Being Black
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I live in Canada, and sure racism exists, but I have to say that I don't think it's as bad here as it is in many other places. If you're cool then we're cool; I don't care if you're black, white, brown, yellow, pink or purple.0
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Thank you InnerFatGirl for shedding some light on the matter.
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Just being a good person is the way to go. In the end no one says “She was good… for a black girl.” “He was nice… for a white guy.”… Well maybe someone does but they’re not a good person.0
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I hate reading posts like this..takes me back to high school when my class put on a black history month program and there were negative comments from white people such as "the indoctrination is in effect." My school was pretty much half black/half white & it was in the country, so there were a bunch of self-proclaimed rednecks who never explored any type of diversity...It just became annoying..pretty much as I've seen so far in my menial 18 years of life: Whites want blacks to get over slavery and racism, blacks want whites to get that racism still exists and always will(which is true, the KKK has come through my neighborhood and slashed my aunt's tires...also spray painted "N|GGER" on my school building)...etc..and stuff like this sucks, debates like these suck because they'll never be resolved. EVER. But all in all, like..just live life and be you, you just can't please everybody, ever.
Racism will always exist, but its not only towards blacks. It is towards every single race. I don't want black people to forget about their history, but in todays world, they shouldn't act like white people still owe them. Slavery was a horrible thing and I am very happy that it is in the past and still not going on. It is great how everything evolved. Racism will never end, but we can try and prevent it as best as we can. 0 -
Just being a good person is the way to go. In the end no one says “She was good… for a black girl.” “He was nice… for a white guy.”… Well maybe someone does but they’re not a good person.
I agree, that would be racism0 -
Love see's no Color, My Race is Human0
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We, as individuals, disagree, have opinions, do different things, want different things and guess what? That's ok! It is ok to have different beliefs, different colored skin, different ideas of love and a different history. Each person is worthy of respect, given and received. My thing is respect. If you respect me I will respect you. Treat me as if I owe you something or I am not up to your "standards" . . . we will have issues.
My goals in life are to treat everyone the same as I want to be treated, give everyone a smile - even the stranger walking past me on the street, and to raise my daughter with love and compassion above all else.
OP keep doing what you are doing. The only person who has a right to tell you who to be is you. I don't know any one personally on this thread and I love you for your opinion and for your goal for a healthier life.0 -
I hate reading posts like this..takes me back to high school when my class put on a black history month program and there were negative comments from white people such as "the indoctrination is in effect." My school was pretty much half black/half white & it was in the country, so there were a bunch of self-proclaimed rednecks who never explored any type of diversity...It just became annoying..pretty much as I've seen so far in my menial 18 years of life: Whites want blacks to get over slavery and racism, blacks want whites to get that racism still exists and always will(which is true, the KKK has come through my neighborhood and slashed my aunt's tires...also spray painted "N|GGER" on my school building)...etc..and stuff like this sucks, debates like these suck because they'll never be resolved. EVER. But all in all, like..just live life and be you, you just can't please everybody, ever.
Racism will always exist, but its not only towards blacks. It is towards every single race. I don't want black people to forget about their history, but in todays world, they shouldn't act like white people still owe them. Slavery was a horrible thing and I am very happy that it is in the past and still not going on. It is great how everything evolved. Racism will never end, but we can try and prevent it as best as we can.
I understand completely what you're saying..it is for every race..I just haven't really experienced it in my schooling with every race..there were like 4 Asians and 6 Hispanic people at my school..lol. If everybody could just work to be postive, life would be a lot better.0 -
I hate reading posts like this..takes me back to high school when my class put on a black history month program and there were negative comments from white people such as "the indoctrination is in effect." My school was pretty much half black/half white & it was in the country, so there were a bunch of self-proclaimed rednecks who never explored any type of diversity...It just became annoying..pretty much as I've seen so far in my menial 18 years of life: Whites want blacks to get over slavery and racism, blacks want whites to get that racism still exists and always will(which is true, the KKK has come through my neighborhood and slashed my aunt's tires...also spray painted "N|GGER" on my school building)...etc..and stuff like this sucks, debates like these suck because they'll never be resolved. EVER. But all in all, like..just live life and be you, you just can't please everybody, ever.
Racism will always exist, but its not only towards blacks. It is towards every single race. I don't want black people to forget about their history, but in todays world, they shouldn't act like white people still owe them. Slavery was a horrible thing and I am very happy that it is in the past and still not going on. It is great how everything evolved. Racism will never end, but we can try and prevent it as best as we can.
