Yes that is right, in modern day the white man is oppressed anymore. We are persecuted for the slightest un-racist things by the black man. They turn and twist everything to seem racist and then down the white race. Blacks are as racist to the white man as much as we are “racist” to them. I’m not saying racist doesn’t exist today but it is as much in the black community as it is the white community.
Yes I will refer to blacks as blacks because they refer to whites as whites. If you don’t like it then don’t read it.
Us white men peacefully protest against amnesty and we are called racist. We take pride in our Southern heritage we are called racist. We throw out factual crime statistics and we are called racist. A white man gets chosen over a black man you are racist. If you oppose anything a black man does you are racist.
But yet if you turn any of those around so it’s a black man going against a white man it would be normal. It would be justified. Us white men are opposed from events that occurred decades ago. There is no modern day slavery but yet us white men are still oppressed from it. It happens on a daily basis all around
America that a black man brings up slavery as an excuse for something. There is not one person living that has (legally) held possession of a slave.
You tell us rednecks to drop and forget our Southern pride but why won’t you black people drop the whole slavery thing. According to you the Civil War is in the past so forget it. Well slavery was in the past too so forget it too.
But Southern Heritage actually has a point in keeping it. It makes up who we are. Slavery was just a temporary thing for the black people. It has no affect on who they are in this modern day life. The only affect it has on the black people is the excuses they make up from it.
I guarantee I’m going to get some hasty comments on this but I almost guarantee that it is because I pointed out the truth and it hurt.
You know, I gotta say as a black person, I was actually glad to see this post. At one point, I had a problem with the rebel flag until a friend of mine explained it to me and all his clothing had the rebel flag on it. He most definitely wasn't a racist.
I dont really know if you have noticed but there are blacks who are now accepting that flag as a part of their own culture - China Whyte the rapper and I think Lil Jon had used it in one of his videos.
I might get blasted for saying this but whatever, I feel that you are right. Everyone needs to get past 1860 and move on to 2006 and welcome 2007. Slavery, Civil War, and all other wars and cultural struggles are a major part of the US History, but it is what we take and learn from it.
I am so glad that finally someone of the black race agress. I mean don't get me wrong but when it comes to racism and is in both races. I just believe that they should drop slavery as I dropped the Civil War. They shouldn't forget it because it is their history but they should not use it as an excuse.
Racism. It's everywhere. Where I am from, there is not much diversity, but you would swear there was. No matter what race/ethnic background you are, there will always be a disagreement against another race/ethnic group. It's sad to say, but it's something that will not go away for a very long time. Even though it was over 100 years ago, the Civil War is recent history, and the issues surrounding it will stay intact, until we can all move on, and accept that without difference, the world wouldn't be the place it is today.
You have no real concept of American Society do You? To say that the white man is oppressed merely because they get persecuted for saying slightly racists things about blacks, is nonsense.
One, how are they persecuted? Unless they are a politician, even then they rarely get persecuted. Persecution implies that there is a punishment and their really isn't a punishment for being racist. If you are a politician you might not be elected again, an entertainer might be demonized for a little bit, but it will be forgotten.
Blacks as Blacks, that's okay because that is the political correct term in use. Listen to a newscast, they call blacks black. I like black...
Against Amnesty? What? Taking pride in your Southern heritage, that's okay. Taking pride in a heritage filled of ignorance is your choice. I mean honestly, the South lost...what can I say I mean you wanted to enslave my ancestors. I can't feel that. White man on average get chosen over blacks most of the time...Ain't no Affirmative action getting me a job after college. Once I finish college I will make 786 dollars per 1,000 dollars you make so stop it with being oppressed. We are talking about the Primary structural system.
Decades ago, right, I guess we can say the same thing about Israelites getting oppressed by Palestinians for events that happen decades ago. Again how are you oppressed?
LOL, yep the Civil War was in the past, you probably should not hang flags that only were official for 4 years.
Slavery has no effect right? Are you serious? NONE whatsoever. Let's forget about the hangings of blacks after slavery had ended, let's forget about the intimidation blacks faced when they were voting, let's forget about the killing of four innocent girls when Southern Pride brunt down a Church, celebrating GOD, let's forget cops killing blacks when they didn't have a weapon, let's forget about how you keep us in schools that did not and STILL do not receive proper funding. Okay I will try in the next years to forget.
If you studied sociology then you will realized that society has the greatest impact on development of a child. What happen to my Great Great grandmother, great grandmother, grandmother, mother, happened to me, because they were products and I am a product, they didn't realize it, we as a generation do.
It's impossible to be an artist and a bread winner at the same time. Sometimes I think I oughta chuck the whole business.
-Amiri Baraka
That is bullshit. Everytime I make a slightest comment against a black person (in the same sense I would against a white person) I am a racist. I get all this crap against me for stuff that my race did decades ago. It is not an excuse that blacks were oppressed by slavery. It happened decades ago and has nothing to do with modern day.
The reason why white man get choosen over black men statistically is because white population outnumbers the black. But lets take a look at the white population. The white population is full of different heritages. Irish, English, Dutch, German, Russian, and so on. It is not right to call those groups as one group because they all are very different. All the difference is is the color of skin. Why make a big deal about it.
