A More Perfect Union

[Partial]

Definitely one of the scarier moments of my life.

Everyone has prejudice in them.

I agree with this. No matter what race you are you have some prejudice in you. You can be the kindest and sweetest church lady (black or white) and still have some prejudice in you. It's a shame, but I think it's true.

Prejudice and racism aren't the same thing, though.

I am prejudice against a lot of people in the ghetto. Not for their skin color, but for their actions.

[Partial]

Re: A More Perfect Union

Obama fails to acknowledge that very few truly hate black people today.

He is still black and based on my limited life experiences and what I now of the 50 something age group he doesn't have an ice cubes chance in hell of winning.

Nice one, P.

Changed our tune, have we?

Just because they won't elect a black person does not mean they hate black people. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

[3irty1]

To an extent I agree about racism these days. Think about how much that word has changed. Black people used to be less than human without any further information needed. The world that I've grown up in is not even close to that. Now the word racism mostly refers to the use of stereotypes.

I can't say that's true everywhere though. After spending a few months in the South I'm quite shocked at how much more intolerant people are than back in WI. I have to admit though... people here do seem to fit the stereotypes pretty darn well.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Damn Partial, you are a big panocha.
BTW - I am racist. I hate all people.

THat doesn't make you a racist. Just a prick.

If you are a racist you have to believe that you are better strictly by skin color.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Damn Partial, you are a big panocha.
BTW - I am racist. I hate all people.

But do you hate them equally?

Partial,

I think Americans have come a long way in reducing racism because of the color of their skin. To say there is no more racism because of skin color is just plain denial, ignorance, or naivete. It still exists.

My nephew is a 21 year old student out here at Portland State. He was adopted by his parents when he was just an infant. He does not know his biological parents but he is of Mideastern ancestry.

It is sad in the post 9/11 era to hear him tell of the many times he has been called "Raghead" or "Sand nigger" because of his physical Mideastern biological heritage.

Could you please alert us to his physical address.

We can't be to vigilant against radical islamic terrorists!

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Re: A More Perfect Union

Obama fails to acknowledge that very few truly hate black people today.

He is still black and based on my limited life experiences and what I now of the 50 something age group he doesn't have an ice cubes chance in hell of winning.

Nice one, P.

Changed our tune, have we?

Just because they won't elect a black person does not mean they hate black people. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

Care to tell us why they would't vote for him then?

[Partial]

Re: A More Perfect Union

Obama fails to acknowledge that very few truly hate black people today.

He is still black and based on my limited life experiences and what I now of the 50 something age group he doesn't have an ice cubes chance in hell of winning.

Nice one, P.

Changed our tune, have we?

Just because they won't elect a black person does not mean they hate black people. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

Care to tell us why they would't vote for him then?

Fear of assassination, not ready to have a non-white president, more qualified candidates, etc. The list realistically could be quite long.

[BallHawk]

Partial, at this point, none of the candidates are qualified.

Not electing a candidate because of fear of assassination is crazy, though understandable.

[The Leaper]

Re: A More Perfect Union

“Most white Americans have a very limited capacity for dealing with black anger or acknowledging their own racial privileges,” Dorrien said.

\

What RACIAL PRIVILEGES?

How does a white person hold any SIGNIFICANT advantage over a black person in today's society...given everything else is equal?

What holds people back today is CLASS, not race. If you don't have cash, it doesn't matter if you are white, black or purple. A poor white kid in rural West Virginia has as much chance as a poor black kid in Harlem in our society...while a rich white kid has as much chance as a rich black kid.

I'm not suggesting there is no racism or bigotry in our nation. It is impossible to eliminate those things entirely, and they should always be vigorously challenged in our society. However, the steps we've taken in the last 40 years show vast progress...and by most accounts we can only expect the progress to continue as younger generations who have only known a more diversified and color-blind society replace the older generations where prejudice and hatred still lingers among many...despite the advances of society as a whole.

Defending Wright's view in any context is deplorable IMO.

[hoosier]

Re: A More Perfect Union

“Most white Americans have a very limited capacity for dealing with black anger or acknowledging their own racial privileges,” Dorrien said.

\

What RACIAL PRIVILEGES?

I'm sure there are many privileges, some of which we're all aware of and others we tend to overlook. I'll start a list if you want. But probably the most obvious is the well-documented discrepancy in average salary for white and black professionals with similar qualifications. Same goes for women in comparison with men.

[hoosier]

Re: A More Perfect Union

What holds people back today is CLASS, not race. If you don't have cash, it doesn't matter if you are white, black or purple. A poor white kid in rural West Virginia has as much chance as a poor black kid in Harlem in our society...while a rich white kid has as much chance as a rich black kid.

I agree it's about class, not just race, but not class in the sense of how much cash you have. You can be lower class and still be very cashy. Class in the sense of glass ceilings that impede social mobility and stick to you like a label. Everyone loves to recite the self-made man anecdotes about Colin Powell emerging from Harlem. But Powell is a fairly rare exception. And his example doesn't offer any insight into the typical experiences of black middle class in comparison to white middle class--the fact that our society as a whole still tends to view blacks as "blacks" while viewing whites as "just people."

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Re: A More Perfect Union

Obama fails to acknowledge that very few truly hate black people today.

He is still black and based on my limited life experiences and what I now of the 50 something age group he doesn't have an ice cubes chance in hell of winning.

Nice one, P.

Changed our tune, have we?

Just because they won't elect a black person does not mean they hate black people. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

Care to tell us why they would't vote for him then?

Fear of assassination, not ready to have a non-white president, more qualified candidates, etc. The list realistically could be quite long.

Really, the 50 age group is fearful he would be assinated? LOL

Why would they not be ready for a black prez...isn't that RACISM.

Keep spinning partial. It is hilarious.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Re: A More Perfect Union

“Most white Americans have a very limited capacity for dealing with black anger or acknowledging their own racial privileges,” Dorrien said.

\

What RACIAL PRIVILEGES?

How does a white person hold any SIGNIFICANT advantage over a black person in today's society...given everything else is equal?

What holds people back today is CLASS, not race. If you don't have cash, it doesn't matter if you are white, black or purple. A poor white kid in rural West Virginia has as much chance as a poor black kid in Harlem in our society...while a rich white kid has as much chance as a rich black kid.

I'm not suggesting there is no racism or bigotry in our nation. It is impossible to eliminate those things entirely, and they should always be vigorously challenged in our society. However, the steps we've taken in the last 40 years show vast progress...and by most accounts we can only expect the progress to continue as younger generations who have only known a more diversified and color-blind society replace the older generations where prejudice and hatred still lingers among many...despite the advances of society as a whole.

Defending Wright's view in any context is deplorable IMO.

The fact that you actually believe the each has the same chance proves the point.

You aren't even close to being right.

[The Leaper]

Re: A More Perfect Union

But probably the most obvious is the well-documented discrepancy in average salary for white and black professionals with similar qualifications. Same goes for women in comparison with men.

I could find significant flaws in many of these salary discrepancy studies. What do they consider "similar qualifications"...that is a rather difficult thing to quantify. We all have different educations and career backgrounds. What age groups are they studying? Older age groups clearly will still carry a large advantage for whites who were born prior to 1975, as civil rights really started making headway in our society.

Care to point out a specific one we can discuss? Again, I'm not suggesting there isn't an advantage for whites...I'm suggesting there is not a SIGNIFICANT advantage like there was 25+ years ago. The significant hurdles in our society today are a result of class, not race.

[The Leaper]

Re: A More Perfect Union

You aren't even close to being right.

You are right.

We should go back to lynching people, because the progress that has been made is worthless.