Black history "sale" angers shoppers

I still have experienced some of the worst racism by black people. But it's not limited to them. And I don't hate anyone for it, it's just my experience.

I understand the history, rimbaud. But like I said, I think most (not all) people are moving past the negativity. To me, the fried chicken thing was about fried chicken. And I don't think that black people have to deal with racism every day of their lives (and if they honestly do, it's a shame). I think too many people (of any and all races) make race an issue everyday.

It's like I said about the women's issues (which I know are not as severe). Women were oppressed for years and have a bad history, but I don't let that get me down. Why is it like that for blacks? Other groups have had terrible histories too. I am trying to understand why blacks are so passionate and upset about this still. Is it about segregation and racial profiling and affirmative action and the freshness of them? I don't know. And I would be interested to know. And maybe I can't understand because I'm white.

And I know why there is a black history month, although I do admit I did not understand when I was little. I truly did not know about the others.

My roommate last semester was black. We had talked on the phone a few times before we met and she was really really nice. But there was one comment that totally threw me off. She was describing herself and at one point she said "I'm clean, not like I bathe every day clean, I do, but I mean like I'm not real messy." And I didn't even know what to say. To me, she was saying that she expected me to think she was dirty because of her skin or something. Maybe she meant nothing by it other than she thought I would think she doesn't bathe. Am I totally off base here?

Needless to say, she ended up being a terrible roommate (having "rendez-vous" at 4:00 am when I had an 8:00am class), it had nothing to do with race at all.

And I do take things too personally, but I do feel passionately about things. Thanks though!

 

Princess,

The point with my every day comment was not about black people experiencing specific incidents every day, but the fact that they are always black in a white world - your minority period comes and goes with your surroundings.

Sure, things are better, but they are nowhere near good, on multiple levels. What has mostly been eradicated (or at least attempted) is the overt stuff ("normal" white people no longer collect and distribute postcards of lynchings freely, etc)...the more subtle racism is also the more dangerous, though.

 

You quoted me and then said I should complain that there's no Klan's month. Sound pretty much like you called me a Klan member.

Being called a member of a hate group that like to rape and lynch people and burn crosses IS offensive. But I forgot I'm white and don't know what offensive and racism are. Silly me!

I don't live a charmed life at all. I just don't take offense to things that shouldn't offend me (well, sometimes I do, but in a very different sense).

No, it doesn't piss me off significantly more. But you're not helping your cause much.

 

rimbaud

I can agree with that. But don't you think that calling every little thing racist or offensive leads to further division? At least in some cases?

I honestly feel afraid to say anything at all for fear that someone will call me a racist or someone will get offended. Like the fried chicken...I had no idea of the negativity. To me, it was an ad. I could have put that on the air, thinking "Hey, black people like fried chicken...What a way to go!" And then someone's offended by it. What am I supposed to do? How can I know everything that might offend someone of some race, sex or nationality?

 

I generally find that if people avoid making broad generalizations based purely on a persons race, sex or nationality that works wonders towards avoiding offending people.

 

LOL

 

a. Gosh how does Princess have so many posts already. I can't imagine how. And damn you jump to conclusion about what people say about you a lot.

b. Stupid to say it was for Black History Month in my opinion. Not that I think there was anything terribly offensive about it, still you had to figure it would rub people the wrong way.

c. As a white guy, I understand that pretty much every month is White History Month. No need to complain about the other ones.

d. 2 choices: 1) complain about said sign or 2) get cheaper food. I'll take 2.

e. Jeff layin' the smack down. Love to see that.

f. Can Princess can keep up this Manny Ramirez type pace. Will Manny try to keep his posts per day title? Points to ponder people. Points to ponder.

 

Racism is at its worst when you don't see it, and simply because you don't see it doesn't mean you don't have to deal with it. I used to think the last statement you made was true until after the 9/11 attack (and to be honest, I still think it's true to an extent). That day and the subsequent weeks exposed several individuals' "true" feelings regarding minority groups.


... you crazy Grady... they oughta call you Crazy Grady.

 

If this scenario had been a skit on SNL or MadTV everyone would have laughed.

Why, when it happens in real-life, is it a stereotyping outrage? Is real life not to be infused with good humor?

 

Obviously not, because you're continuing in this thread. Which in and of itself is neither good nor bad.

