Racism

[KageSora]

I am REALLY against racism, but when I think of a rapper or DJ, i think of a black person, and when i think of a country singer, i think of a white person. Is that racist?

That's definitely race-based stereotyping, but I don't think it qualifies as racist.

[NobleOwl]

That's definitely race-based stereotyping, but I don't think it qualifies as racist.

And if it bothers you, try finding acts that aren't those stereotypes, like Lady Sovereign is a white female rapper, Darius Rucker had a country album and he's a person of colour.

[DragonSpirit009]

I am REALLY against racism, but when I think of a rapper or DJ, i think of a black person, and when i think of a country singer, i think of a white person. Is that racist?

No, I don't think so.

 

Some people that I know thought I was black just because I come from South Africa. I don't have a problem with it at all of course and I don't have a problem with other races as well.

It just how some people imagine things are like KageSora said race-base stereotyping.

 

[Nectaris]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown...03541--nfl.html

 

Do you think this is racist?

 

For those who don't want to read the article. This sports commentator made a comment on how Robert Griffin III was not "black enough" because he is going out with a white woman.

[ShadoWolf800]

Yeah, its racist! Although stereotypes aren't racist by themselves, they're the cornerstone of racism by giving each race a little box that they have to conform to...

 

I'm African-American myself, and I date a White guy, and we get along very well. (Even thinking about marrying) What, or who says that two races can't have a loving, fruitful relationship? It boggles the mind that people still even see it as a problem.

 

I feel that some Black folk have this "exclusive" sort of mentality like "Oh, Black folk don't do this" and "Black folk don't do that" and in that way, it feels like we're segregating our own selves all over again.

 

Back in the old days where segregation was dominant, it was sort of necessary for Blacks to have that kind of attitude, where they'd stick together, and be wary of "outsiders" (Whites and other minorities) because in that time, many WOULD be very prejudiced and try to shortchange them, but nowadays, it just gets on everyone's nerves. xP

 

(I live in a predominately Black neighborhood, and they made fun of me while I was in school for wanting to be book-smart and not speaking in eubonics, calling me an Oreo (Black on the outside, white on the inside). True story.)

 

All in all, if I can't be an intelligent, African-American who chooses what I want to do rather than being careful to abide by these crazy stereotypes, then I don't want to be in your little club of "Black enough"

[zorua9]

In my head everyone is African, cause of evolution, Homo sapiens originated from Africa and migrated.

 

the Latin name for black is (NOTE: this word is only for explaining not to offend people, and i am not using it as a swear) Niger.

[TikindiDragon]

the Latin name for black is (NOTE: this word is only for explaining not to offend people, and i am not using it as a swear) Niger.

There's actually an African country by that name, as it happens. The Republic of Niger. Note this is different from The Federal Republic of Nigeria. The former is French-speaking, the latter English speaking.

[Awdz]

All in all, if I can't be an intelligent, African-American who chooses what I want to do rather than being careful to abide by these crazy stereotypes, then I don't want to be in your little club of "Black enough"

*cheers for this!*

 

This kind of thinking should be applied across all groups.

 

"If I can't be an intelligent, <fill in the ethnicity> who chooses what I want to do rather than being careful to abide by these crazy stereotypes, then I don't want to be in your little club of "<fill in the ethnic descriptor>"

[ShadoWolf800]

*cheers for this!*

 

This kind of thinking should be applied across all groups.

 

"If I can't be an intelligent, <fill in the ethnicity> who chooses what I want to do rather than being careful to abide by these crazy stereotypes, then I don't want to be in your little club of "<fill in the ethnic descriptor>"

Right? All of my friends get lip from people of the same race about them being smart and a minority (El Salvadorian, and Mexican), or about how they're sort of lazy (Had an Asian friend that was smart, but he got bad grades cuz he was lazy, and it sincerely surprised people.)

 

Either way, people don't want to be seen as White, Native American, or Indian, but as a person first off.

[Kestra15]

There's actually an African country by that name, as it happens. The Republic of Niger. Note this is different from The Federal Republic of Nigeria. The former is French-speaking, the latter English speaking.

Also 'negra' and 'negro' are considered non-offensive terms for a dark-skinned man or woman in some languages; it is simply a statement of fact, not a racist comment, any more than describing a house as being red or a tiger as striped.

[Slaskia]

So...chanting USA and wearing Flag Bandannas...

 

...Is considered to have 'racial overtones'?

 

Give me a flipping break!

[Nectaris]

So...chanting USA and wearing Flag Bandannas...

 

...Is considered to have 'racial overtones'?

