This is a touchy subject...

[Movies205]

I don't scoff at it. But we live in a society, and this is true on both sides of fence Black and White, that things need to be Black and White(No pun intended), there can't be shades of grey. We all need to subcribe to one mode of thinking or else it can't be possible Society as a whole for some reason has a hard time accepting other people have different values. Blacks put up a wall instead of just embracing there culture and White people just get pissed and get agitated there not melting in, and lovely friction happens... And then of course you have the crazy red necks

 

[Movies205]

For the record I find that political correctness was made just so racists could feel better about themselves at night.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Actually I call other italians guinnies and wops all the time But here's the thing... The melting pot doesn't exist for black culture... Italians, Irish, and every other ethinic group that has come here faced major persecution and as time went on they intergrated into the culture, the same going happen happen for the latino populations, and a new group will move in. But for black culture it doesn't happen, there's far too much hate and pride to let it happen, hell quite a few songs is about how whitey don't belong in the circle. Till the hate is given up and people stop seeing things as I'm black, your not, or your black. It'll be this way forever... I live in RI where racism still happesn but not really on a grand scale so my view is slighted, I had a teacher from Africa who was telling us when he went to Tennessee it was tottally different he didn't feel as accepted. So my view is a Rhode Island one where this isn't really as much racism going on except for seeing black culture on TV being like we're black, your not. Oh and the usual teenage BS where it's funny to be racist, there's a lot of teenage racists for some reason

As for your being able to kid your fellow Italians in such a way, that's more an exception than anything else. Would you get offended if a non-Italian called you a wop, but didn't mean anything by it?
Maybe not, if you're as enlightened as you sound.
It's hard to explain why black culture is different. It has a lot to do with how we got here. Our ancestors were dragged here in chains. They were the property of people who went to war over the freedom to govern themselves. It was a crime to educate them or treat them with any semblance of dignity, the strong were prized over the smart, but it was perfectly okay to sleep with them. Then after they were freed, these uneducated, unaccepted, unloved people now had to fend for themselves, & try to survive while every day laws were being created to prevent them from having a real place in society. Manywere forced to go back to work in the same cotton field they'd just escaped. It took well over a century for open, regulated, government-sanctioned bigotry to be eliminated, & during that time the racists became more creative & clever. They found ways to make the legal system, the educational system & the economic system work for them surreptitiously, rather than blatantly.
Now we're a group that has gotten so accustomed to a certain kind of treatment, we expect it everywhere, from everyone & THE WORST PART-often, albeit unknowingly, we do it to ourselves.

 

[Chris Wallace]

For the record I find that political correctness was made just so racists could feel better about themselves at night.

Sexists too. Any supremacist or elitist.

 

[KenK]

While you'd have to be a couple hundred years old to really say slavery affected you, that is the main reason why we have never truly attempted to "assimilate" as other groups. A lot of our ancestors were brought here against their will, whether by their own countrymen or other foreigners. It's basically been drilled into us that we're not to completely integrate into the system, as it could cause us to lose our identity. People may scoff at that, but that's what a lot of us were taught.

And it's not wrong to try and maintain one's identity, but acknowledge the fact that you still need to advance your culture. You can talk all you want about staying in your 'hood and not changing for anyone else's benefit, but that don't count for much if you're not moving forward. A lot of black are content with not owning any property, or saving for retirement, and so on and so forth. I'm not saying every single black person has to become Oprah or something, but damn! Buy instead of rent. Take that equity and do something with it. Again, I talk about wealth, and it doesn't have to be on the scale as I illustrated in my earlier post, but any scale that sets an example for a community, be it a town, a city or state, etc.

 

[terry78]

I mean, I'm cool with everyone regardless of their race, as militant as I may get at times. I don't drink, but I go out on occasion with some of the dudes at work and buy a few for the guys, go to a random "gentleman's club"(that featues bouncing breasteses). We're not like buddy buddy, but we chill is all. You get the random comment that's racially based, whether it be about black chicks or rap, but that happens pretty much all the time.

