The OFFICIAL Anti-Racism Thread

[librasoul22]

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
Did anyone see Chapelle's show where he dressed up like a white new anchor, or on SNL where Tracy Morgan dressed up like a white guy for "Joe Caucasion" making fun of Joe Millioniarre. I'm kind of bothered by that. If wearing black face is considered wrong, then white face should be too. I know black face was wrong, but two wrongs don't make a right.

The difference is that blacks never used whiteface in minstrels to belittle and further oppress white people. There is no sordid history of white face. I am not saying it is right, only telling you the difference.

xo_cathy, while I agree with your comment about better understanding others, I was trying to get you to understand the dynamics of Affirmative Action. You said yourself it is impossible to know whether or not your boyfriend made it into his university because of his race, so why comment on it? And even if he did, we could also assume that you made it into your university based on your sex. Is that okay?

I am not trying to pick a fight, I am just trying to show another perspective on the issue of Affirmative Action.

[FuzzieAlum]

No, Liz, don't worry, I wasn't thinking of you. More of what VirtuousErudite is talking about.

[xo_kathy]

I feel ya, libra. But as I said, you don't need to school me in the pros and cons of Affirmative Action. And I never said I agreed or didn't with it. And I also know being a woman has probably gotten me a few extra points on applications of all sorts. But I guess I'm not the only person reading the thread so the varying opinions on all points are good.

Also, I brought up the college admissions things as something that my boyfriend and I have discussed at length in reference to our different cultural experiences. I could have discussed a bunch of different topics, that one was just the first that flowed from my fingers onto the keyboard.

At any rate, thanks for your thoughts and for keeping it civil!

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by librasoul22
The difference is that blacks never used whiteface in minstrels to belittle and further oppress white people. There is no sordid history of white face. I am not saying it is right, only telling you the difference.

ah. OKay...I guess it is making since now. STill not sure if I like it. I mean, yeah it was funny and we should laugh at our selves. Thanks for the enlightened perspective.

[xo_kathy]

P.S. libra - It's a 'K' not a 'c'! I will kick some a** over that one!!!

Oh, and I don't think it's cool that I got those extra points for being a woman either. Just not something I feel good about personally. But again, I'm not saying Affirmative Action was/is wrong...Yes, read this as "on the fence" on this topic!!!!

[Kevin]

Are we still talking about blackface in here?! Wow... Why can't we just admit that it's bad and show others *respect*. It's disrespectful to do something like that. Especially when it offends people so deeply.

[Optimist Prime]

Has anyone ever read/seen/heard of something called The Last Minstrel show? It starts off as a normal minstrel, then they get fed up and kill the white guy, and raise their fists in the Black Panther salute. It was first done in the '70s and was very powerful.

[librasoul22]

Originally posted by xo_kathy
P.S. libra - It's a 'K' not a 'c'! I will kick some a** over that one!!!

MY BAD!! LOL! It was purely unintentional!

Anyway, it is refreshing to find someone open-minded and willing to dialogue!

[Rudey]

Just bored so I felt like throwing some facts out there:

The role of women and their entry into certain employment sectors and academia has more to do with technology change than affirmative action by far. But people can argue whatever they want.

-Rudey
--And it was a Republican under Nixon who started Affirmative Action...not to be confused with a quota system.

[justamom]

This has to be one of the best discussions in a long time.

Just some thoughts-When I meet someone, of course I notice what race that person appears to be. After I know them, it is no longer a point of reference. So I don't think-"Oh, there's AF/AM Jennifer...I'm going to say hello."

The money in the hands...money is filthy, hands transmit germs. Some people have compromised health issues and avoid contact with other people. Avoiding hand to hand contact cuts down on your potential to catch a cold. It isn't necessarily a peak into masked racism.
(BTW-never take somebody's baby's hand in yours, because it goes straight to their mouth and can really tick off the Mom.)

