One of my classes this semester is racial issues... very interesting. I'll probably be sharing many of the issues that come up in class on this thread. If you can't stand the heat in this thread, then get the F out :thumbs: LOL.

My first basic, broad point is the representation of black americans in society. It was stated in class that African Americans make up 13% of our population. Meanwhile, it seems that they represent MUCH more, percentage-wise, of whom is shown in commercials, TV shows, movies, etc. With such a low number of our overall population, why do we over-compensate in everything else?

It's quite simple. The singular identity to which black Americans subscribe and the culture that they produce is endlessly fascinating to the public. We wouldn't see it everywhere if we didn't want to see it.

hmmm but when there was more white people in the media and less black folk, it HAD to be racism.. it COULD NOT be the the idea that perhaps people wanted to see white people on TV? or enjoyed TV shows that happened to have white people on it?

I think you're grasping at straws, Decka.

I think the entire conversation about racial "issues" in entertainment media is somewhat overblown... Like Nappy suggested, the entertainment industry is concerned with appealing to the general populace and making a profit.

Anyways, I think discussions about race-related issues that actually matter would have more of a point than squabbling over percentage of actual population vs. percentage of people on TV. (Who said TV shows were meant to represent some sort of accurate cross section of the entire nation's population?)

Be careful Decka - this sounds like the kind of class where you're going to get in trouble. :)

Maybe when I was younger Lionel.

You see, even if I do have an opinion that might "go against the grain", or be mildly offensive.. I have enough class and taste to keep my trap shut and not piss off people just so I can express my opinion and "right to free speech". It's not worth it, and the fact that I piss people off is a good indication that I should reevaluate myself. Maybe I'll come to the same conclusion, and maybe not. However, I think those who like to shit all over people of religion could sure take notes on how I handle such a delicate issue as far as race in such a class as this.

My teacher does come across with a bit of pro-African American slant.. but can you blame her? She's 60+ years old, and had to put up with all the crap for DECADES. Of course she'll have a different perspective, and it's nice to be reminded of just how bad it was in order to really see how far we've come.

So we are talking about "institutional racism" in my class, and while some of it is warranted, some is also just simple randomness and cause-and-effect.

Our teacher is tying some pretty thin strings. She called any institution that didn't treat rich and poor equally, which is a social class issue, social racism because there are more poor colored people. That's like hitting two birds with one stone for the racial activist groups.

We might as well call hurricane Katrina "natural disaster racism", and a meteor that hits a predominately black community "meteor racism"...

It seems some colored people don't want to let go of racism. They are racist themselves in order to combat racism, which defeats the purpose.

If we were to conduct a dice-rolling experiment, and the colored people represented 1,3, and 5 on the dice, while caucasian represented 2,4, and 6... and we rolled the dice 6 times, if 2,4,or 6 came up 4 out of the 6 shakes, can we just label the dice loaded? Isn't there probability of randomness?

Are we not allowed to be weary of certain CULTURES? If you had a white trash redneck steal from your business, you'd probably be more weary the next time someone looking like that kid came around. Since the inner city african american culture has crime IN IT'S CULTURE.. it's seen as a positive thing or "earning your stripes"... shouldn't we be allowed to not be dumb to the notion? I don't see how that's racist. How we present ourselves and our demeanor very much tells our intentions. It's not an exact science, but let's not play dumb just not to offend people.

Maybe when I was younger Lionel.

You see, even if I do have an opinion that might "go against the grain", or be mildly offensive.. I have enough class and taste to keep my trap shut and not piss off people just so I can express my opinion and "right to free speech". It's not worth it, and the fact that I piss people off is a good indication that I should reevaluate myself. Maybe I'll come to the same conclusion, and maybe not. However, I think those who like to shit all over people of religion could sure take notes on how I handle such a delicate issue as far as race in such a class as this.

My teacher does come across with a bit of pro-African American slant.. but can you blame her? She's 60+ years old, and had to put up with all the crap for DECADES. Of course she'll have a different perspective, and it's nice to be reminded of just how bad it was in order to really see how far we've come.WTF are they teaching you kids these days? You think utilizing your right to free speech is classless and tasteless if you express your opinions and people dont agree with them? To me, your silence equals embarassment. If you're embarassed about your opinions, then I agree you should re-evaluate yourself.

