Re: Being Called a Racist - Background

[sneezabonk]

Does any one have the video of this thing the guy is talking about

[deidzoeb]

@sneezabonk It was a reply to a video that "vitalfinds" made 3 years ago. I searched around for it and couldn't find it, so she might have taken it down by now. Sorry.

[HanoverFist247]

There's no excuse for reverse racism. Sounds like deidzoeb is a caucasian uncle tom. Whites on average are uncle toms. wich is why reverse racist issue exist...

[deidzoeb]

@HanoverFist247 "Caucasian uncle tom"? You mean a "race traitor"? Yep. Just like some people see the United Nations as a kind of competition and threat to the sovereignty of the US, some people will see loyalty to humanity as treason to their own race. If that's how you feel, go for it. I'll gladly stay more loyal to humanity than to my "race."

[HanoverFist247]

@deidzoeb No I don't mean race traitor, i mean Uncle Tom. you know your place like a good little doggie/whiteboy. You think you're a free thinker more like a brain fart stinker usin a UN euphemism to prove a point. Too bad your IQ is as low as your point. You're the kind of uncle tom that is a black man pisses on your shoe you just say sorry i was in your way yezzer i knows my place N walk away. than trying to circumvent some meaningless attempt to make me out to be racist admit yer inept.

[maocapoeira]

@HanoverFist247 inbred much?

[SuperMrSky]

I cant believe what your saying. You may be the only white person that sees it.

[cgmaxed]

The question isn't if someone is racist; it's how they got to be racist. Think about it. So many immigrant minorities come to the U.S. that are not racist against blacks. But after a couple years they're suddenly racist toward blacks. What happened? Don't be stupid and say they were taught by the media or friends. It's caused by what they see blacks do and how blacks behave. Not all blacks, but enough to cause them to create a racial profile. Sad.

[cgmaxed]

It's not my fault. Not my fault. Asians, mexicans, cubans, haitains, arabs all come here with nothing. But almost all end up working and succeeding in life. Blacks are born here. But still, so many fail.They fail way out of proportion to immigrants that don't even speek English. Sad. But it's not their fault. Society needs to take care of them. They need our help. That's just the way it is.

[armygrl081]

@cgmaxed No part of the problem is societies "help" because it solidifies a fact that many Blacks already have solidified in their psyche that they can't especially if they were born in the "ghetto". THATS alot of the problem. Welfare is 1/2 of the problem with workers that tell people like me we're just gonna end up on it. I was 15 Im 26 now and Im not never was except for two months, one time. Never will be again.

[gblove99]

black people want to be treated the same as everyone else but they call themselves "african-americans" which stands them out as different so they want to be treated the same but they want everyone to know there different. thats bullshit. its not a good thing that the blacks discriminate against white if they dont like it they shouldnt do it. just because some people discriminate against them its not right for the united nigro college fund to discriminate all white people..U WHINNY ASS HIPPY

[deidzoeb]

Black people don't get unfair treatment because they've identified themselves with a name apart from white Americans. If anything, they've identified themselves with a name apart white Americans to point out the fact that they are different, because they have been treated differently! Or on the other hand, are you saying they shouldn't be treated the same because of something as petty as the name they prefer to be called?

[tangram108]

The only name that an American should want to be called is American. The only reason racism exists is because minorities want to remind everyone that they are a minority...and not an American. America is the great melting pot for a reason...at least it used to be. Blacks have all these separate black-only organizations that just create racism in itself. If whites can't use the word nigga or nigger then why can blacks use it? Double standard and racism right there. Wake up.

[deidzoeb]

Who elected you spokesperson for Americans and what we should all want to be called? Why should it matter to anyone today what national borders were set up by people we never met who died 200 years before we were born?

The "great melting pot" works best when it lets people live how they want to live, not demanding that everyone eat the same food, speak the same language and call themselves "American".

[tangram108]

You take your freedom for granted. The point is, identifying yourself as anything but American will cause racism in of itself.

Having double standards, like with the word nigga, also causes racism.

Equal treatment for all Americans....not for all Black-Americans.

[deidzoeb]

You're putting the cart before the horse. I'd guess that most American citizens who identify themselves in terms of race instead of simply "American" are probably reacting to the discrimination they have experienced. They've been made to feel as if they are second class citizens by whites, so then they point it out.

Meanwhile, what could be more "American" than allowing people the freedom to identify themselves in terms they prefer?

[tangram108]

When that freedom is what causes racism, then where do you draw the line? Whites experience more discrimination today than do any other group. The race card is pulled in any and every situation. In fact, an officer is doing his job of protecting a black man's property, and what does the black man do, pull the race card....for absolutely no reason. The Gates situation, that is.

[deidzoeb]

"Whites experience more discrimination today..." You are totally out of touch with reality. By what measure are whites experiencing more discrimination than other groups? Do you have evidence to support that claim, or did you pull it out of your...sky?

