I was always taught to not want to be anyone else.
I think that is why the question wasn't "Would you rather be black than white?". She asks "who would be happy to be treated as this society, in general, treats our black citizens".
You are given the cards you are. It is how you play your hand.
I guess in context the question would be, would you be happy if you knew you were being intentionally dealt bad cards from the bottom of the deck? Obviously, all isn't fair, we're not all dealt the same cards no matter what our skin color, and our only option has been to play the hand dealt. But if some people are dealt cards from a full deck and others dealt cards from a deck that only has 2's, 3's and 4's, I could understand why those in the audience wouldn't want the cards from the shit deck, or would choose to keep the cards they received from a stacked deck of only face cards. While anyone can turn whatever cards they are dealt into something they can find fulfilling and successful with enough work, historically black Americans weren't even allowed a chance at some cards (aka opportunities). And in some cases even when they worked hard and clawed their way up from the bottom they had their cards taken away from them as we saw happen to Tulsa's black wall street back in 1921.
Yeah, no. Of course I also readily admit that the country and its institutions originally were designed to exclude if not outright oppress blacks in the US. We have made progress but that type of thing doesn’t disappear overnight. Still a lot of work to be done at it starts with admitting that there is still a problem.
President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
I certainly do know those words, and you are free to post them to try to support your POV.
You could even post the words of ''Catfish Cole'' as the KKK was run out of Robeson county NC and it's wasn't white folks that ran his cowardly ass out of Robeson county. I believe that is your home state is it not?
President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
And the Democrats use that every day. One day, the left will learn how much abuse they have suffered thanks to the Democrats pandering and lies.
They don't know what they don't know. I am not of the left persuasion so I have no personal point of reference. Guess you missed the sheep reference? It doesn't matter as is shown daily here, they will follow no matter where they are led.
But I could point out one. How about the old "build me up just to let me down" that minorities suffer at every election cycle? And it isn't just the dems so the only difference is, conservatives KNOW if they are being bullshitted for political gain.
But I could point out one. How about the old "build me up just to let me down" that minorities suffer at every election cycle? And it isn't just the dems so the only difference is, conservatives KNOW if they are being bullshitted for political gain.
So your posit is that minorities don't KNOW they are being bullshitted for political gain. Why is it that they don't KNOW after suffering at 'every election cycle' Jim?
What don't you understand about "build me upjust to let me down"? It's all about perceived promises and future expectations. And a LOT of people, if we are so inclined, fall for that bullshit.
see 5.1.14 I am not saying it's exclusive to dems just that dems are more apt to not notice. As my friend Hallux used to say (and in the old NV days it was his moniker) "Ideology spoils the view"
Actually Dulay as our readers can see, I chose to switch gears as several of you claim that minorities vote dem because it is in their "best interest" to do so. So why not be all inclusive to non-minority fools who follow the same path?
Actually Dulay as our readers can see, I chose to switch gears as several of you claim that minorities vote dem because it is in their "best interest" to do so.
As 'our readers' can see, you didn't 'switch gears' at all, you merely misrepresented your original statement.
So why not be all inclusive to non-minority fools who follow the same path?
Do they 'not notice' every election cycle or are they following a path every election cycle Jim? Pick one...
So your posit is that minorities don't KNOW they are being bullshitted for political gain.
Sure they know it. The minorities of today are far more knowledgeable and better educated than their Grandparents were. They know when they are being short changed and taken advantage of. That is why more of them are speaking up, and aware of the BS that is fed to them by the Trump supporters, and the threats by the likes of the Proud Boys, neo-Nazies and other extremists. And that's why more of the minorities are voting for the Democrats and/or Independents.
You see 1st, you are now labeled a racist by most of the left on here just because you posted that.
