Critique of Black Culture

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I have a feeling that minorities are involved more with the crimes that have been targeted for stiff sentencing. Of course those crimes may have been targeted because of minority involvement.

White collar crime is handled in such a way that much less time as a whole is spent in prison. I'm betting that that goes a long way towards skewing the in prison representation of of whites versus minorities.

Additionally, money makes a case much easier to get pled off or successfully fought.

[elSicomoro]

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

Not really, more a case of an assinine response to an assinine remark.

You might have noticed that I put a smiley face next to my original comment, because--while I do find it funny that whites are talking about black culture--it was meant to be humorous. Of course, you could have just asked what I meant without throwing your asinine remark in.

I find watching black people try to discuss white culture funny because I believe that the vast majority of black people are ignorant about white culture. Though black people tend to be incredibly good at talking about things of which they have next to no knowledge.

Though I can't back it up with any type of study, I think whites have the lion's share of the "talking out of my ass" market.

And I think blacks know way more about white culture than vice versa because they live in (what is still) a predominantly white culture.

[Undertoad]

Two items

I reread the thread, which is sometimes good to do, and I think Cyber Wolf has the most insightful comment in it, summarizing Sharpton and Rangel as trying to be the heroic black leaders of the past but failing to address the fact that the past is past.

I listened to Mary Mason on WHAT for 15 minutes just now. This discussion was on incarceration of innocents. I don't think I learned anything at all about black culture. Ms. Mason has annoyed me for many decades now and I won't be further annoyed. LSyc, if you have a point to make about it you are not getting it across by giving out homework assignments.

[Clodfobble]

And I think blacks know way more about white culture than vice versa because they live in (what is still) a predominantly white culture.

Bullshit.

In real life, they live in their community, which urban demographics show is most likely to be a concentration of minorities, rather than a nationwide even distribution of one black family surrounded by eight white ones. So they are surrounded by their own culture there.

And in the media, a disproportionate amount of TV shows, commercials, and movies are steeped in Black culture, styles, and trends. I personally feel it's about a 50/50 split, but that's just anecdotal from channel-surfing. Regardless, they have plenty of cultural representation there.

The only place that I will agree is still dominated by white culture is the internet. To which I simply say--give it time.

[dar512]

Discussions like this one are bogus. Blacks are like this. Whites are like this. Talk about your overgeneralizations.

Treat people as individuals and not as 'examples' of some group and everything else will come out in the wash.

[lookout123]

Thank you Dar. I agree. People are people. We have a natural tendency to break the world down to us and them, but I have a major problem with the people that stand up and cry for equality and an end to discrimination while perpetuating the us vs them mentality.

The laws in America have been changed to end segregation and the other nasty elements that went along with it. that happened years ago, we are still in the ongoing process of eliminating the thought process that is racism. the problem is that there are people who benefit by keeping the us vs them going (Jackson, Sharpton, some of the leadership of the NAACP). having a cause to champion is the key to their power and authority. if they encouraged a truly color blind society like MLK, Jr envisioned and spoke of, they would see their locus of power dissipate.

there are still many ignorant people with subconscious racially biased thought processes that affect their actions. there will always be some ignorant fools who consciously and purposely promote racism. we all know the KKK still exists and most americans despise them for what they are - ignorant, cruel fools who want to keep our society divided and racially conflicted. But the KKK aren't the only ones who do this - I believe, to a degree, Jackson, Sharpton, and Co. do the exact same thing just with different verbage.

The only way to truly end racially motivated discrimination and ignorant behavior is for the groups to integrate and know each other as individuals. the average person has biases against certain groups of people, but they may have friends that fall into those groups. They don't have any problems with that person and respect and view them just as any other person. That person has been removed from the group bias because the biased individual knows them as a person.

As long as we have large groups of people rallying together because of their "differentness" then we will have fear, ignorance, descrimination, and all the nasty things that go along with it.

[Troubleshooter]

Like I posted earlier, the only really important differences are in how people think, not skin color, height, shape of the nose, etc.

[ladysycamore]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Two items

I reread the thread, which is sometimes good to do, and I think Cyber Wolf has the most insightful comment in it, summarizing Sharpton and Rangel as trying to be the heroic black leaders of the past but failing to address the fact that the past is past.

*Pleads the fifth...*

I listened to Mary Mason on WHAT for 15 minutes just now. This discussion was on incarceration of innocents. I don't think I learned anything at all about black culture. Ms. Mason has annoyed me for many decades now and I won't be further annoyed. LSyc, if you have a point to make about it you are not getting it across by giving out homework assignments.

There are several other hosts on the station that are worth listening to. If you can, try Reggie Bryant between 10pm and 1am. Yes, that's late for most folk. He used to be on during the day. I think he got bumped to late night to make room for Air America (12 noon-7pm). Also, the lineup on the weekends is pretty good as well.

I honestly felt that I had made my point by giving the link to the site for those who would want to listen to the station. IMO, any explaination that I could give would not prove or explain much of anything (as far as what a group of blacks are talking about, listening to, etc.). You know how they say, "go to the source".

