@No:
your town is only little bit smaller, than the one I come from. You have some pretty interesting archeology there.
@No:
your town is only little bit smaller, than the one I come from. You have some pretty interesting archeology there.
I have a question for any black users. Do you find the term "mulatto" insulting to mixed race individuals?
@Foxy:
I have a question for any black users. Do you find the term "mulatto" insulting to mixed race individuals?
I don't know if that's a question a black person could answer. It's more of a question a mixed person in general could answer. I've never been called a mulatto, nor have I heard any of my peers call or be referred to as such
@Foxy:
I have a question for any black users. Do you find the term "mulatto" insulting to mixed race individuals?
I'm mixed (black/white) and I usually don't really mind it. I've been called it a few times but never with the intention of an insult. It really depends on how and in what context people use it and everyone that said it meant it just as another word for "mixed race".
Even if it were used as an insult though, I'd barely get offended. It's just old fashioned, rare and barely has negative connotations like "nigger" has.
@Foxy:
I have a question for any black users. Do you find the term "mulatto" insulting to mixed race individuals?
I've been referred to as such, but I giggle internally because I think Millanos. Because I'm always hungry. Also isn't mulatto a coffee term? Any food or food sounding terms for people just come off as silly to me. I can't take it as seriously. It certainly doesn't sound harsh like most of the racial slurs.
Back when slavery was in full gear in the American South, white masters would buy their slaves from the auction block and then assign them tasks to do (this applies more for the wealthy plantation owners, since most slave owners 'only' had a slave or two; however, most slaves were owned by the relatively few). To decide who would work in the house and who would work in the field, they would use what is called the paper bag test: if you were lighter than the paper bag, you got to work in the house, if darker, then in the fields. The house slaves were treated much better, obviously. If the master had any children by any of the slaves, they would probably work in the house too and were also likely lighter skinned. Not only is just being in the house a much nicer place than working out in the fields, many of these house slaves would learn to read and write and eventually become free, either by buying their way or being granted freedom by their ex-master.
Of course, there were many blacks who had been freed as far back as prior to the American Revolution, and they would often intermarry, usually black men and white women. French Creoles down in Louisiana had prospered under French and Spanish rule and many were property owners. Like the above group, these people too would often intermarry.
After the conclusion of the Civil War, all existing slaves were freed (hence, freedmen). The majority of these freedmen were darker-skinned; the already freed were proud of the ability to read and write and their wealth and really resented being lumped in with freedmen. So they would begin excluding darker-skinned blacks, assuming them to be freedmen, from their social gatherings, often using the paper bag test to do so, hence "paper bag parties".
So then you fast forward to today, and I think I'll just quote the Wikipedia article on colorism here, since, holy hell:
! The light to dark hierarchy within the African American race is one that has existed since the time of slavery, but its problems and consequences are still very evident and lead to various stereotypes. Darker skinned blacks are more likely to have negative relationships with the police, less likely to have higher education or income levels, and less likely to hold public office. Darker skinned people are also considered less intelligent, less desirable in women mostly, and are overall seen as inferior to lighter-skinned people.[29]
! Studies have shown that when measuring education and family income, there is a positive sloping curve as the skin of families gets lighter. This does not prove that darker skinned people are discriminated against, but it provides insight as to why these statistics are recurring. Lighter skinned people tend to have higher social standing, more positive social networks, and more opportunities to succeed than those of a darker persuasion. Scientists believe this advantage is due to not only to their ancestors' benefits, but also to skin color. In criminal sentencing, medium to dark-skinned African Americans are likely to receive sentences 2.6 years longer than those of whites or light-skinned African Americans, and when a white victim is involved, those with more "black" features are likely to receive a much more severe punishment, reinforcing the idea that those of lighter complexion are of more "value."[29]
! The perception of beauty can be influenced by racial stereotypes about skin color; the African American journalist Jill Nelson wrote that "to be both prettiest and black was impossible"[30] and elaborated:
! > As a girl and young woman, hair, body, and color were society's trinity in determining female beauty and identity, the cultural and value-laden gang of three that formed the boundaries and determined the extent of women's visibility, influence, and importance. For the most part, they still are. We learn as girls that in ways both subtle and obvious, personal and political, our value as females is largely determined by how we look. As we enter womanhood, the pervasive power of this trinity is demonstrated again and again in how we are treated by the men we meet, the men we work for, the men who wield power, how we treat each other and, most of all, ourselves. For black women, the domination of physical aspects of beauty in women's definition and value render us invisible, partially erased, or obsessed, sometimes for a lifetime, since most of us lack the major talismans of Western beauty. Black women find themselves involved in a lifelong effort to self-define in a culture that provides them no positive reflection.[30]
