September 16, 2009
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The Racism Double Standard
Joe Wilson told President Obama “you lie” in while the president was giving a speech.
Former President Jimmy Carter said that the comments were “based on racism.” Here is the link: Link
I have heard several blogs and the media “explore” the issue of whether it was racism that motivated him.
Serena Williams yelled at a line judge and reportedly threatened to kill her.
No talk of racism.
Kanye West jumped up on the stage. He grabbed the mic out of the hand of a white woman and he said that a black woman deserved the award instead.
There was no mention of racism.
Is it odd that racism is only mentioned as a motive as it relates to white people?
Comments (203)
I thought there was talk about Kanye being racist after the incident the other night?
All I know is I am most afraid of Serena out of the 3.
Oh, and first ftw!
I hate to say it, but some of the biggest racists out there are minorities.
Dan, for once, you’ve gotten something right….
Great observation…makes one wonder.
Hey! Now don’t start that again!
But really, yes. I know. But then again I’m white so it doesn’t matter.
Yes of course.
It seems that it’s only racist when a member of a more populous race ridicules one considered to be a minority within that country. There are acts of racism that are the reverse, but they seem to be generally overlooked.
“There’s no better example of racism than a Mexican’s attitude toward a black person.”
- My father, a Mexican, toward other Mexicans
It wasnt racially motivated… He’s a liar…as are most politicians.
forget racism, i think it’s ironic that political figures said the most outrageous, rude things to and about Bush and no one seemed to think anything of it. Wilson has already apologized, but it seems they want him to grovel at Obama’s feet.
Eh, whatever…
What pisses me off is scholarships only for African Americans or Christians.
I would like a scholarship, ya know?
I don’t think it’s so much “odd” as it is just ridiculous.
@abilene_piper_lg - I agree. I find it appalling that minorities can get away with so much more than whites can, simply because they’re not white. And I find it disgusting that if, for example, a white man kills a black man, it’s a hate crime. If a black man kills a white man, it’s simply crime. And they blame it on the fact that “white people enslaved black people” — which is funny, because my people came off a boat from Denmark not 100 years ago. And their people SOLD themselves into slavery. I have a serious problem with affirmative action, for these reasons and many more.
But hey, I must be a racist.
DOWN WITH WHITEY!
it is very odd
I heard quite a bit about racism from Kanye’s story. Hence the whole “Kanye doesn’t care about white people” thing. lol
Yeah, maybe.
What about Rodger Federer? he was cursing out Line officials on the court too. I heard racism was the reason for Joe Wilson’s outburst from white people before black people said it was. President Carter is right.
Man…what a douche lol And I do agree with this. I was having a conversation about this same thing with my black friend yesterday. Which he completely agreed with me on.
@CaffeineClarity – You wanna know what’s funny? My people, the Irish and Scottish, were enslaved for 1000 years by the British, and were treated infinitly worse than almost all the black slaves (many of which who were treated with dignity). But they don’t teach that in school.
There’s a lot of talk about racism in the comments under the articles about Kanye.
that’s what we get for enslaving them.
a-friggin’-men.
Racism claims exploded after Kanye’s spiel.
- John
@XactiLucius - @CaffeineClarity - I AGREE WITH YOU BOTH. my family is Irish, and Scottish, and Roman Catholic.. persecuted much? not that today’s generations hear about.
I hate the race card, it should be retired…
The President is a bit different than music or sports stars. People are overly sensitive about racism in regards to the President right now and it’s not surprising since he is the first black president. It’s to be expected unfortunately. We care more about racism in the white house than on our TV’s.
UM. There was talk of racism in those two cases. You just didn’t hear it.
And I feel like someone accusing the President of the United States of lying is a much bigger issue than those other two incidents combined.
It is just a weapon used on whites. Nothing but bs and best disregarded as the words of a true bigot
I think I am more curious as to what Joe Wilson thought obama lied about….there could some truth underlie this…
it’s odd. but there’s always issues on both sides.@raspberryjade - no one hears about roman catholics, irish etc being persecuted so much because they were so easily assimilated into general culture :/ for someone with darker skin, people make instant judges and persecutions without even having to ask “are you irish?” so it’s not really the same. and believe me ive heard that argument so many times from my mom haha cause shes part irish, roman catholic, italian etc. i always feel when people say that, that it’s just white people trying to get some sympathy when it’s not really the same situation because none of those things follow us now but being black is still a visible “difference.”
@Doyinita - i kind of find it funny that in his speech, Obama accused Republicans, etc. of lying.
@Trigger821 - he actually wasn’t telling the truth.
@ScarletMoth - I’m not trying to get sympathy, I’m just saying black people aren’t the only people who are discriminated against.
you’re proving the title of this blog right now: “racism double standard”
see? if I say something its “white people trying to get sympathy”.
its all bull shit.
I think we all know Kanye is a racist…
@abilene_piper_lg - That has been my experience.
In one minority’s favor, Obama did call West a jackass… gotta give credit where it’s due.
I find that people are perfectly capable of treating other people like shit without race ever having to be an issue.
And Dan now fuels the smoldering xanga civil war… haha.
@JosephParsons - haha!
