I’m not trying to be controversial or anything, but…?

Question

Why is it that whenever a black person says something insulting about a white person, nothing really happens, but when a white person says something about a black person, suddenly it’s national news? Events such as the recent Imus incident (his remarks got him fired) and the Michael Richards incident (which happened a few months ago and resulted in him being banned from the Laugh Factory) have got me thinking: Whatever happened to freedom of speech? I’m sure these people didn’t intend to be racist – all they did was made some stupid, insensitive jokes that got them in BIG trouble. Is it because black people can’t seem to take jokes? Don’t get me wrong, I DO NOT support racism (I’m Asian by the way) of any kind. It’s just that I think it’s so unfair nothing happens when blacks talk about whites, but whites get highly criticized for talking about blacks. What are your opinions on this?

I also find it slightly annoying that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson get involved every time one of these “whites insult blacks” incidents occur. It’s like they’re trying to promote black supremacy or something! One “joke” gone wrong and suddenly the NAACP jumps in =/

Sorry this is long, but I just want to know what are your thoughts on this.

Answer 1

If you accept that there have been a great deal of inequalities between black and white people then you must also accept that things have to change untill they are on a equal footing.
Everytime the oppressed and those discriminated against achieve more freedoms and equalities oppressors loose a little of their priveledges.
Black people were called dispicable names for years by whites and could not answer back for fear of a lynch mob.
So this is simply redressing the balance.

Answer 2

I agree with you totally. I am not a predjudiced individual , but I feel that the race card is played too often. The past is the past and that is the way it should be. Should someone get fired because of telling too many blonde or ethnic jokes? At certain point in time, there have been many ppl or races that have been joked about or persecuted. But yet , one does not hear them complaining if there is an untoward joke or remark. There is injustice every where and every day. There is freedom of speech and if one does not like the material , so do not listen.. don't want to see it? Then don't watch it and so on. There are always going to be jokes and comments that some will not like. That's their choice. That is what freedom is about , to be able to think or say what you want to.

Answer 3

I hear things said about, fat people (are jolly but lazy), blondes( as everyone "knows" are stupid, red heads (quick tempered and feisty in bed), Asians (smarter and more driven), Mexicans (they are either willing to work hard for little pay or kill and rob you for no reason), and tall people are ALWAYS approached with the comment "WOW, did you play basket ball? I bet you were great) [by the way I am over 6' and I hate those comments] But let anyone say anything about AFRICAN AMERICANS and you get the wrath of hell thrown upon you. Slavery is over, has been for years. No one in this era was ever a slave, and they are not owed anything. If there is a race on this continent that deserves anything given BACK to them it is the NATIVE AMERICANS. Everyone else is an immigrant. But you never hear a big stink on the news when an "Indian" gets slurred or wronged, then it is just another ha ha. This civilization is so turned screwball it is ridiculous.

Answer 4

I've been around a long time and the truth of the matter is that freedom of speech was put in to our constitution in order to allow us to disagree with the government without facing jail. I don't think our forefather's ever considered that we might wish to discuss interactions with genitals or refer to each other in filthy nasty terms when they put that in there. I for one, think that some people use the "freedom of speech" just to do what the heck they feel like doing without regard for other's feelings. Re Imus - he's been on the air a long time and he knew what the rules were - it wasn't sharpton or Jackson who fired him - he was fired because sponsors bailed big time. That is the price of capitalism and fee enterprise - if it ain't making money then it is no longer needed. Even if they were trying to promote black supremacy it would be a little hard to do when only l5 % of our population is black. (l9%?) I know it's less than 20-lol. Anyway, I work with children at a Boys & Girls Club in Florida - It amazes me that I have now had to sprinkle my language with "thug" terms in order to communicate with these children. A Little 6 year old back boy told me he had to jack up another child because he messed with him. The other little boy had said - yo mama is so fat -- These people are 6 - six years old - I had never heard the term - Jack somebody up. They speak another language and we don't -- I don't plan to start - I am trying to educate these children to develop good moral charactar - not talk and act like thugs.

