Being Black

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  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
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    As a heterosexual white male, you're not being discriminated against and your equal rights aren't in jeopardy. All of us who belong to an oppressed minority group have the responsibility to stand up for ourselves and other oppressed minorities. What you call "promoting an agenda" is simply demanding equal treatment. I'm not surprised you can't empathize.

    There's a lot of bias against heterosexual white males, kind of like a backlash. They will be blamed for sexism and racism first. They will be stepped over just so that a company has a woman or ethnic person in positions to fill their quota. And that's speaking as a woman. All of this just needs to find a balance but it'll take a while. I don't care about this enough to be honest, live and let live.

    A white heterosexual man with a criminal background has more of chance getting a job over a black man without one. You can take a look the unemployment rates as well and see which groups are hurting the most. Trust me, white men do not as much as a hard time finding a job as a black male. Many white men over exaggerate because they know of the affirmation laws and stuff so they try to blame the regulations instead of their own flaws to why they may not be getting a job but they still don't have the hurdles that other races face.

    Unemployment rates don't tell you if people are unemployed because they were discriminated against, come on. Youve gotta be smarter than that. I'm not saying discrimination doesn't happen, but your example is ridiculous.

    But studies that do take different races with the same qualifications and see who gets the job does. There's been plenty of these studies done, you can look them up for yourself.
    I don't doubt that, but what you said up there made no sense at all.

    Educate yourself further and it will.

    You quoted ONLY unemployment rates. You can not possibly draw any conclusions regarding discrimination SOLELY based on unemployment numbers, and you know that.

    I stated that's another thing you can look at basically. Its not a coincidence when the recession hit that certain groups got hit harder. If you feel otherwise then tell me why you think they got hit harder? When there aren't many jobs out there and 100 plus people fighting for the same job, who you think has more of a chance?

    You were basically saying this:

    Timmy has 2 green apples and 1 red apple. You can assume Timmy doesn't like red apples.

    Which is wrong. And that's all I was saying. Your logic wasn't working out. I even said that I knew that discrimination happened.

    Okay, my logic doesn't work. Then tell me why are certain groups being hit harder with the recession? I'm always open to learning new things.

    Are you actually reading what I've been saying? I've said about three times now that discrimination exists. All I was telling you off for was using faulty logic. Faulty logic is what misinforms people and makes them think things about certain groups.

    I'm not sure you understand what you are saying. If my logic is faulty and not just faulty but ridiculous, then you must have some idea of your own? You say there is discrimination but then the idea that discrimination plays in unemployment is faulty? How so if discrimination does exist? You're basically stating that discrimination doesn't exist when people try to get a job? Is that what you are saying? It doesn't happen? If so, then what is your idea on what is happening when certain groups getting hit harder with unemployment?

    O....M.....G. You lack such basic reasoning skills it is getting to be a bit ridiculous.

    WHAT I SAID is that you can't ONLY give someone unemployment numbers if you want to back up claims of discrimination. How does that not make sense to you??? And have you ignored the FOUR times now I've said discrimination DOES exist? I'm just not going to reply anymore. It's sad that I'm 19 and have more logic and basic reasoning skills than someone nearly twice my age.

    Why are you so upset being asked what your idea on this is? You haven't really said why it can't be used. You admit there is discrimination so what I'm asking is that you feel it does not come into play when people go for a job? Your apple example is false since it implied there is zero discrimination going on but you state there is discrimination. You don't have any idea of your own to why you feel there is higher unemployment with certain groups of people? That's all I'm asking. I didn't say unemployment was the only thing to back up claims of discrimination, you keep saying that I've said only and never did. The first line in my original comment on this is from an actual study, yes I didn't site it but as I said later on you can look up studies on this, if you're interested.

    If you don't cite your work it doesn't count. If you've ever written an academic paper you'll know that. Sorry to burst your bubble :)

    Wow, a forum is an academic paper? You still for some reason can't give me any ideas of your own?