@raspberryjade - Ah, who said black people are the only people to ever be discriminated against? *side eye*
its not that odd: look at social history. especially white dominance and white empire. (ie white castle, the fast food.. you know? look at that history too) the blacks are the ones who RECOGNIZE white elitism. cos they got the physical reality of slavery in their past in america. asians dont recognize white elitism even though its infiltrated and intoxicated their cultures, bc white elitists are the ones they called to for help in the asia continent’s wars…. and bc of technological prowess, the whites helped but also divided them–an old slavery tactic actually. theres a paper written way back about How to enslave. and it says to enslave, you must divide the people amongst themselves so that they are busy quarreling and having strong personal negativity towards each other in some manner. civil unrest. and really, just looking back at the us history taught in 8th grade classrooms, it’s really not that far off that the civil rights movements occurred. people still remember living in those days right now. interesting, huh?
double standards yes. but teaching an old dog new tricks is still doggone hard.
my comment above.. is not to be said in application to every single individual alive today. true, there are many people who are not racist or at least try not to exhibit their racist tendencies in a disturbing way. but history does play a part, even if it is unspoken.
@Mac_Libureet - agreed.
@Mac_Libureet - I was just going to go on a rant on the stupidity of playing the race card and how because it has been so frakkin’ over played by so many idiots who just jump on the fing race-o-wheel to cry racist that if I hear one more person cry racism I’m going to do something. I don’t know what I’m going to do but I’m going to do it.
Seriously, knock off the race card accusation. Knock off calling anyone who disagrees with you a Nazi or a terrorist. It’s old. It is childish. Consider another person’s point of view and if you don’t agree with them tell them “I don’t agree”. Name calling isn’t going to get anyone anywhere.
/rant
I’ve noticed that for a long time. However, white people have repressed so many cultures in history that it’s “absurd” to think that white people can be discriminated against.
Anyway, there are plenty more reasons he could have had for yelling that. The problem with our present President is that you’re accused of being racist if you don’t agree with him.
@Doyinita - Why is accusing the president of being a liar a big issue?
yes it is odd , but we owe “reparations”……….forever, i guess. i’m really sick of this shit !
Lots of people said Kanye was racially motivated. And I didn’t hear anything about the race of the judge Serena yelled at until now; it didn’t cross my mind.
@BeKa28 - because it was done in a very childish way by a public official who should know how to conduct himself.
@quicksandbuddy - ”a” problem, not “the” problem. there are many.
@BeKa28 - because you should never question the mighty god-king obama.
@C0ll33Ncorps - Ok. I agree that the way Wilson conducted himself was very inappropriate. But I was actually addressing the statement –”someone accusing the President of the United States of lying is a much bigger issue…”, assuming by someone she meant anyone, not just Mr. Wilson. Maybe Doyinita did only mean the manner in which he accused was the “big issue”, not the actual accusation.
@CaffeineClarity - I’m going way out on a limb here, but you know what… I agree with you. I honestly think that most of the racism that goes on is carried by the minorities. If we all just stopped looking at the outside and portrayed ourselves as who we are and “want” to be, then racism will become nonexistent. The color of our skin does not make us who we are. Sure, it shows our ethnicity, however we all live in a collective society. We all feel the same pains and deal with the same life issues. What ever happened to “equality”? I now believe that white people are becoming the minorities.
I don’t like to think that way but there is a double standard and it’s not just having to do with race but sex and relationships.
@pocoemme - theres a lot more scholarship available to a black student, trust me. Being a christian doesn’t net you much of a scholarship, even at most christian schools.
Is it odd? Nope. Is it true? Nope. Is it going to stop? Nope.
Uh, I’ve heard plenty of racism talk about the Kanye West thing.
*disclaimer* i am not speaking for all black people, so don’t box me into that *disclaimer*
The issue with what Joe Wilson did was, he disrespected the president. If Wilson is a racist, that is his personal issue (go look at the census of his state he represents) It just so happens our President is black, so it turned into a racial issue. In that setting, making outbursts like that is just rude, would any of you go to your CEO and just randomly make comments because you disagreed strongly in the middle of their speech? No, you would get in trouble. That’s like a private back talking a sergeant and with Wilson’s background, he should have known better. He owed the American people an apology for not representing as a congressman should. If other political figures can come apologize for their personal life that gets in the way of their job(cheaters and thieves) how come he can’t apologize for him not doing his job?
I, in no way or fashion feel the Kanye West incident is even on the same level as the Wilson issue. First, Kanye never said Taylor’s video wasn’t good, he just felt strongly about Beyonce’s video. When you look at sales, and popularity between the two, you would see why. But most of the people that call Kanye “racist” don’t see it that way, they see a black guy offending a white girl for a black woman. Go look at the numbers, they never lie. I watch MTV often, and its usually inthe moning when the videos are shown, and Taylor’s video wasnt played as often as Beyonce’s I don’t think what he did was right, it was inappropriate. But racially charged? Nope. It could have been Solange up there winning that award, and he would have did the same thing BASED on video play.
Was Taylor’s video nominated for video of the year? Its not often the best female winner is not in video of the year, its not very logical in a sense.
What Kanye said during Hurricane Katrina IMO was true. I’m not gonna bash our former president, but, allowing the media to call our own citizens “refugees” and leaving them desolate? But yet, these other places that are hit by natural disasters get all this relief aid. He went down south HOW many times? We had money for wars we didn’t ask to fight, but not money to fix what was supposed to help protect a city that is unique and none like it in the world? In all aspects of life, you gotta take care of home.
not making it an excuse, but he is also a guy in pain right now, working himself to avoid grieving. Did anyone notice how gloomy and slightly depressing his last album was? Did anyone understand the magnitude of how his life was at that time, and how it is now? This is way out of hand, it really is.
Serena Williams has always been very emotional, well, most tennis players are. I highly doubt she threatened an official, it was over blown. Try watching the matches that lead up to the major events. Watch how balls fly, rackets are thrown and whatnot.
So please, when you see people with different skin tone shades, don’t assume its racially fueled when its problems. Remember, race is mentally defined, we all share the same DNA.
