ARE BLACKS NOW ONLY GETTING BY BECAUSE WE'RE BLACK? (white people are encouraged to answer)?

Question

Nowadays, it seems that whenever black people don't get something, the first thing we do is scream "racism!" Then we march and boycott and sing and all that crap....seems to me that lately, black people are always winning awards, getting promotions, and gaining political power....

To me, it's because white people are afraid we'll cry racism if we're ever denied anything...it's like they're afraid to make us lose in anything because they don't want to get sued or something...I mean...was "Hard Out There For A Pimp" really Oscar-worthy???? Or did they only win because we would've marched and boycotted.....what do you all think of this issue?

Answer 1

You're not black LOL!!

Answer 2

well, for one thing, I don't know ANYONE who would have marched, boycotted, or protested if "hard out there" did not win an Oscar. Us Black people WERE upset when films like Malcolm X didn't win any academy awards and many great Black films have not even been nominated. It has only been recently that Black films and actors began getting recognition and that was AFTER the NAACP and others began protesting the lack of Black faces on TV and in films. Even more important though is the lack of Black faces( and other faces of color) in political offices and positions of power. Before Obama (the only Black in the Senate) took office there had been only 5 black Senators in two hundred plus years with no black in the Senate since 1999. Our advances have come from years of hard fought struggle and not simply becuase whites are afraid "we'll cry racism".

Answer 3

I do not agree.... I am a black woman in a white collar job, the only black woman in the head office, there are 2-3 black guys I've seen about and none of us got here by using the race card. There where other white people at the interview and I did not get the job because of the co lour of my skin. A black person in the western world means you have to work twice as hard as a white person for a promotion usually and people have embraced this and do what they have to do to get there. If they work twice as hard and exceed the criteria, and a white man does just enough and gets the promotion, would we not be right to point out injustice? or do we just sit back and keep working like slaves?

Racism still exists but in a different way... equality is coming in slowly but surely and for this to happen, people have to be cautious and create opportunities for black people.... political power for instance/awards .... if conscious effort is not put into this, the black man would not have as much as a chance.

I know there are people who sit back and blame their misfortune on racism.. these are people with the slave mentality which is dominant in some parts of America and the some of the black British but there are a MAJORITY of black people that need just ONE opportunity to chase their dreams and when they reap the fruit of their hard labor, it would be unfair to say they did it because of the co lour of their skin!!

Answer 4

I think it's patronizing and insulting to give black people awards and promotions etc just because they're black, but maybe we're in a time of transition and these things need to be done at first to even the score a little. I know what you're saying, but I do think it will become less like this in the future. The same could be said about women and sexism. As women and black people fill more positions of power, there will be less of a need to do such things.

Answer 5

Blacks are not "getting by" per say due to their race, however there is a stereotype out there that is definitely glorified and embraced in the Black community. I remember growing when I was younger and the "Gangsta Rap" was just becoming popular. Coming from a high school that had one black person in it, it was reasonable to assume that this was a common culture. What could you expect? Of course later came the "East Coast vs West Coast" bullshit and the "Big Pimpin". It is my opinion (and I could be wrong), but it seems to me like the Black community use these "trends" to dictate their lifestyle. It is no secret that Black trends are easily marketable.

It does get frustrating whenever the race card gets called. It's definitley abused. Equality cannot be acheived through redemption. Racism has happened, and will continue ot happen, however the issue will sustain itself as long as other races choose to segregate themselves, especially by portraying themselves as gangsta's and pimps. It's laughable, but in all seriousness it's not funny. He whole thing with Tupac, he embraced violence, he glorified it and made millions promoting it. I'm sure in "real life" he was a nice enough guy, probably totally different persona (as most rap artists are) in his personal life than his professional life. Now he's dead and he's considered a martyr of sorts in the black community. Is this what you have to look up to?

No offence to the Black community, but if my kids heroes were determined by the number of bullets they took, I'd be pretty pissed (and race has nothing to do with it).

I think it's important for Blacks to honour their history and know where they came from. You do not need Black history month to do this. In all fairness, you are right on some aspects. If whites were to initiate white history month, or the United Caucasion College Fund the Black community would be screaming racism. Even though there are plenty of historical figures whites can be proud of, and there are many white students that can't afford college.

It's important to remember your history, but just remember that it IS history.

Cheers.

PS - question for Lamonica. Are you insinuating that lack of education, incarceration rates, poverty and so on rest on the shoulders of the white community? I think that statement itself exemplifies what this original question was about.

