Reverse Racism?

Question

Does anyone else agree that if the black culture can have "Black History Month, Black Entertainment Television" ect ect, there should be a "White history month?" ect ect.?
Why is it even refered to as "reverse racism". Isn't is just plain old racism? Or are white people the only ones who are racist?

As for "every month is white history month". Where do we live again? America. Right. What race is America? White. What country is making these TV shows/Movies/Whatever? America.

Just because black people in the past suffered, does not give them a right to have special treatment now. If they want to be equal, they need to actually show equality.

Does That Look Infected to You?:

Yes you are right, America is not a white race. I just mean that is the majority, so of coarse, the majority of the programs are going to be white.

As well, of coarse it would be silly to have "white history month". Any group of people secluding themselves because of their skin colour is.

There shouldn't be a white history month no less than there should be a black one.

Of coarse it would be good to learn about the different backgrounds of different races. But why make a specific month to do so? Why not just include it with white/asian/indian/whatever history and just call it WORLD HISTORY?

Meshel16:

I have used the black culture as an example. The same is true for all other cultures, it's just more evident between blacks and whites.

I don't have a problem with black people, or any race for that matter. I have a problem with racism from either side.

Answer 1

The United States is a majority White Western nation. Whites are still by far the largest racial group in America at 65%. So most Americans think that White Americans don't need their own groups unlike every minority group. Apparently a lot of people in America think that White Americans should feel guilty about America's racist past, & don't have the right to be proud of their heritage. The terms reverse racism & reverse discrimination are used because when most people think of a racist they think of a White person. We just live in a society where White people are held to a different standard then every other race.

Answer 2

There is really nothing racist about Black History Month or BET. Everyone is invited to participate in Black History Month, and anyone can watch BET. There is nothing racist about people sharing their culture with others. They aren't forcing it on others. They are not benefiting at another group's expense.

For an event or a show to be racist it would need to be exclusionary. Segregation is a perfect example of racism because blacks were excluded from public places and events.

Affirmative action programs have been referred to as "Reverse Racism," because they only benefit particular groups and exclude others. The term "Reverse Racism" is used to describe programs that try to "reverse" the negative effects that racism has had in the past. Sometimes these programs are racist (meaning they benefit a particular race and exclude others) but there are strong arguments to justify theses programs that repair damages done to minorities by malicious racism of the majoritrty.

Black History Month and BET are not examples of reverse racism, however. Not even close. Because everyone is included and that is nice!

BEST ANSWER

Answer 3

I am curious to what the etc, etc, etc is.

Anyway, Although this is America, history books do not have broad topics on Black History. Most of the time, the only time when black history is spoken about and taught is during black history month. You say Black History is racist. Okay, let's get rid of black history month. In place of that, lets have history books and American history that show the history of ALL races. Let's have every chapter in every book give an equal amount of time for ALL races. When that is done, we can abolish any month that deals with any ethnic background.

As far as BET, let's get rid of BET and have all channels equally display all races. Giving them the same amount of time, respect and advertising.


Is it racism? I do not think that is the intent. THe problem was our children were not being taught about the roles that black people played in America. For a long time, we were never shown in a positive light. BET did that for a very long time. Now....they have fell by the wayside.

Even today, can you name five current television shows that portray black people in a positive way? I know that I cannot. Can you thnk of a time that black history was being taught along with American history? I cannot, not even now. So when those things are happening and we have those things, then I can see why it would be a problem.

If you think that true American history is being taught. Ask any 12 year old about inventors, explorers and noteable figures that they have learned about in school, watch their answers.

Answer 4

This is a good question.
I think that it is racism ... not reverse racism. The problem is that in the US, racism has been associated with segregation, and the civil rights movement.

I think that is is important to study black history and celebrate the strides that have been made with regard to equal rights- but I think making a specific black history month, although a way to formalize this study, is self-seperating. Black history, at least where I grew up (In New Jersey) was part of the regular history curriculum. I think that is the way it should be.

I think that a lot of people have been the 'victims' of "reverse" racism, I know that when I was in college I was told that I wouldn' t be welcome at a party that a friend invited me to because I was a honkey. I didn't even know what that meant.

thanks for posting a great question amidst a lot of crap.

Update:

I am not calling it reverse racism. I don't believe in that label. Racism is racism, and I am certainly NOT a racist - in any way or form. Seethew: read my response before calling me racist.