PeAce Love Soul
1) Joe Wilson is possibly racist. He’s a conservative from South Carolina*, he’s a member of that good ol’ boy club that doubles as a secret hate group, and he would not have pulled that stunt on Clinton. I will believe that to my dying day.
2) Serena Williams is not racist. She dated a white man for Pete’s sake. She just had a bad moment.
3) Kanye West is possibly racist. He’s dated women outside of his race before, but he wouldn’t have pulled that stunt on Mary J. Blige or Rihanna. He took advantage of the fact that Taylor Swift is basically a scrawny white girl – a child – who wouldn’t pose a threat to him. Come to think of it, race is kind of irrelevant, because he wouldn’t have done that to Pink. She would’ve kicked his ass and I he knows that.
*If you’re a conservative from South Carolina and this offends you, calm the eff down. It’s statistical. You are more likely to be racist than a California liberal. No guarantees, just likelihoods. So extinguish the flames, please.
@TheSeventhRhapsody - no, “white” people are still the majority. Check the Census. More “minorities” as you put it, are more on the forefront, so it seems that the roles are reversing.
Its a build up of what we as people over time were exposed to in society. The same things were said when the civil rights movement happened.
Do you feel that its wrong if white people were the minority? Or do you feel a certain race has to be a majority?
PeAce Love Soul
@ScarletMoth - i like your comment. I wish more people, no matter what color, see what you see.
I’m NEVER assumed Irish, when that is a nice chuck of my heritage, going back one generation in fact.
There are no race of people that haven’t been persecuted in any type of fashion, and I have yet to find a race of American people that were persecuted for how long my ancestors were. It goes back further than when Christopher Columbus came over in 1492, carrying enslaved people over to “discover” America.
PeAce Love Soul
In order for it to be racism the individual or race that is perpetuating the racism has to have a greater position of power. Otherwise it’s just prejudice or bigotry. Despite the president being one half African-American, African Americans on a whole are not in a position to be racist. We can how ever be bigots and guilty of our own prejudices. I for one hate all people regardless of their skin color you being alive is enough for me to hate you.
never realized so…. i always thought kanye is white, because he is from the west
@XactiLucius - I have the same heritage, plus I’m part Jewish, you want racism, look at the German Jewish population. I used to live in an area that was 97% black (African American if you hate the term black), I was discriminated against and heard so many racial slurs, but it would have only been considered racism I had used a slur back (which I did not, I was raised better).
There are racism claims against Serena, too. You have to look harder, Dan.
Power is critical to becoming racist. you can’t practice racism without power and all minorities, rich or poor, do not have the perceived power of the majority. The majority don’t have to prove themselves while minorities do.
@TheSeventhRhapsody - very true, I my friends know I won’t say someone is a Mexican, I will say they have more skin pigmentation than me (which would include more that 99% of everyone I meet, but that is beside the point). I believe under it all we are all exactly the same, I also don’t like using the term (insert ethnicity/race) American. The most important word in the phrase is American, unless someone is a Native American, we are all immigrants. (even some can argue that Native Americans immigrated to America across the Bering Straight; they just did it before it was the “in” thing to do).
Jimmy Carter can be such an irritant.
@XactiLucius - Cromwell burns for his crimes. It wasn’t a famine we experienced, it was starvation.
Never, ever forget about the enslavement of the Irish. To say I hold a grudge against England would be an understatement.
clearly only white people can be racists.
as an aside… todays racism is tomorrows childrens joke. The modern clown is based on an early 1900′s irish racial slur. eventually everything becomes a joke.
my guess is,, get used to it,, a pretty good tool to try to silence folks…
@ModernBunny - http://xkcd.com/204/
YES. My neighbor accuses white people of being racist all the time and then goes on to generalize other nationalities without even thinking of what a hypocrite he’s being.
I think it only comes out when it’s a black/white thing. You don’t really hear about it when it’s between Caucasians and another race though.
while i was just complaining aboutwhat you said today today and i agree with you, serena was actually called a racist for it
I’ve said this plenty of times.
yes it is a little odd. but i truly think many conservatives are against obama because he is black. they’ve shown a lot of disrespect for a while. so in this case i don’t see it as a double standard
As Al Sharpton once said… a black man can’t be a racist b/c a black man has no power.
I honestly believe Al Sharpton is not a stupid man… probably hella smarter than me; but come on, what the hell does THAT mean? it’s an excuse that says that a black person can be a racist for all the things done to him in the past.
Let it go, and learn the lessson and move on to something better.
As I always say…racism is taught by adults. Kids just discriminate on how lame you are. So stop teaching the kids racism; and grow out of this.
Props. Though, I’m a mix of some formerly “persecuted” peoples – Irish, Catholics, like my friend @raspberryjade up there – but you don’t see me complaining. …Damn me for being a ginger cracker.
Interesting. It’s funny that Carter called the guy a racist when he absolutely has no idea whether he is or not, unless he told him personally that he was. He was making an assumption, and it was pretty stupid.
Kayne West, however, might just be a racist. Racist or not, he’s definitely a full blown idiot.
You are right! It is odd. Generally. But actually, I heard a few mentions of racism on the Kanye incident here and there on Xanga.
Hmmm.. interesting.
@XactiLucius - I agree with you. I’m not scottist but possibly some irish, and I know they were treated like crap but wheres our white history month ?
This is what MTV does, they stage stunts to promote their award ceremonies. Something “controversial” always seems to happen at these things. Yeah, I bet race was a factor.
Sorry, but wilson was the first person in US history to ever heckle a president addressing congress, this was the first black president, and wilson was the guy who said strom thermond’s black child should not have come forward because it was a “smear” against him that “diminished” his legacy.
