[Samuel]

The Confederate Flag is often explained as a symbol of respect for the Confederate war dead, and as a symbol of Southern heritage. However, in most cases, the flag was not flown, and did not achieve its widespread popularity, until the late 1950s or 1960s, obviously as a protest against the Civil Rights movement. Where was the need for this symbol of respect and heritage before then, other than in close association with the Ku Klux Klan? The fiery allegiance given to this symbol is yet another example of the United States' propensity to forget or distort popular history in order to appease the whims and conscience of the (white) majority. Have we forgotten that the Confederacy itself was the embodiment of treason, an attempt to destroy the Union? And for what 'noble cause?' 'States' rights?' States' rights to do what? Enslave and abuse their fellow human beings, among other things.

While those who died on both sides deserve to be honored for their courage and sacrifice, we can also remember that most Axis soldiers killed in World War II (many of whom died clinging to various levels of patriotism) did not participate in war-crimes atrocities, and could be said to deserve the same honor. Did that make the causes their respective nations were fighting for honorable? I hope not. How many people throughout history have given their lives for causes that we might deem unworthy, misguided or even wicked? Do we really honor them by distorting the facts about what they died for?

For many freedom-minded Americans, the 'Stars and Bars' is a symbol of oppression, treason and divisiveness; its supporters need to take an honest look at history and decide which American ideal they support: the unified America of Abraham Lincoln, where all human beings (regardless of color) would have the opportunity to pursue equality and freedom, or the America of Jefferson Davis and Nathan Bedford Forrest, where the color of someone's skin determined whether they would be pursuing a lifetime of happiness or brutal enslavement.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

'Propagated by the media?' '...The machine that is destroying this world?' I hope you were being facetious, Steve. This sounds like the same sort of drivel that militant white separatist spout to justify arming themselves against the 'evil government.' Really, now. Am I to believe that the mass media, largely corporate-owned and run, is at all responsible for the social ills that 'white' people face today? Does the fact that these media conglomerates, and their parent corporations, are run largely by 'white' males mean anything to you? I suppose you'll probably tell me that those white men are all Jews, and they don't really count. And what 'machine' do you refer to? What great mysterious power is rising up to make life miserable for 'white' people around the world? Between European colonialism and Anglo-American cultural and economic imperialism, the latter half of the latest full millenium saw 'white' dominance spread over most of the globe. What do we all have to show for it? Malcolm X, when referring to the JFK assassination, said something akin to 'the chickens are coming home to roost.' So if you look around you and see demons, don't make the same mistake as the Nazi-era Germans, or the pre-civil rights Americans. Don't pick out convenient (and usually defenseless) scapegoats and think that persecuting them will solve the problems you see. As regards your coworker, the black woman, I've heard this kind of ignorant self-hatred before. My financial advisor is black, and she has helped countless people get rich. She has also faced many ignorant Jim Crow blacks who believe that 'white' people always have their best interests at heart, and that fellow blacks are not to be trusted. No wonder they usually stay behind.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

I wish I could say I don't believe what you're saying, Rhonda, but I've seen it, also. From the hip-hop denigration to everyday conversation and interaction, it seems that far too many black men have a deep loathing, or at least a disrespect, for black women. Not all, though. You have to remember that the wounds of slavery and Jim Crow have yet to heal. We, as black people, have been instilled at the cultural level with a severe self-hatred. This includes black men's all-too-common lack of regard for black women, and vice-versa. If you happen upon black men who are aware of this condition, and who have taken steps to deal with this cultural illness in their lives, I believe you will find a much warmer reception. Also, perhaps, there may be some instances in which your expectations of such treatment are causing you to respond in kind before the black man has a chance to offend you. I hope your son can find a way to learn that a black man can love black women, as well as himself. I (and many other black men, to be sure) am living proof that it can, and does, happen.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

I have to agree with Jacqueline. The concept of 'whiteness' is artificial, as is the concept of 'blackness.' They are social constructs that were designed to justify certain social structures and the behaviors (many behaviors that would be considered immoral or even unthinkable in any other context) that took place as a result of those social structures. The society we live in today, with all of its maddeningly confusing and intractable 'racial' tensions and hostilities, is the direct result of centuries of living with those social constructs, even though the original structures they were created to justify have since evolved. In light of this, the ludicrous and counterproductive nature of 'racial pride' becomes more apparent. I can no more take pride in being a descendant of a culture or cultures to which I have no direct connection, and of which I have very little practical knowledge, than a 'white' person can take pride in a 'racial' classification that, for all intensive purposes, doesn't exist in nature.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

