Do some whites feel guilty over past wrongs against blacks and try to give leeway to blacks as a result?

Question

Is it true that sometimes a white person will be treated rudely by a black cashier at a fast food restaurant and not complain about it because they feel that blacks have a right to be that way? Is it true that sometimes, if a black co-worker raises his voice to a white person, the white person will let it go since he believes that black people have a right to be angry? Is it true that there have been times when black people have threatened white people with violence and the white person did not report the incident since he thought that black people have been treated so unfairly in the past that they should be given some leeway? What is the name of this phenomenon, if it exists? Is there a related phenomenon called "white guilt"? Is it true that some white people feel guilty for past wrongs committed against blacks? Do they fear that black people might ge angry and give them leeway as a result?

Answer 1

Some people may feel that way, but you should only feel guilty about YOUR negative thoughts and actions. As a black man I DO NOT want you to treat me any differently then you would someone else (good or bad). Your guilt,fear or anger WILL show in your actions, and cause the reaction that you want to avoid. If I am good,smile if I am bad then get upset. Do not feel a black jerk is worse then a white jerk. As long as you feel there is a difference, then your actions will always be less productive than they could have been.

Answer 2

I truly treat everyone the same. I'll give them a chance to be nice and treat them with respect. If they give me respect and treat me well, I'll continue to do the same. If they (any skin color) treat me badly, I'll let them know how I feel and point it out to them.

I had nothing to do with slavery, beatings, or any other kind of mistreatment in the past, so I don't feel bad about it. It may be a different story if I was one of those people that sat by idly and watched while others were mistreated, but that is not the case.

I feel bad that slavery, mistreatment, and discrimination occurred at all in the past, however, I think that it would be even worse if I treated blacks, Asians, women, or any other group that was discriminated against with special treatment or felt sorry for them. The best I can do now is treat everyone with equal respect.

Answer 3

Given that these two candidates are really not very different from one another politically or policy-wise - what then becomes the deciding factor? In these circumstances, what is wrong with an affinity-based decision? Nothing at all. Now if Obama were manifestly unqualified and was still getting 90% of the black vote, then there may be an issue. When Obama ran against Keyes for the seante seat he now occupies he won in a landslide. Both are black. I think black voters are capable of voting for the candidate that will best serve thier needs.

Answer 4

i sure don't . i am willing to give a black person the same respect as any other person . not more . as for the past wrongs first off they were not alive when this happened nor was i. let not the sins of the father be visited on the son.
blacks need to see plainly that they are responsible for themselves . in Toronto in the last 15 years the number of gun crimes has gone up so high . it used to be front page news any time a shooting took place. now its a bit on the news.,
i hear them say there was a shooting in Toronto and i can bet i will see a black person is involved . if someone would take me on the bets would be rich.

Answer 5

No! where is your logic to assume that? Events that happened before people were born does not mean that they have to atone personally for it! If your a coloured person, and your ancestors suffered under the whites, that does not mean that you did! You could have had a real good time growing up, yet still using your 'suppressed coloureds' stance when it suited you! Have a good day.

Answer 6

i feel guilty for being white. My great grandmother was Cherokee and married a Welshman. I have heard stories of them being spit on in the street and other unmentionable stories. Its embarrassing to think.
I don't ,however withhold any blame toward individuals who treat others badly. I don't care what race they are as i do not treat others bad because of the same.

Answer 7

I am half native Amer. and 62 yrs. young and should I feel guilty over wrongs done to others before I was born-NO and don't. My people are still being mistreated and I don't hear any out cry about that.
There maybe some folks out there that feel as you have written but only a few.

Answer 8

Absolutely not! There's no excuse for such behaviour, regardless of race, culture, religion etc.

I don't feel guilty for anything...I personally did no wrong to anyone else...black, white or brindle.

Live and let live.

Answer 9

most of that is true. most people that are both black and white are still a whole bunch of morons. its not just blacks.i am white yes, but one of my best friends is racist and my other best friend is black and he wasn't racist (as you can see he was my friend) and my friend that was white was making some pretty nasty comments untill i said, excuse me but that is one of my best friends your talking about, now if it was your friend and white should i feel any different? ------ so what i'm saying is not all people are dumb and not all whites are innocent. why don't we just be on stitches side?! he's flippin blue for god sake LOL

Answer 10

Some do, yes. I don't - I don't feel that I can be held responsible for something that was completely beyond my control because I hadn't even been born yet.