Forced to choose between being black or ________.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Isn't that the truth? Sometimes, it's the people who should be supporting you the most that try their hardest to tear you down.

That is life and there's nothing unique about blacks in that regard. Every group of people has the tendency to do that to "their own."

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by ms_gwyn
Everything that has lead me to this point in my life have been based on who I am and not the color of my skin, which is a part of me, but not the whole that makes me....me.

If you think so.

I find that minorities always feel the need to provide this disclaimer as if it makes them distinct and more acceptable to mainstream society.

That is a subconscious part of your being black and living in a racialized society. You feel the need to justify and rationalize.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Jill1228
It was mainly the "skrait ig'nunt" remarks I have dealt with. ("skrait ig'nunt"...I like that!)

If I had a dollar for how many times my "so called" blackness has been questioned.

There is certainly no need to question your blackness now. You have proven it by incorporating "skrait ig'nunt" into a sentence.

Your lifetime black person membership has been activated.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by laidbackfella
Indeed.

People honestly WANT to learn about differences.

Society has conditioned some not to ask.

And others to respond poorly when asked what sometimes truly is a simple question.

Thinking back on all the times I've heard about Black people getting upset when a White person asks why we need a month for Black History.

To address something you typed earler:
The problem is that many people do not know how to balance being black with having an appreciation for different cultures and activities.

Being a diverse person is not a problem, but being a diverse person who makes an effort to say "I'm not like the rest" is a problem.

To address the post I'm quoting:

I have attended 3 PWIs and have had sincere and thoughtful race discussions with only a handful of whites who weren't just attempting to reinforce their privilege. As an undergrad, I received hateful emails from people who, instead of asking questions, wanted to dismiss the validity of anything that paid respect to minorities' contributions to this society. Why do we have Black History Month? Well, why do certain groups of people feel the need to question it? Do these same people question why the contributions of minorities aren't mentioned in most of the standard history books? Some do but most do not.

I am open to questions and comments but I have a radar for bullshit and "privilege speech."

[ms_gwyn]

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS
If you think so.

I find that minorities always feel the need to provide this disclaimer as if it makes them distinct and more acceptable to mainstream society.

That is a subconscious part of your being black and living in a racialized society. You feel the need to justify and rationalize.

I really appreciate your comments, it makes me think more about what I wrote…I could give a flying fig is I am accepted into mainstream society, the best analogy that I can come up with is something I took from my life in high school…I never hung out with a core group of people, I went from group, to group, to group, and my thinking was…ok you're cool now, I'll hang out with you, and I did that repeatedly with my friends, they understood this and thought….ok that is just gwyn….I have never in my life (at least that I can recall) done something that would make me acceptable to the main stream, in fact I can recall a few events where I went against the mainstream and I came out fine. To be a little more specific….most of my friends don't like the same music that I listen to, most if not all of my friends don't like alternative reality gaming, most of my friends don't like sci-fi/fantasy, I do, a lot of my friends don't understand why I am greek (becoming again greek through AI)…..these are the things that make me, me and I hang out with that group, until I have something planned with the next group. I don't change who I am to accommodate that group, I guess the best way to put it is that, the only thing that changes is the subject matter? and when the groups come together, they are all find common group and enjoy themselves and I am the same person.

I understand that most of the mainstream will define me by my skin color…but that does not stop anything that I choose to do

The only people who I expect to accept me is my family and I am 100% that they do.

we as human beings love to label and then give an explanation…THAT is not a black thing

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by ms_gwyn
we as human beings love to label and then give an explanation…THAT is not a black thing

Actually, the human tendency to label and explain is overshadowed by the fact that in THIS racialized society minorities are the ones who tend to justify and rationalize.

Whites do not think about race the same as most minorities do. Whites really do not have to. Over the years, social scientists have studied "whiteness" because it has been labeled mainstream and is therefore "invisible." Not because people don't pay attention to whites or give whites power, but because being white is not something discussed. It is a given.

In general, whites certainly do not have to reaffirm that they are people beyond their race and that their race is not the center of their existences and decisions (although it is...subconciously). Minorities are the ones assumed to be consumed by the issue of race and the significance of our own races. Just like women are the ones who are assumed to be consumed with the issue of gender. Men just "live their lives and do what men do because gender doesn't matter."

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974

And don't let me not mention the fact that my finace is white....... LOL

I heard Vince Vaughn once said, "The whiter the berry, the sweeter the juice." Now I'm not asking you to just let everyone know how great white guys are, because I know everyone would be really upset, but is it true?

-Rudey

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by Rudey
I heard Vince Vaughn once said, "The whiter the berry, the sweeter the juice." Now I'm not asking you to just let everyone know how great white guys are, because I know everyone would be really upset, but is it true?

-Rudey

Hmmmm, in my experience a berry that is white is not ripened and therefore quite sour.

[laidbackfella]

I feel you 100% on all of the prior.

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS
To address the post I'm quoting:

I have attended 3 PWIs and have had sincere and thoughtful race discussions with only a handful of whites who weren't just attempting to reinforce their privilege. As an undergrad, I received hateful emails from people who, instead of asking questions, wanted to dismiss the validity of anything that paid respect to minorities' contributions to this society. Why do we have Black History Month? Well, why do certain groups of people feel the need to question it? Do these same people question why the contributions of minorities aren't mentioned in most of the standard history books? Some do but most do not.

I am open to questions and comments but I have a radar for bullshit and "privilege speech."

You've explained what I was going to follow up with as far as privilege with regard to that statement.

Privilege, and some people's lack of an awareness of what privilege is, causes barriers in conversation because those who've benefited from it rarely take the time to understand, or even acknowledge, the other side of the conversation.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Rudey
I heard Vince Vaughn once said, "The whiter the berry, the sweeter the juice." Now I'm not asking you to just let everyone know how great white guys are, because I know everyone would be really upset, but is it true?

-Rudey

*putting egalitarian-love hat on*

A good man is a good man.

*taking hat off*

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by ladygreek
Hmmmm, in my experience a berry that is white is not ripened and therefore quite sour.

LOL!!!

[sigtau305]

Originally posted by laidbackfella


Privilege, and some people's lack of an awareness of what privilege is, causes barriers in conversation because those who've benefited from it rarely take the time to understand, or even acknowledge, the other side of the conversation.

good point.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by laidbackfella
I feel you 100% on all of the prior.



You've explained what I was going to follow up with as far as privilege with regard to that statement.

Privilege, and some people's lack of an awareness of what privilege is, causes barriers in conversation because those who've benefited from it rarely take the time to understand, or even acknowledge, the other side of the conversation.

Everyone should take the time to understand and/or acknowledge the other side of the conversation. I know I do that, which is how I can articulate how and why I disagree with people.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS
No.

But, it is interesting that the person quoted DuBois' writings on dual identity and said that he/she does not catch the most flack from NPCers. I wish that Black NPCer had quoted Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man."

Is there a particular passage you had in mind? 'Cause I have it here on my bookshelf, and though I've read it, nothing comes to mind that was germane to my particular take on the situation at hand.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS
Canada isn't that liberal. Many Canadians are quite conservative when you hear their views beyond universal healthcare and education.

I never said it was "that liberal". I simply said that liberal isn't a dirty word here, unless you're a member of the Progressive Conservative Party or the Bloc Quebecois, or you're an Albertan.