Black woman to white friend of over a decade: " Of course you're a racist!"

originally posted by: blupblup
WOW..... 42 flags for a completely made up, BS story?

This is what ATS has sunk to?

*rolls eyes*

While I'll hesitate to call it bs, it still amazes me that just an anecdotal story did get this much attention.

And people acting like this is just the flat out truth, scary.

a reply to: zazzafrazz

I agree this story sounds like some one who was upset by a few opinions and hand picked the ignorant sounding "sound bytes" just like our MSM to make a point that they aren't really a bad person.

Boy they've trained us well...

Fact of the matter is friend Abe your black friend has thought you were racist for 10 years and was still friends with you.

In that respect they are more an optimist than you are in the fact they would believe that while you are racist you would still be a good friend.

Abe take you racist foot out of your racist mouth and actually talk to your friend on a real level and find out what they might know, what you don't know. Don't lose a friendship over this malarkey we need to overcome that one step at a time.

a reply to: Sremmos80

Why hesitate? If anyones instinct isn't to see this thread is a rubbish thread, simply a race bait flag grab, then they need glasses.

I'am not afraid of our 'lil Abe, is everyone else?

a reply to: zazzafrazz

Even if its BS it still generates genuine hits. Why not take the time to educate some of the masses rather than leave them to squabble about non issues?

a reply to: Poofmander

That is done in threads worthy of such contribution

a reply to: zazzafrazz

I'd see this as a great opportunity to show some closed minded individuals some differing world views. And I'm a huge proponent of denying ignorance, even for others, therefore I must give the facts of the matter. If only one gets anything out of it I will still feel solace in that one person being less ignorant than they once were.

Sometimes ignorance cant be blamed on the ignorant, they just never heard anyone say it before.

a reply to: Hoosierdaddy71

Stop with the "they" stuff heh? Don't lump all black people into the same boat, it's annoying. That is one woman talking to another. And I don't care if she said "All black people this or that" She might be black but I assure you, she does not talk for me or any other black person on this planet except for herself.

Racists come come in every shade, very colour and from every walk of life on this planet.

I might be black, but I am Bernie, and I am Canadian.

Notice above on that last sentence how being black does not factor into anything? I'm just a human, my skin colour is just that. My Skin Colour. Who cares?

Cheers

a reply to: Poofmander

Go through the OPs posting history, read their shining example of cultural tolerances, then come back and tell me if you think it a worth while exercise.

Go for it.

a reply to: zazzafrazz

I'm sorry I'm not doing this for the OP's benefit, I'm doing if for anyone willing to be open-minded and read my words and heed them and maybe make the world a slightly better place.

This racism thing is much bigger than Mr. Froman.

a reply to: Poofmander

Then I support you in your cause, and trust you can leave me to fight Racism where and how I choose to, not where I am told to.

a reply to: zazzafrazz

Oh yeah totally, as long as you don't tell me where to do it

a reply to: Jakal26

On my Uncle"s farm there were no 'outsider' chickens. They had all been born and raised together.They were free range chickens that could go pretty much where ever they wanted.I would say that stress was not a factor.They were well fed with a good diet,so that wasn't an issue.Country people told me as a child that that is not uncommon behavior in chickens and that if they want to keep their chicks,they have to watch the other chicks and chickens to make sure no one is getting pecked to death. There is always some pecking if their order is disturbed,but when it goes beyond to killing a chick,and you have ruled out all other issues,(my family raised them the old fashioned way as farmers have been doing forever)That chickens are attracted to anything 'odd' and will start pecking at it.Once it gets a drop of blood on it,forget it,get it separated or let it die. You can reintroduce it later when its big enough to take care of itself.This sight talks about it. urbanchickenconsultant.wordpress.com...

Breed of bird: Large breeds may bully smaller breeds, and chickens with odd features (e.g., peacomb, crest on head, or feather on feet) may be singled out.

