Just saw a report on CNN that said most americans are afraid to talk about race. I so much wish we lived in a world were it didnt matter but is it really that bad? What is everyone so afraid of? What do you all think?
I don’t believe in race but I know I maybe wrong that being said here are my thoughts. Skin color, sex, religious beliefs, sports teams, music taste and political parties make us feel like we are part of something. We get defensive about these things and are very intolerant about how people see us. This leads to arguments.
People don’t talk race because it’s a waste of time.
I find myself stumbling over my words to be careful I don’t use a word that is offensive. The last thing I want to do during a conversation is offend the race of the person I’m having the conversation with. I don’t want to ask a question that is ignorant. I am about a white as you come and my exposure to minorities and their culture is quite limited. Not by choice, more by circumstance but admittedly I haven’t sought that out.
Otherwise, fair game. If I feel comfortable with the words, I think it is something we should talk about.
What I think others might find difficult to talk about is whether as much progress has been made as we like to think there has. Is there really no longer an excuse for black children not succeed now that Obama has been elected? Have we set it up so that black men can’t or are given no reason to succeed given the low expectations placed on them? Many questions that I am the last person to know the answers to.
That shit is funny right there.
Fear of offending someone.
Fear of offending someone.
Don’t be afraid. If you are not offensive, no body should get offended. And if they do, they are the ones with the problem.
There’s a guy at work who asks me stuff all the time and I don’t have any problem with it. I understand that people can be curious about stuff.
Sometimes I just don’t know what I am supposed to believe in terms of racial relations. I’m sure that there are plenty of African Americans who would disagree with me if I were to say, “There is no reason why an African American born today shouldn’t be able to achieve the same level of success in life as a Caucasian born today.” It’s as if not acknowledging the barriers to progress that African Americans (and other races) perceive is a form of racism in itself.
The Onion is great. Here’s another “race” report from Nov. 5, 2008.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/black_man_given_nations
Apparently, we’re not just a nation of whiners, but of cowards as well. I guess that means we whine about everything but race?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090218/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/holder_race
“What do you all think?”
I think racism has become much more sophisticated and isn’t as openly blatant as in the past, but then again sometimes it still is:
Cowards? I don’t want to talk race because it’s dull, repetitive, needless, pointless, stupid and most likely gonna cause some hurt feelings so I’m cowardly?
Until I opened this I thought it was in the wrong forum.
Just saw a report on CNN that said most americans are afraid to talk about race. I so much wish we lived in a world were it didnt matter but is it really that bad? What is everyone so afraid of? What do you all think?
That is news if it is true. Everyone talks about race. Everyone’s race. Of course most of the time it’s derogatory. We’ve come a long way to get where we are but we have a long way to go still too. Think of the stereotypes that still exist. If/when they are gone that will be a wonderful time.
Typically Ill end up looking like an asshole talking about race. My opinions on race are they are not equal and if you act the stereotype dont get pissed when people stereotype you, end of story.
This sums it up. About 2:50 into the clip. “Hello black man”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzbp541wfEA
Can’t believe this video has not been posted yet. For the record, I think its nub is true, but it is rather distasteful.
Just saw a report on CNN that said most americans are afraid to talk about race.
What does that even mean? Really? What does it mean to be afraid to “Talk about race”?
Let’s us “White” for example, what the hell is there to talk about?
I think what people are afraid of is being labeled a racist for saying something someone else doesn’t like. that’s not about race, that about control, power and trying to keep people from saying things you don’t like.
We can talk about sterotypes, we can talk about community and ethnic differences, we can talk about people being racist…not much to talk about “Race”.
So once again instead of actually trying to talk about the issue, and come up solutions, we talk about one of the above or something other. We throw out a nice catch phrase like, “Race”, “Living wage”, “Liberal” or “Conservative” so we have something to wield like a bat to beat each other with and we all go home angry.
~Matt
the Lizard Cyclist is not afraid…“White Men Can’t Jump!” There I said it!