oh the humanity, part II

[shygirlj]

continuing the discussion on race...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Remember, most often, members of the minority group are not seen as individuals.  The accused person often is associated with the

Comments

[inheritrix]

I really don't think that the Oscar awarding was done on the basis you are alleging. If there was racism involved it seemed to be more along the lines of Denzel and Halle had both been doing several kick ass awesome roles and not yet won Oscars and so when they did yet another great role, the Academy finally had to give them their due lest they be accused of deliberately holding back awards based on race. I think you are seeing conspiracy where there isn't and overthinking this

[shygirlj]

sure. Halle got it for 'Losing Isaiah', Denzel for 'Glory', 'Malcolm X', and others. you could say that.

but you should be very, very cautious in telling someone that they are overthinking something when it comes to race. saying that someone is being oversensitive when you have never been in their shoes is really INsensitive.

your last paragraph...i don't know what to say, really. are you interested in actually expanding your horizons and learning more? or are you looking for an opportunity to share what you've already decided is the case? if you're willing to open your mind and learn some things, i recommend the book The Culture of Make Believe. not interested? don't waste your time, the book will just make you angry.

all this may be hard to take, but i'm just being honest with you. from my perspective, some of what you have said is extremely offensive. perhaps your other black friends are more comfortable with your statements, but that doesn't make them less hurtful.

[inheritrix]

I'm not trying to be hurtful or offensive. I'm trying to persuade you just as I suspect you are trying to persuade readers of the truth you see in your posts. We don't see the same things and we both are convinced that we see clearly. I think its just as hurtful that you see all of these hidden motivations in the white majority- to put black people down, to keep them in narrow stereotyped roles in life, to rule over them with invisible chains. Plus I think your message is defeatist and depressing. You say all of these problems in the black community are the result of slavery and white domination and that its a race where blacks will always have a late start in. and also you say that there are few if any practical solutions and that pulling yourself up by your bootstraps just doesn't work. What message of hope does that leave someone who happens to be born with black skin in America? Not only is the perspective you give hopeless but i just think it is inaccurate. for example, you never addressed the issue of successful people who are

[shygirlj]

i believe you when you say you're not trying to be hurtful. that's good. looking at the big picture from a perspective of someone who has felt oppression will give more insight into the hidden motivations you refer to as invisible chains.

my posts are a small piece of a much bigger discussion, they are not meant to give hope, they are meant to highlight a problem and issues that were directly asked about in your own posts. this is not to say that the situation is anywhere near hopeless, but to enlighten those who don't understand why some black people feel it ishonestly, the American Dream does not work for everyone. plain and simple. those who think it's available if you just work hard and try are deluding themselves. that's my point

[inheritrix]

"honestly, the American Dream does not work for everyone. plain and simple. those who think it's available if you just work hard and try are deluding themselves. that's my point