Debate Now White Privilege and an Institution of Racism

[Ravi]

Wait, were we all not born equal, according to the constitution? Did the writers of the constitution labor under imaginary feel good concepts?

Having equal rights and equal opportunities does not make us any more equal.

.

Under the eyes of the law we should all be treated equally.

But what do you imagine we are less equal than?

 

[LoneLaugher]

Good Point. I think much of the problem revolves around how we define racism and discrimination. Each term carries different meaning for different folks when discussing the subject. Discrimination can be recognition and understanding of differences. Racism can be the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race. However, these words also can mean something much more sinister and mean-spirited.

I remember an older black man when I was a kid saying, "I don't know how to define racism, but I sure know it when I see it."

Recent events in Ferguson caused people to wonder exactly how racist our local sheriff's department has been ... And an informal count in two categories was made for the previous calendar year.

Review of the records indicated that African Americans were 9 times more likely to be stopped, questioned and in rare cases ticketed while walking down the middle of the road.
The same review exposed that Whites were 10 times more likely to be stopped, questioned and in most cases ticketed for riding four-wheelers or dirt bikes on the public roadways.

Is that racism, even though the total number of stops were close to equal ... I don't think so?

Did the white people asked about whites and their stops by deputies think it was racism ... No.
Did the African Americans asked about African Americans and their stops by deputies think it was racism ... You bet they did.

.

I'd really like to see that research study. Thanks.

 

[WelfareQueen]

I have not exclaimed that "we are all the same." I don't think anybody else has said that either. Please try to read more carefully.

And how is pushing for us to do away with political correctness and all the focus on our differences and start treating everybody the same so that we do not divide ourselves along racial lines not being proactive?

McWhorter's essay illustrates how destructive and counter productive it is when we pretend we are addressing racism by emphasizing that we are different races. His point is that this actually perpetuates racism. How is he wrong?

Political correctness is a meme. I've never been politically correct in my life. You are in opposition to me here and you are claiming that your opposition is politically correct. I challenge you to point out examples of me being politically correct. Find one.

As I said earlier. WE ARE NOT THERE YET. We still need to bring MILLIONS of Americans to the realization that we are all equal IN SPITE OF OUR DIFFERENCES.

Duh!

I have not claimed that anything I have said here is politically correct. And everything you have posted so far is the politically correct position whether you recognize it as that or not. In order to have an objective discussion, it is not at all necessary for members to agree with each other's posted opinions, but it is necessary not to dishonestly misrepresent them.

And just as a reminder the question asked in the OP is:

Does a focus on 'white privilege' and racism as McWhorter describes it help or hurt black people? Please explain your 'yes' or 'no' answer or any position you take between 'yes' or 'no'.​

McWhorter's entire essay suggests that keeping focus on our racial differences serves to reinforce racism rather than eliminating it. I believe he was writing to educate people on what needs to happen to make destructive racism go away. And that is what this entire thread and discussion is about. It is suggesting a proactive approach to deal with the issue.

Insisting that everybody else's opinions on that are crap and bullshit while misrepresenting my or other's position and/or not making any effort to rebut us or McWhorter is not useful nor is it in the spirit of the intent of the thread.

Show my politically correct statements. Explain to me how my position is politically correct.,

I will refer you to all your posts in this thread for your politically correct statements. You are certainly as entitled to your point of view as anybody else, but the idea that asking questions about race is racist or that it is the white man's responsibility to fix the problem of racism or achieve equality is the politically correct position. Demanding equality or else the whole system is racist and/or unfair or whatever is the politically correct position.

I never said asking questions about race is racist. I said that asking a question about race CAN BE racist. Want an example?

Why do negroes always vote for free stuff?

Get it? A question about race that is racist.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Political correctness plays no role in creating or ending racism.

Yes it does. Political Correctness stifles free speech. It is a way to shut down genuine discussion. It is a way to avoid talking about real issues.

And "calling out racism" is often another means of shutting down discussion. Who appointed the accuser as judge and jury? How does the accuser know what is in the other person's heart?

It is simply a means of stifling free speech.

If someone expresses views I think are wrong or offensive, I either ignore them (usually) or I ask them why they believe what they do. Name calling and throwing out accusations gets you nowhere.

 

[LoneLaugher]

Political correctness is a meme. I've never been politically correct in my life. You are in opposition to me here and you are claiming that your opposition is politically correct. I challenge you to point out examples of me being politically correct. Find one.

As I said earlier. WE ARE NOT THERE YET. We still need to bring MILLIONS of Americans to the realization that we are all equal IN SPITE OF OUR DIFFERENCES.

Duh!

I have not claimed that anything I have said here is politically correct. And everything you have posted so far is the politically correct position whether you recognize it as that or not. In order to have an objective discussion, it is not at all necessary for members to agree with each other's posted opinions, but it is necessary not to dishonestly misrepresent them.

