My unpopular (possibly popular opinion): NYC is more racist than people admit - it just looks different.

NYC loves to market itself as one of the most diverse and inclusive places in the world. After spending time here and working here for 10+ years, I've come away with a different impression and I think it's also important for me to spread the actual truth especially to transplants moving here from the Midwest, South or other parts of the country that aren't exactly diverse.

My experience has been that people are generally polite and chill, but socially, a lot of them still stick to their own. I've seen it at work, at bars, in dating, and in friend groups. White people mostly hanging out with white people, Asian people with Asians, Black people with Blacks, and so on. Everyone coexists, but that doesn't always translate into meaningful integration. This city is not a melting pot, more like a buffet. I wish people can stop making that incorrect claim.

As an Indian-American, I've had moments where I felt like there were invisible social barriers. Nothing that would make headlines or get someone called out, but enough that it's changed how I view the city. To me, it feels less like racism has disappeared and more like it's become subtler and easier to ignore. I've even had multiple people who were Black comment in other threads saying they felt NYC felt racist. I don't blame them.

Just to very clear, I'm not talking about someone yelling a slur on the subway. I'm talking about subtle things like who gets included, who gets approached, who gets invited out, who people naturally gravitate toward. Those things add up.

I'm also not saying every New Yorker is racist or that every friend group looks like this. But I do think there's a tendency for people to pat themselves on the back because the city is diverse, while ignoring the fact that many people still self-segregate socially.