Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences THE QUESTION:
R530: I’ve noticed that black people smell differently than white people. I’ve had a black roommate and a black girlfriend, and I’ve noticed that their rooms had the same aroma. I’ve also noticed this trait riding the subway and sitting next to black people in my computer class. I’m sorry to say that this particular smell I’m referring to is rather unpleasant to me. Why is this?
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
Jesse R., 29, white female, Brooklyn, NY
ANSWER 1:
I’ll bet what you’re noticing is the smell of different hair treatments African Americans use. African-American hair requires different treatment than that of European Americans. You’re just not accustomed to it, having not grown up with it. Having grown up with lots of African-American kids around, I never notice it even when others do. When I pay attention, I usually realize it’s hair treatment. Other than that, I’ve never noticed any particular difference in body odor. Western culture and some Asian cultures (Japan, for instance) are particularly sensitive to body odors. Anybody have any idea why?
POSTED DEC. 2, 1998
Lou H, 34, white male, Charlotte, NC
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R529: During a discussion at work about what foods would be served for dinner at Thanksgiving, the topic of mashed potatoes came up. One of my co-workers said black families do not serve mashed potatoes as part of the Thanksgiving meal. Is that true, or is it possible it is a Southern vs. Northern tradition?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
Debbie M., female, Jacksonville, FL
ANSWER 1:
I’m African American, I’m originally from Compton, CA, I’ve been to 32 Thanksgiving dinners, and I have yet to notsee mashed potatoes on the table (on the East or West Coast). In fact, I usually see potatoes of every variety – sweet potatoes, sweet potato pie, baked potatoes, potato salad, well you get the idea (and I’m getting hungry!) In the immortal words of Chuck D.: Don’t believe the hype. If you have extra mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, send them my way, and don’t forget the gravy!
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
Demetris <demetris@earthlink.net>, Frederick, MD
FURTHER NOTICE:
I cannot speak for every African-American family, but mine does serve mashed potatoes, along with a healthy amount of other delicious foods.
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
N. Houston, African American <mmhousto@unccvms.uncc.edu>, Charlotte, NC
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
It is true that black families typically do not serve mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving. I don’t know why, but at the many Thanksgiving dinners I have attended at the homes of my black family and friends, mashed potatoes has never been on the menu. The menu usually consists of turkey, stuffing, ham, greens (collards or kale), macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls or some similar type of bread, candied yams, pigs feet, chitterlings, cranberry sauce and assorted desserts. Black people also tend to prefer sweet potato pie to pumpkin pie.
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
Gregory, 21, black male <december@brigadoon.com>, Olney, MD
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
We usually do not serve mashed potatoes because we always have potato salad instead. Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be complete without my mother’s potato salad. I guess two potato dishes just don’t mix. Or maybe it’s just too many potatos.
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
African-American female, 27 <kenyaa@earthlink.net>, La Habra, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Our family never has mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving; potato salad is our choice.
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
A.A.W., 42, black female <anabwi@aol.com>, Plantation, FL
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R528: What is the percentage of women in the Asian work force?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
R527: Why do Native Americans live almost exclusively on reservations?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
R526: To people of all races: Is it hard for you to get along with people of other races, and if so, which races, and why?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
ANSWER 1:
Strictly speaking, no. I am a huge believer in treating people as individuals, and within each “race” (which is really a socio-cultural construct rather a strict biological term) there are folks of every different personality and demeanor imaginable. It sounds cliche, but you really can’t judge a book by its cover. But can race, culture, religion, language, etc. influence a person? Certainly. But they do not determine a person. Now, I have had the luxury of living most of my life in fairly diverse and integrated environments. Those who have lived in more homogenous settings may find it more difficult to relate with, if not get along with, others who are different. Nonetheless, as long as one has the right attitude in learning to look beyond stereotypes, getting to know “different” people can be fairly easy.
