I’ve noticed that on every award show I watch, white people never thank God or any other higher spiritual source. They often thank their agent and friends first, but never God. Blacks, on the other hand, are the first to thank God. I’ve noticed the same for liner notes for CDs as well. Whites never thank God unless they are a gospel artist. What is the deal? It makes it appear that whites do not have a spiritual side or do not want to acknowledge that it is not the producer of the movie who made them the success they are but the one above. Please explain, because everyone at this year’s Academy Awards DID NOT thank God.
God doesn’t get credit because that would interfere with reaping all the personal glory and benefits of being on top of the world. In a reverse kind of way, I wonder why professional athletes (of any and all ethnicities) are all thanks to God when they make a touchdown (glory), but cussin’ and stompin’ when they fumble (humility)? God gets used/abused in some funny ways, huh?
Wow … this is why I like Y? Forum so much; I would have NEVER observed this – not in a million years. I guess if we are going to judge human and racial spirituality by pop stars, we are all in trouble. While not religious now, I was brought up to view one’s spirituality as private discourse with God. My guess is most white Protestant Christians are brought up the same. Thanking God for something so trivial as a personal award seems to demean what God stands for. I perceive those who gush on about God while getting such awards as pathetically trying to say, ‘Look at me, I am God’s favorite,’ rather than seeing them as truly thankful. So my guess is that if there is a racial difference, it is just in the privacy of the spirtuality and not the depths.
Perhaps more whites, or some whites, just feel that their religion and their work are separate areas in their lives. I guess I’m speaking on behalf of Australian whites rather than American whites, but it can’t make much difference.
I don’t watch award shows much, I think they’re all phony, but black artists do many times thank God for their success. But on the flip side of things, how can some black artists, and you know which ones I’m talking about, ‘sing’ graphically about explicit sexual activity, include vulgar language, degrade women, glorify violence, make videos about these ‘songs’ that are in essence mini-porn shows, and then have the audacity to receive an award and then ‘thank God’ for the success that they have? Kind of makes you go Hummm?
Some whites do thank God. In football, everyone thanks God when they win, but nobody criticizes God when they lose. Nobody ever says ‘The good Lord made me drop the ball’ or ‘God tripped me up behind the line of scrimmage.’
White people are not as vocal or flamboyant about their religious beliefs in comparison to African Americans. That doesn’t mean we don’t love or appreciate God; we are simply more private about our relationship with Him. Just because you broadcast your faith does not mean you are a better person or Christian. Sometimes showing off one’s beliefs and faith can be a farce and a turn-off. Only God knows who the faithful really are.
I don’t think people should thank God when they win awards, win the Super Bowl, produce a CD, etc. I don’t believe God has anything to do with whether a person wins something. God doesn’t decide who is more ‘worthy’ to win an Acadamy Award, the awards committee does. If God were to get directly involved in the outcome of an event, I think he would influence something more important than some meaningless awards ceremony – like maybe he would have prevented half a million Rwandans from being massacred by their government. I am not saying that God is not important. God is very important, as is prayer and everything else. A strong belief in God can help a person stay on track in achieving their goals, but it doesn’t help a person win an Acadamy Award.
Many black artists came up rough or where once of humble means, and they feel that God has plotted out the course their lives have taken. Mary J. Blige, someone I admire, is open about how God took her out of drugs and other poisons. I feel that Lauryn Hill is very passionate about the Lord, and she is grateful that He opened many doors for her. When she thanks Him for her Grammys, to her the awards signify how God has acted in her life (taking her from point A to point B). She definitely does not see her statues as ‘holier than thou’ trophies. Many black artists are also grateful to God for their talent (talent as a gift from God is definitely biblical). Also keep in mind that countless black artists (Marvin Gaye, Donna Summers, D’Angelo, etc. etc.) got their start in church.
I am an African-American who would also be one of those that doesn’t thank God simply because I don’t have a God-based belief pattern. I was raised in a Baptist church until I became disillusioned with the overt racism and homophobia it fostered. Personally, I have found that too many people devote a great deal of faith in things that are not visible, real or tangible. In my case, I would thank my family, my friends, and the people within the industry that have helped me accomplish this goal.
I think that a greater percentage of black Americans are Christians, and it seems that black people in general have a greater tendency to advertise their identity by letting everyone know what they are ‘in to.’ Therefore, black people are more prone to vocal religious expressions. I do have a theory that prominent religious displays are a way for anyone to show the world what a good person they are. Since a lot of whites automatically assume negative things about black people, the black people want to make sure you see the positive before you start thinking negative things. A prominent religious display is one way to do that, and I think this practice has spread through the entire black American culture.
I find the trend of many Black artists thanking God extremely annoying and very tacky……
He most certainly does. God is involved in everything whether big or small. But don’t just take my word for it; turnyour bible to Psalm 139 and read it. Then turn to Isiah 55 and read it. I wouldn’t want to live my life if God weren’t involved in evey aspect of it.