Racism: It still does exist

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by bows&toes

And don't get me started on the recent attempts to get reparations for slavery. It is laughable that a generation that never saw slavery is trying to get paid for it. I think the Chappelle show did a bit on this one. Jews don't get reparations, why the hell should you?

They got a country ... that's a pretty nice reparation ... Anyway, focusing on things that actually happened in thiscountry, Japanese-Americans got reparations, so why not African-Americans? Just saying.

[shinerbock]

Starang, you are correct in part, black people at times have trouble climbing the corporate ladder. But just like there are those who have their journey stopped by a racist boss, there are those who get pushed to the top as part of minority fastracking. Affirmative action in and of itself is not bad. I have no problem with its original form of ensuring black applicants are not being discriminated against ONLY because of race. However, today's system is obviously skewed.

I'm not gonna go into the use of the racial slurs, but there is a double standard regarding other things. The chocolate city is an obvious example. Black organizations calling for a boycott of companies is another. If a white organization called for a boycott (or even existed for that matter), it would be an outrage.

While I realize there are at times limits on what black people can achieve, I personally believe their own society limits them more than white society. Black people are successful in every aspect of American life. Barak Obama was elected to Senate, and while he is eloquent and intelligent, he was marginally qualified in terms of experience. I truly believe that black people can gain opportunities just like everyone else.

Regarding the power to commit racism, I think that is at times true. At times, it is the complete opposite. The county next to mine in metro Atlanta is majority black, and they unabashedly discriminate against whites in city and county politics. Also, black on white crime, in my view, is often racism. How is a guy getting held at gun point or stabbed a lesser offense than a white manager denying a black man a promotion? You may say that black criminals don't target white people, but I think we can all agree that it does occur. However, while a black person can sue for racism after being denied a promotion or fired, a white person concerned about increased minority population and the corresponding crime increase is termed a racist.

I think the best solution to this problem is for all sides to speak up when their "side" is in the wrong. For example, people don't hate muslims, but they do get frustrated when they don't speak out against terrorism. Similarly, many white people get upset when the black community doesnt show outrage at problems among its ranks. I'm sure white people could also speak up more, although I think we can agree that there are already many white allies for black groups regarding racial injustice.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by bows&toes

This paragraph is too funny.

Because white people hold the power they are more racist? Thats complete nonsense.

I think in a lot of facets of society colored people have it easier. With the obvious example being affirmative action. You may get a job, admission to a university, etc. you didn't truly qualify for just because a place needs to fill quotas for race. (which I think is racism)

For an experiment, ask somebody (that will be honest with you) in upper management this question. "Is it easier to fire a black guy or a white guy?" They will tell you that even in states where a company doesn't need a reason to fire somebody, they have to have ALL their ducks in a row to fire a black guy. A white guy, they don't blink twice.

Think of open and accepted racism. Is it more socially accepted to hate on the "cracker" or the "nigger"? I'm sure me typing that word alone will ruffle some feathers, but we can have government officials (LA) go on national TV and make a statement that he will rebuild a city "chocolate". What if it was the other way around? What if a mayor said he wants to rebuild the city "vanilla"?

Racism is a scapegoat many people (blacks especially) use to blame their own failures on. Not in all cases, but in my opinion most of the time.


And don't get me started on the recent attempts to get reparations for slavery. It is laughable that a generation that never saw slavery is trying to get paid for it. I think the Chappelle show did a bit on this one. Jews don't get reparations, why the hell should you?

colored people, LMAO.

i couldn't even get past that part, but i digress while i read your archaic antiquated, and ignorant views on race.

you obviously benefit from white priviledge, thus aren't privy to what people of color go through in america on a daily basis.

you think 40 years after the civil rights movement will even come close to erasing the centuries of oppression that white people have oppressed on people of color? are you so ridiculously stupid that you have don't think that the effects aren't still being felt today?

a white person in america can go their entire life without ever knowing or having to deal with a person of color.

you're taking minute examples and it's laughable that your mental inadequacies would ever lead you to believe that anything done today comes even close to what was done and what we're feeling today.

people of color have to deal with white people such as yourself who are chock full of foolish and ignorant view points on a daily basis, while you in all of your sheltered existence can go on living thinking that racism is just a figment of those "silly colored people's" minds.

