This is inspired from another thread in the prince forum. Its just a question with no malicious intent whatsoever, so please don't twist is all up.

I am not a black man, so i have no idea what it must be like to be black in America. It seems to me, however, that Black Americans have their entire identity wrapped up in being black. I hear many black men and woman begin statements with words like "As a black man/woman...". I don't get it. I don't start any responses to social issues with "As a white man...". I see many conflicts in society but I don't immediately jump to the conclusion that race plays a part. I immediately think money and wealth play key factors. I notice that race is an incredible sore spot with Black America. Don't get me wrong, I recognize that in America there are very prominent racial problems. I just feel that these problems are perpetuated by the fact that past racial problems existed. I don't know exactly how to explain what i mean to say. I guess I just want to discuss it with someone so I can perhaps see things from another perspective or at least understand where someone else is coming from.

whoops...i meant to put this in politics forums...sorry!
[This message was edited Fri Jun 13 15:55:35 PDT 2003 by CamillesKisses]

As a white woman I just want to say:

WRONG FORUM!

(Politics and Religion)

AnotherLoverToo said:

althom said:

HUSH!

wow...i wonder how many times i'll see "wrong forum" before someone actually addresses the post?

btw...i did go back and edit the post regarding the forum...

Are you offended by that?

In a nutshell, All Americans are nuts, and should be made to spend at least a year outside America, to see how the rest of the world works, cause the world does not revolve around the USA.

Come to the UK for awhile, we're equally as diverse, and on the face of it, we seem to get on better with each other here.

Marrk said:

No, my friend, that's not entirely true. For the past few years, I've heard and read many news reports about the rise of skinheads/neo-Nazis in the UK and their assaults on minority citizens and immigrants. The UK is not a panacea, by any stretch of the imagination. Sorry.

(pear-shaped edit)
[This message was edited Fri Jun 13 20:13:31 PDT 2003 by ThreadBare]

CamillesKisses said:

I am what some choose to call black. I choose not to call myself anything other than a human being. If society wants to attach labels to me, that is their fucking problem. I have been criticized on this site because I do not want to call myself "African American". I am told here that I am ashamed or I don't know who I am. I am also told that black people can't be racist. Yeah, whatever. While I can never deny the past happened, what are we all gonna do to move forward together? If you want to discuss this further, go ahead. I am open to conversation but I am not one of the black Americans whose identity is wrapped in being black.

As for the thread's question, consider this: Blacks in America have a history of being defined by our ethnic differences from whites.

And, no, you don't have to go as far as slavery to find negative aspects of this. We live in a society that readily identifies us by that ethnicity. How often do you hear statements and generalizations made about "the black community" or "black leaders" by non-blacks? "Talking black" or "singing black" are common catchphrases in pop culture used to describe dialects and musical styles.

Being black is often grounds for a punchline in movies or on television. A few years ago, a primetime pilot on NBC had a kid remarking in astonishment at his father's choice of a new girlfriend: "Look!" he said, "He's over there -- with a black woman." The laugh track quickly succeeded this joke. But, I never got it. How was that funny? And, why the need to point out the woman's color? The implication was that his father was breaking some edgy, freakish taboo -- even a kid could tell that.

Sometimes, when blacks own or celebrate those things that make us "different" from whites, whites get upset or intimidated. When we exude confidence -- not in spite of our color, but because, in part, of it -- other people can get antsy. Particularly when that self-expression, energy and confidence aren't channeled into often-stereotypical outlets -- as artistic ability, sexuality or athleticism.

No, when we vocalize how certain characteristics have shaped our lives or those of our families' in articulate and passionate ways, it's often greeted by whites' anguished cry for us to "get over it," as if our sole justification for being dissatisfied with society is the enslavement of our ancestors. And, as if this were some game that we started.

I'd submit that enslavement is symptomatic of a deeper problem that isn't exclusive to notions of white superiority over non-white persons. Blacks who base their existence on the hatred of whites, for instance, are equally afflicted.

In this regard, we find that humans of all shades always have a capacity to mistreat each other -- sociologically, politically, even romantically. When that abuse occurs -- particularly when that abuse is perpetual (though its form might change -- i.e., from slavery to Jim Crow laws to redlining to attacks on affirmative-action admissions policies, etc.), it shouldn't be surprising to hear the abused parties expose and decry the problem.

I'm not saying all whites are racist, nor am I saying all blacks suffer from abuse (economic levels determine the extent of a lot of things). I am saying that both blacks and whites have some room to grow in learning to accept and love each other as humans. Period.

I don't think that can be done without the love and Spirit of God compelling us to abandon our fears, prejudices and myths (about ourselves and each other) and trust Him and each other enough to try.

stymie said.

Hey stymie you know what you're just stymie to me...

agotajonesmartha said:

Thank you so much for this.

Marrk said:

Fuck Off Dipshit!

.