! The media is responsible for influencing beliefs regarding ideas of beauty in the African American community. Mass media productions often perpetuate discrimination based on skin color.[31] African Americans possessing lighter skin complexion and “European features,” such as lighter eyes, and smaller noses and lips have more opportunities in the media industry.[31] For example, film producers hire lighter-skinned African Americans more often, television producers choose lighter skinned cast members, and magazine editors choose African American models that resemble European features.[32] As a result, the media industry sends the messages that African Americans with Eurocentric features are more likely to be accepted, diminishing the status of darker-skinned African Americans.[31]
! In regards to the magazine industry, African American women are rarely showcased in the most popular magazines.[31] Therefore, African American girls have difficultly identifying with the models showcased in these magazines, because they do not represent the type of women that they come into contact with in their own communities.[31] There are also biases towards Caucasians in the advertisements used in these magazines.[31] Recent studies have indicated that the number of racially biased advertisements in magazines have increased over the years. A content analysis conducted by Scott and Neptune (1997) shows that less than one percent of advertisements in major magazines featured African American models.[33] When African Americans did appear in advertisements they were mainly portrayed as athletes, entertainers or unskilled laborers.[33] In addition, seventy percent of the advertisements that features animal print included African American women.[33] Animal print reinforces the stereotypes that African Americans are animalistic in nature, sexually active, less educated, have lower income, and extremely concerned with personal appearances.[33]
! Concerning African American males in the media, darker skinned men are more likely to be portrayed as violent or more threatening, influencing the public perception of African American men.[27] Since dark-skinned males are more likely to be linked to crime and misconduct, many people develop preconceived notions about the characteristics of black men.[27] Through extreme gangster rap music, reality crime shows, and newscasts, crime has been defined by contemporary media and given a black face despite statistics that paint a different picture.[34] For example, cocaine use has been found to be higher among whites, but African Americans are the dominant figures seen on crime shows such as Cops.[34]
! The negative public perception of darker-skinned African American places them at a disadvantage in other aspects of society, such as the workforce.[35] Skin color plays a significant role in the acceptance of African Americans in the workforce and can even hold more importance than an individual's credentials and ability.[35] For example, hiring managers generally have a different perception of a light-skinned African American female applicant, compared to a dark-skinned female applicant.[35] Light-skinned African American women were found to have higher salaries than dark-skinned women, and light-skinned women were more satisfied with their jobs in regards to pay and advancement opportunities.[35] Researchers have also termed dark-skinned women as being in a “triple-jeopardy” situation because all three aspects of their identity—their gender, race and skin-tone—can have negative and harmful implications on occupational opportunities and overall feelings of competency.[36]
! Despite exclusion and bias, the media has made an attempt to correct some of the negative images of African Americans.[31] Examples of shows in which African Americans have been positively portrayed in the past include The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air[dubious – discuss] and A Different World.[31] In addition, new television specials such as Black Girl's Rock and My Black is Beautiful highlight African American men and women for their contributions to society.[31] Overall, these media changes have helped to provide a unique and more accurate representation of black culture in the twenty-first century.[31] Television networks such as Centric and TV One and magazines such as Essence and Ebony play a major role in portraying African Americans in a more positive light than they have been portrayed in the past.[31]
South Africa during apartheid had its own version of this, the pencil test, that would distinguish Blacks from Coloureds (people of mixed ancestry). Essentially, they stuck a pencil in your hair; if it stayed, you were classified as Black. If it slipped out, you were Coloured. And people preferred to be classified as Coloured since you didn't get as many rights stripped away, although being classified as White was the most advantageous. I remember reading Mandela's autobiography, and he talks of a man that was classified as Black but appealed to be classified as Coloured. The judge told him to take off his shirt and turn around. And then he reclassified him as Coloured after noting the slope of his shoulders. :getlost:
I'm mixed (black/white) and I usually don't really mind it. I've been called it a few times but never with the intention of an insult. It really depends on how and in what context people use it and everyone that said it meant it just as another word for "mixed race".
Even if it were used as an insult though, I'd barely get offended. It's just old fashioned, rare and barely has negative connotations like "nigger" has.
That's interesting. I kind of figured that mixed-race individuals don't mind it, even many Mexicans don't mind being called "Mestizo" which comes from the same set of racial colonial terms as "Mulatto."
My mom once told me that all black women have to wear wigs, LOL.
I was like 21 when i first realized that it was common to wear wigs.
I always figured they just straightened it out with one of those curler thingies.
Any food or food sounding terms for people just come off as silly to me. I can't take it as seriously. 't
I always thought choclate vanilla swirl sounded super cute.