    You should treat any debate like an academic paper, if you expect to be taken seriously, which you seem to want to do. I already stated that discrimination does exist (which is an agreement with you, btw). I guess I just wanted to call out your faulty logic ;)

    Your issue was with what I said about unemployment anyways, not my first statement. If you feel like calling me out you should have a good reason to do so but you can't tell me any ideas on why this is or why it can't play a role in unemployment?

    My issue is that you claimed unemployment told a story about discrimination. Which it doesn't. You can agree with that, right? If you can, then the conversation should have ended a long time ago.

    How do you know it doesn't?


    FFFFFUUUUUUUU

    I'm just going to copy+paste my Timmy example again. I'd sure hate to have you on a jury! Apparently extra information that was never mentioned is okay to use as evidence... hmm.

    You want to prove Timmy hates red apples. But the ONLY information you have is that TImmy has less red apples than green apples. You can't logically draw the conclusion that Timmy hates red apples ONLY based on the information you have.
  • Aviendha_RJ
    Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
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    It shouldn't matter if someone's black, white, yellow, red, or purple.

    Ok... maybe we draw the line at purple people. Unless they're choking. Then you should probably help them out.

    but what would the flying purple people eater eat if there where no purple people? Or is it colored purple and eat flying people? I was never too clear on that.

    I think it's purple & eats flying people. At least... I've never seen a flying purple people eater eat a purple person, so I'm going with what I have here. But flying people does make sense... I mean... we have jets, cargo planes, helecopters, hang gliders... if he was purple & ate flying people, he wouldn't starve in today's society.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,012 Member
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    FFFFFUUUUUUUU

    I'm just going to copy+paste my Timmy example again. I'd sure hate to have you on a jury! Apparently extra information that was never mentioned is okay to use as evidence... hmm.

    You want to prove Timmy hates red apples. But the ONLY information you have is that TImmy has less red apples than green apples. You can't logically draw the conclusion that Timmy hates red apples ONLY based on the information you have.

    She's not going to get it......Sometimes you have to know when to walk away......
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    Options


    FFFFFUUUUUUUU

    I'm just going to copy+paste my Timmy example again. I'd sure hate to have you on a jury! Apparently extra information that was never mentioned is okay to use as evidence... hmm.

    You want to prove Timmy hates red apples. But the ONLY information you have is that TImmy has less red apples than green apples. You can't logically draw the conclusion that Timmy hates red apples ONLY based on the information you have.

    She's not going to get it......Sometimes you have to know when to walk away......

    I know. I guess it's just the little bit of child left in me thinking "she's a grown up, she's gotta know this"
  • Rhea30
    Rhea30 Posts: 625 Member
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    As a heterosexual white male, you're not being discriminated against and your equal rights aren't in jeopardy. All of us who belong to an oppressed minority group have the responsibility to stand up for ourselves and other oppressed minorities. What you call "promoting an agenda" is simply demanding equal treatment. I'm not surprised you can't empathize.

    There's a lot of bias against heterosexual white males, kind of like a backlash. They will be blamed for sexism and racism first. They will be stepped over just so that a company has a woman or ethnic person in positions to fill their quota. And that's speaking as a woman. All of this just needs to find a balance but it'll take a while. I don't care about this enough to be honest, live and let live.

    A white heterosexual man with a criminal background has more of chance getting a job over a black man without one. You can take a look the unemployment rates as well and see which groups are hurting the most. Trust me, white men do not as much as a hard time finding a job as a black male. Many white men over exaggerate because they know of the affirmation laws and stuff so they try to blame the regulations instead of their own flaws to why they may not be getting a job but they still don't have the hurdles that other races face.

    Unemployment rates don't tell you if people are unemployed because they were discriminated against, come on. Youve gotta be smarter than that. I'm not saying discrimination doesn't happen, but your example is ridiculous.

    But studies that do take different races with the same qualifications and see who gets the job does. There's been plenty of these studies done, you can look them up for yourself.
    I don't doubt that, but what you said up there made no sense at all.

    Educate yourself further and it will.

    You quoted ONLY unemployment rates. You can not possibly draw any conclusions regarding discrimination SOLELY based on unemployment numbers, and you know that.

