For those who think blacks in America are imagining racism or blowing things out of proportion:
Fact: Black youths arrested for drug possession are 48 times more likely to wind up in prison than white youths arrested for the same crime under the same circumstances.
Source: “Young White Offenders get lighter treatment,” 2000. The Tennessean. April 26: 8A.
Fact: Black and Latino men are three times more likely than white men to be stopped by the police and have their cars searched – even though white men are four times more likely to have weapons or drugs.
Source: Matthew R. Durose, Erica L. Schmitt and Patrick A. Langan, Contacts Between Police and the Public: Findings from the 2002 National Survey. U.S. Department of Justice, (Bureau of Justice Statistics), April 2005.
Fact: White men with a criminal record are more likely to be called back for a job interview than black men with no record, even when their education and experience are the same.
Source: Pager, Devah. 2003. “The Mark of a Criminal Record.” American Journal of Sociology. Volume 108: 5, March: 937-75.
Fact: Students of colour are far less likely to be put in honours courses even after you take test scores and grades into account.
Source: Gordon, Rebecca. 1998. Education and Race. Oakland: Applied Research Center: 48-9; Fischer, Claude S. et al., 1996. Inequality by Design: Cracking the Bell Curve Myth. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press: 163; Steinhorn, Leonard and Barabara Diggs-Brown, 1999. By the Color of Our Skin: The Illusion of Integration and the Reality of Race. NY: Dutton: 95-6.
Fact: Students of colour are more than twice as likely to be suspended or expelled from school even though they are not much more likely to break school rules than whites.
Source: Skiba, Russell J. et al., The Color of Discipline: Sources of Racial and Gender Disproportionality in School Punishment. Indiana Education Policy Center, Policy Research Report SRS1, June 2000; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System: Youth 2003, Online Comprehensive Results, 2004.
For those who think White Americans have a good feel for how racist their country is:
Fact: In 1962, 85% of whites thought that black children in their community had just as good a chance of getting a good education as white children.
Source: The Gallup Organization, Gallup Poll Social Audit, 2001. Black-White Relations in the United States, 2001 Update, July 10: 7-9.
Fact: In 1969 nearly half of all whites (45%) believed that blacks had a better chance getting a good-paying job than they did.
Source: Newsweek/Gallup Organization, National Opinion Survey, August 19, 1969.
Those last two are from the 1960s – a period of history far enough in the past for even whites to see the racism that went on.
The above comes from an excellent article by Tim Wise, “What Kind of Card is Race?” (2006). As he puts it:
In every era, black folks said they were the victims of racism and they were right. In every era, whites have said the problem was exaggerated, and we have been wrong.
See also:
- Tim Wise: What Kind of Card is Race?
- Why whites are blind to their racism
- “You see racism in everything”
- The police
- The mass incarceration of black men
Brilliant as always, Abagond. Thanks for sharing the sources.
*cue drapto infestation*
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This is a great post Abagond. Gotta take some time to digest it.
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Fact: Students of colour are far less likely to be put in honours courses even after you take test scores and grades into account.
I know this one all to well. I wanted to get into the gifted program when I was in elementary school. My grades were up to par, so where my test scores but they would let me in. During the interview they made me read a short paragraph, the interviewer said I was “counting” (i.e take small “breaks” while I was reading) and that was enough for her to deny me entrance to the class. This happened 3 times. I was really discouraged. Ironically I moved to another state and was placed in the gifted classroom. My teacher was so impressed with me that she told administrators there wasnt a need for me to take any tests or interviews, she thought my grades, test scores, and class involvement spoke for itself.
This jsut goes to show how one racist, mean-spirited, bad administrator can mess up a kid’s prospects and outlook. That ordeal was very upsetting to me because I went back home and practiced reading to my parents until the next interview and was still denied despite my efforts and improvement. I was luck enough to be given a chance by someone else, it angers me to think of those black and brown children that arent so lucky.
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Good post as usual.
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My grades were up to par, so where my test scores but they would let me in.
This is what they call ‘streaming’. They don’t tap into the kid’s potential. They stream you into classes(or try to), that befits your ‘status’ in society, or so they think. If you write an outstanding essay or assignment, they will accuse you of plagiarism, you must prove that the work is your own. The list is seemingly endless as to how some may try to deter a black child/teenager/adult from attaining their potential. Many couldn’t give a care for these kids anyway. If the kid doesn’t have his or her parents behind them, who will go to the school to complain and confront the administration, then the likelihood of not meeting their potential is grim. It will take a lot for those kids to overcome this, some don’t do this until well into adulthood. Some even believe they are ‘dumb’. Luck, in many instances may very well have something to do with it.