It isn't my fault that everytime a black person fails they bring up the color issue. How often do you hear a white person say "oh I didn't hire you because you were black" or "oh I didn't get the job because I am white."
Get your ass out of the 1940's and welcome to the 21st century. This shit doesn't happen as much as you and others blow it out of proportion.
Touche, we're not directly responsible for slavery. It was just some colonialist pigs in the past, right?
However, there are forms of racism abound that are quite detrimental to our society. Employers would rather hire a white convicted felon than a black person with no criminal record.
Cops pull black people over disproportionately.
A black person carrying a crack rock gets put away for 30 years, but a white person with a kilo of powdered coke might get 1, at the most.
Unequal application of the laws is not justice, it's not equality.
So saying, "stop bitching" doesn't address many things that are still problematic.
However, I agree that people shouldn't have to walk over egg shells when talking about race. But living in a world that gets very irate when you're not perfectly PC is not oppression. Know the difference.
Also I am getting tired of my fellow blacks talking about we should just forget what happen. Booker T. Washingtonlites. There is no forgetting, what we can do is stick it to them, by getting an education and moving up there ranks. Breaking that glass ceiling, that is my goal.
It's impossible to be an artist and a bread winner at the same time. Sometimes I think I oughta chuck the whole business.
-Amiri Baraka
Blacks are statistically stopped more than whites while driving. Blacks statistically receive harsher sentences than whites for the same crimes. Sentencing disparities (such as the crack v. powder cocaine sentencing disparity) often leave blacks and other minorities at a disadvantage. So yes, there is a very good reason for the crime statistics that are shown. Any criminal justice major or professional with any research under his or her belt could tell you that blacks are at a disadvantage in the criminal justice system. I've yet to see a reliable study to the opposite.
Slavery and the Civil War should not be forgotten. It was a very important part of American (and world history slavery wise) and has played a role in shaping society.
White men are not oppressed. The evidence of that is everywhere if one chooses to open his or her eyes and take a look.
"Reality is not for the faint of heart."
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."
I really do not believe that blacks get harsher punishments then whites. Mainly because around my area they are really treated quite the same. Now in the bigger cities I am not sure. You may be right but as far as the infomation of this it is all based off from my area that I live in which is a rural small town type setting in Indiana.
And the reason I state white men are oppressed is because every little move we make towards another race (speaking that it is a legit good reason or what not) we are considered racist. I'm just tired of blacks using their skin color as a excuse and all. Granted there are situations that the excuse is true but it is not as apparent as most people make it seem.
Well look at it this way. If a Muslim man or woman says something disparaging or negative about white people, they're considered terrorists. If a black man or woman says something negative about white people, they're considered racist or considered to be holding a grudge from slavery. If a Hispanic says something negative about a white person, they're treated as if they stole away to America. Racism is a many forked street. White people aren't singled out anymore than any other race. It's time everyone get the hell over it and get on with life and making diversity work. Once people drop the b.s. and poor pitiful us routines on ALL sides, things would progress much easier than they do with everyone whining and crying because they're oppressed, because someone is racist, etc, etc, etc.
"Reality is not for the faint of heart."
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."
I agree with you. I just wanted to point out that it happens to whites just as much as anyone else. I just got tired of hearing everyone else say it is just their race. It happens to everyone.
Are blacks stopped more merely because they are black? The reason I say this is because since some of you are citing statistics, what do the statistics say about the number of blacks who commit crimes? I'm only saying this so people will stop and think about it. It's an "untenable" situation sometimes. Is there racism in America? You betcha, it's alive and well sorry to say. But I must say this. If we are going to have a national healing, if we are ever going to jettison the brutal and mindless racism in our past we are going to have to allow people to say whats on their minds without calling them racists, even if they offend you, in order to excercise this demon from our souls, we are going to have to listen to some wild shit that pisses us off. And eventually, maybe we'll work through it. I'm half American Indian, although to most people I look white and I haven't really had to endure much racism, at least not from whites, although some black folk have really been offensive to me, probably because I do look white. At any rate, I just tell myself, there must be a good reason they think that way and I don't let it ruin my life. So, if we're going to have a dialogue, we're all going to have to let everyone say whats on their minds withour ridiculing them for the way they feel.
Driving while black (DWB) has become a common term in the criminal justice field. And as I pointed out in my original reply, statistics have continually shown that blacks are given harsher penalties than white folks even when the crimes are the same. They are often stopped (and more frequently searched) for being black, hence the DWB terminology. It's not because blacks are more likely to lead a life of crime than their white counterparts that the statistics show an unproportionate number of blacks in prison (or otherwise intimately familiar with the criminal justice system in some capacity).
"Reality is not for the faint of heart."
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."
I too am roughly 40 percent Native American. From three different tribes. But like you said we are seen as white people are we are still treated as white people.
Hmmm.
Well, I've lived in Tennessee since I was three, and I really can't tell you what all the hoopla about Southern Pride is. Don't get me wrong, I love it down here. I'm proud to say that I'm a Southerner, but I still don't get it. If the times around the Civil War are what we look back on as our Heritage, than why are we proud of that? Seriously, the South may have had a great economy and been the leading producer of many valuble items, but all that was based on ignorance and the enslaving of a group of people. How is that something to be proud of? We (white southerners) didn't even make ourselves great! We made others do our work for us.