The Gates situation was "contempt of cop", police feeling like insulting them is a crime. Cops should check out a person breaking into their own front door, but no need to arrest an old man after he proved his ID. Bad cop, no donut!

[tangram108]

Most of your comments were hard to prove with facts, as were mine. However, that last comment you made shows that you fail to open your eyes.

The police responded to a breaking-and-entering. If you know anything about police procedure, which you just proved you did not, the police must enter the house to make sure everything is good. What if someone killed Gates, took his ID, showed it to the police, and Gates body was still inside? The police wouldn't know that. Gates broke the law.

[deidzoeb]

What if someone killed Gates, took his ID, showed it to the police while Gates' body was still inside, and the killer looked enough like Gates' photo ID to pass himeself off? Who are we talking about here, a twin brother of Gates or a shapechanger or an expert at disguise?

If Gates broke the law in any important way, then why did the prosecutor drop it? Because lots of cops and prosecutors acknowledge these laws are too broad, allowing cops to arrest anyone who insults them.

[tangram108]

If you don't realize that reverse racism exists, then you are completely out of touch with reality. More whites are now victims of reverse racism than are minorities victims of "racism." For instance, the whole white fire fighter case that just recently went to the Supreme Court. If blacks did not pull the race card on anything AND everything, that would never have happened. There is no excuse for a failure to study.

[deidzoeb]

Try "studying" something other than Fox News and the conservative echo chamber. Look up "Office of Minority Health African American Profile" to study that "the average African-American family median income [in 2007] was $33,916 in comparison to $54,920 for non-Hispanic White families." Unemployment for Blacks was twice as high. By the way, women still make less money in the same jobs than men do. But you think more whites are victims of racism than minorities? ...

[deidzoeb]

Are you worried about whites discriminating against whites? Because most of those judges who ruled against the firemen up to the Supreme Court were probably white. Just because five Supreme Ct justices rule a certain way doesn't make them right.

When a Black person points out facts like income disparity, housing discrimination, differences in employment and education, you call that "the race card" as if there's nothing to it.

[Rinni4urlife]

I think the point of civil rights are that everyone is to be treated equally. Having magazines, collage funds and beauty pageants for one group of people based completely on race is "racist". Every race of people were enslaved or discriminated against at one time or another, including my Irish great grandmother who wasn't able to find work because she was Irish.

The point is it is wrong to hold others to a different standard, regardless of who sets the standard.

[deidzoeb]

Start a petition to close the "Irish American News" and "Irish Voice" and other US periodicals that focus on their heritage the way Ebony and Jet and NY Amersterdam News do.

True, I haven't heard of any Irish-only beauty pageants lately, but then again, I haven't heard much about black beauty pageants. There are probably still some running somewhere, but they're marginalized.

[Rinni4urlife]

If people want to have Nigerian Magazines, which they do, or Magazines for people from the Congo, which they do, or any other country of origin, I have no problem with that. That is based on a COUNTRY of origin. Magazines devoted to race, are racist. Just like white supremacists publishing's. So I don't see that as a valid argument.

[deidzoeb]

Who is the victim of Ebony or Jet magazine? White people all clamoring to get their stories in there or get important non-black news in there? Gimme a break. The point of mags and newspapers devoted to a race are that some people feel marginalized by the mainstream media. At one point do we get to declare that racism is dead and that no minority ethnic group or "race" deserves to create it's own paper or media? I'd say when they feel ready to stop publishing Jet, then the time is right.

[Rinni4urlife]

Indeed, but the same argument could be made for KKK publications. Blacks or any other race for that matter, have a right to have beauty pageants, colleges & magazines devoted only to their race, but don't have a double standard. Being a victim at this point, is choice. I am not so niave to believe that everyone is treated equally, but you have to put your big girl panties on, quit your crying &make the best of your life and quit blaming others for your station while perpetuating the same thing.

[deidzoeb]

There are college scholarships and admissions that favor some people based on race, but there is no US college I'm aware of that excludes people entirely based on race.

"Being a victim at this point is choice." That's what I'll write on the condolence card I send to Oscar Grant's mom if she doesn't pull on her big girl panties and stop whining about the subway cop shooting her son in the back.

[deidzoeb]

"Being a victim at this point is choice" = evidence of how far out of touch with reality you are.

[deidzoeb]

Affirmative action is a short term imbalance intended to create a long term re-balancing, eventually bringing things equal. To stop affirmative action because it treats people unequally is like saying a person should stop chemo-therapy because of some unpleasant short term side effects it causes, ignoring the important long term effect it has in treating cancer.

[Rinni4urlife]

Wow, so being black is like having cancer? Walk me through that logic.

