Black history "sale" angers shoppers

You ain't too old that I can't give you 5 across yo lips!

 

fall into the gap!
-- generation gap, that is.

rH

 

I'm sorry I've been 'chatty.' I did feel the need to defend myself against a huge oppostion though.

I understand the format. Many people feel very strongly on topics, especially racial issues. I was trying to open some eyes. I hate it when black people hate white people because they think that we hate them, and visa versa. That's the worst kind of racism. I heard on another thread here that a race can take something a gain power from it (ie, through the evolution of the word n*****). Like I said, as a white person, I saw no harm in this stereotype. While I might not like it (I just don't like the word at all), it makes sense. I think this is what stereotypes are about sometimes. Sometimes not. I don't get offended when people call all Germans Nazis, even though I'm German. I think most people need to distance themselves from the stereotype. Any thoughts?

 

What I don't understand is the big deal about stereotyping a black person with fried chicken or watermelon. Is this suppose to be an insult? I love fried chicken and watermelon.

Ok now ... for the real shocker. Isn't advertisement ALL ABOUT STEREOTYPING??? People spend millions of dollars for surveys to see what group of people will buy thier product, whether its age, color, religion, sex, or whatever else.

If Popeyes does a survey and finds that 90% of black people love fried chicken, then don't you think they are going to put a black person on the commercial and try to direct it to the black community?

I dunno. I just think people look for an excuse to b**** about racism.

 

At the risk of sounding egotistical, this issue has nothing to do with outdated stereotypes; it has to do in a way with superiority of the races. The implication, for example, of a black man with a bucket of fried chicken confirmed in the mind of the white man his obvious superior nature to the black man. However, people still fail to see that fried chicken itself is just a food. It has no hidden implication to anything. In fact, it was the white elite who connected that food and the black man to something unbecoming. The sad fact is that black people still fight to prove they aren't what that image conjures in the mind of the white elite, even though most of us know that fried chicken eating is no barometer to anything whatsoever. Yet it is still hard to dismiss something like that if only to say to those who would take it as a sign of inferiority I'm not what you think I am.

 

So if I agree with Space Ghost, will I get yelled at again???

I think he makes a lot of sense though. I hope someone else will agree or at least consider it.

 

I think in many African Americans' minds, the fried chicken stereotype falls into the category of the big-lipped, over-exaggerated cariacture of the A&M cartoon. A relic of an ugly past.

Lots of people like fried chicken or watermelon. So there's nothing wrong with showing ads of different races when trying to reach the public.

But tying it in with 'Black History Month' is just plain stupid. And falls into...well, Pued's post says it all.

 

I don't necessarily think that we all need to have our eyes opened. Most of us actually have a pretty good sense about who we are and what we believe. The very fact that we are on this board places us in a demographic that denotes intellegence and education. (see digital divide)

If you want to stir things up even when you don't believe the things you are saying, you will very quickly be labelled a "troll." That is exactly what a troll does. Trolls have two purposes:

1. To create chaos for a variety of reasons.
2. To "educate" others through shock.

Since I'm guessing you aren't a troll, posing beliefs that are too extreme even for yourself means you are attempting to open our minds. As you can tell, that largely meets with resentment and hostility.

It isn't because people here don't see the value in an open mind. It is because people here don't feel the need to have that foisted upon us by a relatively unknown stranger. We can form our own opinions through research, logic and belief.

I understand what you mean about stereotypes and I think we can laugh at them sometimes. My friends of other races and I have always poked fun at our ethnicity (or lack of it) because we are friends. However, if you don't know someone, it is hard to laugh at their stereotype of you because it feels like a threat. For black people in particular, stereotypes were used to belittle them, make them feel inferior and even intimidate.

As a result, it is understandable that they might be hesitant to accept a stranger's stereotype of them as humerous or inocuous. To them, it is a threat.

Getting back to the forum, however, if you come in here, make statements that you fully admit are extreme after only a few days on the board, you have to expect that people will come back at you hard. They don't know you. It's like the saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." And, if you don't like defending yourself, you are in the wrong place. Getting upset about this forum will only make you miserable.

 

But I don't think most people see it that way. Like fried chicken...I thought it was about black people liking fried chicken. I am sorry that it reminds them of their horrible past. But if most people don't see it as degrading anymore that should be a good thing. People are moving past it, right?

I really don't think most people in my generation see the big-lipped boy or fried chicken as bad(and maybe I'm wrong). I see them as stereotypes, just like blondes are stupid and women can't drive. I know they're different because of the past tied to the black stereotypes, but like I said, it seems people are moving past that and it doesn't carry the same negativity it once did. I don't think these stereotypes are meant to belittle anyone. (well, I'm not explaining myself well, but I think kbm's entry says a lot).

And Jeff, you're right, I'm not a troll. And I do believe those things to some extent, but they are still extreme. I do agree with you about the intelligence though. Which is why I thought y'all might listen. I feel like I have known y'all much longer than I have, simply due to Lynus. I guess it kinda hurts me a little. I'll be good, I promise.

 

You know, I don't think many other races or heritages get a week or month devoted to them in America. There's something to complain about.

 

well at least they aren't throwing a sambo doll into the happy meals.

 

I told everyone that I wouldn't mention the "S" word again (only rimbaud picked up on this...) but feel free to associate me with the referenced food item that starts with "S".

...because I am o.k. now and I don't need to butcher one of those critters up again.

...had to add this.

 

This thread is a little sad. And I just read that other one as well...looks as if Princess is off to a poor start.

Space Ghost,

Much of it has to do with US history. Anyone interested should look into the film "Ethnic Notions" by Morton Riggs. It chronicles the various negative portrayals of blacks throughout our country's history. So, yes, when there is the backdrop of images of non-human, grotesque black people with huge lips "chompin" on watermelon, etc on all sorts of products, ads, cartoons, etc for a couple hundred years, people tend to be sensitive.


Lol, the old, "we need some kind of white history month" argument.

 

Here's a few others courtesy of earthcalendar.net:

Jewish Heritage Week - last week of April
Hispanic Heritage Month - Sept. 15 to Oct. 15
American Indian Heritage Month - November

Even we vegetarians get the whole month of October as Vegetarian Awareness Month. I'll have to remember to celebrate this year with a nice big juicy slab of tofu.

 

No, I wasn't arguing for a white history month at all. Seems that you have thought about that more than I have though. Reread what I wrote and you might see that.

I really meant Irish and Italian. I didn't realize there was an Italian and Irish History month, which is why I said something. They're not publicized to the extent Black History month is. Does anyone know why? I had no idea about all those other ones either (thanks Mrs. JB).

And calling me a Klan member is real harsh. One of the most offensive things I have ever heard.

Look guys, I know you don't like me, but I'm trying to understand here.

 

I know what you meant...still funny, though.

Incidentally (now that I have read that other thread) I went to a majority black high school. I experienced a bit of racism, it was boring. Then I went to a college that was about 80% white...damn, now that was some racism.

Basically, magnify everything that you think may have happened to you by a bit, expand it to every day of your life, add a history of all sorts of negative stuff...then try to "understand" why people are still sensitive, why there is a black history month included on the calendar (for the shortest month, hee hee).

This has nothing to do with like/dislike of you, by the way. Don't take any of it personally, which you seem apt to do. You will just have to get used to strong/shocked reactions if you consistently express such opinions.

 

Crap ....you made me spit milk all over my monitor with that ... loved that show.