[Tubbs]

David Duke. . . Are you kidding? You must be. You cannot seriously be providing David Duke, ex-Klansman, as a reliable source for scientific evidence regarding race.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

I think that many African-Americans consider white people to be conspiring against us or racist because of our history in this country and our present socio-economic status. The American slave trade has played a significant role in the present socio-economic status of black people in this country. Many white people (and some Black) initiated this system and many White people still benefit from this system today. Peggy McIntosh wrote an article, 'WHITE PRIVILEGE: UNPACKING THE INVISIBLE KNAPSACK,' that speaks to some of the unspoken benefits that white people in this society enjoy over Blacks. Some of the privileges that she mentions are: greater ease in renting or purchasing housing that you truly wish to live in; little/no threat of harassment while shopping, driving, or dining; wide representation in the media; educational materials and toys for children that represent your race; to name a few It is telling that in your post you note that there are more white people defending blacks than vice-versa. Perhaps this is because there are an overwhelming amount of white people expressing their diverse opinions on televison. Of course, the pat response of most white people is, 'I didn't do that as an individual; and that state of affairs is not my fault.' and those points are valid. However, if you wish to live in a fair and just society you should at least acknowledge the fact that things are indeed unbalanced and you are the beneficiary of this inequity. That being said, I don't want any hand-outs or 'special' privileges from white people and I think that Black people that push for such things are living in a fantasy world. I hope that Black people will instead work together to overcome adversity in spite of present and past unfairness.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

I'm not an expert, but I have read a little about Rastafarianism. To the best of my knowledge Rasta is an offshoot of Christianity relying heavily on the book of Revelations. They believe that the second coming of the savior has already occured on Earth in the person of the former Emperor of Ethiopia, Hallie Salasie. Salasie led Ethiopia to liberation from British colonial rule and as one of the first modern African leaders to do so, represented leadership and solidarity to Black people throughout the world. Rastas also believe in Pan-Africanism which is the philosophy that all Black people in the world are and should be united through their common African ancestry (see Marcus Garvey). I believe that Rastafarianism began in Jamaica, but I may be mistaken. Adherents to the faith typically do not cut, comb, or brush their hair allowing it to grow into Dred Locks. In addition they do not believe in the mass accumulation of material wealth and often give away their possessions and share their homes with friends and the needy. Rastas also believe in using marijuana as a means of connecting to the world spiritually and uplifting their minds. I have read that Rastas allow their children to smoke marijuana as a part of their faith.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

I consider myself more agnostic than atheist, but earlier in my life I was an atheist, and I still agree with many atheist perspectives on the question of whether God exists. To answer your initial statement: I've questioned the existence of God because I saw no hard evidence. The only historical pieces of evidence presented to me were religious books such as the Bible, which could have been made-up fairytales as far as I know. The fact that our bodies are complex or that the stars or moon exist does not prove God exists to me; one doesn't really have anything to do with the other. Computers are also complex, and that doesn't mean that God created them or that God exists. As for God's grace, I think people who suffer a great deal during their lives might not necessarily feel that their existence is such a gift from above. I don't know if God is the creator because I'm not sure God ever existed.

The only thing that has made me think that God exists (as I think you perceive of 'Him') are the Bible, Koran or Torah. Again, I see no reason to rely on those books as factual or literal. So I guess I have not believed in God because I thought about it for awhile and drew my own conclusions.

Ironically, today I consider myself a deeply spiritual person (not religious). My beliefs are based on my feelings and on what I have observed of the world, the universe and existence. I feel there are likely higher powers than man, but I don't think that human beings could truly comprehend them/it/her/he in the way many religions proclaim. To me, worshipping a higher power doesn't make much sense, in the same way that I don't think it makes sense for an electron to worship me.

Finally, I recoginize that people have different beliefs than me, and I try to respect their beliefs. I try not to make other people feel bad for believing something different than me. I wish everyone would try to do the same.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

Some black people are afraid of dogs and some are not. Just like any other group, we are diverse and represent different tastes and viewpoints. There are affluent African-American dog owners who own huskies, labs, weims, etc., and lower-income brothers and sisters with pit-bulls and rottwheillers. My sister bought a beagle recently that had been abused, and she loves her dearly. That being said, there may be some older black people who associate German shepherds with police and the abuse we suffered during the civil rights movement. Overall, though, I haven't noticed any disproportionate fear of dogs among black people.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

I've dated Black women, White women, and Asian women, but mostly Black women. I agree that the reasons that Black men date interracially are complex and not the same for all people. Some people date out of self-hatred. Some people date because of stereotypes. Some people date to experiment. Some people have been raised in predominanly white environments that make them feel more comfortable around white people than Blacks. Some people just don't care about race in the dating context. I think for me it's been a little of each on different occasions. One idea that I don't hear to often is that some people want to get away from the familial aspect of dating someone of the same race. I have a biological sister and I don't want to date anyone who looks too much like my sister because I don't want to think about my sister when I'm in a sexual relationship (incest, no thanks). I want some aspect of foreignness in whomever I date. There can be an aspect of foreignness when dating within my own race because not every Black woman looks like my sister. But it clearly happens when I date outside of my race because there are no white or asian women who look much like anyone in my family.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

I recently graduated from law school and returned almost every book that I had bought during school. One reason is that I needed the money for the books more than I needed the books themselves. Another reason is that lugging 800 pounds of books across the country just seemed stupid, particularly if the books focused on subjects that I don't intend to practice in. I also hoped that other students might be able to use my 'used' books and buy them for cheaper prices than I had to pay when I bought them initially.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

I read the forum every few months and I usually leave it alone after reading it because I always see the same questions ('why can't white people say nigger') over and over, but this is a good/unique question! I have no idea why Black people oftentimes have deeper voices; even as children this appears to be the case. Maybe higher voices are more acceptable to mainstream (white) society because that tone is less threatening, so people use the tone of voice they feel comfortable with to identify with their group. My father is from the West Indies and I've noticed that when he speaks with people he is not familiar with he uses a much higher tone of voice. I imagine that it is more cultural than biological.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tubbs]

I think the reason for the race discussions is that people of differing races generally have little or no experience dealing on any substantive level with people of other races. So, when people are finally put in the position of actually having a face to face discussion with someone of another race they feel the need to bring up anything and everything that they've wondered about the other group. I don't think it is a conversation killer because I try to be patient enough to discuss and explain and that usually results in a spirited discussion (if nothing else it presents an opportunity to clear up misconceptions). However, I do feel that people that propose these discussions are ignorant and/or rude (that doesn't mean we can't talk with one another). I wish that these people would read a book on the subject instead of showing their ignorance. Instead of thinking of it as a conversation killer perhaps you should view it as an opportunity to teach.

User Detail :  

Name : Tubbs, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : Silver Spring, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : between jobs, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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