And just as a reminder the question asked in the OP is:

Does a focus on 'white privilege' and racism as McWhorter describes it help or hurt black people? Please explain your 'yes' or 'no' answer or any position you take between 'yes' or 'no'.​

McWhorter's entire essay suggests that keeping focus on our racial differences serves to reinforce racism rather than eliminating it. I believe he was writing to educate people on what needs to happen to make destructive racism go away. And that is what this entire thread and discussion is about. It is suggesting a proactive approach to deal with the issue.

Insisting that everybody else's opinions on that are crap and bullshit while misrepresenting my or other's position and/or not making any effort to rebut us or McWhorter is not useful nor is it in the spirit of the intent of the thread.

Show my politically correct statements. Explain to me how my position is politically correct.,

I will refer you to all your posts in this thread for your politically correct statements. You are certainly as entitled to your point of view as anybody else, but the idea that asking questions about race is racist or that it is the white man's responsibility to fix the problem of racism or achieve equality is the politically correct position. Demanding equality or else the whole system is racist and/or unfair or whatever is the politically correct position.

I never said asking questions about race is racist. I said that asking a question about race CAN BE racist. Want an example?

Why do negroes always vote for free stuff?

Get it? A question about race that is racist.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Political correctness plays no role in creating or ending racism.

Yes it does. Political Correctness stifles free speech. It is a way to shut down genuine discussion. It is a way to avoid talking about real issues.

And "calling out racism" is often another means of shutting down discussion. Who appointed the accuser as judge and jury? How does the accuser know what is in the other person's heart?

It is simply a means of stifling free speech.

If someone expresses views I think are wrong or offensive, I either ignore them (usually) or I ask them why they believe what they do. Name calling and throwing out accusations get you nowhere.

My eyes just rolled down the street.

 

[WelfareQueen]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you.

 

[WelfareQueen]

I have not claimed that anything I have said here is politically correct. And everything you have posted so far is the politically correct position whether you recognize it as that or not. In order to have an objective discussion, it is not at all necessary for members to agree with each other's posted opinions, but it is necessary not to dishonestly misrepresent them.

And just as a reminder the question asked in the OP is:

Does a focus on 'white privilege' and racism as McWhorter describes it help or hurt black people? Please explain your 'yes' or 'no' answer or any position you take between 'yes' or 'no'.​

McWhorter's entire essay suggests that keeping focus on our racial differences serves to reinforce racism rather than eliminating it. I believe he was writing to educate people on what needs to happen to make destructive racism go away. And that is what this entire thread and discussion is about. It is suggesting a proactive approach to deal with the issue.

Insisting that everybody else's opinions on that are crap and bullshit while misrepresenting my or other's position and/or not making any effort to rebut us or McWhorter is not useful nor is it in the spirit of the intent of the thread.

Show my politically correct statements. Explain to me how my position is politically correct.,

I will refer you to all your posts in this thread for your politically correct statements. You are certainly as entitled to your point of view as anybody else, but the idea that asking questions about race is racist or that it is the white man's responsibility to fix the problem of racism or achieve equality is the politically correct position. Demanding equality or else the whole system is racist and/or unfair or whatever is the politically correct position.

I never said asking questions about race is racist. I said that asking a question about race CAN BE racist. Want an example?

Why do negroes always vote for free stuff?

Get it? A question about race that is racist.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Political correctness plays no role in creating or ending racism.

Yes it does. Political Correctness stifles free speech. It is a way to shut down genuine discussion. It is a way to avoid talking about real issues.

And "calling out racism" is often another means of shutting down discussion. Who appointed the accuser as judge and jury? How does the accuser know what is in the other person's heart?

It is simply a means of stifling free speech.

If someone expresses views I think are wrong or offensive, I either ignore them (usually) or I ask them why they believe what they do. Name calling and throwing out accusations get you nowhere.

My eyes just rolled down the street.

I love the cute answers. But without any discussion or supporting statements it's just that....cute.

 

[LoneLaugher]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you. :0

Ohhhh! You are one of those people who thinks that everyone has equal opportunity in this nation.

Now...THAT is cute.

 

[WelfareQueen]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you. :0

Ohhhh! You are one of those people who thinks that everyone has equal opportunity in this nation.

Now...THAT is cute.

Tell us what you think. As adorable as the one liners are....this is a discussion thread. Thanks.

 

[LoneLaugher]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you. :0

Ohhhh! You are one of those people who thinks that everyone has equal opportunity in this nation.

Now...THAT is cute.

Tell us what you think. As adorable as the one liners are....this is a discussion thread. Thanks.

Already have. My position is clear.

 

[BlackSand]

Wait, were we all not born equal, according to the constitution? Did the writers of the constitution labor under imaginary feel good concepts?