I completely agree with 1st and gave it a thumbs up. Just disagreeing with Democrats or Republicans doesn't make you racist or "antifa" or any of the other assumptions some within the parties might assume. And talking about racism and bringing up the inequities we still find in our society doesn't make you a racist either. And teaching our kids about slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws and the continued legacy of racism doesn't make you racist. Calling Mexicans even if they entered our country illegally "rapists" is racist. Calling majority black cities "rat infested" or African countries "shitholes" is racist. Flying a swastika or a confederate flag or chanting "Jews will not replace us!" is racist. Taking data on voting patterns by race and drafting voting laws that the courts found targeted "African-Americans with almost surgical precision," is racist.
1st has never appeared to me as being a racist. Being treated unfairly by racists is closer to the truth. And there are those here on NT who are award winning racists and proud of it. But, 1st is not one of them.
Racist? Nah - don't think so. Most people know what/who I am, and racist ain't it
But, then, you knew that already, right?
Tell you what I am - according to my wife, pig-headed, stubborn, pain-in-the-azz, azzhole 24/7/365 but a very consistent azzhole, law school grad (but NOT an attorney), former Marine, former Coastie, former DoD employee, firm believer in equal opportunity for all, pathetic, abject golfer (14 handicap), Harley rider, former SCCA driver - basically an all around individual who believes everyone should be given a fair and even chance and also that everyone has good in them regardless of how they act.
You're my friend? I'll fight to protect you/your beliefs 'til I'm too wounded to continue - which don't happen.
Can a person who abhors the "European Conquest" of his people be racist? Not really 'cause not all Euro's wanted to wipe us out - some helped us - but not enough. However, we can totally get pizzed at the political systems of the 14, 15, 16, 17, 1800's where we, American Indians, were as useless as teats on a boar hog to them unless they wanted our lands, societies, traditions, cultures and heritages to be eradicated. Today's politicians aren't much different - just not as obvious.
Evening 1st... looks an unusual breed of kitty?? Is that the case or does she just have unusual colouring?? Think she has landed on her paws at your home...
Evening 1st..and you sound bloody good to me from over this side of the Pacific.
At the end of the day it is each to their own. For me I don't care where you come from, what colour you are and least of all who you bloody vote for. Why people get so hung up on pig trough pollies, I will never know. They are a necessary evil, but to waste brain cells on them.. truly astounds me.
There are so much better things to do and see in life than waste one second on them.
We are told the USA is the world's greatest democracy..What we see is a country hung up on what colour you are and who in the hell you voted for and when is the next bloody election!!!!
We have it here to but no where near as bad. It drives me up the wall with the crap I get, so you mob have my sympathy.
Well I am off to bed..my cat is already on it...they don't care who you are or who you vote for..
They just want you to keep their dishes full...and not the cheap crap either or there is a hunger strike...Then you get worried and take them to the vet..$200 later they come home and hog into the food..
I think I have been taken for a ride...Just like friggin Politicians do...hoo too for now..😸😸😸
Hey Shona - yes'm - she's a Maine Coon with "Smoked" coloring. When she gets older, she'll be black, grey and white. She already has a big brother named Wessy -
The media and their friends have to make money, so they flood the airways/paper pages with crap 'bout color, political backstabbing, stealing elections and pure out and out lies - to keep the division going.
Morning 1st...would love to see more photos as Stormy grows...her name will certainly suit her by her colours. Wessy is very handsome. We have Maine Coons here as well very popular cats. Mishka my puss is a Ragdoll but you would not know it. Speaking of which it is now bellowing because she wants her breakfast..Enjoy your evening as a new day starts here...😸😸😸
Can a person who abhors the "European Conquest" of his people be racist? Not really 'cause not all Euro's wanted to wipe us out - some helped us - but not enough. However, we can totally get pizzed at the political systems of the 14, 15, 16, 17, 1800's where we, American Indians, were as useless as teats on a boar hog to them unless they wanted our lands, societies, traditions, cultures and heritages to be eradicated. Today's politicians aren't much different - just not as obvious.
We are told the USA is the world's greatest democracy.. What we see is a country hung up on what colour you are and who in the hell you voted for and when is the next bloody election!!!!
This isn't going to please everyone. I can't help that.
The question as it stands is sincere and has a point; it is also somewhat hypothetical in that we can't crawl into someone else's skin.