Ofcourse it was racist and outrageous! If you look at the rep. party, it is about 98% off-white. The ratio of racism is a thousand to one of bias against people of color. They tolerate people of color as long as they “know their place”. That ass-wipe, Joe Wilson should be forced to resign! He’s an embarassment to every american.
There is definitely a double standard. That’s because everyone’s afraid to cry racism when minorities are the offenders, even though we all know it’s true. It’s been that way forever.
@Afrostronomy - President Carter hardly ever gets anything right. Wilson’s outburst was purely motivated by the FACT that he’s read the healthcare bill TWICE (has Obama read it???) and knows for a FACT that the way the bill was written it would cover illegals. Be his outburst inappropriate or not. It was NOT racially motivated.
I guess I am lucky coz I was born with yellowish pinkest skins
.
racial double standards abound- especially in politics. I read somewhere that a psychologist predicts racial tensions will worsen under President Obama and I think that prediction is already coming true.
The Human Genome has proven what the Bible has been telling us all along. There are NO races- we are all of the same original parents- we are all one blood. The small fraction of variation in our genetic appearance pales in comparison to all we have in common. It is our sinful nature- not our color, that separates us.
Oh dan, you and your zany ideas.
Everyone knows black people can’t be racist.
@PreciousOnyx - I guess we could talk about being prejudiced against a presidents race when we have a president who was birthed by a black woman. Until then, how can we be racist against someone who shares our own race?
@ProvokingThought - yah, it’s ironic, ain’t it? It’s like blacks ignore the fact that he’s half white, his black family pretty much abandoned him and his white family raised him. Not only that but he lives like a white man…
How can Wilson be a racist against someone of his own race unless he is self loathing?
Blah, blah, blah.
The rush to proclaim Joe Wilson a racist is just part of the Democrats’ strategy (as well as their friends in Big Media) of marginalizing anyone who disagrees with the president as a racist, regardless of the facts. It saves them from having to defend their policies on their merits, which they know they can’t do.
Though out of those three, I’d say that West’s outburst was most likely a result of race, and Williams’ was least likely.
@agnophilo - Um, get your facts right before you spout off. Bush was heckled by multiple Democrats.
@PreciousOnyx - he dissed his fathers family . Where was all the charity for his own family?
What planet do you live on? I’ve definitely heard of racism in all three cases =P
@Rob_of_the_Sky - Actually thoughts of racism did enter my mind when I saw Kanye’s childish little interruption.
@SerenaDante - You’re right.
@MangoWOW - Haha, someone needs to make a PSA and be like, “Kanye West doesn’t care about white people.”
Preferably Michael Myers.
@randomneuralfirings - Bush Heckled at NAACP Meeting Condi Rice heckled in Senate
WHAT?! All people have been saying is that Kanye may have done it because she was white………either way, neither of the three have to do with racism.
actually i heard a few people call kanye racist.
i have to admit, though, there is quite the double-standard.
we may not be “sluts” but we have lost the true meaning of love
Good post, for once I totally agree with you.
has anyone but me discovered that no matter what color one is on the outside, if you cut them; they all bleed red?
“Red and yellow black or white, they are precious in His sight….”
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ABOUT SERENA WILLIAMS! YOU’VE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!
Go to YouTube, all calling her chimp, ape, n*****—where have YOU BEEN!!!
And a lot of people have been calling Kanye a racist. Some guy tweeted he “hoped he didn’t have any black followers, but Kanye is N*****”
N***** and Kanye are popular on Twitter since the VMA.
@LiberalArmyWife - Kanye isn’t racist, don’t fool yourself. He thought Beyonce’s video was better than Taylor.
Very. If a white woman does it, it’s probably considered okay, isn’t it?
@EboniYoYo - O.O CALM DOWN PLEASE!!! THE ALL CAPITALS BE SCARIN’ MEH!!!! I agree though. None of them were being racist.
Of course racism is the cause in all three accounts. I think it will be different in about a thousand years.
@Mac_Libureet - Totally agree with you. It is tiring to hear it being used an excuse for what that person did and really like it should be used?
Sometime a individual person has to look in there heart for meaning. I understanding your premise in this post.
Remember about the ego is a dark side of human being. For example, at that rally in Washington, most of those people brought there life experience with them, you cannot prove it, but by observation and awareness (racism is there), life goes on, but, it is there.
Off camera, and in the heart confusion and hatred, in there and this is worldly.
History is still a tool to infer racism. Remember this, Most people define racism, as hating someone because of the color of there skin. Isn’t it crazy,(hard to prove because someone can simply lie about there true feeling)
However, President Carter is correct in his presentation: Life still going on.
@Queen_of_You188 - You’re right, none of these were racial incidents. Everything is black or white in this country.
@EboniYoYo - because people are too stupid to see the gray.
@randomneuralfirings - No, the crowd murmored, no one shouted out insults. There are rules in the house of representatives, you are not allowed to speak unless given the floor. You are allowed to clap etc, however. No one shouted boo or liar or get off the stage.
@ProvokingThought - tell me about it.
It’s not odd at all. I’ve always believed that. Maybe the white people are the ones who are really being “hated.”
I seriously don’t care who’s playing the victim in either case, people are still stupid.
I’ve been accused of being racist so many times. I work in a dollar store. I wrote about it. Here.
Absolutely ridiculous.
I’ve been saying that for years.
I’m white- I heard comments about Kanye West making a racist statement. As for Serena’s outburst, wasn’t the judge she was yelling at Asian?? Is it racist when it’s one minority against another? Just curious.
