Shld Blacks forget abt slavery and move on?

[Foxrac]

Unfortunately, racism is still alive and well in the United States.

Yup, racial relation for between on Mexican and blacks are bad in most area, such as California.

 

[VamPyroX]

I do agree that Blacks are getting carried away with the slavery history.

It happened and doesn't happen any more. So, it's time to move on. If it was still happening in another country, they should complain about that other country... not here.

 

[Steel X]

Yeah slavery still exist in Africa.

not sure where in Africa thou but I believe it's much worse than here. cause slaves often get killed every single day.

Some ppl in Africa are trying to set some slaves free by "buying" freedom for the slave owners so he/she would set them free.

It is possible that blacks can use other blacks as slaves in Africa.

 

[Southern]

That is what it is, black owning another black. Oprah did a show on it and several from other African countries have brought their slaves here and were caught and are now serving jail time in this country. Were are the Jesse Jacksons, Al Sharptons, and Tavis Smileys on this issue? What you are silent, so are they!

 

[rabbit]

I wouldn't say they (or those who haven't already) should FORGET about what happened ... but people need to learn to leave the past behind, whites have learned from their mistakes (for the most-part) and blacks (for the most-part) should learn to let things be. No one race is better than another. That's why I don't like the idea of TV channels and holidays dedicated to a race or minority, firstly ... why would you want to celebrate being a minority? There are better ways to liberate oneself then to have a television channel dedicated to ones ethnicity. Do you know what segregating does? It alienates and creates a sense of "this group is better than that group" or "this group can't compare with that one" ... by having a Black Entertainment channel (and I'm not JUST talking about blacks here, I'm talking about ALL colors/races/cultures/religions/etc, this is just an example.) it creates a "group" of people, which subliminally tells those within and without of the group that there is a difference between them and the others ... if we are trying to work towards UNITY then we don't want people to see/feel a difference, we want all people to be the same.

 

[jillio]

I wouldn't say they (or those who haven't already) should FORGET about what happened ... but people need to learn to leave the past behind, whites have learned from their mistakes (for the most-part) and blacks (for the most-part) should learn to let things be. No one race is better than another. That's why I don't like the idea of TV channels and holidays dedicated to a race or minority, firstly ... why would you want to celebrate being a minority? There are better ways to liberate oneself then to have a television channel dedicated to ones ethnicity. Do you know what segregating does? It alienates and creates a sense of "this group is better than that group" or "this group can't compare with that one" ... by having a Black Entertainment channel (and I'm not JUST talking about blacks here, I'm talking about ALL colors/races/cultures/religions/etc, this is just an example.) it creates a "group" of people, which subliminally tells those within and without of the group that there is a difference between them and the others ... if we are trying to work towards UNITY then we don't want people to see/feel a difference, we want all people to be the same.

Integration, as well, can be responsible for a sense of hopelessness for minorities. They are accepted into all of the institutions that the majority culture controls, but simply being permitted acess does not mean that covert racists attitudes are not there. It has been proven time and again that teachers often treat young Black children differently in that they expect less from them, and will accept less from them academically. It creates a self fulfilling prophecy. How many Dd/hh students have experienced the same thing in the mainstream (integrated) classroom? In addition, inthe integrated classroom, very little, if any Black history is taught, and these kids are given no cultural foundation on which to build a strong self identity. Again, how much Deaf history is taught in the mainstream? These kids suffer the same type of problems with identity. I'm not saying that it can't be carried to an extreme, but we all are products of our history, even if we didn't experience it directly. It comes through our ancestors, and values and norms that are passed down from generation to generation. I beleive that we need to understand that in order to have tolerance and to see from theperspective of another. Sometimes, what seems to be a wrong way of thinking is really not when you put yourself in the other person's shoes, and look at it from their point of view.

 

[rabbit]

This may be true to an extent... then if so the problem lies not just WITH the minority but those that aren't part of the minority, the only way to remedy this is to treat the minority equal, but then again ... how can someone be treated as EQUAL when they are constantly pointing out "hey look at me! I'm a minority!" ... people need to PROVE that they are NOT a minority by the way they act and conduct themselves ... take for example inner-city styles ... I'm not saying they are necessarily "bad" ... there are many awesome urban styles, I'm also not saying that everyone fits this stereotype, but you have to admit that many of these styles (often condoned by "minorities") promote POVERTY and CRIME ... that doesn't say much for those toting these styles. It's all about the way we conduct ourselves.

