Do African Americans bring it on themselves?

Question

I mean honestly, I havent seen one ounce of racism towards blacks since i was about 7 (im 13 now).

But still, black performers use the N word, and theyre always talkin about how "white people dont have rhythm" or "those crackers get all nervous around us *******" and its absolutely pathetic. Just a while back a black co-worked of my mothers forced the office to allow her MLK off. Ok, somewhat reasonible, so what if all the whites demanded Presidents day off?

I mean come on, do you want to be treated equally or differently?

Answer 1

What planet do you live on? Whatever it is, if you haven't seen any racism in the past six years, your planet must not have any black people on it.

Okay, okay, not all racism is visible. Since you're asking this in anthropology, here's the anthropological answer. African-Americans are subjected to what is called "structural racism", where the very way that society is set up limits their opportunities. And so, regarding lonelytraveler's comment: there'd be fewer black people in prison if they had more opportunities to make a living other than freaking crime. Attitudes like lonelytraveler's and up y's are exactly why society contines to nurture structural racism, and why it remains invisible.

Anyway, I'm white and I'll be damned if I don't get MLK Day off. He did something great for people of *all* colors.

Answer 2

it particularly is an pleasing attitude. i'm African American and under no circumstances seen my self better. A 12 months in the past I went to Ghana and it looked as if the Africans there felt a similar way. We were noted as brothers and our divisions did not look to count number. although, i become informed that some Africans actual view African-individuals as inferior, because our ancestors were "weak" adequate to be captured. lower back on topic, i imagine some would imagine themselves better as a results of adverse portrayal of Africa. Africa is continually linked with AIDS, conflict, and so on. in the period in-between, u . s . of america is continually uplifted. for this reason of their concepts, being an African American will be more suitable than purely being African.

Answer 3

Bill Cosby did a great speech about that, now dubbed "The Ghettoesburg Address" - take a look....
http://www.eightcitiesmap.com/transcript_bc.htm

The ones keeping down the black race are blacks themselves. The hip-hop community is full of negative role models, although there are a few good ones. I get sooo sick of hearing about how they don't have the same opportunities as whites. How? Are things supposed to be handed to them, or do they have to go out and create opportunities for themselves like the rest of us? You'll never get anywhere if you play the role of helpless victim for generations.

No one should get MLK day off, just like Columbus Day and all that other stuff. For what reason? MLK's work is witnessed everyday. Can't you see all that he's done to improve the lives of black americans? Sounds like someone who just wanted a day off from work, and if she got it off the whole company should have. See? Again, an example of a black person creating that divide that they complain of by saying that they are entitled to something others are not.

Answer 4

Ok thing first things first Presidents' Day and MLK can not be related. MLK was a person who fought for us to have equal rights, he fought against hatred and biggotry. MLK would never approve of black on black crime or calling anybody of any race by the n-word. ( You should read some more on MLK) Also blacks that use that word towards thier own race are ignorant themselves that is what the n-word means and ignorant person someone who can not understand well. And yes some White people do get nervous around black people and vice-versa that is the way that they were brought up. And some white people do not have rhythm some black people do not either. Ever one wants to be unique while fitting into everyone's perception of popularity. I am not trying to be mean but you really need to read about people like Fredrick Douglass who guess what had slaves to so yes sometimes we do, do it to ourselves. Or read about Harriet Jacobs, Sojourna Truth, Malcolm X....my friend educate yourself before you come to assumptions about what the black race does and does not stand for.

Answer 5

Being treated differently is being treated equally. To recognize and respect the differences is to accept reality. The blacks have just as much or more right to be the way they are. If they are emerging back out to their original nature and it is too hard for you to deal with... perhaps you should not get so in a biff over it and move on.

Answer 6

I would love to answer this question. When I was a Jr in High School we had to write a report in English class. I wrote a 5 page report about being out of school on MLK day but we where not out of school on George Washington day which was the first President of the United States. Now take in mind my teacher was African American, I got a D on my report, my mother and I took that report to the school board asking them to please read this report I did them asked them what kind of grade would they have given me. There was 3 people at that school board that said it was at least B+ to an A. I ended with a B+.So what I am saying is that I do believe that most blacks bring the things that have happen to them on there self. I work with a black woman that works 3 jobs and does not depend on the state to help her support her and her kids so like I said most do bring it on themselves.

Answer 7

Everyone should celebrate MLK day for the simple fact for what Martin Luther King stood for. He believed that all fo mankind is equal and it should not matter what race, color, or creed you are. We all belong to the human race and genetically speaking are all related. Hate accomplishes nothing, we must learn to love one another because we are all one big extended family. I am white and I do my best not to judge people before I get to know them.

Answer 8

You're only 13, as you say. You haven't been out in the real world enough to see the type of racism that still exists; and since you're a white person there will always be some very subtle forms of racism that you'll never see.

This is not intended to seem as a put-down of your young age. Its just a reality.

Many of the performers to whom you refer are comedians, and comedians - of either color - often say things for shock value or that are otherwise not what "regular" people say. You can't go by comedians.

It is very possible that MLK is very meanginful to the co-worker of your mother. If that woman is old enough she remembers how things were before the Civil Rights uprisings of the sixties, and even if it were her mother's generation who lived long enough to live through "before" and "after" it probably means something to her. In many companies employees are given the choice between some of the holidays (such as Columbus Day or MLK Day).

For the six years you refer to that you haven't seen racism you were a child. Very often people do not show racism in front of children, and children do have limited opportunities to the larger world.

Within the last week someone asked a question ("Is the Black race committed to crime..", and I wrote a whole, big, answer to that question.

I know I'm only one person, and chances are I have only a partial understanding of how things have gone on for Black individuals, but if you want to have at least a little broader understanding of why some of what has gone on may have gone on for Black people over the last several decades find that question.

Any time anyone who speaks up to be treated as equals asserts their own personality or culture or other things that may make them stand out in ways from others, someone will say, "Do you want to be treated equally or differently?" The answer to that is that they want to be seen as equals and valued as equals and not to have to live with verbal assaults coming in one form or another WHETHER OR NOT they are different in one or more ways.

There are many, many, people of all races who don't have a shred of bigot in them; but there are people who do. Even as a white person, I have heard and seen racism directed against Black people far more than I ever would have believed I would, having grown up after the 1960's and living in the 2000's.

While you question may be a "legitimate" one to you, it also has a hint of racisim that is coming from a very young person and asks whether Black people have brought racism on themselves. It may, in ways, be a "fair" question in terms of someone's honest wondering if Black people bring it on themselves; but in view of the correct answer to that question, which is "no", you can see how what seemed like a fair question to one young White person could feel very much like unfairness and bigotry to the Black person who has lived with racism in spite of having done nothing whatsoever to bring it on.

Ten years from now (when you'll still be only 23 years old and still very young) you may look back on your question and be amazed that you ever thought that way.

It is very good, though, that you have asked it on here and are interested in hearing other people's opinions.

Answer 9

We should all be treated equally. Regardless of race and whats going on in the world.

Answer 10

I am sick and damn tired of this Afro American crap. I don't go around yelling I'm Norwegian American---we all except the natives of America have came to America from other countries. I also don't sit on my duff and collect welfare and sell drugs or go around shooting people. The prisons are full of blacks and white trash that should tell you something. I have a business where I need lots of help, have tried to be fair and give black people jobs, but they don't like to work. Neither do a lot of white honky trash they like to sit around and collect their welfare benefits, do drugs and get in trouble with the law.