this, why?
Let’s be honest, in both countries, being black isn’t a nice experience. However, being black in the U.K. is wayyyyy easier than being black in America.
Literally the only reason for this is that we don't have the democrat party driving the wedge and using this to garner the votes of minorities.
いきすちそ - being black in the UK is fine/normal/comfortable/accepted, I don’t know where you get the “isn’t a nice experience” from.
Being black in countries like Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and France is perfectly fine, not all countries have the racial issues of the US.
Thank you for your insight. I have neighbors, one originally from Trinidad and the others from Nigeria and Ghana. All have families who had the experience of living in the U.S. and the U.K. They explained to me that Black people have much better opportunities in the U.K. than in the U.S. My god son has a young Nigeria friend who he went to school with. After they received their degrees, they went to work in a natiional bank. They worked in Sales together. When the bank started reducing hours and commissions, the young Nigerian quit and took another banking job in NYC. My god son stayed and tried to hang in there. The young Nigerian quickly became disappointed, even after he landed on Wall St. So what did he do? He went to visit family in London and stayed. He found a job in finance and has since cleared his first $million, in less tha 5 yrs. My god son, on the other hand, is now driving for Uber. I have heard many stories as this. I'm looking into taking a trip over there to see what I can see soon. The difference in opportunity is so obvious. Thank you again.
The UK is trying to make up for their lack of diversity in their white ethno state. 87% white the next largest group is 4%. UK has 67 million people total the US has close to 45 million blacks.
Grand Madame
How is any of that about racism?
There are laws in place that stop ANYONE from not giving you a job because you are black.
There are laws that give you a head start if you are black. (affirmative action)
So if any thing America is racist against whites and Asians.
Thank you for the questions. Racism is at the bottom of it all. Blacks in the U.K. may have experienced similar maltreatment to the Blacks in the U.S., but nothing as deliberately devastating as the experiences of U.S. Blacks. The U.K. abolished slavery in 1807. It did nothing to put in place other laws to prohibit the economic growth of its Blacks. The racism in the U.K. was lightweight compared to the U.S. For example, what's not in the history books was the ongoing attempts and proposed bills submitted to the Legislature to re-enslave Black civilians and captured Black Union soldiers after the Civil War, in 1863. The Lieber Code, created by Frances Lieber for Lincoln, prevented forced re-enslavement for many Blacks. The Lieber Code's main premise was for international wars and military law. There has been an undercurrent stream of policies and ordinances ever since to make sure that in spite of so-called legal protections, freed Blacks will not ever share the same opportunities as Whites in the U.S. England was never so fixated to keep Blacks economically devastated as in the U.S. In the late 1930s, Southern Dixicrat Barry Goldwater promised FDR the full backing of the Southern Dixiecrats, if with his New Deal, he could guarantee that no Blacks could surpass Whites economically with the new programs and initiatives. FDR agreed and became President of the U.S. While Whites had begun to prosper from the New Deal, Blacks faltered. As if that wasn't enough, the American apartheid system called Jim Crow was also in full effect. The purpose of Jim Crow was to make sure that Blacks could never grow economically. Jim Crow was a sinister and vicious legal system in place that lasted until 1965. Also in 1965, the last slaves were only freed by the death of their master in Alabama. But, the New Deal is still in effect to this day. In other words, American history shows that for 200 years or more there would be little to no opportunities for Blacks in the U.S. by law. Only those who have succeeded in this society, are the types of people who would be super successful wherever they would be. But, the general population would never be allowed to cultivate themselves to be able to compete for their share of the American pie. Now in the 1960s some folks finally figured it out and riots erupted across the nation. Then, comes affirmative action, the numbers game, to pacify the angry masses. The numbers game was played to allow a few to share in American opportunities, but not too many. The truth be told, not very many capable Blacks received the genuine opportunities because they usually lasted about six months. The positive action in the U.K., came about recently in 2010. Doors once closed just opened. To sum it up, the gentleman is absolutely correct in saying that he would not have the opportunities in the U.S. that he received in the U.K., because of the different histories, different laws, and inaccessible opportunities. And, don't forget the continuous legal attempts at re-enslaving Black people that's been going on for the last 200 years. I haven't even spoken of the attempts at genocide. But I hope to have given you some food for thought.
Grand Madame
Sorry for the late reply I got a migraine.
Nothing you said is about today and a lot I just dont believe like there being slaves in 1960's I mean really? Post proof please.
America has no laws keeping any body down if you do not go to school and work for good grades thats on you if you decide to be a criminal instead of working once again on you.
I did both but it did not take long for me to figure out that was a dead end so I got a job. I'm I a success? Only in I am a honest man now and every thing I have I worked for.
I for one feel really bad for people that can only see the past and not the present because how will you ever build a future?
Grand Madame Thank you. That was very insightful and leads me to a greater understanding of the situation
I think that’s one of the first times I’ve felt truly proud to be British.
Said like a true Brit. The haters focus on the negative mate. There's plenty to be proud of too. Focus on the positive stuff and use that positivity to affect the negative for the better :)
I am black.
