Am I Racist?

[justin syder]

I think the problem is more that instead of being perceived as role-models in the african-american community they are looked upon as "Uncle Toms".

tloekke that is true. Role models in the black community are gangster rappers or "hustlers" that do what it takes to "survive" in the ghetto even if it means selling drugs or gang-banging.

///M, that is the biggest problems with blacks, not wanting to move on, they have a slave mentality that they arent free or that the white man are still oppressing them. Yes it wasnt long ago but what good will it do you to hold contempt against a race or blame a race for problems you fail to address.

I dont mean to offend you but sometimes you come off as a bigot. Most of what you say is in contempt for "the white man."

Most people today admit that slavery wasn't a cool thing, as most people also think that segregation was bad. The people that had slaves and people that made segregation laws are gone. If people choose to blame someone for what their grandfather did, so be it. But it ain't gonna lead to anything good. Instead of blaming others for your own misfortune, maybe you should look at what opportunities you have.

Well said tloekke.

[///M]

Look, I'm not black and I'm not defending or supporting Affirmative Action. All I'm trying to say is it's understandable for black people to ask for some help, until atleast they can get themselves and their communities on their feet. How can you say that black people are equal right now? Are there any black families that have the wealth that some white families have built up? Do you have any black people that have money due to free labour? The white people that sign their cheques sure do.

Sure, people that had slaves are gone, but their brutality is still felt today. The United States was once equated to South Africa, are you trying to tell me you expect all the african americans to forget what happened to their parents and grand parents?

[justin syder]

Look, I'm not black and I'm not defending or supporting Affirmative Action. All I'm trying to say is it's understandable for black people to ask for some help, until atleast they can get themselves and their communities on their feet. How can you say that black people are equal right now? Are there any black families that have the wealth that some white families have built up? Do you have any black people that have money due to free labour? The white people that sign their cheques sure do.

You obviously havent realized that there are rich black families too. They are far fewer than whites for one thing because there are more whites than there are blacks so of course whites are better off, there are more of them.

You also seem to think that blacks nowadays are helpless, Condalezza Rice and Colin Powell must have had some help by whitey to get where they are. Do you know who Janice Rogers Brown is?

Check out her story and the battle she endured to get where she is at today. She didnt need "help" and neither do other blacks or minorites.

You want something to get mad about why dont you put some effort into the rap artists that glorify violence, drug dealing and degreading woman to car accesories or bitches. Most blacks look up to these rappers and aspire to be one. This is backwards thinking and foolish to believe that the only way out of the ghetto is through rap or sports. That is why blacks oppress themselves, with that sort of mentality that is limited.

Sure, people that had slaves are gone, but their brutality is still felt today. The United States was once equated to South Africa, are you trying to tell me you expect all the african americans to forget what happened to their parents and grand parents?

You should learn from it and not forget it but MOVE ON! Hopefully people will realize that focusing on the past or wanting to give blame does nothing and it can lead to bigotry and even reverse discrimination, take a look at BET. In their view America is filled only with black ppl. It is rediculous. The fact is, the majority of America is white and minorites need to focus on themselves and not how the majority is doing.

[///M]

You're misunderstanding me, I'm not saying handouts is the way to go. I'm just saying if a young, black person wants to become succesful, it's ALOT harder for them than the average young, white person. Simple as that. If a few white people suffer in the process of evening out the playing field, tough luck, they've had it made ever since America was founded.

All I'm trying to say is I understand were some people are coming from that demand reparations and Affermative Action. I never said I agreed with those views.

Witnessing the type of shit that goes down in rough neighborhoods, I could care less what rappers rap about. Freedom of speach, bud. Shit happens in the hood, they talk about it. You should try to look paste the women in the videos and the language rappers use. I suggest listening to Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt. Tell me you'd want to sell crack after listening to that album.

Chris Rock said it best, you have to be pretty fucked up to be conservative or liberal on ALL issues. Expand your views abit, there's people that don't have that much money to appreciate the republican party. You seem to take everything you hear on FOX or at the local Republican Club meeting, and regurgitate it through your opinions. Just a suggestion.

[justin syder]

///M-

You're misunderstanding me, I'm not saying handouts is the way to go. I'm just saying if a young, black person wants to become succesful, it's ALOT harder for them than the average young, white person. Simple as that. If a few white people suffer in the process of evening out the playing field, tough luck, they've had it made ever since America was founded.