Only white people held black people as slaves, but I’m sure this wasn’t racism.
All of these instances can be seen as individual prejudice rather than racism. But as soon as there are two skin colors involved, people like to turn it into racism. I prefer to pin it as:
1) Joe Wilson has problems controlling himself
2) Serena Williams has problems controlling herself
3) Kanye West has problems controlling himself
What good does it do to bring race into the game? It’s not like skin color is changeable behavior.
@EboniYoYo - So, you’re ruling out the possibility of Kanye West being racist based on what exactly? Racism isn’t all “cracker” this and that and white sheets. Sometimes it’s under the surface. I’m married to a white man and I admit to being a a little bit racist at times.
racism duzn’t make me trow up! niggers do
@CelestialTeapot - Some wealthy blacks owned black slaves.
Racism happens on both sides..black and white(I know there are other sides)…but the black side is pointed out more often because they were still being perseceuted up until the sixties.
Generally when a white person is being racist it is frowned upon more because we were the original oppressors(Note: my ancestors were in Ireland trying to farm until the eighteen eighties…so:P)
I don’t like Joe Wilson
and I don’t like Kanye West.
Because they’re racists
Go figure
But, you’d be surprised. There are a TON of things that just call Kanye all the bad words under the moon. Most call him a ####### and it’s peesing me off. I understand that what he did was wrong, but I hate that racism bullsheet.
There is a reason for that. Historically whites were the oppressing group. I think that might have something to do with it.
I think most minorities are racist against whites too. Gotta love those double standards.
racism, shmacism.
Not true about Kanye! I have heard people talk of racism with the whole Taylor Swift incident. Just around the office though. Maybe that’s why you haven’t heard anything, because it wasn’t somebody like Jimmy Carter that said it. Anyway, people are citing the time Kanye said “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” as proof of his racist intentions.
Sometimes I think you’re racist. YOu ask these questions with a racist undertone that get people coming to your page and bashing Black people.
@Paul_Partisan - seriously. lol.
xo
Yes.
98% of your readers are clueless.
50% are clueless and racist (racist against either white, blacks or other)
about 2% actually have something intelligent to contribute to the conversation
I guess that’s why you get so many comments. Because your questions don’t require much thought. You feed people insinuation and innuendo that may or may not be based on facts giving them the false idea that they are engaging in intelligent conversation.
And what exactly do your questions have to do with theology anyway? You should call this “theCommunitycafe” or “theTownHallmeeting”, because the comments on this site just remind me of those incoherent town hall meetings held to discuss health care policy.
*shrugs gives Dan back the microphone and walks off the stage*
In fact, Joe Wilson has said things in the past that could be considered racist, but I’m not sure this is one of them.
Do I think it’s odd?
No I think it’s normal.
Do I think it’s wrong?
Yes.
It wasn’t racist, it was homophobic.
Obama isn’t gay, I hear you say?
No kidding.
But then he isn’t black either.
None of these have anything to do with racism.
Actually, lots of folks have been accusing Kayne West of racism…
We’re all racists.
I don’t think he was being racist but everybody is going to call him one simply because he’s white.
I honestly believe that most white people aren’t racist, and (I know I’m gonna get bitched at for this.) that more people of different backgrounds are. It’s such an easy way to say YOU’RE RACIST BECAUSE I AM A TINY BIT OFFENDED rather than calmly talk it out. Plus, have you ever tried explaining how you AREN’T racist, to someone of a different race that says you are? Doesn’t work.
@abilene_piper_lg - This is so true! Back in high school, I was the white girl who was good friends with the black guy. Never dated him, but got lots of nasty looks and comments from people in his neighborhood who were not white.
WTF are you talking about? No accusations of racism towards Kanye West? Really?
Anyway.
Personally, I’m sick of white people bitching about not being allowed to say “nigger.” BAAWWW we’re being discriminated against!!1
I’ll say this now: If you are white (I don’t care what kind of white) and you deny that you have white privilege, then you are probably a racist.
@pocoemme - you could always find one, how about one. I got mind only because my academics and well-rounded experience. Essentially having a B+ GPA in high school helped me get my scholarship, but I understand your feelings…
As for Dan’s post, it makes people think about what racism truly is, and when it’s fair to say whether someone’s actions is racist. Example, Kayne’s remark was very racist & rude.
@BeKa28 - THANK you. I’m glad someone finally pointed this out.
interesting thoughts
@LiberalArmyWife - That’s depressing. -_-
I think I’m racist only against Kanye West.
there was some talk of Kanye attacking white people
@MonkeeAramda - I really do hope you are kidding…
Racism –
1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and
capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority
of a particular race
2: racial prejudice or discrimination
Anyone can be a racist.
Very odd.
I’m tired of the double standards I have to say… I’m tired of being called a racist simply because I disagree with Obama’s policies. I’ve disagreed with white liberal politicians on the same issues – I was mad that Bush signed the first stimulus package. But I didn’t get called a racist back then. No, but as soon as Obama became president I was suddenly “racist” for disagreeing with the same kinds of things I’ve opposed all my life
Is it odd that racism is used only in reference to white people? Only in the sense that it is hypocritical. It’s not right but I fear it will never go away. I desperately wish we could all just love each other and disagree amicably when we take sides instead of slinging hate and mud every which way…
@Dare2BDiferentt - Precisely. I really don’t understand why people are all defensive when accused: “Oh, not me. How dare you!” I’m black and I wouldn’t for a second send my child to a predominantly black public school in a large metro. Nor would I move into a majority black neighborhood. My motives aren’t based on hatred or fear, but pure logic. If this makes me a racist, so be it.
