My grandfather was always racist. I remember he always had some kind of remark about black people.
Thankfully I don't remember the details. But this story is how he became not so racist.

He had to have a triple bypass heart surgery after a massive heart attack. His surgeon was black, and he caused a huge sensation by vowing he'd die before a nigger was allowed to perform heart surgery on him. My grandfather's physician told him he would do it rather than fight him any longer. The last thing my grandfather saw before falling asleep was the black surgeon looking over him.

When he awoke later, all his racism was gone and he was laughing, kind of, at the trickery. He couldn't thank the surgeon enough and they were almost inseparable until he left the hospital. They stayed in contact until my grandfather died in 2001.
(CactusZack Shaved his coin purse on, Sun 30 Oct 2011, 22:52, 7 replies)

I choose to visualise your grandfather as a rather blustery, impeccably groomed old chap with a moustache and a bowler. see also; Monocle.
Declaring: "I say, old chap! It's bloody marvellous waht they can train these darkies to do when they try hard enough. Why, many years ago one saved my life. Some of them are demmed near human!"

in this scenario I have just made a sweeping & unfairly generalised judgment on a hopelessly outdated stereotypical Englishman.

Does that make it racist? Am I a horrid Brit-hating racist bully? ( yes ) Because, a lot of supposedly 'racist' remarks being flounced at this week are merely outdated stereotypes. Fact.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Mon 31 Oct 2011, 1:35, closed)

Pretty sure he'd have been American
Isn't racism largely a manifestation of stereotyping though? Perhaps I'm missing your point...
(evil_edna, Mon 31 Oct 2011, 3:42, closed)

Oh, so now I HAVE to have a point?
don't you try to impose your values on me.
fuck off with your bigotry.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Mon 31 Oct 2011, 3:57, closed)

He was very American. From Illinois.
Was always impeccably dressed, but not well mannered. His usual demeanor was gruff and mean. After his surgery, black people were just as good as white to him, and longer subhuman like the French and the Japanese.
(CactusZack Shaved his coin purse on, Mon 31 Oct 2011, 4:29, closed)

ALL black people were just as good as white?
Or just that cheeky young monkey who won his trust?
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Mon 31 Oct 2011, 4:38, closed)

I applaud anyone who changes their attitude.
Good on your Grandad for realising he was wrong and making amends. It is positive to see something you have had a fear of all your life to be lifted like the giant weight it is. Nice to know that he kicked on being a better man than when he started. We can all only hope for that.
(boozehound is drinking your bar dry, Mon 31 Oct 2011, 5:52, closed)

Racism could be wiped out in a heartbeat,
if every black person could save the life of a cantankerous white person. Obviously, black people are just too lazy.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Mon 31 Oct 2011, 8:32, closed)