That said -- I sired and raised four daughters [and had my own bathroom]. One ran with a Chinese guy, another with a Mediterranean guy, and one with an African American. Of the four, one is hitched to a guy who looks even remotely like me. Love them all. And grand-kids? Same thing. Multi-ethnic, multi-racial, we're all family. Most are United States citizens. Some are bi-nationals. So far as I'm concerned, if our being American is not good enough for you, you have no place in my family, and you are not welcome in any of my residences.
I had a conversation with my female, black therapist about this topic specifically. She was the one that told me about this question. I told her that I would have no problem with trading places for a bit. Why? I cannot learn about what happens in various scenarios of life if I have not had to live that life. She was surprised by my answer. I went further to explain that, while I know I can't really understand what it's like to be a black person in society, I've worked in "manland" since the age of 16 as a woman. I know when I'm being discriminated against. I know when someone has a specific assumption about me simply because of my gender. I've dealt with not getting a job because of sexist thoughts. I've dealt with a lot of verbal, sexual, mental, emotional, and physical abuse because of being a woman in a male-dominated field. It's a lot better than it used to be, but trust me, it still exists.
I think that minority females have it the most difficult in this world. My therapist agreed and said that the closest to understanding how black people feel in many situations is for a woman to work in a male-dominated field, regardless of color. It made me tougher. It made me want to prove those assholes wrong and make them feel like a heel. I've gained a lot of respect from people doing that. It's also made me brutally honest; makes me ask the typically difficult questions, even if I know the answer likely to be given vs. reality.
When I was 18, I worked for a local Pep Boys. One evening, I was the only parts person at the counter, because it was only an hour before closing. A guy named Frank called and this is how the conversation went:
Frank: Parts department please.
Me: You've got it.
Frank: I want to speak to someone with a beard.
Me: How do you know I don't have one?
Frank: Okay smart ass. I came in and bought a new TFI module and my car still isn't starting.
Me: Did we test the old one?
Frank: Yes and it tested bad.
Me: Did we test the new one?
Frank: Yes and it tested good.
Me: How much of the dielectric grease packet did you use on that module?
Frank: The whole thing.
Me: Wipe about half of it off, evenly distribute it, making sure it's a THIN coat and reinstall.
Frank: It will take me about 2 minutes. You're staying on the phone.
Me: Okay.
Frank: ....
**I hear the car start.
Frank: You were right. I'll be damned.
Me: Glad a girl could help. Maybe next time, you won't make assumptions.
Frank: You got me there.
Frank followed me to the next auto parts store that I went and worked at for a while. I had conversations like that quite often. Guys assumed that because I had boobs and a vagina, it somehow made it so I could never know anything about mechanical things. I had really good coworkers too... if they caught on that a dude was being a sexist douche, they would specifically say, "Hang on, let me ask someone that knows about this better than me," and they would bring me over and let me answer the tool bag.
That was a mild and polite interaction. Most didn't go quite that nicely.
As a man who spent a long career working for a huge multinational corporation I can testify that there is still a whole lot of straight up racism, sexism, homophobia and religious/cultural bias expresses and acted upon behind the closed doors of many board rooms and private clubs. It is less open now, of course, but it is still tolerated and even expected within many male dominated businesses and industries. My former company had hundreds of male representatives out in the field doing sales, finance and factory service but only hired their first two female sales representative (both white) a couple of years ago. As far as I know there are still no women hired as outside service representatives.
On a side note, my nephew married a brilliant highly educated classy young black woman and it brings him to tears seeing the blatantly different ways she is treated by servers and retail workers than he is. Mind you, she has a master degree in nursing and was raised in an upper class black Chicago family. It breaks his heart how much abuse she endures from people who have no right to act superior to her.
Man calls on a Friday before July 4th weekend asking about individual Baracuda letters for a fastback deck lid.
I tell him they've been discontinued for decades - try car shows like New Hope & Carlisle.
He says something derogatory and hangs up..
He calls back some time letter and I hear my friend Carl talking to him and telling him that one or two letters might be available from nos collectors. The guy says I'll be right over and leave a deposit to cover your time.