 

Give me a flipping break!

That is highly disturbing, to be honest. That it took place IN THE USA makes it even worse.

[Zaxian]

Georgia Teens Fight for Racially Integrated Prom Because It’s 2013, for Chrissakes

 

Just spotted this story on a friend's newsfeed - I cannot believe that segregation still happens, let alone is considered acceptable!

 

EDIT: Ah sorry - should probably add that there's some explicit language in the article (although I think it's probably warrented given the context)!

Here's another article on the topic, w/o said language: Segregated Prom: Wilcox County, GA. High School Students Set Up First Integrated Prom

Edited April 4, 2013 by Zaxian

[Fuzzbucket]

Georgia Teens Fight for Racially Integrated Prom Because It’s 2013, for Chrissakes

 

Just spotted this story on a friend's newsfeed - I cannot believe that segregation still happens, let alone is considered acceptable!

 

EDIT: Ah sorry - should probably add that there's some explicit language in the article (although I think it's probably warrented given the context)!

Here's another article on the topic, w/o said language: Segregated Prom: Wilcox County, GA. High School Students Set Up First Integrated Prom

And it's the PARENTS organising this crap. (not the homecoming; that's as bad...)

[Nectaris]

That is awful.

 

In another opposite vein, here is this:

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/j..._n_2966361.html

 

There may be language, I don't know, I might have missed it.

[The Fluffy Raptor]

Asians get the bad of it. I'm Korean, and yes, we too are heavily made fun of by idiotic racists.

Edited April 5, 2013 by The Fluffy Raptor

[Obscure_Trash]

Going to bring this over here as to not derail the thread:

 

I usually just use undocumented worker, but that could mean a number of things and "illegal alien" really gets to the point. I don't associate "illegal aliens" with any negativity, like most people seem to think the words mean, but rather as the very blunt definitions of the words themselves. Illegal, meaning, not legally residing in the country, and alien as to denote that they are not native-born. There are legal aliens and illegal aliens, so I don't really see the fuss about this term.

I do, however, mainly use undocumented worker.

 

Perhaps you don't specifically associate the terms with negativity, but then again, those words probably haven't been thrown in your face in order to dehumanize you, make you feel like you don't deserve rights, treat you like you're subhuman and lesser because of paperwork, or to make people disassociate from you and treat you like you're somehow not a person of any kind of worth. There is a huuuuge problem in the USA specifically with how we treat immigrants of any status. It's a huge struggle to really even get the rights for documented immigrants and children of immigrants born here recognized and respected.

 

With 267,000 LGBT peoples being undocumented, this is a struggle that both parties need to come together on: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/03/08/1...ted-immigrants/

 

Article comments may contain language:

[Possible TW for all of these]

Deportation of students applying for colleges because they didn't even realize they were undocumented: http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/29/colle...st-deportation/

Immigrants held in solitary cells, often for weeks: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/us/immig....html?_r=3&hp=&

[TW for violence/sexual violence] Polygraphs reveal very disturbing past crimes, such as rape, for border agency applicants, raising an alarm as many current employees were never screened: http://cironline.org/node/4325

Immigration reform to bring in more immigrant scientists could make it harder for immigrant families to reunite: http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/03/imm...er_the_bus.html

Family is split due to immigration; father is not allowed to stay in the US with his pregnant wife: http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/03/fel...s_children.html

Undocumented Latinos avoid HIV treatment until they're into the advanced stages: http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/04/stu...ced_stages.html

[TW for sexual violence/violence/raids] Undocumented immigrants who speak up about abuse are simply deported: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/2...use-deportation

Undocumented workers are injured more in the workplace: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/28/temp...kplace-dangers/

North Carolina governor actively stigmatizes immigrants: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/29/nort...bt-communities/

Border deaths spike, even as border crossings lessen: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/20/b...l?utm_hp_ref=tw

Lawsuits against the border agency reveal mistreatment, starting with holding a 4 year old child in freezing jails and likely giving her PTSD: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/03/1...freezing-jails/

Border agency struggles with tons of corruption: http://cironline.org/reports/border-agency...&utm_source=CIR

[TW for sexual harassment] Predators often take advantage of undocumented farmworkers: http://inthesetimes.com/article/14593/migr...ker_harassment/

[TW for sexual violence and torture] This is a petition, but shows how well we handle things like this. A gay man tortured in Mexico and the US faces deportation and isn't allowed to fight his case from the outside: http://action.dreamactivist.org/michigan/hugo