Integration, as well, can be responsible for a sense of hopelessness for minorities. They are accepted into all of the institutions that the majority culture controls, but simply being permitted acess does not mean that covert racists attitudes are not there. It has been proven time and again that teachers often treat young Black children differently in that they expect less from them, and will accept less from them academically. It creates a self fulfilling prophecy. How many Dd/hh students have experienced the same thing in the mainstream (integrated) classroom? In addition, inthe integrated classroom, very little, if any Black history is taught, and these kids are given no cultural foundation on which to build a strong self identity. Again, how much Deaf history is taught in the mainstream? These kids suffer the same type of problems with identity. I'm not saying that it can't be carried to an extreme, but we all are products of our history, even if we didn't experience it directly. It comes through our ancestors, and values and norms that are passed down from generation to generation. I beleive that we need to understand that in order to have tolerance and to see from theperspective of another. Sometimes, what seems to be a wrong way of thinking is really not when you put yourself in the other person's shoes, and look at it from their point of view.

 

[jillio]

Actually, it is not the urban style or stereotype that promotes poverty and repression and discrimination. It is the other way around. Sociological conditions are responsible for the inner city problems, and racism and discrimination create the mechanisms that keep people there. People do what they have to do to survive and provide their needs and the needs of their families. Given more opportunity, many would make different choices.

 

[rabbit]

You're right, and I have to admit that I'm not very educated on this particular subject ... but I still don't think it's right for a certain group to set themselves apart in anyway from another. Just look at the Nazi's, Hutu and Tutsis, etcetera... it can only lead to trouble.

Actually, it is not the urban style or stereotype that promotes poverty and repression and discrimination. It is the other way around. Sociological conditions are responsible for the inner city problems, and racism and discrimination create the mechanisms that keep people there. People do what they have to do to survive and provide their needs and the needs of their families. Given more opportunity, many would make different choices.

 

[JeepGirl]

I agree that Black people should try at least to let it go but not be forgotten. Its been over 200 years ago and we are in the 21st century and most of us now haven't seen what happened back then only what we saw on TV and in history class. I have nothing against black people but there are alot of angry blacks out there because we're white. I can understand that but who taught them to hate us? Their parents, grand-parents, great grand-parents did. They continue to hate us. Also.. there are alot of white racist too that just can't seem to get over it. That's what causes a Riot these days! I really wish it would stop.

 

[Southern]

Eh you are both correct to an extent. The fashions that are adopted by “urban culture” or “hip hop culture” are that of prisons. This is per Russell Simmons who is an icon of hip hop both in music and in fashion. If your clothing style comes out of prison what does that say about your mentality. Also you have the “thug” mentality that you are nothing if you haven’t gone to prison. Some of the onus must be taken by the minority in this situation. If the clothes you were says I am a thug, the music you listen to says I am a thug, if the way you conduct yourself says I am a thug, and your manner of speech says I am a thug… People are going to think you are a thug. This means you will get inferior jobs, which means you will have inferior housing, health care and the list goes on. You must take responsibility for your own actions in this type of situation. And I always hear, “these white people won’t give me a job” that is because no one gives you a job, you have to go out and GET one for yourself. If you have no skills, no education, you are not going to get a job, or at least one that pays anything.
As far as education is concerned I know a lot of teachers that were scared to push black children to try harder because if they did they were singling them out because they are black. If you are too soft you are racist, if you are hard you are racist. You cannot win for loosing. And I have experienced this many many times. When I was in school there would be a black friend of mine who was excelling. Very smart making great grades with really no effort. Just a walking brain that could do everything it seemed. The other black children would pick on them relentlessly saying that child is trying to be white. Doing well and making good grades is being white. Doing badly in school is being black, and this out of the mouths of black kids, not white. That is racism. Those black kids would stop doing well and start making bad grades to be accepted by the other black kids. And if a black student spoke “properly” then they were trying to be white. I had an English teacher that was black one time and she was very tough on the black students in our class. One girl in particular. The girl would always drop the last syllable in every word. She would sound something like this.
>> I ha tol my frien da las ti da she don nee to be doin da
What it should have been:
>> I had told my friend da last time dat she don’t need to be doing dat.
That of course is still not proper English but I wrote the two because well…. I am writing it.
Yes I used “Dat” instead of “that” This black teacher was on her constantly, it is “THAT” not “DAT” and you need to say the entire word not half of it. The girl would argue with her saying she is not white. The teacher told her, “face it honey we speak English, that is a white language. Speaking a language properly does not lessen who you are as a black person, being uneducated however does lessen who you are as a human being.” The girl spoke better by the end of the year but that is not something that a white teacher could have done. She would have instantly been labeled a racist and probably lost her job.
I am a proud Southerner and I have a thick southern accent. I speak properly though. Some other southern people will call me uppity for speaking properly but I don’t care I would rather people think I am intelligent but uppity than average without two brain cells to rub together!!

