To WP: What Can Black People Do to Improve Race Relations in this Country?

[Anonymous]

in case you missed the memo, we have an African American president. We, the American people elected and African American to the position of the most POWERFUL man in the free world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with number 3. I am school-based, and while I've seen both Hispanics and blacks wear pants that sag, I've yet to see whites do it. And it's mainly been black teens. We have even had volunteers - successful black males - step in as mentors and give the history on sagging (which is really quite gross), and yet, the students will not change their "style." Many laugh.

It's cool to have relatives in jail, according to many, and while you're reading this from a white woman posting, these words came from my principal, who's a black male with brothers in the penal system.

I've seen black males chastise other black males in public for sagging. And in my experiences, while I've seen more and more minorities enter the teaching profession, these men and women are in a different socio-economic class and have kids in schools that are either private or high functioning. So just as whites practice "white flight," my colleagues clearly have removed themselves from a certain population. In my opinion, bright flight is more applicable now.

So I believe it's about class/socio-economics first, but in this country, low socio-economic level - at least in populated urban environments - translates into black and Hispanic. And being poor and ignorant is indeed becoming a "culture." I live it every single day, and it's ugly and sad.

Why are many immigrant Asians who are not able to communicate well in English able to climb out of poverty, low SES in populated urban environments? Why are they different than blacks and Hispanics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with number 3. I am school-based, and while I've seen both Hispanics and blacks wear pants that sag, I've yet to see whites do it. And it's mainly been black teens. We have even had volunteers - successful black males - step in as mentors and give the history on sagging (which is really quite gross), and yet, the students will not change their "style." Many laugh.

It's cool to have relatives in jail, according to many, and while you're reading this from a white woman posting, these words came from my principal, who's a black male with brothers in the penal system.

I've seen black males chastise other black males in public for sagging. And in my experiences, while I've seen more and more minorities enter the teaching profession, these men and women are in a different socio-economic class and have kids in schools that are either private or high functioning. So just as whites practice "white flight," my colleagues clearly have removed themselves from a certain population. In my opinion, bright flight is more applicable now.

So I believe it's about class/socio-economics first, but in this country, low socio-economic level - at least in populated urban environments - translates into black and Hispanic. And being poor and ignorant is indeed becoming a "culture." I live it every single day, and it's ugly and sad.

If you have never seen white teens with sagging pants, you aren't looking hard enough. And only the underclass (those who glorify violence) think having relatives in jail is cool. Please don't attribute this to all black teens.

That is a problem I notice a lot. Characteristics of some blacks are attributed to ALL. Things that some blacks feel is attributed to how ALL blacks feel. We are treated as ONE rather than allowed any individuality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't believe black people can be racist. Being racist implies having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate. In the US, blacks don't have this power. Now, I do believe we can be prejudiced. There is a difference.

Honey, you need to get a better understanding of the term "racist" because "having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate" is no where in the definition. What you "think" has no bearing on the actual definition which is
" The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others."

You need to go beyond the definition. Superiority is tied to power. Please educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

You need to go beyond the definition. Superiority is tied to power. Please educate yourself.

You don't get to change a definition to suit your purposes. Please educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who said black people can't be racist? Lots of black people don't like white people and they freely admit it. Threads like these probably don't help the case of why they shouldn't assume that whites are always thinking the worst and wanting to control their mannerisms, behaviors, and thought processes.

Some blacks seem to have the impression that white people feel that is black peoples jobs to make whites feel more comfortable- from their hairstyles (keep it relaxed), to their emotions(you are not allowed to get angry unless a white person feels you should be angry), etc.

Where would blacks get these kinds of ideas? Why on earth would they think that?

The definition of racism has always been tied to POWER. The reason why racism is so horrible is because it affects the success of minorities. Blacks don't have the power in the US to be racist. We can, however, be prejudiced.

I agree with your second point. Since their first interactions with black people, it seems like (some) white people have wanted to control how we act/think/dress/speak/etc. No longer having that ability leaves many uncomfortable and it's now somehow my responsibility (as a black woman) to calm their fears. No thanks.

Ok. I see what you are saying. You are saying black people can be prejudice and not racist.