[deidzoeb]

*Racism* is like cancer. Both of them need long term treatment that might require short term negative side effects.

[Rinni4urlife]

Oh, pah leeez....@@

[BraveDave68]

Affirmative Action was a policy created by President Johnson in 1965. It was created to create equal OPPORTUNITY for minorities in the hiring of government employees. It was not a quota system, but a policy to give access to jobs to people that otherwise may not. Once all applicants were in, the job went to the most qualified person. Today Affirmative Action has been twisted to equate to preferential treatment. This is not the intent of the original policy.

[BraveDave68]

I'm for giving all people access to the application process, but once there, like justice, the hiring should be color blind and jobs, college acceptance, etc., should go to the most qualified. If it is based on color it is racism, a policy of making a decision based on the color of ones skin. That is wrong! And in case you're wondering, I am an African American.

[mojohoitz]

Well everyone gets discriminated against so I dont see your argument. The point he was trying to make is that some minority groups call themselves victims based on things that happened in the past. Things have happened to everyone, reguardless of skin color. So you cant make that argument. Discrimination towards white people now is not okay, just because minority groups were discriminated against in the past. Its wrong to discriminate against anyone based on color.

[deidzoeb]

I don't think dude got shot in the subway by a cop in Oakland last month because of things that happened to minorities in the *past*. I think it's another example of racism that happens right now. (Would the cops have rounded up all the white men on a subway car because they heard a report that a few of them had been fighting?)

White people still have better chances of getting into college or getting jobs, even after Affirmative Action. Apparently, affirm action hasn't gone far enough.

[aharrell99]

Comment on the black man hailing a cab vs. a white criminal...that does go back to numbers, more black people commit crimes. I'm not saying that whites don't commit crimes, I'm just saying statistically, the black community has sterotyped themselves. And having a Ms. Black America just continues to promote racism. It alienates white people and makes us feel like blacks don't want to be a part of mainstream society, they just want to advance their own race.

[DigitalBluRay]

he's asuming shit...well I'm assuming he's a mental patient that has a growth-problem with facial hair

[phinnycupcakes]

workin on yer beard, eh? Arite, Best of luck.

[TMAC0115]

discrimination is discrimination...but im still proud to be a white man.......

[deidzoeb]

Yeah, that was a great choice when you decided to become a white man. You put a lot of effort into that.

[snerby141989]

Don't be lame. What he's saying is that he is proud of what he is, and would likely agree that all should proud of what they are, and shouldn't get an inferiority complex just because they get "racism-happy."

[deidzoeb]

I've heard of anti-racist whites who say we need to be aware of the privileges we receive in a racist society, and that we should consciously give up those privileges. You might call that an "inferiority complex." I wouldn't. We probably wouldn't agree on what behaviors or actions constitute an inferiority complex or being "racism-happy."

There used to be a journal called "Race Traitor." Their motto was "treason to whiteness is loyalty to humanity."

[snerby141989]

I don't think that anyone should have to give up anything in order to appease another person or group of people. I've never heard the Race Traitor, but it sounds interesting. Any stereotype was created with reason behind it. I can't start saying that Jews spend a lot of money without people looking at me funny, and then saying how stupid that is. Why? Because it's not true. Everything racist is derived from something. And trying to make it all go away by ignoring is a timewaster and less fun.

[deidzoeb]

It's not a matter of "appeasing," it's a matter of fairness. There are privileges that white people have that are undeserved. To consciously give them up when possible is to make things fair, even if no one was asking for it.

[jjx431]

The reason there is still so much racisim is because the "minorities" are taking advantage of our tax dollars and wel-fare. It is easier to get assistance and funds if you ARE a minority and we DON'T appreciate it! Minorities know that they can be more lazy at work and get away with it because they can always claim racisim! If anyone should be a minority these days it should be the WHITES!! We have the RIGHT to be disgusted and ANGRY!

[deidzoeb]

jjx431, Look up the word "minority" and come back when you have something worth saying. Your "facts" appear to have been generated anally.

[pedjr1978]

Wow...I'm impressed didn't think this type of talk still goes on but maybe I'm a bit naive and thought this country was breaking ground in terms of racial relationships. First I'm black and I suppose a minority by webster (or wikipedia..whoever's definition). My parents are hard working came here when I was 2 from the carribean, worked their way up the social ladder and now I'm in medschool training to become a doctor. never in my upbringing have I been taught to claim racism for my problems

[deidzoeb]

"never in my upbringing have I been taught to claim racism for my problems." pedjr1978, It sounds like you're implying that racism isn't really a problem for anyone today, it's just an excuse people give for their problems.