Back door opens and I hear the guy ask Carl for Carl.
They stand there staring at each other.
Carl points to the name on his uniform.
The guy says, no, no offense, but I was clearly talking to a white guy name Carl and I don't want to repeat myself.
( Spoiler Alert, my name is not Carl )
Carl insists that he is indeed the only Carl.
White man insists that he spoke to someone else who sounds different on the phone, like a white person....
He tells Carl to "go find the other Carl".
Carl surrenders, hands up, and walks around the corner to my office, smiling.
He asks me to come out and talk to our customer.
I come out ( maybe I was grinning ).
Customer says "Carl? Was I talking to you about these letters"?
Well, my name is not Carl, pointing to my nameplate
and yes we did talk much earlier about these letters and I told you to go to Carlisle
and you told me to go to hell.
We three are now standing and staring at each other.
He says, I want your names, you haven't heard the last of me
I'm going straight to the showroom with this.
Carl says "You first".
Customer says "WHAT?"
Carl says "Your name first?"
Customer shouts "BILL TWIST" and spells it "T W I S T !!!"
Carl screws up his face and starts contorting his limbs around while asking "Like a pretzel"?
I said "no, considering the age of the car I think he means the dance by Chubby Checker"
Mr. Twist leaves, slamming the door as hard as he can.
It's 4:59PM EST on a holiday weekend.
Carl and his large Afro leap the counter and locks the door in one swift motion like a true black super hero would.
30 seconds later the lights are all off, the fire doors are all locked
and we are on our way to a 3 day weekend, lol.
Never thought of it till a few weeks later when the GM said he heard I was a Chubby Checker fan, lol
When I was an assistant manager at a local shop, I had a guy come in and demand to speak with a man. I said, "I sent them home. They had no idea what they were doing." Then he demanded to speak with a manager. I said, "That's me." He got so pissed and started shouting... my boss was actually just on the other side of the door, where he heard everything [and he was a hot head and a big guy] where we kept tires and a small parts stock; he had just returned from lunch. He burst through the door and told the guy that if he can't be respectful and understand that I was the manager on staff that day, that he could just take his "happy ass" right out that door and not return.
The guys in the shop would stick up for me too if they knew a customer was being rude or sexist.
Why so many are afraid of learning our true history!
if time travel is ever invented, I'd like to see the entire rwnj leadership get a paint job and then get transported to the deep south circa 1963.
What black person would you like to be, and why?
I was always taught to not want to be anyone else.
You are given the cards you are. It is how you play your hand.
Ender, I would give you a hundred thumbs up for this if I could.
Maybe one day.
I never got or get bigotry or dislike or even hatred for others. Just because of something as artificial as how some one looks.
Besides, it is a lot more fun to get to know a lot of different people and cultures.
I sometimes think something is seriously wrong with people that want to wrap themselves into some kind of protective cocoon of hatred.
I think that is why the question wasn't "Would you rather be black than white?". She asks "who would be happy to be treated as this society, in general, treats our black citizens".
I guess in context the question would be, would you be happy if you knew you were being intentionally dealt bad cards from the bottom of the deck? Obviously, all isn't fair, we're not all dealt the same cards no matter what our skin color, and our only option has been to play the hand dealt. But if some people are dealt cards from a full deck and others dealt cards from a deck that only has 2's, 3's and 4's, I could understand why those in the audience wouldn't want the cards from the shit deck, or would choose to keep the cards they received from a stacked deck of only face cards. While anyone can turn whatever cards they are dealt into something they can find fulfilling and successful with enough work, historically black Americans weren't even allowed a chance at some cards (aka opportunities). And in some cases even when they worked hard and clawed their way up from the bottom they had their cards taken away from them as we saw happen to Tulsa's black wall street back in 1921.
Oooh, she really knew how to get to the truth, didn't she.
I imagine the tension in that room was palpable.
You need not imagine, here's a video:
she just used the black door....
Yeah, no. Of course I also readily admit that the country and its institutions originally were designed to exclude if not outright oppress blacks in the US. We have made progress but that type of thing doesn’t disappear overnight. Still a lot of work to be done at it starts with admitting that there is still a problem.
