Racism?

Ever have to go to a sensitivity seminar or watch one of those incredibly lame videos for work?

You know what I'm talking about. Where situations are presented and you're given examples of what is and is not proper behavior in the work place.

There's one that's always bugged me. I think in every last seminar I've ever been to they've brought up the basketball example. Two white guys are talking about how the company team is really struggling. They approach some guy and say something like: "Hey, Frank. Y'know, we're struggling on the court. We could use your help. I mean, you are black so you must be good."

Okay, now it's incredibly stupid to assume that all black folk are great basketball players, granted. However, I don't see how that is offensive. I mean, basically they're stating that hey, your race is known for producing some of the greatest athletes in the world. Can we get some of that?

I don't understand why anyone would be offended. If you want to assume that I'm a great baseball player or a great boxer, hell maybe I'm not, but I'm sure proud that my folks have that reputation. I'm certainly not going to be angry at you.

I think the emphasis is probably on the stereotypes themselves and people's general ignorance and stupidity. At some point all stereotype (positive or negative) are just ridiculous.

Example:

'He's black so he must be good at basketball. Just watch out he doesn't pierce the ball with his third leg or gets it caught in his luscious Afro. Oh yeh, they're also good at dancing, so keep him far away from your girl. Aren't they good runners? Maybe we should get him to get us some pizza'

If you want to assume I have a gigantic penis that's also okay by me.

I don't think anyone but the dumbest of the dumb suggests something like that in all seriousness. Why can't people focus on intent rather than content? Get angry at people who are attacking you, not people who are cracking friendly jokes or who don't carefully word their every thought like a politician.

OMG, I was just told today about how we all have to start deliberately incorporating Cultural Sensitivity into our lecture material.

I need some really creative ideas for this. My husband suggested I state that niggers are just as welcome as white students in my class. LOL.

fuk yeah! if you're having a cumbia contest and two hispanic people are up against a white couple and an asian couple, the spanish people are gonna win. porque la cumbia esta en nuestra alma.

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Originally Posted by Gribble [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

If you want to assume I have a gigantic penis that's also okay by me.

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What about if people assume you're a good runner because your people are good at that and then try to force you to run for the team?

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Originally Posted by Gribble [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Get angry at people who are attacking you, not people who are cracking friendly jokes or who don't carefully word their every thought like a politician.

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Yeh, there are a few people who take these sensitivities too far. Though, not all jokes are friendly. Sometimes they are made to show a superiority over others. In those instances the backlash is absolutely understandable.

Don't forget 'reverse-racism' where one race gets special treatment over the others... that's always irked me as well...

Such as 'black history month'... what about 'white history month,' 'Asian history month,' 'Hispanic history month,' while you're at it? See how ridiculous this would get?

You want racism to stop... then stop paying attention to the race of the person you're talking to and more to the kind of person they are.

you know sometimes people just want to be acknowledged for what/who they are. they don't want things to change, they just want a day to party and celebrate. the problem i think is people wanting to always feel like they have to 'do something' or give something of theirs to appreciate someone or something. people just want to be appreciated.

I remember when a close (black) friend of mine told me that he was on track. I told him that he must be very good since he's so used to running from the police.

That reminds me. Why does Mexico suck at the Olympics? Because all of the ones that can run, jump, and swim are already over here.

How come there aren't any Mexicans on Star Trek? Because they don't work in the future either.

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Originally Posted by Aeradalia [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Such as 'black history month'... what about 'white history month,' 'Asian history month,' 'Hispanic history month,' while you're at it? See how ridiculous this would get?

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White history month is every other month of the year.

I don't know that I agree with having a month set aside, though. I think black, Asian, Hispanic and all other history should be taught year round.

As for making someone run track, get angry at them for that. Don't get angry at them for rightfully acknowledging that the best runners in the world happen to be black.

I think I might be offended by it because I want to be recognized for what I, the individual, can do and not what you assume my entire race can do. On top of it, not everyone makes racial comments as jokes, but more so as an intentional insult to said race. I can take a racial joke here and there, but I rather not accept ones where I am grouped with other blacks just because you assume that is what I would do. Like welfare queens? I'm not one. And drinking Kool Aid? I dont like Kool Aid. I'll laugh when they say "some" but not when they say "all" because in reality, it's true. SOME black people are that way, but not all.

