I am not racist, but I have to ask about African American Culture....?

Question

Why is it not racist for the African American community to have their own magazines (Ebony) and own TV channel (BET, Black Entertainment Television), Black Music Awards, and Miss America Pagent, etc. but it would be racist if whites did? Why is there a double standard?

I understand that your ancestors were tourtured and bellittled. But your generation has just as much opportunity as the next person, so what is the point?

NOTE: I am not a ricist. I am not against Ebony magazine, BET, etc., nor am I for all white TV programing, etc. So no comments accusing me of being racist, this is not what the question is implying. I am not puting down African Americans and I am sorry if you feel I am.

I'm sorry. I don't belive that you don't have the same opportunities. In fact, you probably have more as African Americans. I worked with a Dental Hygentist (African American Male) who told me he was going to dental school completely free because of his color. I don't get a free ticket to dental school because I'm white.

Answer 1

Hi PB...Ok the thing is that subcultures tend to identify with what makes them a subculture. Their identity is being "black" while whites hardly feel the need to assert that they are white because America was designed and built by the thinking and determination of European migrants.

There is also an inferiority complex among blacks (a particularly bad one) that causes them to blame their problems on whites and seeing anything "white" as "racist."

Answer 2

You ask a very good question and I hope you find an answer. However, I point out that your historical information is incorrect.
Your statement, "I understand that your ancestors were tourtured and bellittled" identifies a misconception that many young people have today. Indeed there were some bad, mean people back in the day. But, I believe the incidents were few and far between...back then. I believe that black people today face abuses just as damaging but, in a more passsive manner at the hands of the po-leece every day. Its no wonder that blacks hate us with such passion. Its the same reason the Muslim community wants our heads seperated from our shoulders. Most white people I know have become arrogant, rude, obnoxious ******* based on the "double standard" theory. In reality, we all have the same problems in life and should focus more on our own house than what everyone else has that always seems better. Get some love people and stop letting the media control your thoughts and actions. There, I'm done.

Answer 3

Its funny because why is it a problem for African Americans to something......I watch alot of tv and on many of the channels that I watch there are not many African Americans that host so I think that BET serves a purpose and that channel is not just for us its for everyone.....As far as Ebony goes...that magazine has been out for a very long time its purpose is to show the great things that African Americans do, because there was a time when you would not see not one African American in a magazine....There are many magazines still to this day that I open and not see one African American face....Now should I upset.....many people would be but no im not because there is a magazine not only Ebony that will shine light on African Americans.....So should I be mad when im watching a channel and they dont show African American person not once that whole day or should I be upset when I walk into a store and no one in there is African American????

Answer 4

Blame it on the kkk. They basically messed you guys up on the whole white power thing couase that represents the kkk.

And as for double standards. You do understand that as a people we were left to stay in lower class jobs in the inner city , which allowed for our race to grow lazy and full of crimes. Think about it, were black in America ever rich as a start. No they weren't .

Why do you think they call white trash as an equal to blacks. Because white trash fell in society and blacks have always been in majority low class. If put into a system designed to make you fail, it takes it's toll on ppl. Yes as a ppl we are giving chances now , but if centuries of horrible treatment is places in a ppl , especially one to hamper them economically , there priorities will twist and they'll want fast money cuz they don't have the luxury to afford to go to a college and get a un bias job.

And even afterwards they'll get used to it and won't see a way out.

Answer 5

maybe not but lets look at this from a "black person's" point of view. We have schools set up to fail us. No joke, at my old Jr high. the people who had a "bright future" got the good teachers while the kids with a dim future got the bad teachers I have seen it with my own eyes and maybe not in every city but that happens in mine. Moving a long, because you all get better schools you get better jobs, while we struggle to get what we can and if we do get a job its not likely unless its with some company that is black own. Like the companies that you spoke about, they are here because they felt like well if they aren't going to say anything about African Americans then I will. How many times have you pick up Vogue(if I spelled it correctly) and seen a black face? how many times have you watched lifetime(even though I love some of their movies) have you seen a black person on there? Exactly so we made ebony and bet to show the minority side of America. See on Bet news, they show more than just black people doing crimes unlike most news stations. Black people don't have as many oppitunites as whites no minority does, but we can however bring and create oppourties to ourselves. also b.e.t is not just viewed by blacks either. And do you see how many people wait black people who have gotten ocars, extaly you can count them all on one hand thats why somebody created a black awards too, but we don't discrianate there are several people who wasn;t black that got awards. How many black Ms. Americans do you know? I can only name 1. It's not a double standard its just filling in spots were others "forgot" to.

