What is it that black people stand for...?

Question

that caucasions (or any other ethinicity, for that matter) don't stand for? What does it mean to be 'black and proud' in contrast to being 'caucasion and proud' or 'latino and proud' or 'asian and proud'?
I don't understand. What does one ethnicity have to be proud about over every other ethnicity? Are we to promote our accomplishments as a species based on our ethnicity? I think that way of thinking is small and simple and is one of the causes of the ongoing global animosity people have towards one another. (Along with religion, of course. Nothing is worse than religion.)
If you're proud of YOUR ethnicity and think you deserve special treatment, you're a RACIST, plain and simple.
Barack Obama's wife said her husband, AS A BLACK MAN, could get shot going to the gas station. What? Noone else could get shot going to the gas station? Anybody remember the 'Beltway Sniper'? Hmm..I think what she said was racist. Anybody?

caramelsundae21:
I did not give you a thumbs downs.
Here's the skinny:
Why are people proud of something that they had ABSOLUTELY NO SAY IN (Place of birth, date of birth, who your parents are/were, your ethnicity)? These ARE NOT accomplishments! Why are people proud of them? I don't understand.
If you want to view some people who have accomplishments to be proud of, check this site out: http://www.invent.org/
And, yes, what Mrs. Obama said was racist. She implied that EVERY/ANY black man could get shot going to the gas station. How could you not see the generalization of her statement?
Btw, I know that African people were the VERY FIRST human beings. They led the way for humanity. So, relax a bit. I'm just asking questions.

T J:
What are you talking about? I never at all implied that any ethnicity was superior over any other. Plus, your post reveals to me that you think SMALL and SIMPLE just as most other people in the world do. I didn't mention the USA or AFRICA (or slavery). I'm speaking of the history of the human race, not just America's history. Educate yourself, open your mind and know that I realize the atrocities that have been committed by our predecessors. (Which I had nothing to do with.) Their actions are what have led us to our current states of mind on topics such as these.
Relax.

sweet_jemise:
How do you know what I know and don't know? Why are you assuming that I don't understand what's happened and what's currently happening? How do I know who you are and that you KNOW anything substantial? Are you assuming that we're not on the same side in our quest for equal treatment for ALL? Do you think I'm racist or something? My mulatto wife would beg to differ. Of the time I entertain company, I prefer to spend the majority of it with black people because they're not as pretentious as caucasions. Nonetheless, the mind-state of requiring respect or consideration due to one's skin color is superficial behavior (NO MATTER WHO"S DOING IT).
As for your statement "black people should be proud of what they are": Well? What are black people? I say they're human beings. As are latinos, orientals and caucasions.
The purpose of this question was to achieve some sort of insight on other's thoughts on the subject. I see now how simple-minded people still are. Just like Mrs. O.

Answer 1

Lets take this step by step....

The term Black and proud is derived from James Brown in the 1960's song "say it loud, Im black and I'm proud" It was also a term used by the Black Panther Party in the 1970's to fight black oppression. We black people are trying to show our race is just as equal as the white, latino and asian race. We are trying to say that black people should be proud of what they are instead of being ashamed and then doing crazy sh!t to be something else, like dye their hair blond or lighten their skin.

secondly, i saw what ms. Obama said and i agree, u have people that are watching Barak Obama right now and they are mad because he is running for president. Have you heard that hirstory repeats itself twice? Look what they did to Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. The former shot in front of a motel room, the Latter shot right in front of his own house. She did not say that to be racist, but to prove that America has not changed since the 60's even though they "claim" to have changed...


give me a break,... give black people a break too. And the sniper was black yes, but the ones earlier were white so u need to quit. u know the unibomber? and the current one who is sending bombs in the mail? and what about the one who killed mlk, jfk, malcolm x?

im sick of these questions.. go read ur history book, im not even from the US and i know more than u do.

Answer 2

She may have meant that in the context of Black people catching a hard time simply because of the color of their skin. You wouldn't be able to see it unless you were a person of color who has experienced that--that includes other ethnicities as well. You may not have experienced people following you around the store because the clerk thinks you're going to steal something (like I have). However, your understanding of the "I'm black and I'm proud" statement refers to the response to the racist comments or stereotypes put on black people over the years. Black people, and others, have had stigmas and generalizations that they didn't earn individually put onto them as expectations. Some racist people insist that all black people are loud, start fights, and/or steal. Some people think that all or most blacks are uneducated and refuse to work. Now, I know that isn't true, but sometimes a black person (or person of color) may feel the need to address all of what they are. That may include education, a good heart, and being black. Some may say that to be proud of your race is to put down others, but I see it as an acknowledgement that this person (whoever it may be) may have had some troubles to get the things he/she has earned, and some of those troubles may be due to different treatment because of their race. I don't think that it's meant as a rating scale of who is better, just that they are not ashamed of all that they are.

Answer 3

While you make some valid points on everyone being proud of their ethnicity. But, it's not saying to be proud over another race (I've see more White Power, White Pride spread throughout the news than anything else) but to just be proud.