@CelestialTeapot - Isn’t it, though? I didn’t find out until a few years ago, myself.
We’ve known this for a while.
Welcome to America.
Or the universe, for that matter. =/
@XactiLucius - Im well aware of scottish slavery and infinitely worse is an exaggeration. A gross exaggeration. Im not going to compare atrocities but suffice to say i have enough knowledge on the history of scottish indignation to call with confidence your extreme exaggeration.
You read about slavery in US history because its a very large part of US history. It has nothing to do with favoritism for blacks or diminishing the sufferings of others by comparison. You should’ve also been taught about the discrimination the irish, chinese, japanese, polish, jews, etc faced when they got here as well. If my extremely shitty and very poor High School managed to get me these lessons i’d be surprised to hear they didn’t reach you.
@CaffeineClarity - There have been numerous cases of minorities tried and convicted of hate crimes. A quick look at judicial history would reveal this.
Everyone thinks the grass is greener on the other side. Why are prisons populated by 2/3 minority groups now when 30 years ago that number was the exact opposite and statistically crimes by minorities haven’t changed much since then? Why is it that statistically minorities still score lower on standardized testing even though we know its an education and a social problem and not a racial one? Why is it ok when MacEnroe throws a fit on the tennis court but when Serene does it its classless and everyone turns their noses up as if they would expect nothing less from someone like her? Why is it ok for the republicans to sing “Barack the Magic Negro” and its simply in the name of fun?
If you want to really look at this race issue both sides get away with alot. People of all races are capable of being racist and everyone knows that. Its not a secret. That you think most people don’t understand that is a tribute to your own narrow-mindedness not to theirs. If you are not racist you certainly harbor prejudice beliefs by definition of the word with relation to your comments. If you want to know why people are quicker to jump on one side being racist its because one side is a minority. If you make the minorities upset theres nothing they can do about it really, their numbers are too small. Al Sharpton will come out, say a few words, we’ll nod in agreement and day goes on as usual. But if you make the majority upset, make the majority afraid, instill racist ideas in the majority then you’ve got alot of people against alot less. Then you might see some real ugliness. See people were anti-semetic all they wanted to be but look what happened once Hitler took that message to the masses, turned the majority against the minority. Thats when things really got bad.
Is the system fair, no. Is it right, yes. It’ll exist as long as people are stupid which isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Don’t worry, if the power should ever switch you’ll get the same preferential treatment…don’t blame black people for it or white people for it or any race for that matter. At its source its a human error and all are guilty and this fine balance is how we manage to coexist.
If I see Serena Williams in person, I’d run away. I am kind of glad it was an Asian lady tho. We need one less black&white conflict.
You made good observation. This racism stuff makes me so mad! I was called a racist just because
I wouldn’t go for Obama!? And then SOME black people talked trash about McCain and they weren’t
racists!? WTF.
everything that you said and more. >)
I agree. It’s all bullshit to me. But, what do I know. I’m white.
It’s ridiculous.
@pocoemme - that shit pisses me off too,
not because I can’t benefit from them,its just that I would like to know I got something based on merit, not on skin color or religion.
@justamelia - my cousin called me a racist for talking trash about obama =(
black people will call anyone a racist if they aren’t agreeing with them.
@LiberalArmyWife - No one is that perfect, we’re all judgmental. But we need to stop calling anything with white and black racist. If Eminem had done the same to Taylor, what excuse could we use? Kanye needs to work on handling his emotions. Till then, he should be banned from live events.
@one_more_path - A lot of black people(anda few white people) have yelled racial slurs at me calling me a beaner or damn mexican. My brother and I actually got refused service at a local McDonnalds by from what I could see was an all black staff. When we were walking out one yelled “and that’s right stay out you damn mexicans!”
But we aren’t Mexican. Not even close. We are Native American. Tsalagi(Cherokee) to be exact. And most of the actual hispanic people around here are much shorter than us. I’m 5’9″ and my brother is 6’2″. I just don’t understand it.
@EboniYoYo - True. I just hate that someone has to flat out say, “I hate (insert ethnicity or cultural group)!” in order to be considered racist. This covert stuff is making it harder and harder to weed out the weird ones.
Maybe so, but isn’t this a case of a white man pointing out what he sees as racism performed by another white man?
Kanye West is an idiot, that’s not rascism, that’s observation.
YEP.
@Doyinita - It isn’t uncommon or necessarily wrong to accuse a President of lying. What made Rep Wilson’s outburst inappropriate is the venue he chose.
@ellicepark - The tactic you describe is connected to this topic in more ways than you may think, are you familiar with class warfare rhetoric or Saul Alinsky? Basically, the goal is to divide the population up into warring factions (have’s vs have not’s, black vs white, etc) and use that division for political gain. Try this link: http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/obama_alinsky_and_scapegoats.html
Let me know what you think…
@CocoSoulBeauty007 - I agree with most of what you say…I take strong exception to your commentary on Katrina tho…yes, Bush wasn’t on top of the situation like he could’ve been…yes, New Orleans was ill prepared…but you seem to forget that the state and city have a responsibility as well…and it was their failure that made the Federal response necessary in the first place…if the governor and mayor had done their job…it wouldn’t have been a mess. Also…New Orleans was vulnerable long before any Bush set foot in the oval office…Katrina was a natural disaster…and it even took weather experts by surprise. Bush put more black people in prominent positions of power than Bill Clinton ever did…yet Clinton gets credit for being a champion for minorities and Bush is called a racist???
@emra_cadaver - Bush was shown plenty of disrespect…is that because of his race or his ideology?
