Thread: things like this are keeping racism alive.

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?

I know what your talking about, but I just deal with it. The thing that makes me mad is reverse racism. When black people try to say that we are racist etc.. Which this commercial seems to have a hint of in it. But it doesn't really cause anymore racism besides in people that are already racist. The people creating the commercial probably had that in mind. Making racist people mad is probably fun for them, while still getting their point through that blacks contribute to the society. Now the type of reverse racism that pisses me off is like when they say, "OMG we were slaves for hundreds of years, you should give me a break and treat me like royalty". and, "It's because i'm black" type shit.... That makes me want to punch em in the jaw, and I would, then they'd call me racist... lol

A black dude invented peanut butter, I am forever happy
That's just a joke... But I do thank him.

Originally Posted by Michael

Now the type of reverse racism that pisses me off is like when they say, "OMG we were slaves for hundreds of years, you should give me a break and treat me like royalty". and, "It's because i'm black" type shit.... That makes me want to punch em in the jaw, and I would, then they'd call me racist... lol

Exactly

"OMG we were slaves for hundreds of years, you should give me a break and treat me like royalty".

give them a break? what about the hundreds of thousands of people that lost their lives fighting to free them? (I'm not arguing with you, just adding to that.)

But it doesn't really cause anymore racism besides in people that are already racist. The people creating the commercial probably had that in mind. Making racist people mad is probably fun for them, while still getting their point through that blacks contribute to the society.

what I meant by "keeping it alive", is that the ad, or the mentality behind it, is holding onto racism. it's keeping it alive if only in the minds of black people. because white people who are still racist against blacks would eventually die off, I'm sure, but what good is that if it's still festering in the minds of blacks? if they keep that mentality, that attitude, it will cause more white people to become racist. it's the whole "law of attraction", "mind over matter" thing. if they believe recism is still there, and act like it is, then it will be. see?

I agree, and I think I talked about some of this stuff in some other thread...

I live at the edge of a predominantly black neighbourhood, and it's really sad to see that so many of their hardships are being blamed on race. Some of it holds, but some really doesn't. Like, the housing market is pretty hot, and most people in the area are renting houses. And the owners have been selling them. I've actually heard shit like, "the white man's pushing us out"... what? This is happening EVERYWHERE!!!

We need more interracial couples. The more of those there are, the faster the world will turn "beige" and we can all get the hell over ourselves .

I agree with everyone 100% here. Reverse racism really pisses me off, yes your ANCESTORS were slaves, but my ANCESTORS didnt have any and they fought on the side that freed yours so get over yourselves! btw I know not all black people think this way, this is directed to the ones who do.

and Replicon I am currently dating a woman from Taiwan, interracial couples are on the rise every year. So dont you worry, some day we will be!

Reverse racism is just as bad, to me, as racism - as if there was really a difference. I agree that many of us need to stop using the past as a means to "get back" at thosee that live in the present. Too many of us (blacks) fall back on the events of the past as leverage, and it makes me sick. I feel the same distaste when I heard blacks talking down to whites (with any feeling of self-righteousness) as I do when whites talk down to blacks. I don't think it gets us anywhere at all - especially when it's coming from those people that are perceived as the "spearheads" of the black community (like whenever Al Sharpton spews that bullshit about how "black people can't be labelled as 'racists' because racism implies a position of authority that is needed to 'talk down' to a person of another color that, by his words, 'blacks don't have in this country". That's bullshit and everytime I hear anyone say that in a debate about racism, I wanna fuckin kick 'em in the throat.

Anyway, with that being said, ignorance to the accomplishments of many blacks is still very high. I haven't seen the commercial that paperdoll is talking about, so I can't comment too much on that, in particular. But, I see nothing wrong with addressing the accomplishments of many blacks, over the years, to those people that are racists, as simply a form of education. It's not always meant to be expressed as a "Hey, look at us, look at us!" gesture, but a way to enlighten those without knowledge of our accomplishments, in the hopes that it might curb the prejudice that still exists in many parts of the country.

Of course, to those that already have no prejudice against blacks, it may seem like a cry for attention, or (to some) supremacy. With (the gist of) that commercial in mind, I don't really know if that was the audience it was meant to cater to. There is a very large percentage of racist people in this country who actually do feel that we are worthless, and have accomplished nothing but the bullshit they see us do on BET and MTV. That's a sad fact of the world, but it something that we ("the black community") have to deal with, and even feel forced to contend with.

When women fought for equal rights, they stood up long and hard to highlight the accomplishments of women, and pulled no stops in making it clear to the world that they were just as capable as men in many areas. Did this outspokenness help or hinder male chauvinism? Who knows? But was it justified? I think so.

And paperdoll, I seriously doubt that racism will ever die out. There are simply too many racists and too many ways of spreading that message (both by keeping the philosophy "in the family" and spreading it throughout their neighborhoods and communities) for it to ever die out. Even without the "push-back" from reverse racism, it may fluctuate, but die out? I seriously doubt it.

Do white supremists (for example) suddenly find themselves "cool" with native americans or middle-easterners, even though there aren't many (if any) commercials out there spouting off about their accomplishments? Nope.