Why is there such a us v. them mentality when it comes to blacks and whites?

Question

I know there is distinct line between or so I am told by the media. I have never been around blacks who did not have the same opportunites as me. But when it comes to the media there is a definite distinction I see. Children who are missing and are black are mentioned briefly. But if it is a white child they are usually given a lot more coverage. Then you hear all this stuff about the Sean Bell case. I hear people saying oh its just blacks complaining again. Sometimes I find myself thinking the same way, but thats when I start getting defensive because I feel like it is us v. them. But when I see the Sean Bell's wife/widow sitting there and the fact it could happen anyone, I really start to re-evalaute my thinking. I don't understand why over the last few years I started giving into the generalizations about other races. I guess because I felt people believed the same about me. But thats not the kind of person I want to be.

Answer 1

If you study the history of slavery you will see that there has always been a separation of 'us vs them'. It was required to train slaves that they were below their slavemasters. For over a period of generations there was a systematic deprivation and 'stripping' of the concept of equality. Slaves worked in this country for about 400 years, and have only had free descendants for about 150, so that mentality is not completely dissolved. Until it is dissolved in each person, black and white, America will always be divided.

Also, There has always been, in every culture and society in history, a separation between classes. If you are not as rich as me, or if you do not speak as well as I do, etc.

I believe that America is very systematically racist, but the separation of races and cultures pales in comparison to the separation of classes. Have you ever heard of this, " The rich get rich and the poor get poorer."

America, and this is just MY opinion, was openly made slaves out of everybody who is not rich. Why do I belive this? Because everybody pays taxes except the rich. 95% of Americas are considered poor. So why have Blacks (only 13% of the American population) be slaves when we can have 95% of the population.

Don't get me wrong, I love the benefits of this country; I don't think I could live anywhere else. But I do feel like a (wage) slave when I pay over 20% of my hard earned money to the government.

The racism and news topics are just a smoke screen to get you to be distracted from the truth that you are also a slave. Think about it, if you are black, white, latin, asain, Democrat, Republican, Make 30k, make 130k, make 1.3m,an employee or an employer, you are still in America.

Peace

Answer 2

So good it's worth repeating!!!! "Us white people are always being stigmatized as "inherently" racist, and are constantly blamed for other people's condition In life. While people of other races are constantly bombarded with the propaganda that white people are their "evil" oppressors white people are constantly bombarded with the propaganda that we ourselves must feel guilty about being the alleged oppressors. Unlike many other races ( especially black people) we are never raised from birth that we are an oppressed people. We never have that seared into our consciousness so deep that we end up spending the rest of our lives looking at another race with fear and suspicion, seeing all people of that race as potential racists, discriminators, and oppressors. Looking back on my personal life I am sometimes disappointed with myself seeing as how I could have been so much more than I've become. I try to blame others, my parents, my school teachers, my employers, but I can't blame another race. I can't use the excuse that I'm a victim of institutionalized racism against me because I'm white. No, the only person I can blame is me. I was the one who chose to hang with the wrong crowd and get into trouble. Nobody made that decision for me. I may have had so-called "friends" who pressured me to take the path of self destruction but it was I and only I who made the final choice not them."

Answer 3

It has been like that since the beginning of slavery and it is a part of American history and current events. Blacks (and hispanics and other minorities) have definitely broken through a lot of barriers and will continue to so. But it is a slow process and it goes up to our white-oriented government. I did grow up in a neighborhood where blacks didn't have as many opportunities but that is just one end of the social spectrum. There are many wealthy blacks as well. As long as you don't give into generalizations and believe in what's in your heart and have your own opinions you'll be ok.

Answer 4

Fer real. When a white man shoots up an office its not a white problem...its an AMERICAN problem.

When black gangs terrorize whole cities with violence its not a black problem, especially when suburban kids try to emulate it.

And ALL AMERICANS should be outraged that yet again the NYPD has massacred an UNARMED CITIZEN!!!!

I'm glad you see the error of your past thinking. We all need to band together.

If I am an AMERICAN when dying in wars with you I am an American when being victimized by our government agencies...not a black American.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, in this world of sin and selfishness there will always be "classes" and us vs. them mentality. Blacks who are hightly educated and have alot of money might not seem quiet so black to whites. God made everyone and wants to save everyone. He tells us in His word to love everyone. (That's hard to do sometimes, but He'll help us if we ask Him.)

Answer 6

Because some people are ignorant. Some people are raised that way and thats all they know. There will always be some form of that because people can feel what they want.

Answer 7

because i work in a texas prison and 80% of them are black, population of blacks in USA is 13%, we only have 3 Asians at my unit, if that doesn't tell you something there is something wrong with you or you have your head in the sand, Asians came here with nothing and look at how they are doing in society, just look at Africa and the condition it is in that's another thing they have is all those resources and they are starving, Liberia being a good example richest farm land in the world and we are having to send them food,now that's sad eventually china will progress to be another world power while africa will only survive on handouts, im not racist because of friends or family what makes me racist is facts,another thing that made me racist is when i lost everything to rita my job house and almost everything i owned, i got back on my feet in one month and relocated in houston, these katrina people are jokes they are still receiving aid and still complaining, the city of houston went and paid for seven buses and sent them to the katrina housing division for a job fair and only nine people got on the bus!!

Answer 8

Dumb and under educated