Why is it okay for black people to say black power, but its not okay for white people to say white power??

Question

I don't understand can someone fill me in.

I am asking this cause i saw an episode of wife swap or one of those dumb shows and a guys kept saying black power.

I am not asking you to tell me why. I am a white guy, but I am not a racist. I think it is just odd. You dont have to enlighten me. I already know.

Answer 1

Well for starters no white man has been a slave in the US..being a corporate slave doesn't count...

No white man was taken by force from his home on another continent to work in the cotton fields of a black man anywhere...

Read "Roots" which will give you a bigger picture than I'm painting...

but basically...the white man took this land from the red men, worked it with the black and yellow man, and doesn't want to share it with the brown man...

any more questions??????

Answer 2

If you say "white power," you will get branded "nazi."
This is a fact of life, and you sort of need to get used to it.

The term "white" to describe Greeks, Romans, Europeans of
various nations/nationalities/races is not an accurate way to
describe any group of people. I'm not white, though I'm
called "a white man."

If you own yourself as a person, you can define yourself.
The terms "white man" and "black man" have their origins
in slavery. Since slavery is wrong, we should stop
perpetuating its rhetoric. We should also stop calling slavery
"government help," and stop calling ignorance "education."

Because Jefferson wrote that all men were created equal, we
are conditioned to think that we are the same in every way.
When we encounter differences, we are repulsed by them.
This is wrong.

In reality, each person is a unique individual.
When people tell you that you are no different than the rest of us,
that's not really true.

To say that all "Europeans" are the same isn't true. To say that
all black people are all the same is not true either. Each one of
them is a unique individual person with a personality of their
own.

There really never was any white power to begin with. There
never were any pure-blooded "whites" or any other pure
nationality. There is not any inferior or superior nationality.

And which black people say black power? I know black people
who don't say that.
People generally say, believe, think, and hear what they wish to.
If you don't need to cause trouble or debate, it's just better not to.
It really is better to live and let live.

Answer 3

I am black.

I have never heard anyone say "black power" or "white power" outside of television and music. They may seem very similar because of the similarity in wording, but the two phrases have very different meanings. Racists have proclaimed "white power" for generations and it has become attached to the white supremacy movement. The phrase "black power" on the other hand, has been used by black "freedom fighters" for the past couple of generations and is therefore seen as a freedom phrase.

I don't blame you for finding it odd that two phrases that are very similar in wording are treated very differently by the general public. You just need to understand that it is not the wording that is frowned upon, but rather, the history of the phrase and its connotation.

Answer 4

I don't think anyone really says black power anymore..but there is still a lot tension between blacks and whites. As to the person who said "There's no white history month," history itself has been thwarted so that many white people are idolized while all other ethnicities (Native Americans, Africans, etc.) are made to appear inferior and unimportant. So basically, the history we all learned in school (until we get to college and can finally learn the real stuff) is racist and we celebrate "white history" for much of our lives.

Answer 5

I never said that (black power) nor do I know anyone who has (but that's only me, I know).

As far as the term "white power", it probably has a negative connotation because it's historically been used by white supremist groups.

People talk the same way about the "n" word.

There just words to me. As long as you're not right in my face, and blatantly using it towards me in a derogatory way, I could care less. My time is too important to waste being mad or hating other folks.

Answer 6

It's a weird phenomenon. It's kinda like, " Why can black people say "*****" to each other all day long, but when another race uses the word the entire room goes quiet as if you just killed somebody. Really, what it boils down to, is that by blacks saying "black power" or "*****," they are segregating themselves from the other cultures in our nation. And segregation being something that they not long ago suffered to overcome, it's kind of ironic that they are doing it to themselves today. Everyone should be proud of their culture, no doubt. But remember people, we are ALL human.

Answer 7

I guess when we get treated the same way we treated them, and it takes years of protests from us to finally gain recognition, THAT is when it will be okay for white people to say "white power". Walk a mile in their shoes, then you'll know the answer

Answer 8

I've heard of when Black people would raise their fists and say: "Power to the people!" I've heard of White people saying "White Power".

Anywayz, I've never heard anyone say Black Power, but I've heard White Power plenty of times.

Answer 9

Hmm well first of all it's not really okay for Black people to say Black power? And when white people say it, they are ALWAYS racist. Black power was a movement when racism was thriving, it is important for people that live in racists places to say that i guess? You shouldn't be proud of being white or black but proud of being Russian, Irish, Italian, European, but when you say white its quite different.

Answer 10

Black power never caused any hate crimes and violence. As for the white power, that was the power that used violence and that means that u hate any other race than white.