Our t-shirts say I love being Black ( http://www.ilovebeingblack.com ). Most black people love them. Some white people seem to think these shirts cause division between whites and blacks. Silly me, I thought it was slavery or racism or the embedded myth of white supremacy or how the people at the top want everyone else to focus on small entanglements like this.
Let me be clear, these shirts are created by black people, for black people. These shirts are meant to express the love for your blackness because it has been diminished in so many of us due to: negative images in the media, the destruction of the black family structure, violence in our communities, or the many traps laid out for us.
Why do these same white people see nothing wrong with the shirts that say 'everyone loves a jewish girl' or 'blondes just do it better' or everyone loves an irish girl' or 'kiss me i'm italian'??
I'd like for ALL ethnicities to respond, let me know if you find something negative about the shirts..
2006-09-20 08:37:23 · 29 answers · asked by ilovebeingblack.com 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Thanks for the responses. I think the reigning sentiment is that white people don't like not being able to wear what appears to be a reciprocal message on a shirt. This seems valid, but let's explore it a bit more.
Statements like white power, i love being white, or white people are the best are associated with terrible historic times in this country. Slavery: when black people were dehumanized and murdered in the millions.
Eugenics movement: when white people used scientific racism to try and prove that blacks were inferior.
When black people were made 3/5 human by law, for voting purposes.
Out of all this negativity came the aforementioned sayings.
Sayings like black power, black pride, or black women are the best, were created as a response to white people oppressing black people. This response was not meant to remove whites from a pedastool, but to uplift our people.
In a perfect world the statements would be identical, but I do think the words have different meanings behind them
2006-09-20 09:18:53 · update #1
Because they think it would be racist if they do it. Like they Say if they had a station call WET Blacks would think it racist. Or if Blacks say "Black Power" and whites say "White Power" It would be racist. They only think that if they did those things.
Some will find some of those things racist because they would have a corrupted motive for it. Like asking why can blacks use the N word but whites did, it would be racist? Why would whites want to use the N word?? Yet they don't realize that Whites invented that word solely to be racist and hateful, that's why they would be seen as racist for that. Blacks never use it as racist that's why it not racist.
WET would also question their motive, they make a station like this it would fail. Whites are well represented on TV, so why? Would they want to see the shows on BET all day long on every other station. No, truth is their happy for Bet because if Bet programing was on other stations they would complain, Hell they complain already and don't even watch it.
White power would be racist because again it means oppression, KKK, and hate and racist wihich was white supremacy. White power in every way has everything associated which racism. Yet Black power was about overcoming, independence, and power against hate and racism. Big difference.
I love to be white may also have something to do with their motive. Not saying it's wrong but when whites have the history they do, it could be consider racist to blacks. Because everything whites say if they did it, it would be racist mostly because that what racist whites use to be racist. You also don't have to go to the 1800's to find racism but back 40 years ago or even today.
2006-09-20 10:49:52 · answer #1 · answered by justme 5 · 6⤊ 3⤋
When I use the term "love",it has a positive vibe about it. There's nothing negative about enjoying a state of being. The reason anyone could stir up and muster anger or annoyance is because they do not have the ability to say (if being truly honest) that's how THEY feel too. Because, it would be a lie...and that's coming from a Blonde Italian chick. I see many people suffering from lack of gratitude for what things are good in their lives. Given enough focus,one starts seeing things from a depressed angle. I love the shirt....I love love.... I love freedom.....and I love that you have enough bravado to allow society to see what's wrong it. Without critcsm, there is no growth.
2006-09-20 08:57:05 · answer #2 · answered by shawniewap 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't care about T-shirts, as people will write anything on them--things much dorker or controversial. Histories of racism and bigotry aside, are you really that surprised that anyone might seem outwordly miffed that you are celebrating a body color in times like these? The T-shirt obviously provokes that kind of thinking, and you obviously are interested in stirring the status quo. My T-Shirt would read: "Don't hate me for being white-even if its obviously the new black". <--- intentionally crass
Seriously though, the thing which separates messages of drunk irishmen or fun blondes are just stigmas which have no right to arbitrate on behalf of sober, rational minds, but they do, darn it, so enjoy your controversial T-Shirt. I'll go back to hating myself for having been born with my ancestors mark of evil: white skin everywhere.
2006-09-20 08:59:09 · answer #3 · answered by mranswerguy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not offended, but I know lots of non-"white" that would be offended if I had a t-shirt that said "I love being white"...
It quite doesnt sound the same, does it?
I saw a bumper sticker that said "BROWN POWER" and it was sported by a non-english speaking brown-type person..Again, if I had a sticker that said "WHITE POWER", y'all'd get a little pissy with me, call me a nazi, etc, I think. But I'm not, farthest thing from it...cant stand predjudice...
But generally speaking, I'm glad you are proud of you--everyone tries so hard to be someone else, something else, so keep up the good work. But you're saying I cant buy a shirt so.... I think I"m done here....I'm just going to go get another cup of pudding and turn on PBS.
2006-09-20 08:43:58 · answer #4 · answered by Munya Says: DUH! 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
i don't really find anything neg about them...you can wear what you want for the reasons you want...I also do think though that slavery was a long time ago and it shouldn't be dwelt on by blacks or whites and doesn't go on any longer...and there will always be racism toward every ethinicity from every ethinicity this is a shame but true but there is no shame or nothing wrong in having pride in something...your culture, background etc... this is what i think...have a great day and God bless!! :)
2006-09-20 08:47:55 · answer #5 · answered by *walkinthelight* 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not offended but why make such a big issue out of being black. I'm white but I don't go around wearing shirts that says "Look at me I'm white",
How about instead getting a shirt that says "I support our Troops" or "I'm proud to be an American?"
2006-09-20 08:47:06 · answer #6 · answered by couchP56 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why do we need to tell everyone via a tee shirt?
Why can't we talk to each other?
I personally spend hours and hours in the sun so my skin will be a nice dark brown colour, I don't wear a tee shirt saying I love being that colour.
It's just my skin colour, what's under the skin is what's important. You can be any colour you like.
What the tee shirt is saying is that you are proud of your race and so you should be, but do you really need a tee shirt to tell everyone. It shows in the way you present yourself, in the way you act.
You don't need a tee shirt for that!
2006-09-20 09:10:19 · answer #7 · answered by slipper 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, no longer all white individuals are offended by making use of black public affection and love in direction of one yet another. i think of public affection is nice to verify and that is no longer suitable what the race of the folk exhibiting the affection is.
2016-10-01 04:39:12 · answer #8 · answered by schnetter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who's offended?? I think it's a fine thing! I'm gonna get a shirt that say 'I love being an old fat lady' - and try to clear the negativity people have about old fat woman due to images in media, etc.
2006-09-20 08:46:42 · answer #9 · answered by mama T 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't have a problem w/ it , but I can see how some might, we were all created equal so then no one is better
than anyone else, but others may think that's what you
are trying to say when you wear a shirt like that.
take care
2006-09-20 08:49:30 · answer #10 · answered by start 6-22-06 summer time Mom 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