Is there a racial double standard?

Question

Why are things like BET not considered racist? It's Black Entertainment Television. If it were White Entertainment Television, it would be racist. What's the difference? Some jobs are listed as African American Only, if they were listed as Caucasian Only, it would be racist. Saying "Black Power" is considered enlightened and empowering, saying "White Power" is racist. Hope this stirs up some debate :)

Answer 1

I think there is a double standard, and it's sad. There are all sorts of scholarship opportunities that are limited to African Americans, but if any were limited to Causcasions it would be considered racists. I hate how there's all of this "I'm black and my ancestors from over 100 years ago were slaves so I should get monetary compensation" sort of stuff.

And then there's colleges. If a colleg had one spot left and it were between a black person and a white person, both having a 4.0 GPA and both involved in community and school, the black person would be accepted simply because of their skin color.

Then you get all-black colleges, or "Black-history" colleges. If there were any like that for white people (or asains, or hispanics, pacfic islanders, europeans, etc), then there'd be riots and complaints.

Then you have black history month. Why? there's no white history month, no asian history month, no hispanic history month, etc (at least not that I'm aware of).

If you ask me, it seems like african americans get more than caucasions do as far as scholarships and stuff. Don't get me wrong, I love black people. Some of my closest friends are black. I just hate that white people get blamed for everything. In fact, slavery began when african tribe leaders on the east coast of Africa began taking prisoners of war from other tribes to the west coast, where they would trade them to the spanish for weapons. Yes, slavery sucked, and yes, I'm sure I had ancestors that participated, but what does that have to do with me today, almost 150 years later? It isn't my fault.

ranting....

anyways, yes, there is a double standard and I think it's unfair. the end.

Answer 2

I have a very hard time believing that you've actually seen jobs listed as being for "African Americans Only" because that is against state and federal laws. Further, what jobs are there that only African Americans can perform?

On the issue of BET, I think you are reading too much into it. It is simply a forum which features ethnic entertainers, movies and events. It certainly does not attempt to exclude others from viewing, as many ethnicities share in watching and enjoying that channel. Nor does it promote or incite racial hatred or intolerance. It is simply that some people favor certain types of entertainment (comedy, music) and we should all have choices.

Following are some examples of other options provided by the arts & entertainment media:

I Want My Spanish TV, the popular FOX Spanish network: “The passion, enthusiasm and sexy wardrobes of Spanish-language shows are attracting record numbers of viewers -- many of whom can't understand a word characters are saying …”

ImaginAsian TV (IAEI) is America's 1st 24/7 television network to promote and serve the diverse cultures of the Asian American community.

There are also specific TV programs that some, but not all, find entertaining, i.e. Blue Collar TV, and Country Music Television (CMT) and ethnic TV & Radio channels to cover the globe on Satellite TV.

Although I am African American, I switch up often, as my interests are diverse. I’m sure that I speak for many others when I say that those with a positive view will see these networks and programs not as exclusionary, but on the contrary, inviting of opportunities for education about other cultures. This in turn can lead to racial harmony.

By the way, no one I know says "black power" anymore. That was a phrase that was instrumental during the struggle of the 1960s to help a nation of oppressed people realize that they have personal power, and equal voice to help exact change in our shared American society.

Answer 3

I TOTALLY AGREE! Very, very good question...

I am a reporter, and in our stories, we define people as black or white males.. I always wonder why that is done, because WHO CARES what color they are??

I think that jobs should be open to all races.. Now,if it is like a civil war reinactment group or something, certain jobs would only apply to certain people. BUT, BET is racist...If white people had WET (lol, white entertainment tv) the african american society would freak out... I don't really think there is a solution. Maybe it is because african americans have worked so hard to get the freedoms they have...but, they fought for equality, not special treatment. Having specific tv stations, radio stations, and even magazines that cater to african american race is a little over the top. I am not racist one bit, but equality is equality...not special treatment.

It is also very hard to answer this question because neither whites nor blacks know what it is like to live in the other's shoes. I hope people don't take my answer the wrong way.

Answer 4

I've thought about things like this before. My only thought is, BET was created as a way for more black-interest shows and television to find their niche. Because there were so many shows that didn't have black people or themes relating to black people already, there could be a network that they could always watch and identify with.
On the flip, my best friend has been with a canadian-jamaican man for almost 7 years and he keeps telling her he wants to date jamaican women and see if he identifies better with them(she's white). He's also told her he doesn't want half black and half white kids because white people are racist and he doesn't want his blood in a white person. Yet she still loves him and would marry him if he asked. How do I get her to realize he's racist against white people?

Answer 5

Yes there is a double standard. There is a lot that could be said about this. But through most of history the white male has done most of the leading and depressing of other people. This is the socially correct way for them to get back weather it be black hispanic or southeast asian among others. If you wist to start a thing on white history then just back up a few steps and start one on one of the many places they come from before coming to america such as western european history. Just learn the correct way to say white history.

Answer 6

I think racial double standard should not happen or should be abolished.
However, you must remember, black community has their own subcultures, sense of humor, slang, interests, lifestyle and background set a little bit apart from the rest of Aglo-Saxon society. So it makes sense that BET caters and feeds the needs for black community as for entertainment. It make sense what you are trying to convey on the contrary.
Black communities seem to play this issue for decades and play it like a victim. We cant change history but younger blacks should not feel that they have been victimized like their grandpa or last generation. They dont live and belong to the 'old' society.
Yet double standard occurs at every level of societies ..for gays, handicap, woman rights etc but even greater and noticeable if someone from different color does to another. However we can't blame them totally. It should be a compromise and equal opportunities for black Americans in the mainstream media. There are few programmes/sitcoms in the tv hardly any colored people in it. In the news for example, if blacks did something wrong, media blew it out of proportion. So the negative perceptions of people in general towards Black have eleviated and culturally carried out and passed to one generation to another especially for non- colored people.
Who do we blame? Whats the solution?

Answer 7

yes there is a double standard as there was when there was white only drinking fountains... Now people are try to make up for those times when we put them down. If you look at it we had the WHITE ONLY channels from the invention of television till well into the sixties. What I find interesting is the "study" of brown eyed vs blue eyed (they revisited recently in I believe the Smithsonian) and prejudice is a learn behavior. (everyone says of course) but that means you taught the children around you their beliefs. so why are so surprise that people younger than themselves react the way they do.

Answer 8

What do you want to debate about? White people have had the front row in life for centuries. Why would I mind that they have a cable channel called Black Entertainment? I enjoy watching it and I'm not black.

Why do I care if they hold an event called Black Expo? Every expo in this state up until about six years ago was for and about white people.

Someday soon everything we do will be similar to a stew...a little of everything mixed in. It would be nice if it happened before I died.

Answer 9

It's rude to remind people of something they already know.
White people already have their "white power"...Have you ever seen a non-white president?
They already have the WET...it's called the WB (let's not even get started on that CW crap coming in the fall...)

But yeah, taking your question a bit more seriously; I've actually wondered about that myself, but more along the lines of other minorities and their social impacts. There's a Black History Month, but as your question suggests, it would be pretty racist to have a White History month. There's supposedly an Asian and Pacific Islander month, but as far as I've ever known, it's existed in name only. What about a Latino-American month? (you know we're going to need one sooner or later).
It's a complicated mess; one that I'm pretty sure has no easy answer, at least not one to be found on Yahoo Answers, of all places.

Answer 10

There are double standards for eveything.. I guess it all depends on who and who things are looked..