Too Much Emphasis on Racism?

Jistyr · Apr 30, 2007

It seems that as of lately, our media has begun to put an excess of emphasis on racism. In the past few years if anyone seems to make even a racial joke that could be interpreted as a racial slur that it has become national news. Every time I seem to glance at the news it always attacking someone for making a racist remark.

Now racism is by no means acceptable or justifiable, however we as a nation should spend much more time focusing on larger problems. For example at least for an entire week Don Imus was turning up in news stories for being racist. His racism was bad indeed, but is there such need for national coverage on three words (nappy-headed hos)?

What does everyone think on this subject? Is racism so bad that the media should cover racist remarks from celebrities, or should the time being spent on that be spent on things much more important?

Green Gaia · Apr 30, 2007

Racism stills exists in our society and culture. I think many believe it is no longer a problem since we don't see lynching or mass brutal attacks on racial minorities today in our country. But the attutides that lead to those horrible acts are still there, and have become interwoven in the fabric of our society so that seems to be acceptable to believe a stereotype about an entire group of people. So, yes I think that it is good that when someone famous illustrates this point that we as a nation confront that racist attitude and look at our own lives and attitudes and how we view and treat others. An open, and honest dialouge is the only way to becoming a color-indifferent world (I don't like the term "colorblind", because colors are beautiful!).

Jistyr · Apr 30, 2007

Yes, to completely remove racism we would have to completely ignore the difference of colors between everyone. Although, racism today is more or less what offends someone. Which is why I believe it receives too much media coverage and I believe the media coverage, in turn, just fuels the racism by always making it apparent.

Quite frankly, people can say much more insulting things than racist remarks, but those things will never be aired on television, so I don't see the point in giving racism so much focus.

theo · Apr 30, 2007

i think there is way too much emphasis on discrimination in general, or .....not too much but in the wrong way, i am totally against "isms" and but i dont think there is any reason for a black person to be offended by baa baa black sheep and i think that the latest "prince and prince" thing is just crazy.

Political correctness is stupid, if anything it creates more of a barrier between people because it outlines differences. children dont know about political correctness and they dont see black and white. they just see people. thats how it should be.

jimbob · Apr 30, 2007

i think Green Gaia is right, but i'm pretty sure we, as a people, overdo our reactions sometimes. My best friend Gabe and i make racist slurs to each other all the time, (he's mexican and i'm white), but we laugh about it because we know we're making ridiculous stereotypes. like here's an example of a conversation we had the other day after we hopped the fence in the high school

gabe - hahaha! geez sean took you forever to get over
me - yeah, well you have experience with hopping fences don't you
gabe - at least i'm not a fatty like you (fyi, neither of us are fat, but we say it to each other all the time)
me - it's cause i like burritos
gabe - oh, so you're stealing my peoples food now? you would stay slimmer if you ate some saltines you cracker
me - go pick strawberries!
gabe - go watch nascar!
me - don't you have a lawn to mow?
gabe - you should talk you kkk! (i was in my bakery clothes, which are all white)

etc.

i think people need to understand when people are actually racist and when people are making fun of stereotypes.

Green Gaia · Apr 30, 2007

Racism is not just insulting remarks; insulting remarks are the result of the latent racism in our society. If we are ever to be whole and completely accepting and indifferent to the color of our fellow human beings, then we must root out the racist attitudes and views that lead to things like insulting remarks or other worse things.

By examining our negative views of other races, it opens the door to examining our thoughts on other intolerances of people just being who they are. I think it is extremely important work.

Green Gaia · Apr 30, 2007

jimbob said:
i think people need to understand when people are actually racist and when people are making fun of stereotypes.

That's a good point and I've done similar with my friends who are of other races when we both know we're joking and it's all in fun. But I don't think what Don Imus said (which is what I believe started this thread) was in jest.

Bishka · Apr 30, 2007

Green Gaia said:
That's a good point and I've done similar with my friends who are of other races when we both know we're joking and it's all in fun. But I don't think what Don Imus said (which is what I believe started this thread) was in jest.

I do think racism is still prevelant in our country, but I also think that people get offended whne offense should not have been taken. My husband often chides me for getting offended for other people. If a bad joke, or a stereotype is put forth, sometimes I get offended, and he tells me to let them get offended if it really bothers them.

!Fluffy! · Apr 30, 2007

for the most part the mass news media is nothing more than an animal, an insatiable many-headed sensationalism-ho without morals or loyalties of any kind except to money and power. like a lot of such creatures its attempts to tart itself up and pass itself off as pure or wholesome only come across as hypocritcal and pompous.

the old style journalism is long dead (the kind of journalism that depended on 'newshounds' eager to break a story or get an exclusive). By its nature journalism encouraged INDEPENDENT research and the quest for truth, rather than a bunch of talking heads copying off each other's papers and swapping vacuous opinions on-air. there was also a kind of humility and fierce patriotic pride among the top American journalists especially. That breed knew their place in history, that freedom of the press could guarantee freedom for the people by uncovering the nasty political tactics, scams and corruption meant to subvert our self correcting system of government and balance of power. They saw themselves as purveyors of the truth and essential components in a country governed 'of the people by the people and for the people'.

