"Unless they are true racists, I don't think the majority of white people dislike Blacks". Absolutely man and where I am most people get along just fine. You'll always have some percentage of ignorant assholes who make judgements based race, religion, etc. Blanco, your just as bad as some of the white jerks who harbor racist feelings.
I suppose you may believe that I should apologize for my statements. I will not. The fact that blacks and whites "get along" where you are from is meaningless. People are more cordial nowadays and overt racism is frown upon. That does not negate
institutional racism that is alive and well. Ask the blacks where you are from if they ever experience racism or if it has ever impacted their lives. Most [with a brain] will say yes, whether it be slights on the job, treated with disrespect in retail stores, housing discrimination known as redlining, difficulty in obtaining small business loans, etc.
You'll always have some percentage of ignorant assholes who make judgements based race, religion, etc. Blanco, your just as bad as some of the white jerks who harbor racist feelings.
That percentage of "ignorant assholes" is precisely those who I am speaking of. I never said "all whites" are racist. I never felt that way, and if you knew my background and my life experiences you would laugh at how silly that sounds. I you feel I am a jerk I will readily admit to that side of my personality. If you feel I am racist...that is your problem, not mine. Nothing in this thread substantiates that statement.
I've always gotten along well with most black dudes in the gym or with music, at school, wherever. If your ghetto or a gang banger, I probably won't like you no matter what race you are and I've ran into some of those people too.
Your personal experiences "getting along" with black people in passing means little regarding to institutional racism. Are you suggesting racism doesn't exist in America? If so, you are delusional at best, and lying at worst. Poll after poll suggest most white Americans acknowledge that racism exists in America. Of course, they
themselves aren't racist, but some "other" whites out there are the cause of the problem.
I take offense to the term "ghetto". It seems to be a catchall phrase nowadays, but when you are referring to inner city blacks with that term, it is offensive. There are good people from urban areas, hardworking and trying to better themselves. I come from the inner city, but my parents instilled values in me and gave the environment at home for me to excel academically and in other areas. As far as gang-bangers...who likes them? LOL There are criminals of all ethnicities, bro.
The point is that the more we come together, stop focusing on our ancestor's heritage/culture and start seeing us as Americans first (and race af ar 2nd), the better this country will be.
I agree, however blacks and Latinos did not create this environment of dividing people on race. I hope you realize that, otherwise you may want to take an American History course. I don't see large swaths of blacks, Mexicans, Boriquas (that's Puerto Ricans for you), Cubans, etc. seeing themselves as not Americans. But you also don't have a right to tell people to deny their ethnic heritage or the cultural traditions they cherish. When Americans stop calling themselves "Irish" or "Italian" or "Hungarian" or whatever, then perhaps African-Americans will just call themselves "American". However, we are a long ways from that...we are still a country of diverse peoples come together in a unique experiment unprecedented in the history of the world. People still have ties to the Motherland, whether real or largely imaginary.
People like Wright keep us in the past and keep racial fires burning by providing the gas. He's an asshole for continuing this stuff and right or wrong, he is hurting Obama.
That is your opinion, but African-Americans are entitled to reflect on past experiences amongst one another because it is a actually a source of strength, as well as an acknowledgement of the ancestors that paved the way for where we are today. Once again, when you start telling the Jews to get over the Holocaust with the same intensity you bring to the black community, then I will know you are serious. When you can call Wright an "asshole", you are reflecting your cultural ignorance and insulting many black ministers all over America.
Obama is his own man, and Wright is only hurting him if Obama cannot stand up as his
own man and repudiate the statements he disagrees with. If Obama couldn't stand on his own two feet and speak separate himself from this man then I believe he would need a spinal infusion. I do believe Obama showed he had a spine and forcefully made his opinions known today.
I understand some of his points historically speaking but our generation of Americans are much different. Understand but don't be stuck in the past.
Some Americans are different, yet some have not changed as much as we'd like. There are those who are still alive from the days of segregation in America. We also have some younger racists too, as evidenced in this very thread. Men who are my father's age can state that things are unquestionably better today for minorities than they were 40 or 50 years ago. We still have a ways to go to form a more perfect union.
Tre, your always a voice of reason. Guess that comes to more people as they get into their middle age yrs.
Tre's fine, but he's a bit milk toast.
I am more inclined to speak more forcefully to get my point across. Unless I am joking around and being a jerk, I say what I mean and mean what I say without apology. As far as age, I am likely older than Tre. Just so ya' know.