POSTED NOV. 19, 1998
Mihir, Indian, 25 <mishah@vt.edu>, Skokie, IL
FURTHER NOTICE:
I like to think of myself as open-minded. However, I seem to have trouble feeling comfortable around folks whose accents I cannot understand. I especially have trouble understanding the spoken words of people from India and surrounding areas. I have trouble “getting along” with these people because I find myself confused and uncomfortable when I fail to understand their speech. After asking someone to repeat themselves several times and still failing to understand, I’m often left nodding uncomfortably and trying to end the conversation. It’s not so much a failure to get along as a failure to even establish a basis for communication.
POSTED DEC. 2, 1998
Dave S., white male, 25, Northborough, MA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I guess I have some problems with all races (though I prefer to call them “ethnic groups”).
With black people: It’s a problem of YOMS – “You’re Oppressing Me Syndrome.” I don’t get up in the morning and say, “Well, who can I oppress today?” In fact, I don’t even think about black people – I don’t care about them at all. I have no black friends, and I have had numerous bad encounters with black people. In general, I’m just not comfortable around them. I think that many whites have what I call the “silent fear,” and that is that they are going to be around blacks who might “turn savage” on them. I just don’t trust black people, and yes, it is prejudice, but it is based on the majority of my experience, which is all I have to rely upon.
With Jewish people: I’m sick of hearing them whine and complain about being persecuted. My ancestors came to this country as slaves – sold into slavery for crimes against the crown. They had a choice of being executed or coming to America, where they were literally worked to death. Yet you don’t hear me bashing the Queen of England about it. A night doesn’t pass that I’m not bombarded with “Holocaust News” on TV. I just don’t care.
Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t really have a problem with Oriental people. I wouldn’t date/mate/marry one – but then again, we Scots think we’re a rung or two above everyone else, anyway!
POSTED DEC. 7, 1998
Tim, single white male, 30 <Fafnir777@hotmail.com>, Jacksonville, FL
(Director’s Note: From time to time, Y? posts submissions that push or exceed the envelope of our standards for constructive dialogue, in most cases to give users a sample of the kind of responses we normally reject, but also when they address a direct question seeking such feedback, as in the case of the inflammatory comments above and those posted in ANSWER 1 of R416. As always, we depend on your feedback to help us determine whether such a strategy can serve a constructive or educational purpose by letting users respond to such postings.)
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I’m not really sure there’s anything constructive to be gained by posting responses like this. I think we’re all painfully aware that attitudes like this exist. Space and time is better devoted to people who want to learn something. The confirmed bigots don’t need any encouragement.
POSTED DEC. 9, 1998
Susan, New York, NY
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Regarding Tim’s posting: My first reaction is to wonder if he is late for a KKK meeting. However, it is honest, and until we can all talk openly, even about our prejudices or ugly opinions, will we ever really communicate, or get anywhere? I don’t agree with it, but I think people need to know this opinion exists out there, especially white people (like myself) who thought we had come much further than this.
POSTED DEC. 9, 1998
Craig M., Minneapolis, MN
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
Why is Tim’s response being singled out as inflammatory? We’re not going to learn anything about each other if you post 50 responses of people saying (and lying), “I love people of all races.” Tim’s opinion is at least interesting and honest. Whether you agree with his viewpoints or not, they’re still as valid as anyone else’s.
POSTED DEC. 9, 1998
D.M.M., white female <donikam@hotmail.com>, Charleston, SC
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
I would like to see all responses – not just the sanitized, politically correct ones.
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
Michell, white female, 31, Panama City, FL
FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Well, I have to say, this is a nice reality check. I’ve spent the last month in a long, educational conversation with another poster to this forum, debating the fact that the typical white person is not racist. I should have known better than to maintain that kind of optimism. Tim’s post just goes to show that no matter how many white people shove off the tradition of racism, there will always be others to carry the torch. At least he was being honest. I do see the educational value of allowing all points of view, even the offensive ones, to have a place in the discussion. Other responses seem to support that conclusion, so why not modify the forum rules so that only the most blatant and baiting posts get rejected? Saying “I hate all white people!” might be too much, but explaining why you dislike white people is very different. After all, how can you know how other people feel if you are never allowed to hear or read those words?