 

[Monkeyboy]

I've worked with a couple black people before and they acted like the world owed them everything because of the salvery. Because of this they refused to work as hard as everyone else and their bosses were afraid to fire them cause it would look like racism.

Its a bunch of crap! They should have had one of my bosses fire them, she is black . . . unless she felt the same way as those lazy guys did.

Dont misunderstand me, like a lot of people do, I'm not saying all black people are like this. Some of them are and it isnt right. My grandmother was an indian but we dont go around saying we deserve everything just because of what happened so long ago.




Not to mention . . . why do they insist on being called African American? Which they really aren't, not unless they were actually born in Africa and moved here to become an American citizen. They should accpet being called what they are, Americans!

 

[Southern]

Yeah Rebel Girl. There were many times in school that I was jumped by a large group of black boys for no reason but the color of my skin. I have had my life threatened so many times for it. Luckily I have so many black friends that when this would happen one of my black friends would show up and stop them. Usually with the line, “ he is not all white, his dad is Indian.” Then I would be cool and they would help me up. If they didn’t believe it I would say, “look at my eyes, my cheek bones, my big nose and lips. If you still don’t believe that go ahead and try to hurt me, but my tribal mother will have a sweat lodge just for you and your little friends” That would stop them.

 

[jillio]

Eh you are both correct to an extent. The fashions that are adopted by “urban culture” or “hip hop culture” are that of prisons. This is per Russell Simmons who is an icon of hip hop both in music and in fashion. If your clothing style comes out of prison what does that say about your mentality. Also you have the “thug” mentality that you are nothing if you haven’t gone to prison. Some of the onus must be taken by the minority in this situation. If the clothes you were says I am a thug, the music you listen to says I am a thug, if the way you conduct yourself says I am a thug, and your manner of speech says I am a thug… People are going to think you are a thug. This means you will get inferior jobs, which means you will have inferior housing, health care and the list goes on. You must take responsibility for your own actions in this type of situation. And I always hear, “these white people won’t give me a job” that is because no one gives you a job, you have to go out and GET one for yourself. If you have no skills, no education, you are not going to get a job, or at least one that pays anything.
As far as education is concerned I know a lot of teachers that were scared to push black children to try harder because if they did they were singling them out because they are black. If you are too soft you are racist, if you are hard you are racist. You cannot win for loosing. And I have experienced this many many times. When I was in school there would be a black friend of mine who was excelling. Very smart making great grades with really no effort. Just a walking brain that could do everything it seemed. The other black children would pick on them relentlessly saying that child is trying to be white. Doing well and making good grades is being white. Doing badly in school is being black, and this out of the mouths of black kids, not white. That is racism. Those black kids would stop doing well and start making bad grades to be accepted by the other black kids. And if a black student spoke “properly” then they were trying to be white. I had an English teacher that was black one time and she was very tough on the black students in our class. One girl in particular. The girl would always drop the last syllable in every word. She would sound something like this.
>> I ha tol my frien da las ti da she don nee to be doin da
What it should have been:
>> I had told my friend da last time dat she don’t need to be doing dat.
That of course is still not proper English but I wrote the two because well…. I am writing it.
Yes I used “Dat” instead of “that” This black teacher was on her constantly, it is “THAT” not “DAT” and you need to say the entire word not half of it. The girl would argue with her saying she is not white. The teacher told her, “face it honey we speak English, that is a white language. Speaking a language properly does not lessen who you are as a black person, being uneducated however does lessen who you are as a human being.” The girl spoke better by the end of the year but that is not something that a white teacher could have done. She would have instantly been labeled a racist and probably lost her job.
I am a proud Southerner and I have a thick southern accent. I speak properly though. Some other southern people will call me uppity for speaking properly but I don’t care I would rather people think I am intelligent but uppity than average without two brain cells to rub together!!