It's sorta like when women say "All men are dogs." Alot of guys hate when they are grouped with other men.

Those examples are generally negative, though. Anyone ought to be offended for being called a welfare queen, and doubly so if it's a jab at their entire race.

Suppose I have the good fortune to have sex with you. Suppose once I've caught my breath I tell you the following: "I guess it's true what they say. Once you go black you never go back." Would that offend you?

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Originally Posted by Gribble [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

White history month is every other month of the year.

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That's a racist comment in its own right... I just love how whites are automatically assumed to be in control or 'the man'... I have never suppressed anyone, never had a slave (though a boy toy seems intriguing ;) ), and I'm not a bible-thumper either..

Yet you don't hear comments like 'it's because I'm white' or 'white pride,' or everyone needs to learn about European culture. Why? Because race has nothing do with your work ethics, you can be prideful about your own race without forcing others to 'endure' it against their will, and learning about other cultures should be optional, because dammit, it just might not be top priority for everyone.

I don't care if you're black, white, hispanic, asian, indian, pink, purple... whatever... all that matters in society is are you a law-abiding person and do you do your job...

The rest is just incessant whining like siblings fighting for more affection from their parents... in this case the parent is the government, and the siblings are the races... If you truly want equality then that means no special privileges...

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Originally Posted by Gribble [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Those examples are generally negative, though. Anyone ought to be offended for being called a welfare queen, and doubly so if it's a jab at their entire race.

Suppose I have the good fortune to have sex with you. Suppose once I've caught my breath I tell you the following: "I guess it's true what they say. Once you go black you never go back." Would that offend you?

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Hell no lol. Thats more of a compliment IMO.

oh shit it's a damn race war lol.

i'll tell you right now the brown people will always win in the race war ya'll white devils.

I guess at this point Fras should come out and say Go back to Africa if you don't like our jokes, right?

the only reason why it's offensive to black people is because it is assumed that they are only good in sports, music and dancing, basically anything that does not require any brain activity. everything else that has to with education or intellect is never mentioned.

lol now's the time when the white people start crying.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaa!

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Originally Posted by Aeradalia [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

If you truly want equality then that means no special privileges...

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Look at it this way: when minorities were openly discriminated against not so long ago white males were free to prosper. Free to be educated. Free to earn money.

Well, that special privilege is now being made up for by providing minorities a slight leg up.

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Originally Posted by Gribble [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Look at it this way: when minorities were openly discriminated against not so long ago white males were free to prosper. Free to be educated. Free to earn money.

Well, that special privilege is now being made up for by providing minorities a slight leg up.

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A slight leg up? How about just bringing them to the same level of rights? What's with the overcompensation? Chances are the 'offending' generation is either gone or no longer in power...

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Originally Posted by Cain [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I remember when a close (black) friend of mine told me that he was on track. I told him that he must be very good since he's so used to running from the police.

That reminds me. Why does Mexico suck at the Olympics? Because all of the ones that can run, jump, and swim are already over here.

How come there aren't any Mexicans on Star Trek? Because they don't work in the future either.

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hahahahahah

That reminds me. A few friends of mine, including a Mexican, went into a sex shop a few years ago and saw this giant dildo called "The Great American Challenge". One of the girls (rather brassy, and that's an understatement) asked the Mexican, Patricio, "Do you have the Great American Challenge, Patricio?" And he said, "The Great American Challenge is crossing the border."

There is a difference between a casino indian and a slurpy indian. Lol, I love Lampanelli.

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Originally Posted by Indignant [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I guess at this point Fras should come out and say Go back to Africa if you don't like our jokes, right?

the only reason why it's offensive to black people is because it is assumed that they are only good in sports, music and dancing, basically anything that does not require any brain activity. everything else that has to with education or intellect is never mentioned.

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Do you think they would prefer the asian stereotype of being good at maths but nothing else?

Either way, I think I have yet to hear of any profession-related stereotypes of white people.

