Racism Doesn't Exist Anymore Except In The Eyes of Those Being 'Targeted'

[halik]

Originally posted by: yowolabi

Originally posted by: halik

You really think there's that many racists out there still? When I say racists, I mean people that believe they're universally better than X, because of their race.

In a word, yes. There are still many people that believe that. There are still a lot of white people that have almost no contact with black people that are on their level.

What I mean by that is that they live outside of cities, or in a segregated part of the city. The only black people they see are the ones on tv who committed crimes, the ones on the street wearing "thug" clothing who scared them, the uneducated music and sports stars, and maybe a cashier or something. They really do think that that's what it means to be black.... to be a scary, stupid, criminal, than can only succeed through athletics or rap music.

Segregation is still the biggest cause of racism. I'm Black, well-educated, travel a lot, and have a white girlfriend who lives in the far suburbs. What this means is that I often find myself in situations where I'm the only black person in the room. I often find myself having conversations with adult white people that have almost never had a real conversation with another Black person. I have people confess all kind of things to me, that they probably shouldn't, and I do my best not to hold it against them. Because of my experiences I am sure there are many people who hold racist views, but I tend to attribute it to ignorance and lack of experience, than I do to outright stupidity or malice.

I think segregation causes that weariness and fear and that whole 'gotta watch what you say' atmosphere, but I don't think that's racism per se. Also that's a big reason why affirmative action programs were created - to get minorities in on the network effect and statistically desegregate higher education.

I think you'd really be hard pressed to find a true racist today, you'll find a ton of people with preconceived notions of black culture and all that, but finding a 'white power' guy will be like a needle in a haystack.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
My friend has a uncle who is a prison guard in the USA. His only contact with black people is prisoners, as you can imagine this does not lead to healthy views on his part.

That aside, there have been times where people I work with, black and white, both exchange racist jobs to each other. I don't take part because the only good one I know is the chain saw one (it's not gory), and the black guys could turn around and get us fired if they so wished.

Seems to me when black and whites are part of the same community without any artificial barriers (gang culture anyone?) everyone gets along.

That is true. It links with the post I wrote above yours that segregation is the biggest reason for racism. When the only image you have of a race is the negative one, it takes more awareness than most people have, to not associate that race with the negative stereotypes. Once you start meeting a lot of people from another race, you realize that they also run the whole spectrum from "good" to "bad" and you start judging them as individuals instead of as a group. In my jobs, I always joke with my co-workers, and sooner or later the racial jokes start flowing. I always tell them jokingly, that they can say whatever they want to me, but if someone from hr overhears, I won't be able to save their job.

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: yowolabi

Originally posted by: MovingTarget

All minorities want is the same luxury that White people have. That is, to be given the benefit of the doubt

This is an interesting way of stating the issue. For the most part I see this as valid, however, whites these days aren't always given this same benefit wrt racism. They are by default assumed to be racist based solely on skin color.

Racism is a two-way street.

You've overstating quite a bit. All white people are not assumed to be racist. What you probably mean is that a white person that says something racially insensitive is assumed to be a racist, and you might have a valid complaint there. Telling an insensitive joke doesn't mean that you believe black people are subhuman.

It actually took me a long time to write the above paragraph, you actually helped me to see where some of the frustration from white people comes from, by using my own words. I can understand why it's frustrating that you can't even tell an "innocent" off-color joke without looking over your shoulder, but what's the solution? Should everyone go around telling n---- jokes? There are too many real racists for society to be ready for that.

I agree. Racial insensitivity != racism, but that isn't to say that they aren't mutually exclusive. Perhaps I did exaggerate a bit. When it comes to racism, a lot of whites are frustrated in this manner, especially the ones that did not grow up during times when racism WAS institutional and/or more prevalent. Unfortunately, I don't know the solution to the problem, either...

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
So, did the KKK and all White Supremacy groups just disappear today?

Or the New Black Panthers, MS13, every black and mexican gang in the country, radical islam, etc?

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: halik

I think segregation causes that weariness and fear and that whole 'gotta watch what you say' atmosphere, but I don't think that's racism per se. Also that's a big reason why affirmative action programs were created - to get black people in on the network effect and statistically desegregate higher education.

