deejay8595
my posts are "MEH"
Truth!
The realities of being a black male in America.
- Thread starter Slayven
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Truth!
I think you might mean well Jango, in your 'just let go of it' approach to eliminating race as a dividing subject in the world, but this mentality really isn't as helpful as you might think. "Let it go" is easy when there's nothing to let go of. And an actual racist person loves this line of thinking from those around them. It makes their prejudiced actions that much easier when people turn a blind eye to it.
In addition, it is much bigger than passing a person in the street. That's the point. From the business world to the education world to the community you live in to relationships...it's because you only get one chance at this life that a person wants to do everything they can to stop those things that would adversely effect it.
I understand the extremes you are probably trying to counter. But it's not necessarily about ____ people evil, ______ people good; that's not true, and it's about much more than that.
You don't sound black?
Vermillion
Banned
Bwahaha. This one I've heard. From others and my family.
I've also been called boojie by some black dude because I didn't roll down the window so he could yell some shit at this random chick.
Ah. Good times.
I understand that. I'm also a very laid back person.
But yeah, it's just that in some cases if you don't take precautions in certain areas based on popular stupid stereotypes, you are asking for trouble.
It's like driving without a seat belt.
TheKaeptain
Banned
The one thing I have always noticed is when one of my fellow white people say "_____ speaks well" it is always aimed at a black person.
They don't without permission, that is why they ask.
About acting like a n*gga though...
Getting pulled over, and asked "IS THIS YOUR CAR?" while driving...non n*ggaish..way. With my seat in a non n&ggaish position, in a honda civic value package model... I mean.. what could be done differently at that point?
The police officer just wanted to know if I was driving a stolen car. For some reason....
Getting pulled over, and asked "IS THIS YOUR CAR?" while driving...non n*ggaish..way. With my seat in a non n&ggaish position, in a honda civic value package model... I mean.. what could be done differently at that point?
The police officer just wanted to know if I was driving a stolen car. For some reason....
Urban Scholar
Member
You know I heard someone almost say this...I laughed it off. I got angry and then it passed
Devolution
Member
Those who think of (not saying this has to be malicious mind you) certain people as public property. You ever run into those types who say or think something like "oh wow black people are amusing" as if they're mere puppets for their amusement? Same kind of thinking.
I still get it from time to time.
Devolution
Member
Any of you been called oreos or Urkels? =/
Alligatorjandro
Banned
Being discriminated sucks.
soundahfekz
Member
I really appreciate your clear and candid honesty. It would make life easier if people were as humble as you were with this post.
Welcome to my life!
But yeah, either people say that to me face to face or someone tells me that another person said that "He isn't like the others..." when talking about me.
In some ways in can be taken as a compliment but for the most part it's obvious close mindedness.
I still remember going to lunch with a couple of friends from work. We sat down at a table (fast food) next to the table occupied by an elderly white couple. The woman stared at one of my friends like she had never seen a black person before. They then decided to get up and fucking move to another table! That was one of the most fucked up things I've seen in my life.
CrazyDogg77
Member
All the time. Try being the nerdy,well-spoken,well-read black kid.
Never been called "Urkel", but "oreo" yes. Many times.
Vermillion
Banned
Hah. My roommate told me that when he first saw me, he was scared. Thought I was an OG or something. Then he later grouped me as nonthreatening, and white on the inside. Later just raceless, lol. I am strange indeed...
Unfortunately, the threatening only seems to fool white people who don't know me... not other black people, sadly.
shadyspace
Banned
You are a white person.
Black Republican
Member
funny enough no, guess i got lucky
then again i was born and grew up in South East London so..
Italy,. 2010. First trip in EU.
My lady and I befriend a couple from England.
At dinner, the ladies go to the bathroom. Its just the english chap and I at the table.
He leans over, and says "Will, do you mind if I ask you something kinda personal?" (We are a few drinks in, but not too many.) I say sure.
He asks if Its possible for me to get sunburn.
bonus:
First meal prepared for me, in Tuscanny, was the chefs choice. Fried chicken..
Urban Scholar
Member
Because it happens with alarming frequency.
You know how there are people in the thread that keep saying "stop bringing race into it?"
Now imagine being black, and every time you met a new person, they brought up the fact that you are black in some capacity, whether it's talking about how well you speak [for a black person], or how your hair feels like a poodle and they want to pet it. You know, like people pet furry animals.
It's a constant reminder that, to them, you are not "Normal." You're different - "The Other" - and they have to remind you of it because they don't know any better. And you're expected to deal with it because, hey, they're just ignorant and don't know any better.
