is this racist?

Question

okay so i was sitting in class today and the teacher mentioned something about the new survivor being split up by race. black people team, white people team, etc.

and this black girl started talking about how the black team would win because "they know how to fight better and can fend for themselves. and the white people would sit there are cry."

so everyone [including white kids] laughed.

then this white girl goes,

"i'm pretty sure pulling hair and scratching faces doesn't qualify you as a good fighter. and you should probably shut up. there's no welfare office on survivor."

and no one laughed. but the black girl was like,

"you better stfu you racist *****!"

honestly, i'm not racist and i don't think the girl was either.

and what BOTH of them said was just... WRONG.

[personally i thought the white girl was a bit meaner.]

but honestly, what do you think?

Answer 1

What was said was a sign of ignorance of both parts. I believe the lesson and point of the teacher was to make all parties pay attention to one another as Americans. You see if your a true American color has no place in American society. Current politics play a huge part in peoples thinking over racism in our Country to day, and the radicals with play the race card every time to sway opinions. Martin Luther King never ever said because he was a Black man that all Americans shouldn't be free. He was fighting for Civil Rights for all Americans of all races.

Answer 2

I think the teacher should have gave a gentle warning that any students making a comment in regard to the subject, should take care not to hurt anyone's feelings.

The first girl's comments "the white people would sit there and cry" indicates some hidden feelings there. The second girl probably pick up on this and thus came out with.. "There is no welfare office on survivor." This comment is harsher - quite evident she was hurt by it from the abusive langauge used in her response afterwards. However, this in no way gives her the excuse to speak that way at all.

I hoped the teacher or principal spoke to them after this and let them clearly talk about it in the correct manner- with respect for each other, so it doesn't lead them to further confrontation in the future.

Answer 3

Yes, it was racist. On both parts. The basic quick definition of racism is negative prejudicial thoughts/actions/beliefs/etc. based on a person's race.

Making a generalized comment about how black people are better at surviving struggle is both ignorant of other race's struggles, and also assumes that every black person there is going to have had struggled mightily in their personal past and overcome their opposition. Not the case. There are plenty of privileged blacks in the United States.

Tenements in New York were full of a variety of white immigrants in the formative years of our country, where they were given little or no chance to survive. As a matter of fact, dangerous railroad jobs were given to Irish and Asian workers on a whole, because managers cared very little if they lived or died. However, black slaves were an investment, and cost money to have, and when one would die, it had a hard cost attached to the corporate bottom line. When the immigrant Asian or European died, it was simply a matter of replacing them, and the cost stayed at the status quo. The difference was, one was a slave, and the other, in most cases, was simply indentured and could ostensibly leave when that servitude period was over. In many instances, though, that never occurred because of system manipulation by those in power. In other cases, many were free men, but still paid and valued very little because of the supply of other men willing to take the job for lesser pay. Supply and demand. A massive supply of men and a limited demand for them devalued their worth.

On the same hand, assuming that just because someone is black, that they are welfare blight, is just as dangerous. There are literally millions of blacks throughout the history of this great country who came out of poverty to contribute positively to this country in just as many ways as white people. Colin Powell, the Tuskegee Airmen, George Washington Carver, Maya Angelou ... the list is endless. And many of them overcame poverty to become great.

You simply cannot judge a book by it's cover. You have to read it and determine its worth. Some books are classics, some books are crap. It's the same with people.

Answer 4

I think they're both racist. The white girl was provoked by the black girl's comments. I hope the teacher kept them both after class and talked to them.

I don't like this latest Survivor concept, and I didn't know why. I'm getting a better idea now.

Answer 5

The whole idea from the producers was wrong to create the situation for One thing; unfortunate result was the black response
and the totally wrong was the white response -
Because the majority of people on welfare in America are white! Not Black! Even Dr. Phil has stated this on world wide Tv.......Duh

Answer 6

What the African-American girl said was inflammatory and prompted a defensive response from the European-American girl. Both girls were wrong. Unfortunately people continue to sterotype each other by races.

I'm hoping for a racial barrier breaking season of Survivor myself.

Answer 7

Perhaps the white girl should not have responded as she did, but then, the black girl was fully prepared to take a fairly racist potshot at another group, so she shouldn't be shocked when she receives a reply in kind.

Answer 8

why do black girls always have to be associated with welfare. My Aunt works at the welfare office and is always coplaining about the clients not speaking english but anyways. Why are white women always assumed to be punks? Actually to me its pretty funny Survivor is genius for this I can just see the KKK glorifying in the power of TIVO

Answer 9

thats one thing i dont understand, a black person can sit there and go on an on with racist jokes but if a white person does it its WRONG. doesnt make any sense to me. in my opinion if you cant take something dont dish it. the black girl was asking for it. the white girl just came back with a better comeback. im not racist either but i hate the double standard.

Answer 10

They BOTH made racist comments, because they both made generalizations based solely on race.

I'm not surprised the white girl got pissed and made a nasty retort, but that's no excuse.

Many people think they aren't racist, because in their hearts and minds they don't believe race makes anyone better or worse... but sometimes they say hurtful things like this that they don't really believe. It's still racism.

Answer 11

They were both wrong in making those remarks, and I too believe what the white girl said was meaner. HOWEVER, it was the black girl who started it--one would almost think she was *looking* for an argument...