We had to separate 2 chicks over this.You may not have seen it in your birds,it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. The 2 we separated followed us till the day they died,thinking they were one of us.These chicks were born to the hens that were and had been on the farm,the mothers even jumped in to help kill them.

a reply to: abe froman


The points mentioned in this thread (especially first few pages) is a very normal pattern from an American perspective despite the fact it is abnormal to those looking in from the outside. The things mentioned in this thread (and most others concerning race ) seems to be projected from an American POV which is ignorant to say the least.

My American friends who posses ignorant narrow minded views of the world to the point they actually believe the crap they type about, especially concerning ethnicity and race, I implore you to travel the world, or at least leave the farm just once before dying.

America makes up about 5% of the world's population; stop projecting as if you are in the "normal zone" with other first world nations. Some of you cannot get past black and white issues in 2015; never mind all the other shinola going on there.

That conversation you had with your friend can only happen in America...

originally posted by: Poofmander
a reply to: BlackboxInquiry

Okay I used the metaphor if a game to show how in our current state the game is unequal, but the problem with the metaphor is a game has an end. Our society doesn't just end, as far as we know.

My analogy was that a team has been wrongfully ruled against for most of a game, now those who determine judgment come forward and admit wrong doing. The game isn't going to be replayed or the score changed because that doesn't work.

Also we don't really have the luxury of changing teams dude, these teams I'm referring to are again metaphors for perceived race.

In my metaphor the point is the team treated unfairly has less time in the end to try and get a win, but when they protest the answer is,
" Guys we told you we were wrong, everything is fair now, just play the rest of the game. "

For them to win at such a disadvantage is nigh impossible.

Racism made the playing field uneven in the game we currently find ourselves playing. And if you dont have anything to say about how wrong it was, or if you think everyone has an equal opportunity you are ignorant to the facts that racism changed the social dynamic of our country and caused many of the perceived race boundaries today.

Hopefully our society has no end. My point is that more than likely, you like me, weren't even alive, nor present for the tragedies that happened in the past, yet we're expected to carry the torches they created?

I don't know about anyone else, but I personally *refuse* to carry the torches of the past if they aren't working. It's a mental shift, I don't see 'race' as a problem. The Gov't seems bent on driving this issue for infinity, and it's up to you, me and other people who want to stop playing the broken record and make new music. Can't flip the odds to 'correct' anything - giving one advantage over another is the same thing, just the opposite direction.

Example 1:

Gov't give labels, plays sides when there's an agenda to push, but then on the opposite side of their sword, condemn anyone else who does it. Both are despicable.

Example 2:

The Gov't has forms to fill out and wants us to break down the 'racial make up' of the company. I didn't feel it made any difference, so I didn't fill it out. Turns out, I had to. So I got a nasty-gram and a phone call. Also turns out that even though I don't see any value in determining someones ability to do a job by race, the Gov't does and *requires* that part of the form be filled out. Turns out, after looking at this beyond ridiculous form..."whites" are the minority in the company as are "Asians" (quotation marks for absurdity emphasis). They let us know that we should look at 'diversifying' more. WTF does race have to do with employment or the ability to do a job?!??

Please understand, I'm not coming at you - just fed up the absurdity of carrying a torch, that more than likely neither of us created (and there are fewer and fewer every day) - yet are expected to carry the torches, not get burned and lessen the heat and injuries from said torches. It's impossible to pick a turd up by the clean end.

Teams, I mean as in people/humans, not race - I simply don't think that way. Never have, never will. Not one person on God's green earth will *ever* get me change my view on that. I find it absurd and disgusting it's an issue, it shouldn't be, wtf is wrong with people? People are people, end of story. I refuse to pay for something I had absolutely no hand in, however I am more than happy to help remove the mental shackles of those who still think that race is a label of suppression or power.

Again, not coming at you - just don't see the value in flipping the rules to 'even' things out. How about we just adjust and move forward...looking backward to date, unless I'm wrong, hasn't done much.

