Figuring out what is racist can be a bit difficult. I'm sure other people have that same problem. So I thought I would make a thread where we could ask each..."is that racist"?

I'll get it started. At first, I was going to write the thread title in ebonics (Yo Dawg, Is Dat Racist???). Is that racist?

[Edited on July 27, 2009 at 10:36 AM. Reason : ``]

7/27/2009 10:23:14 AM

[Edited on July 27, 2009 at 10:36 AM. Reason : First!]

7/27/2009 10:25:17 AM

I'm pretty sure we had this exact same thread before.

I'm going to say that it boils down to intent, for the most part, though.

7/27/2009 10:39:22 AM

How about the "If you have to ask..." rule.

7/27/2009 12:14:05 PM

"if you have to ask..."

is a good rule about most things.

7/27/2009 12:19:59 PM

If you have to ask....is a terrible rule that just results in people still having questions, and serious discussion being swept under the rug.

7/27/2009 3:29:52 PM

People can be unintentionally racist, so intent only counts for so much. I'd say most racism is reflected in peoples' preferences and attitudes and this can affect behavior in a way that is unintended at the time of action.

7/27/2009 3:36:04 PM

An Indian girl at work kept saying "colored people" because it was the best term she could think of to reflect non-whites (including herself). If anyone else heard it they would be throwing around the racist/bigot labels. Context and intent is important and not always obvious.

7/27/2009 3:45:06 PM

7/27/2009 3:50:56 PM

lmao^

7/27/2009 3:53:50 PM

I view skin color/race as one of many physical traits, and that's about it. If you say or do something that's funny, ridiculous, or wrong, I should be able to comment on it without being called a racist, even if the thing you said or did is indicative of your cultural background.

Trying to paint an entire race with a broad brush is wrong, and it doesn't matter which race you're painting. In American culture, it's perfectly acceptable to make jokes about "white people," because let's face it, most of us are white and we really don't care. If you start making jokes about "black people," and you aren't black yourself, you'll be called a racist. There's definitely a double standard, but I guess that's what happens when you enslave an entire group of people.

7/27/2009 4:00:43 PM

except no american alive today has legally owned or legally been a slave

7/27/2009 4:05:16 PM

I'm saying that the double standard exists because of slavery.

7/27/2009 4:26:14 PM

Thoughts:

Can one be racist without giving attention to physical characteristics?

7/27/2009 4:27:26 PM

Given the reality of white privilege and systematic racism, making fun of whites isn't considered racist. This is mostly because racism can be considered institutionalized disadvantagement. Since whites benefit from the system, its hard to make a case for anti-white "racism".

Making fun of whites is bad for all races since it can reinforce skewed, positive stereotypes.

7/27/2009 4:31:56 PM

^^Race is defined by physical characteristics, so I'd have to tentatively say no.

Do most people agree that there is a somewhat separate black culture in America? As in, a group of people that are mostly black who have their own dialect, customs, and whatever else comes with it? It is possible to discriminate against that group specifically for reasons that are not related to skin color, but I'm not sure if that qualifies as racism.

7/27/2009 4:36:26 PM

I have trouble saying that whites benefit from the system.
What system are you refering too?
I personally have seen no benefits, and I am a white male. I should be reaping the benefits correct?

7/27/2009 4:38:00 PM

Quote :

"I don't even like the airplane to fly over North Carolina."

Quote :

"Newt Gingrich and Company--that Contract [with] America is serious. You know what those guys have said? Aight, somehow, while [Republicans] were asleep, all you white woman and all you black people got into the middle class--we not sure how it happened--but the first thing we're goin' to do is we're goin' to shake the tree and any of y'all who can't hold on, y'all goin' back. And the second thing, we're goin' to set up barriers so that no more of y'all can get in here."

Quote :

"We're also tryin' to end what we used to call the one-nigger syndrome. You know, 'This place ain't big enough for more than one of us.'"

--Professor Henry Louis Gates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj5v6-4KEJE

Sweet Jesus.

7/27/2009 5:13:14 PM

Quote :

"I flashed back 20 years or so to the time when Gates arrived in Durham, N.C., to take up the position I had offered him in my capacity as chairman of the English department of Duke University. One of the first things Gates did was buy the grandest house in town (owned previously by a movie director) and renovate it. During the renovation workers would often take Gates for a servant and ask to be pointed to the house’s owner. The drivers of delivery trucks made the same mistake. The message was unmistakable: What was a black man doing living in a place like this?"

it's not like gates' opinion is baseless

7/27/2009 5:18:44 PM

Quote :

"I have trouble saying that whites benefit from the system. What system are you refering too? I personally have seen no benefits, and I am a white male. I should be reaping the benefits correct?"

lol wut?

7/27/2009 5:32:03 PM

^ I was referring to two posts above mine.

7/27/2009 5:36:36 PM

when you're at the top its kinda hard to see above you

7/27/2009 5:40:31 PM

ahahaa, top.
That was funny. Please assume you know my life because of my race. That's racist.