    I stated that's another thing you can look at basically. Its not a coincidence when the recession hit that certain groups got hit harder. If you feel otherwise then tell me why you think they got hit harder? When there aren't many jobs out there and 100 plus people fighting for the same job, who you think has more of a chance?

    You were basically saying this:

    Timmy has 2 green apples and 1 red apple. You can assume Timmy doesn't like red apples.

    Which is wrong. And that's all I was saying. Your logic wasn't working out. I even said that I knew that discrimination happened.

    Okay, my logic doesn't work. Then tell me why are certain groups being hit harder with the recession? I'm always open to learning new things.

    Are you actually reading what I've been saying? I've said about three times now that discrimination exists. All I was telling you off for was using faulty logic. Faulty logic is what misinforms people and makes them think things about certain groups.

    I'm not sure you understand what you are saying. If my logic is faulty and not just faulty but ridiculous, then you must have some idea of your own? You say there is discrimination but then the idea that discrimination plays in unemployment is faulty? How so if discrimination does exist? You're basically stating that discrimination doesn't exist when people try to get a job? Is that what you are saying? It doesn't happen? If so, then what is your idea on what is happening when certain groups getting hit harder with unemployment?

    O....M.....G. You lack such basic reasoning skills it is getting to be a bit ridiculous.

    WHAT I SAID is that you can't ONLY give someone unemployment numbers if you want to back up claims of discrimination. How does that not make sense to you??? And have you ignored the FOUR times now I've said discrimination DOES exist? I'm just not going to reply anymore. It's sad that I'm 19 and have more logic and basic reasoning skills than someone nearly twice my age.

    Why are you so upset being asked what your idea on this is? You haven't really said why it can't be used. You admit there is discrimination so what I'm asking is that you feel it does not come into play when people go for a job? Your apple example is false since it implied there is zero discrimination going on but you state there is discrimination. You don't have any idea of your own to why you feel there is higher unemployment with certain groups of people? That's all I'm asking. I didn't say unemployment was the only thing to back up claims of discrimination, you keep saying that I've said only and never did. The first line in my original comment on this is from an actual study, yes I didn't site it but as I said later on you can look up studies on this, if you're interested.

    If you don't cite your work it doesn't count. If you've ever written an academic paper you'll know that. Sorry to burst your bubble :)

    Wow, a forum is an academic paper? You still for some reason can't give me any ideas of your own?

    You should treat any debate like an academic paper, if you expect to be taken seriously, which you seem to want to do. I already stated that discrimination does exist (which is an agreement with you, btw). I guess I just wanted to call out your faulty logic ;)

    Your issue was with what I said about unemployment anyways, not my first statement. If you feel like calling me out you should have a good reason to do so but you can't tell me any ideas on why this is or why it can't play a role in unemployment?

    My issue is that you claimed unemployment told a story about discrimination. Which it doesn't. You can agree with that, right? If you can, then the conversation should have ended a long time ago.

    How do you know it doesn't?


    FFFFFUUUUUUUU

    I'm just going to copy+paste my Timmy example again. I'd sure hate to have you on a jury! Apparently extra information that was never mentioned is okay to use as evidence... hmm.

    You want to prove Timmy hates red apples. But the ONLY information you have is that TImmy has less red apples than green apples. You can't logically draw the conclusion that Timmy hates red apples ONLY based on the information you have.

    But you stated there is discrimination. If discrimination exist, meaning we do have Timmys that hate red apples (because we know discrimination exist), how does this not play into hiring if a person is applying to a job where Timmy hates red apples. Are you saying that all the Timmys who hates red apples are always unbais when hiring if a person comes across a red apple hating Timmy.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    Options
    As a heterosexual white male, you're not being discriminated against and your equal rights aren't in jeopardy. All of us who belong to an oppressed minority group have the responsibility to stand up for ourselves and other oppressed minorities. What you call "promoting an agenda" is simply demanding equal treatment. I'm not surprised you can't empathize.

