Do white Americans truly understand the experience of Black Americans?

Question

When ever race questions are asked on this forum, some answers from white Americans are usually uninformed, narrow and insensitive even though they may not be racists. I'm not an American and I'm sure there are events in your country involving Black Americans that people in foreign countries may know that some white Americans don't.

Sorry I forgot Native Americans,

To benthguru
I don't judge people if I have not lived in their shoes which is why I try to understand black Americans. Your European friends feel they have some authority on judging black Americans because they to are black, it is not right to look down on any body.They should ask themselves, If black people in other countries are so much 'better' then why are black Americans so different (negative maybe) use common sense they do not share the same experiances. My sister moved to New York she said the same things, until she started school and realized that Latin Americans were also going to her school for free because they were 'under-represresented' in society, yet everyone is always talking about black people. She is the only black student and the top of her class, students (alot of them not black) walk out of exams before they even start.The illusion was shattered even more now that she's working in the hospital in a poor area and now she wants to help them.

My other sister who also lives there, can't understand how some after all this time DON'T KNOW what Aids or the HIV virus is, In the most developed country in the world, and now want to help them.The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina showed the World the truth about the people whe are 'liberating' oppressed peoples in Iraq.

Answer 1

You have a good point...and probably most people who answer those types of questions are NOT racist, just uninformed.

I don't see how people of one ethnic (or religious, or social) background can "truly" understand people of different backgrounds.

What makes us human is our ability to be compassionate and willing to learn from others.
When we explain who and/or what we are to a person willing to listen...and when we are willing to listen to their questions in return, then we can begin to understand the experience.

America isn't the only place where there is a lot of misunderstanding.
Pick a country...any nation, and you'll find social, racial, ethnic and/or religious intolerance in one form or another.

Answer 2

Almost everyone in America is mixed race. We have white people in black families. Hispanics in white families. We're all mixed with something most of us. Every race has been held as slaves by another at some point in time. I'm not white or black. Not all black Americans get upset and worked up about what happened to the race here in America hundreds of years ago. It's just some of them. Everyone is treated equally here. Color does not matter any more. I'm not saying there are no racist people here, because there are. But not as many as there used to be. We have come a long way. America the melting pot.

Answer 3

White Americans know what it was like to grow up out of intolerance for their race.

Italians overcame this problem, Jews overcame this problem, Japenese overcame this problem, Chinese overcame this problem, I could go on and on.

The black community has a lot of uphill work ahead of it and the longer they blame the whites for their problems the longer it will be before they are respected as a race.

You really need to start with your men. When they start showing leadership in the home things will turn around. You women can help influence that you know.

You just need to see the problem for what it is and recongnize that it takes time to change peoples minds about some things. But it all starts with what people see day-in and day-out.

Answer 4

I am an American. I judge other Americans on who they are and how they act. Who someone is can be influence on how they began in life, but some choose to make the most of their life and others choose to use it as an excuse for being rude or make others think the world owes them something special because they came from either wealth or poverty.

Loving each other. Respecting your fellowman. Helping someone that truly needs help, especially those trying to help theirself. That's how I choose to live my life.

Life can be hard and those who think life owes them something, just adds to that hardness. There are many injustices in this world, and there always will be. Living your life based on a mindset of what you believe others to think is ridiculous. Many people prejudge before getting to know others. Each of us deserves the opportunity to be known whether we are from poverty, middle class or rich beyond anyone's imagination.

There are many events happening in America, but those most important to me are on a local level. My family and their happiness, matters most. Keeping them housed, fed, clothed, educated so that they may face what life has coming, is my goal.

Regarding getting along with each other, even some families can't do this. People will always have disagreements, it's just human nature. We have to want to get along. Did you ever watch the old movie " WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL". Pretty much says it all. We had better learn how to get along.

I know this question was race related and on that note: It seems to me that other races, i.e., italians, jewish, chinese, japanese, asians, etc. have adapted to American life kept their heritage but became known as American, being Americans, why have many blacks not. Maybe they think someone owes them something. I don't like grouping a whole race of people, but sometimes you have to call the as you see them.

I love the cultural differences other races bring to the table, but the downtrodden theme of the man keeping me down is so old. Build your life, become educated and bring something to the table that is useful.

Answer 5

Hydra:
Probably not. Being a White American, I grew up with Black Americans. I never understood prejudices on both sides, and still do not. But I never experienced prejudice until I started getting older. I am now 64 years of age. As soon as I started getting into my 50's I definitely experienced prejudice for my age, and for my sex (male). It was a LOT harder to get a decent job, also jobs that were quote unquote for women, i.e. cleaning offices. I was turned down because I was male.....silly world ain't it?

Answer 6

In order to truly understand it from experience, than whites would have to be black...

Also - I have been to many different countries and there is a huge difference between the blacks in America to anywhere else on the planet... Most European blacks do not have much respect for American blacks as they find them to act very uneducated and do nothing to improve their lives in the poorer areas.

Answer 7

Race issues are so dead. Do Blacks think about how selfish they have become in America? They are the single most selfish people on earth. They want speacial treatment, advantages etc. in the name of "equality" ...please explain to my whiteness how giving a black guy a job in the postal system for example, who only got a score of 66 on his test, and not hireing the white guy who got an 87 on the test is (one) equal (two) fair..and how is this suppose to help the dumb black guy? How is the White guy suppose to accept blacks as equals, when he suffers racism daily, but yet is called a racist if he resists' oppression. Keep in mind the only person who is not considered a minority in america is the WHITE MALE......30 years of reverse discrimination and time to change it!!!!

Answer 8

wow a lot of racist people came out of the woods to answer this question. i don't think white people could understand....

1. what it's like to be harassed by the police because your white and the suspect they are looking for is white so they just assume that you must know the suspect.....

2. what it's like to walk into a store and have a the sales associates speak to EVERY black person in the store except you, and when you do ask for help you receive mistreatment due to your skin color.

3. what it's like to be rejected by a religion because your race is thought to be the spawn of Satan and you were only accepted into the religion when the NAACP stepped in

4. to be hired and fired because your the token white person

5. to face stereotypes based on just a few people

i really could go on and on.....

Answer 9

Do people from "other countries" truly understand Americans? Stop grouping Americans into white and black. There are just as many "uninformed, narrow and insensitive" answers from "blacks" as you call them. Quit making race an issue!!! For many of us, it is NOT an issue.

Answer 10

There's no way we can understand what black Americans experience. It's just like anything else, until you've actually been in a person's shoes it's all speculation. It works the same for all ethnic groups, including whites!!