"I'm a strong black man"

[Tarlam!]

I asked myself when I saw this interview, why Vince Young said "black man" and not just "man".

I was glad one reporter posed the question directly, too.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ba9dd0

What if A-Rod said "I am a strong white man" ? I believe there would be a scandal.

I am far from being a racist. But I think Vince's comment was racist and I am offended by it.

Thoughts?

[SkinBasket]

I don't think it's too bad. Certainly not as bad as the kind of rampant racism that's allowed in the black community and often times promoted by their political and religious leaders, but given a free pass under the guise of poverty, anger, and oppression. We live in a world where only the majority has to feel ashamed for racism, at least here in the states. Which is too bad.

[hoosier]

Re: "I'm a strong black man"

I asked myself when I saw this interview, why Vince Young said "black man" and not just "man".

I was glad one reporter posed the question directly, too.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ba9dd0

What if A-Rod said "I am a strong white man" ? I believe there would be a scandal.

I am far from being a racist. But I think Vince's comment was racist and I am offended by it.

Thoughts?

Why do think it was racist of him to say that the last few weeks have made him a "stronger black man"? Racism implies a belief in the innate superiority of one "race" over another. Why is that comment racist? I can understand you being puzzled over why Vince Young felt the need to emphasize his skin color in that context, but I don't see why the need to judge his comment as divisive.

[HowardRoark]

Re: "I'm a strong black man"

I asked myself when I saw this interview, why Vince Young said "black man" and not just "man".

I was glad one reporter posed the question directly, too.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ba9dd0

What if A-Rod said "I am a strong white man" ? I believe there would be a scandal.

I am far from being a racist. But I think Vince's comment was racist and I am offended by it.

Thoughts?

Why do think it was racist of him to say that the last few weeks have made him a "stronger black man"? Racism implies a belief in the innate superiority of one "race" over another. Why is that comment racist? I can understand you being puzzled over why Vince Young felt the need to emphasize his skin color in that context, but I don't see why the need to judge his comment as divisive.

I agree you Hoosier. The misuse of the word racism (confusing with prejudice in particular) causes a lot of problems in our country. It is too bad he doesn't heed MLK's words though and have a dream when race doesn't matter.....even if he is a black man.

[mraynrand]

I saw a recent poll that asked blacks and whites whether they thought of themselves as black or white or as American first. 47% of blacks said black first, American second. Whites ran about 47%. The point is not that blacks are necessarily less American than whites, just that racial identity is more of an issue for blacks, in general.

[Zool]

Black people identify with their race much more than their nationality. If someone asks what a white person is, they usually reply Irish, German, Norweigan etc not European.

[MateoInMex]

Re: "I'm a strong black man"

I asked myself when I saw this interview, why Vince Young said "black man" and not just "man".

I was glad one reporter posed the question directly, too.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ba9dd0

What if A-Rod said "I am a strong white man" ? I believe there would be a scandal.

I am far from being a racist. But I think Vince's comment was racist and I am offended by it.

Thoughts?

Why do think it was racist of him to say that the last few weeks have made him a "stronger black man"? Racism implies a belief in the innate superiority of one "race" over another. Why is that comment racist? I can understand you being puzzled over why Vince Young felt the need to emphasize his skin color in that context, but I don't see why the need to judge his comment as divisive.

Good post. I remember seeing Chuck D from the late 80's-90's group Public Enemy, and Harry Allen aka "The Media Assasin" at a college lecture some years back. Basically the same question was posed asking them why the need to refer to themselves as "strong black men", rather than just "strong men"..would it be considered racist. Both argued as African-Americans they're not in a position to be racist because black Amercians have never ruled over the white Americans. Anyway, it was greeted with many cheers and a sprinkling of boos. Then the people who booed got their asses kicked outside after the lecture ...but anyway back to the point of Vince Young.

I don't have anything against what he said as an African-American professional athlete saying he's a strong black man. I do however, take issue with Vince Young saying it.

ISN'T VINCE YOUNG THE SAME GUY THAT HAD HAS FEELINGS HURT BY MERRILL HOGE ON ESPN? Merrill Hoge made a few comments about Vince Young being a big baby, and VY took it personal...like Ray Finkle personal.

Vincen Baby, dude....it's Merrill Fucking Hoge! You were the star of a championship bowl game at Texas!!! So when Vince Young says he's a strong black man, physically I would agree. But if you let Merrill Hoge get under your skin, I would question his mental toughness.

[mraynrand]

Re: "I'm a strong black man"

Both argued as African-Americans they're not in a position to be racist because black Amercians have never ruled over the white Americans.

I don't have anything against what he said as an African-American professional athlete saying he's a strong black man.

I think both positions are understandable, as a matter of history and culture, but I think they are wrong, and hopefully in the future, we'll see less and less of this. Still, I think overall it's pretty low level stuff.

[hoosier]

Re: "I'm a strong black man"

I asked myself when I saw this interview, why Vince Young said "black man" and not just "man".

I was glad one reporter posed the question directly, too.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ba9dd0

What if A-Rod said "I am a strong white man" ? I believe there would be a scandal.

I am far from being a racist. But I think Vince's comment was racist and I am offended by it.

Thoughts?