I got BLACK HAIR.
And I am Belgian
As an American in 2020...I’d love to get the hell out of here.
Cool more room for immigrants and patriots 😎
Don't come to England. Move to Venezuela or China.
@@pneron2032 dont move to china
Alvin Hall is a brilliant, warm person and all round good egg. I wish that he was on the BBC more often as his advice is to the point. I would love to see him as Sir Alvin Hall. Thank you for the down load.
To be honest as an indonesian i rather to immigrate into UK than USA
?
There are several articles and studies that document the lack of Black (and other minorities) professionals in higher level positions in the workplace in the UK.
Not true, Indians and Chinese people are often in higher level positions in the workplace in England/the UK.
I am proud to be British and a veteran. Racism has never been part of my life. I've had close friends, colleagues and neighbours of different nationality, religion or colour. I know the UK has done wrongs and made mistakes in the past, but that doesn't change who I am and how I respect all others.
Hi Alvin, thank you for your great video. You are extremely articulate and seem like a wonderful person. I am truly sorry that this type of video even exists.I grew up in the UK in the 80s and tolerance was high, the 90s were not too bad either. It seems that the world is regressing now. Frankly it is astonishing that discrimination even exists in this day and age. Surely people are either good or bad. Why does race, sex, religion or anything else come into it??? I am glad you found the UK better but even there it is not good enough.
Could be worse... I was expecting “FIRST I’M A VEGAN”
I have lived in France for nearly 40 years. Half British, half German. Even after all these years, when asked why I have an accent, I always say UK. If I say German, depending on the age of the person I'm talking to, the tone changes from friendly to unfriendly. So I can understand how difficult it must be for an American black
We are lucky to have you here my friend
I used to watch this guy on TV. He always seemed warm and knew what he was talking about. That's why people like him I think. I would say though - you can't really take one example and say it proves anything. British people like different things to Americans. Different things are successful in each country. We have similar tastes but not the same.
I love Mr Alvin. He's a kind and wonderful communicator. We need to see him on television. I really enjoyed his programmes. It must be hard to be black in America.
I really noticed this working for a company in Georgia. The company had equality statements and equal opportunities for everyone, but the Christmas party came around and sure enough, all the black and Asian people sat on separate tables to the white people. I was the only Brit working for them, so I went to sit on the available space on one of the tables that was otherwise occupied by black people. I wasn't trying to make a statement to the white Americans, I was trying to break the mould for the black folks. Go and sit on one of the 'white' tables, it's OK, they are just people. You might make some of them feel uncomfortable at first, because they're not used to socialising with black people, but unless someone does it, they never will get the chance to learn and improve.
This video finally came out. I been waiting for this.
You're an exceptionally gifted communicator, Mr Hall. As clear a speaker, I have never heard.
One of the men I admire most is Thomas Sowell. I don't know how popular he is in America but I think if he were here in the UK he'd be extremely popular. His book on economics really opened my eyes. Very smart man.
Is it the same Thomas Sowell that wrote a Conflict of Vision. Brilliant book.
@@twatinahatsmith7428 I believe so although I've not read that. His book on economics was was game changer for me.
Your right, no one is obligated to “give” you anything. You have to play the game, and play it well. Only the strong survive.
If your black in America with the right skill set, you can make it. Not saying racist doesn’t exist, it does but it can be overcomed. Just being honest, learn to adapt your behaviors so you can build a life that does not depend on permission from anyone. The strong understand this, the weak doesn’t.
I think we as England are brushing aside the racism
UK is racist asf
I remember this gentleman appearing on British TV. He was awesome! Really helped me manage my money better. Great man 👌
In the UK they hate Pakistanies and Indians more as they are the biggest ethnic group there and in the US they hate blacks and Mexicans more as that’s the biggest ethnicity over there.however anti Islam sentiment is clearly on a huge spike in both and all over the western world after the Iraq war and the refugees from Syria.so yeah if you’re black in uk you will not get any problems but will suffer more in America and if you’re south Asian in uk you will get more problems than in us.and if you’re Arab in both you will get many problems.from what I have seen as a white man
You’re completely right.
There are as many reasons why Black people are treated differently in the UK to the US as there are hours in the day. All I can say is that in my particular family (I'm white) I was always brought up to think of them no differently to anyone else. I only really every remember one concrete conversation from my past on the subject, which happened to be with my grandad before he passed, when I was still a kid.
He explained to me once that the original wave of Black immigrants to the UK, from the Caribbean, were specifically INVITED to come to the UK, at our request, after the end of WW2. He explained how broken and in need of repair the country was after the war, and how we didn't have enough able-bodies men to do it ourselves without help at the time. The 'Windrush' generation, as these immigrants came to be known, were hard working, put up with a lot of initial suspicion and outright abuse, but essentially helped us rebuild our country.
