Aww, it'll be alright !

lol, thanx......but serously I am just shocked by some of the stuff people actually believe to be true to the standards that they have set for themeselves

Sorry, Drue and Danni and anyone else, but anyone who doesn't think minorities in this country are racist are living in a fantasy. Obviously white people are racist as are black people and hispanic and asians, as well.

I absolutely agree, King. It's not always the case, but I find a lot of African Americans have this sort of resentment towards all white people, and are just racist towards them. I have two friends, a black girl and a white girl. Black girl's parents do not like our shared, white friend, and they have no logical reason. They simply don't trust her, because she's white. It's a closed minded view. No different than white people discriminating against blacks. Or Latinos. Or Asians. Or anyone else. And it's nearly as present.

Some blacks are also prejudiced towards light skinned blacks and biracial people, and that is extremely stupid. With biracials, the resentment is there because we represent the mixing of two different races, and some blacks have a serious problem with a black person having children with a white person, or any race that isn't black. Love sees no color, and I see more and more interracial couples and children when I'm out. I don't consider that a threat to society or a race, I consider that an example of people overcoming race to be together. As for light-skinned blacks, they have no control over their skin color, so why even hate on them?

Why hate on anybody really?

Some blacks are also prejudiced towards light skinned blacks and biracial people, and that is extremely stupid.

Ever stop to consider why colorism exists or are you too naive to figure that out?

Sorry, Drue and Danni and anyone else, but anyone who doesn't think minorities in this country are racist are living in a fantasy. Obviously white people are racist as are black people and hispanic and asians, as well.

I believe that they can be prejudiced, but actual racism is a whole other level because of the power structure that exists. I'm not going to get into detail about it again, so I suggest you look up Tim Wise or Beverly Daniel Tatum for a more in-depth definition.

Ever stop to consider why colorism exists or are you too naive to figure that out?

Do you ever think about what you say?

Do you ever think about what you say?

If she wants to come at me underhandedly like she did earlier in the thread, then I can do the same.

http://www.komoradio.com/home/video/500185...deo=pop&t=a

I suggest everyone watch this. This doesn't just come from thin air. This didn't happen out of nowhere. This is 100+ years of psychological damage that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Edited January 26, 200718 yr by Danni

I believe that they can be prejudiced, but actual racism is a whole other level because of the power structure that exists. I'm not going to get into detail about it again, so I suggest you look up Tim Wise or Beverly Daniel Tatum for a more in-depth definition.

WORD! I was going to say it but you explain it so eloquently IMO.

Your every day white person doesn't have power or structure, but you can still accuse them of being racist.

So why does it matter if black people lack power and structure? They can still be racist.

I just re-read this entire thread & WOW! What a great read! Even though I obviously don't agree with all of you, it was interesting to get different viewpoints on various issues. I think everyone in the thread, for the most part, said what was honestly on their mind, which was at the core of its intention. Here's a collection of some of my favorite posts! A big fat WORD to all of you!

I agreed with Kwing up until he mentioned "unqualified minorities". I hate it when Canadians or Americans whine about how foreigners are coming in to steal their jobs when they (Canadians or Americans) are lacking the education to do the job right or don't want to be stuck with low-paying service jobs. Can't have your cake and eat it, too.

But in reference to the original topic. I've seen threads gets closed for no good reason other than the fact that the discussion will undoubtbly get heated. It happened with me on another board when I brought up religion and questioned the belief of America being the world's moral platform. With not even one reply, a mod closed it. I was pissed because it did relate to a soap storyline and I find it sad how people will close a discussion regarding social issues that *gasp* actually result from soaps. Threads of "I hate this actor" or "So and so sucks" can be allowed to boring infinity but thought-provoking topics that might be a little touchy immediately get stomped on.

There's a point where censorship does lead to ignorance.

Well, I'm only going to post in this topic once... I for one have gotten to the point where I just begin to tune out folks that always want to bring race into the mix; or those who make little backhanded comments about race..Why? Because I know who I am...I am African American; but that doesn't define who I am..I don't let it hiinder me..I don't hind in shame for liking someone that is different than me, and I don't get upset (depending on how it's worded or tone in which it was said) when someone runs off at the mouth about anything regarding race.

I try to live my life by respecting others; regardless of their ethnicity, their sexual orientation or their beliefs...Hmm...Maybe I am in the minority for being that way, but that's who I am. The only thing that really bothers me is when I have others always feeling the need to change me by how I am.

I read a lot of these comments, and point blank, not one single one really offends me...Everyone is intitled to their opinion and their views...I don't agree with a lot of what was said, but that's just me. I like mostly everyone that posts on here, regardless. It's just a shame that some times folks want to hate on others for what they believe, or deem them 'beneath' them for even having a different view as they do.

Oh, screw it, I'm not holding it in any longer.

God forbid there might actually be some impassioned, heated debates, especially about important issues that should be dealt with. But I suppose it's better just to whitewash (no pun intended) over them all together.

This is a message board. I could care less about being called a name.

... in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquillity will return again.

~Anne Frank

Why are you coughing my name?

Shawn, I apologize for my question. It was out of line.

