If a white man asks a black man: If you were white and I was black would you shake my hand. Does this mean that the white man is being racist, or is he just having a laugh. To me this is a very profround question that needs a little lateral thinking.
2006-08-26 12:20:52 · 22 answers · asked by deco p 1 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Anyone whom thinks lesser of a person because of their racial background or appearance.
2006-08-26 12:23:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, the White man is asking the Black man would you be racist if you were white? Odd question, because how would the Black man know what it is to be white, whether the white man he would be is racist or not. If he said I would not shake your hand if you were black, because if I was white, I would be racist, then HE is a racist, because he is assigning a secondary characteristic to a person due to their skin colour, (don't give me that crap that Black people cannot be racist, bullshit), if he said, it depends if I am racist or not, that is fair. If he said no, cos I am not racist, he hasn't understood the question.
As for having a laugh, where's the joke? If the white person is saying that Black people have done something to justify racism, then that really is beyond a joke i.e. If you were white, you would understand why white people are racist against blacks, because you deserve it look at the crime figures. Al Queda etc. That is like blaming a rape victim for the crime because "she was asking for it" .
Racism is stupid and lazy and wrong, no matter who is the racist.
2006-08-26 13:10:24 · answer #2 · answered by micmac 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. He is being racist against white people by saying that they (as a race) are racists. Such a definition does seem to be quite ludicrous, and an oxymoron, assuming a certain degree of familiarity between the two, and that he would be willing to shake the black man's hand himself - yet is it possible to be racist against your own race?
If this were classed as clearly racist it would be next to impossible to say any general statement involving any race without being racist - so although some people may view it as being racist, perhaps it shouldn't be classed so.
2006-08-26 12:32:37 · answer #3 · answered by Mordent 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Racist- someone who thinks that another person is not as good as themselves just because of their appearance or heritage.
I think that the question, 'would you shake my hand' is funny and intelligent. It's not a bad question to ask... if the white man didn't offend the black man, that is. Whether it's racist or just for laughs depends greatly on the tone in which the question is being asked.
2006-08-26 12:28:47 · answer #4 · answered by mad_fem_bot 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
lateral thinking? the fact that you asked that question means that generally when you see a black person (if u are white) that you think of people in terms of black and white, instead of as human beings. so your thoughts are pretty much following a narrow strip to ignoramushood. yea, sometimes life's funny and we make jokes about that which is generally not good to make jokes about. remember that a joke is only funny when two people are enjoying the benefits of the humour, otherwise, one is laughing at and the other is being laughed at. if you think the question is profound...perhaps you ought to read 'Alice in Wonderland' its an entire allegory (one of my favourites). i would conclude that your idea of deep is a bit off beat.
if you really want to be profound then THINK. the terms white and black are social constructs. no one is ever as white as a sheet (unless they're diseased) or as a black as shoe polish, unless they're charred! underneath the surface of our skin we are exactly the same, the sooner we perceive each other as an extension of ourselves, the happier we would all be because, there'd be less inclination to be prejudiced and unkind...?
2006-08-26 12:38:05 · answer #5 · answered by Wisdom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It seems that black people can't be racist,no matter what tey say or do but if a white man utters a wrong word he is instantly considered a racist even by other white people who think they are the saviours of the human race
2006-08-26 12:26:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You have big problem within your inner self, you need to confront with these issues and ask why you feel the way you do, is some kind of inadequacies from childhood, momma and papa didn't give you enough love, or you are unable to have normal relationship with the opposite sex, ask yourself all these questions, May be you should go and see a shrink.
By the way are you obese and ugly like most fatty Americans.
2006-08-28 18:44:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally a racist person thrives on the following: Ignorance Hatred Fear/Fear Of The Unknown Bigotry Isolation Generalizing Making Statements Like: "I have 3 Black/Latino friends & I trust them "I don't care if The Blacks/Latinos move in my neighborhood "There goes the neighborhood, "Let's put the house up for sale tomorrow, wish we could do it tonight" "The Spanish People are taking our jobs" "Let's hire a Mexican, he'll do it for little or nothing, he has to feed those 6 kids, you know" "I can't believe a Black man wants to be president of the U.S. Unfortunately, everyone is not accepting of people who don't look like them. I have actually heard people say the aforementioned statements. It is a very disheartening thing (to say the least) when people say things as such! Racism in the U.S. is an ugly truth, that has to be addressed! It will not go away until we bring it to the forefront. Enjoy your evening.
2016-03-26 21:11:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heres a question that you can ask a "racist" to bring home a point:
"Lets say you have a young daughter with a fatal heart disease and the only way she can survive is with a transplant. Now... lets say that a heart becomes available to her, but its from a black man. Knowing that all people on earth are one in the same, and knowing that the heart can save your daughters life, would you accept it?"
See what they say. It kinda makes them question their reason for hate.
Anyway, I can see context in which your question above would be racist. I can also see context in which it would not be.
2006-08-26 12:24:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would you want to shake any-one's hand,unless you know them,or are being introduced to them.I think you being a bit patronising A Black man would be well within his rights to tell you to shove your hand up your a*s.lol
2006-08-29 07:37:16 · answer #10 · answered by michael k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe (wrongly I hope), that black people are more racist than white people.
I live in a predominately black area.
I would shake that mans hand, but feel I may be rebuffed.
2006-08-26 12:26:08 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