My grandad became friends with a few from where he worked and he never had a bad word to say about them, and never tolerated anyone bad-mouthing them and I guess he passed that attitude down to his kids and on to me. In the end I guess it's like anything really - you treat people how you're taught to treat people.
British Here....Alvin has written some amazing finance books and he is amazingly clever, never understand why we waste talent and people with a gift because of Race, Religion or Sexuality. Miss seeing him on UK TV ........
These comments are so funny. I see a lot of people trying to justify stereotypes and assert "reason" why it's acceptable to be bias... And that's the issue
Bias is knowledge. If you see a group of hooded men in a dark alley, you don't go down. That is bias, and it's called being sensible.
the UK is the most open country towards race being racist is a big no no here in the UK . but obviously there are still some racists
@The505Guys ok The Uk is one of the most open countrys towards race it is one of if not the most racially and cultrually diverse country in the world.
@The505Guys if your point is that most people are unhappy about other races and are racist in secret why put so much effort and like if you live in the uk it is one of the most accepting countries and maybe not from your personal experience.
@The505Guys i never thought that at all
A (continental) European here, is it really fair to say though that America (as a whole) didn't treat him fairly, but Britain (as a whole) did?, I mean both countries are pretty diverse, and had he tried different places in the US and different in the UK, he might’ve ended up having the opposite opinion🤔
In the US it is common for terrorist attacks against minorities examples such as the buffalo nyc and el paso massacres when was the last time such an event happened In the UK? Yeah never, the us might be multicultural but that doesn't mean it isn't racist the us in fact is far more racist than the UK
Really glad you enjoyed your time here Alvin. Remember you trying to do a piece to camera surrounded by ostriches. Took about a dozen takes with the birds pecking at you. One of the funniest things I've ever seen!
The UK has been moving to the right since the days of Thatcher but being black or gay is not seen as a handicap. Sometimes it will actually open doors instead of closing them. When I lived in the US that wasn't the case. People of colour were seen as less than. Racism with a small r was normal.
I agree a 1000% I have been to quite a few countries and America (the country I was born in ) is very racist and other countries are more expecting.
Can I ask you what countries you’ve visited? I agree that the USA is especially racist to black people, other western countries (like France, the Netherlands, England, Norway, Portugal) are more accepting of black people.
Well atleast usa have a black president and have allot of famous black american celebrity and athletic.
I'm Black and gay as well. I'm glad you were able to find a good place in the UK. I wish I could move there myself.
don't bother hes talking out his arse. there is racism here too.
I really enjoyed this but why can't I look that good in a bow tie?
I love Alvin, my mum loved his show.
Thank you for this video. I needed this right now as a black gay man who recently experienced on the job discrimination.
his words hold a lot of wisdom, he said a lot there
It is so true what he said about adjusting yourself to the situation. You walk a little straighter, you hold your head up high, then like magic, they stop treating you like ****
2:50 as a Mexican American I agree with this so much.
I'm amazed at how being black is the topic of so many white conversations and comments.
We really are popular
this is the MAIN point!!!
You know.....haha...honestly people who criticize others' looks are just a bunch of insecure fools.
And the main topic of blacks is colourism, its all very bizarre how the colour of skin is such a conversation starter
Those who criticize other people are miserable with their own lives. That’s what I’ve learned.
all of my life as a black american, blacks endlessly find ways to talk about whites all the time. especially blaming them for everything that goes wrong in blacks'lives.
Both white and black Americans seem to be under so much pressure to avoid being misinterpreted, there's so much baggage - resentment of discrimination and reverse-discrimination, "racist" shaming, self-censorship and self-consciousness in conversation about race - that this a rare opportunity to listen to a person speak frankly about the issue of racism in America without sugarcoating it, having the benefit of being removed from the situation and having been able to experience first-hand and compare two different cultures and attitudes - and as such this opinion is valuable and should not be discarded lightly. No black person would publicly address white people saying, “You don’t consider yourself a racist, you’ve been drilled by society to act in non-discriminatory manner, but I can feel it from your gaze, voice and gesture - within you are not comfortable, and you’d rather not have to deal with me”. America has made great progress - it went from discrimination to over-compensation, to victim mentality, to self-consciousness about victim mentality - but it will still take generations to get past all of it before race would truly not matter anymore, and not just in proclamations and aspirations.
There is racism in every country to some degree, but if it is surprising to some that a country with a long history of slavery and recent history of discrimination is showing signs of prejudice to a greater extent than a country without such baggage, then this message is much needed, and kudos to Alvin Hall and Big Think for speaking up on this.
If you are triggered when he says, I define as black man first, you are missing the point. It’s not that he wants to be defined as a black man and push black agenda or something, it’s just that America has not reached that point yet when race is unimportant and personality and talents take precedence.
This is his perspective and experience. Good for him, one of the few and lucky ones. Not a great many can say that they have similar experiences.
I've loved Alvin for years!
Love Alvin Hall.... Calm , articulate sensibility.
To the norm in the UK it's about character than colour . Unless your rich then it's class .
If many more Americans were like Alvin, the whole world would love Americans.