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Originally Posted by mixedmedia
I have to say I find it almost laughable that someone's answer to the problem of racism is for non-white people to stop being so goddamned different from white people. Actually, now that I'm actually writing it, it is laughable. 
I'm going to bed now. |
Actually, in the future I would recommend reading/thinking about replies when you type them out, especially when you're tired right before bed.
The point is NOT to be less "different from white people." It's to be more American, or the idea could be extrapolated to any minority within a society. America is a melting pot so asking people to drop their heritage is the last thing I'm advocating.
Yes this is kind of a tough concept to grasp, that a person could keep their culture yet ditch the actions which only serve to further their distinction as a minority. Oh, well actually now that I write it, it's kind of laughable that you wouldn't get it considering it's right in the OP. Live and learn, I guess?
Have a good cup of coffee before you respond? Please? I really would rather keep this a normal discussion but I have a rather significant flaw as a person, that I can't let bs stand. Ask a question if you have a question, but moving to flaming will only get you the same in return.
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Originally Posted by filtherton
I think the issue is much more complex than what is laid forth in the OP.
I think that one can advocate equality when it comes to fundamental things, like civil rights, racial profiling, basic human decency, etc., without necessarily needing to advocate homogeneity in terms of individual cultural expression. It is bad to treat people differently because of their race. It isn't necessarily bad to draw lines between different cultures and/or celebrate differences between cultures.
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I never claimed to have fully explained every last nuance possible in the subject; quite the reverse really. The paragraph above is another way of saying the exact same thing.
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Originally Posted by filtherton
Blackness is a race, but it is also a culture. Though the distinction might be rather murky at times, it is still important.
BET exists because there is a market for it; prior to BET there were people who want to watch the kinds of things on BET who couldn't because there was no BET. No doubt that there are some people for whom BET provides a sense of cultural identity. So what? In my mind that's no worse that people deriving a sense of cultural identity from desperate housewives. It isn't something i'd personally strive towards, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
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Interesting thought. I would argue defining a culture entirely based on the color of one's skin is a step in the wrong direction. Not even close to 100% of black people behave or subscribe to the stereotypical "black" lifestyle (whatever the hell that is, heh). Therefore pushing forward the idea these people are so different from your average American (not just whites!) is exactly the kind of thinking something like BET promotes.
Why can't BET drop the B and still be successful? It could still have the exact same material and fill the exact same need without pushing the idea "blacks are different." No, they're
American and have a heritage or a set of ideals (depending on religion) to stand up for. There is no use in pushing the "black" part, just let them by what they're gonna be.
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Originally Posted by jorgelito
I don't think of it as they are playing the race card. Sometimes the "labeling" is simply accurate descriptions. Would you (not you you but the collective you) be uspet at Sex and the City cause the name is so divisive sexually and genderwise? Or Seinfeld is blatantly Jewish!!! How divisive, how dare they label!! Desperate Housewives, more divisiveness and labeling. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
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Yes this is a good point, perhaps I could have been clearer about it. Sometimes a label is a label and we cannot escape that. If you don't call a Jewish person Jewish (or a Jew, sans negative connotations), what the hell you gonna call them? It's necessary and has no negative repercussions in and of itself.
This is definitely not a push for homogenization (is that a word?) or being PC, whatsoever. The change is a very subtle one and wouldn't change anything overnight. It's simply life as-is, minus the phrases and terms and labels which serve only negative purposes.