One thing that really weirds me out is how almost every other immigrant groups in my country hates somalians. It's like they attended a conference and acheived a consensus. Could that be a colourism thing prehaps?
@wolfwoof:
I was like 21 when i first realized that it was common to wear wigs.
I always figured they just straightened it out with one of those curler thingies.
I always thought choclate vanilla swirl sounded super cute.
One thing that really weirds me out is how almost every other immigrant groups in my country hates somalians. It's like they attended a conference and acheived a consensus. Could that be a colourism thing prehaps?
I don't know. I don't have much experience encountering Somalians except when I was a kid. They lived down the street, they cooked a pig in a hole in the backyard of a house they rented, wore flip flops and shorts all year round, all of them massively large. I would guess maybe it's a social status thing rather than color of skin though.
@No:
He wasn't black (considering I've only seen a black person twice in real life)
No joke, Europe creeped me out because of this lol.
"where are the black people, where are they, everyone everyone everyone is white, moreover why is everyone whiter than me, what is this plaaaaaceeeee"
I'm not 100% sure, but a lot of Europeans seem to fear muslim influence. Does this go back to the Ottoman days?
@Foxy:
I'm not 100% sure, but a lot of Europeans seem to fear muslim influence. Does this go back to the Ottoman days?
I recently heard that they fear it because a few places have had a muslim immigration influx and they come and try to change the state of things. Typically not in a positive manner. I wish I could find the thread, but I'm hazy on what site I read it at.
@Foxy:
I'm not 100% sure, but a lot of Europeans seem to fear muslim influence. Does this go back to the Ottoman days?
No, it's just their version of when Americans freak out about Mexicans.
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Typically not in a positive manner. I wish I could find the thread, but I'm hazy on what site I read it at.
From what lot I've read, and what little I've seen. This goes both ways.
Europe doesn't really know what the hell it's doing on the topic of immigration culture.
Alright, I've sat back and had my sadistic fun for long enough, time to weigh in with some responses. Though I am happy with how this thread is progressing.
It seems a bit contrary though since the fact that we can make them more than that means they can be more than just words or clothing. Words, clothing, and many other material can become symbols that can stand for different ideologies that affect people whether they want it to affect them or not.
My thought on this is that the minute something becomes a symbol, it is no longer what it, in its creation, was. Now, if something was created for the sole purpose of hatred, then yes, there's no getting around that, and that is where I am mostly wrong in my belief. But those types of things are few and far between when compared to the number of racist words and objects that were adopted.
@CCC:
Why would someone angrily call a black man "n-word," as in "Hey you fucking n-word get off my lawn!" Doesn't that sound a bit absurd?
(Fair note, I'm also going to be using my response to you as an elaboration on my point as a whole)
He wouldn't. It was more of an example to illustrate my point that racism lies in the intent. Say this hypothetical man did do this, do you think the target of his anger would be an less insulted? Yes, "n-word" is PC, but at what point does PC become a problem? (That's an entirely different argument and one I would love to have, but we'll shelve it for now.) Everyone knows that the "N-word" is nigger. That's all anyone thinks when they hear n-word. Thus, the question is: at what point does it become just a way for white people to say nigger without feeling guilt or fear that they might get in trouble?
Here's a hypothetical. Say Don Imus goes on a rant and calls a group of black people "niggers." Now an anchor reporting on the situation will say "Don Imus referred to a group of African-Americans and the N-Word today on his radio show." Tell me how that, if read the exact same way, is any different than this: "Don Imus referred to a group of African-Americans as
Niggers" on his radio show today." Both sentences will impart the exact same meaning into a listener's mind, but the latter will get the anchor in trouble, if not fired, even if there's no ill will and it's a straight up report on what happened.
This is what I mean when I saw words are just words. If we as a society really wanted to, we would not harp on the hypothetical anchor from example 2. But we all know that's not the case. So many people will throw a fit. The only thing that can change that is time, which is why I wish I could see what society is like 100-200 years from now.
Also, my argument for it being okay to wear a KKK hood is non-existant. Why I think those kids weren't racist, they are dumbasses who should know better.
Here's a hypothetical:
If I am going down an alley and suddenly a group of african american (and/or) latino folks appear at the other side, would it be racist of me if I turned around and went back the other way?
Just to be fair, let us say they were a bit rough around the edges in appearance
Let's say they were white, would you still turn around? If so, then you ain't racist. I not, then I don't know. Maybe.