Why do think it was racist of him to say that the last few weeks have made him a "stronger black man"? Racism implies a belief in the innate superiority of one "race" over another. Why is that comment racist? I can understand you being puzzled over why Vince Young felt the need to emphasize his skin color in that context, but I don't see why the need to judge his comment as divisive.

Good post. I remember seeing Chuck D from the late 80's-90's group Public Enemy, and Harry Allen aka "The Media Assasin" at a college lecture some years back. Basically the same question was posed asking them why the need to refer to themselves as "strong black men", rather than just "strong men"..would it be considered racist. Both argued as African-Americans they're not in a position to be racist because black Amercians have never ruled over the white Americans. Anyway, it was greeted with many cheers and a sprinkling of boos. Then the people who booed got their asses kicked outside after the lecture ...but anyway back to the point of Vince Young.

I don't have anything against what he said as an African-American professional athlete saying he's a strong black man. I do however, take issue with Vince Young saying it.

ISN'T VINCE YOUNG THE SAME GUY THAT HAD HAS FEELINGS HURT BY MERRILL HOGE ON ESPN? Merrill Hoge made a few comments about Vince Young being a big baby, and VY took it personal...like Ray Finkle personal.

Vincen Baby, dude....it's Merrill Fucking Hoge! You were the star of a championship bowl game at Texas!!! So when Vince Young says he's a strong black man, physically I would agree. But if you let Merrill Hoge get under your skin, I would question his mental toughness.

Excellent point. I think Vincent doth protest a little too much.

[Tarlam!]

Nobody answered the other half of the question while defending Vince's rights to claim he is a strong black man. Namely, what if A-Rod (and I will add now) Kampy, Tausch, Cliffy or Jordy came out and said "I am a strong white man"?

Because, that's my point of contention. They would get hammered.

I think it is NOT OK that blacks can be proud of their race and whites cannot.

[hoosier]

Nobody answered the other half of the question while defending Vince's rights to claim he is a strong black man. Namely, what if A-Rod (and I will add now) Kampy, Tausch, Cliffy or Jordy came out and said "I am a strong white man"?

Because, that's my point of contention. They would get hammered.

I think it is NOT OK that blacks can be proud of their race and whites cannot.

"White pride" is code for white supremacy in age when outright racism has become largely if not entirely stigmatized. "Black pride" movements from the 1960s to the present have defined themselves as attempts to level the playing field. You can argue that the fields are now essentially level, but I would submit that a reasonable person could also argue that they are not. At least not everywhere and not in every context. More level than they were 40 years ago, no doubt about it, but not completely level yet. We can argue the levelness question later. For now I'm just trying to make the point that white pride is the voice of a historically dominant social group trying to maintain its dominance; black pride (and hispanic pride) are voices of historically underprivileged groups. You can dispute what the field looks like today, but you can't dispute the history or the fact that history matters for today.

[mraynrand]

Nobody answered the other half of the question while defending Vince's rights to claim he is a strong black man. Namely, what if A-Rod (and I will add now) Kampy, Tausch, Cliffy or Jordy came out and said "I am a strong white man"?

Because, that's my point of contention. They would get hammered.

I think it is NOT OK that blacks can be proud of their race and whites cannot.

"White pride" is code for white supremacy in age when outright racism has become largely if not entirely stigmatized. "Black pride" movements from the 1960s to the present have defined themselves as attempts to level the playing field. You can argue that the fields are now essentially level, but I would submit that a reasonable person could also argue that they are not. At least not everywhere and not in every context. More level than they were 40 years ago, no doubt about it, but not completely level yet. We can argue the levelness question later. For now I'm just trying to make the point that white pride is the voice of a historically dominant social group trying to maintain its dominance; black pride (and hispanic pride) are voices of historically underprivileged groups. You can dispute what the field looks like today, but you can't dispute the history or the fact that history matters for today.

That's a pretty reasonable assessment. In similar ways, the playing field isn't exactly equal for women, in all areas, but some of that is due to profound gender differences and is mostly OK. The key, I think is to always work towards equality of opportunity as opposed to equality of outcome.

[MadtownPacker]

Nobody answered the other half of the question while defending Vince's rights to claim he is a strong black man. Namely, what if A-Rod (and I will add now) Kampy, Tausch, Cliffy or Jordy came out and said "I am a strong white man"?

Because, that's my point of contention. They would get hammered.

I think it is NOT OK that blacks can be proud of their race and whites cannot.

I agree that Whiteys should be able to be proud of being Nabiscos. It always get a bad rep of being associated with Swastikas and all that crap. I feel there needs to be a White pride day to be fair to those who lack color.

As someone who is not White I approve this message.

[mraynrand]

I feel there needs to be a White pride day to be fair to those who lack color.

I think it depends on how much melanin you actually lack.

I always support Albino Pride Parades

[texaspackerbacker]

Little kids are taught that line--"I'm a proud black" whatever. If it's racist, it's on the part of the leaders pushing the attitude, not so much the youth repeating it.

Vince Young was/is apparently troubled and insecure. I can see how his usage of that line could have been some sort of a coping mechanism.

I'm hoping he gets over his problems, as I've got him on a lot of fantasy teams.