A good black and White question?

Question

So im sitting in class oneday and a black friend made a comment about my race. So i made one back at him. He seemed more offended then I did. So I ask him "whats the problem" He answers me "you can't say that my people are oppressed."
I then explained to him that my people (irish catholic) have suffered more than the africans. After all we have been persecuted for 600 years as opposed to there 250. Also, our persecution continues today. So tell me your thoughts on this subject. And if whether or not you think that people can't say things about black people.

Answer 1

i am African American and I say you win .. your people have suffered more ..... Now what does that gain us ....
who suffered the most is not as relavant as that fact that sufferage of any sex, race, relgious group, etc, etc ..is wrong and we need to talk about it in the context of healing .. moving forward, onward.. upward through understanding each other and accepting all aspects of our diverse selves ....

Answer 2

Unless it's an open conversation in a classroom or lecture hall setting, no, keep your mouth shut about race differences. Live and let live. If you don't want to have to be on the defense, choose your battles wisely. It's 2006, we've paid over $3 a gallon for gasoline recently, there are several wars being strongly fought around the world, gangs are the new teenage recreation clubs, children are hungry in AMERICA, people are without health insurance in AMERICA............can you not find another topic besides race discrepancies?? What matters most is what's happening in your lifetime and things that you can actually make a difference in. You are not going to change what has been. If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem, so start thinking outside of your persecuted religion and nationality.

Answer 3

Hmmm. Tit for tat is a bad way to build relationships.

Life is about winning friends and influencing people. You lost an opportunity to make a friend. Why couldn't you have said something about the persecuted Irish instead of just slapping on another insult?

Just so you know, slavery also continues today. Some of the coffee and chocolate we get is produced by Africans kidnapped by Arabs.

Persecution knows no bounds; don't add to it.

Answer 4

You're probably right, even though it would seem racist for most people to say anything about african-americans. What most people don't realize today is that african-americans are not the only people who are opressed or suffer at all. Pretty much everyone gets harrassed at some point in their lifetime for what race or religion they are. You're espicially right if he was the one who said something about you first, and it's not the he said something so i'll say something thing, it's because when you said something about his race you were trying to make a point that he doesn't belong to the only race that is oppressed.

Answer 5

Blacks and Irish have alot in common, both are oppressed and still are in some ways, although the degrees are different- It doesn't matter how long the oppression took place but that ppl realize it and fix it
let me point out similarities both groups had resources exploited in their lands both groups were sold into slavery, both groups had there names change by their oppressors
Because of this there are many African and Irish diaspora all over the world


http://www.soulcast.com/doyoulikeme/

Answer 6

Irish folks used to be hung in the deep south alot. So did Jews. Most Americans think Martin Luther King was only for black rights. This is not true, listen to the "I have a dream" speech. King was for all american minorities. I am fourth generation Irish and grew up in Georgia in the sixties. This country has come a long way. I treat every human I meet with respect and dignity. Until they prove themselves different.

MLK, 1963

"When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old ***** spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Answer 7

Well, I'm jewish, and everybody hates us. So I figure the fewer comments I make about other groups of people the better chances I'll have of slipping under the radar. If we want to play the victim game, then everybody can find somebody in and amongst their ancestors who belonged to an oppressed minority at some point. But really it's not a very useful game to play. Your question puts me in mind of Tom Leher's song, "National Brotherhood Week." Here it is (remember folks, he meant it as satire):

Oh, the white folks hate the black folks,
And the black folks hate the white folks.
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule.

But during national brotherhood week, national brotherhood week,
Lena horne and sheriff clarke are dancing cheek to cheek.
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise,
As long as you don't let 'em in your school.

Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks,
And the rich folks hate the poor folks.
All of my folks hate all of your folks,
It's american as apple pie.

But during national brotherhood week, national brotherhood week,
New yorkers love the puerto ricans 'cause it's very chic.
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand.
You can tolerate him if you try.

Oh, the protestants hate the catholics,
And the catholics hate the protestants,
And the hindus hate the moslems,
And everybody hates the jews.

But during national brotherhood week, national brotherhood week,
It's national everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!

Answer 8

some people are raciest and not even realise they are. One thing to remember what is in the past is in the past live in the now that is the only way he can get over this problem he has with you cant talk about us that way. we all are the same people just different colours we all have to remember we all look the same in the in side. that is the only way we will see reason. but i do like your come back for him . we all need to learn we all some were in our history have been hurt but don't blame others live for today and every day . hope that helped

Answer 9

Some people carry their feelings on their shoulders, and never get out to see the real world. That person will forever be oppressed, because he refuses to leave the comfort zone created, by, what he perceives as, oppression! It's a "pacifer" for him.

Answer 10

you were both wrong!

i mean if he said something that offended you should not reply but explain him that what he did was wrong and that he certainly would not like to listen something like that about his "people".

i don't know if we can compare what irish and africans suffered, that is not the point, because that does not justify derogatory comments.