Answer 6

Again. African-American magazines, TV, colleges, fraternities, etc. are nothing new! Just like Caucasian enities if the same are nothing new, and ethnic enities of the same are nothing new. We were not ALLOWED these things in the past and we were not ALLOWED to be a part of the Caucasian system either. THEREFORE when the time came that we could afford and had the ability to do these things for ourselves we did. Why is it that it's alright for Caucasians to have their diverse properties but as soon as African-Americans do the same thing all the sudden no one can see a need? There is Polish pride day, and Polish people always want to go back to visit their land, there is St. Patrick's day and many want to travel to Ireland, there is an Italian holiday I don't know the name of it but every year our Little Italy community break out all the wonders of their culture. I have no problem with this I say celebrate your heritage be proud of who you are. But please when it's my turn to be proud don't ask why? Do the history, you'll see why.

Answer 7

I can understand why there are culturally based media e.g BET, Ebony. Majority of mainstream TV, magazines focus on Caucasian standards of beauty and news geared toward caucasians.

I think BET, Ebony are forms of media that helps celebrate the culture of African American community. For instance, do you ever see a lot of cosmetics, clothing or ads geared toward or African Americans e.g does VErsace, Hugo Boss or Dolce and Gabbana ever have spreads of black models in say Madamoiselle magazine or Vogue magazine?

Ebony gives AFrican Americans a chance to showcase things that interest and celebrate the African American community e.g
fashion, beauty products and beauty standards.

Answer 8

Actually, this isn't a bad question. Many young whites today can't understand how the past impacts the present.

First of all, however, Blacks today do NOT have all the same opportunities as whites. Things have improved, of course, but much racism has gone underground. I'm 50, and I know I've been denied housing because of my color. I suspect I've been fired from a couple of jobs, or not hired at all, because of my color. I even think my church, as wonderful as it is, has at times discriminated against me because of my race, gender, age, or weight, or general plain looks.

Now, our society has been deliberately built in the past to favor whites, particularly WASPs. Specifically White organizations were often formed for racist reasons: think KKK. It's not necessary to promote Whiteness further through a special organization when so much of mainstream society promotes whiteness already.

Now, I have no problems with white ethnic groups that help Jews, Italians, Irish, Polish, Armenians, and other white groups. These days, you could probably form a WASP society or a British-American society, if that society is out to preserve WASP culture, history, or pride WITHOUT diminishing the other groups.

When White have learned to see themselves as just another ethnic group, and not as the "norm", then we can safely have White cultural societies--the NAAWP!

Answer 9

I don't think you're racist. The reason we have things like Ebony and BET is because we didn't have those things before. Back then when racism was of extreme relevance, blacks were not given equal opportunity on television and in magazines. Since blacks were not given an opportunity we made our own opportunity.

Answer 10

It is seemingly not racist for them because of all the support they get from the liberals. If someone were to make a white-exclusive television station, the liberals would label it racist. Definitely a double standard. The creators of the white station would surely get sued, (ironically by the same people that push that BET garbage down our throats). But in all honesty, I don't care if there is racially exclusive programming, so long as whites (or any other race) can have their own too.

Answer 11

Those magazines were made in the time of separatist
America. You know, the time when you picked up a magazine
and you wouldn't see a black, asian, mexican or hispanic un-
less it was in a degrading situation. The publisher's have
made millions of dollars on these publication and they still do.
Since major journals are now accepting other ethnic groups in
their publications, do you honestly think that these multimillion
dollar publications should just close up shop and stop making
money just because of your poor understanding of a historical
publication. Besides these magazines have pictures of whites
just as Cosmos, Life Magazine etc have ethnic minorities.