I understand completely what you're saying..it is for every race..I just haven't really experienced it in my schooling with every race..there were like 4 Asians and 6 Hispanic people at my school..lol. If everybody could just work to be postive, life would be a lot better.
Just treat others how you would like to be treated. Thats how I always and will always be.0 -
Erykah Badu said something like this on Twitter yesterday... "Race should be take off of EVERY form. We are all Americans."Love see's no Color, My Race is Human
Of course, for everyone else, we're just human! The end.0 -
Racism can definitely flow in any direction. However, the difference is that the white man has not been as crippled by it as the minorities have. Thus it seems a bit hypocritical of them to call racism when they have been the ones oppressing others for centuries. Yeah they might face a bit of trouble today but, honestly, that’s not too bad in comparison.
Ummmmmm about the comment that said that the white man can’t support any “agenda” I’m not sure if I’m misinterpreting this or not so I’m not going to address that.
Am I understanding you correctly? Are you saying that because "the man" was predominantly racist back in the day that now any white man loses their right to claiming that they are being discriminated against? This is what I mean when I said that “discrimination flows both ways” (and I hope you don't take this the wrong way Tammi) but this mindset is what begets discrimination of any type and any capacity.
I think we need to shed that type of mentality and simply strive to better ourselves and quit making a crutch out of the discrimination card. And yes, I’ve been discriminated against…I’m not one to sit there and make myself out to be a martyr, I’ll just prove them wrong by being successful.
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*Sigh* as I said before
Am I understanding you correctly? Are you saying that because "the man" was predominantly racist back in the day that now any white man loses their right to claiming that they are being discriminated against? This is what I mean when I said that “discrimination flows both ways” (and I hope you don't take this the wrong way Tammi) but this mindset is what begets discrimination of any type and any capacity.
I think we need to shed that type of mentality and simply strive to better ourselves and quit making a crutch out of the discrimination card. And yes, I’ve been discriminated against…I’m not one to sit there and make myself out to be a martyr, I’ll just prove them wrong by being successful.
No actually you understand incorrectly. I was not stating that they lose any rights. I was referring to previous statements about how racism can be directed at ANY race and why it seems exaggerated to others when a white man claims to be oppressed when others are in the same situation as them. I don't necessarily hold these opinions, I was just stating how it is viewed by others. If you looked at my other posts you would see that I don’t hold any of these views and that I don’t care what color anybody’s skin is personally. I just know a good bit of the historical and social implications of how it plays a role in everyone’s lives today.
I am not sure if you were implying something or not but I have been discriminated against as well but I have and will NEVER use race as a crutch. I know of the hardships stacked up against me. I was raised to never make excuses for myself and to be a strong individual. Implying otherwise was unnecessary.
Let’s read the thread fully before jumping to conclusions and taking offence to things, yeah? I know that it’s really easy to do that in these types of threads. I have had to take a step back and analys things many times throughout this thread.
we are starting to repeat ourselves now sooooo ...... yeah0 -
I don't think blacks can oppress white people in the same way as the other way round, because white people still have the balance of power on their side in the wider social context. A black person can discriminate against a white person though. I suppose it depends on whether we are defining racism as needing that imbalance of power or not.
"When a group of people has little or no power over you institutionally, they don't get to define the terms of your existence, they can't limit your opportunities, and you needn't worry much about the use of a slur to describe you and yours, since, in all likelihood, the slur is as far as it's going to go. What are they going to do next: deny you a bank loan? Yeah, right." Tim Wise, a (white) anti racism activist.
Even if one black banker turned the white person for racist reasons, they could just go to the very next bank.
I'm not saying white people are bad or black people are saintly or anything.
I'd say individuals can be racists (not matter their race) and groups can be oppressive. Certainly there are black people who are racists. That comes down to personal belief. But, yes, that individual's personal belief is not nearly as powerful as a group of people with power deliberately holding down another group based on skin color or nationality or whatever.
But I don't think being black and hating white people because they're white is a very constructive solution to the wider problem.