Anyone denying it does not have a black friend.
How many real black friends do you have?
Truer words not spoken recently...........
"....people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as racists"
I call people racist when they openly say racist shit.
President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
smart man
We also know what words Mr. Johnson was famous for. Something about voting Democrat for 200 years
I certainly do know those words, and you are free to post them to try to support your POV.
You could even post the words of ''Catfish Cole'' as the KKK was run out of Robeson county NC and it's wasn't white folks that ran his cowardly ass out of Robeson county. I believe that is your home state is it not?
And the Democrats use that every day. One day, the left will learn how much abuse they have suffered thanks to the Democrats pandering and lies.
Man, if I am being abused then bring on more of it.
How much abuse have the left suffered because of the so-called pandering and lies of the dems?
Therein lies the rub. They don't know what they don't know.
Where is that sheep emoji?
How about an answer to Kavika's question?
They don't know what they don't know. I am not of the left persuasion so I have no personal point of reference. Guess you missed the sheep reference? It doesn't matter as is shown daily here, they will follow no matter where they are led.
But I could point out one. How about the old "build me up just to let me down" that minorities suffer at every election cycle? And it isn't just the dems so the only difference is, conservatives KNOW if they are being bullshitted for political gain.
So your posit is that minorities don't KNOW they are being bullshitted for political gain. Why is it that they don't KNOW after suffering at 'every election cycle' Jim?
What don't you understand about "build me up just to let me down"? It's all about perceived promises and future expectations. And a LOT of people, if we are so inclined, fall for that bullshit.
So if you aren't of the left persuasion and have no personal point of reference, can we say you don't know what you don't know?
Let's talk sheep. I like Southdowns myself
see 5.1.14 I am not saying it's exclusive to dems just that dems are more apt to not notice. As my friend Hallux used to say (and in the old NV days it was his moniker) "Ideology spoils the view"
"So inclined" to WHAT Jim?
Actually Jim, as 'our readers' can all see, you didn't say 'dems', you said 'minorities'.
He was an arsehole before he became another arsehole named BlackcatWhitecat ... and the beat goes on.
Non answer, no surprise there
Don't stop there. Read on.....................
So inclined to believe the political campaigning bullshit. McFly???
Actually Dulay as our readers can see, I chose to switch gears as several of you claim that minorities vote dem because it is in their "best interest" to do so. So why not be all inclusive to non-minority fools who follow the same path?
[deleted]
As 'our readers' can see, you didn't 'switch gears' at all, you merely misrepresented your original statement.
Do they 'not notice' every election cycle or are they following a path every election cycle Jim? Pick one...
Hey Dulay...you are asking a lot from him.....if he had to pick one he would just deflect, derail and change the subject as usual.
I need to watch the movie again.
and every one who voted this comment up should look up Tom Sowell
a 93 year old conservative professor at Stanford who never met a black person or family he liked
He could have made this quote 70 years ago when he had a love affair with Marxism
before he figured out how to make $$ as a controversial and hateful extremist author.
Of course late in his life he discovered
Good job !
Sure they know it. The minorities of today are far more knowledgeable and better educated than their Grandparents were. They know when they are being short changed and taken advantage of. That is why more of them are speaking up, and aware of the BS that is fed to them by the Trump supporters, and the threats by the likes of the Proud Boys, neo-Nazies and other extremists. And that's why more of the minorities are voting for the Democrats and/or Independents.
I don’t think that shocked anyone.
You see 1st, you are now labeled a racist by most of the left on here just because you posted that.
Where do you see that bugsy? Only ONE member besides you has replied to 1st and that comment didn't label anyone.
I completely agree with 1st and gave it a thumbs up. Just disagreeing with Democrats or Republicans doesn't make you racist or "antifa" or any of the other assumptions some within the parties might assume. And talking about racism and bringing up the inequities we still find in our society doesn't make you a racist either. And teaching our kids about slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws and the continued legacy of racism doesn't make you racist. Calling Mexicans even if they entered our country illegally "rapists" is racist. Calling majority black cities "rat infested" or African countries "shitholes" is racist. Flying a swastika or a confederate flag or chanting "Jews will not replace us!" is racist. Taking data on voting patterns by race and drafting voting laws that the courts found targeted "African-Americans with almost surgical precision," is racist.