[pedjr1978]

Deidzoeb, thanks for the reply. But what you must understand is 1.) I do not deny the fact racism exists today...in fact it does, but in a more covert form. It's not broadcasted anymore like 40+ years ago, but yet the overt and dominating effects have been greatly diminished. 2.) We should not claim racism for the lack of success of African Americans...insted of every black man picking up a basketball and thinking they'll be the next Michael Jordan. pick up a book, etc. Bottom line

[pedjr1978]

let's (african americans) change the perception of what people believe we are or what we are capable of. Instead of crying racism at every opportunity.

[pedjr1978]

instead to work hard get an education and let me speech and mind speak for itself. I don't believe the problem is using up wellfare dollars, being lazy, blah blah blah. The root of blacks and other minorities not being able to progress is multi-factorial. Can't pinpoint it on one problem. 1.) Lack of a role-models in high-socioeconomic standing..face it who do young blacks have to look up to athletes and entertainers, it's why most of us think that's all we can amount to 2.) History of

[pedjr1978]

assistance like affirmative action, which I believe is detrimental...just gives folks a crutch to lean on instead of forcing them to earn it with hard work...I personally loate the idea of being accepted to a college to fulfill a quota instead of on merit...but alas I didn't make the rules 3.) History of abuse...and nope I'm not going back to slavery days and saying it still exist's but the civil rights movement really JUST happened...so radical change can't take place overnight...look at

[pedjr1978]

the timeline of women's suffrage and tell me women are still treated equally and not as second class citizens? Well there are more factors including access to healthcare, etc. Lastly I don't approve of white bashing I think it's stupid and a barrier to progress, and stirs up anger in whites that are trying to co-exist with blacks (and whoever else). What I do believe is we need 1.) more positive role models for black children..aside from entertainers 2.) stress education more 3.) remove

[pedjr1978]

assistance programs if they still exist. 4.)Call a forum or something to fix up the inner cities...ever been to roxbury, miami..south central LA??..they're war zones...if you don't have a strong faith, family, system...you grow up in trash and believe that you are. 5.) Let's teach more black accomplishments in school instead of harping on the obligatory watchin of "roots" to see the horrors of slavery..yes it's important to understand history, but at the same time let's not dwell and blame

[deidzoeb]

How did this go from a discussion of racism to a discussion of "assistance programs"? How are these things tied together?

[pedjr1978]

Deidzoeb, Again thanks for your response.  How does public assistance fit in you ask? Quite simple. Racism is an act of stereotyping a race (i.e. like ageism is stereotyping elderly people). The act of stereotyping persists if the perceived difference races exists. The fact that blacks need "an assistance" program...well..implies that blacks are less capable of taking care of themselves. Thus the perception of us a lesser race exists and public assistance as "mandatory" for blacks compounds

[pedjr1978]

the problem of racism. Now am I saying that public assistance in of itself is bad? No just as a solution to the problem of racism and discrimination..yes.  Hope that clears things up.

Pedjr

[pedjr1978]

on the past. Bottom line the issue of minorities finally rising out of the gutter is going to take more time, and there needs to be a more concerted effort to change the image of the perceived role of blacks in this country. And there are a few of us blacks JJX431 that are working to help brign about change and don't agree with "reverse racism" against whites. What we need is not to scapegoat, but identify REAL problems and address them.

[jjx431]

Well Ped my congrats go to you on being a real man and doing so much with your life!  That is what America is all about. My point although is that I have seen first hand MANY "minorities" get a job because they are of color or a minority. I have seen first hand an employee in a hospital NEGLECT her patients and get away with it for months because she was black and screamed it from the roof tops that if she ever got fired she would claim racisim.

[jjx431]

She gloated about getting free food, healthcare, childcare, etc. She drove a new care and her hair was ALWAYS done! She said she deserved all of these "free things" because she was a black woman!! WHY am I paying for all of this when my children were being taken care of by their father on NO SLEEP because we could not afford childcare? Why am I paying for her to have 5 children 3 of wich were by different fathers? This is my point!!

[jjx431]

No there are not enough black role models! That is why I stand up and apploud people like you who are making something of them selves!! The fact is though SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!! Our economy is going down the tubes and I am tired of paying for someone and their children because the "expect it". Slavery has been over for years and the blacks today NEVER saw it! The ones who are still crying about it and bringing it up need to get over it already!!

[deidzoeb]

jjx, you're paying more for rich people and corporations to write off their taxes than you are paying for poor people's children. Reagan and friends got you suckered thinking welfare queens are a bigger threat to you than corporate welfare and your employer.

[rocker85675]

someone should dreadlock this guy's beard and put beads in it. then i could say "god damn hippy"!!!

[skeetereze]

Yes, WHITES are discriminated against.

[tggrosse123]

i agree with dquick8, its true that if you are a none minority you and you express your view you are concidered racist but if a minority is racist it is just there point of view and there right. and southrengentry, why would you call this guy a white boy when we are talking about discrimination. wouldnt it be right for me to call you racist? oh but yeah, hes white so thats probably ok.. seems like a double standard.