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@Amurah
Somehow i doubt you have the analytical skills required to see through your own data.
It’s sad because there is nothing that could force you to go past the stage of complacent intellectual indolency.
It’s up to you , man.
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Amurah:
I deleted your comment. It is clear you did not read the post since your comment appeared on this blog in different forms at least a half a dozen times before I even wrote this post.
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Fact: Students of colour are far less likely to be put in honours courses even after you take test scores and grades into account.
For the last two years I have volunteered at a local elementary whose students are predominantly black and brown. I have sat in on classrooms and noticed a common phenomenon in each. There is always one child who is set in the back aside from the rest. This child tends to speak out of turn, and to become irritated easily. It became clear to me in a matter of moments that these children were far ahead of their fellow classmates when it came to their course work. When they spoke out of turn they were calling out the correct answers to the questions asked by the teachers. When they explained themselves they used vocabulary far beyond their grade levels.
In addition to not being placed in honors courses, children of color often attend schools that do not have gifted programs. Instead of setting aside a teacher for advanced curriculum, they set aside teachers for behavioral issues. The children in the back of the class one year end up in these and other special needs courses the next. The U.S. educational system is designed to fail these children.
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The thing about these stats is that it can often be replicated across the world for Black People and/or People of Color vis-a-vis a majority White population.
In countries which are Black that has a minority ‘White’ population, you do not see poor White people as agroup.
One of the exceptions that I can think off while I type this is the poor Irish of Barbados, but in the world of Western racism off an English variant kind. The Irish have always held an ‘unusual’ position, being the first to suffer directly at the hands of ‘English racism’
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Hey Abagond, I just realized this entry doesn’t mention rates of unemployment during this current economic crisis. This racewire article covers this: http://www.racewire.org/archives/2010/06/jobless_blacks_and_latinos_stranded_on_an_uneven_playing_field.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+racewireblog+%28RaceWire%29&utm_content=Bloglines
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Ok. I get it. White people are ethnocentric in a way that is somehow unique. So what is the solution? What is the “end game” of all the critique?
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^Is “ethnocentric” the new euphemism for “racist?”
This post (and related posts) might be of interest:
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@ Bud Frank
What is the “end game” of all the critique?
If you have to ask…..
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^Is “ethnocentric” the new euphemism for “racist?”
not really, its a more discriptive, meaningful word than racist, which is itself nothing more than a nebulous semantic weapon that really means anything the accuser wants it to mean.
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Bud, if all you could acknowledge is “that ain’t right” it would sure be a start.
Fact: White men with a criminal record are more likely to be called back for a job interview than black men with no record, even when their education and experience are the same.
I find this stat usually shocks white people the most.
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Interesting about the honors course thing. On the placement test I took last year for math, I scored a 27 out of 30 which meant I qualified for college algebra…but since i hate math I opted for the easier math class.
I was kinda pushed in high school by the counselor (who was white) to take honors courses, which wasn’t such a great idea when i was 16 and handing 2 science classes and 2 math classes (both subjects I despise the most)…
as for the arrests, I have no problems with blacks or latinos being arrested for their crimes, as long as its the right ones and not some innocent minority bystander whose only crime is being black. I am all for throwing bad people away…now if one they would start throwing white people away too, this world could be a safer and happier place.
I have to admit, it does make our arguments look bad when we as a race stand up for a clearly guilty black person on the stance that white people don’t get treated as badly. if the person did something bad like robbery or murder, i want them in jail and away from me. I don’t like the whole “no snitchin” campaign cause that isn’t helping us out at all.
The whole thing about white criminals getting chosen over blacks with no record angers me so much. I just hope the racist hiring practices backfire and the white thief steals from them or something.
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Drink in the bitter, bitter— irony? kick in the pants? I don’t even know what— of the fact that a white guy is not only more hireable, even with a criminal record, than a black guy with the same skills— he’s more likely to be a criminal and not have a criminal record to boot!
White men who have never been caught, the world is yours!
(Racist employers, watch your cash registers.)
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okay, i’m “the girl who thinks too much” from that other blog.
i’ve read this. i don’t disagree that blacks still face racism. but i still say that i’m bothered that every i see you speaking on racism it’s a “black and white” issue, and you only talk about how blacks are discriminated against.
maybe it’s just me. maybe i’m stuck on something. i don’t know.
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This helped immensly on my school report about racism! I couldn’t find any good facts about racism until I came across this. I’m glad you posted this!
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All this post does is show statistics that can be manipulated any way you want. The purpose of this blog is to simply divide black and white people. It does nothing to improve the status of black people or increase their knowledge or improve relations between blacks and whites. Instead of posting all the statistics of arrests and stuff why not post some helpful hints or tips for black people to help them avoid these situations.