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Originally Posted by Aeradalia [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Yet you don't hear comments like 'it's because I'm white' or 'white pride,' or everyone needs to learn about European culture.

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:astonish:

Is that a joke? Of COURSE we hear it (or at least hear ABOUT it).

I have no problem with black history month. I actually *enjoy* hearing about the accomplishments of people I never got to hear about in school. I wish there were Hispanic history month and Asian history month. There isn't enough time in school to teach about all the contributions made by all ethnic groups, and so Gribble is correct in saying that white history month is every other month.

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Originally Posted by misombra [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

lol now's the time when the white people start crying.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaa!

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[Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I get it... other races can defend themselves.. except for the one.. right? I guess I drew the wrong card genetically... so I have to pay via reverse discrimination for that? For a political climate I have no control over and genetic factors I certainly have no control over?

With such an arrangement in this world... I fail to see how we've progressed any further... all that has happened is more akin to musical chairs... swapping one for another... no equality... and no meaningful change...

Sometimes I think everyone wants to be a victim.

So far as I can tell, people who are targeted for reverse discrimination have been white males (rather than females), and quite honestly, I don't really know many white males who have used reverse discrimination as an excuse for not moving forward.

Anyway, I'm sure you know as well as I do that those "white pride" groups aren't seeking equal rights for themselves, but rather decreased rights for people of color. They also tend to be bigoted, uneducated, hateful hillbillies that scare even most white people, and they believe they racially superior. Somehow that strikes me different than black people wanting to recognize the achievements of black people in history.

And really, I'm white... I don't feel threatened by other people wanting to recognize they have contributed historically. I don't really understand why anyone would. There is no psychological cost to me if other people are proud of their heritage. We also have Women in History month. I say good. White men weren't alone in building our society. Knowing this doesn't mean I have an ax to grind with white men; it's simply a fact.

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Originally Posted by Aeradalia [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

then stop paying attention to the race of the person you're talking to and more to the kind of person they are.

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This says it all for me^ and I agree. That, and have faith that ppl want to do good and do better. They will try not to disappoint you if they know you believe in them.

Mental exercise: think about that last point in the context of any conflict you know of. Personal or global, no matter. If each of the parties believed this about the other party, what would happen to the conflict?

Oh vashti you are sooo right on the money there when you say everyone wants to be a victim!! Spot on! I have to laugh at one situation I saw when I was in the states. My boss and I went out for a mcdonalds. It was the day Bush came to visit New york and there were protesters. Mostly white on bikes going thru the city protesting. She is black and turned around and said, ‘if they were all black they would be arrested’ I laughed and said they probably will. She then proceeded to go on a rant about white people. I shut my mouth. The next day in the news it was huge news about people from the crowd getting arrested and mistreated by the cops. I told her ‘huh looks like I was right’ she just ignored me and went off in a huff. What I didn’t like was the assumption that in this day and age that black people get treated worse when in this case her assumption was clearly not true. I found in the states that black people pull the race card all the time to get what they want. It is racism against white people. Now I feel discriminated against coz I’m white and to top it off a woman. Why should I be held responsible or be made to feel guilty about what white people did in America years ago. We Irish were treated badly by the English but do I hold it against this generation??? Of course not. Black people need to move on seriously.

Everyone wants to complain about something too. That's the other issue.

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Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

We Irish were treated badly by the English but do I hold it against this generation??? Of course not. Black people need to move on seriously.

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Hahah anyone seen/heard Ragtime? I'm having this Ragtime flashback.
"Does he think only niggers get shit?/We Irish had to get used to it."

I have such mixed feelings about all of this that I almost always end up playing devils advocate because I don't like any position

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Originally Posted by DoesntMatter [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I have such mixed feelings about all of this that I almost always end up playing devils advocate because I don't like any position

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That's how I feel. I mean, I'm not entirely sure I'm cool with the idea of giving scholarships specifically to certain races or businesses being compelled to hire minorities. But I do see the rationale.

Aeradalia, white folk are wealthier on average than minorities. The current generation of whites has advantages thanks to the privileges their ancestors enjoyed.