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
John K., white male, 25, Cranford, NJ
FURTHER NOTICE 8:
Tim 1) was being honest, 2) had identified the areas that personally made him uncomfortable with certain ethnic groups, and 3) had also identified another ethnic group with whom he had not had any prior bad experiences and could therefore envision developing interactive relationships with. His answer was not “politically correct.” Sorry! I thought that’s not what this forum was about. I I think Tim probably has not given himself and others the opportunity to change his uncomfortable experiences to more positive ones. That’s because he has shut down, and at this stage probably does not interact at all with the ethnic groups with which he has had problems.
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
M.G., white, female, 41, Miami , FL
FURTHER NOTICE 9:
“Inflammatory”? All Tim talked about was real life experience. Perhaps the next question ought to be “Why has Y? become a politically correct bastion for white male bashers?” If Tim had bad experiences, is it any wonder he may feel the way he does?
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
Chris <ferret@ncoonect.net>, WI
FURTHER NOTICE 10:
I firmly believe that virtually all racism is due to ignorance and fear of the unknown. As a white male who grew up in Texas, I was about as racist as anyone until I entered college. Once there, I found myself interacting with blacks and Hispanics, and came to realize that my prejudices were based on suppositions that just didn’t hold up in reality. To those people who say they’re sick of a minority group “whining” about being oppressed: Are you judging an entire race on your impression of individuals you know? I doubt it. If you interacted more with blacks or Hispanics or Jews, you would likely find that most don’t sit around complaining all day; they just get on with their lives, just like you. As an aside, I believe racism works both ways. Blacks and Hispanics and all other minorities often avoid whites for the same reasons we avoid them. We all need to just chill out and talk to each other a little bit more.
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
J Wilker, 30, white male, Allentown , PA
FURTHER NOTICE 11:
Not only do my sentiments concur with Craig’s and D.M.M’s, but I graciously thank the moderater to the ends of the earth for posting a raw, sincere, point-blank response. While I respect the moderator’s judgment, I am not really interested in answers watered down with reserved or hidden statements to avoid my feelings being hurt. Give it to me straight instead of beating around the bush, so I don’t have to read between the lines to figure out what you’re really saying/thinking/feeling/believing.
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
Alonzo C., 32, African American, Jacksonville, FL
FURTHER NOTICE 12:
I can relate very well to Tim’s response. Although I have known several black people who I liked and would consider good friends, I have also had very many negative encounters with black people, moreso than whites or any other race. So I would probably consider myself prejudiced. I should not be so blind, you say? But that’s the way it is. I have an opinion formed from personal experiences. What does that mean? It means that when I see a black person walking down the street, I think he’s snooching around looking for something to steal. It means when I see a news story about a crime, and the perpetrator is black, I think, “Typical.” This is wrong, you say, and you’re right. It’s wrong, racist, stereotyping and counter-productive. But that’s the way it is. A lot more white people think the same way I do than you think, probably moreso down here in the South than other parts of the country (for historical reasons). Most people don’t like to say it, though. I think this answers the original question fairly well, although many of you may be offended. Too bad. The truth hurts. That’s what this forum is for, the truth, and there it is.
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
J. Sin, young white male, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 13:
Tim’s response confirms what most black people have known for year: White hatred of blacks stems from fear. Turn savage? Does he mean whip him until he bleeds, or maybe lynch him in front of his family? How about set him on fire and then behead him, or perhaps drag him down the street tied to the back of a truck? Savage? Let’s talk about savagery.