    There's a lot of bias against heterosexual white males, kind of like a backlash. They will be blamed for sexism and racism first. They will be stepped over just so that a company has a woman or ethnic person in positions to fill their quota. And that's speaking as a woman. All of this just needs to find a balance but it'll take a while. I don't care about this enough to be honest, live and let live.

    A white heterosexual man with a criminal background has more of chance getting a job over a black man without one. You can take a look the unemployment rates as well and see which groups are hurting the most. Trust me, white men do not as much as a hard time finding a job as a black male. Many white men over exaggerate because they know of the affirmation laws and stuff so they try to blame the regulations instead of their own flaws to why they may not be getting a job but they still don't have the hurdles that other races face.

    Unemployment rates don't tell you if people are unemployed because they were discriminated against, come on. Youve gotta be smarter than that. I'm not saying discrimination doesn't happen, but your example is ridiculous.

    But studies that do take different races with the same qualifications and see who gets the job does. There's been plenty of these studies done, you can look them up for yourself.
    I don't doubt that, but what you said up there made no sense at all.

    Educate yourself further and it will.

    You quoted ONLY unemployment rates. You can not possibly draw any conclusions regarding discrimination SOLELY based on unemployment numbers, and you know that.

    I stated that's another thing you can look at basically. Its not a coincidence when the recession hit that certain groups got hit harder. If you feel otherwise then tell me why you think they got hit harder? When there aren't many jobs out there and 100 plus people fighting for the same job, who you think has more of a chance?

    You were basically saying this:

    Timmy has 2 green apples and 1 red apple. You can assume Timmy doesn't like red apples.

    Which is wrong. And that's all I was saying. Your logic wasn't working out. I even said that I knew that discrimination happened.

    Okay, my logic doesn't work. Then tell me why are certain groups being hit harder with the recession? I'm always open to learning new things.

    Are you actually reading what I've been saying? I've said about three times now that discrimination exists. All I was telling you off for was using faulty logic. Faulty logic is what misinforms people and makes them think things about certain groups.

    I'm not sure you understand what you are saying. If my logic is faulty and not just faulty but ridiculous, then you must have some idea of your own? You say there is discrimination but then the idea that discrimination plays in unemployment is faulty? How so if discrimination does exist? You're basically stating that discrimination doesn't exist when people try to get a job? Is that what you are saying? It doesn't happen? If so, then what is your idea on what is happening when certain groups getting hit harder with unemployment?

    O....M.....G. You lack such basic reasoning skills it is getting to be a bit ridiculous.

    WHAT I SAID is that you can't ONLY give someone unemployment numbers if you want to back up claims of discrimination. How does that not make sense to you??? And have you ignored the FOUR times now I've said discrimination DOES exist? I'm just not going to reply anymore. It's sad that I'm 19 and have more logic and basic reasoning skills than someone nearly twice my age.

    Why are you so upset being asked what your idea on this is? You haven't really said why it can't be used. You admit there is discrimination so what I'm asking is that you feel it does not come into play when people go for a job? Your apple example is false since it implied there is zero discrimination going on but you state there is discrimination. You don't have any idea of your own to why you feel there is higher unemployment with certain groups of people? That's all I'm asking. I didn't say unemployment was the only thing to back up claims of discrimination, you keep saying that I've said only and never did. The first line in my original comment on this is from an actual study, yes I didn't site it but as I said later on you can look up studies on this, if you're interested.

    If you don't cite your work it doesn't count. If you've ever written an academic paper you'll know that. Sorry to burst your bubble :)

    Wow, a forum is an academic paper? You still for some reason can't give me any ideas of your own?

    You should treat any debate like an academic paper, if you expect to be taken seriously, which you seem to want to do. I already stated that discrimination does exist (which is an agreement with you, btw). I guess I just wanted to call out your faulty logic ;)

    Your issue was with what I said about unemployment anyways, not my first statement. If you feel like calling me out you should have a good reason to do so but you can't tell me any ideas on why this is or why it can't play a role in unemployment?

    My issue is that you claimed unemployment told a story about discrimination. Which it doesn't. You can agree with that, right? If you can, then the conversation should have ended a long time ago.

