The Power of Citizen Journalism
Post News ($)»     Post Blog»     Upload Image»     Groups»     Events»     Alerts»     How do I ...»
Email Print Share

Email this article

Recipient email:
Your email:
optional
Message:
optional

article imageRacism: An Unbiased Entity Alive And Well In America

Posted May 15, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom) in Lifestyle | 16 comments | 749 views
Next in Lifestyle
Related News
Advertising
As the political race narrows and the fight for the candidacy becomes more like a verbal MMA cage-fight, racism and discrimination are beginning to surface more often. But in America, it isn't just a white thing. Racism itself is an unbiased entity.
In light of the political presidential campaign and the fight for the democratic candidate, there seems to be a lot of racial tension going on these days. Just last week, Hillary Clinton made a statement that elicited ire from groups across the nation, claiming her to be a "racist".

“Clinton played the race card yesterday as she dismissed Barack Obama as a candidate who will have a hard time winning support from ‘white Americans.’ It was the most starkly racial comment Clinton has made in the campaign, and drew quick condemnation from some Democrats.


But wasn't Geraldine Ferraro forced to step down for her suggestion about Obama’s presence in the race being colour oriented? What if an individual of colour had made that same suggestion?

And since Hillary pulled the alleged 'race card' recently, shouldn't she step down from her own candidacy or is that another misstatement? No, because she apologized.

The problem with racism is that it is a subjective term in that the individual or group wishing to pursue the issue is really the defining entity.

Reverse racism is alive and well in America, where late last summer, a white man won a lawsuit and $150,000 USD in New York against his black supervisor for calling him names like "cracker" and "stupid white boy". They worked at a correctional facility geared to help troubled kids.

The problem with the "race card" is that the organizations so quick to jump on perceived racist situations seem to focus their energy and resources on ensuring the American People never forget their oppression and the trials and tribulations without providing the same sensitivity to other groups in the process.

Racism, by definition from the US Civil Rights Commission:

Is any action or attitude, conscious or unconscious, that subordinates an individual or group based on skin colour or race. It can be enacted individually or institutionally

whereas discrimination, by definition is:

To treat differently a person or group of people based on their racial origins. Power is a necessary precondition, for it depends on the ability to give or withhold social benefits, facilities, services, opportunities etc., from someone who should be entitled to them, and are denied on the basis of race, colour or national origin.

Racism is meant to belittle another and to elevate oneself in an effort to separate the two groups based on appearance. In racism, the separation and hostility that is created teaches younger generations that it is "OK" to make jokes about a person's nose, slanted eyes, red or pale skin.

Simplistically, we are educating the young to disrespect based on colour and it is equally, if not more prevalent in groups other than whites.

Take comedians where it is acceptable behavior for black comedians, who are allowed and encouraged, to berate and belittle white people. It is considered "comedy" and humor. A black comedian is also allowed to pick apart his own kind.

A white comedian must gingerly tiptoe around so as not to ‘offend’ the black community, as they don't want to be labeled as a racist.

Racism is also seen in between other cultures, where the Japanese make fun of certain "Americans" with their big noses, bushy hair and, well, large male appendages. All in fun, right?

When a Caucasian stereotypes one by slanting the eyes and bucked teeth, maybe some glasses and a camera around the neck, it is considered racism at its finest.

The black superiority groups such as Louis Farrakhan have shown an incredible amount of anti-white, anti-Jewish and anti-homosexual statements, where the Anti-Defamation League quotes:

Farrakhan’s bigoted and anti-Semitic rhetoric has included statements calling whites “blue eyed devils” and Jews “bloodsuckers” that controlled the slave trade, the government, the media and various Black individuals and organizations. In 2006, he blamed Jews and Israel for the war in Iraq, for controlling Hollywood and for promoting what he considers immorality during his February Saviours' Day address in Chicago.

In a 2007 interview with Arabic-language television news network Al Jazeera, Farrakhan accused Jews of anti-Semitism, charging that “The real anti-Semites are those who came out of Europe and settled in Palestine, and now they call themselves the true Jews, when in fact, they converted to Judaism.”

Even Reverend Wright was quoted for making racist statements:

“Barack knows what it means to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary can never know that. Hillary ain’t never been called a nigger.”