I don't hate white peoplem basically all my friends are white. I just am not too fussed on the old racism is all. I am never going to agree with everyone about this, I have said everything I need to say, I just think people sometimes picking out what they want to pick out and not even engaging with anyones points, like thier feelings was more important than exploring the issue. I just know what I have experienced, in a way I wish this thread stopped like 8 pages ago or something, i i should shut up
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I don't think blacks can oppress white people in the same way as the other way round, because white people still have the balance of power on their side in the wider social context. A black person can discriminate against a white person though. I suppose it depends on whether we are defining racism as needing that imbalance of power or not.
"When a group of people has little or no power over you institutionally, they don't get to define the terms of your existence, they can't limit your opportunities, and you needn't worry much about the use of a slur to describe you and yours, since, in all likelihood, the slur is as far as it's going to go. What are they going to do next: deny you a bank loan? Yeah, right." Tim Wise, a (white) anti racism activist.
Even if one black banker turned the white person for racist reasons, they could just go to the very next bank.
I'm not saying white people are bad or black people are saintly or anything.
I'd say individuals can be racists (not matter their race) and groups can be oppressive. Certainly there are black people who are racists. That comes down to personal belief. But, yes, that individual's personal belief is not nearly as powerful as a group of people with power deliberately holding down another group based on skin color or nationality or whatever.
But I don't think being black and hating white people because they're white is a very constructive solution to the wider problem.
I agree with this and some of the issues I was bringing up was mainly about that. Not that racism doesn't happen against white people and individuals don't have their own struggles but the bigger picture which I think you said perfectly. I don't think hate either way is constructive, black or white. All you can do is educate since I do think most of the problems today with racism is pure ignorance. You have the groups that are straight hateful racists and they love to leak out stereotypes to others who I don't think are racist but more misinformed so they can buy into certain things easier.0 -
I only just read the first page in this thread here, but was so happy and impressed that NO ONE WAS A JERK. People seemed respectful, thoughtful, insightful, compassionate, and pretty fun. I love it when it's like that in a thread!0
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What does it mean to be black? Is it more than a race? Someone told me I am 'rubbish at being black'. I live in a mainly white area, my friends and everyone around me is therefore mostly white. Racially, I identify as mixed race/latino/person of colour/black depending on whatever I want. I'm a happy go lucky boy. Why do I feel so bad that someone told me I am apathetic and not doing what I should? I just try to be a good PERSON, I don't think too much about being a good black person. Sometimes I guess I would like to know more people my own race so I don't feel a little different ffrom time to time, but I don't like to say it because it sounds like I am ungrateful for my lovely friends, when really I love them, and it isn't their fault we don't live in a diverse area. I hope it is not bad. I just interested in some thoughts because this is a forum of people cleverer than me! I hope I cause no offence. xxxxxx
You're not bad at being black. You're awesome at being human.
If anyone says that to you again, tell them that they're rubbish at being human.0 -
I def can identify with this. I'm used to being the only AA in the classroom and we're one of the very few AA families in my neighborhood. I've always just been myself. Put me in a room of any race of people and I'm comfortable...just the way I was brought up. I'm grateful that I've been lucky enough to have people just accept me for me.0
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Black is actually the sum of all colours, it takes every colour to make black. And white is the absence of colour. So you are actually a more complex person than you think. I'd hope and think they mean no harm in their statements, but it would be nice if they would think what it is that they are saying to you. Do not waste your time trying to figure out what, why or how people say the things they do, there is so much more important things to thinking about and/or doing. We all need to imagine what it's like to wear someone else's shoes and see through their eyes.0
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Ummm... lovely thought but scientifically inaccurate... completely backward, in fact. White is the composite of all colours which is why white light can be split through a prism to see the spectrum contained therein. Black is the absence of colour.Black is actually the sum of all colours, it takes every colour to make black. And white is the absence of colour.
For that matter, I don't think I've ever seen a truly black person. Most who identify as being black (by whatever nomenclature they've chosen) are some shade of brown. My office is somewhat like the UN... we have folks of all ethnic and racial background but, unlike the UN, we actually get along well!0 -
Ummm... lovely thought but scientifically inaccurate... completely backward, in fact. White is the composite of all colours which is why white light can be split through a prism to see the spectrum contained therein. Black is the absence of colour.Black is actually the sum of all colours, it takes every colour to make black. And white is the absence of colour.
For that matter, I don't think I've ever seen a truly black person. Most who identify as being black (by whatever nomenclature they've chosen) are some shade of brown. My office is somewhat like the UN... we have folks of all ethnic and racial background but, unlike the UN, we actually get along well!