In the urban culture, it is often necessary to portray yourself as a thug in order to survive. The biggest and the baddest get the most, and the weak and the vunerable loose the most--often including their lives. One lives up to the expectations others have for them, including an expectation of failure. It is a well accepted and well documented psychological/ sociological phenonemon.

Eubonics, like any other dialect, is just that--a dialect arising out of culture. Just as y'all is accepted as proper in the southern subculture, dat is accepted in the Black subculture. People don't ask you to tone your accent down just to be accepted as intelligent and capable, do they?

As far a a child being made fun of because they are smart and motivated--this happens to white children, as well. This is something that can be generalized to most children. They will always make fun of the one that deviates a little bit from center.

When I speak of attitudes and behaviors from teachers, I am not talking about overt actions, but covert ones. Like, maybe not giving the same amount of attention re: an assignment to a Black child as was given to a white child based on an unrecognized or unspoken belief that the white child will benefit more from the help. Unfortunately, it does happen.

I don't think this is so much a matter of hate, but of distrust. An attitude of distrust of whites has been handed down from generation to generation and with very good reasons. Even today--look at arrest records and the disproportiate number of arrests attributed to Black males. Black males are not necessarily committing more crimes, but they are being arrested more, convicted more, and receive harsher punishment for the same crime than their white counterparts. If a Black man drives a nice car through a predominantly white neighborhood at 3:00 am, chances are he will be pulled over even if he is doing nothing wrong. It's a sad reality of the society that we live in, wwhether we choose to believe it or not.

 

[Southern]

Actually yes my southern accent does make people think I am stupid, out side of the south. Many times I have called northern attorney’s offices and they hear my accent and automatically begin to condescend. Talking more slowly and talking as if I am a child. Once the conversation has progressed to a certain point and they realize that I am intelligent they stop and speak normally. This has happened to me on so many occasions I cannot count. And I get, “I can’t understand you, say that again, what country are you from?” “Y’all” is acceptable because it is a contraction between “You” and “all” just as “you’ve” is a contraction between “you” and “have”… “dat” is not a word in the English language. There is a joke among southerners. “Jeetyet” “Nawjue” the first means, “did you eat yet” the second means, “no did you?” We laugh because we can understand this but people outside of the south do not always. When I say I speak properly I mean I don’t use things like “jeetyet” I say did you eat yet. I also say things like “sandwich” instead of “samwich” and “twenty” instead of “twiny” I speak properly but northern people act as though I am stupid and they cannot understand me all because of my accent.
Yes “nerds” of any culture are picked on. However being called a nerd is one thing, people saying you are trying to be another race by making good grades, hell even b’s and c’s is quite another.
Because of the media, fashion, and music, “urban” culture has taken on a different meaning now a days. It extends out much farther than the “inner city” also inner cities all over the country are going through rejuvenations and whole sections of cities that were empty are now being filled with people. These places are high cost and for high income people. The term “urban” doesn’t exactly mean the same thing it used to. Many “urban” youths live in what is technically the suburbs.
I will have to disagree that it is only mistrust. Hatred has been passed down from generation to generation. The majority of my friends are black and we talk about these things. They tell me what was said in their homes growing up, and they will say that it was bigoted and racist. I went to school with a black girl and she told me that if she brought me home her dad would probably shoot me as I walked in the door for no other reason than my skin color.
As far as crime that is a crock. If that is true then white people never report a crime. If you are white and steal my car i won't call the police. Um that is so stupid. And that means that every police officer is just going around picking a black person and throwing them in jail and faking the crime commited. And that has happened, but 100% of the crimes committed, i will need you to get a life at this point if that is what you truely think. If you look at a lot of the crimes they are “black on black” not black on white or white on black. This is not to say that whites don’t commit crimes. And most of my black friends joke that you can hear a crime on the news and with out even looking at the TV know if a white person did it or a black person did it. Drive by, black person, car jacking, black person, rob a liquor store, black person. Serial killer, white person, cannibal, white person, Unabomber, white person, sniper, white person, Enron, white person, kid napping children, white person.
The big awful horrible crimes that affects a lot of people, white people do, the everyday crimes black people do. And my friends say okay you have Jeffery Dommer who killed all those people cut them up and ate them on one hand, and you have Malik who held up the liquor store on the other. Who is more scary? Why are white people so scared of black folks, y’all way more scary! LOL I think who commits the crime and them being caught is accurate the way it happens. Once they get in the justice system though I agree with you the judgments are not balanced and blacks get something more harsh. As for the car thing the driving while black is a very real problem that I agree with you on. But if bubba the red neck with 3 teeth gets out of a Jaguar at a gas station EVERYONE will think he stole the car. Does that mean black people cannot own nice cars? NO does that mean red necks cannot own nice cars? NO. Where I live more black people own nice vehicles than white people do. Just a fact of life here. But they would rather live in a worse neighborhood to drive that car. I would rather live in a nicer neighborhood and drive the crappy car. And some of my friends have tried to talk me into doing that so I have the better vehicle. In my city black people are more expected to drive an Escalade, Navigator, or some other Cadillac, Lexus, or Mercedes. I guess it really depends on where you live