7/27/2009 5:59:51 PM

Quote :

" During the renovation workers would often take Gates for a servant and ask to be pointed to the house’s owner. The drivers of delivery trucks made the same mistake. The message was unmistakable: What was a black man doing living in a place like this?""

now maybe it's because I don't assume the absolute worst in people the first time I meet them, and maybe it's because I don't have a chip on my shoulder that makes me think cops responding to me breaking into my house are being racist, but the message I get from that is that construction workers and delivery people are going to ask the first guy they see standing arround and not working who the person in charge is.

7/27/2009 6:23:57 PM

On a related note to the thread topic:

http://bluenc.com/senate-vote-racial-justice-act-tomorrow

Quote :

"Senate to Vote on Racial Justice Act Tomorrow Submitted by deathwatch on Mon, 07/27/2009 - 10:29am * death penalty * general assembly * race The NC Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on whether to concur with the Racial Justice Act as passed by the House. The Racial Justice Act would allow a defendant facing the death penalty or an inmate on death row to challenge the decision to seek or impose the death penalty in his or her case if that decision was made on the basis of race. The version of the bill passed by the House is different than the version passed by the Senate, not least in that the Senate version was amended to include language aimed at restarting executions immediately. The Senate should vote to concur on the clean House version of the bill, rather than forcing the bill into a joint committee. Here's what you can do to help. FAX AND EMAIL Click here to fax and/or email NC Senators and ask them to concur on Racial Justice Act (S461) this Tuesday! CALL: Charlie Alberson - (919) 733-5705 Marc Basnight - (919) 733-6854 Don Davis - (919) 733-5621 Steve Goss - (919) 733-5742 David Hoyle - (919) 733-5734 Tony Rand - (919) 733-9892 John Snow - (919) 733-5875 A.B. Swindell -(919) 715-3030 The NC Racial Justice Act would not have made it as far as it has without your help. Thank you for everything you do! North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium PO Box 1008 Durham, NC 27702 919.827.4729 http://www.ncmoratorium.org"

here's their send an e-mail in support link: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1607/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27705

[Edited on July 27, 2009 at 6:40 PM. Reason : .]

7/27/2009 6:38:49 PM

Quote :

"[quote]I view skin color/race as one of many physical traits, and that's about it. If you say or do something that's funny, ridiculous, or wrong, I should be able to comment on it without being called a racist, even if the thing you said or did is indicative of your cultural background. Trying to paint an entire race with a broad brush is wrong, and it doesn't matter which race you're painting. In American culture, it's perfectly acceptable to make jokes about "white people," because let's face it, most of us are white and we really don't care. If you start making jokes about "black people," and you aren't black yourself, you'll be called a racist. There's definitely a double standard,"

this is my opinion.

Quote :

"enate to Vote on Racial Justice Act Tomorrow"

Wow the senate is making an "official" Race Card

^ u seriously support a bill providing a double standard or "Get Out of the Electric Chair Free" card????

7/27/2009 6:47:00 PM

No where did I say I support it or oppose it, I just shared the info.

I don't know a whole lot about it. But I wouldn't use the word "free" in "Get Out of the Electric Chair Free" rather I'd replace it with "& into the life in prison chair"

7/27/2009 7:09:44 PM

Quote :

"I flashed back 20 years or so to the time when Gates arrived in Durham, N.C., to take up the position I had offered him in my capacity as chairman of the English department of Duke University. One of the first things Gates did was buy the grandest house in town (owned previously by a movie director) and renovate it. During the renovation workers would often take Gates for a servant and ask to be pointed to the house’s owner. The drivers of delivery trucks made the same mistake. The message was unmistakable: What was a black man doing living in a place like this?"

A delivery person asks to speak to the owner of the house????
That IS racist!!!!!

7/27/2009 11:21:25 PM

Quote :

"except no american alive today has legally owned or legally been a slave"

And no American alive today was subject to Jim Crow laws.

7/27/2009 11:46:57 PM

I think Lokken and MaximaDriver has stumbled upon the truth that has evaded sociologists and politicians for decades: racism doesn't exist!

7/28/2009 12:01:18 AM

As a white man, I have to say... white privilege doesn't exist, guys!

7/28/2009 2:38:12 AM

What is this white privilege of which you speak? Honestly, I'd love to get some of that to help with my mortgage payments and diapers and such.

7/28/2009 9:35:09 AM

Quote :

"I think Lokken and MaximaDriver has stumbled upon the truth that has evaded sociologists and politicians for decades: racism doesn't exist! "

true to your avatar the point has flown over your head!

7/28/2009 10:29:02 AM

It's evident to me that at least 95% of Americans dont understand the difference between "prejudice" and "racist".