Poster: I retract my comment that it is a good question in lieu of your update. I think that you are coming across as kind of dumb calling America white. The US is no race - caucasian might be the most prominent race right now, but numbers don't define the country. African Americans, Aisan Americans , etc. are as American as white people are.

Another update:
Calling racism racism isn't being racist. being called a honkey by someone who doesn't know me other than the fact that I am white is racist. If I were to refer to an African American in a deragatory way, that would be racist, would it not.
Why can't everyone just respect each other.
I do not see race any differently than hair color, and I said that I think we need to celebrate black history. Please explain how tha makes me a racist.

Seethew: If Honkey is a deragatory term based on someone's race, I don't understand how it is not racist. Racist is not only classifying people as sub-human based on race, but discriminating against them based on race.
I don't understand why you have this idea that I am racist. By your logic, the fact that you are calling me racist makes you racist as well.

Answer 5

There are racist people on all sides, i will say it is unfair that its considered racist if we have an all white baseball team or something, but an all african american team is ok, not saying that we should be able to have all white teams, but why is it ok to have all one race teams other than caucassian. I know plenty of people who are of different races that are very nice and don't care about that kinda stuff much, and then there are a few that blame everything bad on racism or pull the ur being racist card if they get in trouble for something, but there are just as many of any race , or nationality doing the same things or using the same excuses even if in different words. things arent always fair but the key is to learn to live with it as long as it is not life threatening or really really serious.

Answer 6

And why does it bother you so much that Black people honor one another? Black history month is to honor Black people who contributed to society in a positive way. It was not made put down anyone else. It was made to integrate our culture not to segregate. It does not bother me the least when this country's forefathers(who are predominately White) are honored for their contributions to this country. Any race that has contributed to this country in a positive way, need to be honored. The real question is why don't our history books be re-written to include all races that contribute to this country so they won't feel left out? As for BET, it may be the Black Entertainment channel by name but was discovered by John C. Malone who is a White male so where is the reverse racism in that aspect?

Answer 7

I agree with you that "reverse racism" is a stupid and ignorant phrase. Racism is racism.

I disagree with you that there should be a "white" counterpart to everything with a "black" label. You just want a white history month because there's a black one, correct? Do you really feel uneducated about the history of your people? I've run across this mentality too many times. What you fail to realize is: you're NOT a minority. You don't need a special month to celebrate your history, because it's celebrated all year long. You don't need special clubs in your school to bind your culture together, because the majority of the school is comprised of whites. You don't need special "White entertainment" programming because it's on every channel! You really sound like you're a victim or something! Calm down and realize that just because something is labeled as "black" it doesn't mean we're discriminating against whites and being racist. Sometimes it's just good to see and associate with things that are familiar to you.

Answer 8

Anyone can be a racist. The "Black History Month" et al and don't remember "Women's History Month" is because most of history and cultural reference in the United States is from the white male perspective. What would white history month be? Read a history or social sciences book from as little as 50 years ago and you would fine out--it's all from the white perspective, not from the black, native American, women, etc. If you have the money and expertise, you are quite welcome to fund a "White Entertainment Network," but you would be duplicating much of what is already on TV. I don't like some of what is on BET, but I also don't like what is on Fox News and other stations.

Why is it so threatening to learn about other people? I hope you see this in a new light--you can learn a lot rather than feel slighted.

Answer 9

To an extent I agree. But you also have to understand that preety much every major television statioon is white owned. I don't watch BET so I don't know if they do this. But if they excluded whites and expressed public hatred against them, then it is racist. I don't see anything as racist unless it says disparaging things against another race, excludes another race or is encourages violence against another race.

Answer 10

I am tired, but have read your question, and respond very briefly:

1. every month, outside of the designated month of February is white history month. If you honestly think about it, this is true.

2.With respect to BET, you should do a bit of research and analyze what year that network began, and for what purposes. Stations such as MTV and VH1 have historically shown programs/videos gear toward, and portraying, whites. African Americans, believe it or not, need an entertainment source/outlet with which they can identify. This is certainly not represented by MTV, VH!, CBS, NBC, ABC, or Fox network stations..

3.Any no whites are not the only ones who are racist. Surely, African Americans/black/whatever you want to term us, can be racist, as well.

Please do a bit more research and thinking before posting questions like the ones above. Seriously.