Sad to say, they are long gone...from the mainstream anyway.

my point is the msm is slathering eagerly for anything that resembles 'sensationalism' and they have a lot of fun digging up the racism bone and dragging it out again.

Green Gaia · Apr 30, 2007

theo said:
Political correctness is stupid, if anything it creates more of a barrier between people because it outlines differences. children dont know about political correctness and they dont see black and white. they just see people. thats how it should be.

I don't see confronting the problem of racism as political correctness, but as treating others with dignity and respect. And children do see different colors, they see black, white, brown, they just haven't been taught (yet) to treat others differently because of their color or race. Noticing differences is OK (which is why I said earlier all colors are beautiful), but making sure we teach them that's it's not OK to treat someone badly because of those differences is paramount.

Jistyr · Apr 30, 2007

Green Gaia said:
And children do see different colors, they see black, white, brown, they just haven't been taught (yet) to treat others differently because of their color or race. Noticing differences is OK (which is why I said earlier all colors are beautiful), but making sure we teach them that's it's not OK to treat someone badly because of those differences is paramount.

I believe that as soon as we tell children that skin color can, in fact, show a difference in the way they live their life, that they can come to racist beliefs.

Students of my generation are continually grilled with the belief that despite race everyone is equal and that racial stereotypes are both false and unjustifiable, but a large number of my fellow students are extremely racist.

Why? I think it is because even though we are told not to be racist, society truly outlines racism and shows us perfect examples of being racist or believing in racial equality, and people just have to choose which path they would rather follow.

Ciscokid · Apr 30, 2007

I know I've run across black guys who were friends with white guys and they would jab each other once in a while, making light of the "perceived" differences of whites and blacks.

I think there are moments certainly when being offended is quite warranted. I think there are plenty of times when people get offended for various reasons. One reason would be to get attention.

Kungfuzed · Apr 30, 2007

Is racism always negative? Is there a positive way to celebrate the differences in the races? Can one be racist in a good way?

ChristineES · Apr 30, 2007

Here's something: Even though a stereotype may sound positive (all blacks can sing well or play sports well or all Italians can cook, or whatever) they are not really positive. Because not ALL of any group can do the same things well. I know for a fact that one can notice someone of a different ethnic group and not make a issue of it. It is like noticing someone is tall or someone is beautful, something you notice but not something you need make an issue of.
People are people and no two people are alike.
That said, unfortunately racism is still alive and well.

Quamen · May 1, 2007

Racism has always been around and it always will be, its not just a skin colour thing look how people can openly insult the Irish,Welsh,people from texas etc in public or on television without any backlash, the trouble with isms is where do you draw the line? For example I could tell Fat jokes at work and no one would bat an eyelid but if I told a Black joke people would look at me gone out.
I personaly think that racism get's blow all out of proportion in general and there is a bigger problem with reverse racism but that is for another debate.

Quamen
PS Sorry if I dont make sense I'm usless at putting my toughts into writing.

Ciscokid · May 1, 2007

Kungfuzed said:
Is racism always negative? Is there a positive way to celebrate the differences in the races? Can one be racist in a good way?

I think you're describing affirmative action, only it isn't "good", it just tries to be.

lilithu · May 2, 2007

Kungfuzed said:
Is racism always negative?

Yes.

Kungfuzed said:
Is there a positive way to celebrate the differences in the races?

Absolutely, we can celebrate difference and diversity.

Judging by some of the posts in this thread and others, I think there is the misconception that racism is the same thing as being aware of race. It's not. It's perfectly fine to joke with your friends as long as there is mutual respect.

A corollary to that is that pretending that we don't see race and not talking about race is not going to make racism go away. It only allows it to fester. (And then people get bewildered as to why there are race riots.)

Racism is not just someone disliking someone else based on race. Racism is about systemic racial inequalities in society, and the maintenance of these inequalities.

Kungfuzed said:
Can one be racist in a good way?

No.

Too Much Emphasis on Racism?

Jistyr

Inquisitive Youngin'

Green Gaia

Veteran Member

Jistyr

Inquisitive Youngin'

theo

Member

jimbob

The Celt

Green Gaia

Veteran Member

Green Gaia

Veteran Member

Bishka

Veteran Member

!Fluffy!

Lacking Common Sense

Green Gaia

Veteran Member

Jistyr

Inquisitive Youngin'

Ciscokid

Well-Known Member

Kungfuzed

Student Nurse

ChristineES

Tiggerism

Quamen

Citsonga

Ciscokid

Well-Known Member

lilithu

The Devil's Advocate