Why is there racism? (stereotypes, companies, parties, Kansas)

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by virgode

Why am I discussing because you seem to have the feeling that
she wasn't hurt or offended, I really don't care what what hertiage
or background your friend is the fact that you had to even mention
that is all I need to hear.

Ahhhh... So you just run off and jump to some silly conclusion. Gotcha.

[virgode]

You don't get it, have a nice meeting.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by virgode

You don't get it, have a nice meeting.

Then explain it.

I think I "get it" perfectly. I believe I'm fully aware of why you're implying, but suddenly you don't want to own up to it.

[virgode]

I think I was quite clear.

[thriftylefty]

Originally Posted by Omaha Rocks

Wow. Angry much?


How 'bout we do this? Let's encourage Black kids to emulate Barack Obama, and NOT Kanye West & Apache. Fair enough?

Barack Obama is a Black man who stayed in school, worked hard and got a good education. He has stayed out of trouble. He loves his wife & daughters. Wouldn't he be a GREAT role model? Wouldn't he be an excellent example to point Black kids toward?

Why can't Black kids just emulate one of the millions of blacks in America who go to work every day and TCB, but I know to our re-tractors these are the "invisible men" a myth, a mythical character who in the black community who doesn't committ crime, sell drugs, stays in school, does his time in the military, raises a good and decent family , goes to church, and works thirty years at the post office.
Perhaps we can get a government grant and a team of Forensic archaeological, sociological, Anthropologist to see if the so called "average every day negro" does indeed exist, It would be find of epic proportions and finally put to rest the rumors of its existence and sightings.

[bkessack]

I think that for primal survival reasons, we dislike/distrust anyone that we aren't familiar with. Experience

[leaana]

Originally Posted by thriftylefty

Why can' he just emulate one of the millions of blacks in America who go to work every day and TCB, but I know to our re-tractors these are the "invisible men" a myth, a mythical character who in the black community who doesn't committ crime, sell drugs, stays in school, does his time in the military, raises a good and decent family , goes to church, and works thirty years at the post office.
Perhaps we can get a government grant and a team of Forensic archaeological, sociological, Anthropologist to see if the so called "average every day negro" does indeed exist, It would be find of epic proportions and finally put to rest the rumors of its existence and sightings.

lol, that was funny. but i can see their point too and that is media and also how black entertainers convey black culture have a strong impact and influence on younger people and also what they consider proper or improper behavior. so if there is a lot of glorifying negative or very aggressive behavior as normal or cool, people will mentally accept that as okay. also, there is a lot of ethnocentrism and even subtly racist behavior often with white collar african-americans using certain slang and slurs. i know i've experienced it myself. i'm not saying all african-americans are like this but a lot do seem to think it's okay to bring their personal prejudices or cultural ways within the workplace to prejudice others. it's worse when they get together. this is one of the reasons why i would not want to work in a predominantly african-american company not that all of them aren't professional because whites and asians are capable of doing this as well but i see whites do this by discriminatory actions like on paper and african-americans are often supported by whites because they exhibit similar racist tendencies in a little different ways. asians don't so much, though there are asians that do that as well.

i think it's getting better though, i think it was a lot worse before. i ran into a lot more rude african-americans before than i do in the last few years. i think this has a lot more to do with the world getting more global and there are so many different people and genres that there are a lot more influences that african-americans identify with also. i think i read somewhere that jada pinkett's kids prefer sushi and dislike pizza, for example. that would have almost been unheard of even a decade ago. a lot more racist and a lot more culturally ethnocentric the african-american community was before. in other words, the younger generation of african-americans are opening up and even the older ones.

i really think that the racism within the african-american community was not really addressed that much but was more focused on black/white issues. we already know whites can be very racist but it wasn't as admitted that african-americans could be very racist too not just against whites but other minorities. furthermore, how ethnocentric and closed off they were in terms of being open to other cultural influences or trying different things outside of their culture. this was true and it's not just the stereotypical 'thug' on the street but in any socioeconomic level there are blacks that are racist and prejudiced. i worked for a temp agency that was run by african-americans and the racism was undeniable. they wanted to make sure that it's only or mostly blacks that got the best opportunity and that was clear. this was more in a southern state which was north carolina but it's not unusual either.

i would say that not just african-americans but also whites and other minorities are getting better themselves and becoming less narrowminded. it's more due to the younger and next generation. they are more multicultural in reality not just by 'name' and have many different interests and tastes that span several different cultures. it's a whole 'nother culture that's developing and it's wider and is more global.

[miu]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

Frankly, we don't need advise from ignorant white folks like yourself, who have absolutely no clue as to what black folks tell their kids or what they do within the community to resolve those issues affecting them.

PS - Please tell me that you honestly aren't so stupid as to argue that the pathway to becoming a major motion picture star or jazz musician is easier than becoming a rap musician or a professional ball player as your post suggests?

I wasn't suggesting that the black youth seek success as a movie star or jazz musician, it was more that all those black men are well spoken, educated and have a non-angry persona. None of them dress in stupid rap or ghetto style, they don't come across as angry scary men, they don't act all tough and macho, none of them speak in ebonics. That's what I meant. After all, who wouldn't want to hang out with or be neighbors with any of the black men I mentioned?

And I wasn't addressing you, but more this poster:

Originally Posted by LoveMiiorHateMii

This thread just make me sad...really to the point that I want to cry because now I know that no matter what i do, or my brother will do people will still view us a hoodlum murderers. This is why racism persists.

And in an nutshell, I was saying that as long as he and his brother don't dress, act and speak like inner city thugs, and are up to par with their education, non-blacks will accept their company just fine.

And btw, it's not "advise" but "advice", and no I'm not white. I also don't consider myself ignorant.

[thriftylefty]

An interesting historical anecdote about race: there was court case where an Arkansas woman was kidnapped an sold in to slavery , she sued in court under the grounds that she was in fact a white woman, she used as evidence her sophistication and genteelness to show that she was a white woman, but after it was reported that she had been seen attending a dance unescorted it was determined that she was indeed a black woman. No need to split hairs in the biological or genetic sciences.

[miu]

Originally Posted by thriftylefty

An interesting historical anecdote about race: there was court case where an Arkansas woman was kidnapped an sold in to slavery , she sued in court under the grounds that she was in fact a white woman, she used as evidence her sophistication and genteelness to show that she was a white woman, but after it was reported that she had been seen attending a dance unescorted it was determined that she was indeed a black woman. No need to split hairs in the biological or genetic sciences.

Interesting. What year was this? Is this story online somewhere?