    How do you know it doesn't?


    FFFFFUUUUUUUU

    I'm just going to copy+paste my Timmy example again. I'd sure hate to have you on a jury! Apparently extra information that was never mentioned is okay to use as evidence... hmm.

    You want to prove Timmy hates red apples. But the ONLY information you have is that TImmy has less red apples than green apples. You can't logically draw the conclusion that Timmy hates red apples ONLY based on the information you have.

    But you stated there is discrimination. If discrimination exist, meaning we do have Timmys that hate red apples (because we know discrimination exist), how does this not play into hiring if a person is applying to a job where Timmy hates red apples. Are you saying that all the Timmys who hates red apples are always unbais when hiring if a person comes across a red apple hating Timmy.

    the real question is, who in the heck would hire an apple? :glasses:
  • Aviendha_RJ
    Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
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    FFFFFUUUUUUUU

    I'm just going to copy+paste my Timmy example again. I'd sure hate to have you on a jury! Apparently extra information that was never mentioned is okay to use as evidence... hmm.

    You want to prove Timmy hates red apples. But the ONLY information you have is that TImmy has less red apples than green apples. You can't logically draw the conclusion that Timmy hates red apples ONLY based on the information you have.

    She's not going to get it......Sometimes you have to know when to walk away......

    I know. I guess it's just the little bit of child left in me thinking "she's a grown up, she's gotta know this"

    Just because someone's an adult doesn't mean they know how to use their brain. Personally, I hope she's just a troll, being ignorant and stupid for her own entertainment purposes & doesn't REALLY believe in what she's spewing. If she does, it's just a classic example of what's wrong with western civilization.

    We don't beat the stupidity out of our kids anymore. I was spanked as a kid. Taught me proper values, I'm proud to say. I'm rubbish with accents. I confuse Chinese with Japanese with Philipino. I can't tell the difference between Hispanic & Native American. Black kinda looks like black... but whether they're from Africa, Jamaica, or South America, I never figured out. I confuse Jewish with Egyptian. I can't tell the difference between an Italian Accent & a Spanish Accent. Muslim, or Seik, or Hindi? Who knows? I certainly don't.

    Mostly because... that's right: I NEVER CARED ENOUGH TO PAY ATTENTION. People are just people... move on.
  • _Elemenopee_
    _Elemenopee_ Posts: 2,665 Member
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    I know what you mean. I stopped questioning this a long time ago though. I am a human being. I am a woman. The color of my skin, the place where I was born, my last name, my first language and my family do not define who or what I am. I love my family, my friends, the people of my country and the people of the world. I love them but that doesn't mean I always LIKE them!

    What/who am I?

    I am the daughter of a fair skinned, 2nd generation Cuban man whose grandparents all emigrated from Spain. Does that make him Cuban, Spanish or both? What does that mean for me?

    I am the daughter of an olive/medium skinned NY born woman whose parents were both born and raised in Puerto Rico with MANY mixed races and nationalities between them (Irish, Italian, French, Spanish, Native/Taino Indian, African and who knows what else).

    I was born in Puerto Rico but raised in Brooklyn, New York. Spanish was my first language though I can hardly string together a coherent sentence in it now. I was raised to love everyone equally. To respect everyone, equally. I honestly didn’t even know people of different colors or that spoke different languages were “different”. The only negatives I ever heard were towards those people who were criminals, drug or alcohol abusers and generally people who harmed themselves or others.

    I had been told throughout my life by my “peers” that I was “too white” or not “ethnic” enough. I am fair skinned with thick, dark, curly hair and green eyes. How does that fit in with the majority of "my people"? It used to bother me because I wanted to belong. I was a teenager; of course I wanted to belong, why not with “my own people”. I was NEVER comfortable with their idea of what “my people” were supposed to be about but I did everything they did, got into all the trouble they got into and did a lot of things that I regret…really regret. But, it was part of what I had to go through to find out who I was, who I am.