Forgive the appropriate contemporary colloquialism: 'I feel ya.' To wit: In my years of working at high-end blue collar union jobs (first a local natural gas utility, now a major municipal fire department), I've noticed that white men, when describing an anonymous non-present third party white person, refer to that person as 'that guy,' or 'that lady.' However, when refering to an African-American, they unfailingly refer to the individual as 'that black guy,' or 'that black lady.' Now, I am fully aware that in the context of these identifications, absolutely no slight, or anything else negative, is intended. In the most harmless, subconscious way, these white men regularly prove the common phrase to which you referred. For those of you who might think this is griping about nothing, try to imagine living in a society that identifies you, and usually makes on-the-spot judgments about you, first and foremost by the color of your skin. Imagine being greatly outnumbered in this society, and having every aspect of your life played out against the current of this raging torrent of misperception. Imagine adding this to the daily burden that most of us must bear, regardless of our skin color, and ask yourself how you might react.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

At this moment, I can't really think of any reason why you or I would need to mention the 'race' or ethnicity of any person whom we may actually be talking to. However, if you're speaking to someone, and it does come up, why not just ask the person what they prefer to be called? You will not only solve the obvious dilemma of not knowing, but you will (if you are dealing with someone reasonable enough to rate your social interaction) most likely demonstrate your intelligence and sensitivity to this person, thus making them feel more comfortable with you. In other words, 'the beginning of wisdom is: 'I do not know.' Your obvious sincerity, Stephanie, should provide you with the rest.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

I hate to generalize, but, when it comes to women, I prefer the female kind. Hair color is just one facet of a woman's appearance, and can be chemically altered anyway (as it probably has been with most blondes). I prefer whatever makes a woman feel more confident, and therefore look her best. Furthermore, a woman who is comfortable with her natural assets, whatever the color, size, or shape, is going to be much easier to relate to.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

I'm not a sociologist, Adam, but several things are obvious to me. For a nation that alleges to pride itself on freedom of expression, the U.S. has a strange ideology when it comes to self-examination. In our popular history, we almost completely ignore the role violence has played in the growth (social, financial, and geographical) of our nation. Much of the violence has occurred on our own soil, on a massive scale, such as the genocidal 'wars' against the native peoples, the Civil War, and the continuing brutality against non-WASP people (esp. slavery, Jim Crow, and the ever-present police/criminal justice farce). Still, we gloss over the nature and scope (and also the resulting social conditions) of the violence in school textbooks and in most other references (fictional or 'factual'). This denial of our violent human nature precludes any dealing with the problem; how can you treat any illness without acknowledging its presence? You must also factor in the peculiar and frightening U.S. love affair with firearms. The second amendment to our constitution is at least as valuable to many as the Christian Bible. I recently heard a coworker opine that the reason this country remains 'free' (as opposed to China or Cuba) is that citizens have the right to bear arms; his explanation was that a well-armed populace is the only thing keeping the duly elected government from disbanding in favor of a dictatorship. This sort of kaleidoscopic, cart-before-the-horse reasoning should help explain why the U.S. finds itself standing in the river and wondering why it is getting wet.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

I'm glad you used the word 'suspect.' In the U.S. criminal justice system, a suspect is supposed to be considered innocent until, or unless, proven guilty in a fair trial (the final verdict issued by a jury of his/her peers). For African Americans, these conditions have been historically elusive. Not only have countless innocent black men and women been tried and convicted of crimes by all-white courts and juries, but many others have been summarily executed by lynch mobs without the benefit of any trial, fair or not. On the flip side, blacks have historically been victims of white violence and other illegal behavior, and have found little or no legal recourse. This inequity may have relaxed somewhat with the semi-retirement of Jim Crow, but it has yet to disappear. Law-abiding, intelligent, hard-working blacks are aware that they and their children are prone to being the victims of unprovoked police violence and/or prosecutorial misconduct, regardless of their social status (my home state of Illinois has become notorious for putting innocent men on death row; how many innocents are doing time for lesser crimes?). When you see someone cheering on a suspect who you may feel is guilty, they're not supporting the evil deeds alleged. They're supporting someone, who, by the letter of the law, is innocent.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

The answer would depend on how close you are to your black friends, and how well you respect and value each others' feelings. If you explain to your friends the nature of your unease with racial topics, perhaps this will not only help ease the tension for you, but create a greater understanding between all of you. Under these circumstances, you'll probably find your comfort zone. However, if you're not dealing with people with whom you can share this depth of feeling, it is perhaps best to avoid getting too close to racial discussions until you feel more comfortable.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