 

[KenK]

As for your being able to kid your fellow Italians in such a way, that's more an exception than anything else. Would you get offended if a non-Italian called you a wop, but didn't mean anything by it?
Maybe not, if you're as enlightened as you sound.
It's hard to explain why black culture is different. It has a lot to do with how we got here. Our ancestors were dragged here in chains. They were the property of people who went to war over the freedom to govern themselves. It was a crime to educate them or treat them with any semblance of dignity, the strong were prized over the smart, but it was perfectly okay to sleep with them. Then after they were freed, these uneducated, unaccepted, unloved people now had to fend for themselves, & try to survive while every day laws were being created to prevent them from having a real place in society. Manywere forced to go back to work in the same cotton field they'd just escaped. It took well over a century for open, regulated, government-sanctioned bigotry to be eliminated, & during that time the racists became more creative & clever. They found ways to make the legal system, the educational system & the economic system work for them surreptitiously, rather than blatantly.
Now we're a group that has gotten so accustomed to a certain kind of treatment, we expect it everywhere, from everyone & THE WORST PART-often, albeit unknowingly, we do it to ourselves.

Dat's some knowledge fo' yo' ass!! (every now and then, I like to show off my command of ebonics. Ever notice how we like to omit letters from words?!)

 

[Chris Wallace]

And what about White Guilt. Sometimes it seems it's white people more upset over racist advertising or overtones in the media.

Interesting thought. Pepsi drops Ludacris b/c of his lyrical content. But they pick up the Osbournes shortly after.

 

[Chris Wallace]

While you'd have to be a couple hundred years old to really say slavery affected you, that is the main reason why we have never truly attempted to "assimilate" as other groups. A lot of our ancestors were brought here against their will, whether by their own countrymen or other foreigners. It's basically been drilled into us that we're not to completely integrate into the system, as it could cause us to lose our identity. People may scoff at that, but that's what a lot of us were taught.

Another valid point.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Dat's some knowledge fo' yo' ass!! (every now and then, I like to show off my command of ebonics. Ever notice how we like to omit letters from words?!)

That's part of the non-assimilation that terry78 was referring to.

 

[Movies205]

As for your being able to kid your fellow Italians in such a way, that's more an exception than anything else. Would you get offended if a non-Italian called you a wop, but didn't mean anything by it?
Maybe not, if you're as enlightened as you sound.
It's hard to explain why black culture is different. It has a lot to do with how we got here. Our ancestors were dragged here in chains. They were the property of people who went to war over the freedom to govern themselves. It was a crime to educate them or treat them with any semblance of dignity, the strong were prized over the smart, but it was perfectly okay to sleep with them. Then after they were freed, these uneducated, unaccepted, unloved people now had to fend for themselves, & try to survive while every day laws were being created to prevent them from having a real place in society. Manywere forced to go back to work in the same cotton field they'd just escaped. It took well over a century for open, regulated, government-sanctioned bigotry to be eliminated, & during that time the racists became more creative & clever. They found ways to make the legal system, the educational system & the economic system work for them surreptitiously, rather than blatantly.
Now we're a group that has gotten so accustomed to a certain kind of treatment, we expect it everywhere, from everyone & THE WORST PART-often, albeit unknowingly, we do it to ourselves.

First off it doesn't mean anythign now, what does a wop mean? I'm no longer a minority I'm now part of the greater population. I mean I still have a lot of my culture with my family, but we've melted into society. And for the rest I get that and that's why my opinion is this racial tension going last forever.

 

[KenK]

I mean, I'm cool with everyone regardless of their race, as militant as I may get at times. I don't drink, but I go out on occasion with some of the dudes at work and buy a few for the guys, go to a random "gentleman's club"(that featues bouncing breasteses). We're not like buddy buddy, but we chill is all. You get the random comment that's racially based, whether it be about black chicks or rap, but that happens pretty much all the time.