You are saying that because whites being racist holds societal power and blacks being racist does not, then it is not the same thing. Ok...I get it. If blacks don't like whites that will hardly stop anyone from getting a job, a mortgage, a taxi ride, and it is not going to lead to a police beating of an innocent person...I get it..

But most people use racist/ prejudice interchangeably so maybe you could stress the overall point you are trying to make and not focus so much on the terms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop trying to separate yourselves from the rest of society.

You mean like being priced out of neighborhoods you've lived in for generations (ex: gentrification) and having to move somewhere more affordable? In case you didn't know it, you live where you can afford to live. Do whites separate themselves when they move out to Vienna, Ashburn and similar places?

I wasn't referring to geography.

What were you referring to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't believe black people can be racist. Being racist implies having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate. In the US, blacks don't have this power. Now, I do believe we can be prejudiced. There is a difference.

Honey, you need to get a better understanding of the term "racist" because "having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate" is no where in the definition. What you "think" has no bearing on the actual definition which is
" The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others."

You need to go beyond the definition. Superiority is tied to power. Please educate yourself.

A perfect example of the Blacks as Victims mentality. We have a Black president. We have a Black AG. We have Black people running major local governments all over the country. Yet somehow Black people can't ever be racist because they don't have the "power", no matter how much hate they are carrying with them. What rubbish. You are no different than anyone else in this country, regardless of your skin color. If you think that being black somehow absolves you from being racist, then you are in fact the most racist of them all.

[Anonymous]

You need to go beyond the definition. Superiority is tied to power. Please educate yourself.


A perfect example of the Blacks as Victims mentality. We have a Black president. We have a Black AG. We have Black people running major local governments all over the country. Yet somehow Black people can't ever be racist because they don't have the "power", no matter how much hate they are carrying with them. What rubbish. You are no different than anyone else in this country, regardless of your skin color. If you think that being black somehow absolves you from being racist, then you are in fact the most racist of them all.

BINGO!! We have a winner!

[Anonymous]

Providence has blessed Africa, the homeland of blacks, with more natural resources than any other continent--and that's in addition to a bounty of fertile soil and spectacular savannas.


And yet, Africa is one of the world's most miserable places. And the people there constantly complain about how "the white man" has wronged them.

How pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't believe black people can be racist. Being racist implies having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate. In the US, blacks don't have this power. Now, I do believe we can be prejudiced. There is a difference.

Honey, you need to get a better understanding of the term "racist" because "having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate" is no where in the definition. What you "think" has no bearing on the actual definition which is
" The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others."

You need to go beyond the definition. Superiority is tied to power. Please educate yourself.

A perfect example of the Blacks as Victims mentality. We have a Black president. We have a Black AG. We have Black people running major local governments all over the country. Yet somehow Black people can't ever be racist because they don't have the "power", no matter how much hate they are carrying with them. What rubbish. You are no different than anyone else in this country, regardless of your skin color. If you think that being black somehow absolves you from being racist, then you are in fact the most racist of them all.

How does her vocabulary make her racist? She is holding to terminology that some agree with and many don't. Please connect the dots on how that makes her racist?

Also, what does a black president have to do with the point you are trying to make?

[Anonymous]

You don't know what you don't know.

Come into my environment and see the two white faces among the brown ones. Of the 120 kids sent to us as a last resort, TWO are white. And the white boy is not wearing his pants under his rear.

In a comprehensive school where there is equal representation of races/ethnic groups, you STILL don't see as MANY white boys who have adopted that style. I've had YEARS of experience in those settings, too.

It's amazing to me how defensive people get when the truth is spoken. And it's that attitude that keeps groups down. Acknowledge the ugly, attempt to fix it through education, and move forward.

sorry if you can't face the truth - But is is INDEED the truth.

I'm not the one living in a bubble. I'm one of the few whites trying to open up their world. But with that much push back and denial from ADULTS, I can easily say, "So long!" and hope that families and community members find ways to push these kids in the right direction.

But I doubt that many care. And some thing that by IGNORING this issue it will go away. Look at the statistics and tell me who's in jail. http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/page.cfm?id=122
We just sent one young man to the local prison for attempted murder.

And it starts at a very young age - when they're especially vulnerable to gang recruitment.

