BlueZebra said:[quote]

MuthaFunka said:

Cool, I can dig that. But then you should definitely take up writing with an emphasis on sentence structure. What you should've written was "It takes efforts from both sides to overcome this situation AND I believe what the NAACP does, contributes to this". See how that "and" ties the 2 sentences together nicely?

But again, I noticed you didn't touch on anything else I responded to, so that tells me "what's up". But it's all good.

MuthaFunka said:

I'm the racist now ?

BlueZebra said:

That's interesting on how some people claim some Blacks go to the "Race Card" yet those very some people are guilty of going to the "You Callin' Me a Racist? Card" just because they choose to "read into" something that ain't even close to being there. So, I want YOU to explain to ME what made you feel that phrase meant you were a racist?

MuthaFunka said:

the "that tells me what's up" part.

I didn't respond to the rest of your post because I see no point in a "I'm right, you're right" discussion on an internet forum. As I said, here in Belgium we don't even HAVE notable coloured actors or actresses, we don't HAVE coloured news anchors. There are some coloured politicians but not in powerful positions. You are having your first coloured president getting inaugurated next week, there are actors and actresses of colour in prime time series. To me that proves racists are losing, maybe not at the pace we want to, but that should only fuel us to work even harder.

BlueZebra said:

Actually, yes I would watch a TV show or movie IF they had black characters because everyone wants to see themselves represented in the media and it would be refreshing to see non-crime related storylines that I could relate to, learn from, and enjoy. Also, many people get their information about people that don't look like them or have different cultures from TV and movies. Studies show that MOST white people of a certain age do not have close relationships with people outside of their race. So, for some of them the images portrayed on TV have a direct influence on their opinions and views of people of color. And considering that many blacks are cast in the role of criminal, that explains a lot.

As far as what can be done. Neither the NAACP nor black people in general have any REAL power to effect change within the existing estableshment. All we can do is point out the lack of representation and hope somebody listens. But according to some on this thread that's just bitching about the problem. Well, how else do you learn about a problem if nobody mentions it. These types of decisions ultimately reside with a small group of powerful decision makers that have to decide for themselves that there is some benefit, usually financial, to opening their club to people that don't look like them and allowing them to diversify the types of images we see in movies and TV shows.

SCNDLS said:

Well said.

BlueZebra said:

Ah! So THAT'S what you think I meant by that, eh? Well - WRONG!

It meant that I KNEW you weren't gonna be able to dispute the NAACP's findings NOR were you gonna be able to counter my response to you ridiculously saying "Blacks should take up acting and writing".

And just a little helpful advice if you ever visit the states - Don't refer to Blacks as "Colored" . That may save you some embarrassment and possible bodily harm from some that take major offense to that term :lol.

MuthaFunka said:

the NAACP uses coloured to refer to non-whites in that report. Once again it's not only African American, native Americans are in even worse shape according to the report. I usually call people by their first name, or say Sir if I don't know them well enough

I didn't say Blacks should take up acting and writing. If a degree costs as much as it costs in the US, how do you want people that don't have the money for that to improve ? See, there's a much deeper problem than the motion picture industry. If you can't solve this at the source, by providing opportunities and supporting initiative, you can do what you want.

And for all that it's worth, the US is still doing better than most European countries regarding diversity.

It sounds like you have a solution to the problem, I have a very hard time understanding what your solution is ...

BlueZebra said:

BlueZebra said:

No YOU'VE used "Coloured" and all I'm saying is, don't come to the states thinking it's "ok" to use that word for Blacks.

And the problem is RACISM, which permeates throughout all of society in America. So the ONE solution would to end racism, but we all know that won't happen since there's too much money to be made at keeping racism alive.

MuthaFunka said:

true, black isn't even a color. I'll remember that.

How is there money to be made at keeping racism alive? Do you mean that hollywood bigwigs are afraid to lose money by casting non-whites ?

It's obvious that you are utterly unaware of racial situations outside the US, as abierman already stated. Sure, situations outside the US don't concern you. There's no way we can learn from eachother right ?

BlueZebra said:

Because those that are in charge of perpetuating racism make money of it by keeping minorities out of the "money loop" - job opportunities, promotions, loans, things like that - thus keeping the money within their race. An excellent example is Slavery = Money. Today is no different.

And it's obvious that have know very little about the racial situations IN America, because I keep having t correct on basically everything you've posted. Thing is, I don't front and act like I know "How it is" in other countries yet those that haven't a cue or very little knowledge of American Racism that live outside the U.S. are ALWAYS truing to chime in on American Racism, ONLY to be shut down by those of that KNOW about American racism, since most of us doing the shutting down live it every single day.

But you don't want to learn from me, from the simple fact that you STILL claim we're "crying wolf" on these issues, so miss me with that "We should learn from each other" nonsense, I ain't buyin' it from you. If you were serious about that, I'd actually engage you seriously, but you're first salvo was to dismiss rather than to truly be interested.

I think that says it all.