Sometimes, I'll hang out with white co-workers and they'll try and speak in ebonics in a certain occasion, and I won't be offended, so much as I am embarassed for them they just sound so damn silly trying to say "a'ight". This is another problem as far as movies are concerned, Stop trying to push the message of white subarbanites being able to better themselves by getting in touch with their inner blackness!! I can't stand that sh**!! I can accept white people who may have spent their whole lives in a community that's predominantly black, and connecting with certain elements of black culture, but if you're a white person from Whitesville, USA, with no prior exposure to any kind of black culture (and not just hip-hop, dammit!), you'll never get it.

 

[The Sage]

Ok-maybe I am picking on her a little unfairly in that regard. But "Monster's Ball" sucked, there was nothing outstanding about her performance & honestly, I can't think of a single movie in which she really set the screen on fire.

Losing Isaiah? It's been a while, but I thought she was good in it.

 

[Movies205]

KenK, you'd hate me because you wouldn't understand my humor... I love making fun of white peopel trying to talk ebonics so much it's become part of my vocabulary, like I say **** like "ill" and "mad" and stupid **** like that all the time, just to see people's heads turn! It's hilarious.

 

[Chris Wallace]

First off it doesn't mean anythign now, what does a wop mean? I'm no longer a minority I'm now part of the greater population. I mean I still have a lot of my culture with my family, but we've melted into society. And for the rest I get that and that's why my opinion is this racial tension going last forever.

"Wop", "Greaseball" & "Guido" are-to the best of my knowledge, the Italian equivalent of spic, kyke, or the n-word.

 

[Chris Wallace]

And it's not wrong to try and maintain one's identity, but acknowledge the fact that you still need to advance your culture. You can talk all you want about staying in your 'hood and not changing for anyone else's benefit, but that don't count for much if you're not moving forward. A lot of black are content with not owning any property, or saving for retirement, and so on and so forth. I'm not saying every single black person has to become Oprah or something, but damn! Buy instead of rent. Take that equity and do something with it. Again, I talk about wealth, and it doesn't have to be on the scale as I illustrated in my earlier post, but any scale that sets an example for a community, be it a town, a city or state, etc.

It's not just being content with not moving forward that's a problem; it's looking down on anyone who isn't.

 

[Chris Wallace]

KenK, you'd hate me because you wouldn't understand my humor... I love making fun of white peopel trying to talk ebonics so much it's become part of my vocabulary, like I say **** like "ill" and "mad" and stupid **** like that all the time, just to see people's heads turn! It's hilarious.

Why would that bother anyone? That's funny.

 

[terry78]

Misery loves company. That goes for anything. If I gotta be miserable, then everyone else is too. That's what we in the black community call being a "hater."

 

[KenK]

It's not just being content with not moving forward that's a problem; it's looking down on anyone who isn't.

Very True.

 

[The Sage]

Wow guys. I want to say something, but you've pretty much covered what I was thinking. It made me sick to my stomach to see BET celebrating Lil Kim going to jail, stupid countdown. Then I don't wanna get started on the poor movies BET produces.

 

[terry78]

Black Entertainment Television....IS THE WORST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! - MLK, The Return of the King

 

[Chris Wallace]

You keep citing Boondocks, terry. Boondocks-a show which I love, by the way-is rife with stereotypes, the n-word & black people just generally being ignorant. And in the midst of it is Huey, the voice of the intelligent, ambitious black man. Yes, he's also militant, but the core of him is that this is not how we should act, it's not how we should be represented & we should strive to do better for ourselves AND our community.

 

[terry78]

^True enough, but at its center, the show is a satire, an exaggerated one at that. McGruder says that Huey is an extremist version of his alter ego, as anyone who was such a dreary outlook couldn't survive in the real world.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Wow guys. I want to say something, but you've pretty much covered what I was thinking. It made me sick to my stomach to see BET celebrating Lil Kim going to jail, stupid countdown. Then I don't wanna get started on the poor movies BET produces.

Another good point. Why devote a show to a woman who has fake hair, fake boobs, a fake nose, is going to jail for perjury & has the audacity to call her album "The Naked Truth"?

 

[Chris Wallace]

^I may be stereotyped as having a large penis, but adding to it genetically inferior, thug, criminal, and less than intelligent than other races, it doesn't really balance out. I'd rather be stereotyped as smart than having a big cock.