Cagots - "Untouchables" of South-Western Europe

**Lucas** · 06-26-2017, 01:05 PM

In Japan there are also such people called Eta or Burakumin. They are still unofficially persecuted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burakumin

When I was in language school in Paris many years ago. I met girl from Japan who belongss to them. She was quite darkskinned for a Japanese average. Rather similar to Indonesian in this respect. She told me other Japanese at this school ignore her...

**Dandelion** · 06-26-2017, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by mlukas

In Japan there are also such people called Eta or Burakumin. They are still unofficially persecuted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burakumin

When I was in language school in Paris many years ago. I met girl from Japan who belongss to them. She was quite darkskinned for a Japanese average. Rather similar to Indonesian in this respect. She told me other Japanese at this school ignore her...

Someone who talks about her background. The Burakumin is virtually untalked about, especially to outsiders. That was one privilege you had. Sad they still get shunned just because of the profession of their ancestors.

**Lucas** · 06-26-2017, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Danielion

Someone who talks about her background. The Burakumin is virtually untalked about, especially to outsiders. That was one privilege you had. Sad they still get shunned just because of the profession of their ancestors.

She was intellignet and friendly. As I remember she told me other Japanese recognized them by look instantly.

**Colonel Frank Grimes** · 06-26-2017, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Benacer

It sure is quite interesting, but the woman seems a bit overly dramatic about it, it's not like people are actively persecuting her because of her ancestry. I also don't buy into the whole swarthy thing, that seems like some confirmation bias, it's very doubtful some distant past relatives from centuries before would make such a difference on her phenotype.

This may be a bit far-fetched, but since they popped into existence in the 13th century and were mostly located in southwestern France, could it be they were related to Cathars or survivors of the Albigensian Crusade? I know it's not the exact same location, but it's close enough.

I had the same suspicion that they may be a group of people who were associated with Catharism and as time went by the original reason for the distrust was forgotten but the prejudice remained.