Slavery happened. It may have been a long time ago, but it wasn't that long ago that Jim Crow still held sway down here. If you can't see/accept that the rammifications of our ancestor's ignorance is still affecting people today than you're blind/ignorant. Seriously, the argument that slavery should no longer be an issue just because none of the people who owned slaves are still alive is absurd. It's time for our generation to stand up and say, "Yes, our ancestors really f***ed this one up. So did our more recent fore-fathers who persecuted and purposefully kept rights away from blacks because of their pigmentation. I am so sorry, if there was something I could do to make it right I would." And then we have to take any jabs that come at us. Because you know what? I don't deserve to be called a rascist, maybe you don't either, but the entitiy that is "white males" does. We're the one group who has always been the ones to persecute and discriminate against people on a large scale, and evil like that doesn't go unpunished. Hopefully, it'll all be over someday.
All I am trying to say is that it is not our fault what our ancestors did. It is in the past. I would understand if I personally had slaves that they could use that but I never had or wanted to have any slaves. And just because your ancestors did some bad things still does not mean you can not take pride in it. It is like saying American pride should not be here because he over threw our government (British) to become independent which is not necessarily a good thing.
I'm sorry dude, but that didn't make much sense. #1, why the hell would I be proud of my ancestor's doing bad things? I mean really, it would be one thing if all these beautiful plantations had been built and farmed by the white southerners, but they weren't! They enslaved people to do they're work for them! How can I be proud of that? That's laziness, not to mention evil! #2...well...I'm still not sure what the second half of what you said meant. Might want to clarify that a little. ;)
Are you proud to be an American?
Well just because our ancestors did somthing bad still doesn't meant we can't take pride in our heritage.
Now the reason why I think the "white race" shouldn't be descriminated as much is because our race is full of different groups. The German, British, Austrailians, Russian, Irish, Swedish (sp), and so on are considered of the white race. So because of one group of white people did somthing bad everyone that appears white gets blaimed for it. I'm 40 percent Native American but yet people still see me as white. What is up with that?
Hmmm. Perhaps because your screen name is redneck hunter? Seriously, that name is a walking stereotype right there. Whether you want to accept it or not, the word "redneck" brings with it certain connotations, among which is racism and ignorance. So if you want to embrace that, whatever. Just don't get pissed when people bring up points about that stereotype.
And lets be brutally honest here. A very large percent of the crap that is in mankind's history is the work of the "white race". We personally may not have commited any of the attrocities, but they happened, and no one will ever move past them if all young white guys keep yelling "STOP BLAMING ME! IT WASN'T ME GUYS SERIOUSLY! BLAME THE DEAD PEOPLE!"
Well it is rather pathetic they can't get past my screen name. And what do you expect, there are more types of white people then any other race. Blacks have Africa, Asians have Asia, and the rest of the world is pretty much white.
that's such bull. There are not more "types" of white than any other race. Whites have European countries and part of North America- that's it. Blacks have all the countries in Africa, Asians have all the countries in Asia and Latinos have part of North America, South and Central America as well as parts of Europe. Not to mention Indigenous peoples which are all over the world. If you look at the statistics, people who are white are in the vast minority, yet who has all the world power? Doesn't that say something to you about the need for more representation on the part of other groups of people? But no, those voices are most often stifled by the people in power, or totally undervalued by people like you because you want to keep believing that you have no part in the world of oppression, when in fact you do.
So why am I and my fellow white people penalized because of the things we achieve? Is it our fault for wanting the best? I can't help it that I'm white and that I have a better life then a black person. Its their choice to make their life. No one is going to make it for them. They need to stop trying the pity party of their color and get off their ass and do somthing with their life.
Yes "your fellow whites" should be penalized for a lot of the things you achieve, because your achievements are not based on your own merit or your hard work, but on the exploitation of others. How is that in any way something to be proud of? Yes it's true that it's not your fault that you have a better life than a black person but you need recognize that you are part of the status quo, a status quo that is dependent on the subjugation of oppressed people for their power. Yes everyone has some sense of control in their life. But in this country if you are black you have to work twice as hard and get half the recognition. There is no pity party of color, just recognition of the struggles of people who have been historically and continue to be oppressed in this society. Furthermore, I regard your comment that black people "need to get off their ass and do something with their lives" with disdain because I can tell you that most black people do work hard and still cannot achieve as much as white people because of economic and educational disadvantages that have been in place since slavery. You are pretty much relying on the stereotype that blacks are lazy for most of your argument, which is a funny and unconvincing way of trying to show that you aren't a racist.
You're argument is based on that I am part of the white race so I should be penalized as well. Which that argument is totally wrong. Like I stated in one of my recent blogs I'm majority Native American. My people was/are more oppressed then you're people ever was. The Trail of Tears was a lot worse then everything your race went through. My people are still forced to live on reservations. But yet do you hear my people rant and rave about stupid shit? No they don't. They take what they got and live with it. I'm a just normal joe but yet I still have to take shit from people like you.
I read that part about you being Native American, and I can tell you that my argument is not so much to you, as to a good percentage of white people who feel the same way. And also, it matters if you appear white because you are not being automatically judged off the bat for your skin color. But that's besides the point.