[southerngentry1]

This guy is an apologetic white boy. Its funny.

[dquick8]

To say there is no racism in this country is false however anymore racism is definately no loger a "white" problem, however only whites are judged from speaking it publicly, dissagree listen to any of thousands of current rap songs that are filled with anti-white language and thats okay but I can guarentee if a "non-minority" famous singer were to release a song with even 1 word that could be taken as racist and BAM they will be protested, hated, and chastised to no end for it.

[Oobatzxv]

This guy doesn't get it.

Andy Rooney is NOT denying there were/are incidents of racism.

The point he is trying to make is if Minorities make up 75% of the population, the over all # of incidents may get larger, but the chance each individual will get involved in a incident will be 75%.

Being a minority does NOT automatically make you any more of victim of discrimination than any other group.

[deidzoeb]

That's funny. Andy Rooney described these statements that were falsely attributed to him as "racist."

Do a search for "andy rooney racism associated press". So you're right, Andy rooney wasn't saying those things. They were falsely attributed. Whoever said it, some of the statements were clearly racist.

[Oobatzxv]

That's funny LOL. Who ever wrote this, sure made it sound like something he would say.

[rockcityaudio]

Legal definition the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.[1]

by excluding non-black artists they are defined by law as Racist.

[deidzoeb]

Whites dominate so many other beauty contests and tv channels and magazines that having a few devoted to blacks or other groups is NOT "impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life". It actually brings about a *more equal footing* in the long run.

[Oobatzxv]

Beauty pagents may have lot of "white" girls and a small # of minorities.

The minorities are not being discriminated against because of their Race, but beccause of their soci-economic class.

Pagents have and always will be a competition for the higher class. It takes ALOT of money to particpate in these pagents.

I would bet $ that the ratio of minorites particpating will be very close to same ratio of minorities in the upper class who can afford to particpate.

P.S. I am a minority.

[sureshot40sw]

your an idiot.... of course YOUR gonna be discriminated against.... try buying a RAZOR....

[deidzoeb]

Thanks for the razor joke. The more two-bit insults posted in the comments, the more reasonable I sound by comparison.

[louie6942]

First off i'm am going to say that there are parts of that statement that I agree with and there are parts I don't. I do not agree that there is no racism, because we all know that there is.

[louie6942]

Continued But I would like to say that for some reason racism against white ppl is considered ok. that really irritates me. why is it fine for a black comedian to make fun of white ppl? if a white comedian made jokes at the expense of black ppl he would be booed off the stage. I feel that Miss black america and the United Negro College fund are discriminatory.

[deidzoeb]

Whites in the US realistically face about as much threat from racism by others, as a rhinocerous is threatened by a gecko.

Why is it fine for a black comedian to make fun of white ppl? Because 99.8% of the audience is white ppl paying to watch him! Because they find it funny.

[higginsa1987]

You are an idiot. think about what would happen if whites started "white entertainment television" or the "united white college fund". the founders would be called racists, shut down, and probably tried criminally.

[deidzoeb]

White Entertainment Television is every channel on tv since broadcasts began. It's only the last 10-20 years that blacks haven't been cast almost entirely as thugs and pimps and drug dealers. If you don't think that United Negro College Fund is needed to compensate for the discrimination blacks face throughout schooling, then you are out of touch with reality.

[louie6942]

continued

I don't think it should be allowed, just as i don't think there should be a miss white america. I don't think race should be an issue, and I don't understand why it still is. yes slavery was bad, but it is in the past, and while I'm on the topic, why is it you always hear about how white ppl made black ppl slaves, but I have never heard anyone ever acknowledge the 360,000 white ppl that gave there lives to end slavery. Don't those ppl deserve some recognition?

[deidzoeb]

Black people are paid less to do some of the same jobs. Women are paid less to do some of the same jobs that men do. This either means that they are lousy workers, or that some employers are still racist and sexist. I don't think they're lousy workers.

[deidzoeb]

... That's why it's still an issue, and why we still need to talk about it, and why women and racial minorities still want to self-segregate sometimes. That seems reasonable to me. It doesn't necessarily mean they will stop participating in beauty contests for everyone, magazines for everyone, etc.

[louie6942]

I guess i can see your point. I understand african americans wanting to celebrate there own culture, which is why you'll notice that i didn't mention Jet Magizine or BET. I don't see anything wrong with them. there no different then, say, the Aboriginal channel. And maybe being Canadian, I don't fully comprehend the complexity of race relations in the US

[higginsa1987]

but u there are still magazines for just african americans, tv shows for just african americans. whites cant do that. and if i called myself "Irish-American" people would look at me like i was stupid. if everyone is equal, then simply call yourself "American". I am not a racist. some of my best friends are black. my first love in high school was black. but people like you are CAUSING more problems than you are solving, by promoting discrimination.