POSTED DEC. 11, 1998
R.G., black female, Richmond, VA
FURTHER NOTICE 14:
I have a hard time getting along with language escapists. People who speak a language other than American English who conveniently forget how to speak or understand any American English. This practice makes me spend an inordinate amount of time drawing pictures and referencing books to explain technical issues at work. This has happened to me primarily with people from India, but also with Koreans and Chinese. I have enough challenges at work and do not like the increase in my workload. Many of these people have lived in the United States more than five years, which is more than enough time to learn. I believe these people should not work in any high communication jobs. F.Y.I.: White people are generally racist to some degree, as is everyone else on the planet. It is impossible to stop, so we should stop making laws that are negative to any group (i.e. everyone has equal rights except white males).
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Hardworker, Grapevine, TX
FURTHER NOTICE 15:
To R.G.: I think you are seriously wrong to try to bring up such incidents that happened well before your time. Has anyone in your family been beheaded or whipped lately?
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
S. Lord, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 16:
To those who say racism is caused by fear: I don’t fear black people. I don’t fear any kind of people because they have a certain skin color. I don’t like black people because I’ve met very few intelligent black people with whom I could carry on a real conversation. I went to public school. I saw black men (17 years old or so) acting like idiots in the halls, talking 10 times louder than they needed to, acting up and groping black girls as they walked down the hall. That is one thing that really made me disenchanted with trying to “educate” myself about other races. I have no respect for someone who treats woman like a piece of meat. “But that’s just individuals, not the whole race,” you say. How many times has this been said? Just about as many times as I can say: “So what? Prove it.” And for me, this has not been done. I’m in college right now, and I thought I had gotten away from the riff-raff of public school. Wrong again it seems. Five or six times now in the Student Center (a big room with tables and chairs) there has been a whole group of black folks playing cards, and suddenly they just jump up and hoot and holler like they’ve got ants in their pants. What’s up with that? I’ve never seen any white, Latino, Asian or any other whoever make such a racket and carry on like that. So I suppose you could say I’m not racist against all black people, just a very large majority of them. And this is most definitely not due to a lack of “education” on my part, so whoever has that weird idea, find a new boat that floats.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
J. Sin, young white male, Albany, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 17:
I find myself feeling superior to the white race when I hear/read comments such as that regarding waiting for a black person to “turn savage.” I was raised on Air Force bases throughout the United States and had plenty of exposure to the white race. It wasn’t until I got older and experienced discrimination in housing and job promotions and in receiving courtesy from store clerks, etc., that I found myself keeping white people at arm’s length. I no longer give my complete trust to anyone who is white (if I ever do give them any trust); I’ve been kicked in the teeth one too many times. I’ve learned how to smile and keep my guard up whenever I deal with white people.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Loren, black female <Aaron.jones9@gte.net>, Miami, FL
FURTHER NOTICE 18:
Although I was shocked and angered to read Tim’s response to the question, I’m nonetheless happy to have seen it posted. From reading all the politically correct answers, I had assumed things had really changed over the years and that such blatant forms of racism and prejudice no longer existed in people in the United States. His response shocked me back to reality and made me realize I still have to face such things as I’m growing. His answer was upsetting and not very nice, but at least it was truthful. That’s life. Since Y? is here to help deal with people’s differences, I’m happy to have seen it posted and am gladly encouraging you to post more of these honest opinions. Sheltering people from them will certainly not help in understanding people and their differences.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Ingrid L., 18, black female, Boston, MA
FURTHER NOTICE 19:
I guess I am thankful you printed Tim’s response. I am saddened at to be reminded that there are those whose view is so limited (and limiting), but it is a necessary reality check for me. I, as other writers, had hoped that we as a species were getting further along on our journey. I am reminded that there is still much work and re-education to be done. Personal experiences are life-shaping, true. But every dark cloud is not a tornado. I find people living in isolated fear and with such an invalid sense of superiority more frightening than anything. I am reminded, too, that I can only change myself and how I ultimately choose to respond/relate to others. My influence is in how I “walk the talk,” as is Tim’s.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Jean, white female, 44 <CP1028@AOL.com>, Big Bend, WI
FURTHER NOTICE 20:
To Tim and several other posters: I am glad that this response was posted, and more like it should be posted. Tim spoke of his negative experiences with blacks, but if I spoke of all of my negative experiences with whites and used those experiences as a crutch, a reason to be prejudiced, my life would not be as happy as it is now. As a high school student, I attend a school with a very high white population. I see not only that white people act just as “bad” as black people, but that they can get away with it a whole lot easier. When I get called a nigger for just being black, when every year I get questioned by teachers about why I am in their advanced class on the first day of school, I wonder. When the white girls steal my gym clothes and I am not allowed to retaliate because my punishment would be harsher, and I would be seen as the “typical black kid,” I wonder. If I based things only on my experiences, and allowed myself to see only the negative white people in my world, I guess I would be prejudiced, too. I’m very happy to say I remember these incidents in my life, and I keep up my guard, but never will I use these things to pre-judge another human being.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
K.B., I guess I’m just a typical black girl <special_k99@hotmail.com>, Raleigh, NC
FURTHER NOTICE 21:
I don’t have trouble getting along with anyone of any race. I was raised in a military family and didn’t know what racism was until I went to kindergarten. I was told I’d turn black if I touched a black person, and I nearly fell of my chair. How ignorant can someone be that they would say/believe such a thing? I thought we’d settled the race issue in the ’60s until I heard about Rodney King. It blows my mind that people beat up other people for their color, for their heritage or for the million other differences we all have. How boring would this world be if we were cookie-cutter people? Don’t people feel conflict when they say they are racist and that they know it’s wrong, but that’s just the way it is? If you know it’s wrong, fix it. I judge people. I judge them for how they treat others and how they use the earth’s resources. It seems to me that the “good” and the “poisonous” people are pretty evenly spread around.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Colleen, 38, white female <congdon@illuminet.net>, Quantico, VA
FURTHER NOTICE 22:
I believe there is a sure way to end racism, discrimination, homophobia, etc. It has to do with “fair representation” in our legislative systems, courts, etc. If a population is made up of six major races, two genders and two or more sexual preferences, then shouldn’t all of its representatives reflect these distinctions fairly and equally? America’s population has evolved, but I do not believe that every politician is not a racist, bigot or homophobe.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Steven, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 23:
It’s amazing how one honest communication of feelings (especially feelings that most people have been conditioned to deny) is more useful and communicative than a hundred politically correct, watered-down posts that neither offend nor inform. R.G.’s comments are particularly applicable. She indicated she has always suspected that white people hate black people because they fear them. Speaking for myself, there is an element of truth to that (at least the fear part). The mind instinctively categorizes and searches for patterns, and seeing numerous news reports about horribly violent crimes committed by, in many cases, poor urban young black males, will, whether you like it or acknowledge it or not, force you to form a predisposition. Isn’t it useful that I admit (to others, but more importantly to myself) that I cannot help but be wary in the presence of scruffily clad young urban males, and black males maybe a little bit more than whites? At least then I can recognize my feelings of anxiety are unfounded and remind myself to treat every individual with due respect. And would it not be better for R.G., knowing that I and probably a lot of other white people have to deal with these feelings, to be able to point out why black people can watch the same newscast and come away feeling that they have just as much if not more to fear from white people?