As for the Trail of Tears comment, way more people were killed in the Middle Passage. It was 4000 versus 3 million. Do some research, please. But this isn't a battle of which minority is more oppressed. I find it kind of sad that you still have this weak argument, fully knowing what your own people went through. Talk about internalizing oppression. It's true that your people are forced to live on reservations. And if you look at statistics, Native Americans are the poorest people in this country. Is that the fault of the Native Americans or of the white people who sought to eradicate them and the white people today who live in ignorance of the stuggles that Native Americans still face?
Why should people "take what they get and live with it?" Do you believe that your own people do not deserve something better than that?
And actually I work in solidarity with the American Indian Movement and our school's American Indian Student Union, and they do "rant" but their voices are not heard as much because they are constantly marginalized in our society.
PS- why did you say "my fellow whites" if you do not identify yourself as white?
The main reason I do is because even though I'm Native American I also have a white background too. It's a matter of supporting both parts of my background. I just find it rediculous of one race complaining because every race has been through hardships. Some races hardships are just more well known then others.
Two things,
To redneck, you forgot not only are you racist but you are probably sexist as well.
To Amiri Baraka, I just wanted to tell you that although the flags were only in play for 5 years (1860-1865) each state that was in the confederation orginally had a different version of that flag.
Thank you.
I am far from sexist. And that racist remark just backed up this whole blog. I said somthing against blacks and I get called racist for it. Thank you for proving my point even more.
Have you ever taken any sort of racial issues classes or even taken time to think about your opinions? You have the right to hold whatever opinions you want but do yourself and everyone else a favor and inform yourself before you do so.
You obviously have no idea what oppression is so let me spell it out for you (thanks Dictionary.com)
Oppression: To keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority
In other words you cannot be kept down if you are in power. I'm sorry but reminding you how lucky you are based on the backbreaking labor of my ancestors is in no way oppression.
As was said by Blues, you are obviously oblivious of what's going on in America and you see the empowerment of Black Americans as some sort of personal threat to you, which is why you had to write this nonsensical entry.
Yes it is true that most people are biased and to some extend racist, but you as a white man have the advantage of being the norm, the standard by which all other ethnicities are judged. We're living in the time after the civil rights era, and because of that racism acts in ways that are unspoken and more discrete. Just the fact that society and especially people like you consistently devalue the opinions of others by dismissing valid concerns people have as an excuse to call everyone racist demonstrates this fact. The fact is that institutionally the white man has the power and the black man (as well as the white woman and every other ethnicities) does not.
You've blindly decided to take race out of issues where race is an important part of the argument. In a lot of the arguments you had, you cannot truly assess the situation without taking race into account. By not mentioning race, you're not being "color-blind" or tolerant, rather you're hiding your excuses for your racism in a straw house that's ready to be blown away.
Let's boil down the things you talked about:
"Us white men peacefully protest against amnesty and we are called racist"- would you be as ardently against amnesty if it was a british or french person and not an hispanic person?
"We take pride in our Southern heritage we are called racist." If you are taking pride in a heritage that is based on the subjugation of people than I'm sorry you're a racist. To a lesser extent it's like being offended about being called a Nazi when you have expressed an ardent love of the Third Reich.
"We throw out factual crime statistics and we are called racist."
What would make you racist is believing that these facts reflect something about the race and not about the society that produces them. When people are systematically denied access to jobs, healthcare, education, basic needs and respect due to their color, how is it a surprise that they would turn to crime? Also you do not site a racially biased justice system. Why is it that a large amount cocaine (a drug primarily taken by white males) only has a small penalty while a small dosage of crack (which is moreso taken by minorities) has a much larger penalty? Look at the statistics, but don't pick and choose your statistics to support a racist agenda. If you're going to look at crime statistics, look at the poverty rates for those areas that have the most crimes, look at job rates, look at the failure of the educational system, look at all the different contributing factors before chalking it up to race.
"A white man gets chosen over a black man you are racist." Are you choosing this white man because you automatically value his opinion over the black man's? Are you choosing this white man because he has all the priviledges that allow him to get ahead? Are you aware that the black man probably worked twice as hard and got half the recognition?
"If you oppose anything a black man does you are racist." Again if you are opposing anything a black man does because you have a sense of disregard towards the opinions of black men, than yes. If you truly disagree not on the basis that he doesn't know what he's talking about because you don't respect him, but because you recognize the importance of his opinion as an equal and just generally disagree, than you're not being racist. But with self proclaimed "redneck hunters" such as yourself- there seems to be a fine line.
Your problem (and where most of your misunderstanding comes from) is the fact that you see racial struggle as an individualistic one, where everyone who does not make it is making an excuse: it could not possible be the fault of the American society, which has consistantly performed grievous offenses against just about every race. To you, it is not an institutional problem that affects a group of people, it's a personal problem that just happens to affect some people. What you are doing is universalizing your white male experience and when people fall sort of experiencing what you experience (despite their lack of the same priviledges you have) than somehow it's their fault, and not yours, for perpetuating a system that systematically targets and oppresses a group of people.