7/28/2009 10:46:42 AM

IF YOU HAVE TO ASK

YOU'LL NEVER KNOWWWWWWW

A FUNKY MOTHERFUCKER WILL NOT

BE TOLD TO GO

7/28/2009 11:09:13 AM

Quote :

"Quote : "I flashed back 20 years or so to the time when Gates arrived in Durham, N.C., to take up the position I had offered him in my capacity as chairman of the English department of Duke University. One of the first things Gates did was buy the grandest house in town (owned previously by a movie director) and renovate it. During the renovation workers would often take Gates for a servant and ask to be pointed to the house’s owner. The drivers of delivery trucks made the same mistake. The message was unmistakable: What was a black man doing living in a place like this?" it's not like gates' opinion is baseless"

I'd be more apt to believe that they thought he was a servant if it had not been 1989 when that happened.

As it stands, I'd say the delivery dudes just wanted to know who owned the place.

7/28/2009 11:22:39 AM

When I see a white man standing around a bunch of Hispanics at a construction site, I immediately think he's the owner and not a contractor or anything. If I see black people, I wonder what they just stole.

7/28/2009 11:35:51 AM

architect

[Edited on July 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM. Reason : !]

7/28/2009 11:37:08 AM

Quote :

"An Indian girl at work kept saying "colored people" because it was the best term she could think of to reflect non-whites (including herself). If anyone else heard it they would be throwing around the racist/bigot labels. Context and intent is important and not always obvious."

What's racist about calling a black man "colored"? Until the NAACP changes their name, I don't see how someone could be offended if I used that word.

7/28/2009 1:29:41 PM

Quote :

"it's not like gates' opinion is baseless"

sarijoul

Except that, yes, it is. Does Gates refuse to fly over Massachusetts now? As far as I know, no allegedly racist cops arrested him while he was here in North Carolina.

What about Illinois and California, just to name a couple of states? Surely, Chicago and Los Angeles have never experienced racial tensions. Or does Gates only concern himself with personal experiences to feign outrage over?

I hate to be cynical, but I heard Gates has a PBS special coming out soon. Could there be a connection?

7/28/2009 1:31:10 PM

BUT IM COLORED TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

7/28/2009 1:35:43 PM

Quote :

"What's racist about calling a black man "colored"? Until the NAACP changes their name, I don't see how someone could be offended if I used that word."

Next time you are at work and standing around the water cooler, ask everyone how significant having a colored President is for race relations, and see if no one bats an eyelash. Its a word with extra meaning, just like the Confederate Battle Flag is more than just a 140 year old military flag.

7/28/2009 5:03:36 PM

I don't even like the airplane to fly over a water cooler.

7/28/2009 5:49:52 PM

Quote :

"What's racist about calling a black man "colored"? Until the NAACP changes their name"

are you really that fucking ignorant?

7/28/2009 6:06:13 PM

i was just noting that gates has lived in durham and is not someone who just bases his opinions on racism in the south on hearsay. he has lived and taught in nc, thus his opinions on nc are not baseless. i do not agree with his assessment. hell i live in durham.

7/28/2009 6:27:54 PM

Quote :

"it's not like gates' opinion is baseless"

I don't really understand his statement about Durham, there are TONS of successful black men and women in that part of Durham. In fact, not to far away from where his home was is the historic "Black Wall Street" which Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois hailed as a great example for a black middle class. Durham (especially that part) has a long history of having a high concentration of black executives and professionals, now thats paired with a very liberal artsy scene. I can't ever have the same experience as a black man, but I can say that his experience in the south was not in a particularly racist or bigoted area.

7/28/2009 8:35:58 PM

duke is very racially messed-up. for instance: they have a separate freshman orientation for minority students. look it up. and actually that issue is just as lead by the student minority groups because it increases their ranks. but it seems like it would breed a segregated student population where they have had race problems for a while.

7/28/2009 8:44:43 PM

duke and the area around duke are very different, he was basing his opinion on his experiences in the area around duke. i spent the first 18 years of my life in durham and still spend a lot of time at my mom's just right around the corner; i know the area and history of it fairly well.

7/28/2009 8:53:23 PM

Powell weighs in on the Gates/Crowly incident and racial profiling

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/28/powell.palin/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Quote :

" The former secretary of state said he has been racially profiled "many times," including an incident that took place while he was the national security adviser to President Reagan. "Nobody thought I could possibly be the national security adviser to the president. I was just a black guy at Reagan National Airport," Powell said. "And it was only when I went to the counter and said, 'Is my guest here waiting for me?' that someone said, 'Oh, you're Gen. Powell.' It was inconceivable to him that a black guy could be the national security adviser." When asked how he dealt with the situation, Powell said, "You just suck it up -- what are you going to do? It was a teaching point for him. 'Yes, I'm the national security adviser, I'm black, and watch, I can do the job.'"

When Colin Powell selects an incident from his memory to be an example of racial profiling, I kind of expect something a little more scandalous than an airport agent who didn't immediately recognize him as the National Security Advisor.

7/28/2009 9:47:51 PM

^^your point?

7/28/2009 10:06:47 PM