Honestly, they surely don't mean any harm at all, and it's likely that they believe they're doing you a favor by showing you that they accept you "being black", but personally, I don't want to be "the black friend" in anybody's circle of friends. I want to be "the friend," and it'd be nice if others could always see me that way, without racial qualifiers.
Devolution
Member
What does that have to do with the question?
I often feel like this is just as much about mannerisms and dress as it is about race. When I'm walking down the street, guess which one of these makes me the most nervous?
I'm not saying that racism is non-existent in this country, but people ought to look at how they dress and act. When five black guys dressed like the dude in my second picture are coming my way, I get a little nervous, but not because they are black. How people dress and act are indicative of the kinds of behavior they'll engage in.
...the fuck?
speculawyer
Member
With time.
Dreams-Visions
Member
"white on the inside"???
I wish somebody would say some shit like that in my presence.
I wish somebody would say some shit like that in my presence.
KidGalactus
Member
Well, I find it fairly harmless but somewhat offensive as I'm not a curiosity or a passing amusement, but an individual and I deserve to have my space respected like everyone else.
Can you imagine if you were a part of some group that had ice cold boogers, which was a source of some discussion and speculation by the majority. So let's say that every so often a person from the majority, who you don't know, or don't know well, would just stick their fingers up your nose for no reason and without your permission.
Firstly, that's kind of weird, right? And even though, on the face of it, it seems mostly harmless, it's incredibly invasive and they are unintentionally objectifying you.
Sounds like your mother has a problem. You should have a talk with her before she gets someone in trouble for no reason.
DeaconKnowledge
Member
This has happened to me literally every single time i've been stopped.
Ah right, that makes sense. So it's more the doubt in your mind that's more painful than any of the actual actions, the thought that you're being targeted because of your colour even if it's not the case.
I know this is devaluing the subject and correct me if I'm wrong, but is it sort of like having a spot on your face and whenever someone looks away from you, you think to yourself that it's because of the spot? Basically being self conscience about yourself 24/7 and on a 'deeper' level.
CrazyDogg77
Member
Dress like a GQ shoot and people won't discriminate.
Meanwhile, everybody an their mother knows who natalie holloway is.
Urban Scholar
Member
Thing is I often ask people to elaborate then the back off as they get the message I want an answer to a question with no answer.
The way I see it is that the racist person just uses their racism to hurt others and get attention. Kind of like when a girl in school is loud and screaming at someone even if what she is saying is fucking stupid and doesn't make sense. If you ignore them, yeah, it pisses them off even more, but if everyone collectively ignored the ignorant people, society would be a lot better off.
And I can see that it could be much more then that, but it seems like people are happy with separating themselves when it's, in my opinion, not beneficial to do so. Take the kid getting shot in Florida. It was immediately made a race issue when almost all rational people see that their was an injustice. If it was more of a human issue, and not just focused on race, I think it would bring a lot more people to the side of the child that was shot and it wouldn't divide people and get people up in arms and talking about race riots(check the main thread).
But yeah, I see that other factors come in that make this viewpoint hard to do or not the ideal way to go when dealing with everyday things. Overall though, I wish more people would focus on similarities then differences. It doesn't get you to read the story though unless they make a connection with you, race or not.
True. It's not always a bad thing, I just don't think that it should be pushed so heavily on children. It scares them and puts them into a negative frame of mind right from the get go.
shadyspace
Banned
Because despite how educated you may or may not be, you completely lack the experience that you continually name as being key to understanding this issue. I would never say "Hey, transsexuals, don't you hate when people question your gender, amirite?!" It's incredibly tacky.
In elementary school all the time. The funny thing is, is that it actually works. I've seen black school mates go from acting like themselves, to acting all hard within a few years simply because they don't want to be perceived as an oreo.(I live in a nice neighbourhood too btw) The sad thing is they don't realize that they're just playing into what the media and public perceives the stereotypical black male to be.
It's like being hated/feared and encouraged to be that stereotypical vision of what you hate/fear at the same time.
man are you reaching...
Devolution
Member
Actually I was asking since a lot of them professed to being told they act white, if they've been called oreos or Urkels. What's your real problem?
LowEndTorque
Member
I feel your pain mah black, hispanic, asian and other minority brothas.
Try being an Arab. Everyone thinks you're a terrorist, lol.
I've had people telling me to "go back home" even though I was born here, calling me a "raghead" or "paki" and making Mohammed jokes to try get a rise out of me even though I'm agnostic. And don't even get me started on airports.
Black Republican
Member
Me too, use work in a call center and it would crop up at least once a week.
Same for me.
fuzzyreactor
Banned
as a black man i cant relate
Dreams-Visions
Member
heh
I'd rather be discriminated against.
CrazyDogg77
Member
So you've never been considered suspicious because of your race despite nothing to indicate otherwise?
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