Does racial identity come first for Americans? (interview, racist, borders)

[X14Freak]

The question I am asking is whether racial identity is the primary identity of most Americans. For example, would a racist, sexist, homophobic white man hire a straight black man or a white female lesbian? A lot of blacks and other nonwhite minorities claim that feminists and the LGBT community are incredibly racist so I can't help but wonder if racial concerns trump all other identity concerns. White members of the LGBT community and white females have advanced further in America than blacks so there seems to be some truth that racial concerns trump all other identity concerns. But in any case, what do people in this forum think?

[maf763]

The question you are asking is so general that it makes me believe you are looking for something other than a legitimate reply.

[brownbagg]

no

[desertdetroiter]

Sometimes. Depends on the situation.

For example, I see myself as black first within our borders.

But when I'm overseas, I'm American first and Americans of all colors come before a foreigner of any race or ethnicity. And I will defend the United States vociferously when attacked by a non American.

So it just depends.

[X14Freak]

Originally Posted by desertdetroiter

Sometimes. Depends on the situation.

For example, I see myself as black first within our borders.

But when I'm overseas, I'm American first and Americans of all colors come before a foreigner of any race or ethnicity. And I will defend the United States vociferously when attacked by a non American.

So it just depends.

Hollywood prefers white foreigners to black Americans.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by desertdetroiter

Sometimes. Depends on the situation.

For example, I see myself as black first within our borders.

But when I'm overseas, I'm American first and Americans of all colors come before a foreigner of any race or ethnicity. And I will defend the United States vociferously when attacked by a non American.

So it just depends.

I've never been overseas, but I have noticed this.

When I was hanging around international students, that was often the #1 time I was called an American. On the other hand, I've been referred to as "the Black guy" by some non-Black foreigners.

[green_mariner]

I do think racial identity comes first in this country. Many people would never admit it. However, if it didn't come first, we would not have so many threads here complaining about Blacks. We would all refer to each other as Americans first. We would treat each other as Americans.

[Vacanegro]

Originally Posted by X14Freak

Hollywood prefers white foreigners to black Americans.

Read Wesley Snipes interview remarks years ago about getting leading roles. Something about the white studio heads wanting to see white people doing white things. I was thinking of his quote when this Oscar hoopla came around.

[LS Jaun]

Family first tied with American. Race? I might be concerned about race if Im being attacked because of my race, but other than that no.

[yueng-ling]

Yes. I have to put "Asian" on my driver's license, in my graduate school application, and loan application.
Oh, when I got a speeding ticket, it reads "Asian" somewhere too.