I'll agree with CCC here and expand a bit. Maybe the N-word is just the N-word to some, but for the time being, it evokes terrible things and with good reason. Same with other slurs. I don't like it when people go "hey, it's just a word," especially when I get the feeling the person saying that hasn't been at the receiving end of words like "gook" (to use an example of what happened to me the other day; and words like "cracker" or "honky" really don't have the same force behind them as other slurs). When someone yells a slur at you, they're not just attacking you. They're attacking you, your family, your community, and saying "you're not worth my fucking time, all you [preferred slur] are the fucking same." I mean, you have every right to say what you want and the other person has every right to call you on your bullshit.
I myself have been on the side of racist hate. I've been called a wop, a guinea, a dego….just about every Italian slur in the book. When my best friends call me those I've got no issue, when this asshole on campus who doesn't like the review I gave his precious art film calls me one of those things I get furious. For the moment. Then I realize he's an ignorant piece of shit and I do my best to ignore his taunts.
Granted, most will assume that "nigger" carries much more weight than anything you could ever call an Italian-American, and I would probably agree, but a slur us a slur, and prejudice is prejudice no matter who it's directed at. Even calling a white person you hate a "Cracker" is still racism.
@Cyan:
Al Jolson is the only time when black face is in any way tasteful.
What makes Jolson more tasteful? And does that equate to less racist? Jolson himself was definitely not a racist, so does that make him performing in black face okay? These are the kinds of answers I was looking for when I created this thread.
–-------------
Since I saw them mentioned I wanted to ask: if you see someone with a confederate flag, do you automatically assume their racist?
Honest answer: yes.
@Nex:
Here's a hypothetical. Say Don Imus goes on a rant and calls a group of black people "niggers." Now an anchor reporting on the situation will say "Don Imus referred to a group of African-Americans and the N-Word today on his radio show." Tell me how that, if read the exact same way, is any different than this: "Don Imus referred to a group of African-Americans as
Niggers" on his radio show today." Both sentences will impart the exact same meaning into a listener's mind, but the latter will get the anchor in trouble, if not fired, even if there's no ill will and it's a straight up report on what happened.
Of course I agree that that anchor shouldn't be fired. As I said, there should be no problem discussing the word academically or in cases where the word itself and the problems with it are the focus of the news story. But then it just becomes an argument about the FCC and Standards and Practices, which are rarely tuned in to reality…
...Even there, though, one could argue that it wouldn't be good if a child young enough to not understand the academic nature of the discussion were flipping through channels and "accidentally" heard the anchor saying it. In fact, I think that would be the censorship groups' argument in the first place. It's always going to be a balancing issue when you're talking about censorship of the media.
You can't convince me that the kids who wore KKK outfits for racially-related reasons to a hockey game aren't racist though. Racism and dumbassery are not mutually exclusive, certainly not by the time kids get to high school and know enough about the implications of groups like the KKK to know how upset such an act would make people.
I hate how the term "African-American" is used only for Black Americans. Are people so ignorant that they think Black is the only race in Africa?
What about Berbers, Egyptians, or Afrikaans? They are also "African-American" despite being White.
@Foxy:
I hate how the term "African-American" is used only for Black Americans. Are people so ignorant that they think Black is the only race in Africa?
What about Berbers, Egyptians, or Afrikaans? They are also "African-American" despite being White.
Thank you.
You have no idea how much that irritates me.
@Foxy:
I'm not 100% sure, but a lot of Europeans seem to fear muslim influence. Does this go back to the Ottoman days?
its down to the possibility of one day being under sharia law through legitimate voting.
@Foxy:
I hate how the term "African-American" is used only for Black Americans. Are people so ignorant that they think Black is the only race in Africa?
What about Berbers, Egyptians, or Afrikaans? They are also "African-American" despite being White.
My dad's Egyptian. He finds this kind of interesting. Most other Egyptians I know put "African-American" on forms that ask for race when filling them out, even if they're skin is white. Because well. They're African. And they're American.
(Since I'm also half Italian-American on my mom's side, I usually put Multi-racial down. Or just check both African-American and Caucasian, when "mixed race" isn't an option. Which I assume may confuse some people.)
Related: I had a friend back in high school. He's black. Referred to him as African-American. But, He's Jamaican. But he's black. So. I assume it may be awkward for him to fill out those forms, considering simply "Black" isn't usually an option.
There's typically the "Other" category.
@Foxy:
What about Berbers, Egyptians, or Afrikaans? They are also "African-American" despite being White.
Afrikaaners are descendents of dutch settlers, it would be like calling me ethnically American like I'm a Sioux or something. The Afrikaaners started settling in the 1600's, so plenty of people had been colonizing the Americas by that point (possibly even including a smidgeon of my English ancestery).
Also aside from some Algerians I don't think there's many people who would think of North Africans as white. They're not black either but still.
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its down to the possibility of one day being under sharia law through legitimate voting.