You need to drop the redneck thing because it supports an ideology that's ignorant and hateful. And no I will not drop the slavery thing because the average income of whites would not be as high and the average income of blacks would not be as low if it weren't for slavery.
Yes you did not own slaves, and slavery does not exist anymore, but you and most middle class white Americans still thrive off of the economic prosperity inherited from slavery. And black people still suffer from the economic and educational inequalities that have been around since the days of slavery. Since slavery was abolished, people of color have been systematically deprived the same rights and priviledges that white people are afforded. Slavery ended a century and a half ago, but how long after that were African Americans treated like second class citizens? Yes slavery is over and done with, but the mindset that perpetuates systems like slavery still exists. This mindset consists of the idea that blacks are not deserving of what whites have (hence the whole debate about affirmative action), their opinions are not to be valued and they do not deserve the same rights that you, as a white man have.
It seems like you're writing this entry because you feel like you've been labeled, because someone else has tried to define you or because you've been placed in a group that you don't feel like you belong to(i.e.- racist whites). Don't like it? Well the reality is this is what women and people of color face every day. You do not understand that the ability to be seen as an individual and not lumped into a group (ex.- all blacks) is a function of your priviledge.
The fact is that if you're white in this country, you aren't going to be aware of the injustices experienced by other people unless you go actively searching. This institutionalized racism works hard to keep you unaware of the injustices right in front of you and also works to present the effects of these injustices as proof of the oppressed's apparent inferiority. You need to read in between the lines. You automatically assume you're not racist because you don't say "nigger" and because you don't hate all black people, but racism now acts in a way where it is subconscious, where you can be a racist and not even know it. If we could obviously see racism then wouldn't we have eradicated it by now? The fact that racism persists is due to its flexibility and invisibility. Think about your actions around black people, your thoughts, your politics and ask yourself if you would still feel and act this way if they were white. And not just black people, but women and other peoples of color around the world. Deep down do you think these people are undeserving of the same rights as whites because this is a "white society" made to serve the needs of whites?
Do yourself and the world a favor and really inform yourself before you go blasting off. The fact is that the only truth that you pointed out is the truth of the ignorance in this country about what racism really is and about how it truly affects people.
Well said. A+.
Ok like you said, blacks are injustly treated. And you also said I wouldn't know unless if I was black or openly searched for it. That was exactly why I wrote this blog. You will never know how a white person is treated nor I will know how a black person is treated. I'm just tired of blacks claiming racism when it happens just as much to whites.
And as far as whites being in power and all that is a bunch of bull. Granted majority of congress is whites but that doesn't mean they are all racist biased.
I'm sorry man, but that made me laugh. As to the first part, if you consider be called a rascist being treated badly, you need to seriously step outside and look at what is going on in the rest of the world. Racism in no way happens to whites as much as it does to blacks.
This last part was especially funny. How many black presidents has this country had? This is a democrisy here, which really means the majority has the power. No, it doesn't mean that congress and the senate are biased racially, but that doesn't change the facts. For instance, here in TN, Harold Ford Jr. was the democratic canidate for Bill Frist's senate seat. He would have been the first black senator from TN. He lost. I defy anyone to say that racism had nothing to do with it. People may not have ever recognized that that was part of it, but I am willing to bet money that it was.
How many black people run for president? None. If you don't run you won't win. Granted they tried to make it on the ballot but that is society as a whole that doesn't want them there.
Its not racism in TN it is Republican conservation.
There have been black people that have tried to run for president but like you said "society didn't want them there". You still don't see where racism would be involved? Now I'm convinced your lying in bed with the covers over your head. You just don't want to see racism because you consider yourself and your society good and it would hurt you to think that you or your happy American society is racist.
Racism is not as big as the blacks blow it out of proportion. This isn't the 40's, they need to move on. Just because a white person gets a job over a black person it is not racism. It is all about qualifications/experience and not on race.
Like I've said before blacks are just as racist to whites as whites are to blacks. Calling a white person racist is a racist statement in itself. If blacks would put as much effort into succeeding in life as they do in looking for sympathy or claiming racism they would have as good of a life as I do.
How would you know if racism is blow out of proportion? It's obvious from your comment that you have never experienced true racism and I doubt you really know what racism is. It's true that this isn't the 40's but all that means is that racism is more subtle. People are not outright racist anymore because it's just not acceptable anymore. That in know way means racism does not exist. A white person saying racism doesn't exist is like someone who lives in a rich neighborhood saying that poverty doesn't exist. You are universalizing your white male experience and being intolerant towards the black experience in America. Just because you don't experience something does not mean that it is not there.
Yes everyone is in their own way biased, but to say that blacks are as racists to whites as whites are to blacks and to say that even calling a white person racist is racist is just absolutely ridiculous and doesn't even make sense. That is absolutely untrue that blacks protesting their oppresion is keeping them for having a life as good as yours. People said the same thing in the 60's. The only reason blacks in America have gotten as far as we have in this country is because we refuse to be silent and we demand to be taken seriously, even in the face of ignorant bigots like yourself.
I do know somewhat how "white people" are treated because I take great pains to educate myself (something you should be more focused on doing than spouting an uninformed opinion) and having this dialogue with white people.