The Sharpton's and Jackson's have helped pave the way for racial victimization and blaming whites for the errors of society. Even Obama has distanced himself from the two groups for reasons, only speculative answers can provide.

Most recently, the Curious George T-Shirt incident in Marietta, Ga., that spawned racial controversy across the nation. It got so bad for one website, that they had to pull the thread less than 24-hours after posting on freerepublic.com (www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2015242/posts - 31k). The biggest group to scream national outrage over the small-town tavern profit idea was the Nation of Islam.

But isn't Barack Obama a Christian?

Even worse in this country is the black against black racism, with one group targeting the more conservative groups of blacks, resorting to racial epitaphs such as "Uncle Tom" and "white wanna be".

On the May 14, 2008 Sean Hannity radio show, two black women were discussing issues with the blacks. One woman, a military officer and conservative, failed to agree with the other woman's liberal black views. The educated officer became the victim of racism and was called a white wannabe because she had an opinion.

This type of racism is not new and is drawing attention across the nation.

Blacks encourage black separatism, or racism by definition, and call it empowerment. They are being spoon fed that they cannot be "authentic" unless they embrace their true culture and that the Black Rednecks, by Thomas Sowell, is not their true culture. Of course, certain facts are eliminated and they are also selectively fed information saying that only blacks can be oppressed because they have no power. Whites and others have power so they cannot, in essence, be oppressed.

Sadly, those that have become powerful and educated are the targets of black racism and termed wannabe whites and "Uncle Toms".

In 2005, when black Republican Michael Steele announced his candidacy for the U.S.Senate, he was pelted with Oreo cookies and endured racial slurs, including "Uncle Tom".

Racism isn't just an oppressive "white on black" thing and right now, there is more than just racism occurring in the United States, with one ABC news story in April, 2008 describing "Weightism", or the overt discrimination against people because of their size, being more prevalent in America than racism.

As the political road becomes more narrow, drawing to a heated battle for a leader, it seems like "all is fair in love and war" will become the Presidential Mantra. From T-Shirts to to misstatements, the discriminatory jokes against the candidates age, race and gender will more likely escalate over the next several months.

Who will cry discrimination next: AARP?
article:254754:24::0
3 subscribers
Subscribe To This Thread[?] :
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Chris V. (cgull)
    #1
    Great Report Nikki. It is sad educated and religious people are showing racism and many of them justify in what they do. I treat everyone equal, I learn more from them. If I had been like them, I wouldn't have learned as many things. We need each other.
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #2
    Thanks Gull (er, Chris). I agree, we DO NEED each other.

    We don't need all one colour or all one race or all one religion or belief. We would be robots, and ugly ones at that.

    The beauty of this world is the beauty of our individual traits. What makes people ugly is their need to jump all over another for something. Lets show national grouping over those who hurt innocent children in our country: the child molesters and perverts.

    I'm with you, I like the equality because it has taught me so much.

    I will say, caveat, I don't like one shoving their monkey down my throat because they carry it around. I have my own issues, as we all do. :-)
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Chris V. (cgull)
    #3
    @ Nikki W (karateblossom)
    Thanks Gull (er, Chris). I agree, we DO NEED each other.

    We don't need all one colour or all one race or all one religion or belief. We would be robots, and ugly ones at that.

    The beauty of this world is the beauty of our individual traits. What makes people ugly is their need to jump all over another for something. Lets show national grouping over those who hurt innocent children in our country: the child molesters and perverts.

    I'm with you, I like the equality because it has taught me so much.

    I will say, caveat, I don't like one shoving their monkey down my throat because they carry it around. I have my own issues, as we all do. :-)
    Well said. Among my friends, there are few ones, who no one talks to, but I learn so much from them. Those who ignore them are the losers and later complain why there is a problem in the world. Everyone will learn once they face their "Good Samaritan" moment :)
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #4
    Excellent article KB!!!
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #5
    @ Susan Duclos
    Excellent article KB!!!

    Thanks SDQ. :o) Thanks for your "tips"
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #6
    Heh. Anything to get you going on one of your spectacular articles.
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #7
    @ Susan Duclos
    Heh. Anything to get you going on one of your spectacular articles.