Having equal rights and equal opportunities does not make us any more equal.

.

Under the eyes of the law we should all be treated equally.

But what do you imagine we are less equal than?

Off the top of my head ... I can say I have no business in the men's room.
Wouldn't make a great competition weight-lifter either.
My cross-stitch and embroidery skills suck ... I would make a terrible couch potato.

But I am sure you were not looking for a resume ... I cannot help it if you cannot accept the simple reasons we are not equal and never will be.

.

 

[Shotgun_Sammy]

It will never happen. Black folks need their own Country or State.

White folks need to quit bothering over them.

Only they can solve their own troubles and they never will unless they are on their own.

 

[WelfareQueen]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you. :0

Ohhhh! You are one of those people who thinks that everyone has equal opportunity in this nation.

Now...THAT is cute.

Tell us what you think. As adorable as the one liners are....this is a discussion thread. Thanks.

Already have. My position is clear.

I am completely unclear because you haven't expressed what you think. Come on...don't be afraid. If you disagree you must state specifically why....otherwise it's meaningless.

Seriously....it's okay.

 

[LoneLaugher]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you. :0

Ohhhh! You are one of those people who thinks that everyone has equal opportunity in this nation.

Now...THAT is cute.

Tell us what you think. As adorable as the one liners are....this is a discussion thread. Thanks.

Already have. My position is clear.

I am complete unclear because you haven't expressed what you think. Come on...don't be afraid. If you disagree you must state specifically why....otherwise it's meaningless. Seriously....it's okay.

Read the thread It is all there.

 

[Foxfyre]

I have not exclaimed that "we are all the same." I don't think anybody else has said that either. Please try to read more carefully.

And how is pushing for us to do away with political correctness and all the focus on our differences and start treating everybody the same so that we do not divide ourselves along racial lines not being proactive?

McWhorter's essay illustrates how destructive and counter productive it is when we pretend we are addressing racism by emphasizing that we are different races. His point is that this actually perpetuates racism. How is he wrong?

Political correctness is a meme. I've never been politically correct in my life. You are in opposition to me here and you are claiming that your opposition is politically correct. I challenge you to point out examples of me being politically correct. Find one.

As I said earlier. WE ARE NOT THERE YET. We still need to bring MILLIONS of Americans to the realization that we are all equal IN SPITE OF OUR DIFFERENCES.

Duh!

I have not claimed that anything I have said here is politically correct. And everything you have posted so far is the politically correct position whether you recognize it as that or not. In order to have an objective discussion, it is not at all necessary for members to agree with each other's posted opinions, but it is necessary not to dishonestly misrepresent them.

And just as a reminder the question asked in the OP is:

Does a focus on 'white privilege' and racism as McWhorter describes it help or hurt black people? Please explain your 'yes' or 'no' answer or any position you take between 'yes' or 'no'.​

McWhorter's entire essay suggests that keeping focus on our racial differences serves to reinforce racism rather than eliminating it. I believe he was writing to educate people on what needs to happen to make destructive racism go away. And that is what this entire thread and discussion is about. It is suggesting a proactive approach to deal with the issue.

Insisting that everybody else's opinions on that are crap and bullshit while misrepresenting my or other's position and/or not making any effort to rebut us or McWhorter is not useful nor is it in the spirit of the intent of the thread.

Show my politically correct statements. Explain to me how my position is politically correct.,

I will refer you to all your posts in this thread for your politically correct statements. You are certainly as entitled to your point of view as anybody else, but the idea that asking questions about race is racist or that it is the white man's responsibility to fix the problem of racism or achieve equality is the politically correct position. Demanding equality or else the whole system is racist and/or unfair or whatever is the politically correct position.

I never said asking questions about race is racist. I said that asking a question about race CAN BE racist. Want an example?

Why do negroes always vote for free stuff?

Get it? A question about race that is racist.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Political correctness plays no role in creating or ending racism.

The example you used is not a question about race. It is a question about a group of people who are members of a particular race. And of course it is an ignorant question because it draws an ignorant and unsupportable assumption about that group of people. But is it any more racist than a question like "Why do Democrats all vote for free stuff?" What makes one sentence racist and the other not racist?

Under McWhorter's point in his essay, it perpetuates racism when we are allowed to ask a question about or make an observation about one group of people when it is considered racist to make the same assumption about another group of people who happen to be black.

 

[BlackSand]

I'd really like to see that research study. Thanks.

What part of informal did you fail to understand.

You see how that works is pretty easy ... You have a question and the Deputy says, "Sure, it won't take but a second to do that."
Then he filters the records to the previous calendar year, filters them by race and violation code (takes about 5 minutes max).
You count the number of lines in each race group ... Then correlate the data.

Once you have the data ... You stop random individuals outside Wal-Mart, the bank and then ask your friends, neighbors and whatnot.