And no it doesn't happen just as must to whites. That's a flat out fallacy. Do some serious research. Please. And don't say that's just how it is in whatever redneck town you come from. Don't universalize your experience, try and understand the experiences of others.
As far as power I'm not talking about congress, I'm talking about social power: the power to not be judged as soon as you walk in a room. The power to have your ideas, your beliefs, your struggles taken seriously.
And yes I would say that a good amount of congressmen are racially biased. All you have to do is look at their policies.
You don't know what racism is. I think the word you're looking for is biased. Racism and Bias are two entirely different things. Bias is when people make assertions that aren't necessarily true based on stereotypes, or what they believe or whatever. Racism is an INSTITUTIONALIZED (if you don't know what that means look it up) oppression where the priviledges of those in power "the white man" directly corresponds to the priviledges taken away from the oppressed "the black man".
I do not write blogs from everyones perspective. This is from what happens to me hence MY BLOG not the worlds.
Well I'm just letting you know that your words are uninformed and you need to do yourself a favor and educate yourself. You'll never really understand the world unless you look outside of "what's happening to you" and see what's really going on.
As I started out with my other comment, you have the right to say whatever, but you do a great diservice to the world and are an embarrassment to yourself if in saying your opinion you are displaying your ignorance of the world and the need to be more informed.
Nothing like writing an entire blog as a comment.
Actullay redneck I was kind of mocking you and I guess I did a bad job. I am not calling you racist in reality just sexist. I live Alabama and I have yet to meet one redneck who wasn't. Sterotype I know, I just wish it wasn't true.
Thank you.
lol-I was wondering about that one myself. I was like wait..what? p901 said that?!? No way!
Wow, I like you sdunker...Great response...I'm glad some one that is black, other then myself, believes that we cannot forget slavery...Otherwise we forget a large portion of our culture. (by "our" I mean American)
It's impossible to be an artist and a bread winner at the same time. Sometimes I think I oughta chuck the whole business.
-Amiri Baraka
fine. don't forget slavery. But quit throwing it in our faces, quit using it as your excuse when you do something wrong, quit using it to benefit yourself. YOU were never a slave, don't act like WE were ever slaveholders.
Like I said in my long winded, but well researched comment, there is no reason to forget slavery when you still benefit off of it and we still are hurt because of it. You are universalizing your white male experience and seeing slavery as an "excuse" for individuals not getting ahead. Well you know what? It's a valid excuse. What you are not understanding is that certain people are afforded priviledges and certain people are kept from having priviledges. This has been going on since slavery. People like you are still in a slavery mindset and you do not even realize it. They may view people as undeserving of the right you have, and when black people don't get ahead and site slavery, you get all huffy, instead of looking inside of yourself to see whether or not you have this mindset. People today still suffer from slavery's effects on our society. That's just a fact. You may not want to believe it because you are a white supremisist that wants to believe that the white race is not responsible for anything and that the black race is responsible for all its failures. Read a sociology book, take a colonialism or cultural imperialism class and find out for yourself what happens to historically oppressed people in a modern society.
I didn't read your comment. And you would understand why if you read this blog : http://www.progressiveu.org/230857-blogs-as-comments
I am a woman for one. And for two-grow up. Get out of the past. Slavery is not in effect today, and the only thing that comes from it is an excuse for blacks to act like dicks.
Oh you must not read much...it shows.
I'm not going to respond to that last part because I've already torn apart that half baked argument, and if you read my comment you'd know why.
Seriously, not to sound snide, but you should do a little more research, read a little more books, take a class or something because yes ignorance is bliss, but really you're doing a disservice to yourself and to America by being so stubborn about such an uninformed opinion.
Oh so interesting. You would know WHY I will not read your comment if you read my blog. I do read quite a bit, more than the average person for your information. Don't call me ignorant when your the one acting like a dumbass.
If I wanted to read a blog-I would read a blog. Blogs as comments are boring and worthless.
I am plenty educated on this topic, as you seem not to be. Don't tell me what I need to do-when you are sitting there whining 'poor poor blacks. the whites are so much better' yet refuse to accept that blacks are treated better than whites nowadays.
Obviously if you think my argument is "poor poor blacks, the whites are so much better" you did not at all understand what I was saying. Read a little closer next time.
I think if you were to take a tally, most people would agree that if this were a debate, I would have won. But that's absolutely not important.
I know I probably come off as self-righteous, but that's only because I find it so shocking to know that in the 21st century people still think as you do.
Out of curiousity, what respected sources have you read? I'm not being sarcastic, I genuinely want to know where you would find this information when the vast body of academic study says otherwise?
Like all of my writing it is based off of personal experiences that I've witnessed and/or I have experienced.
Wow. Way to toot your own horn-and I disagree you have not 'won' anything. The only thing you have done is prove our points that people pity the blacks and cater to them.
And it isn't a matter of "still thinking" the way that we do, others actually have not thought the way we do-there are racists, we are not racists. We simply want everyone to be treated equally, and are sick of hearing one race whine-when every other race has had hard times too.
And my "respected sources" would be tons of books. Like I said-I read more than the normal person. My old psycholgy book, as well as sociology, books from the library, world history books that I buy (or, my parents buy for me rather), books based on the civil war, I read it all. Not to mention the fact that I grew up by Detroit-so personal experience has a huge impact into what I say and believe.