Well there is trouble with part of that but I agree with some of it. I never felt the need to be helped along the way because of my skin color. Sure, some whites my presume to have me figured out when they see me because of the way I dress and because Im a minority but that is dispelled when I start to speak and present myself. I dont hold it against them because most minorites have a negative view towards whites and authority so most whites will assume Im one of those type of minorites. As far as blacks and success I think it depends. It is hard for some blacks in some fields to be successful and they have to work harder than a white person but then again look at Eminem. He isnt given much respect even though he is better than most, or atleast has one of the best "flows" in the rap game today compared to black rappers. He is seen as a "white devil" or a culture stealer or some white boy that can flow. That brings me to my next point. That is an example of reverse discrimination. Blacks being prejudice against whites in black dominated fields such as rap and some sports. This is why racial tension still exists because of idiots that refuse to move forward and are bigots. Reparations is another way of reverse discrimination. It is oppressing whites just because blacks have had it hard in the past. This means that in order to make things better with blacks you have to oppress whites. And YOU agree with that?? That is what ppl like George Wallace thought like back in the 50s and 60s. "The hell with the other race I want mine to succeed."

//M-

Witnessing the type of shit that goes down in rough neighborhoods, I could care less what rappers rap about. Freedom of speach, bud. Shit happens in the hood, they talk about it. You should try to look paste the women in the videos and the language rappers use. I suggest listening to Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt. Tell me you'd want to sell crack after listening to that album.

My friend, I have that album along with Vol. 1 (In My Lifetime), Vol. 2 (Hard Knock Life) and Vol. 3 and many other rap albums by 2Pac, Nas, 50 Cent (raps pop artist) and so on. I know why they say what they say and do what they do. Despite their views of gloom in the ghetto there are many ppl that live life obeying the law and working hard to get out of the ghetto. These rappers grow up in broken homes and live with a mentality that it is ok to break the law if it means your survival, selling drugs etc etc. The ends dont justify the means. Its no wonder most of these rappers speak in slang 99% of the time and are ignorant. They have dropped out of high school and took the easy path in life and they justify it in their songs. How many rappers do you know praise the route of a college degree or hard work studying in school or working legally obeying the law? That would be too hard and I quote Jay-Z,

i got extensive hoes, with expensive clothes
and i sip wine, and split ends exposed
but y´all don´t know......
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
cause you can´t knock the hustle

Yeah, im sure he is motivating blacks to hit the books with lyrics like that.

///M-

Chris Rock said it best, you have to be pretty fucked up to be conservative or liberal on ALL issues.

Well shit, if he said that then it must be true. All blacks are Democrats and are struggling in the ghetto. You need to leave those sterotypical views and assumptions alone. Especially if they came from a comedian or a movie.

///M-

Expand your views abit, there's people that don't have that much money to appreciate the republican party

Im middle class, and minority which is typically not Republican. Your assumtions have been wrong and are based on steroetypical analysis or race and other aspects. Id like to know where you get your information. Also, If you think that I say what Fox news says then you are just assuming again. Just like you assumed I was some "white boy" because of the nature in which I communicate and the views I have.

[///M]

Ok, you totally misunderstood that Chris Rock quote, but it's all good. I was saying you seem to be conservative on everything. You read out like a Republican politician's agenda.

It's whatever, really. I just tried to bring in another viewpoint to the discussion. It's pointless going back and forth about a topic you probably know alot more about.

And Eminem not getting respect from black people is the funniest thing ever. He's perhaps the most accepted white MC in Hiphop history.

[justin syder]

It's whatever, really. I just tried to bring in another viewpoint to the discussion. It's pointless going back and forth about a topic you probably know alot more about.

But you are the one that sees things one-sided. In other discussion I had with you religion and cops are mostly negative in your view. You reinforce that with this statement here,

I would just like to say fuck the police.

http://forum.finalgear.com/viewtopic...036&highlight=

According to you those ppl that protect you can do no good by you. No matter what is done you only see the negative. Ask youself, is that helpful to think like that?

[///M]

I'm not saying your views are bad because I disagree with them, which is what you're trying to say. It just sounds like any topic that comes up, you have Conservative views. Hey, I'm conservative on a couple of issues, but I don't let a party do my thinking for me.

