A crippling racial problem. Please read and give your opinion, especially interested in what non-whites say?

Question

I have found that many African Americans attach their own context to innocent statements made about their heritage. An example that I gave in a previous question had to do with the fact that I told my co-worker that she is amazingly pretty and amazingly African in her looks. This comment upset her. I asked opinions on Y!A and many earnest answers expressed unhappiness with any comment about their race. One young lady said that she was insulted when her boyfriend calls her his "little black angel". Why do people attach a negative connotation to the celebration of their ethnicity? Even the younger generation seems to feel this way. What is inherently bad about being of African descent? I don't get it

Answer 1

Simply put, African-Americans (Blacks - whatever is the socially correct terminology this decade) do not like nor appreciate anyone making reference to the race. Your example of the "little black angel" gives the perception of being less than a "little white angel", also for that matter, adding an ethnic qualifier adds insult to injury. No one calls angels white, so why call them black?

Another thing is that the A-A/Black race deals so much with the negativity that we've caused ourselves towards the race that it's quite easy to lash out at someone over something that COULD BE a simple misunderstanding. This, however, has been a cop-out excuse for other ethnics groups towards Blacks so it would be difficult to believe it even if it were the truth.

Keep in mind one thing: being Black is not ethnic, neither is being White for that matter.

We should all just chew on some peyote...

Answer 2

Maybe some people are more sensitive and they have experienced terrible racisim in their past either personally or seen it done to others. You think about it if you were called something or judged purely on your race and it was a terrible comment, word, or your mother or a close person to you was made to feel like ish based on their race when you heard it even if it was a lite joke would you find it funny. Memories are inbedded in peoples minds one word or action just brings it straight back to life. If people don't like what you said have the responsibilty to say sorry and get over it. You knew you should not say things like that but you did why? You knew what would happen you just needed to say she was pretty. How do you know what ethnic looks are. Are you an expert? Stop causing people to feel upset when you know when to zip it. That is my opinion and I should know because I can get very upset at comments.

Answer 3

I am going to assume that you are not a person of color - that is to say, you are white.

The short answer is that the propaganda worked. In his work “Mein Kampf, Hitler said: “By clever and persevering use of propaganda even heaven can be represented as hell to the people, and conversely the most wretched life as paradise.” Hitler was an expert at propaganda and so was his Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. That propaganda is incredibly successful can be seen in the fact that generations of people were convinced that smoking cigarettes made them cool, sexy, and sophisticated. The propaganda commercials worked.

What has propaganda to do with black people? All enslaved Africans were treated as animals and repeatedly taught that they were an inferior, subhuman lot about which there was nothing redeeming. Judged by the white man’s standard, they were wholly unacceptable: their hair, their eyes, their noses, their mouths, their bodies – everything was flat out ugly. Remnants of this propaganda continued to find its way to subsequent generations. To this day many black people still struggle – on a very subconscious level – with this propaganda. The sensitivity is still there. Because white people have never had such hatred spewed at them, they find it difficult to wrap their brains around the concept of being overly sensitive. And the fact that the propaganda continues to be spread does not help matters at all.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 4

Perhaps the sensitivity is due to the fact that these comments are made by white people to those of ethnic heritage. Could it be the throw-back (or latent result of) too many centuries of distinction by color? It seems that those of the same ethnicity make comments relating to skin color, etc without the same sensitivity.

Some of the most physically attractive people in the world are of non-white ethnicity or mixed ethnicity. It seems a shame to me that comments about their uniqueness are viewed as racially biased rather than complementary. It's a very thin line, isn't it?

Answer 5

It seems to be a touchy topic for some folks, especially the darker women. I called a girl a cute 'little Hershey Kiss' one time and her mother was fuming mad! This little girl was so pretty and had the same color/complexion of milk chocolate, so it was the first thing that came to mind, I thought it was cute...but I am very light skinned and her mom took offense to me making such a statement...

Anyway, that entire light-skin/dark-skin race issue is as old as slavery itself, and some people just can't seem to let it go. Blacks were taught that darker skin is "ugly" and even on Y/A, you'll see a lot of nasty comments about Halle and Beyonce commenting on their light skin and how they "think they're cute" and all of that bulls***. You have to understand the black race in order to get it. Heck, I'm a part of it, and I still don't get it...

It's sad that in 2007 people are still caught up on complexion.

Answer 6

I agree that it's a crippling problem. It's one of those things that people who are viewed as minorities, even when they are the majority, can say things that you can't about themselves, each other, or you. It's wrong. It's stupid. It's (gasp) racist.

The problem is that those who view themselves as victims feel they bear no ultimate responsibility for the bad things they might do while those they view as oppressors bear that ultimate responsibility. Sadly, in you case the safest route would be not to say anything.

Answer 7

I think people are too touchy these days. Nothing is bad about being black or african, just people don't represent blacks the same rate as whites and there are stereotypes that cripple the race

Answer 8

It's something in their head that can't change overnight. Go to India and tell a scheduled caste person untouchable or even harijan and he will act as if you have killed his entire family! It's the inferiority complex on their part but don't expect your politicians to hear your case coz their eyes are all set on the vote bank.

Answer 9

I see alot of beauty all around me of all races... I keep my mouth shut! I secretly hope that my spirit guide is telling their spirit guide that I think they are beautiful! I don't want any confrontation... I kind of avoid people in general. When I do talk, I try to keep it short and sweet... It's not always possible. It's easy to get misunderstood.

Answer 10

OK, I heard that! I'm white and most of my friends and even my boyfriend is Mexican, they all call me "guera" pronounced wedda it means, white girl. I don't take offense. get over it folks! I am adopted I wish I had some Idea of my "ethnicity" to identify with.