It can take 92 - 163 years to reunite with an undocumented family member or family member living in aother country: http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/03/cou...our_family.html (which probably partially responsible for the record high in youth sneaking across the border: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/border...tt/appr_uac.pdf )

 

Undocumented citizens face some very real and very scary troubles. Being undocumented and queer can be two very important identities for people. Immigration reform is absolutely necessary. Part of how those against immigration reform have avoided having to reform are by doing things like casually throwing about terms like illegal and alien, which are considered offensive. Just because it's an easy way to get across a point doesn't make it the only way or the right way to get across a point. I do appreciate that you usually use undocumented worker, I just think it's important to recognize why using the terms illegal or alien can be so striking for people. The struggles of immigrants in this country often go overlooked and it's time for that to stop. ^^

 

In the end, this is one of those words where we need to listen to the people they are oppressing and let them do the reclaiming if they wish to do so. <3

 

Asians get the bad of it. I'm Korean, and yes, we too are heavily made fun of by idiotic racists.

 

Yup, any POC will experience racism in their lifetime. Sorry you have to deal with that. =\

 

My boyfriend is Vietnamese and he had a TA insist he was her "little yellow friend". After being told that was offensive and asked to stop, she declared that her "other friends" let her use the term and therefore it was okay to continue calling him that. =\

 

We're just discussing about how funny but very mean racist jokes are

 

If it's racist...it's not funny.

Edited April 6, 2013 by SockPuppet Strangler

[Dream_Dragon]

Well, there's one thing for sure. I. HATE!!! Racism. It's the stupidest thing ever invented! Sorry, I just hate racism a lot. I mean, we're all the same! Humans! We're not aliens or whatever. So what if our skin colour's different? It's just skin tone.

 

I'm a Malay but my friends say that I have the...'Caucasian look'. Not to poke fun at me, it's a fact. I have fair skin. And I like it. Even my best friend said that I sound a little like an American at times (ironically, Malay isn't exactly one of my best subjects, English is. And I don't like most Malay dishes, lol).

 

I have never been a victim of racism before except for that one time, a guy I met at a random chat room (I was bored) accused me of being a terrorist when I said that I was a Muslim. But then that's prejudice, not racism.

 

But still.

Edited April 20, 2013 by Dream_Dragon

[Blue Nadir]

Interesting, but lengthy topic, so I've only perused the last few posts.

 

First of, let me say that I'm South African and *GASP* White. I see that a lot of people in this thread focus on racism as an act of discrimination against non-white people (for lack of a better word) and seem to totally disregard that racism can be experienced by white people as well. For me, racism is any act of discrimination against any person based on their race.

 

South Africa is the only country in the world where Affirmative Action (AA) is implemented and enforced to protect the MAJORITY against a minority. As a young white person in this system, I constantly have to battle political ideals and demographics in order to get a job or advance to a higher level.

 

On a more personal level, White South Africans are often demonised and used as scapegoats when services are not delivered to the now-simmering masses that are part of an ever-growing welfare state. This suits our Government as all they have to do is cart out the old Apartheid ghost to secure votes and remain firmly in power.

 

Despite Government's best efforts to instill and maintain racial distrust, people my age are integrating very well - not because we all want to be the same, but because we embrace each others' differences. We laugh when we DO unwittingly conform to our racial stereotypes and try to understand why the different cultures do as they do. I'm very opposed to dumbing everything down to a common denominator and really prefer our melting pot approach.

[senyi]

Asians get the bad of it. I'm Korean, and yes, we too are heavily made fun of by idiotic racists.

That's true...personally, I *really* don't understand the racism behind the skin and eyes

[The Fluffy Raptor]

The USA harbors a lot of prejudice. They say that "all men are created equal", but does

That seem so today? Doesn't seem like it

 

 

[7Deadly$ins]

The USA harbors a lot of prejudice. They say that "all men are created equal", but does

That seem so today? Doesn't seem like it

A hell of a lot more so than when that was written.

[Symphonic-Nemesis]

Racism is a world wide problem that some countries address and others do not.

 

Yes it a shame that constitution says, "All men are created equal," when people do not treat others equally. Unfortunately, people are always of differing opinions on things and people who are set in their racist ways are hard to change.

 

But from what I see in the world today while racism exists, more and more people are taking up the call world wide to do something about it and change it.

[Thorn]

Asians get the bad of it. I'm Korean, and yes, we too are heavily made fun of by idiotic racists.

Oh god yes. I'm so sick of people going on about the "bloody Asian drivers".

[Ashes The Second]

people make fun of me for 'drinking vodka'.

i don't drink, at all.

/sigh.