    :-) thank you
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Cynthia T. [Picasso]
    #8
    Great report KB and it sure does tell the truth.
    Those who seem to be crying racism the most need to move on.
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #9
    Thanks cyn. I think there are so many more important things to focus that energy on, ya know?
  • Hammster Posted May 15, 2008 by  Hammster
    #10
    I heard an interview on Tony Brown's program (it has been a while so I don't remember the man's name he was interviewing).

    But Tony made a statement that has stuck with me: "Black people will always be lazy and white people will always be prejudice..."

    Tony is just open in every interview, but unlike as Al Sharpton he doesn't make blacks or whites feel ashamed (he seems real, don't dividing). Brown is careful to "frame" what he says in honestly, unlike Al and Jessie and others who teach young blacks the world owes them something (just watch sharp-talk sometime it's sickening).

    http://www.tonybrown.com/
  • avatar Posted May 15, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #11
    tony brown isn't racist at all, a good guy-still got a lot of blackness to him but I think that is good. :)

    walter williams is another, but the blacks call him an uncle tom.
  • Hargrove Posted May 16, 2008 by  Hargrove
    #12
    Hammster, I think that it is racist for Tony Brown to say "all black people are lazy?" I wonder if he means it? I wonder if he thinks that he is lazy? How could anyone exposed to so many black people, who are top performers, believe that? Is it a joke?

    I think the biggest problem with race is that we don't have a single standard by which we judge things. I think this article is trying to address that.

    Using the Tony Brown thing as an example. No group wants to be thought of as lazy, but in our culture, if a black person levels insults on black people, it's suddenly no longer insulting, or if racist, it's no longer racist.

    Uncle Tom is a term used to describe a black person who advances, promotes or facilitates racism against black people. But we seldom talk about what goes into the making of an Uncle Tom.

    American history includes a time when a black person could only survive under the protection of a white person. Some black people, who are alive today, remember when a black person had to have a note from a white person if they entered certain sections of Washington, D.C. Experiences like these have caused some black people to fearfully say what they think white people want to hear, or to contrive a point of view for the purpose of getting ahead, or to actually come to believe the same misinformation that misleads some whites. Black people can be racist against black people, just like women can be sexist against women.

    Instead of trying to put racism in the white column or sexism in the male column, we have to define it by behavior, and not by human characteristics. Actually, even more than behavior, attitude is the real determinant.

    A good starting point for racial understanding would be to allow people to say anything, but not to the people it pertains to. For example, it is alright to say that you think black people are lazy, as part of a discussion, but it is not alright to call a black person lazy, based on his race. Likewise, it would be alright to say that women are less aggressive than men, but it is not alright to tell a woman that she is less aggressive, based on her sex.

    If we can't say what we think, we can never perfect our ideas. But if people cannot be free of name calling, they cannot perfect their lives.

    Obviously this article provoked thought. Thank you Nikki.
  • avatar Posted May 16, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #13
    A good starting point for racial understanding would be to allow people to say anything, but not to the people it pertains to. For example, it is alright to say that you think black people are lazy, as part of a discussion, but it is not alright to call a black person lazy, based on his race. Likewise, it would be alright to say that women are less aggressive than men, but it is not alright to tell a woman that she is less aggressive, based on her sex.


    Hargrove: Your comment is worth reading by all on DJ but I found this para to be of extreme importance for anyone who takes the time....

    I don't think Hamm was promoting the statement by Brown, just another point in the whole case really. Brown, as a conservative black, shows to have strong blanketed opinions. Presonally - I take offense to some degree at Browns statement that all white people are prejudice, as I'm not prejudice against colour. Am I prejudice against men? Yes, because I was raped by my step dad for 8 years. Abandoned by my real dad. Beaten by my first husband and then had some problems finding a relationship with a man who wasn't abusive or controlling/dominating or manipulative with the whole gender role mindset or self-fulfilling dominance pissing on thing.

    So i could be viewed as being gender biased and saying ALL MEN are X. But my husband of 8 years is very kind and understanding. Gender bias is a real problem in America as well. It is probably why I got into the art of fighting and weight lifting so I didn't appear weak on the outside and then a long time ago, sought long term counseling to help me help myself on the inside so that I was more in tune with my inside and could heal as best I could.