Answer 6

In my world and my workplace, I have seen black people who are succeeding due to their own strengths, merits and ability. I have also seen black people getting let go on the job for not caring. I have also seen the same with ALL other people. Perhaps back in the '70's and '80's due to affirmative action, whites became angry when companies had to hire a black person over a white person, whether better qualified or not in order to keep up their "quota". This was manadated by the government. Nowdays it looks as though equality has caught up. In the case of using the so-called "race card" to get what you want, this will always be around as people tend to want to blame someone for their failure to achieve. Remember, this so-called "race card" still goes both ways, ie; whites blame blacks for getting the job due to affirmative action not ability and blacks blame whites for getting the job because their white. It's all part of the HUMAN condition. Maybe a person who takes advantage of their race could be called "getting by", but a person black or otherwise who is educated, qualified, expressing positive energy regarding the workplace will do more than "get by", they will continue to grow and move up. I just don't agree that the greater percent of black people use racism to merely "get by".

Answer 7

What you're talking about is called 'positive discrimination'. Which in my book is still discrimination, but it goes on everywhere. Public enterprises in the UK are obliged to engage in it; for example certain sectors MUST employ x percentage of disabled/black people regardless of qualifications or suitability. The idea behind it is to force acceptance of our supposed universal equality in future generations because by that time everybody, regardless of capability, will be proportionally represented in industry and everywhere else. As a result, by that time we'll all be in such a morass of mediocrity that it won't matter anyway.

Personally I believe in meritocracy as opposed to the politically correct mediocracy this kind of thing is steering us towards. With all due respect, if I was a fighter pilot, I'd still rather have a bloke protecting my blind spot than a girl, especially seeing how my own girlfriend drives. Having said that, I'd rather a girl looked after my kids than a bloke. Horses for courses, or so they say. if it's still legal to say it.

Answer 8

People in general are afraid of being called racist. There are so many out there that no matter what color they are want everything for nothing and if you open your mouth your a racist. Example: My grandson came home after his mothers week end visitaion which the court allows her to have twice a month. He was using the N word. I asked him if he knew what that meant and he discribed a black person. That is what mom said. I said that was not correct and that he should not use that word to discribe black peoples. I told him in our home an N is anyone no matter weather thatey are white, black, purple with green spots who wants everything for nothing and is dirty,lazy, uneducated, etc. and has no pride in themselves or anything else. Being 5 he says to me "Even if they are blue with orange spots?" I said yes if they are worthless to themselves and their brothers and sisters in life then yes. I do not know if this will stick with him but, it is so much better than the norm for what the word is used for which I personally find offensive. Please note I am Irish, Scottish, and Cherokee Indian, my grandson due to his mom's back ground is a hienz 57. But, ya gotta love the little fat guy he can really keep things interesting.

Of course this is just my train of thought. In conclusion, I have been over looked for jobs because I am not of black or hispanic back ground and do not speak spanish. Is that right, no, is it real life, yes.

Answer 9

I think you right to a certain degree. Racism is one of the touchiest subjects right now especially in America. I'm not racist but I've been called racist before and it doesn't sit well with me. Of course, I pity people who are worse off than me and there is no color attached to that pity. But I wouldn't give them special treatment because of it. It's my opinion that pity can only get you so far and to truly make something of yourself you have to work for it. But I also know that some white people are afraid to to be called racist and they'll do whatever it takes to have that stain removed from their reputation. It's quite sad.

Answer 10

I am only half black and I find that what you are saying to be, although embarrassing, the truth!! We have brothers and sisters in positions of authority because of their skin color and not for their abilities. It is a bit disconcerting to think that this is what it's come down to. We battle to prove our worth and instead of excelling we are handed something for free, just to keep our mouths shut! I don't want anything for free! If I don't earn it, than it belongs to the person who 'DID' earn it, I don't care what their skin color is!
Now, don't get me wrong, there are those who have worked hard and deserve the positions they have acquired! But, lately, I'm finding that the minority has been given a piece of the cake and didn't help bake it!
I am proud of who I am, but to be perfectly honest, that pride is beginning to fade a bit! Skin color has nothing to do with who I am and what I can do or not do. This is something our race has been fighting for since the beginning! So why would we want to degrade ourselves by taking something that really isn't ours! It just proves to others that we really aren't part of the equality we fight and preach about every day!
I fight with my Mother about this because she believes that because of who I am I deserve to have it, no matter what. Well, I want it because it is something I strive to have! It is something I worked hard for and surpassed all others in this same area! I want to be seen as a person with a knowledge of what I do, not a person who got there because of my race!
Like I said, we fight for equality, but really all we want is to stand back and watch everyone back the cake. When the cake is done we step forward and snag a piece because we think we have a right to it!
I don't want it! I want what I deserve and I want what I worked for. The rewards are much sweeter and the feeling of success is just!
My opinion!

Answer 11

I think it depends on the situtation. Most black people who are earning respect are doing so because of hard work, and they completely deserve what they have been given. Sometimes though, I think select people will blame their own shortcomings on racism, when it is really that they are lazy.