    I am Elena. I am true myself and my beliefs. I stand up for those who are being attacked and back away from a fight when I feel it will bring me down. I help others when I can. I try to see the best in people while recognizing that there are very bad people in the world as well. I am an optimist. I am a pessimist. I am an opportunist. I hurt easily but I love with all that I am.

    I am a human being. An American. A daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. THAT is who I am and NOONE can take that away from me.
  • Cliffslosinit
    Cliffslosinit Posts: 5,044 Member
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    I like the way you put that. It may sound confusing to others, but I know exactly what you mean. You don't have to go around saying,"I have black friends". They're your friends, and it should just be left as that. I have friends of different ethnicities, and I would never label them by their race. They're my friends and thats all that matters. I think people get so caught up in skin color and statistics, they then end up missing out on an opportunity to know a pleasant soul.

    I like this^^
    Can a man just be a man? A woman just a woman?
    Except me for me.
    We are all in this race called life.
    To make each day better than the day before.
    Give our children a future that is better than the life we had.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,012 Member
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    But you stated there is discrimination. If discrimination exist, meaning we do have Timmys that hate red apples (because we know discrimination exist), how does this not play into hiring if a person is applying to a job where Timmy hates red apples. Are you saying that all the Timmys who hates red apples are always unbais when hiring if a person comes across a red apple hating Timmy.

    Logic > You. yes discrimination exists......yes reverse discrimination exists. It's unfortuate.....this has nothing to do with tying it to unemployment #s being based on discrimination.
  • jackpotclown
    jackpotclown Posts: 3,291 Member
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    in_before_lock_1.gif \m/
  • RainHoward
    RainHoward Posts: 1,599 Member
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    I have a couple questions. If a black person in America isn't from Africa are they still "african-american"? What do you then call a black american who lives in Africa? Such silliness. If one parent is white and the other black, which heritage do you claim? It just gets absurd rather quickly. One of the questions that always pisses me off on forms is "what race are you?" I'm human you idiots, that is the only "race" on this planet. Ethnically I'm a mutt. No one looking at me would guess that a large part of my heritage is Portuguese in origin. I just look like the average fat white guy.

    I guess that's why I 'v never understood "racism". The concept is just asinine to me, to judge someone based on the color of their skin.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,012 Member
    Options
    I have a couple questions. If a black person in America isn't from Africa are they still "african-american"? What do you then call a black american who lives in Africa? Such silliness. If one parent is white and the other black, which heritage do you claim? It just gets absurd rather quickly. One of the questions that always pisses me off on forms is "what race are you?" I'm human you idiots, that is the only "race" on this planet. Ethnically I'm a mutt. No one looking at me would guess that a large part of my heritage is Portuguese in origin. I just look like the average fat white guy.

    I guess that's why I 'v never understood "racism". The concept is just asinine to me, to judge someone based on the color of their skin.

    ^ This.
  • Rayzback
    Rayzback Posts: 73
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    But I also think that rarely having to be defined by your race, just by who you are is a privilege that some white people dont realise that they have.

    How's that work outside of America? The Irish, Scotish, British, French, Germans. etc. that is...
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,311 Member
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    You guys are just trying to make the quotations do that weird bow thing, aren't you?
  • RainHoward
    RainHoward Posts: 1,599 Member
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    You guys are just trying to make the quotations do that weird bow thing, aren't you?

    If you scroll though it really fast it looks kind of cool
  • britlocs
    britlocs Posts: 124
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    i find that interesting too.

    infact i noticed a lot of Americans use the term "African American" as if synonymous with black.To be "politically correct"

    I am a black man,born in England.So calling me African American doesn't work for me,lol.As I'm not American.

    Infact, i'm not African either since i have never been on the continent.We are also referred to as Afro-carribean because most black people that first came to England came over from the Caribbean.

    its also begs the question,how come white people aren't called European Americans,but everyone else has to be categorized.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    Options
    I have a couple questions. If a black person in America isn't from Africa are they still "African-American"? What do you then call a black american who lives in Africa? Such silliness. If one parent is white and the other black, which heritage do you claim? It just gets absurd rather quickly. One of the questions that always pisses me off on forms is "what race are you?" I'm human you idiots, that is the only "race" on this planet. Ethnically I'm a mutt. No one looking at me would guess that a large part of my heritage is Portuguese in origin. I just look like the average fat white guy.