    I guess what I'm saying is that I agree in a way but that saying what we think can serve to totally harm another in more ways than the speaker will ever know. Words are as volatile as sticks and stones, we just don't see the damage they do and the general pop doesn't care to share or doesn't recognize it either....they just turn mean,nasty and act out in some way.

    I don't like name calling, especially the racial kind. A jerk is a jerk regardless of skin colour. So when I am treated rudely by a hispanic woman, do I say she is a jerk or do I say she was a "beaner jerk"?

    That is the problem I see but that is just me....too many, in frustration, attach that extra name correlative to skin colour or religion or gender or age or weight - like it carries some credibility. It is sad.

    My brother and I (my brother, 1/2 bro, is 1/2 hispanic) was talking about riding around with a black guy. They were jammin' on some "white" music. At the gas station, a little black guy got out of his car and approached the black guy and said, dude, why you let this cracker bitch choose your f-in music for you?

    Oddly enough, the big black guy with my brother went off on the little one and said "you don't know me. I am not your dude or your bro or your friend. I am free and over 21 and can choose my own music, which I did. don't ever address me again".

    The little guy said what he thought to be true that my brother, the 1/2 white/1/2 hispanic guy made the black guy listen to white music and was creating oppression of blacks. The black guy is the one who was making the choices and told the little black guy with the "issues" where to go.

    It hurt that the little guy said what he said.....calling my brother a cracker. And why?

    Why that term? I'll never understand. They didn't even know the little firecracker.
  • avatar Posted May 16, 2008 by  jnbek
    #14
    I personally despise racism. Being raised in a moderately racist household, I have made strong and successful efforts to overcome any racist views or thoughts that may have crept into my psyche. I have seen all forms of racism against all types of people and it just makes me sick. We are all created to be different in our own ways, this is what makes us unique in the grand scheme of things on this little speck of universe we all share, our thoughts, looks, behavior, likes and dislikes are all unique to ourselves, but the one thing all the haters and complainers are seeming to overlook is, under the first few layers of skin, we all look the same, we all bleed the same color... So who gives a darn what the particular shade of skin is on the outside? And is hate really a good excuse to advertise your heritage, place of birth, or overall culture? As I clearly remember from my childhood, "Say it, don't spray it", those who are interested will listen, those who aren't won't, get over it.
  • avatar Posted May 16, 2008 by  Sykos Masters
    #15
    Excellent piece!!!

    Finally a voice of reason and thoughtful balance on one of the many 'isms' that continue to plague us. I've often wondered what my experience would have been had genetics decided to make some of my recessive genes dominant—begin part Mongolian and part Roma (dark skinned) Gypsy.

    As you point out, racism has in many cases become an easy 'battle cry', sometimes from the very groups of people that practice it themselves. I think I can guarantee that should the time come, centuries from now, when we are all of tanned skin colour that we will still be separated by the size of our noses, whether we're left or right-handed, or the colour of our hair. I think it's extremely sad, because last time I checked, we were all in the Human race.
  • Hargrove Posted May 17, 2008 by  Hargrove
    #16
    Wow, there's been a lot of human emotion expressed here!

    Sykos Masters impressed me by his will to improve himself in the area of racial attitudes. I did that too, but more from the perspective of being my authentic self without being influenced by what the attitude of others might be.

    Nikki, we have something in common. I too have a step-father, but when he acted inappropriate, my brother stepped in (2 years older) and made sure I was never home alone with him. He gave me the "permission" I never could have given myself. He insisted, don't come home, no matter what our mother tells you to do, until someone's home.

    If it had been left up to my mother, I think the worse would have happened. I just don't think she would allow herself to "know" something like that.

    While you've suffered, I hope that one day all of the effects will fall away. At least you've managed to achieve a long term relationship.

    While racism is a plague on America, I think America is the place that is most capable of ending it. I see this election as many people trying to do what's right. I've been impressed by white men like Kerry and Kennedy, and now Edwards, who missed their dream of obtaining the office of president, supporting a black man in getting what they wanted, and may never get. Mentally I've learned that men and women aren't so different, we're just "trained" different. But when you "know" something emotionally you can utilize it.

Add a Comment

You have to Login or Register to comment


Email:
Password:
Remember meForgot password?