Try and run a new [groundless](http://nobigotry.facinghistory.org/sites/nobigotry.facinghistory.org/files/anti-catholic-lg thomas nast 1900 reptiles-2 smaller.jpg) paranoia by us Europe. Still waiting on that.
Unless you guys forgot to get a constitution or some sort of foundational documents forbidding that sort of thing, that isn't even possible lol.
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@Badass:
Related: I had a friend back in high school. He's black. Referred to him as African-American. But, He's Jamaican. But he's black. So. I assume it may be awkward for him to fill out those forms, considering simply "Black" isn't usually an option.
Black people from the Caribbean are Africans too… :l
The slave trade went lots more places than the US.
@Nex:
I myself have been on the side of racist hate. I've been called a wop, a guinea, a dego….just about every Italian slur in the book. When my best friends call me those I've got no issue, when this asshole on campus who doesn't like the review I gave his precious art film calls me one of those things I get furious. For the moment. Then I realize he's an ignorant piece of shit and I do my best to ignore his taunts.
Wait there's still anti-Italian racism alive in the US? lol, that's some surreal shit for a Northeasterner to hear.
Fuck man, get the hell out Texas and come up here. You won't EVER hear that again, I can assure you that much.
@Monkey:
Wait there's still anti-Italian racism alive in the US? lol, that's some surreal shit for a Northeasterner to hear.
Fuck man, get the hell out Texas and come up here. You won't EVER hear that again, I can assure you that much.
I blame the Jersey Shore. Or people that identify themselves as guidos.
I blame the Jersey Shore. Or people that identify themselves as guidos.
Like I mean, good natured ribbing from friends isn't what I mean.
Like out and out hostile slur stuff like Nex described. I really can't conceive of that still existing, but the South has a way of being 30+ years behind the times I guess.
@Monkey:
Like I mean, good natured ribbing from friends isn't what I mean.
Like out and out hostile slur stuff like Nex described. I really can't conceive of that still existing, but the South has a way of being 30+ years behind the times I guess.
Ah yeah. That seems very bizarre to me too. I'm not so great at history and stuff so trying to figure out the origins of Italian hate is something beyond me.
Ah yeah. That seems very bizarre to me too. I'm not so great at history and stuff so trying to figure out the origins of Italian hate is something beyond me.
-Catholic
-off-white looking many of them
-Mafia
-Louder more social culture
-were poor and urban at first
You know that video MasterKingJC uploaded?
Found this gem of a comment
Of course I'm racist, you retarded idiot. Blacks stink, are pig shit ugly, lazy, stupid, and are parasites with foul breaths. Why would I be anything else but racist. Japs think the same. They've told me many times. Unlike me, they are just too polite to state it publicly.
Now fuck off and go play on the freeway, moron.
I'm so infuriated right now I'm not even phased. Like, I'm so angry that I know going ape shit would just do nothing at all.
Of course, he was responding to me, lmfao. Removed my comments just to make him look worse.
Don't tell me you don't have a desire to go to another country and kill some of it's people. We all have this basic instinct within ourselves to kill the lesser creatures.
and there's that, too, also towards me. And somehow I feel there are more racists there than there are sane people.
Arguing/getting riled about youtube comments is really like banging your head against a brick wall, if that brick wall were made of 14-year old racists, misogynists, and homophobes. That's seriously the part of the internet where the half of the population that is stupider than average has made camp.
It may very well be that there are more racists than "sane" people in the world, given the number of ignorant people who live in relatively homogeneous, non-immigrant societies (or even in immigrant societies where the presence of those immigrants rustles the jimmies of the racists). Liberalistic acceptance of all races, cultures, and creeds is a relatively modern phenomenon that hasn't even been fully accomplished by the most "progressive" first world countries. But that really just makes it that much more important to keep fighting the good fight wherever and however we can… except in youtube comments because fuck that shit.
I would guess maybe it's a social status thing rather than color of skin though.
Yeah i suppose. It's just weird how muslims, young and old, rich or poor. They all dislike them. It's kinda surreal how it's the one unifying thing.@Foxy:
I'm not 100% sure, but a lot of Europeans seem to fear muslim influence. Does this go back to the Ottoman days?
I recently heard that they fear it because a few places have had a muslim immigration influx and they come and try to change the state of things. Typically not in a positive manner. I wish I could find the thread, but I'm hazy on what site I read it at.
Depends really. Varies with by which strand of islam were talking bout.Mostly it's just a whole fuck ton of cultural clashing.
I believe the US Census considers people from the Middle East and northern Africa (including the Maghreb) to be white, even though they're not really considered such by most Americans.