[deidzoeb]

Whites can and do put out white-only and white power magazine. They aren't illegal or shut down. They might be protested, but there's still freedom of speech.

And why would whites need magazines or tv shows devoted to them, since we've dominated and excluded everyone else from media for centuries.

[Oobatzxv]

That's NOT the point. The point is, if a white business owner was give interviews, and refused to see interview a minority, they would be viewed as racist. If a minority business owner did the EXACT same thing, and refused to interview whites based soley on their race. They wouldn't be called racists, but a community leader who is trying to keep jobs in their minority community. They both did the exactsame thing, but only one would be consider to bhe a racist.

How is that not racism?

[deidzoeb]

"If a minority business owner did the EXACT same thing, and refused to interview whites based soley on their race...They wouldn't be called racists." I don't agree. Do you know of any cases where this goes on today? That's still a different scenario from BET, Jet magazine, etc.

[Oobatzxv]

Actaully I do. It hope quite freguently. If you can't see it, then you need to pay attention to the media.

As a Minority business I was approached by a "keep minorities Strong" group, who wanted me to take this very approach, in which the majority of minority business are expected to do. "Keep it in thier own kind" attitude.

Different scenario...not really?

[Oobatzxv]

Feel free to continue to try to convince me this doesn't happen. Got anything better?

[higginsa1987]

well if there shouldnt be miss black america, either. I am irish. did you know that irish were bondservants (glorified slaves) before the first african set foot in america. kiss my ass.

[deidzoeb]

I knew about white indentured servants. I'm sure some of them were English, but that doesn't mean every descendent of English ppl in America experiences as much discrimination as blacks have. I also know Irish people were treated badly in the 1800s in the US. It's still apples and oranges when you try to compare that with blacks in the 1800s or blacks today.

[louie6942]

continued

I think that all ppl should start focusing on individuals and not race. if someone is a good person that's all that should matter, whether he/she is white, black, Asian, etc

[oktechie]

It doesn't matter what we do racism will always be alive. Mostly because of people like you who condone it. How is it ok to segregate on any level? I thought we did away with that shit. No, in fact we just made it ok for everyone but people with white skin. What a load of shit you must have for brains. If you think racism is really a problem then take a bow dipshit, you are helping keep it alive!!!!!!

[lmpulse]

Any time you use the words 'white' or 'black' to describe a problem, you are being racist, even if you mean well.

Racism is 'collectivism by color'. It's the idea that you can define people by groups rather than as individuals. It promotes ignorance, generalizations and hatred.

There is no white agenda. A white individual might have an agenda, but 'white people' do not. But it's irrelevant regardless. Individuals go to jail. Entire races do not.

[deidzoeb]

So how do we stop the effects of institutional racism or specific instances of racism if we supposed to avoid using the words black or white? At some point, this expectation of everyone trying to be "color-blind" gets turned into the idea that we should never discuss race. That doesn't seem helpful.

[lmpulse]

Correct. We should not discuss race, because it's meaningless. We should be discussing specific people and specific cases. The problem is, for most people, that's a whole lot of work. Lazy minds.

It's easier to generalize thousands and thousands of problems together under the same umbrella. 'Black people feel x'. 'White people feel x'. But in truth, it's 'bill feels this way', and 'jim feels that way'.

Consider that many 'black' nations have never even experienced slavery.

[deidzoeb]

Well, for example, how do we avoid race and remain theoretically "colorblind" when trying to discuss the inconsistent prosecution of teens in Jena, LA? I don't think the DA brought severe charges because he disliked those specific kids. I think he was thinking about their skin color, and I think it is therefore reasonable for us to bring up skin color in cases like that.

[lmpulse]

We discuss it as racism, not as black or white. We're not trying to be colorblind. We're giving color the importance it merits, and no more.

'Racist motivation' is relevant. The color of the kids was not. When news networks take pains to list the colors involved, suddenly we begin to imagine it's relevant.

Whether it's a judge, or the kids themselves, their motivation was not 'color'. Their motivation was 'racism'. If not for color, those people would find something else to hate.

[lmpulse]

My apologies, I didn't fully answer the question.

We stop the effects of racism by dealing with them on a case by case basis, like every other unique problem that nature throws our way. Each case is bound to be unique.

Grouping people together, and *assuming* traits based on that group cannot help to fight racism. Assumptions never help to solve problems. They only hinder understanding.

[lmpulse]

I'm going to make one more post, to clear misunderstandings.

Saying 'on average black people can jump higher' might be worthwhile, because DNA has everything to do with jumping.

Saying 'Blacks commit more crimes', is worthless, because being black has nothing to do with crime. Geographical location and sub-cultures do.

If you later want to list average populations in sub-cultures, thats fine. It's making a direct connection that is erroneous.