I don't have to "see" anything. I know the mindset of most of the liberals on here.
It's not kind to anyone that does not toe the liberal line.
Well you sure as fuck wanted 1st to 'see' something bugsy.
NO ONE on the left labeled 1st a racist. You fabricated it.
The only 'mindset' that your comment exposed is your own bugsy.
Your comment was triggered by a fantasy.
1st has never appeared to me as being a racist. Being treated unfairly by racists is closer to the truth. And there are those here on NT who are award winning racists and proud of it. But, 1st is not one of them.
Maybe not - but so very, very few seem to be unable to separate the two.
Sad.
Thank you Raven and Dulay for your opinion.
Racist? Nah - don't think so. Most people know what/who I am, and racist ain't it
But, then, you knew that already, right?
Tell you what I am - according to my wife, pig-headed, stubborn, pain-in-the-azz, azzhole 24/7/365 but a very consistent azzhole, law school grad (but NOT an attorney), former Marine, former Coastie, former DoD employee, firm believer in equal opportunity for all, pathetic, abject golfer (14 handicap), Harley rider, former SCCA driver - basically an all around individual who believes everyone should be given a fair and even chance and also that everyone has good in them regardless of how they act.
You're my friend? I'll fight to protect you/your beliefs 'til I'm too wounded to continue - which don't happen.
Can a person who abhors the "European Conquest" of his people be racist? Not really 'cause not all Euro's wanted to wipe us out - some helped us - but not enough. However, we can totally get pizzed at the political systems of the 14, 15, 16, 17, 1800's where we, American Indians, were as useless as teats on a boar hog to them unless they wanted our lands, societies, traditions, cultures and heritages to be eradicated. Today's politicians aren't much different - just not as obvious.
That's what/who I am.
And cat lover, smile.
Indeed he is.
Silly me - forgot my 10 cats plus the little babe who'll be here in 30 days
Meet Stormy - MC.
Evening 1st... looks an unusual breed of kitty?? Is that the case or does she just have unusual colouring?? Think she has landed on her paws at your home...
Evening 1st..and you sound bloody good to me from over this side of the Pacific.
At the end of the day it is each to their own. For me I don't care where you come from, what colour you are and least of all who you bloody vote for. Why people get so hung up on pig trough pollies, I will never know. They are a necessary evil, but to waste brain cells on them.. truly astounds me.
There are so much better things to do and see in life than waste one second on them.
We are told the USA is the world's greatest democracy..What we see is a country hung up on what colour you are and who in the hell you voted for and when is the next bloody election!!!!
We have it here to but no where near as bad. It drives me up the wall with the crap I get, so you mob have my sympathy.
Well I am off to bed..my cat is already on it...they don't care who you are or who you vote for..
They just want you to keep their dishes full...and not the cheap crap either or there is a hunger strike...Then you get worried and take them to the vet..$200 later they come home and hog into the food..
I think I have been taken for a ride...Just like friggin Politicians do...hoo too for now..😸😸😸
Opps...hoo roo that should be means see ya later..
Hey Shona - yes'm - she's a Maine Coon with "Smoked" coloring. When she gets older, she'll be black, grey and white. She already has a big brother named Wessy -
who's 5 months old and weighs 10.2 pounds.
The media and their friends have to make money, so they flood the airways/paper pages with crap 'bout color, political backstabbing, stealing elections and pure out and out lies - to keep the division going.
Glad I gave up drinking
Morning 1st...would love to see more photos as Stormy grows...her name will certainly suit her by her colours. Wessy is very handsome. We have Maine Coons here as well very popular cats. Mishka my puss is a Ragdoll but you would not know it. Speaking of which it is now bellowing because she wants her breakfast..Enjoy your evening as a new day starts here...😸😸😸
Beautiful !