TRANSLATION : "I am ignorant, I can't do anything about it".

Part of living in a multi-cultural society is learning about the multiple cultures. I was lucky growing up with hispanics, blacks, filipinos, and asians that I know about most of the stereotypes. I guess I was lucky. Heck, I only had about 2 or 3 white friends before I was 20.


Fred : Hit it Bubba.
Bubba : I want my daddy's records!

 

I saw a dude run his car into a building while watching a movie last week and nobody was shocked. They clapped!!

Why don't they clap in real life when somebody runs their car into a building?!

Things that make you go hmmmm....

... and would I be sure that this is love beyond compaaaaare. Would all this be true if I didn't care for yoooou.

 

That is one of the funniest things I have read on this board.

Come on people, it was an honest mistake, and the pendulum has swung too far again.....

DaDakota

 

Princess,

Race as an everyday thing does not have to be a divisive element. I think it has to be an everyday awareness until everyone is educated enough to where it then no longer becomes an issue. Until then, there are still too many negative people making it an issue. It also is not about keeping our minds in the past...it is about progress with the future, understanding that past, learning from it, etc.

As far as your "how am I supposed to know" statement. Well, that confuses me, as I see a great deal of it as being simple understanding of humanity. Sorry, I am too bewildered to answer beyond that. Educate yourself, I guess, continually - it is the great liberator.

Blah, blah, blah. Sorry for being pointless.

So what was so bad about the racism you experienced? Frrom that other thread it, honestly, seemed minor. Is there more to it?
I, personally, was threatened (by strangers) on more than one occasion for being white. Yes, rimmy might not have been here with you lucky people, passing his great knowledge, if fate had been a little different and triggers had been pulled. Damn, that seems so long ago...

 

That's why we have both comedy and tragedy.

 

I'll admit that I haven't read the whole thread. Have to disagree with Jeff on this one.

Princess is young. For some reason she didn't quite realize how many black people view fried chicken eating as a negative stereotype. I for one did not realize that until realtively recently. Not that big of a surprise and not that big of a deal. I don't think any conclusions of any type should be drawn from this, certainly nothing regarding racism or lack of invlovement with the world.

I actually think the uproar has to do with a negative sterotype toward obese people. If it had been a sale on greens, I believe that the furor would not have occured.

If they had a sale on fajitas for Hispanic month I don't think there would be a furor either.

Despite the above, once you are aware of such a sensitivity, honor it.

 

That's why when something is depicted on tv, it's not (necessarily) the same as it happening in real life... people don't react the same way. It's why Archie Bunker was funny on tv, but he'd be an ass in real life. I think you just answered your own question, no?

... ain't you Rita Lawson's boy?

 

How revolting! How can you do that knowing those little tofu are raised just for your consumption! Did you know that the first thing they do in the process is to physically drown thousands of poor lonely individual soy beans? And then grind up their lifeless little bodies, and then boil the remains? Such reckless disregard for life! Later they are poked and prodded and squeezed through a sieve and pressed into sheets for storage. All just cause you 'like the taste.' Disgusting...

 

'good goobilly goop!'

Re: advertising. Your advert dollar would not go very far if you traded on false racial stereotypes. Advertisers try and measure REAL tendencies of different groups: race, location, gender, and age.

Re: stereotypes. A stereotype is a conclusion that is repeated over and over without variation. So you might connect a particular group with a conclusion again and again and again, even if that conclusion is wrong, or exaggerrated or outdated. Hence Irish are drunks, Italians are mobsters, blacks are illiterate etc etc.

Fuzzy Zoeller anyone?

 

Have now scanned the whole thread and the one on the racist cartoon from A&M.

I think the drawing in the cartoon was so clearly racist that the content of the writing was almost besides the point.

I can see why Jeff jumped to conclusions about princess and the fried chicken issue.

Princess, I don't think that you are racist. Whether you realize it or not , imho you are falling prey to the rhetoric and overly fine distinctions, i.e prejudice vs racism etc. of certain leading conservatives, who might not even be that overtly racist, yet quite knowingly and continually employ the race card, to engender hostility among poor and lower middle class whites so they will vote for the Republicans, the historical party of the wealthy.

Hope you keep an open mind on the issue.