That is precisely what I'm saying.. You can't claim a faction is "racist" then ignore than said faction allows the supposed race they hate to own business and be above the pecking order of Nords.
They're solely focused Nords, and you have those who are against all outsiders. I'm not claiming an entire faction is racist down to each and every person, and it has nothing to do with allowing who owns a business. I never said Ulfric and those of his men will completely align, Ulfric's soldiers have no authority to close your business.
The "Stormcloaks" are together in their support of Ulfric for High King, but the rest of their ideologies/reasons for fighting are different.
That is what is being insinuated. Once again you can't ignore the obvious examples that discredit the racism claim simply as individual cases that don't tie into the Stormcloak's at all whilst citing individual cases as to why the Stormcloaks are racist..
This isn't individual cases, there is a large percentage of those who feel this way and that outsiders should be removed. It isn't a feeling unique to the Stormcloaks as majority of the Old Holds have been this way for centuries, but most of the Stormcloaks are recruited from them. Ulfric's cause rides on the shoulders of these people.
I don't care about the Stormcloaks being racist, it isn't that hard to see they're focused on Nords and frankly do not care about other races.
If the Stormcloaks were racist, that is in fact exactly what would happen. The fact that it isn't happening only goes to further my point that they aren't racist.
Why? There are plenty of racists in Tamriel who don't go to complete extremes. You can dislike, distrust and not go into someone's shop, but it is up to the Jarls to close them all down. There are Dunmer in Windhelm who hate Nords, and are racist in the exact same way the Ulfric's supporters of Windhelm are, yet you use them as an example in the past. You can't have it both ways, and there is hatred on both sides.
You're expecting the Jarls to be carbon copies of their supporters.
People can avoid those shops, such as the case in Whiterun where two businesses are suffering. Expecting the Stormcloak aligned Holds to issue a decree banning all non-Nords this early in the war is a stretch.
You can hate Orcs, doesn't mean you hate Dunmer. You're trying to group everyone into actual "Man/Mer" rather than what we're being shown. A Nord can absolutely hate Imperials, doesn't mean he'll hate Bretons.
You're looking for blanket racism, when this is more specific. The people of Windhelm have more interaction with the Dunmer, and there are those who would view a large ethnic group living in a run down slum with disdain.
Taken by the dialogue of NPC's, most of them do not work at all and do nothing but sit in the New Gnisis Cornerclub.
Which dialogue? The only dialogue mentioning the Cornerclub is the fact it isn't called an Inn or Tavern. All of the Dunmer work, even the ones who hate the Nords.
Those same Argonians are drug addicted thieves. There's no problem with Argonians in Riften, which again, proves Stormcloaks are NOT racist.
They don't know that, and they're not all skooma addicts.
What happens in Ulfric's city, doesn't mean it must happen in every other city. Riften is supporting Ulfric's bid for High King, it does not mean they must now banish their resident Argonians.
Although, if we want to get deeper...
Svana:
"Madesi, why don't you just take a bed here? There's no need to sleep in Beggar's Row."
Madesi:
"The cold stone, the dampness... it suits me, Svana."
Svana:
"Are you sure that's the real reason? It wouldn't have anything to do with others making an Argonian unwelcome, because if it is..."
Madesi:
"You have a kind heart; much too kind for Riften. Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine."
It is besides the point though, you were arguing the Holds are independent and merely fealty and now expect them all the be the exact same. Ulfric isn't King yet.
But the Jarls of these holds see Ulfric as High King and do not recognise Imperial authority. Thus making Imperial laws irrelevant.
No they don't, they believe Ulfric should be High King. Not once do they call Ulfric king, and any who speak about Ulfric say they want him on the throne of Skyrim. The Moot has not met, and Ulfric has not claimed any title.
Not to the Empire. Do bandits in Eastmarch make Ulfric irrelevant?
They do, but she also says the current way the Empire is handling the rebellion is merely strengthening their resolve and giving them more supporters. Tullius says he understands, but is under orders from the Capital.
You'll need to find me that one.
They weren't forced to surrender. Skyrim joined before any real defence was even thought about, simply because of Talos. Even if he did play on his Nord heritage, HE was the reason many Nords refused to fight against him but rather fought for him. Nords wouldn't just surrender.
No he wasn't, the nobility feared him. After Sancre Tor and he won over a nordic army, others would flock to his banner due to promises of wealth and glory. He forced their surrender, they didn't just join him without bloodshed.
Why wouldn't Nords surrender? I get you like Nords, but they're not mindless brutes with every single one being "death or glory".
The numerous dialogue options that show nothing but contempt for Nords and their culture.
Such as Tullius not knowing Sovngarde? Imperials aren't really about race, considering how secular and diverse the Empire is. Though technically speaking "Imperial" refers to anyone who is a citizen of the Empire. You do get bigots in every race, but a race isn't a faction and you seem to keep viewing the Stormcloaks as the Nords.
Nords have often been viewed with great respect by the Imperials. Skyrim and Cyrodiil are like an old married couple, have their moments.
The Dunmer are the only ones to blame for the mess they are in, they were told specifically to govern themselves. Which goes back to my point if they want Ulfric to fix the mess they made, they should help him with his war.
They weren't told to govern themselves, that quote is first seen in the TES novels. It refers only to Solstheim. That has nothing at all to do with Windhelm, and if you think any Jarl in their right mind would make a
third of their city independent...
"Untithed to any thane or hold, and self-governed, with free worship, with no compensation to Skyrim or the Empire except as writ in the Armistice of old wheresoever those might still apply, and henceforth let no Man or Mer say that the Sons and Daughters of Kyne are without mercy or honor." -Skyrim's Offer of Solstheim to Morrowind, 4E 16