I mean dang ... It is not hard.
I mean we don't have to wait around for a Starbucks to build here before we can ask questions and talk about race.

.

 

[Ravi]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you.

No, the government can't guarantee equal out comes. But the government can treat everyone equal under the law.

 

[LoneLaugher]

Political correctness is a meme. I've never been politically correct in my life. You are in opposition to me here and you are claiming that your opposition is politically correct. I challenge you to point out examples of me being politically correct. Find one.

As I said earlier. WE ARE NOT THERE YET. We still need to bring MILLIONS of Americans to the realization that we are all equal IN SPITE OF OUR DIFFERENCES.

Duh!

I have not claimed that anything I have said here is politically correct. And everything you have posted so far is the politically correct position whether you recognize it as that or not. In order to have an objective discussion, it is not at all necessary for members to agree with each other's posted opinions, but it is necessary not to dishonestly misrepresent them.

And just as a reminder the question asked in the OP is:

Does a focus on 'white privilege' and racism as McWhorter describes it help or hurt black people? Please explain your 'yes' or 'no' answer or any position you take between 'yes' or 'no'.​

McWhorter's entire essay suggests that keeping focus on our racial differences serves to reinforce racism rather than eliminating it. I believe he was writing to educate people on what needs to happen to make destructive racism go away. And that is what this entire thread and discussion is about. It is suggesting a proactive approach to deal with the issue.

Insisting that everybody else's opinions on that are crap and bullshit while misrepresenting my or other's position and/or not making any effort to rebut us or McWhorter is not useful nor is it in the spirit of the intent of the thread.

Show my politically correct statements. Explain to me how my position is politically correct.,

I will refer you to all your posts in this thread for your politically correct statements. You are certainly as entitled to your point of view as anybody else, but the idea that asking questions about race is racist or that it is the white man's responsibility to fix the problem of racism or achieve equality is the politically correct position. Demanding equality or else the whole system is racist and/or unfair or whatever is the politically correct position.

I never said asking questions about race is racist. I said that asking a question about race CAN BE racist. Want an example?

Why do negroes always vote for free stuff?

Get it? A question about race that is racist.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Political correctness plays no role in creating or ending racism.

The example you used is not a question about race. It is a question about a group of people who are members of a particular race. And of course it is an ignorant question because it draws an ignorant and unsupportable assumption about that group of people. But is it any more racist than a question like "Why do Democrats all vote for free stuff?"

Under McWhorter's point in his essay, it perpetuates racism when we are allowed to ask a question about or make an observation about one group of peole when it is considered racists to make the same assumption about another group of people who happen to be black.

Say what? Wanna try that one again?

 

[Ravi]

Wait, were we all not born equal, according to the constitution? Did the writers of the constitution labor under imaginary feel good concepts?

Having equal rights and equal opportunities does not make us any more equal.

.

Under the eyes of the law we should all be treated equally.

But what do you imagine we are less equal than?

Off the top of my head ... I can say I have no business in the men's room.
Wouldn't make a great competition weight-lifter either.
My cross-stitch and embroidery skills suck ... I would make a terrible couch potato.

But I am sure you were not looking for a resume ... I cannot help it if you cannot accept the simple reasons we are not equal and never will be.

.

Oh, I get it, you are using some feeling to define equal.

 

[LoneLaugher]

I'd really like to see that research study. Thanks.

What part of informal did you fail to understand.

You see how that works is pretty easy ... You have a question and the Deputy says, "Sure, it won't take but a second to do that."
Then he filters the records to the previous calendar year, filters them by race and category (takes about 5 minutes max).
You count the number of lines in each race group ... Then correlate the data.

Once you have the data ... You stop random individuals outside Wal-Mart, the bank and then ask your friends, neighbors and whatnot.

I mean dang ... It is not hard.

.

I do not believe you. Why are you lying?

 

[WelfareQueen]

No two people are equal or ever will be equal. The Government cannot guarantee equal outcomes...sorry.

The hope of America was always the dream of equal opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail should be entirely up to you. If you fail, best not to blame mommy and daddy or people who happen to have a different skin pigment than you. :0

Ohhhh! You are one of those people who thinks that everyone has equal opportunity in this nation.

Now...THAT is cute.

Tell us what you think. As adorable as the one liners are....this is a discussion thread. Thanks.

Already have. My position is clear.

I am complete unclear because you haven't expressed what you think. Come on...don't be afraid. If you disagree you must state specifically why....otherwise it's meaningless. Seriously....it's okay.

Read the thread It is all there.

I have. It's okay. If you don't want to stand up for what you believe I'm cool with it. I am not afraid to directly express what I think and why.

Nor am I afraid to debate it.

If this format is difficult or scary for you maybe let others discuss and you can just read. Thanks.