I'm not too fond of the title African American. I've never been nor have I ever associated myself with Africa. Both of my black parents have never been to Africa. During my relationship with an African woman and stepping inside "her world" from time to time, a lot of Africans don't take too fondly to Blacks in general. They surely love to make the distinction between us and them. Many of them think we're wayward, stupid, and filthy.
I also find it funny that a man like Elon Musk is a true African American, and there are black people that I've encountered that get mad when they are refereed to as Black instead of AA. Which brings me to why I hate Afrocentricism. It's nothing but an attempted escape to hide your feelings of inferiority. I don't need Africa to confirm my identity.
@CCC:
You can't convince me that the kids who wore KKK outfits for racially-related reasons to a hockey game aren't racist though. Racism and dumbassery are not mutually exclusive, certainly not by the time kids get to high school and know enough about the implications of groups like the KKK to know how upset such an act would make people.
Since we seem to agree on everything else that's pertinent to this discussion, I'll just address this.
Call it me giving them the benefit of the doubt. If they have a history of racism then it's different. If this is their first time, of course they could still be racist, but they probably just heard the phrase "white-out" and figured it would be a clever and offensive joke. They probably thought it to be along the lines of a rape joke. Shocking, offensive, funny. Except, just like 99% of rape jokes, it wasn't funny.
@Monkey:
Wait there's still anti-Italian racism alive in the US? lol, that's some surreal shit for a Northeasterner to hear.
Fuck man, get the hell out Texas and come up here. You won't EVER hear that again, I can assure you that much.
It shocked me as well. I've only ever been on the side of it twice in my life. The example I used was a student on my college campus who I feel like looked up Italian slurs just so he had something to throw at me.
The other time we had just moved to Texas, I was close to 10, and one of the families a couple houses down the street was Sicilian. Old Sicilian. During one one of the Euro's we had a lot of our family over to watch a match. We were loud, there were cars everywhere. Suddenly there was a banging on the door. We opened it to find the tiny, frail grandfather from the Sicilian house. He just started hurling insults at us in English and Sicilian. That was they day I learned that there were slurs for Italians.
It's quite the fun memory.
You know that video MasterKingJC uploaded?
Found this gem of a comment
I'm so infuriated right now I'm not even phased. Like, I'm so angry that I know going ape shit would just do nothing at all.
Of course, he was responding to me, lmfao. Removed my comments just to make him look worse.
and there's that, too, also towards me. And somehow I feel there are more racists there than there are sane people.
That's one of the things about the internet.
Stupid kids who don't know any better because they're anonymous and don't have to worry about getting in trouble. lol
Some are just trolls, some are actually bigoted, or both.
You just gotta ignore the idiots, because they usually flock to those type of videos.
Racism… Where do I start?
First, you know that it's out of control in your home country when anyone not from there is mostly referred as 'immy'. The Finnish internet culture openly despises any not-Finn and if you make the mistake to defend them, God help you! Even my little brother has been talking about "niggers". At least mom put a stop to it.
Unfortunately (and I mean that) I can't say that it's completely without reason tough. Our unemployment percentage has been really high especially after the worldwide depression and every working-capable immigrant is competition in labor market. And since we have very advanced social welfare, we also have to finance any unemployed immigrant's living. While I understand that we native Finns might be reserved to immigrants because of that and it might even be a reason to limit immigration a little, it's definitely not an excuse to any hate posts on internet.
Another issue with our immigration is that Middle Eastern and African immigrants apparently have high sexual assault rates. I don't have accurate percentages, but they are apparently quite big compared to the few percent of them that even live in Finland. It might of course simply be that it is easier for Finnish women to report a rape made by an immigrant than a native Finn, since we do have terrible laws regarding sexual violence, but I'm not completely sure. It's hard to make your own mind since every source of information either downplays it for or exaggerates against immigrants.
@Light:
Racism… Where do I start?
First, you know that it's out of control in your home country when anyone not from there is mostly referred as 'immy'. The Finnish internet culture openly despises any not-Finn and if you make the mistake to defend them, God help you! Even my little brother has been talking about "niggers". At least mom put a stop to it.
I would imagine a people who had no written language, documented states, or much in the way of history before being colonized by an invading Christian power would have more sympathy with Africa (many of whom had more than that lol) but I guess not.
I'm not too fond of the title African American. I've never been nor have I ever associated myself with Africa. Both of my black parents have never been to Africa. During my relationship with an African woman and stepping inside "her world" from time to time, a lot of Africans don't take too fondly to Blacks in general. They surely love to make the distinction between us and them. Many of them think we're wayward, stupid, and filthy.