And the only reason 'the vast body of academic study says otherwise' is because that is what they say.
Everyone follows society. They are afraid to step out of the box and see things differently because they fear punishment from society.
Try looking outside of the box, and you would see my point of view.
Look who's whining! Where are the whining "blacks" on this board? There's only you and your fake-Indian friend!
Your "respected sources" are probably just books by Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza and the rest of the neo-con crowd--or maybe, just perhaps, the Turner Diaries.
You are such a ridiculous bullshitter, I don't even know why I respond. The only reason why you ARE pissed is because blacks are more equal now than they were in the past, and you can't take it. They aren't picking your goddamn cotton anymore, and it pisses you off. Try looking outside of your own box(or your trailer along 8-Mile)and maybe you might see reality for a change!
BTW, stop saying "blacks." Say "Niggers." That's the word you really want to use, so why in hell don't you use it, instead of being such a fucking hypocrite.
Oh did we hit a sore spot? And bullshit. Go look at the Blues guy, all he has done is whine about shit. I think you need to open your eyes and see how blacks across the US whine all the time. "I was arrested for being black although I beat the shit out of my girlfriend."
And no the term nigger does not mean a black person dumbass. Look it up. A nigger is someone who does work for nothing. A slave.
And boy your kind's claims of racism and prejudice ring out real clear. You just backed up my whole argument by that trailor comment.
And show me the equality of how blacks get more money for college then whites do? Show me the equality how blacks have their own college fund? There is none. You really are the ingnorant one that contradicts yourself.
And I'm glad you think I am a fake indian guy. Mainly because I am not indian I am Native American. God you really are a dumbass.
I was just sitting back while sdnucker destroyed every aspect of your argument. I think I actually know the problem you have with black people calling you racist. Many authors have discussed the way in which blacks make whites feel. One of my favorite, James Baldwin said this, "The white man knew he would not like to be me. People who certainly are not monsters on any other level will do monstrous things to you, semi-delierately or deliberately, designed to protect their wives and children. This is what is meant by keeping you in your place. If you move out of your place everything is changed. If I'm not what that white man thinks I am, then he has to find out what he is."
Our presence within America reminds white's what they have done to us. This is a perversive guilt that is heavy upon their souls. Imagine if you killed millions of people, raped millions of women, what sort of guilt would you have? Every time whites are accused of being racist by a black person, they are convicting them of the crimes their ancestors did to blacks.
This is what you cannot stand. That's why your arguments are so full of blame, rather than acknowledgment that America is still unequal.
Actually a nigger is a black person (thank you oxford dictionary)
I never whine...Your perception of me whining is driven by your ethnocentrism.
You tend to slip into racist terminology, very often, for a guy who isn't racist. "Your Kind"
Well, common sense will tell you that the poorer you are the more financial aid you will receive. But, by far need-based financial aid is not going to cover Half-of the cost of college.
We also get our own month out of a year. You going to complain about that too? There is a reason for black based scholarship considering black families make 21,161 dollars a year and whites make 38,909 a year. Don't complain because the economic system of America is hardest on the middle class when it comes to funding education.
One of America's presidents once said, "You do not take a person who for years has been hobbled by chains, liberate him, bring him up to the starting line, and then say, "You are free to compete with the others."-President Lyndon Johnson
It's impossible to be an artist and a bread winner at the same time. Sometimes I think I oughta chuck the whole business.
-Amiri Baraka
He far but destroyed me. Actually it has carried into other blogs and is rather at a stalemate. And from a regular dictionary (book) a nigger is not a black person. The newer ones incoorporate that because that is the known definition as it is today. And to understand that America is not equal is not a black and white situation. It is more of a rich or poorer situation with both money and intellect.
If black people would use some other excuse/reason except their race this would not bug me. It is not as big of a problem of a black vs white guy getting a job. Cooporations (like most businesses) only care about money. They do not look at skin color but how much money they can make from you. Race is not an excuse for anything. It doesn't matter if you are black white brown purple blue or pink it doesn't really matter in the cooporate world anymore. The only color they care about is green.
Seriously, you have not at all addressed any of the counter arguments I've said against your case, all you do is use derogatory language like dumbass because you know that your argument doesn't hold up.
As your other redneck friend, for the "sources" you listed, you still haven't actually listed where this nonsense came from: articles, books, authors or anything.
Because it's obvious that you two do not understand the main points of what we are saying, and because you have this mental block grounded in ignorance that prevents you from seeing otherwise, I choose not to argue with you anymore. There is nothing "out of the box" about your argument, it fits perfectly with the status quo. Uninformed does not equal out of the box.
If one day you wake up and you're interested in viewing reality, or anyone else who would like to inform themselves on the ways in which they are privileged or disadvantaged, read this article by Peggy McIntosh:
http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html
Or this article by Robert Jensen: http://www.nathanielturner.com/whiteprivilege.htm
There is no point in wasting my time with someone who's got their head stuck in a hole in the ground.
And if someday you wake up and get some brains and maturity-try acting like a normal human being, instead of a jackass.
I thought it was pretty clear, I don't remember titles of books, or articles, I read-I enjoy. I don't sit and ponder and memorize and study things I do for funny constantly.