WTF are they teaching you kids these days? You think utilizing your right to free speech is classless and tasteless if you express your opinions and people dont agree with them? To me, your silence equals embarassment. If you're embarassed about your opinions, then I agree you should re-evaluate yourself.
College campuses are rampant with suppression of free speech. We have free speech sections on campus, protesting or speaking anywhere but there(which is an itsy bitsy chunk of land distanced from every classroom or major meeting place on campus). A friend of mine got points taken off a paper for essentially "tastelessness" when he wrote about reasons for the Confederacy. Another friend of mine was ignored by his teacher for the rest of the semester after making statements contrary to what the teacher was claiming. I don't buy "liberal dominated news" but our campuses are full of the worst kinds of democrats. Our administration came *holds up pinched fingers* this close to hunting down and charging a bunch of students with vandalism after a bunch of us loosely associated with the Campus Freethinkers Alliance(if it was directly associated with the club the club most likely would have been banned) scribbled "unwelcome" biblical(and one of Mohammed) quotes in chalk on the sidewalks of campus(that was fun). A week previous Campus Crusade for Christ had done the exact same thing. Fully associated with the club and there was no controversy. A week later the Darfur people did it as well. Also no controversy. We like to selectively pick what speech is okay and what's not.

Our teacher is tying some pretty thin strings. She called any institution that didn't treat rich and poor equally, which is a social class issue, social racism because there are more poor colored people.
Which is typical of the liberal education our kids are subjected to. Pathetic, but typical, nonetheless.

Of course it has nothing to do with making money...it's racism! :rolleyes:

Just outta curiosity, what are you paying for this class???

College campuses are rampant with suppression of free speech. We have free speech sections on campus, protesting or speaking anywhere but there(which is an itsy bitsy chunk of land distanced from every classroom or major meeting place on campus). A friend of mine got points taken off a paper for essentially "tastelessness" when he wrote about reasons for the Confederacy. Another friend of mine was ignored by his teacher for the rest of the semester after making statements contrary to what the teacher was claiming. I don't buy "liberal dominated news" but our campuses are full of the worst kinds of democrats. Our administration came *holds up pinched fingers* this close to hunting down and charging a bunch of students with vandalism after a bunch of us loosely associated with the Campus Freethinkers Alliance(if it was directly associated with the club the club most likely would have been banned) scribbled "unwelcome" biblical(and one of Mohammed) quotes in chalk on the sidewalks of campus(that was fun). A week previous Campus Crusade for Christ had done the exact same thing. Fully associated with the club and there was no controversy. A week later the Darfur people did it as well. Also no controversy. We like to selectively pick what speech is okay and what's not.I'm sorry that things are so bad Blib. None of us may like what each other has to say, but we're all damn well entitled to have the opinions and express them.

Are we not allowed to be weary of certain CULTURES? If you had a white trash redneck steal from your business, you'd probably be more weary the next time someone looking like that kid came around. Since the inner city african american culture has crime IN IT'S CULTURE.. it's seen as a positive thing or "earning your stripes"... shouldn't we be allowed to not be dumb to the notion? I don't see how that's racist. How we present ourselves and our demeanor very much tells our intentions. It's not an exact science, but let's not play dumb just not to offend people.
1. The problem is that those perceptions are extended to people who aren't part of that culture but are just members of that race.

2. The weariness you're talking about only comes into play when someone else's race or culture is involved. When the person in question is a member of your own group you'll see him as an individual, rather than make inferences about his group.

So you aren't allowed to assume anything about anyone? I get told all the time when I first meet people that they think i'm a jock or a "meathead", which suggests drinking massive amounts of alcohol, being dumber than a box of rocks, and playing football. Should I be offended? I'm not, I just prove them wrong by acting normal (for me anyway) and it's pretty clear what I'm all about the first time you meet me.

So you aren't allowed to assume anything about anyone? I get told all the time when I first meet people that they think i'm a jock or a "meathead", which suggests drinking massive amounts of alcohol, being dumber than a box of rocks, and playing football. Should I be offended? I'm not, I just prove them wrong by acting normal (for me anyway) and it's pretty clear what I'm all about the first time you meet me.
If the assumptions that people made about you had serious negative consequences, I guarantee that they would bother you more than they do. Some stereotypes are completely harmless while others are not.

Also, there instances where assumptions made about a group of people only apply to a small portion of that group, which makes such assumptions completely ridiculous.

The weariness you're talking about only comes into play when someone else's race or culture is involved.
It shouldn't. If I was black, and I lived in an all black neighborhood, I'd be scared outta mind. And statistically speaking, I should be.

However, I think those who like to shit all over people of religion could sure take notes on how I handle such a delicate issue as far as race in such a class as this.
Because believing in an otherworldly being that cares about if you honor your father and mother or covet your neighbor's property is the same thing as the color of skin you are born with, and deserves the same respect.

While we're at it, let's talk about how that asshole you worship is so often portrayed as a white man.

While we're at it, let's talk about how that asshole you worship is so often portrayed as a white man.
Pretty low there, Evak. Perhaps you'd be happier if we discussed the asshole you worship. Just outta curiosity, who does it belong to this week?

You, honeybun.

*rawr*

Wtf? Lol

Evak can be disrespectful all he wants. He can purposely try to piss people off all he wants.... He won't drag me down to his level. Have a good day Evak.