I think you'd really be hard pressed to find a true racist today, you'll find a ton of people with preconceived notions of black culture and all that, but finding a 'white power' guy will be like a needle in a haystack.

Yes, the "white power" guy is rare. I find the people I describe to be much more dangerous, though. The problem is that they do believe that black people are beneath them and not as capable of the same things as white people. However, they sincerely believe they're being realistic and do not believe they have racist views in the slightest. Just because they don't want to hang black people from trees, it doesn't mean they aren't racists.

Any time a black person does come into contact with one of the people I described, it has a good chance of ending badly.

This "mild" racist is the interviewer that calls the person with the non-weird name when faced with equal resumes, the police officer that's quicker to the trigger when faced with a black perpetrator, the teacher that gives up on the black child too soon, the credit broker that denies credit to the black family that would have been given to a white one, the juror that's inclined to believe the black defendant was guilty....

Edit: If you want specific examples of the the above, I can give them to you.

 

[FuryofFive]

maybe this was mentioned...

A black comedian can talk crap about white people, calling us crackers and what not..
If a white guy said anything about a black person , we get freaking incinerated

I work with a couple black guys. i have no problems with them. they are exactly what the OP said. productive members of society...what i do agree with is the stereo typical characters of a peticular race that ruin it for the rest.. im gonna list a few such as the loud,lazy black guy that whitey is always trying to bring down, the spanish person with 12 kids, the redneck southern white guy, the uptight rich white asshole(a comedian said this)
it really bothers me..if uve ever seen american history X. you'll know what im saying. White people have to be afraid in there own neighborhood. if i goto the wrong block.. i may get my ass kicked or killed.. they come to my neighorhood.. we dont do anything.. why its a double standard. OP is def right. Racism is all in the eyes of the victim. white guy shoots black person...Racism!! what! black guy had a gun and shot someone... Black cop shoots white guy... just doing his job right?

What happens when a black cop shoots a black guy? wheres the racism there??...
but i digress

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: yowolabi
In a word, yes. There are still many people that believe that. There are still a lot of white people that have almost no contact with black people that are on their level.

What I mean by that is that they live outside of cities, or in a segregated part of the city. The only black people they see are the ones on tv who committed crimes, the ones on the street wearing "thug" clothing who scared them, the uneducated music and sports stars, and maybe a cashier or something. They really do think that that's what it means to be black.... to be a scary, stupid, criminal, than can only succeed through athletics or rap music.

Segregation is still the biggest cause of racism. I'm Black, well-educated, travel a lot, change jobs frequently, and have a white girlfriend who lives in the far suburbs. What this means is that I often find myself in situations where I'm the only black person in the room. I often find myself having conversations with adult white people that have almost never had a real conversation with another Black person. I have people confess all kind of things to me, that they probably shouldn't, and I do my best not to hold it against them. Because of my experiences I am sure there are many people who hold racist views, but I tend to attribute it to ignorance and lack of experience, than I do to outright stupidity or malice.

You bring up a very true point - there's still not a lot of casual mixing of the races in a lot of areas of the U.S., which I think we can both agree isn't good. But how much of that is due to actions by blacks as well as whites? I remember seeing much self-segregation among black students during both college and law school, such as the Black Student Assocation, Black Student Union, black fraternities, etc., that it really limited the social mixing of the various races. Even today, the same self-segregation seems to persist. I carpool into work, and sometimes the driver will have on one of the 'urban' (black-oriented) radio stations with Tom Joiner or some other black DJ, and the whole focus on the 'black community' is just amazing. On the one hand, I have no problems with blacks having a strong sense of community amongst themselves, but when it starts to crowd out any sense of a greater American community, it isn't helping. Black churches? Black cruises? The National Black Family Reunion? If blacks want to be accepted by the outside community, maybe they ought to accept the outside community in turn. In contrast, I married into an Asian family, and among the Asians I've encountered, there's a much weaker sense of community as defined by race. Few, if any, seem to pick social groups (other than family, of course) based solely on race, and there's much more of an immersion in all facets of American culture. Racial mixing is just a given, and almost nobody seems to think much of it. To me, this is the model we should all be striving for.