The greatest people in history who really started to change the mindset of people in regards to race, only used the past to illustrate unfairness and wanted to progress and make things better for ALL moving forward, not just a particular 'race'.

Ranting over...ugh. It's got me all upset. People who are racist - I have no kind words for them...

a reply to: zazzafrazz

Well I should say I just hesitate to say it didn't go down as said.

With that said I don't agree with anything that is being said about what it represents, since one we only have one side of the story and two, it is just ridiculous to say one convo can equate to a nations stance on things.
I agree with the history you speak of and don't doubt the friends had seen that or heard of it.

originally posted by: AthlonSavage
Its true to a degree all white people are racists then it works the other around as well, so where all racists to some degree how much only the individual knows that.
Personally I think all races should interbreed its the road better balance

Or you can say no one is a racist. It is all the same. You see, people have eyes, ears and senses. We can see another person and that is the first thing that we sense. We may see white and we may see black. As humans, we immediately take that information and unconsciously search our database for what to do next. Is there a reason to be happy, sad, scared, etc. We all label and file people way in our filing cabinet based upon what we see, hear, etc. We recall it in the same manner unless we get to know the person very, very well.

So yes...we could all be called racist. We could all be called sexist and much more. But that is the way people are made. Now, if during your filing and experience you happen to encounter a majority of say "bad" black people...you could call that racism, or you could call it experience. I think there is a difference there. If all you have met is bad black people (example), it isn't racism to be concerned when you see another black person. Any more so that some people fear pitbulls or snakes. True racism, the hate of someone just because they are "whatever", is different. That would mean the first "whatever" person you saw, you hated before knowing anything of them. I don't personally believe that happens.

I believe that experience teaches people and that if you were taught by experience that something is bad...you are right to be concerned or scared of it. I don't see that as racism.

originally posted by: Poofmander
Why are you so bent on making black people racist, if anyone has an excuse to be racist its them,

What? That's such a bad way of thinking. No one as an excuse to be racist more than anyone else.
I'm not bent on making black people racist, you are the one that just implied EXACTLY that in claim that they have an excuse to be racist in the first place.

I'm just bent on stating the fact that if someone says a particular race can not be racist, it's a racist thing to say. It the exact same thing than saying an Asian person can't be jealous. It clearly doesn't make sense.

And stop it with that all white people are racist, maybe you are, maybe you've only been socially conditioned that you are when you aren't. Racism is a primitive, ignorant and stupid way of thinking.

a reply to: theMediator

The only thing I have to say is the definition of racism applied to the united states prevents all other "races" from being racist because you must be a part of the dominating majority...white people.

So as much as you want to say that saying a while race can't be racist is a racist thing to say literally defies the definition of racism. Really its just a misinterpretation of what racism actually means.

Racism isn't ignorant statements, racism isn't hatred, racism isn't segregation, these are all things that come from a system of racism.

And to be a white male in our system makes you a racist by this course of logic, it is a moot point I know because you can't help it, but also its not a statement about your character its a statement about by our race, hey imagine that racism is racist!

a reply to: Poofmander

well thank you for the post. Im sorry i have to disagree with you about being racist no matter what i do or dont do. Racism is from actions. You treat everyone the same and respect their differences youre not being racist then. matter of fact i love all women no matter the color of their skin I dont buy the avenue q line that everyones a little racist. lol. still love their songs though.

Its a out dated concept that needs to be removed from society but as long as our governments run things it wont happen.

originally posted by: Wildbob77
The definition of racism is as follows : the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

To say that all white people are racist is in effect racist. It is assigning the trait "racist" to all white people.

Think about it

I agree 100% and I hold the same position as you regarding how claiming that about White people is in effect racist. If we are to ascribe a negative trait to every person of a group, and claim it doesn't exist in another, it is at best stereotyping and at worst racist. Either way, it is ignorant and misunderstands the universal psychological potential across races for racism.

Your definition, however, is one of many definitions of racism. It is an important aspect though.