The Powerful Return of Racism

[fraterachdae]

In the Sentinel interview, Young was asked about whether he was concerned Wal-Mart causes smaller, mom-and-pop stores to close

Comments

Agreed

[blueeyesblazing]

I agree wholeheartedly. the sub- culture of victimhood needs to stop. I think many black leaders are betraying the black community by urge it on, creating double standards. See, what happens when some one (or a large group of people) get in the mindset of being a victim, that person (people) become disempowered. Now, in cases of actual discrimination or when some one in the public eye spounts off with blatently racist remarks, that is the time sto stand up and gripe. Othwerwise, it's time to support yourself, your family and your community. Personally, I think the scariest thing for scumbags like the KKK would be if said leaders began preaching more responsibility and less victimhood. Racism is racism. There should be no double standards. Yes, white privalage exists. So does black privalge. Neither are right. And frankly, people who condition fallowers to think like opressed victims of a powerful nearly imovable conspiracy are doing much more harm than good. I go even further and suggest that a haldful of the most popular (and more

Re: Agreed

[idiotjesus]

Just curious, but what would you describe as black privilege?

Re: Agreed

[blueeyesblazing]

Good question. Wihout getting into affirmative action, there are some things that American culture allows black people to do but not others such as utter racist remarks or place whoop and hollor in restauronts. Ofcource, the black people I hang around with don't whoop and hollar in restaurants, and there arw white hillbillies who do the same thing, but I find that if a group of black people are doing it, people are lest apt to ask them to quiet down. I think it's becaue white people in particular are afraid of being called "racist". Yes, being racist is a backward way of thinking, and I don't want to be thought of as a racist, but so many of us get all flustered and scared of that little word. Let's face it, sometimes is fun to accuse white people of being racist just because of the raction. HAHA Okay, that's another topic, but it is.

Re: Agreed

[meridjet]

I have known, and known of, many, many blacks who honestly believe that blacks by default are incapable of racism because they are intrinsically victims of it. It may or may not be bogus but I read an interview with Ice-T once where he lost an enormous amount of my respect by stating that blacks could not be racists. A black referring to a racial injustice is always a victim doing it from a defensive standpoint. Spike Lee is the same way (based on my observation and the general rumor mill) and I frankly can't stand him

Re: Agreed

[fraterachdae]

I've been relatively privileged insofar as the non-white folks I've met have all been pretty open with me about the subject of race relations. I know that this is not the standard, considering the horror stories I've heard from many other well-meaning people of all races who have asked people of other races about certain issues; it usually turns into a fight because race, like religion, is an issue that makes me people defensive. I have to emphasize that it only makes us (people, inclusive) defensive because we've been conditioned to think that it's a sensitive issue. In reality, it ought not to be sensitive at all and should be opened-up for universal dialogue.

A friend of mine, for example, is of Taiwanese descent. Both of his parents are first-generation Americans who moved over-seas themselves in order to get educated and start a family. Most people will just think of him as Chinese, because he looks Chinese and his family speaks a dialect of Chinese (which Chinese language, however, I do not know; I'm not that culturally

Re: Agreed

[meridjet]

My friend Tracey is half Cherokee and this guy I'm really close to is half Chinese (I think you've met him lol) and they kid around about being half-breeds all the time. There are certain people with whom I can be relaxed with racial terms the same way there are certain women I can call "bitch" and they'll know I'm kidding. It does come down to a sense of humor.

However... I've also noticed that if I'm not very careful, using this terminology around others who share the ancestry and lack a sense of humor will take offense by proxy.

In the end unless I'm very certain of the company in which I find myself, I try to be respectful so as to avoid misunderstanding. Except for calling Meridjet a bastard. *grins*