I also find it funny that a man like Elon Musk is a true African American, and there are black people that I've encountered that get mad when they are refereed to as Black instead of AA. Which brings me to why I hate Afrocentricism. It's nothing but an attempted escape to hide your feelings of inferiority. I don't need Africa to confirm my identity.
I just find calling a black person "black" to be…rude? It strikes me the same way, the same negative way, as calling them "colored". African-American just sounds more polite to me, a more polite way to address a person of black skin color.
If the person would prefer me to call them black then I will, by all-means. But unless they tell me otherwise, if I had to address them by race, I'd address them as an African-American.
Heck... Maybe I should call black people ebony instead. Though that sounds quite sensual. lol
@The:
I just find calling a black person "black" to be…rude?
sheltered it is lol
@The:
I just find calling a black person "black" to be…rude?
And I suppose calling a caucasian person "white" is rude too ?
Also yeah, it's totally rude if it's the word of choice of Malcolm X apparently.
Nigger, that world almost defines racism, I am not sure when that word became so offensive and meanful. I guess aroun 50-100 years ago it was much more neutral world used to deciphter black coloured people but in modern times it is an grave insult, a political and social suicide in better circles.
I don't use it even when my friends and some relatives use it by daily basis when they descripe black people, in finnish nigger or negro is 'neekeri' what is even more offensive sounding in common language.
Place where I am employed is a department what has majority of people there a black persons, first and second generation immigrants from primarily Nigeria and Kenia, I am quite fond of few of them and since main language we use in that department is english we have had some nice chats on weekly basis, they are however quite isolated since most of my co-workers dont speak english that well and some of them are quite racist towards them even when they are actually quite nice and sincere people, they sometimes question me why I am so nice towards them but their prejustice and ignorance is ill founded since they are quite nice inviduals.
There is alarming hostility in finnish people against immigrants and gays, of course I dont mean to generalise anyone but there is alot of ignorance and even plain hatred against these groups, specially their malice against gays is very puzzling for me because I cannot simply understand basis of their hate, my dad openly despises gay people in his ignorance and I have yet to find any sensible reason for such bigotry.
I really dont care what color or sexuality person has, its his personal matter and what really matter to me is he nice person to hang around…
@No:
And I suppose calling a caucasian person "white" is rude too ?
Also yeah, it's totally rude if it's the word of choice of Malcolm X apparently.
I can see what you're saying…
It's just...when I hear "black boy" (or black girl) used in a sentence, it makes me squirm a little. It just seems so dirty, rude, and 'out of place'. Like someone's preparing to lynch someone.
@The:
I just find calling a black person "black" to be…rude? It strikes me the same way, the same negative way, as calling them "colored". African-American just sounds more polite to me, a more polite way to address a person of black skin color.
If the person would prefer me to call them black then I will, by all-means. But unless they tell me otherwise, if I had to address them by race, I'd address them as an African-American.
Heck... Maybe I should call black people ebony instead. Though that sounds quite sensual. lol
Many white people probably feel the same way. I remember when I was at a public outing, a white woman was having conversation with her friend and had referred to a gentlemen they just met. "Which one was Rick, the black one?" and then when she noticed my presence from that point forward she once again referred to the gentlemen; however this time she said African American… as if it were offensive to say black.
Laughingman, as long as you aren't saying negro, nigger, or colored then you should be fine. In fact, the more white people get used to saying Black American or Black, the quicker we can banish the misuse of the title AA altogether.
@The:
I can see what you're saying…
It's just...when I hear "black boy" (or black girl) used in a sentence, it makes me squirm a little. It just seems so dirty, rude, and 'out of place'. Like someone's preparing to lynch someone.
Why ?
Because this sorta thing is what excesive political corectness thrives on, and the only result is retarded restrictions/changes to things that don't need changing simply cause someone somewhere may possibly be horribly, life-scaringly offended if you don't, and don't make the change universal.
Kinda like how even on the internet people have to cover their ass when they want to say "Merry Christmass" in that they have to add an aditional five religious holidays to the list so no one in the audience will feel that somehow the fact that a person is reffering to an ongoing holiday in an online video in passing, that they are secretly trying to destroy their religion through subversive propaganda.
I agree with No Ma'am. It's not hard to differentiate between what's offensive and what isn't. In the case in which we don't (here's bringing up the point you guys made earlier) is when communication should be important. Now some black people will be mad if you refer to them as Black instead of AA, but honestly forget them. As a young black man I can assure you that many of my peers have said the words "I'm Black. I'm not African. Therefore I'm not an African American".
Reminds me of a Russell Peters sketch where he's talking about being in a casino.