But, that's just me. *shrugs*

[Beestie]

[In reponse to dar's post]

Well, if we want to turn the focus back to the "individual" then we should probably cease using the term "culture." Unless we are saying that the term "[fill-in-the-blank] culture" has no meaning since its a generalization and that generalizations do not apply.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by ladysycamore

*Pleads the fifth...*

...

IMO, any explaination that I could give would not prove or explain much of anything (as far as what a group of blacks are talking about, listening to, etc.).

See, but you're not making a point if your whole point is "If you don't get it already, I can't explain it to you." You made a veiled threat about how some people on this board would not like one bit what issues black folks are talking about, but won't simply name those issues. You claim to be in the know about what black folks are talking about, but then you suggest that we go to the source. Why is some inflammatory DJ any more or less "the source" than you are?

[lookout123]

i prefer american culture. and i refuse to put qualifiers in front of american. african-american, mexican-american, etc... gay american and ugly american are still ok though.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by ladysycamore

I think he got bumped to late night to make room for Air America (12 noon-7pm).

That is absolutely hilarious ... white liberal talk radio has taken away the voice of expression of blacks. Gotta love it.

[mrnoodle]

Originally Posted by Beestie

[In reponse to dar's post]

Well, if we want to turn the focus back to the "individual" then we should probably cease using the term "culture." Unless we are saying that the term "[fill-in-the-blank] culture" has no meaning since its a generalization and that generalizations do not apply.

The notion of a society where everyone is "individual" is a myth. Even if we were to have some sort of tower of Babylon moment where we were scattered to the corners of the earth, within a year we would have grouped ourselves up again based on skin color, religious affiliation, like/dislike of Britney Spears...

And anyway, most generalizations have at least a kernel of truth to them. They're not universally true, but they're true somewhere. White people eat an inordinate amount of mayonnaise. Black people are more likely to be good gospel singers. So?

The fact remains that people are still responsible for their actions. Opportunity is something that has to be sought out - you can't just sit around on the doorstep waiting for someone to hand it to you. And that's what Sharpton, et al, are preaching. Their constituency is starting to see the hypocrisy, and it won't be long before another MLK steps up to put the asshats in their place.

[/blahblahblah]

[dar512]

Originally Posted by Beestie

[In reponse to dar's post]

Well, if we want to turn the focus back to the "individual" then we should probably cease using the term "culture." Unless we are saying that the term "[fill-in-the-blank] culture" has no meaning since its a generalization and that generalizations do not apply.

Oh, there are cultures. But to speak of the black culture or the white culture as though there was only one of each is useless.

[ladysycamore]

Originally Posted by lookout123

Thank you Dar. I agree. People are people. We have a natural tendency to break the world down to us and them, but I have a major problem with the people that stand up and cry for equality and an end to discrimination while perpetuating the us vs them mentality.

Yes, "people are people": great on paper, great to say and a kick ass song by a kick ass group..oh sorry.

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, this is all lip service: "We're all the same" "People are People", etc.Just because one says it doesn't and won't make it true. Funny how "all men are created equal" but are not treated as such.

I realize this may not be the "popular" view here, but oh well, that's just how I see things.

Clodfobble said:

"See, but you're not making a point if your whole point is "If you don't get it already, I can't explain it to you."

LOL, but you just said that was my "whole point" so wouldn't that have BEEN a point?

And at any rate, when I said, "any explaination that I could give would not prove or explain much of anything (as far as what a group of blacks are talking about, listening to, etc.)." was merely to say that a single black person couldn't possibly speak for other blacks (plural). Damn. And why should I? That's not my responsibility or job to do, and I won't. Just as I don't expect other blacks to speak for ME.

You made a veiled threat about how some people on this board would not like one bit what issues black folks are talking about, but won't simply name those issues.

Threat? Threat???? LMAO! Lordy...No, not at all. (good grief!!) WTF is up with all these assumptions?!

ANYhoo, I did state (not threaten) that there are indeed some topics and issues that blacks discuss that certainly would not set right with some people here. And the only reason why I posted the link to the radio station that I listen to quite frequently is so that people here could hear FIRST HAND (or at least, get SOME idea) what I was talking about, instead of having me to explain and not get my point across clearly, and end up having a senseless back and forth thing that will just get dragged on and on into oblivion.

You claim to be in the know about what black folks are talking about, but then you suggest that we go to the source.

Precisely. Isn't that what Cellerites love...sources? Besides, why are you getting so bent out of shape about that?

Why is some inflammatory DJ any more or less "the source" than you are?

If you are referring to Ms. Mary Mason (noted in UT's post to me), I have to say that she is not so much "inflammatory" as she is brutally honest with many things. But, that's in the eye of the beholder...

However, as I told UT, there are many other show hosts that one can listen to on that station. I would really love to be able to tune you all into Joe Madison. I listened to him while back home in MD, and he was a great source of information: http://joemadison.com/

And as I said, I thought that's what people here appreciated: a link to a source to examine, study, etc. etc.

Funny: when anyone else here provides a link, it's just a link, people check it out, and even comment on the source (good, bad, can't trust it, whatever), but in this case, it's considered a "homework assignment" and I get all kinds of adversity about it...interesting.