    I guess that's why I 'v never understood "racism". The concept is just asinine to me, to judge someone based on the color of their skin.

    Haha, this is actually an issue for me sometimes. I've lived in the US for the majority of my life and so I'm accustomed to hearing African American. When I moved to the UK it got a bit weird because I'd have to stop myself from saying "African American". Althought TBH over here you rarely have to say that sort of thing anyways. Most people I know just say "black" or "Japanese" or "African" etc. There isn't one blanket term, they just call them what they know them to be. I understand peoples' points about not using labels like "black" "white" etc, but sometimes you do need to and it is useful. For example, if you saw a man rob a bank, and he was white, you'd want to give the police "white male" not just "male".
  • dlyeates
    dlyeates Posts: 875 Member
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    I run into this a lot. I happen to be a white female but I've always worked in settings that are mainly "minority" and "low income". I don't say these things to label it just is what it is.

    I've noticed that when I worked with some black people that they were more focused on their jobs and on a common goal and everyone working together for a common goal.....kind of like the people who were white or indian (from india) or the other dozens of nationalities that I worked with. It wasn't about being black and there was no offense taken if someone called them "black" instead of "African American".

    But the last place I worked happened to be a school in an all black neighborhood. In the whole school there were only 5 staff members that were not black (4 white, 1 hispanic). Many of the staff were like the ones I mentioned above....putting the kids first, treating the kids like kids and all that. And then there were others.....Always bringing up being black, labeling what kids did by saying "that's what black kids/folk do", acknowledging violence amongst the students by identifying them as black (another black youth died, another black youth going to jail), stating very openly that if you were not for President Obama that you were a racist because you just didn't like him because he was a black man. And the list goes on and on. It seems like the only "black" way to talk was with ghetto slang and disrespect and if you used proper English you were "acting White".

    In my positions as a counselor I have primarily worked with kids/adolescents who are black/African American and Hispanic. I've learned when working with kids if you match their type of speech (slang, context, phrasing), no matter where they are from, that you build rapport faster with them and that's what I did. I had kids tell me that I "am black" because they could trust me and I talked like them. Great educational opportunity about the fact that I am white and that can show them that it doesn't matter what the color of a person's skin is to be able to learn from them!!

    But my principal there also did not like white staff members (I was hired by another department in the district and she was not my supervisor) and would make comments that I was scared of the kids and she could tell I had never worked with African American students before and that my position was ineffective because of these things. I was able to tell her about the fights I had personally stopped and she was like "oh". She obviously never looked at my resume or remembered what I had told her about my past job experiences. AND I had data from teachers proving that what I was doing with the students was making a positive difference in their behavior and their grades. But she refused to look at those things. She had made her mind up because of the color of my skin and the color of the skin of the students who went there. She even allowed another staff member to refer to me as "the other one" when trying to figure out who she had spoken to about a concern and they had brought another younger, white, blond staff member into the meeting. I know if I had referred to any of my co-workers like that I would have been written up, fired and probably been on the news.

    You just be you!!! Be proud of who you are, your heritage and everything that comes with YOU. But you do not have to act a certain way just to please others. That is a stereotype and it sounds like you are bigger than that!!!
  • RainHoward
    RainHoward Posts: 1,599 Member
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    i find that interesting too.

    infact i noticed a lot of Americans use the term "African American" as if synonymous with black.To be "politically correct"

    I am a black man,born in England.So calling me African American doesn't work for me,lol.As I'm not American.

    Infact, i'm not African either since i have never been on the continent.We are also referred to as Afro-carribean because most black people that first came to England came over from the Caribbean.

    its also begs the question,how come white people aren't called European Americans,but everyone else has to be categorized.

    If you were a good human you would know that the rest of the world revolves around US, we are always right. Sheesh. Haven't we bombed enough countries for you people to realize this yet??