I'm afraid I can't be as diplomatic as Andrew when I offer another possible motivation for the excess in designer prices. In spite of the lofty language of the Declaration of Independence, America is and has always been a nation divided, first and foremost, by socioeconomic class; in this respect we are little different from any civilization preceding us. The wealthy (and those who desire to be or appear to be wealthy) will always have the option, of which they frequently avail themselves, of indulging in that wealth and showing it off. Is it just about having something 'nice?' Well, 'nice' is subjective, 'price' is not. Consider this: Why would someone buy a Cadillac Escalade when a Jeep Cherokee will do? Does the extra $25,000 spent help them 'see the road better?' More to the point, the owners likely believe it helps others on the road to see them better. The same could be said of any similar products that tangibly differ only by price tag and brand name.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

The simplest answer I can give you is "consider the source." During my earliest days of web surfing, I used to visit several black-oriented chat rooms, but was turned off by the disturbing level of aggressive ignorance that was usually on display there. The few bright spots of intellect weren't worth my time (perhaps the same could be said for most chat rooms of any kind?) I do believe, though, that a larger issue is at work. For two groups of people with such similar recent histories of suffering brutal oppression (i.e., American slavery and the European Holocaust), you'd think blacks and Jews would automatically consider themselves spiritual kin. Alas, our history of oppression in this country has not granted enough blacks the gift of insight, or even empathy. Too many of us continue to hate ourselves, and are quick to leap on the bandwagon of bigotry regarding other perennial targets of discrimination.

Next time you see this sort of talk, perhaps you should urge the offenders to visit a Passover seder: Maybe then they'll begin to develop a clue.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

If white people are having a problem getting jobs, its because there is a tight job market where you live. In the relativity brief period following the Civil War (and alleged emancipation) and predating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there were numerous race riots in American cities, usually targeting blacks. The roots of these riots were usually based in white citizens' disillusionment with the economic conditions of the time. They usually blamed the influx of poor blacks from rural areas for their troubles, and many didn't hesitate to express their dissatisfaction by destroying black lives and property. Now, remember: this was during the height of Jim Crow, before Affirmative Action. Due to indifference at all levels of government, blacks usually found themselves outnumbered and unprotected (e.g. Rosewood, FL, and Tulsa, OK in the '20's). While the systems of affirmative action are terribly imperfect (keep in mind that they were a compromise between well-meaning, liberal whites and begrudged hard-liners, not black scholars and social scientists), they have, in spite of themselves, begun to have a positive effect on the minority communities. Black families, armed with better-paying, more secure jobs, have been able to send their children to quality education in greater numbers. The playing field has started to tilt toward level. Could this be the real reason for the 'angry white' backlash in the media (strange that 'neutral' newspapers use such terms as 'quota' and 'preference' when referring to programs that are designed to protect minorities from institutional discrimination, the kind that often 'prefers' white males; also, there seems to be a great push to promote negative images of blacks in pop culture, e.g. 'gangsta' rap and comic buffoonery)? Whites are not yet the statistical minority, but I can see that some of you seem to be worried about losing your traditional lion's share of opportunity. Is a level playing field such a bad thing?

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

Alain, you are more correct than you probably know. The educational system has formed along the same lines as everything else in this country: by popular demand. No backroom conspiracy of middle-aged white males has been necessary. In any given community, the people who send their children to school have final say over what the educational curriculum will be. If they do not appreciate 'revisionist' history (in other words, history that sheds any negative light, however accurate, on the birth and development of our current society) being taught in their schools, then it will not be taught. This sort of willful ignorance, spawned by the ages-old philosophy of conquerors ('the end justifies the means'), has contributed to the perpetuation of social inequity in our society. The fact that many individual minorities, even blacks, have overcome much of the racism in our society does not discount its existence within the framework of that society. Also, I disagree with Onewanda about the nature of a 'good consumer.' In the eyes of the greedy, a good consumer is an ignorant consumer, functional enough to earn disposable income, but unwilling to seriously question the socioeconomic vortex into which he funnels his income.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Samuel]

Though the woman may have been rather harsh in her approach, you must consider that many blacks frequently must deal with many racially oriented slaps in the face, especially in their dealings - both direct and indirect - with the larger "white" culture. While your establishment apparently didn't deserve such a scathing criticism (as evidenced by the husband's reaction), you must understand that some black people may have a tendency to develop a siege mentality when dealing with the white public. This is just a defense mechanism, and you shouldn't take it personally.

User Detail :  

Name : Samuel, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

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