Thank you Pat - getting really excited
Exactly.
Stormy is so cute, especially with those eyebrows.
This is what we are "hoping" she'll turn out to be -
Little gorgeous baby girl
Please keep us posted once Stormy grows.
Um, the words on the t-shirt are photo shopped. It's very obvious.
If I could look and dance like Paula Abdul, sign me up.
same ole
It never changes Iggy. They can't get their lips off Trumps behind long enough to have an intelligent thought.
?
Um, you are the one that brought up Trump.
Which makes your post an unintelligent thought.
Pfft! I brought up Paula Abdul. That alone can set a flock of tap shoes helter skelter.
And what a subject she be - wow - have luv'd her since I first saw her on "The Jackson's" show.
Not me. Never really though of her as something special.
I'm guessing the feeling would be mutual.
Meh...Not trying to impress anyone.
Hallie Berry for me and I don't care if she can dance or not.
In a way I almost think that articles like this are a little degrading to Black people.
Not meaning you JBB. kinda mean the woman in the vid though.
Saying no one would ever want to be a Black person is kind of demeaning.
Saying no one would ever want to be a Black person is kind of demeaning.
It is a bit of a conundrum. Paul Mooney explains it in the short video below. “Everybody wannna be a ****** but nobody wanna be a ******.”
That was good. Haha
Read what she said again. She said "to be TREATED". It's a totally different concept.
This isn't going to please everyone. I can't help that.
The question as it stands is sincere and has a point; it is also somewhat hypothetical in that we can't crawl into someone else's skin.
That said -- I sired and raised four daughters [and had my own bathroom]. One ran with a Chinese guy, another with a Mediterranean guy, and one with an African American. Of the four, one is hitched to a guy who looks even remotely like me. Love them all. And grand-kids? Same thing. Multi-ethnic, multi-racial, we're all family. Most are United States citizens. Some are bi-nationals. So far as I'm concerned, if our being American is not good enough for you, you have no place in my family, and you are not welcome in any of my residences.
all i needed to read to vote the fck up
I had a conversation with my female, black therapist about this topic specifically. She was the one that told me about this question. I told her that I would have no problem with trading places for a bit. Why? I cannot learn about what happens in various scenarios of life if I have not had to live that life. She was surprised by my answer. I went further to explain that, while I know I can't really understand what it's like to be a black person in society, I've worked in "manland" since the age of 16 as a woman. I know when I'm being discriminated against. I know when someone has a specific assumption about me simply because of my gender. I've dealt with not getting a job because of sexist thoughts. I've dealt with a lot of verbal, sexual, mental, emotional, and physical abuse because of being a woman in a male-dominated field. It's a lot better than it used to be, but trust me, it still exists.
I think that minority females have it the most difficult in this world. My therapist agreed and said that the closest to understanding how black people feel in many situations is for a woman to work in a male-dominated field, regardless of color. It made me tougher. It made me want to prove those assholes wrong and make them feel like a heel. I've gained a lot of respect from people doing that. It's also made me brutally honest; makes me ask the typically difficult questions, even if I know the answer likely to be given vs. reality.
When I was 18, I worked for a local Pep Boys. One evening, I was the only parts person at the counter, because it was only an hour before closing. A guy named Frank called and this is how the conversation went:
Frank: Parts department please.
Me: You've got it.
Frank: I want to speak to someone with a beard.
Me: How do you know I don't have one?
Frank: Okay smart ass. I came in and bought a new TFI module and my car still isn't starting.
Me: Did we test the old one?
Frank: Yes and it tested bad.
Me: Did we test the new one?
Frank: Yes and it tested good.
Me: How much of the dielectric grease packet did you use on that module?
Frank: The whole thing.
Me: Wipe about half of it off, evenly distribute it, making sure it's a THIN coat and reinstall.
Frank: It will take me about 2 minutes. You're staying on the phone.
Me: Okay.
Frank: ....
**I hear the car start.
Frank: You were right. I'll be damned.
Me: Glad a girl could help. Maybe next time, you won't make assumptions.
