I was watching "A History of God" on the history channel, but forgot I'd recorded it and could skip the commercials, so I ended up watching a few. one of them (it was an advertisement not a commercial) was something like this (and I'm totally paraphrasing because I can't remember exactly how it was worded): "Traffic lights...the mailbox...these were invented by african-americans." and then they said something about celebrating african-american inventors.

at first, I didn't pay any attention to it. but then I thought about it and I was like, wait...whaaaaat?

the impression I got from it was this: "You think black people are useless? well we invented this and that. we ARE good for something."

who is this advertisement aimed at? I never thought black people were useless. it's not like I had no idea that some things were invented by black people. why don't we praise inventors by what they invent, and completely ignore the colour of their skin the same as we would any other IRRELEVANT FACT, like for example their sexual orientation?

the way I see it, things like this are not doing anything to help eradicate racism. if anything, they're keeping it alive.

(I'm having the hardest time articulating my thoughts today, but hopefully my point is clear.)

what do you think?