Study: You may be more racist than you think

[WinniBug]

I don't understand how KSig RC can say that racially motivated jokes or name-calling aren't considered racist. Racially motivated remarks are racist, no matter what race they are from or against. I don't think anyone would be ok with my walking up to them on the street or in the mall and saying "Hey there, Count Chocula" or sneering when they walk by and making some comment about fried chicken and koolaid. Negative comments about another race, gender, sexuality, nationality, etc...shouldn't be tolerated, and I don't find them at all amusing.
I think it's just as bad that people can't comment on someone's race or skin tone without others automatically saying they're racist. There's nothing wrong with identifying somone by saying "The blonde over there" or "The boy with the red hair"...but as soon as someone says "The black girl with the blue coat," people just think, "Oh, you aren't supposed to say stuff like that." Why not?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by WinniBug

I don't understand how KSig RC can say that racially motivated jokes or name-calling aren't considered racist. Racially motivated remarks are racist, no matter what race they are from or against. I don't think anyone would be ok with my walking up to them on the street or in the mall and saying "Hey there, Count Chocula" or sneering when they walk by and making some comment about fried chicken and koolaid.

Well, let's try this via analogy . . . do misleading statements or actions constitute fraud?

Well, they could . . . or not. It depends on context, intent, injury, etc.

I'll start there - if that helps eliminate confusion, then we can talk about the rest.

Also - do people really need me to explain why being offended is not disempowering in and of itself? Really? How do you explain stand-up comedy?

[SWTXBelle]

The problem is different interpretations of the word "racist". If "racist" is used meaning anything which differentiates on the basis of race, that's one thing. If it means anything which an empowered group uses to demean or belittle an unempowered group on the basis of race, that's something more finely nuanced and obviously far different. Most of the "racial" disagreements I see here on GC seem to hinge on these two different designations. I'm not weighing in on it ("where angels fear to tread . . .") other than to point out that in order to discuss it you may wish to define your terms.

Just to be technical about it - here it is from Webster's - (I find it interesting that they only date it to 1933)


Main Entry: rac·ism Pronunciation: \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\ Function: noun Date: 1933 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
— rac·ist \-sist also -shist\ noun or adjective

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

No, sweetie. What you don't understand is what we're talking about.

Is it possible to communicate without being condescending and rude? I do understand what I am talking about. I am not stupid. It is WRONG to treat someone badly because of their skin color. ANY term that hurts someone has power. And again, I do not understand why anyone enjoys hurting another person.

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Now you know how I feel as a Black woman sucking it, up...

3 lefts may make a right, but two wrongs do not.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

3 lefts may make a right, but two wrongs do not.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but it sho does make it even...
~Sistah Soulijah.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

It is WRONG to treat someone badly because of their skin color. ANY term that hurts someone has power.

Which is what I said back on page three. We are not in disagreement here.

Is it possible to communicate without being condescending and rude?

Take a deep breath and calm down.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Which is what I said back on page three. We are not in disagreement here.


Take a deep breath and calm down.

Don't be condescending and we'll get along fine. Rudeness isn't going to inspire me to be particularly "sweet".

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Also - do people really need me to explain why being offended is not disempowering in and of itself? Really? How do you explain stand-up comedy?

Being offended is not disempowering in and of itself. That you are right... Ultimately, people choose to be what they want to be. I choose to be pissed off on General Principle right now. It is what I do afterward that makes a difference...

I think the disconnect, from a psychological standpoint only, is that when you are hit from all different sides. Like a very bad country music song. My dog left me, the light cut off, there's not heat, and etc. Then when you least expect it, some says some chit out of the clear blue sky that is solely based on race, and it makes your world worse...

Unfortunately, we are going to see racism as a construct becoming a psychological issue, i.e. what happened to you is all in your head you crazy idiot... Then when some ugliness happens like that seen of Bradley Schlozman who worked in the US Civil Rights Division, you wonder, was I all that crazy or idiotic at all?

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Two wrongs don't make a right, but it sho does make it even...
~Sistah Soulijah.

Excuse me for thinking "getting even" isn't a good attitude to have. Getting even never ends.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Excuse me for thinking "getting even" isn't a good attitude to have. Getting even never ends.

You are right. It is an absolutely FOUL attitude to have... Define "attitude" legally? Revenge is not about ending things... It is about leveling everything where no one can play...

Doesn't mean I actually have that attitude. LOL... Used, just to make a point. IMO.

Ask me what I think and feel, I will be happy to let you know...

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Well, let's try this via analogy . . . do misleading statements or actions constitute fraud?

Well, they could . . . or not. It depends on context, intent, injury, etc.

I'll start there - if that helps eliminate confusion, then we can talk about the rest.

Also - do people really need me to explain why being offended is not disempowering in and of itself? Really? How do you explain stand-up comedy?

This is so clear and concise that nothing else needs to be said.

But I will add that "intent" is not a necessary condition in racism and racial and ethnic discrimination.

[SWTXBelle]

I still think the thread took a dive when different meanings of the word "racist" were being used. Define your terms, and then it is much easier to debate the topic. Otherwise, you are talking apples and oranges, logic goes out the window, and it becomes all about the individuals posting rather than the topic. Same thing happens on GC with some regularity with the use of the word "multi-cultural". It can mean different things to different people, so it's important that everyone at least agree on the meaning enough so the discussion can transcend arguments about definition. It doesn't have to be Webster's, although that can be a good place to start.

[DaemonSeid]

No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.

Frederick Douglass
Speech at Civil Rights Mass Meeting, Washington, D.C.

[DrPhil]

"Opinions" have been a theme on GC lately.

Strong opinions are always appropriate.

This doesn't mean that everyone automatically knows what they are talking about. These kinds of topics are widely debated by theorists, researchers, and laypersons alike. The former two simply have a different foundation for their arguments instead of everyone having to hear about "my racist uncle is an uneducated bigot." Taking an historical and contemporary approach to racism and discrimination provides insight into why the longstanding structure of racism is considered to be more than "mean words that hurt feelings." Webster can't tell us all of that because it is designed for the layperson who won't read much beyond that dictionary entry.

Moreover, people have different ways of arriving at similar conclusions. I don't agree with some of AKA Monet's statements in this thread, but she admits that much of this is outside of her field of expertise. And we seem to agree on the outcome.

[agzg]

Hmmm... You're right. It's alright to have an opinion. I guess I'm speaking strong opinions in the sense of "OMG, NO I'M RIGHT, IT'S MY OPINION, DON'T FORCE YOUR OPINION ON ME."

You know, in general, just inflammatory posts, accusing people of believing this that and the other and and OMG how DARE you push your OPINION on me. Especially when the end of every opinion is the same, which would be that "racism is bad."

And, strong opinions that are so strong that you have a general inability to see the other side's point.

Sometimes those are OK. Political stuff, at least it's more appropriate than here. Racially charged issues, and I suppose this is my strong opinion, are not the threads where a white girl should jump in and say how mean someone is for calling her a cracker.