[justin syder]

I'm not saying your views are bad because I disagree with them, which is what you're trying to say. It just sounds like any topic that comes up, you have Conservative views. Hey, I'm conservative on a couple of issues, but I don't let a party do my thinking for me.

I would LOVE to know what issues you are conservative with. I think you are very liberal but i'll be waiting for your reply.

Surprise surprise, Im a conservative. I make no attempt at hiding but I am moderate on some issues. I am pro-Abortion although I dislike the practice I would rather someone not have a kid they dont want. I guess though I am more conservative than anything.

Who said the Republican party defined who I am? You havent talked to me with a good various number of issues to know that I let the party define things for me. You, again, assumed. Feel free to show me proof that I am defined by the party and not my own mind/opinions.

If you have msn or icq we could discuss things further to really know where each other is coming from rather than a few posts.

[///M]

Well, I guess I rushed to a false conclusion.

I am quite conservative about punishment. I think Canada is way too lax with it's criminals. I'm conservative about environmental restrictions on corporations that are invented with no hard facts (that covers most of the bullshit you hear from treehuggers).

Overall, I'm mos def left-of-centre, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything the NDP says.

[Firecat]

Truth of the matter is, the playing field is still not level. Minorities have been oppressed (in america) for hundreds of years, somehow a few decades are enough time to catch up?...I don't believe so. Maybe institutionalized racism has been done away with, but that doesn't mean companies still do not discriminate.

[///M]

[Z Draci]

Everybody thinks it's great to have Black, Asian, and Latino pride and celebrations.
Somehow, having White pride and White-only congregations are considered blatently racist.

The simple act of bring up "race" altogether is racist. If you truly believe we are equals, we should take "race" out of the equation.

Same thing with gender. Women claim that they should deserve this and that. Well, it doesn't matter if you're a man or woman. If you can't do the job or is unwilling to work hard, you don't deserve higher pay!

It's outrageous that women get leave for pregnancies and still expect to be paid as much as men. If I owned a company, I'd rather have men. They don't have pregnancies or period issues. Men work hard and never complain about gender discrimination.

[cvrefugee]

Originally Posted by Firecat

Truth of the matter is, the playing field is still not level. Minorities have been oppressed (in america) for hundreds of years, somehow a few decades are enough time to catch up?...I don't believe so. Maybe institutionalized racism has been done away with, but that doesn't mean companies still do not discriminate.

You do know that slavery has existed all over the world since the dawn of time, right? The word 'slave' comes from 'slav'. A slav is one who speaks a Slavic language in E. Europe. Russians enslaved poor slavs from E. Europe back way back when. In fact, it was the European countries that funded the Atlantic Slave Trade so they could benefit from the natural resources coming from the Americas. Also, the majority of the African slaves did not go to the United States, they went to S. and Central America.

[justin syder]

Im a minority and dont really see much in the sense that I am incapable of doing what I want because there is some disadvantage placed on me.

I also feel that race shouldnt be an issue in any matter and when we all agree that we can look at each other as humans and not categorized by race that is when we can move on.

I dont need a handout or feel that the playing field is uneven for me.

[Firecat]

Anyway....in this day and age there is an even bigger issue than race or gender, it's class.

[justin syder]

So now its class?

Please, feel free to elaborate. By the way, what race are you, Im just curious.

[Firecat]

What I mean is that white or black doesn't matter much when you are rich. And, from what I understand, the middle class has been shrinking and more people have slipped into the lower class....

I'm mocha 8)

[justin syder]

Originally Posted by Firecat

What I mean is that white or black doesn't matter much when you are rich. And, from what I understand, the middle class has been shrinking and more people have slipped into the lower class....

I'm mocha 8)

Mocha? I said what race are you not what is ur fav coffe. I dont know what mocha is.

If I told you I was "Carribean Soup" would you know what I am?

I would love to see where you get that idea, middle class has been shrinking. Again, please elaborate. Im listening.

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by justin syder

Mocha? I said what race are you not what is ur fav coffe. I dont know what mocha is.

If I told you I was "Carribean Soup" would you know what I am?

I would love to see where you get that idea, middle class has been shrinking. Again, please elaborate. Im listening.

LOL....i was just noting that I would be considered a minority, mocha being brownish.

Anyway, I did a quick search to find some type of non-partisan supporting evidence....
http://www.factcheck.org/article249.html