Answer 5

Because it's not PC to defend a white person who's been insulted. I'm really torn on this Don Imus thing. I think he's a pompous loud-mouthed jackass and I can't stand him, but I also think that an apology should be enough. Since when does freedom of speech only apply to some people?! And why does forgiveness only seem to be a value for AL Sharpton when it benefits him.

I'm a very pale white girl. If someone called me an "albino ho" I wouldn't love it, but I certainly wouldn't expect them to lose their job. Since when is offending someone a crime? You get offended and then you get over it. That's how life works.

Answer 6

'Tis the million dollar question it seems. I recently tried to engage someone in a conversation about this very thing (saying much the same things you did) and got a not-so-nice-reaction from it all.

I can only come up with one answer......and that is.....*because*......

It is acceptable for some, and not for others......I think that qualifies as being a good old fashioned double standard....and it really does suck....

At this point, it even goes beyond the freedom of speech boundaries.....and thats the rub...it shouldn't.....

So Imus was fired...big F'ing deal......that will in no way, shape or form change his opinion, his meaning, or lack of meaning.....

We, as a society, at least in the United States....have become so race-sensitive, gender-sensitive these days....its gotten totally out of hand that I don't see it changing anytime soon....

If you ever get a chance to watch Whoopi Goldbergs one hour show on BRAVO, check it out.....its very enlightening ;)

Answer 7

I am white:

In my opinion, IMUS did cross the line. But not enough to get fired.

In my opinion, Criss Rock should have been yanked from the stage years ago. I can not even watch his comedy due to the racist coments he makes about his own race! Why aren't Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson complaining about Criss Rock? Maybe this will be my next post.

Every issue has turned out to be a race issue... It is getting pretty sickening.

Rodney King, the man whose vicious beating by members of the Los Angeles police department was caught on video. Mr. King cried out, “Why can’t we all just get along?” .... Police officers were found not guilty for the reason of Mr. King attacking the police officers. A riot broke out in LA?

O.J. Simson aquited from mudering his white ex-wife.... No riot? Racism card was pulled in the trial, and it worked to free a murderer!


Someone mentioned "go read a history book". History is exactly that, HISTORY. Look at our history with Japan... We are now allies with Japan. Japan got over it, and the U.S. got over it!

Long story short, you pull the racist card out, you are the one who is rasist.

Answer 8

I see that more often then not. Unfortunately it's the way it is right now.

At any one time in history every culture has been treated unfairly - from the color of your skin to what you believe in. The older generation holds on to a lot the hate. It's up to the next generation to forget about the hate and move on. There is so much inter marrying that children just arent white or black or latino or asian - mixing is happening more often. Bourndaries are disappearing.

Quite the whinning, - enough is enough...

Answer 9

In the last few decades, Black leaders have found that as long as they can portray African Americans as victims, they can gain money, power, and fame. So when someone slips once, they beat the issue to a pulp because as long as they can fuel the one comment Imus made, they are in the spotlight.

An excellent example is the recent racist beating of three white women in Long Beach, Ca. Three young women were nearly beaten to death on Halloween of last year, and the African American horn blowers, Al Sharpton included, attempted to make those who were convicted of hate-crime assault into the victims of the ordeal. It was really quite sickening when you take into account the extent of the real damage to these young women.

Answer 10

oh its okay for blacks to talk about whites cause remember they were slaves, oh yeah they weren't actually slaves maybe an ancestor was but you know they can still cry about it. never mentioning that they too had slaves. it's not that they cant take a joke they dont have to because they can always pull their race card. its kinda funny how they act like no other ethnic group has had to deal with what they have but in all reality they all have. when the irish came to america they were stoned. yeah and by white people. the only ethnic group that should be able to say anything is the american indians because this is their land and we all took over it.