We are in the majority!! We have never been oppressed by anyone for any reason. Yes, Blacks have BET, but we have every other channel on the television station!! What about those channels? I used to think that whites were 'held down' by a 'black world' until I met the love of my life who suffers everyday because of racism. Walking beside her is not exactly walking in her shoes, but it has opened my eyes to something I never wanted to believe until now.
2007-03-07 02:43:45 · 8 answers · asked by thescientist353 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Whenever any group (political, ethic, religious) has had special privileges that were denied to others, it's very difficult to allow others to have those privileges. No group ever gives up power willingly.
This may "feel" like oppression, though it is not.
One of the reasons it "feels" like oppression (to some) is that they are not persuaded by reason or humanity or compassion, and they have to be forced to extend equal rights and privileges to others. They experience this as a loss. And they blame those others whom they have been forced to treat as equals.
Another aspect of this is that for a long time, when WASPS were the privileged group in America that others were trying to get acceptance from, most of the "out group" folks tried very hard to emulate the WASPS, to become like them, in their efforts to gain the same rights and privileges.
That has changed, and people of other ethnic (and religious, for that matter) groups have declared that they have no intention of becoming WASP-like in order to be full citizens.
Over on the Religion and Spirituality board there was a person criticizing Black churches because of all the singing and clapping. This person apparently thinks that in order to be "Godly", the congregation has to be quiet. I guess there are still white people who think that African Americans need to be just like WASPS in order to be acceptable. (Obviously this person hasn't been to any white "Holiness" churches, which are full of shouting and drama).
Now, to be completely honest, I am most comfortable around African Americans who have not adopted the "hip hop" culture as being the defining culture for themselves. But then, I'm 51...and married to an African American who isn't "hip hop".
But you know, this brings up another, but related matter, that my hubby and I have talked about. What exactly IS "white culture"? For a long time in this country, Italians weren't "white" in terms of being part of the accepted and privileged elite, nor Irish, nor Slavs...and the cultures of these various "white" people are very different.
I think that for the sake of clarity, we ought to be using the term WASP when that's what we mean. I'm a second-generation "white" American, and I find that my own cultural values are pretty disparate from a lot of "white" folks whose families have been here for generation upon generation.
But I do understand what you are saying. In most areas of life, I am accorded certain attitudes (like that I'm trustworthy, like I won't shoplift, like that I'm an upright member of society) purely based on the low pigment in my skin, which through much of this country African Americans are not; nor Hispanics, nor Middle Easterners.
2007-03-07 03:32:49 · answer #1 · answered by Praise Singer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just about every group has suffered oppression at some point in history because whites haven't had complete power from the beginning of time. White slavery existed long ago, and perhaps black slavery seems worse because it has happened very recently, and we learn a lot more about it in school. However, not every individual within each group has suffered oppression, and whites can't be in the majority forever. The love of your life is one person; she can't account for every person in her race. In the same way, it would be illogical to say that all whites are racists just because you meet one who is (I know you didn't say that, I'm just using an example). You may see a different perspective now that you are with the woman you love, but don't forget everything you experienced and learned before you met her.
2007-03-07 03:14:13 · answer #2 · answered by Persephone 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you waiting for that pat on the back? Get over yourself and your "superior" race thing. Who cares what color the majority is? The problem is that so long as people focus on color, there will forever be racism. Maybe if you walked by the love of your life and was proud just to have that person in your life, color wouldn't be your main focus. Thank you.
2007-03-07 02:50:03 · answer #3 · answered by cookie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you heard of the Jews. They are white and guess what. Oppressed in most of the world. Maybe you should think about World War two. So yes some Caucasian people are oppressed.
2007-03-07 02:49:43 · answer #4 · answered by sweet cheeks 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
What the white people who claim to be oppressed mean is "We are losing our special status, soon everyone will have the same rights as we had, and they will be enforced, Waaaaaaaaa!"
Oh, by the way to the young lady who says Jews are white, Jews are by origin Semitic, from the middle east, not white.
2007-03-07 02:53:25 · answer #5 · answered by Black Dragon 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
White people like to act black
2007-03-07 02:46:40 · answer #6 · answered by silentbob 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
affirmative action is oppression, we are not oppressed just yet but give it time at the rate the blacks breed we will be the minority in no time!
2007-03-08 19:11:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What the hell are you talking about?
2007-03-07 02:55:28 · answer #8 · answered by mikey 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