I never said I looked at a black male and generalized. There are successful minorities all over the US. But you can't ignore the statistics. And when you become angry by hearing the truth, you're part of the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with number 3. I am school-based, and while I've seen both Hispanics and blacks wear pants that sag, I've yet to see whites do it. And it's mainly been black teens. We have even had volunteers - successful black males - step in as mentors and give the history on sagging (which is really quite gross), and yet, the students will not change their "style." Many laugh.

It's cool to have relatives in jail, according to many, and while you're reading this from a white woman posting, these words came from my principal, who's a black male with brothers in the penal system.

I've seen black males chastise other black males in public for sagging. And in my experiences, while I've seen more and more minorities enter the teaching profession, these men and women are in a different socio-economic class and have kids in schools that are either private or high functioning. So just as whites practice "white flight," my colleagues clearly have removed themselves from a certain population. In my opinion, bright flight is more applicable now.

So I believe it's about class/socio-economics first, but in this country, low socio-economic level - at least in populated urban environments - translates into black and Hispanic. And being poor and ignorant is indeed becoming a "culture." I live it every single day, and it's ugly and sad.

If you have never seen white teens with sagging pants, you aren't looking hard enough. And only the underclass (those who glorify violence) think having relatives in jail is cool. Please don't attribute this to all black teens.

That is a problem I notice a lot. Characteristics of some blacks are attributed to ALL. Things that some blacks feel is attributed to how ALL blacks feel. We are treated as ONE rather than allowed any individuality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't believe black people can be racist. Being racist implies having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate. In the US, blacks don't have this power. Now, I do believe we can be prejudiced. There is a difference.

Honey, you need to get a better understanding of the term "racist" because "having a certain level of power to hinder the success of those you hate" is no where in the definition. What you "think" has no bearing on the actual definition which is
" The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others."

You need to go beyond the definition. Superiority is tied to power. Please educate yourself.

A perfect example of the Blacks as Victims mentality. We have a Black president. We have a Black AG. We have Black people running major local governments all over the country. Yet somehow Black people can't ever be racist because they don't have the "power", no matter how much hate they are carrying with them. What rubbish. You are no different than anyone else in this country, regardless of your skin color. If you think that being black somehow absolves you from being racist, then you are in fact the most racist of them all.

How does her vocabulary make her racist? She is holding to terminology that some agree with and many don't. Please connect the dots on how that makes her racist?

Also, what does a black president have to do with the point you are trying to make?

She is saying Black people can't be racist. I am saying that belief is itself racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who said black people can't be racist? Lots of black people don't like white people and they freely admit it. Threads like these probably don't help the case of why they shouldn't assume that whites are always thinking the worst and wanting to control their mannerisms, behaviors, and thought processes.

Some blacks seem to have the impression that white people feel that is black peoples jobs to make whites feel more comfortable- from their hairstyles (keep it relaxed), to their emotions(you are not allowed to get angry unless a white person feels you should be angry), etc.

Where would blacks get these kinds of ideas? Why on earth would they think that?

The definition of racism has always been tied to POWER. The reason why racism is so horrible is because it affects the success of minorities. Blacks don't have the power in the US to be racist. We can, however, be prejudiced.

I agree with your second point. Since their first interactions with black people, it seems like (some) white people have wanted to control how we act/think/dress/speak/etc. No longer having that ability leaves many uncomfortable and it's now somehow my responsibility (as a black woman) to calm their fears. No thanks.

Ok. I see what you are saying. You are saying black people can be prejudice and not racist.

You are saying that because whites being racist holds societal power and blacks being racist does not, then it is not the same thing. Ok...I get it. If blacks don't like whites that will hardly stop anyone from getting a job, a mortgage, a taxi ride, and it is not going to lead to a police beating of an innocent person...I get it..

But most people use racist/ prejudice interchangeably so maybe you could stress the overall point you are trying to make and not focus so much on the terms.

Then that is the issue, not my desire to educate those who are confused. Thank you for understanding the point I was attempting to make. I hope others read your post and recognize the differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Providence has blessed Africa, the homeland of blacks, with more natural resources than any other continent--and that's in addition to a bounty of fertile soil and spectacular savannas.


And yet, Africa is one of the world's most miserable places. And the people there constantly complain about how "the white man" has wronged them.

How pathetic.

The more your people had, the more whites wanted to steal it from you. Whites, the disease that infected the world.