As for racism directed at whites, you've got a perfectly valid point. Believe it or not, I identify myself as white. I look white. Act white. My Hispanic roots are distant. So I know what it's like to have someone mutter under their breath about hte white boy. And I know what it's like to be powerless to say anything. I know how frustrating it is to know that if I muttered about the black boy I'd have everyone and their mother on my case. It is stupid. And it is wrong. Racism needs to be dissolved across the entire spectrum before we've really made any progress. So long as minorities feel it's okay and so long as they are allowed to get away with it, we haven't really come as far as many think.

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Originally Posted by Gribble [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Aeradalia, white folk are wealthier on average than minorities. The current generation of whites have advantages thanks to the privileges their ancestors enjoyed.

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how about some real examples. why don't everyone tell us how many non-white people they have working in their company.

we have roughly 100 people working for us. guess how many of them are not white? 1. we have one black girl working for us. had 2 last year, but she fell off because of drug addictions. wasn't fired, she quit. i am sure that one who's left doesn't make as much as everyone else. she left 3 times already trying to find a better paying job and it is impossible for her. people do judge by a person's skin color, speech and behaviour.

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Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Black people need to move on seriously.

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but the oppression inflicted on them halted their progress. they have every right to want a month to celebrate what their ancestors went through to afford them what they have now. and they have every right to be angry about what happened to their grandparents, great grandparents, etc...

there was a time not too long ago that black people couldn't get into colleges, get most jobs. they were in terrible poverty and didn't have access to an education. being that a child's likelihood of going to college is determined by the education level of their parents, well that would mean a lot of people missed out.

i think you need to move on. cause you don't know what you're talking about.

well mis i do, we were oppressed by the english in the same way, but most irish people have moved on seriously. i get your point that the opportunities are there for rich white folk but the same goes for the protestant english here, they go to the best schools and best everything, they still live in mansions passed down thru generations of stealing from the irish. my dad came from a very poor farming background, if the engish hadn't come in things i know would have been a LOT different, he heard about his dad and his family were opressed in ways we see in war time today, the english sent in convicts to pillage and rape the irish folk so i'm sure i'm part english because of it and that really wasn't that long ago.

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Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

well mis i do, we were oppressed by the english in the same way, but most irish people have moved on seriously. i get your point that the opportunities are there for rich white folk but the same goes for the protestant english here, they go to the best schools and best everything, they still live in mansions passed down thru generations of stealing from the irish. my dad came from a very poor farming background, if the engish hadn't come in things i know would have been a LOT different, he heard about his dad and his family were opressed in ways we see in war time today, the english sent in convicts to pillage and rape the irish folk so i'm sure i'm part english because of it and that really wasn't that long ago.

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no eco, racism is different from regular class separations.

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Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

well mis i do, we were oppressed by the english in the same way, but most irish people have moved on seriously. i get your point that the opportunities are there for rich white folk but the same goes for the protestant english here, they go to the best schools and best everything, they still live in mansions passed down thru generations of stealing from the irish. my dad came from a very poor farming background, if the engish hadn't come in things i know would have been a LOT different, he heard about his dad and his family were opressed in ways we see in war time today, the english sent in convicts to pillage and rape the irish folk so i'm sure i'm part english because of it and that really wasn't that long ago.

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black people were bought and sold. they were beaten, raped, and forced to work all day and sleep outside on the porch like dogs. forced to be separated from their family members.

and when they tried to get away they were chased by dogs.

i don't think it's the same.

I know the Irish had it bad. I've heard that their rolling green hills and derth of trees are thanks to their resources being plundered wholesale. Beyond that, I really don't know much about their plight. I've heard Irish referred to as Europe's niggers once or twice.

What happened, Eco? How bad was it? How bad is it still?

Racism against racists sucks too.

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Originally Posted by misombra [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

black people were bought and sold. they were beaten, raped, and forced to work all day and sleep outside on the porch like dogs. forced to be separated from their family members.

and when they tried to get away they were chased by dogs.

i don't think it's the same.

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Do you have black neighbors that were bought and sold, beaten, raped and forced to work all day, slept outside on the porch like dogs, and forced to be separated from their family members?