[Marie]

Originally posted by ASUADPi
Not everything in the world is about race, but when people start to bring the race card into the picture, it suddenly becomes this huge issue.

- My Response: Here's what I do not understand. Why is everyone so afraid to admit that race exists and plays a factor into one's perceptions. That admission does not make you a racist. It isn't unreasonable to think that someone might identify more with someone who resembles them or shares a similar culture or background as them. Just look at the Top Model and Making the Band threads. Before winners were selected on either show there were clear preferences in the various threads. Just as most of the black folks on GC favored the black contestants, most of the white folks on GC favored the white contestants. This does not make everyone racist. This is just says that people tend to identify with/see beauty in/root for those that are similar to themselves. THAT'S ALL, and THAT'S OK! What I think is very feasible is that the decision makers on ANTM, many of which are white (esp. on the Cover Girl and Ford side), may identify with Brittany. They may also feel that there audience will feel the same way. I don't doubt that in this sense race did play some factor in the decision. This doesn't mean that they are racist, so there is no need to bury our heads in the sand and pretend like the choice was made blindfolded or even just off of performance (b/c Brittany had her fair share of weeks where she was strugging - and not so many weeks where she was the shinning star).

What I think does disturb some African Americans is that b/c so many decisions are subjective and are made based upon how well you can relate to a person, then more often than not African Americans (and other minorities) get the short end of the stick. This is not just in film or the media, but also when applying for jobs, promotions, entrance in Law school or even in enforcement of criminal laws. It is because of this subjectiveness that many minorities fight for legislaton to correct this disparity, as you posted below. Everyone seems to focus on the 'theory' that someone less qualified than you may be selected over you. However as you are arguing your side, then please at least be honest enough to admit that in many many situations these laws actually come into play not in situations where there is a greater or lesser candidate, but when there are 2 equal candidates of different races and the determining factors are purely subjective (who woud be the greater asset? who has greater potential? who can i just 'see' here? who can i identify with? who reminds me more of my favorite niece or nephew?) No, I don't think that we need affirmative action for ANTM, but I wanted to address some of the anger at the outcome as well as the bottom portion of this post. Also, I do think that many of the comments on BOTH forums were ignorant and unnecessary.

On a side note: I think its this fear of acknowledging race or being labeled a racist that prevents us from seriously being able to discuss race relations in this country. The term race card is fairly condesending and implies that one is not bring forth a legitimate issue/complaint, but rather looking to take advantage of the situation. Until we are able to handle the issues discussed with the respect and consideration that they deserve (rather than immediatedly dismissing them as just another black person looking to get ahead by leveraging their blackness) then many of these issues will never be solved. Sometimes I wish that we could just have a nation-wide study (perhaps a Lunch n Learn) of the serious effects of several hundred years of slavery, the rape of the black woman, the emasculation of the black man, the destruction of the black family, and over 100 years of continued discrimination. These things have affected the way that the African American community as well as the African American self-image and self-worth have been shaped and exist today. Then maybe we could think twice b4 we dismiss someone as 'playing the race card'.

Marie - End My Response

And if we wanna pull the race card, how about the fact that some of the Law Schools applications I've received actually tell me that they will use "race" (especially people who are of Hispanic descent) as a "factor" in determing acceptance. So in reality someone with a worse gpa and LSAT score could beat me into law school because their Hispanic (or a minority). (And yes this actually was stated in a law school application, it was from a school in Texas, SMU I believe. I was actually shocked when I read it. IMPO, law school's shouldn't be using race as a determining factor in admissions or not. They should be strictly looking at gpa, lsat scores, letters of rec and personal statement).

Sorry for the mini hijack but if we are going to be arguing about the 'race card'. We should be questioning it over things such as acceptance into grad school and whatnot, not over the outcome of a tv show.


And remember that Nik had a 50/50 chance of winning. If it really was all about race Bre and Nik would have never made it to the final 3. We still would have seen Kim and Jayla. I personally believe that Nik had as good of a chance of winning as Nicole did. And not knowing the actual debate the judges had, it is hard for anyone to pinpoint exactly why they chose Nicole. I think either one would have made a great ANTM. In the end, I honestly think it came more down to personality. I say this because, Niama doesn't really have one, and Nik's really didn't shine through, not like Nicole's did at times. But again, not being a judge, it is hard to even hazard a guess, but I seriously doubt race was an issue.


Feel free to disagree with me Just my opinion.