 

[FuryofFive]

Originally posted by: Mursilis

Originally posted by: yowolabi
In a word, yes. There are still many people that believe that. There are still a lot of white people that have almost no contact with black people that are on their level.

What I mean by that is that they live outside of cities, or in a segregated part of the city. The only black people they see are the ones on tv who committed crimes, the ones on the street wearing "thug" clothing who scared them, the uneducated music and sports stars, and maybe a cashier or something. They really do think that that's what it means to be black.... to be a scary, stupid, criminal, than can only succeed through athletics or rap music.

Segregation is still the biggest cause of racism. I'm Black, well-educated, travel a lot, change jobs frequently, and have a white girlfriend who lives in the far suburbs. What this means is that I often find myself in situations where I'm the only black person in the room. I often find myself having conversations with adult white people that have almost never had a real conversation with another Black person. I have people confess all kind of things to me, that they probably shouldn't, and I do my best not to hold it against them. Because of my experiences I am sure there are many people who hold racist views, but I tend to attribute it to ignorance and lack of experience, than I do to outright stupidity or malice.

You bring up a very true point - there's still not a lot of casual mixing of the races in a lot of areas of the U.S., which I think we can both agree isn't good. But how much of that is due to actions by blacks as well as whites? I remember seeing much self-segregation among black students during both college and law school, such as the Black Student Assocation, Black Student Union, black fraternities, etc., that it really limited the social mixing of the various races. Even today, the same self-segregation seems to persist. I carpool into work, and sometimes the driver will have on one of the 'urban' (black-oriented) radio stations with Tom Joiner or some other black DJ, and the whole focus on the 'black community' is just amazing. On the one hand, I have no problems with blacks having a strong sense of community amongst themselves, but when it starts to crowd out any sense of a greater American community, it isn't helping. Black churches? Black cruises? The National Black Family Reunion? If blacks want to be accepted by the outside community, maybe they ought to accept the outside community in turn. In contrast, I married into an Asian family, and among the Asians I've encountered, there's a much weaker sense of community as defined by race. Few, if any, seem to pick social groups (other than family, of course) based solely on race, and there's much more of an immersion in all facets of American culture. Racial mixing is just a given, and almost nobody seems to think much of it. To me, this is the model we should all be striving for.

not to mention.if we have a white national reunion, or a White radio station.. or an all white tv program.. we White people would become racist? that double edge sword is sharp ouch

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: MagicConch
When there is a perceived outside threat, things that cause internal strife such as racism always decreases in every civilization temporarily. But humans are rather predictable in their need for tribal conflict (social, cultural, or otherwise) You could take two best friends, put them on a planet by themselves where every need they have is fulfilled and there are no other people to hate or dislike and eventually they will sex up each other.

Fixed!

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: yowolabi

Originally posted by: halik

You really think there's that many racists out there still? When I say racists, I mean people that believe they're universally better than X, because of their race.

In a word, yes. There are still many people that believe that. There are still a lot of white people that have almost no contact with black people that are on their level.

What I mean by that is that they live outside of cities, or in a segregated part of the city. The only black people they see are the ones on tv who committed crimes, the ones on the street wearing "thug" clothing who scared them, the uneducated music and sports stars, and maybe a cashier or something. They really do think that that's what it means to be black.... to be a scary, stupid, criminal, than can only succeed through athletics or rap music.

Segregation is still the biggest cause of racism. I'm Black, well-educated, travel a lot, change jobs frequently, and have a white girlfriend who lives in the far suburbs. What this means is that I often find myself in situations where I'm the only black person in the room. I often find myself having conversations with adult white people that have almost never had a real conversation with another Black person. I have people confess all kind of things to me, that they probably shouldn't, and I do my best not to hold it against them. Because of my experiences I am sure there are many people who hold racist views, but I tend to attribute it to ignorance and lack of experience, than I do to outright stupidity or malice.

Why you uppity SOB!

/going back to that comment toward Obama