[zebnic]

I dont care how many black things are out there uncf ect. that dont bother me what does is if there was a white college fund or anything else the blacks would play there race card and that is bullshit

[deidzoeb]

Dude, the white college fund is you go to the college and 99% of the admissions staff is white. The white college fund is discretely in place everywhere already. Also the white get-out-of-jail system, the white pro-active hiring, etc. Even with affirmative action, blacks are still not represented in colleges, major corporations.

[Tereteremunnsitt]

maybe because "african-americans" are lazy ass fucks who only like to steal and fuck around?

[armygrl081]

@Tereteremunnsitt And how many Blacks do you personally know and hang out with on a daily basis?

[Oobatzxv]

Why is race the reason for the shortcomings of minorities,and the fault of the white community?

Is it harder to afford college if you are in the lower socio-economic class, it doesn't matter if you are White, black, mexican, native american or martian.

Granted, minorities tend to be the larger group in the lower class, but they do NOT have a tougher time than the other races to afford college.

I know this because I am a minority and have attended college.

[deidzoeb]

More black men go to prison than college today, and I don't think it's because genes make them commit more crimes. It's because of quiet racism in college admissions and prison "admissions."

[Tereteremunnsitt]

lol thats bullshit

[JAD0577]

The onely thing that is accomplished by Things like "Jet Magazine" "BET and Miss Black America is keeping racism alive. Why does someone need things geared toward them because thier skin is darker than mine?? You seemed to be quick to leave out the point about The united Cuacasion college fund and "Cloud Magazne". I think this is what really got out the point of Mr Rooneys comment.

[deidzoeb]

*** Sorry, I'm trying to approve some of these older comments and I'm getting an error message from YouTube. I'll approve them as soon as it will let me.

[madmax1331]

You sir, are an idiot. will reply w/ video soon.

[ThereRnogodz]

I wanted to listen to what you said, but you are taking so long to get to the point I tuned out.

[shwantz1]

You are sheltered, Naive, Gullible. Buy a razor.

[barkleylee]

Minorities discriminating to make up for the past is wrong. Many in the majority have never discriminated and do not deserve any "payback" whatsoever. And, just because a person is a minority doesn't mean he or she must have been a victim of discrimination and is entitled to "payback". This is wrong. Your color etc. does not entitle you to anything. Discrimination is wrong from any source. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[deidzoeb]

Actually whites and men and heterosexuals receive privileged status even if we don't ask for it, even if we are not discriminators. So yes, it is still reasonable to offset the ongoing problems with "curative" discrimination like affirmative action. I still think it's nowhere near as harmful to us right now as plain, old discrimination still is to minorities.

[barkleylee]

I am white; raised in 83% black town. Me privileged? ha ha fkn' ha!! My life there was absolute hell!! (because of my color of course) You think this is justifiable?! You think I deserved punishment because someone whose skin looks kind-of like mine, somewhere 1000 miles away from me, where I have never been, gets privileges? This is just as evil, disgusting, and twisted as any other kind of discrimination, and I will never stand for any of it.

[barkleylee]

Let's assume that Sweden has never discriminated upon another group of people. Also, let's suppose there exists an African Zulu kingdom that maintains a line of privileged royalty. Now, a Swede and Zulu prince come to America together. These men are on equal ground. They are both starting at zero; they have no obligations; don't owe each other anything. But, by your logic, one man deserves a privilege over the other, simply because his skin is darker. Treating all equal is only fair.

[deidzoeb]

I don't think blacks or other minorities are "on equal ground" today in the US. Look at the disproportionately low number of minorities elected to office. Look at the disproportionately low number of minorities hired to executive jobs. Look at the higher unemployment for minorities. That's not because whites have a higher work ethic and minorities are all lazy. That's discrimination still going on today.

[barkleylee]

I never claimed people in America are on equal ground. I simply proposed a hypothetical thought experiment (not a real example) to illustrate that the principle of payback discrimination is invalid. My point is that all discrimination is wrong. White dominated government is wrong, black dominated college basketball is wrong.

[deidzoeb]

To Barkleylee, Your thought experiment ignores existing conditions within the US. A Swede and a "Zulu prince" might be privileged in their own country, but watch how much easier it is for the Swede to hail a taxi in the US, or get a job in some areas.

[barkleylee]

Elections are the people's choice. You don't like results of democracy; go to China and enjoy their abundant civil rights. Blacks not getting hired? Then they are not taking advantage of the racist programs that have been established to ensure them a job. The law requires that jobs are filled by people of the correct skin color. My local community college recently required that the new president of the college "must be black". R-A-C-I-S-T!

[deidzoeb]

"The law requires that jobs are filled by people of the correct skin color." You don't know what you're talking about.