The term to be black and proud relates directly to the fact that for years blacks, especially black men, could not walk down the street and look a white man in the eye. He had to gaze down or look away as if he were subordinate. They were considered inferior in intelligence and character. Black history wasn't even taught in schools...to blacks or whites! Black females were considered ugly because we didn't have straight hair, blue eyes, or long, narrow noses and black women's features are sought after by many of today's caucasian counterparts.

Through self discovery, blacks learned that they have much to be proud. Their ancestors may have come here as slaves, but many proved their intellect, talent, skills in science, industry, education, politics. We are descendants of kings and queens long portrayed as white (Cleopatra, Nefratiti, Hannibal, etc.)

So to be be black and proud is to take pride in your heritage and shake off the lies that have long been passed along to keep the African American down. No one is asking for special treatment only EQUAL treatment.

Mrs. Obama was in error to say that her husband could shot just going to the gas station, she should have said that if that station had been robbed-he'd have been looked at a lot harder than most. I mean, let's be real...blacks and Hispanics routinely get pulled over far more often and usually it's for simply the color of their skin. You can argue that so do young white males but not by the disportionate amount of black males (old and young). My husband and I were driving back from dropping my daughter off at school after a holiday break, we drove through this small town where many affluent whites live. We were pulled over because according to the policeman, my husband didn't signal when he changed lanes. He asked for both our IDs (I wasn't driving) and kept us there for a good 15 minutes 'checking' only to let us go without a ticket. Now my husband is one of those drivers who ALWAYS uses his turn signals...in fact he gets after me because I don't. And has said many a time, that that's the first thing people get pulled over for-("improper lane change") so I knew he'd used his signal. And if he was sooooo guilty why not give him a ticket? And why did you need my ID when I wasn't behind the wheel, there was no open containers in the car or anythign else to cause any type of suspicion. The only thing we did was DWB.

Answer 4

Dude,

It's easy for people like you to ignorantly ignore certain facts..

Like the hundreds of years of black slavery.. like the massive AIDS and disease epidemic wiping out upto 30% of the African population as we speak.. like the fact that some 50% of all black men go to prison in the USA in their lives.. and that the life expectancy of blacks is lower than whites.. in some places MUCH lower.. you also ignore the fact that black communities in America have been built into urban ghettos.. and that in those communities there is often 10 liquor stores and a dozen gun stores..

Finally.. you neglect the fact that black people as a whole are known to have the worst opportuniites of any race in USA and that the prison system is FULL of black men and women..

I think Barack makes a fair point! Coz a black man who gets up.. SHOULD be proud.. because unlike caucasians the black man has had MANY MANY more obstacles.. and has rarely been given the opportunity to grow the way Barack has.. he gets my vote 100%

Answer 5

I think you need to pump your brakes. Unfortunately, black and hispanics are more likely to get shot than whites. That's not racist at all. How is saying your race is more likely to get shot saying you think your race is superior?? *scratches head* If that comment is what has your all freaked out, that's silly. Nothing in that comment was racist.

People can be proud of their culture, no doubt. Blacks can be proud of their African, Haitian, Dominican, etc. cultures, Hispanics can be proud of their culture and whites can be proud of their European culture. Not necessarily meaning being proud because of the hue of the skin, but the traditions, richness, history, contributions, etc. of your specific culture. That's not racist.

The only time something become racist is when someone says their ethnicity is superior. That's what racist means.

Answer 6

Yes, in any homogeneous society, any individual special might stand out. If you're involved approximately status out then I might endorse that you simply pass someplace extra numerous just like the United Kingdom. My pal, who's black, went to Japan for a semester and loved the cultural change and embraced it. You simply ought to be all set for the change in tradition.

Answer 7

You are absolutely right. Very well put. I have often wondered the same thing but could not have expressed myself as you have done. This happens all the time. Three black guys can call a white guy a silly white dude, but if you get three white guys calling a black guy anything but an African American, if you even call him black, they will freak out and call you a racist. Why don't the blacks realize that they are racist?

Answer 8

well i'm asian and proud and mostly bc our race has the least sweatglands (least smelly) and also we are genetically born with higher IQ's than other races. other than that we have cool martial arts and don't use the greek alphabet like other boring languages. but yes i think that his wife is a nut. and i think all races have something unique to offer. does this make me racist? i doubt it. i don't think asians deserve special treatment, i am just proud of some things we are known for. does this make me racist too? probably not

Answer 9

im mexican awww no comment i dont care about all that in my eyes everyone is the same. the stereo types are never gonna end and racist people are never gonna leave so ummm i just worry about my self and treat every one equal

Answer 10

Thank you...I couldn't have put it better myself...I don't understand why ethinicity is even a issue when there are so many other qualities that separate each of us and make us stand out...I don't think the color of one's skin or their heritage should ever play a part in what other people think or say about that person. And I agree with your assessment of Mrs. Obama's statement.