I believe that many people in US are just pyromaniac firefighters that start fired to play hero extinguishing it. Racism is just one of the fires.

In my country (Eastern Europe) racism is approximately non-existent, but nobody was putting gas on fire for decades or more. I know a black guy that is quite famous around here, do you know what he never said? "I am a proud black person". He is a great person and people love him.

Ever heard of the Bosnian war? Many in eastern europe hate gypsies too. Maybe they don't discriminate on the color of skin specifically all, but they definitely hate based on culture.

I was in Sarajevo during those times for a couple of days, so I remember. Also in Pristina. Yes, many people in Eastern Europe used to dislike gypsies, when I was a kid it was widespread, but I never heard anything about this in the past 10 years. This fire is out, probably on a permanent basis.

Which part of Eastern Europe? I’ve lived in various parts of what might be considered Eastern Europe for most of my life, and while there isn’t a hyper-focus on race like in the US, I know that racism still exists. I still see it first hand.

I worked in the Balkans with a team that covered 9 countries (except Greece), I was doing trips all over the place on a weekly basis for several years. Currently living in Romania.

Can you provide some examples of racism? I am aware of some against Gypsies 40-50 years ago, but it is gone these days. Even that, it was against the culture, not the people, Gypsies going "modern way" were fully accepted, but traditions like kid marriage or living a nomadic life in carriages was not.

In this case I’m talking about overt, vocal racism against black and brown people in Poland and Ukraine where I have lived for several years.

That isn’t to say that I think central or Eastern Europe are outliers — I have personally witnessed at least as much racism in countries considered to be more progressive, like Sweden.

The point is, to say it’s virtually nonexistent is plainly untrue.

2 things: 1. Just because you're not confronted with racism daily doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Boston is considered one of the most racist cities in the US, because once per sports game they scream the n-word at a black person. I'm like 99% certain I've heard similar stories in European countries.

2. The second part of your analogy is the "I know a black guy" trope that happens in the US. It's a pretty common thing, and no one believes people are 'not racist' just because they 'know a black guy'.

How were the Jews treated in your country in oh, say the late 1930s?

Terribly. I know from my grandparents and their Jew friends (40% of their small town were Jews), most did not survive (<5% after war), I met one in the '80.

How are they treated now? Asking my past 2 managers, both Jews, Israeli citizens doing business in Eastern Europe, they are happy with the current times. This fire is also put out.