Stereotypes on this forum have gotten something of a bad rap. The infamous “white people are devils” post (R416) is not and should not be offensive to me. It is a statement of a person’s opinion based on his/her observations, fundamentally no different from “American cars are clunkers” or “Mexican food gives me heartburn.” We are so quick to take offense at generalizations and to go into denial about ever having made one ourselves (at least based on ethnic/gender/religious/etc. categorization) that we refuse to acknowledge patterns, trends or sometimes, tragically, common misperceptions. I am not arguing that you can legitimately judge all members of a group (particularly a group made up of units as complex and unique as human beings) with any degree of accuracy. What I am asserting is that your mind is going to recognie patterns among groups of people, just like it does among groups of foods or cars, whether you think it is socially acceptable or not. If you want to learn how to deal with it, you better be able to talk about it. I kind of think its better to acknowledge that somewhere in the back of my mind, I do have a little bit of fear, so that I can combat it by reminding myself that what you see on the news is not always representative of real life. Certainly that is preferable to always being uncomfortable and distant and never knowing why.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Mark, white male, Alexandria , VA
FURTHER NOTICE 24:
Tim, you expect savagery from African Americans because you are programmed to, from what your family tells you or what you see in the media. You also bring “bad experiences” onto yourself: If you were approached by someone who already has a negative opinion of Scots, would you react politely and graciously? Stupidity and fear paint caricatures of groups; the media just follows suit. As a Jewish woman, I know this. The real danger is when someone believes a stereotype of his/her own group, e.g. “I’m a Jew, and we’re very clever and we whine a lot” or “I’m a Scot, and we think we’re a rung above the rest.” I am not a clever “whiner,” you are not better than anyone else, and I would never date you.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Irene, 34, Jewish female, New York, NY
FURTHER NOTICE 25:
Years ago I found myself working in an office with a group of women split between white, black and Latino (mostly Mexican). Interestingly, my reaction was that I felt more comfortable with the black women than with the Latinos. Even though both my parents are from the South and I grew up in a fairly prejudiced environment, my “Southern” background meant I had more cultural similarities with the black women, whom I came to love and have missed ever since.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Martha, OR
FURTHER NOTICE 26:
I’d like to disagree with D.M.M. on two points. First, I think Tim’s response is possibly inflammatory, or at least unconstructive, because he shows no interest in understanding people better and no sense that there might be anything troubling or immoral in his attitude. There’s a whole continuum of attitudes between Tim’s and the hypocrisy of lying about loving everyone. Second, Tim’s opinion may be as genuine or as deeply felt as anyone else’s, but it is not equally valid. Prejudice and bigotry are in no way as legitimate or decent or moral as attitudes of tolerance and the belief that people are to be judged as individuals. The idea that all opinions are equally valid is a mistaken understanding of the Enlightenment; the rejection of revealed authority is not a rejection of reason or morality and does not mean that beliefs don’t need to be justified.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
Susan, New York, NY
FURTHER NOTICE 27:
In regard to Tim’s posting: I think his response is perfectly valid and honest. It is about his personal experience with other races, and it is what the Y? Forum should be for: Straightforward opinions and answers. Prejudice is a must for social beings to interact in the world – we all do it. We do it with race, culture, etc. We are prejudiced even when we are making decisions. It allows us to make everyday decisions without thinking rationally about each and every situation we encounter. With regard to race, it is how we act on these prejudices that separates politically “good” people from “bad” ones.
POSTED DEC. 14, 1998
A.C. 20, Ontario, Canada
FURTHER NOTICE 28:
I must admit I harbor some bitterness and utter disdain for a particular group of white people. First of all, I was raising in a middle-class, God-fearing household, where I was taught the meaning of hard work, discipline and morals. I worked hard to get good grades in school/college, I embarked on a successful career and I’ve never engaged in criminal activity. I don’t say all of these things to brag, because I believe this to be the norm and not the exception for young black males. Yet despite my background, despite who I am as an individual, I’m made to feel like a thug by my white counterparts, if we walk past each other on the street. I’m made to feel like a potential shoplifter when I go into stores to spend my hard-earned money. I’m “profiled” by police because I happen to drive a nice car, and I look prosperous. These everyday occurrences, and believe me, they happen every day, cause me to harbor bitter feelings toward a particular group of white people, who I feel are becoming more the norm than the exception.
And to S. Lord (Further Notice 16): You must live on another planet because the savagery R.G. (Further Notice 13) spoke of (whippings, burnings, lynchings, decapitations) was not from experiences that happened before her time, but from instances that happened this year! That just goes to show there are those who would rather go through life with blinders on than own up to the truth – that some white folks, not all, have done savage and horrific deeds, not just in times past, but right now.