[shinerbock]

Regarding reparations, I think the problem you'd run into is that while Japanese reparations were provided a mere 43 years after the war, there is obviously a much larger gap from slavery to now. I'm not going into the effects of slavery, but it is much easier to show the damage of government action because of the shorter time frame.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Regarding reparations, I think the problem you'd run into is that while Japanese reparations were provided a mere 43 years after the war, there is obviously a much larger gap from slavery to now. I'm not going into the effects of slavery, but it is much easier to show the damage of government action because of the shorter time frame.

I agree there, there are definitely a lot of issues. My point is that reparations aren't a completely laughable concept. There are definitely legal precedents.

[bows&toes]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

They got a country ... that's a pretty nice reparation ... Anyway, focusing on things that actually happened in thiscountry, Japanese-Americans got reparations, so why not African-Americans? Just saying.

You got Africa.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by bows&toes

You got Africa.

uhhhh, you can't be this stupid.


"go back to where you came from"

[shinerbock]

I personally think it is a laughable concept. However, I think you could probably present a reasonable case in favor of it. Reasonable enough? I doubt it, but who knows, you may convince somebody.

[Lady of Pearl]

I'm glad that some find the concept of what Marcus Garvey tried to accomplish with the Back to Africa movement laughable. That shows the extent of their experience regarding Black History- Marcus Garvey was trying to put forth the argument that Blacks will never achieve parity and equality with whites-be it in education, income or politics. So he chose to become a separatist in his beliefs from this country. I am an African American and choose to identify myself as such. Racism is very much alive and thriving in this country. Platitudes and sarcastic remarks are only a disguise of some of the true feelings that individuals have on this board to deny the experience of racism -and what happened to those fraternity members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. We should never be too comfortable with a situation like that and should denounce such racist actions. We have a long way to go in this country in terms of race relations. Most of our public schools are still segregated here in 2006. If we are segregated -and others continue to put forth racist ideas- how can we ever seek to respect and institute tolerance for different individuals!

[shinerbock]

Segregated, because white kids live in the suburbs and black kids live in the cities? Sorry, but I don't think I'm gonna start advocating government relocation so we can forcefully integrate communities.

[teena]

[Tucker Carlson]

Originally Posted by Lady of Pearl

I am an African American and choose to identify myself as such.

shouldn't you be an un-hyphonated american. seriously we are all americans why dont we identify ourselves as such. My ancestors came over from The UK a long time ago and i dont go parading myself around saying i am a British-American. Only the first and second generations have the right say they were african americans they actually lived there, not the 5th 6th 7th and 8th generations - they never lived there.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by Tucker Carlson

shouldn't you be an un-hyphonated american. seriously we are all americans why dont we identify ourselves as such. My ancestors came over from The UK a long time ago and i dont go parading myself around saying i am a British-American. Only the first and second generations have the right say they were african americans they actually lived there, not the 5th 6th 7th and 8th generations - they never lived there.

Lady of Pearl, like you and myself, should have the right to define herself as she sees fit. Besides it apparently being your desire, why should we all be un-hyphonated Americans? What, exactly, is the problem with this? Your ancestors came over from the UK--great. It's your choice, or not, to call yourself a British-American. Whatever you choose, AfAms are not going to sweat it. Not speaking for Lady of Pearl, but if she's an AfAm there's a high likliehood that her ancestors came here against their will, had their identities stripped, their families separated, and had a nation built upon their "free" labor.

You made it pretty clear you don't define yourself as a British-American. What makes you think LoP, or anyone else, would not demand with the same righteous intensity the right to determine what they will be called?

[shinerbock]

I think you can call yourself whatever you want. However, in a world of political correctness, the term "African-American" should not be the required way to refer to black people. Not only would it be incorrect, I would not want to refer to another American with a hyphenated term because I view everyone who is a citizen to be simply an American. Now how you choose to refer to yourself, is your own business.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by Tucker Carlson

shouldn't you be an un-hyphonated american. seriously we are all americans why dont we identify ourselves as such. My ancestors came over from The UK a long time ago and i dont go parading myself around saying i am a British-American. Only the first and second generations have the right say they were african americans they actually lived there, not the 5th 6th 7th and 8th generations - they never lived there.

she should do whatever she wants. she does define herself as an american....hence the word at the end.