We have backed ourselves up, you just refuse to open your eyes and read it.
All this talk about slavery during the 1800's is rather useless in solving the race issue. Most certainly, we should all know the facts of our history and the "Peculiar Institution" of slavery. I think that in many ways, even slave owners felt some degree of shame for having slaves in the first place, with some exceptions of course. But, how far back are we going to go in history and "reset?" I hear people talking about this race, that race, where the originated, where they came from etc. Well, lets take it all the way back to the beginning. If you beleive in evolution, then we are all black. It has been proven through the scientific process that man originally came out of Africa and that we spread all over the earth. Consequently, our bodies changed due to climatic forces. Those of us who went North, lost our dark skin, we became a bit shorter so our blood could circulate in our bodies more efficiently in the cold weather. Those who stayed in equatorial areas formed wider nostrils so as to increase oxygen intake, this is what explains our physical differences, climate. So, you see, we are all the same. It's time for everyone to realize and accept this. We are all human freaking beings; period. And it's time for everyone, to admit they are all prone to be discriminatory towards others and do the best we can to keep this propensity in check. We'll ever completely stop it, but we do need to make it a societal no no.
Of course, slavery doesn't exist today. We know that. But it's after-effects linger on, and one of them is the gross economic inequalities you see between white and black. As for redshansneck, there's another thing that comes from slavery, too: an excuse for bigots like yourself to act like slaveMASTERS: smug, self-righteous, greedy, often brutal(neo-Nazis, anyone??) while blithely ignoring that you people run the goddamn country, not us. It's YOUR system, and YOUR leaders(economic, political, social, etc.) are in control of things. If you don't like the way things are in this country, then you people should learn how to RUN a fucking country before opening your mouths. Every institution in this country is controlled by your people.....or did you think they were run by Harlem gangbangers?
You speak of blacks acting like dicks--hey, they are as American as apple pie, and many of them live right next door to you, so what do you expect?
Well other than the fact that your comment made no sense at all...you have absolutly no clue who I am or what I stand for, so before you generalize-get your facts straight.
Your mind is simply too weak to sift through the big words. And yet, somehow, you think you're better than blacks.
BTW, there's nothing whatever to know about you. You're just another dumb redneck who's pissed that blacks can get jobs you can't.
My mind eh? Funny, because your mind seems to have the distorted view that I said I was better than blacks. I never said that-and any dumbass that can read would be able to see that.
And nothing to know about me? Yeah, sure, keep thinking that-but you only proved my point by what you said after that statement. "Your just another dumb redneck who's pissed that blacks can get jobs that you cant"
wow. What a fucking dumb statement. For one-if you knew the TRUE definition of a redneck you would see how stupid that was. For two-I'm not pissed. I want everyone to be treated equal. The only thing that pisses me off is jackasses like you that don't know what their talking about. 3-no black could get a job that I couldn't. I couldn't care less about jobs, that is not my problem with them. My problem is their whining.
So before you run your mouth with stupid shit, open your eyes and get the facts.
Wait Wait Wait. Hold up. Everyone is bitching about how blacks can't get jobs then you go off and say this comment. Make up your mine on what position that you are going to take. And you call us Hypocrits.
This is a joke. If you are going to lie at least keep your story straight.
Hey you voted in "my" people. And speaking of that comment all that does is seperate races even more. Blacks seperate the races more then whites do. They blow things out of proportion. If blacks really wanted in as president they would have the support of the whole black community. It just seems like your race has no faith in itself. And I am more American than any black. My people, as you generalized me, is in fact not white but Native American. My people was here way before any of your kind was. So just because I look white doesn't mean I am right. Keep your mouth shut about your generalization until you know the truth.
No, sorry. It's usually blacks who seek to integrate themselves with other races, especially whites, rather than the other way around.
Everybody knows that whenever blacks move into a white neighborhood, the whites start raising hell. It doesn't matter how clean-cut, respectable, or conservative these blacks are--you people don't like niggers living in your part of town, whether they are good or bad. And if they come in large numbers, you leave. Don't lie, you know it's true.
BTW a black man running for president would need the support of the white majority as well because blacks alone can't elect a black president, duh. You also said I voted in "your" people. If you are Native American, then why are you calling the Republicans "your people"? Sounds like you aren't so sure about who YOUR people really are. It's funny: whites have done the most damage to your people, yet you spend such a huge amount of time complaining about blacks. We aren't holding you down, dumbshit. Try putting your whisky bottle down some time.
"Everybody knows that whenever blacks move into a white neighborhood, the whites start raising hell. It doesn't matter how clean-cut, respectable, or conservative these blacks are--you people don't like niggers living in your part of town, whether they are good or bad. And if they come in large numbers, you leave. Don't lie, you know it's true."
THAT IS 100% FUCKING BULLSHIT.
For one-you need to learn your definitions. A NIGGER is a black man that acts like he is all the shit. The black man-is any other black.
"You speak of blacks acting like dicks--hey, they are as American as apple pie, and many of them live right next door to you, so what do you expect?"
That's the funniest comment I seen in a Min.
It's impossible to be an artist and a bread winner at the same time. Sometimes I think I oughta chuck the whole business.
-Amiri Baraka