As I said before, when it comes to issues like this, I am passionate about it, and I will defend myself until I'm blue in the face. I'm also not going to mince words because somehow it won't make you feel good about yourself. Talk to anyone who's passionate about racial issues, and I guarantee there will be no soft blows, nor should there be. If you feel the need to insult me, fine. Go right ahead, but that merely shows that you've got nothing to counter anything that I've said. Look at every single thread that had a racial discussion involved. Who was doing the majority of the insulting? I dish out my shots, but there were a hell of a lot of shots taken at me before I even regarded anyone.

Lastly, Ryan and I are friends, but I do not need him to hold my hand nor do I tell him to come and defend me. If he chooses to do so, it's because he wants to. He'll also tell me when I'm out of line, and I respect him for that.

DOROTHY: "Rose, did it ever occur to you that we might be just a little bit tired of hearing 'back in St. Olaf, back in St. Olaf, back in St. Olaf?!"

ROSE: "Gee, Dorothy, no I didn't. Well... back in that town whose name you're tired of hearing..."

DOROTHY: "ROSE!"

Sorry. I'll get back on topic now.

Kwing, why put that out there? Why actually put that there for her to choose? Even I wouldn't tell you who I'd hire. Mainly because either way you say it, you'll make a comment towards her about what she said....

I see what you are pointing out, but I just thing that last paragraph was kind of a set-up; and I've seen it asked of me all the time.

Wow intense.

I really don't know what to say because admitedly I am a bit naive. I guess it is the world I grew up in and how my parents raised me. I don't care what color you are, who you sleep with(except of course if they are underage), what religion you care to practice if you want to. I don't care how old you are, how much you weigh etc. I try to tolerate people as best as possible. Am I always successful? Hell no. I admit I have made racist remarks before. Does it make me racist? I don't know, it might. Do I hate a specific race, no, I wasn't brought up that way.

I like people for who they are and I respect people for who they are. There is not one poster here that I dislike and I respect what posters say. Sure I get annoyed with posts but who doesn't? Tolerance is key. I try to remember that my God (who is different than everyone elses IMO) is about tolerance and respect for all.

I like King's suggestion about warning and maybe we should have more mods. I was on a board and we had guidelines that we all [!@#$%^&*]ed and moaned about, but after a while, everything worked out. It was all about respect.

And that is my opinion, take it or leave

Some blacks are also prejudiced towards light skinned blacks and biracial people, and that is extremely stupid. With biracials, the resentment is there because we represent the mixing of two different races, and some blacks have a serious problem with a black person having children with a white person, or any race that isn't black. Love sees no color, and I see more and more interracial couples and children when I'm out. I don't consider that a threat to society or a race, I consider that an example of people overcoming race to be together. As for light-skinned blacks, they have no control over their skin color, so why even hate on them?

Why hate on anybody really?

ICAM! I hate that, black people hating black people based on skin color. It drives me crazy that we make such an issue over color, even within our own race. I fully agree with you on love not seeing any color. When it comes to love, nothing else in the world seems to matter.

Well, when you don't have the burden of being a minority in some way, you can always brush it off and say "it doesn't affect me, so I don't have to deal with the issue at hand". To an extent certain minorities who also have privilege in other arenas follow that same mentality.

The worst is when someone somehow wants a cookie for having "insert-minority" friend. No, you're not getting any praise nor should you. That's what you should be doing from the get go.

And that's where I would disagree with you. In fact, I think that statement actually denies racial equality. No one "should" have a friend who is from a minority group just because it's a perceived 'right thing to do.' If all races are truly equal, then a person can feel comfortable with natural friendships, whether they be all white, all black, a mingling of the races or even if the person chooses to be a recluse and have no friends. That's their choice. There should be no "should" in the equation.

Your every day white person doesn't have power or structure, but you can still accuse them of being racist.

Yes, they do. It's in how a white person can be so dismissive of actual racism. It's in how you can say "Oh, get over it" whenever there is a discussion of racism and the history of racism. It's in how you say "It's not my problem, it's up to the minorities to change the minds of others when the very people who need to have their minds changed are practically brick walls". It's in how you come up with a downright awful example of "racism", (Randy Jackson favoring powerhouse black singers comes to mind), and completely ignore the real forms (like Chris Knipp's blackface drag queen character Shirley Q. Liquor who is a "welfare queen" with 19 kids or the MLK parties at TSU and UCONN). It's how you say nothing when a certain someone downright says that he will use the n-word in a heated argument. If you're not an ally in the fight. If you're not active in the fight, you're making sure that racism still exists.

I hate that, black people hating black people based on skin color.

Once again, look at the history of why colorism exists. That's psychological damage. When you're being fed the "white is right" mentality for so long, it's only a matter of time until it becomes a divisive force within the black community.

And that's where I would disagree with you. In fact, I think that statement actually denies racial equality. No one "should" have a friend who is from a minority group just because it's a perceived 'right thing to do.' If all races are truly equal, then a person can feel comfortable with natural friendships, whether they be all white, all black, a mingling of the races or even if the person chooses to be a recluse and have no friends. That's their choice. There should be no "should" in the equation.

That part bothers me on so many levels because I'd consider someone who has only white friends to be rather suspect. Then again, someone who's made no effort to befriend a POC isn't really worth being a friend of mine because I'm not going to be a token to soothe their conscience.