@polynices3 - Kanye had more physical power than Taylor Swift…the black Marines that killed a white Marine and his black wife had superiority of numbers…the mob of black youth that recently beat a white boy for dating a black girl were in a position of power…the black guy who accosted my black girlfriend for dating me was a racist.
Racism is the attitude of an individual who prefers one race over another…there’s plenty of black folk with racist views and a national minority can be a regional majority.
this is RIDICULOUS. Must we find racism in everything? I didn’t even think the Obama thing had anything to do with race.
@full_metal_monkey - I agree with the spirit of what you say, but I must take issue with some of the details:
“Why are prisons populated by 2/3 minority groups now when 30 years ago that number was the exact opposite and statistically crimes by minorities haven’t changed much since then?”
That is true, but many of theose minorities are incarcerated for crimes against other minorities. In a way, the fact that more minorities are prosecuted is because the system actually is concerned about the welfare of law abiding minorities. I would also contend that much of the disparity is explained because of where minorities live. Urban areas have higher crime rates, more minorities live in urban areas and therefore more minorities are convicted of crimes. That said, white people raised in those same neighborhoods are probably as likely to be convicted of crimes.
“Why is it that statistically minorities still score lower on standardized testing even though we know its an education and a social problem and not a racial one?”
Again, like I said above, that disparity is probably a product of social or environmental differences and not race. More black children are raised in single parent homes in urban settings and that must account for some of the difference. Put a white child in the same social or family setting and they would probably fair as poorly as the minorities.
“Why is it ok for the republicans to sing “Barack the Magic Negro” and its simply in the name of fun?”
If you think Republicans came up with that, you are wrong. The song was a parody created by Paul Shanklin to demonstrate the hypocricy of the left and based off an editorial “Obama the ‘Magic Negro” written a liberal columnist David Ehrenstein (a Hillary supporter) in the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,3391015.story
Sadly, I know exactly what your talking about it. It seems as though minorities are often the most racist.
Sorry if I offend some people, but THANK YOU! yes I do.
Actually I HAVE heard plenty of talk of racism regarding Serena Williams AND Kanye West. So your analogy is false.
In the Kanye West incident there is talk of wheter West was racist toward Taylor Swift and also a discussion if the racist action was in part in a kind of “payback” for perceived racial slights against Obama and black people in general.
In the case of Serena Williams I’ve heard discussion on both sides, suggesting that the line Judge was racist in her assessment of the foot fault and suggesting that Serena was being racist in her reaction to it. And also there has been discussion of racist reactions of fans of Serena in their defense of her.
So to say that there has been “no discussion of racism” suggests that you simply haven’t read enough of the discussion of the incidents.
Or is your problem that President Carter didn’t bring up Serena Williams and Kanye West? Well wouldn’t that be kinda absurd? It really isn’t politically relevant at all. That’s pop culture issues. Why should Presidents or former Presidents be weighing in?
Some clarifications:
President Carter’s statement was about the “overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama”, NOT about Joe Wilson’s “You lie!” comment in particular so the news article you posted is deliberately miss-characterizing Carter’s remarks.
Serena Williams did not threaten to kill anyone. What she said was “If I could, I would take this ******* ball and shove it down your ******* throat,” and while that’s certainly going too far and it’s certainly a threat, it’s not the same thing as “threatening to kill” at all. It’s the kind of exaggerated claim you make in anger to intimidate someone or when you’re really pissed or both. It has no real sense of reality to it. She was obviously not intending to literally show a ball down anyone’s throat. To characterize that as a death threat is a misrepresentation.
What hypocrites. Is that Caster Semenya in the second picture?
@Stoltz13 - Bush was praised for the longest time, even though the democrats didn’t like him, they didn’t perform many of the acts that people are displaying towards Obama currently. Bush was bashed later on in his career. Obama has been facing an uphill battle from day 1. you may assume that i’m biased because i’m black, but that truly is not the case. i’ve been watching the news from the beginning of his presidential career. the whole issue with the birth certificate, issues with his religion, posters of him resembling the joker, calling him a socialist and communist, bashing his speech to school kids before they knew what the speech was about, calling him a liar during a speech. maybe it’s not racism but it sure as hell doesn’t look good. they didn’t do this to Bush or any president this early on. so whats the other explanation, then?
HISTORY.
Because whites can’t pull the race card.
@Stoltz13 - what else is there to say but AMEN BRUTHA.
(coming from a me–half-black woman who disagrees with much of what President Obama has done/is doing):
obviously Carter, like many people(black and white) of his generation, is not taking into account the myriad intelligent people(black and white) who do not support much of what President Obama is doing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: opposing the decisions of the president does not make you a racist.
but, Carter, like many people I know, comes from a generation where attitudes toward black people was based largely upon race. it’s different nowadays, but that generation cannot understand that, unfortunately.
there is as much racism from ignorant blacks toward whites as there is from ignorant whites towards blacks, and those of other races.
Joe Wilson voted for healthcare for illegal immigrants back in 2003. I don’t understand why he’s so upset now. He’s such a hypocrite.
He shouldn’t be so disrespectful to the president though. Most hecklers get tossed out after an outburst like that.