POSTED DEC. 16, 1998
Shawn, black male <smoore15@aol.com>, Baltimore, MD
FURTHER NOTICE 29:
No, Tim’s opinion is not “as valid as anyone else’s.” He has a right to hold and even express it, but that doesn’t make it valid. Nor is it merely “politically correct” to object to it. Tim pretends that his experiences are clear, balanced perceptions of reality. In fact, he maintains his prejudices through careful selection of experiences that he himself helps to form. And, circularly, he forms them out of his prejudices. He has no positive experience with, say, functional black individuals or families because A) he’d never go near one, B) he wouldn’t recognize one if he saw it, and C) no such person or family would dream of letting him come close – because he’s a toxic bigot! When you start out hating and mistrusting, you don’t allow experiences that contradict the prejudice. Contradictions are screened out. Only information that confirms the prejudice gets through the screen. And people who could teach you the error of your ways get one whiff of you and keep their distance. Though Tim may be a perfectly smart man, he’s a bigot and, fundamentally, a fool. That is, he doesn’t interact with the world as it is, but only as he already conceives of it. It’s useful to know that there are lots of fools. It’s wrong to imagine that their “opinions are valid.”
POSTED DEC. 27, 1998
Will H., white male, 49 <tccwill@flash.net> Dallas, TX
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
R525: Do Native Americans get things for free, and if so, from what entities?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
ANSWER 1:
From the the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ own website: “Contrary to popular belief, Indians do not get payment from the federal government simply because they have Indian blood. Money belongs either to the tribe or to an individual.” I honestly think these rumors are deliberately started to promote hostile stereotypes of Indians as lazy or living off the government. These stories promote as much hostility between Indians and whites as the stories of “welfare queens” do between blacks and whites. Some tribes get paid for the mineral rights to their lands. Many tribes also have their own scholarship funds. But this is not “getting for free” any more than you being paid for mineral rights to your own property or your son getting a scholarship. Some tribes like the Lakota and Hopi have also been paid for lands swindled from them, but refuse to take the money. I am glad for the opportunity to try to end these ugly lies.
A.C.C., Mexican and American Indian <bigi__@yahoo.com>, San Antonio, TX
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
R524: To people of all races: In your opinion, would it be good for the United States to have an African-American president (female or male), and what would be the benefits and drawbacks if one were elected?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
ANSWER 1:
Overall it would be positive, just as Kennedy’s election laid to rest some of the Catholic stigma in the United States. One concern is that assassination attempts are common (Truman, Kennedy, Ford, Reagan, someone with an automatic weapon outside the White House and another inside the Capitol recently, a pilot crashing a small plane at the White House, etc.), and a random nutcase shooting at a black president could prove very divisive in the short run. Long term, a good thing.
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
B. Hale, white <halehart@aol.com>, Hartford, CT
FURTHER NOTICE:
If the right candidate came along and happened to be black, I would certainly vote him or her in. I think it would be incredible for this country. On the other hand, it would be horrible at the same time, because people would be attacking that poor president more than anyone has ever attacked even Clinton, and they’d all be obsessed with his or her race. Every time he or she did anything, white people would be like, “Oh, if we had a white president it’d be different,” or black people would be like “Oh, he’s a shame to our race,” and it would be a nightmare. It will happen, however – it’s bound to.
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
Wendy, 24, white, bisexual, Democrat, Atlanta, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
The biggest concern I would have with a black president would be under what reasons that person was elected into office. If it was a race-orientated reason and not a political background reason, that would be the biggest of my concerns. I would have no problem with a black male/female president as long as they would defend my country and rights to the best of their ability. I would be concerned if a black president was voted in just because people thought it was time the United States had a black president, and for no other reason.
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
Mike G. <slamdunk21@juno.com>, Utica, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
The man or woman best qualified for the job of President is the one who should receive the position. Tokenism is always obvious in the long run. Race, creed and ethnic origin should be ignored by an intelligent voting populace. A president must be a strong moral individual. Race is immaterial; vote for the best qualified candidate.