Sorry, you're inaccurate in the case when speaking of skin colors. There is a difference between light color and pigment color. When speaking of the form of light then its true what you say, white is the combo of all color and black is the absent of color but when you speak about pigments, which is on the molecular level of cells it is different from light. Black is then the combo of colors and white is more the absence of color.0 -
The natural variants in colour are mainly as a result of the quantity and type of melanin which can be described as a pigment. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes in a process called melanogenesis. Melanin is triggered by an enzyme called tyrosinase, which creates the color of skin, eyes, and hair shades. Melanocytes produce two types of melanin: pheomelanin (red) and eumelanin (very dark brown).Sorry, you're inaccurate in the case when speaking of skin colors. There is a difference between light color and pigment color. When speaking of the form of light then its true what you say, white is the combo of all color and black is the absent of color but when you speak about pigments, which is on the molecular level of cells it is different from light. Black is then the combo of colors and white is more the absence of color.
As for 'pigment colour' versus 'light colour', since our eyes interpret visually the reflections of light from pigments, I'm not sure how you differentiate between the two? Without light, there is no visible colour.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/index.html0 -
Sorry for going off topic!0
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The natural variants in colour are mainly as a result of the quantity and type of melanin which can be described as a pigment. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes in a process called melanogenesis. Melanin is triggered by an enzyme called tyrosinase, which creates the color of skin, eyes, and hair shades. Melanocytes produce two types of melanin: pheomelanin (red) and eumelanin (very dark brown).Sorry, you're inaccurate in the case when speaking of skin colors. There is a difference between light color and pigment color. When speaking of the form of light then its true what you say, white is the combo of all color and black is the absent of color but when you speak about pigments, which is on the molecular level of cells it is different from light. Black is then the combo of colors and white is more the absence of color.
As for 'pigment colour' versus 'light colour', since our eyes interpret visually the reflections of light from pigments, I'm not sure how you differentiate between the two? Without light, there is no visible colour.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/index.html
Technically both are needed, the object's pigment and the light. Black absorbs all the colors and doesn't reflect it back, in this instance it is not the absent of colors and this is how they are different. They work together but they are different as well.0 -
I know black people aren't literally black, neither are white people literally white. We aren't golly ragdolls and china dollies! I don't think the science of light is very important at all to racial identity, but you are right that darkness of blackness (or browness if you insist!) is an issue.0
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I'm so glad this thread is still going. I had a horrid thing happen. I woke up this morning, looked down and realized, awww crap, I'm white. How am I supposed to act? I just don't know if I can handle this. I'm so use to being human, now I'm a color? WTH? Do I have to start listening to hip hop and shopping at the Gap now?0
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I'm so glad this thread is still going. I had a horrid thing happen. I woke up this morning, looked down and realized, awww crap, I'm white. How am I supposed to act? I just don't know if I can handle this. I'm so use to being human, now I'm a color? WTH? Do I have to start listening to hip hop and shopping at the Gap now?
You can shop at the Gap but less so hip hop... that's cultural appropriation! Jokes! haha.
I would understand if you woke up black and said aww crap, why have I been made a colour not a person, I don't understand why you feel bad about it thouh, waking up white is not a bad thing... it's probably a good thing, it could be argued (it usually is!) that white men won the lottery of life. *In relation to their race and gender, just like the real lottery it doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect and no troubles*0 -
Self-identity for a member of a minority group is often a struggle. Other members will accuse someone else of not being __ enough. It's often a ploy for control.
Your sense of being a black person is for you to define. But unfortunately we are not living in a "post-racial" world. Don't forget you are living in a world where others often are acting upon you and other members of your group based on ignorance or bias and that there are group-wide effects and a history of structural racism that dogs us today. Even members of your group have absorbed negative influences and stereotypes. Even you have. It's impossible not to have internalized some of this when we have grown up immersed in these ideas.
There's a book out called "How to Black." The title is tongue-in-cheek. I believe it's gotten good reviews.0 -
Just being a good person is the way to go. In the end no one says “She was good… for a black girl.” “He was nice… for a white guy.”… Well maybe someone does but they’re not a good person.
But they do say (or think) things like "she was pretty ... for a black girl," "he was smart ... for a black guy."
Yes, we all have to do our best, but it's more complicated than that. We are dealing with society-wide feelings and history.0
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