@Stoltz13 - The simple way of looking at the definition of being a “racist” is based on the historical use of biased treatment based on race. The abolition of slavery during the civil war and the suffrage movements of the 60s was basically a cultural revolution that spoke out against preferential treatment based on race and gender. In today’s context, we find that a lot of those same sentiments are still conveyed from the dominant population (non-minorities) towards ethnic groups (minorities) since much of those bigoted views were unresolved. Just bc it was illegal to have slaves didn’t mean slave owners didn’t treat/view them (Africans, and later other immigrants) like second class citizens. There was no universal deconstruction of the population’s perception of how it was morally wrong to extend the value of a human based on race, consciously or not. The fact that the majority in this country don’t have to second guess themselves or justify their actions, words, and beliefs (only when charged with being a racist) signifies that there is indeed a difference in power dynamics that minorities just can’t obtain. And I mean this on a systemic level and not sensationalized instances that you previously mentioned. Racism is a midset and not so much an action that can only be exercised by those in power. Try Bell Hook’s WHITE POWER.
for the record, racism was brought up in the serena williams incident, but it got all hushed up because kanye openned his mouth up again.
that not true. a lot of ppl are saying kanyes racist because of that while others say single ladies was better but kanye shouldnt have interrupted.
Everyone who is aware of anything knows that white people are racist from birth and that minorities are pure as the driven snow in that respect.
Joe Wilson’s actions were trenched in bi-partisan political lines more than any racial motivation. Althought NPR analysis did say there could have been racist undertones…but I do not think overtones.
Serena Williams, a passionate competitor was caught up in a fit of rage over her own losing performance and decided to retaliate and someone who looked like an easy target. That little AZN woman doesn’t look like the most competent ref, therefore Serena went in for the kill to blow some steam and to stand up for what she believed in.
Kanye is an entertainer doing just that: entertaining. Unfortunately he lacks tact and intelligence sometimes when doing it. Also he is a braggart and attention fiend much more than he is a racist. Although his lyrics do openly indicate that he is racist as well.
Everyone is at least a little racist (problem is systemic, just like @Stoltz13 says), it’s how we conduct ourselves and if the racism has a negative outlet that’s the problem.
@polynices3 - My point is that who has power depends on where you are at in the country…in the middle of Brooklyn…I am a minority…and a mob of racists could do me real harm.
@ellicepark - Thank you…
I have noticed this for a long time.
@Stoltz13 - I agree with that assessment. But I guess what I was trying to say is that, sure, in a different context you would have a temporary perceived switch in “power” but that power is not real power, the power American society uses to change laws and improve lives, but rather faux power that uses violence (as the only ways and means) to change life circumstances to the advantage of those who are unable to change their circumstance they way you and I can because we don’t live in the inner city. As Pablo Freire once said, violence is the voice of the weak since they are not able to bend society to their will unlike politicians and the social elites.
Jimmy Carter is an idiot.
I completly agree with this.I didn’t vote for Obama simply because I’m a republican and disagreed with Obama on almost everything because he made so many promises that I knew we’re impossible.When I would tell people I didn’t support him I was instantly labeled ‘racist’ though his race had nothing to do with it.I had one black girl I told that too and it was her and her friend in the room with me.When Obama won she told the girl to ‘watch’ her water cause white people we’re going crazy.I even had a white teacher who acted like I was racist cause I didn’t want to vote for him.It struck me as unfair and racist itself.Funny how more african americans voted this past year than ever before though. Not to mention my best childhood friend was mixed and she still remains my friend.Yet I still suppose I’m racist according to people huh?
I know of times in my own life when black people made fun of me for being sooooo white. Funny though, I didn’t DARE make any remarks about their skin color!!! Hmmm…..sound like equality to you?
@droptop11 - And it sucks, cos you know what? I didn’t do it! I never enslaved or discriminated against a black man. And yet… they continue to speak as though we are a set group, instead of individuals.
@CocoSoulBeauty007 - Not exactly a race, but the Jews have been discriminated against since just about the beginning of time. (To be hyperbolic, of course.) Probably longer than blacks, since in the beginning, they didn’t really have any integration between the continents and most people probably didn’t have much awareness of other races. (And I’m talking WAY in the beginning here. Like before the explorers, but while Europe was stilling fighting itself.)
no clue.
@plainlady - I notice that too. In addition, notice how “black” can be considered offensive and many prefer “African-American,” whereas I must be called “white” (which isn’t offensive to me, and I doubt I’d be offended if I were black to be called black) instead of “Irish-American” or “Italian-American,” etc.
Yes, it is odd. Then again, people in suits are generally expected to be more professional and courteous than athletes or those in the entertianment business. So it makes sense that his comment is looked at more closely.
To everyone whose comments ignorantly suggested that slavery is the only evidence of racism in the history of this country, please go read a history book. If racism had ended in 1865, there would have been no need for a Civil Rights Movement 100 YEARS LATER.
As for racism’s attribution to white people being odd or not, it depends on your definition of racism. I personally think racist or not, all three of those people acted like morons.
@pocoemme - As for the scholarship issue, the majority of available scholarships are NOT directed at a specific race of people. In fact, nearly every scholarship (if not all) is directed at a specific group of people, and if you aren’t part of that group, too bad. There are scholarships only available to Girl Scouts, to people whose parents work for Toyota, to women, to science majors, to people whose names begin with the letter E, and to people who were born and raised in the city of St. Louis. I’m a grad student and most scholarships are only available to undergrads. Many scholarships (especially the big ones) are specifically for high school seniors, so if you took some time off or you got your GED instead of a diploma, sucks to be you. Dang…you just can’t win, can you?
Let’s just all paint ourselves invisible. DONE! Color-of-skin issue solved. We’re all the same. Our variety has been reduced. We can’t even SEE what we look like (heck, we can’t even see each other).
Eh, we’ll just find something else to complain about…like how someone is more invisible than the other. We’ll INVENT a racist issue out of it.
HA! First on THIS page! (I make for celebration when I can. LOL)
I love how many people have this notion that only white people are racist. I’m sorry, but some of teh most racist people I can think of aren’t white.
@abilene_piper_lg - duh finally someone besides me notices