Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 12 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 20 years, 9 months ago by
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Did anyone else find the title of the book based on the Y? web site (Why Do White People Smell Like Wet Dogs When They Come Out of The Rain?) amusing? I did, but I am white. What if it was titled Why Do BLACK People Smell Like Wet Dogs When They Come Out of The Rain? It would be labeled hateful and racist. Who, then, is more tolerant of the other race: blacks or whites? And who is the racist? Without insulting black people by saying, ‘Because they have been treated worse historically,’ who can give me a good reason why it is appropriate that black literature can make fun of whites, but whites cannot make fun of blacks?
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Name : Nate20108, Gender : M, City : Seattle area, State : WA, Country : United States,I also found the title of the book amusing and quite interesting. I found out about this web site by watching OH DRAMA!! on BET. If I’m not mistaken, the author of the book is a white male who was asked this question and said he thought it would make an interesting title.
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Name : Cheynel, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 29, City : Miami, State : FL, Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Upper class,If people (black or white) have no respect for themselves, they usually disrespect everything and everyone around them.
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Name : Harold Byrne, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 70, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : draftsman, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Middle class,There is almost the assumption in your question that the title has been changed to make it less insulting to black people. People do smell different. Just because you are white does not mean other cultures will find your smell different. Ask a couple of kids (who can usually be relied on for honesty rather than politeness). I bet the title was an honest question originally posted and is used because it makes people realize that their own view of what questions should be asked here may not be correct.
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Name : David25886, Gender : M, City : London, State : n/, Country : United Kingdom,This is a question that bothers many whites (or European-Americans). Having studied multiculturalism in many respects, it comes down to this, in my opinion: The African American culture in the United States is still redefining itself. The group was joked about for many years and is quite sure that they do not want to be laughed at anymore. I can understand completely. White people, however, have not been the butt of many jokes throughout history. Maybe some ethnic groups and/or nationalities such as Irish, Italian or Swedish, but whites have remained without cruel humor pointed at them. And that’s really the main point here. Blacks were cruely depicted for many years. Why should they have to be subjected to anything at all, now? Why chance it? That’s just my theory.
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Name : Greg, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 25, City : Cherry Hill, State : NJ, Country : United States, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I heard about the book on the show ‘Oh Drama,’ also. And, I find the title funny. The title would be racist if the book wasn’t written by a white male. So, this wasn’t a black person making fun of a white person. This has nothing to do with races joking about other races. It all depends on who is making that type of statement.
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Name : Ericka, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 19, City : New Orleans, State : LA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Social class : Middle class,You ask, ‘Why it is appropriate that black literature can make fun of whites, but whites cannot make fun of blacks?’ What do you mean black literature? What about this book makes you think it is black literature? This is not ‘black literature,’ and the book was not written by a black person. It was written by a white man. I know because he was on BET recently plugging his book – and the reason for its title.
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Name : M.H., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 48, City : Seattle, State : WA, Country : United States, Occupation : Graduate Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,Nate, you made a supposition that black people are more racist, because the title ‘Why do Black people smell like Wet Dogs when they come out of the Rain?’ would draw more criticism and claims of racism than ‘Why do White people smell like Wet Dogs . . ‘ On the surface, your argument seems plausible. However, the reason it is not generally acceptable to make racist jokes, titles, etc. against blacks while it is no problem to satirize whites lies in the power imbalances and history between whites and blacks. Currently, whites (males) hold more social, economic and political power overall than do black people. Blacks are still subject to violence (police brutality, for example) and discrimination (higher arrest records, greater problems attaining credit, etc.) at much higher rates than whites. When someone pokes fun at whites, it is accepted because it is like an arrow glancing off a suit of armor: There is no danger, and no power to lose. White males are well-established in power, currently and historically. Black equality, on the other hand, is new and tenuous. There is still not equal amounts of social, political and economic power overall between blacks and whites. If a black person is slandered, even in humor, there is much more to lose, as their power is precarious. Victories and gains in education, economics, etc., are only recent and are not widespread among African Americans. (This is a generalization, as many successful black Americans can be seen. However, they are still the exception, not the rule.) Therefore, it is not socially acceptable (nor should it be) to mock and disparage black Americans.
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Name : Annette, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 41, City : Boise, State : ID, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,When a white person is made fun of for something, they can usually laugh it off either by excluding themselves from the white group (‘My hair doesn’t smell like a dog…’) or by just ignoring it. It does not affect their entire race. But when a black person is put down, all of a sudden it’s the entire race being put down. White people are seen as individuals, while black people are seen as a race. For example, take your question. You might not be offended, but other white people might. Yet you assumed that ALL black people would be offended and that the book would instantly be written off. Interesting.
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Name : tallie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Lesbian, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 17, City : g. hills, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,You hit the nail right on the head, Annette. African-Americans have a long history of being the butt of jokes and stereotyping, and the effect of such jokes and stereotypes are insidious and far-reaching, both psychologically and physically. African-Americans have greater incidence of stress-related illnesses, for example high-blood-pressure. Individual lifestyle notwithstanding, being subjected to continual harrassment, discrimination, jokes and comments, and the feeling of disempowerment exacts a severe toll on both the health and the psyche of the individual. An excellent resource for the effects of discrimination is the work of American schoolteacher Jane Elliott. Her ‘Blue Eyes-Brown Eyes’ videos and seminars are remarkable studies on the effects of discrimination and worth looking up.
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Name : Rachel, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 33, City : VICTORIA, State : NA, Country : Australia, Occupation : Educator, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,Thats a bit extreme. Its similar to a white person talking like a slave ….’I’m so sorry mass ir. Yess sir,’ to get a black person pissed off. People who know themselves won’t allow that to effect them. When you heard that you shook it off like it wasn’t anything. I hear ignorant statements like that all the time knowing that the people who say them have a self esteem issues. They need to put others down in order to make themselves feel good. If you read Black literature please understand that you must take the good with the bad. There is alot of frustration among the writers about African american treatment in this country. That doesn’t justify the poorly written title but I’m sure if you look at some southern American literature you can find some offensive statements toward black americans. (i.e Mark Twain). Its funny how I see some white americans cite and example as if it was the norm but you can turnaround and see them doing that same thing. Take
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Name : Eman, City : Columbus, State : OH, Country : United States,No one can give a good reason as to why it’s ok for blacks to make fun of whites and whites can’t make fun of blacks.. But let my try something here. You talked about the injustic that blacks endured under whites. Whites did not have to endure hardships from blacks.. I believe that’s why we can make the jokes but ya’ll should not venture in that sector becuase it only get blacks upset.. (and now that they are not under chains they will lash out..) There are whites who make jokes about blacks (comedy) and were understanding towards them. But that’s just under certain circumstances. I knew a white guy who hung around black guys in Canada (they accepted him calling them nigger… like saying ‘what’s up nigga’) Well he went down to Alabama (college) and got a job as the parking attendant, a black guy came to park his car and the white dude said.. ‘what’s up nigga’ man did he get his ass busted.. You have to have some kind of relationship with the race to be able to verture out into such domains…
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Name : Kelvin, Gender : M, Race : Black/African American, City : Windsor, Ontario, State : NA, Country : Canada, Occupation : Student,Why the fuck do Jewish people have such big noses? I mean, What The Fuck! Is it something to do with genes, or is there something hidden from the rest of the world… Someing sinister and evil? Could the Jews be planning to steal the worlds oxygen supply? It is a matter, quite serious!
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Name : Adolf, City : Berlin, State : NA, Country : Germany,
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