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
Terry49 <mac6231@pottsville.infi.net>, Pottsville, PA
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I believe having an African-American and/or female president whould be beneficial to the country if the person is qualified. I believe in looking at qualifications and skills first, but given a white male and an African-American female with the same qualifications, I would choose the African American, for this would add to the diversity and give minorities more of an impact in how our country is run. A major consequence, of course, is that racists in this country would get very upset and this event could possibly create more racial tension and perhaps killings. I think a question that has to be answered first is not should we have an African-American President but whether our country is ready for one.
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
Amy C., 17, white <AmyMarilyn@AOL.com>, Dayton, OH
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I think it will be beneficial. Let me be on the record in predicting that the first black president will be a Republican, because Republicans have a large number of middle-aged black leaders right now who have excellent oratory and campaigning skills. I believe many blacks are socially conservative, and that many white Democrats would not support a radically liberal Democrat along the lines of Jesse Jackson. My best bets are J.C. Watts or Alan Keyes, with a possible cabinet or V.P. position for Colin Powell in the future. They certainly deliver a positive message, which Republicans have unfortunately not done since the mid-1980s.
POSTED DEC. 22, 1998
Chris, 20, Conservative Republican <c-reicher@nwu.edu>, Chicagoland area, IL
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THE QUESTION:
R523: Why did/does the Ku Klux Klan burn crosses in front of black people’s houses?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
ANSWER 1:
The obvious answer to your question, that they’re violent, psychotic racists, is probably not what you’re after. They believe they are a Christian organization, and that they are fighting for a Christian ideal: A racially segregated nation. So they feel that a brightly lit cross is a good Christian symbol. They don’t feel that destroying a cross by fire is any denigration of the cross. The fact that they do things so opposed to what most Christians would say is true Christianity is a detail they overlook. They burned them on black people’s yards to frighten them out of the neighborhood.
POSTED DEC. 2, 1998
Lou H., 34, white male, Charlotte, NC
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THE QUESTION:
R522: To people of all races: Which race in the United States do you think practices racism most?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
ANSWER 1:
As much as I love my friends who are of Indian (from India) descent, I would probably have to say people directly from India who have moved here. Because of that whole caste structure thing of the lower class (the “dirty untouchables” who were often dark-skinned Indians), middle class and upper class richies, when upper-class Indians come here, sometimes they are disdainful of those who are dark-skinned.
POSTED JAN. 18, 1999
Blackgrrl,18, CA
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THE QUESTION:
R521: Why does such a higher percentage of blacks and Hispanics in the United States live in poverty?
POSTED NOV. 17, 1998
D. Price <abqteachr@netscape.net>, Albuquerque, NM
ANSWER 1:
I think that it is a twofold problem, with a twofold answer. 1) Many in these two groups grow up in poverty-stricken, broken homes. 2) Education isn’t stressed as much, especially in homes where the parents(s) are not educated. So what you have is a cycle that continues, yet grows worse with each child born into it; so each generation has less than the one before it.
In my case, my dad never finished college, yet he is making a decent amount of money (a six-digit income). I, on the other hand, will have to finish college to be able to break out of my “under-$30,000 tax bracket” (as in way under it!).
POSTED DEC. 7, 1998
Tim, single white male, 30, Jacksonville, FL
FURTHER NOTICE:
To Tim: I find it quite arrogant of you to respond to this post when you indicated previously in R526 that you do not like blacks, don’t know any and don’t care to know us. What then makes you qualified to answer a question regarding our lives? Your answer can’t be based on facts. If you don’t care to know us, I’d assume you don’t bother to seriously study our lives and history, either. You say you don’t have any black friends or acquaintances, so your answer is not based on what you’ve learned in relationships with us. I wouldn’t be so bold to answer a question about the Irish experience here in America because I’m not Irish, and because my experience does not bear out that I have a grasp on your culture. Your post affirms the need to heal the racial strife we have in this country. Please, keep reading the Y? Forum.
POSTED DEC. 9, 1998
Zawadi, black female, 33 <aquarius9@hotmail.com>, Detroit, MI
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