Frank: You got me there.
Frank followed me to the next auto parts store that I went and worked at for a while. I had conversations like that quite often. Guys assumed that because I had boobs and a vagina, it somehow made it so I could never know anything about mechanical things. I had really good coworkers too... if they caught on that a dude was being a sexist douche, they would specifically say, "Hang on, let me ask someone that knows about this better than me," and they would bring me over and let me answer the tool bag.
That was a mild and polite interaction. Most didn't go quite that nicely.
As a man who spent a long career working for a huge multinational corporation I can testify that there is still a whole lot of straight up racism, sexism, homophobia and religious/cultural bias expresses and acted upon behind the closed doors of many board rooms and private clubs. It is less open now, of course, but it is still tolerated and even expected within many male dominated businesses and industries. My former company had hundreds of male representatives out in the field doing sales, finance and factory service but only hired their first two female sales representative (both white) a couple of years ago. As far as I know there are still no women hired as outside service representatives.
On a side note, my nephew married a brilliant highly educated classy young black woman and it brings him to tears seeing the blatantly different ways she is treated by servers and retail workers than he is. Mind you, she has a master degree in nursing and was raised in an upper class black Chicago family. It breaks his heart how much abuse she endures from people who have no right to act superior to her.
Oh definitely. That's why I love my conversations with my therapist. I learn a lot from her.
True story.
Man calls on a Friday before July 4th weekend asking about individual Baracuda letters for a fastback deck lid.
I tell him they've been discontinued for decades - try car shows like New Hope & Carlisle.
He says something derogatory and hangs up..
He calls back some time letter and I hear my friend Carl talking to him and telling him that one or two letters might be available from nos collectors. The guy says I'll be right over and leave a deposit to cover your time.
Back door opens and I hear the guy ask Carl for Carl.
They stand there staring at each other.
Carl points to the name on his uniform.
The guy says, no, no offense, but I was clearly talking to a white guy name Carl and I don't want to repeat myself.
( Spoiler Alert, my name is not Carl )
Carl insists that he is indeed the only Carl.
White man insists that he spoke to someone else who sounds different on the phone, like a white person....
He tells Carl to "go find the other Carl".
Carl surrenders, hands up, and walks around the corner to my office, smiling.
He asks me to come out and talk to our customer.
I come out ( maybe I was grinning ).
Customer says "Carl? Was I talking to you about these letters"?
Well, my name is not Carl, pointing to my nameplate
and yes we did talk much earlier about these letters and I told you to go to Carlisle
and you told me to go to hell.
We three are now standing and staring at each other.
He says, I want your names, you haven't heard the last of me
I'm going straight to the showroom with this.
Carl says "You first".
Customer says "WHAT?"
Carl says "Your name first?"
Customer shouts "BILL TWIST" and spells it "T W I S T !!!"
Carl screws up his face and starts contorting his limbs around while asking "Like a pretzel"?
I said "no, considering the age of the car I think he means the dance by Chubby Checker"
Mr. Twist leaves, slamming the door as hard as he can.
It's 4:59PM EST on a holiday weekend.
Carl and his large Afro leap the counter and locks the door in one swift motion like a true black super hero would.
30 seconds later the lights are all off, the fire doors are all locked
and we are on our way to a 3 day weekend, lol.
Never thought of it till a few weeks later when the GM said he heard I was a Chubby Checker fan, lol
LOL! This must be the greatest routine since 'whose on first!'
ROTFLMAOPIMP!
That's AWESOME!
When I was an assistant manager at a local shop, I had a guy come in and demand to speak with a man. I said, "I sent them home. They had no idea what they were doing." Then he demanded to speak with a manager. I said, "That's me." He got so pissed and started shouting... my boss was actually just on the other side of the door, where he heard everything [and he was a hot head and a big guy] where we kept tires and a small parts stock; he had just returned from lunch. He burst through the door and told the guy that if he can't be respectful and understand that I was the manager on staff that day, that he could just take his "happy ass" right out that door and not return.
The guys in the shop would stick up for me too if they knew a customer was being rude or sexist.