I don't really have an answer for that. Why should everyone look at the world though and see it all negatively (I know it is such a bad thing though, so I understand in this case). But this idea that the white elites imposed on the black people don't really exist today. I can't say get over it because I don't know what it really feels like. But that's really all anyone can do and should do, I think. The bitterness felt by both sides when it comes to racial issues is not helping solve problems. It only creates more division. White people need to accept that everyone is equal and black people need to realize they are equal and take the opportunity. I don't place all the blame on one side or the other. It's both. Both sides need to quit blaming each other. I'm a white Christian girl. My two very first best friends were Jewish and Muslim. And we played together all the time. I knew they were different, but it didn't matter (partly because I couldn't understand, I just knew they didn't put up Christmas lights). I still would not look at them any differently today though, even though we haven't seen each other for years. I don't know what all that means except that I was very young and naive, but it makes me think to better times of ignorace when race didn't matter at all. I had the greatest nanny too. She was an older black woman named Annie. She was so sweet. She passed away a long time ago, but I'll never forget her. I still have all the notes she made about me-how I would get fussy when I needed a bottle and how I didn't like green vegatables. Again, just good memories. I'm not trying to prove anything by these stories. There's no hidden agenda. I just thought it would be good to put something nice on this thread. If anyone has anything to say about my suggestion, feel free to critique.
Hmmm, RICH white girl has no idea racism still exists 'cause her nanny was nice. That's classic. Damn poor people everywhere are so negative (and always underfoot). Can't we all just play polo and get along? Poor blacks need to stop complaining and get to work!
What are you talking about? Never did I even suggest such things, I was just pointing out diversity and "true roots" of cuisine...just trying to show the narrow scope of the stereotype...I had already argued about the negative iconography throughout history (I guess since it was more than 10 posts before, people forget?). DARO, That actually was a great link that explained the severing of cultural tradition that came along with slavery. People usually do not think about how that can change diet as well. Thanks for posting it.
Princess- you are slowly digging yourself into a hole. I can only hope that you are as naive as you portray yourself
Hey now, there is nothing wrong with being rich. Sometime someone took a risk and started a company, or invested some money, and has made themselves comfortable. We should not villify those people, but strive to become one ourselves. Everyone has opportunities (clearly not all are equal opportunities), but I would be willing to bet that there are kids in Afganastan that would LOVE to have the opportunities that people have here in the USA. The reality is that there are people who take advantage of the system and sup from the governments nipples, and NEWS FLASH...they are not all one race. There are also POOR people who work harder then all of us combined. The reason our country is so great is that EVERYONE has a chance to take a risk and make it big.....we should all be thankful for that. DaDakota
As someone in a high tax bracket, I certainly agree there isn't anything wrong with having money. But when it removes you so far from everyday life that you become delusional about the quality of life of the average joe or joanna, it is something to be called out about.
True Hayes but if you grew up with it, and it was all you ever knew, how can we hold them accountable? What is the saying? Ignorance is bliss. We may understand the struggles of people in our country but they PALE in comparison to struggles others have going on in the world today. Kurds anyone? We should stop all the whining and learn to let the past lie where it belongs...in the past. Learn from it...heck yes, but don't blame the youth of today for yesterday's transgressions. DaDakota
I think that everyone has gone very far off topic and into things that no one on her can prove. I was with Princess up until we got into poll taxes and lynchings. I generally agree with what you say Princess but to say that our government was not racially motivated and that bad things didnt happen in our nations past is going a little far. Where I stand on that subject is that I understand that minorities and blacks in particular were oppressed and killed strictly because of their race. It is a plain and simple fact. The poll taxes were there to keep blacks from voting. If 72% of lynchings were of blacks then that is a pretty big discrepency and obviously racially motivated. No one can prove why any of them happened and for what reasons so why argue about it. In the past blacks have gotten a very ****ty deal and it sucks but trying to hold peoples actions in the past to todays standards will always fail. They will never live up to how we are today becuase that is not how they lived. My points earlier in this thread were simply that it isnt happening anymore and I didnt do it to you (or anyone else). I just get tired of hearing what a raw deal your ancestors had and that you or anyone else is owed something because of it. I think that a lot of people are trying to take steps forward and of course there is always room to grow. I think a lot of white people (not all so dont give me a bunch of crap about my statement) have a hard time feeling sorry for particular (not all again just the ones who do it) minorities that continuously bring up the past and think that they are due more rights, privledges, etc. because of what happened in the past. You can not say that it doesnt happen. Just like I cant say that there still arent white people that act in a racist manner. I say that both of those people are wrong.
Maybe I do read too much into this post, but from the paragraph on the "true roots" of african cusine to the one where you state your opinion on the store's actions, it sounds to me like you are saying the store was "just ignorant" of the "true roots" of african cusine. The idea that if they had just been more aware of what black people really enjoy to eat then they wouldn't have made the mistake they did. This arguement sounds a lot like cultural awareness to me, and all I wanted to point out is that culture awareness will not solve anything. To use cultural awareness to get rid of this stereotype is ignorant. Cultural awareness by its very nature is stereotypical. You'll still have to make assumptions based upon a group and not one single individual.
kbm, They were two separate points. The first was a response to one line of thought that had been presented. The second paragraph I was just stating that I only then realized I never gave an opinion about the original article/story. I think the store was ignorant of the negative connotations, of recent history, not about the diet of people. I guess I should have made more distinction - I just didn't see them as connected, so didn't point it out. That is often my problem, I guess. I think that you are a little obsessed with "cultural awareness," though, since you keep bringing it up. I still don't know what it means. Are you saying that culture does not really exist - that we are all just individuals, or that an outsider can never really understand another culture and will only rely on stereotypes, or something else? In any event - stop lecturing me about promoting it because I have no idea what you are talking about.
Are you talking about how many black people were lynch for related crimes? Because back in those days many blacks were lynched for sport, or simply talking to a white woman, or being at the wrong place at the right time. They didn't have to do something terrible to get lynched.
Speaking of Fried Chicken, I think Popeye's is by far the best. And I've always noticed that there's alot of black people there when I go. So what? Working at a movie theater I could also tell you that black people like fruit punch and sprite, and mexicans like pickles and sorority chicks like Diet Coke and Sour Patch Kids and white guys like Dr. Pepper. And fat people like Diet Coke and popcorn with extra butter.