 

[rabbit]

One thing I can say is that the "strongest survive" theory is not true... often times inner city youths will join gangs to prove they are "tough" and will go through initiation processes such as beatings or I've even heard some cases where they had to break a certain number of laws before they were considered part of that particular gang.

I think the odds of dying or being severely injured are greatly increased by getting involved in illegal activity or trying to prove that you are "tough"... what happens when you act tough to another "tough guy"? He is going to try and prove he's even more tough... this leads to dangerous situations.

I know many black people who are well educated, well dressed, have good jobs, good speech, etc... and they grew up in the ghetto. The people who make a difference in publics view of minorities are those minorities that PROVE they are in fact NOT a minority (in the common way of viewing them).

[edit]

OH, and the urban style often does originate from poverty and crime... large extremely baggy "hand-me-down" clothes are now purchased new, pants that hang down below your waist were originally worn by gay men in prison to show that they were "ready" ... if most youths knew this I'm sure their opinion of the style would change. Believe it or not, it's actually LESS expensive to buy clothes that fit you properly (less material) and have better results when it comes to earning others respect and getting a good job and so-on. If you aren't involved in anything seedy or with the wrong crowd you shouldn't have too much of a problem wearing these styles either.

Now I'm not saying that all minorities or inner city youths are like this... but the problem often lies in the fact that these things have become what is acceptable by the people surrounded by them.

 

[shel90]

Not to mention . . . why do they insist on being called African American? Which they really aren't, not unless they were actually born in Africa and moved here to become an American citizen. They should accpet being called what they are, Americans!

My husband who is black hates that. He doesnt understand the point of calling himself an African-American since he is 6 or 7th generation American. H
He calls himself as an American who is black. Simple as that.

 

[Eve]

I don't think this is so much a matter of hate, but of distrust. An attitude of distrust of whites has been handed down from generation to generation and with very good reasons. Even today--look at arrest records and the disproportiate number of arrests attributed to Black males. Black males are not necessarily committing more crimes, but they are being arrested more, convicted more, and receive harsher punishment for the same crime than their white counterparts. If a Black man drives a nice car through a predominantly white neighborhood at 3:00 am, chances are he will be pulled over even if he is doing nothing wrong. It's a sad reality of the society that we live in, wwhether we choose to believe it or not.

While it is impossible to deny that injustice does exist, I don't believe that it is as abundant as many like to believe. I think that the biggest problem in the African-American population is the lack of fathers. With that, comes lack of instruction and upbringing, as the mothers are often over-worked and unable to be home enough to raise their children as they would like to. Consequently, I do believe there is a higher rate of criminal behaviors within the black community.

I have a bi-racial daughter, and I am raising her to value both cultures, to never feel sorry for herself, but to overcome obstacles.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

I agree that the history of Blacks slavery should remain...

 

[Eve]

I agree that the history of Blacks slavery should remain...

Nobody is trying to take away the history, but many Americans are tired of black people whining about the past and expecting special favors based on the injustices done to their ancestors.