[barkleylee]

And one last thing, you say, "That's discrimination still going on today." Yet, you encourage discrimination to continue, but in the opposite direction. By your logic, discrimination will still be going on today until the end of days. If you think discrimination is wrong, then we should stop it all now.

[barkleylee]

If someone decides that blacks have had enough "payback" it could be said that it is my (or my children's) turn to pay blacks back, since you have established that the need for "payback" is based on subjective judgment. I could judge that I am currently entitled to "payback" and proceed to take it out on the local black majority right now, but I don't, and I won't. The viscous revenge cycle would never end. Again, the only solution is zero discrimination from minority or majority.

[barkleylee]

So, you say it is ok for minorities to discriminate because they are making up for the past? So, how do when we know when the debt has been paid? When is the discrimination equal? Discrimination can not be given a numerical value. Therefore, the only acceptable amount of discrimination is ZERO whether administered by a minority or majority.

[deidzoeb]

Sounds good in theory, but our laws don't always run on numerical values. Juries and judges sometimes make subjective judgment calls. As long as it falls within the limits of the law, that seems okay. In fact, the reason we need judges and juries is that everyone knows laws and words are sometimes open to interpretation. I don't think society will ever run as smoothly as a machine when it's populated by humans.

[Verlch]

As a white, go try to get a job working at a Chinese or Mexican restaurant. If you are any race except black try to get a job working for Magic Johnson.

Blacks have more criminals per capita than whites!!! You know that!!!!

[deidzoeb]

Gosh, you're right. All the sweet jobs are controlled by the Chinese and Mexicans and Magic Johnson! Keep enlightening the world, you wonderful employment counsellor!

[Verlch]

If this is truly a free country than we should be able to hire anybody we please there miss smarty pants!!!

[Verlch]

They blocked my last post.

We live in a free country. We should be able to hire anybody we please!!!

[deidzoeb]

I have the comments sent to only appear after I approve them. Your earlier post was not blocked, I just hadn't got around to approving it yet. Yes, race should not be a factor in hiring. If you can't get that awesome job at Magic Johnson's or a Chinese or Mexican restaurant, you can sue them. Now go fix the justice system if you think that won't work. Don't act like there aren't laws against it.

[Childrenscneterh]

Dude I agree with u 100% and being a black man it gives me optimism when whites see the truth of white privlege and admit it. Great vid.

[bugstrut]

Actually, I don't really rate Chris Rock as a stand up.

[bugstrut]

Hey, I'm just going by what Chris Rock once said on one of his famous Stand-up DVDs, when he said the only black person in utah was Prince.

[bambito]

Minnesota

[deidzoeb]

If you're trying to be Chris Rock, you need to keep working on your delivery.

[NaloMeli]

HA! Great work Rob. Your humor helps ease "stuck in the mud" type thinking such as predudice etc.

[bugstrut]

Have you ever met any black people before? You look like you come from some all-white place like Utah. How about you spend a few weeks in a real inner-city area.

[deidzoeb]

Right, because black people only live in the inner city, there are no black people in Utah, and you can tell everything about a person by looking at them. Better luck next time, Kreskin.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

Right on. I totally agree with you here. You say everything in a much more calm voice than I ever do. I tend to want to scream when white people claim they are discriminated against and they are so devoid of opportunities based on their skin color.

[NaloMeli]

Sorry this post is so old, but ichbinkeinberliner I too agree with Rob but in some places, like where I live, white people are generally disliked/hated & seriously have less job opportunities in many fields. I have lived in privilaged white communities too and see that in general, both places show that racism is still alive. I think it's an internal job to all get along despite our predudices - we can do it. :O)

[vitalfinds]

I'm so confused. There are rotating comments coming and going here.

[vitalfinds]

I think that the only times when it might get tricky is if, for instance someone wanted to form a minority group/club in Howard or Gallaudet University for instance.

[vitalfinds]

I felt like the Girl Scout/Boy Scout thing was just common sense, and you're right, it is basically the same thing as Jet Magazine, etc. I'm basically ok with all types of "focus groups."

[vitalfinds]

In my initial read, there were some things that jumped out more than others out of the 20 or so line items, like the Girl Scout/Boy Scout thing. In the 70's it was made into an issue,and I was always confused about that. Anyway, thanks for your response.

[deidzoeb]

How did you feel about the Girl Scout/Boy Scout thing? It sounded like the essay wanted Jet magazine and B.E.T. and those institutions to stop segregating themselves by race, and yet they expect the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to remain segregated by gender. They want the comfy world of Leave It To Beaver to be recreated, but American families have never really reflected that stereotypical ideal.

[vitalfinds]

Thanks Rob. Lots to digest. I tend to view the race/culturally-based groups in more of a support club sort of way, but I end up feeling the same as you in the sense that I don't have a problem with them existing. And yes, I had seen the same thing that was on snopes.com.