"And I went to play blackjack - sorry - African American jack."
goes off to watch some Russell Peters on youtube
@The:
I can see what you're saying…
It's just...when I hear "black boy" (or black girl) used in a sentence, it makes me squirm a little. It just seems so dirty, rude, and 'out of place'. Like someone's preparing to lynch someone.
That's how people actually talk. People don't say "African American", they say "that guy was black", "black dude" or whatever context calls for.
And yeah, I mean black people say that, and hispanics and everyone.
I agree with No Ma'am. It's not hard to differentiate between what's offensive and what isn't. In the case in which we don't (here's bringing up the point you guys made earlier) is when communication should be important. Now some black people will be mad if you refer to them as Black instead of AA, but honestly forget them. As a young black man I can assure you that many of my peers have said the words "I'm Black. I'm not African. Therefore I'm not an African American".
You've been generalizing a lot. There are tons of black people who do feel ties to Africa regardless of whether they've been there or not because, it's the only real cultural ties they have that aren't connected with oppression. I guarantee you that as many people as you can find that say "I'm Black" will say "I'm African" especially among older generations. There is no consensus though, and there never has been, and there probably never will be.
You've been generalizing a lot. There are tons of black people who do feel ties to Africa regardless of whether they've been there or not because, it's the only real cultural ties they have that aren't connected with oppression. I guarantee you that as many people as you can find that say "I'm Black" will say "I'm African" especially among older generations. There is no consensus though, and there never has been, and there probably never will be.
Nah I'm not generalizing, because I've stated numerous times that there are Blacks that both want to be referred as AA and like to associate themselves with Africa
Nah I'm not generalizing, because I've stated numerous times that there are Blacks that both want to be referred as AA and like to associate themselves with Africa
Maybe generalizing isn't the right word, but you've definitely decided on this thread that African American is wrong and black is right.
"the quicker we can banish the misuse of the title AA altogether"
"Now some black people will be mad if you refer to them as Black instead of AA, but honestly forget them"
You clearly aren't fond of the term, which is fine, but it's here to stay. I really don't think it's misused either tbh….
and about this: "Which brings me to why I hate Afrocentricism. It's nothing but an attempted escape to hide your feelings of inferiority. I don't need Africa to confirm my identity."
I'm of the opinion that there are legitimate problems of inferiority, especially in youth, that ties back to Africa can solve. Can you really say that it never phased you in school when everyone but you and other black kids had a way to identify with a home country or group? It definitely affected me, and though I didn't see it as inferiority back then, I see that mindset for that now.
And really, Afrocentrism is more than that. It's a response to racism and a real lack of any good kind of history in the U.S. it's definitely not just an escape from inferiority. I'm comfortable with using the phrase generalize with your judgment of the ideology.
edit: By the way, it's clearly not perfect and is bad history for the most part, but it's not what you claim it is. And I don't think those adhering to the term African American need to be linked with all of afrocentrism's ideals.
Nah I'm not generalizing, because I've stated numerous times that there are Blacks that both want to be referred as AA and like to associate themselves with Africa
I'm not sure what your big allergy is to looking up your roots and having interest in where you're from.
It's not specifically a black thing, name one group who doesn't play that game (aside from natives of course).
@Monkey:
I would imagine a people who had no written language, documented states, or much in the way of history before being colonized by an invading Christian power would have more sympathy with Africa (many of whom had more than that lol) but I guess not.
People barely remember what happend last week. Much less a millenium ago
There is alarming hostility in finnish people against immigrants and gays, of course I dont mean to generalise anyone but there is alot of ignorance and even plain hatred against these groups, specially their malice against gays is very puzzling for me because I cannot simply understand basis of their hate, my dad openly despises gay people in his ignorance and I have yet to find any sensible reason for such bigotry.
They're worried of what will become of their beloved Sauna lol
@cooldud_21:
Reminds me of a Russell Peters sketch where he's talking about being in a casino.
"And I went to play blackjack - sorry - African American jack."
goes off to watch some Russell Peters on youtube
Russell Peters is probably one of the three funniest stand-up comedians on the planet
He's up there with Dylan Moran and Dave Chapelle.
The whole atmosphere at his shows were everyone can just come together and laugh at themselves. It's just wonderful.
Nah I'm not generalizing, because I've stated numerous times that there are Blacks that both want to be referred as AA and like to associate themselves with Africa
I usually prefer to refer people by names in order to avoid troubles. Racism is pretty much the lack of individual criteria.
People seem to be oversensitive to racism nowadays. Calling RE5 racist because you are shooting africans is beyond retarded. I played the game and I don't feel like becoming racist cause its just a game. Racism and violence have existed back before games were even created. I would have raised the red flag if the game stated things like "black people are all inferior and stupid, the N word and so on."