IMHO-The greatest example of passive racism/prejudism is to treat someone as if they are invisible. Sometimes I, as a white person, have been treated as though I was invisible. The reasons change due to who I'm encountering. I have been invisible because-
I am a female
over 40
not a member of... No matter who you are or where you go, there will always be people who refuse to look beyond the packaging.
(Yet, I will NEVER know how it feels to anything other than what I am.)

When I moved here, I saw how offensive people could be to anyone outside their comfort zone. It became a mission to try and counter all the crudities I witnessed. Sometimes I felt like an ambassador for the white race. I would go out of my way to engage in conversation or make smile someone-especially the children-so the only image of a white person wasn't a negative one. Have you ever seen a child reflect their parents' attitude? That is a sobering vision. The thing is, what was once a "mission" is now a lifestyle and attitude that I HOPE emanates in my thoughts, words and deeds. HEY-Sounds like the Girl Scouts! Too bad I quit as a Brownie!

[breathesgelatin]

*BUMP*

We need this

[Tom Earp]

No doubt in My Mind!

I am smarter, dont type wortth a danm!

So this thread is building up, what is the point

Am I smarter Than the Lady I lust after who is Black/Asian. Well, that is a question between us! Not You!

God love synthic butter on showy popcorn, dont go to movie theater any more! Stay Home and See Drama On GC!

Milk Duds and thoes liquorice thingys! OOOOH, and the damn faucet is dripping!

Troll me baby, seine with a net, or if you have the eptitude, do it with a peice of Lobster Tail and Sauce! or on a fishing line!

Racist, Yes I am, I dont like anyone!

[Imthachamp]

keep up the good fight yall.

dont let the man hold yall down.

[aurora_borealis]

Yay for breathesgelatin!!!!!

Nothing but ilk-love for you

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by 2017law
I am your average, white-Jewish girl from NY. So what, right?
You try getting into Law School with those stats and see where it gets you.
I have watched my non-white friends, with lower grades, lower SAT scores, and less activities get into schools when I haven't. My younger sister was rejected from U of Florida b/c she was your average, white-Jewish girl and they didn't need any more of those. Her friend is a Hispanic-Jewish male, with lower scores and less activities and he was granted admission. UF has some diversity issues.
I am very proud of who I am and where I am. Law school is no piece of cake, but it annoys me that some of the other students feel as though they are "entitled" to something b/c they aren't white. Most of my family was exterminated in the Holocaust. I have relatives from Israel, to NY, to Australia, to Russia and back. My family has never asked for anything and doesn't feel as though anyone owes us anything just b/c we're Jewish. As long as people go around blaming others for what ails them they have an excuse to never go further.
Until the day I die I can say poor me, my family was gassed to death and put in ovens, therefore I can sit on my ass and make the world around me pay for it.
That's a shitty way to live and I won't do it.
Currently I am taking a Human Rights class in an effort to make the world a better place. I have seen the suffering of millions and do what I can to change it. But as long as there is ignorance in this world, nothing will change. People need to understand that it is our differences that makes us all the same. Unfortunately it's those differences that scares people and creates racism.
~C

Once and for all, let me eliminate this story from GreekChat records (although the poster is long vanished, perhaps we can link back every time this shit comes up):

If you want to use anecdotal evidence, which holds no water, then here's one in reverse:

I was a NMS, from a top-30 public high school, graduated top 5 in my class. AP National Scholar, top 1% ACT scores, top .3% SAT. Played hockey and golf in high school, as well as participation in mock trial and AD, among other crap. With all due respect to the greekchat community, I'll put my high school transcripts up against anyone's - and then the kicker . . .

I'm also middle class, and white, from middle America.

I applied to a bunch of schools, including Yale - did I get into Yale?

No.

Was it because I was white? (ie was I passed over for someone with minority status)

NO.

one more time: NO

It was because I didn't take the time to set up an interview. No one 'bought' my seat in the class, no one got it because they were poor or black or green. I didn't do something to increase my chances, so I didn't get in.

Sometimes, personal accountability goes much further than blaming things on some larger problem.

The race card is too easy to play, no matter who you are.