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"If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I'll move to the other side of the street. If I see a white guy with a shaved head and tattoos (on the side he now is on), I'll move back to the other side of the street. None of us have pure thoughts; we all live in glass houses."
"If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I'll move to the other side of the street. If I see a white guy with a shaved head and tattoos (on the side he now is on), I'll move back to the other side of the street. None of us have pure thoughts; we all live in glass houses."
"If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I'll move to the other side of the street. If I see a white guy with a shaved head and tattoos (on the side he now is on), I'll move back to the other side of the street. None of us have pure thoughts; we all live in glass houses."
It's not about what defines racism, or any other supposedly - "unacceptable" behavior: it's about attitudes; and worse yet, it's about just who is supposed to (exclusively) decide these matters.
It's the Absolutely Politically Correct -- the "powers-that-wannabee" -- who are the real threat to freedom of expression (and thereby, to all individual liberties) in contemporary America.
"If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I'll move to the other side of the street. If I see a white guy with a shaved head and tattoos (on the side he now is on), I'll move back to the other side of the street. None of us have pure thoughts; we all live in glass houses."
Comparing a piece of clothing to an extremist skinhead? Sounds racist to me.
What he is saying is common sense. You are on guard toward anyone you don't know. If that person seems to conform to what you imagine as a dangerous person, you will be even more on guard. At this point you are not a racist. This is how the human mind works. We classify things so we are able to make decisions quickly. When you walk down the street, the first things you notice about a person is the gender and the race. And along with that, you have some ideas in your head what a person of that gender and race is like. This doesn't mean you are being sexist or racist. HOWEVER, you are a racist if once you have found out more details about the person, you insist on holding onto your initial impression. If Mark Cuban had said, and if that kid took off his hoodie and I recognize him as someone I know but I continue to suspect he is a criminal, then he is a racist. Or, he would be racist if he had said, if I saw a group of black NBA players walking down the street in hoodies, I would move to the other side.
Don Sterling told his girlfriend not to associate with black people. And she asked even if that person was Magic Johnson and he said yes. Do you see the difference?
People have a hard time separating their emotions when accusations of racism come up. However, the reason we are susceptible to racist judgments is no different than why we fall for optical illusions.
"If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I'll move to the other side of the street. If I see a white guy with a shaved head and tattoos (on the side he now is on), I'll move back to the other side of the street. None of us have pure thoughts; we all live in glass houses."
Comparing a piece of clothing to an extremist skinhead? Sounds racist to me.
I understand what he's saying, even though it's not really fair. The white guy chose to look like he does, the black kid was made by God the way he is and to judge him for it is wrong.
I wouldn't cross the street to avoid a black kid in a hoodie. I would cross the street to avoid a group of young black men in hoodies however. If that makes me a racist I guess send me a flag and I'll fly it.
But I'll also avoid a group of white thugs as well.
Problem is, I avoided the black kids and they might not have meant any harm so there is the problem.
It's not my fault I feel the way I do. I think it's up to the young black men to change their image.
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