If you are stopped by an officer he can not search your car unless you consent or they have probable cause.
“Fact: Black and Latino men are three times more likely than white men to be stopped by the police and have their cars searched – even though white men are four times more likely to have weapons or drugs.”
So I can’t argue the statistic that black and Latino men are three times more likely than white me to be stopped but, only the individual can consent to a vehicle search. This has nothing to do with white men. Don’t blacks and Latinos know that you don’t have to consent to a search? It’s true. Look it up. You should be trying to educate young black kids about their rights and how to avoid these traps. If I know I’m doing something wrong then I wouldn’t consent to a search. Likewise if I know I’m going to be targeted then I wouldn’t be doing anything wrong. It’s just smarts and not racism. Be smarter and not angrier. C’mon people I hope you all are seeing what this blog is doing to you all. It is assuming that you are all stupid. I know this is not the case. Abagond should use his influence to speak about knowledge and education. But no. All you do is point out all the issues with no solutions. Real good stuff here Abagond. I hope you can sense my sarcasm in that last remark. Fix the problem or suggest solutions but don’t just sit here and whine about it. It does no one any good and it promotes hatred.
@ Y – you should be thankful that some one did see your talent and not angry that someone passed over you. Trust in God and he will put you where he needs you and not where you want to be. This blog should be all about unity when it is really all about promoting race. All you blacks are like crabs trying to get out of the bucket of racism. Abagond is the one crab that keeps pulling you back in. Showing you his fabricated racism in every aspect of your life. I’m surprised there isn’t a post about blacks discriminating against blacks. That would be along the same dividing lines as most of Abagond’s rhetoric. These aren’t really facts either. Just strong opinions supported by manipulated statistics. I hope everyone learned when they took statistics that they lie.
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@John in Philly
Taking your lead and not referring to any any evidence whatsoever, I am going to make the claim that part of the Higher rates of Black and Latinos being abused and or gunned down by the police is the result of a nonwhite person knowing their legal rights, and trying to have them respected by law enforcers who know shooting a person of color as opposed to a white person would result in little to no repercussions. Thus I will suggest that you, instead of posting comments that could put black and brown people in more harms way, tell non-brown people that nonwhites asserting their rights is dangerous, as officers, upon pulling over people of color, do not ask to search, but instead orders civilians out of cars, posts them up around the front of the vehicle, handcuffs them, before performing a search by either simply doing so or announcing that they will without providing that POC with any choice.
Again, following your example I will tell you that you should be thankful that anyone recognized your comment by replying to it. That all of you privileged people (either those who are white middle class heterosexual men, or who maintain the system because doing so gets you a few more crumbs) who think that they can tell others how they should handle their struggle, prefer to use information that is not proven by current sociological or historical evidence, are like some nonhuman entity, a rat, who screeches and bares its teeth at nonwhite people and real anti-racists whites who speak up against disparity. That it is you privileged folks who care about race, specifically maintaining the dominance of the white race, and seek to cause disunity by failing to recognize how the development of race as we know it is white created and maintained by white and brown denial, and that the historical implications that followed continues the very real disparities between whites and people of color of all socio-economic backgrounds. That not only is your presentation misinformed “blame the survivors of oppression as opposed to the oppressors and oppressive system” nonsense, but a weak attempt that relies on white supremacy in order to counter supporting data with baseless claims.
Finally, taking your lead I will say, I hope that everyone learned from your post and many, many others, that people, especially those who have the most to loose, not only lie, but delude themselves into thinking that they are an authority on everything and thus need not supply any supporting evidence for their claims for the simple fact that they are privileged.
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“Don’t blacks and Latinos know that you don’t have to consent to a search? It’s true. Look it up. You should be trying to educate young black kids about their rights and how to avoid these traps.”
John, sometimes you have to look beyond the legal code. It’s like a failure to stop ticket. If you know that you stopped at the stop sign, but a cop pulls you over and tells you that you didn’t, what can you do? The officer’s word against yours will win every time, if there is no other evidence to be presented.
Simply saying, “I refuse to have my car searched” may work for you, but it does not work for everybody else, all the time… because the officer may choose to have “heard” you say that you waived your right, and agreed to a search, and may become quite “surprised” that you’re now changing your story. 🙂
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@ dedgurlcingztheblooze
I would say that your “claim that part of the Higher rates of Black and Latinos being abused and or gunned down by the police is the result of” higher percentages of Black and Latinos committing crime. It’s not about white people gunning down blacks or latinos like you try to make it sound. Also you write that “officers, upon pulling over people of color, do not ask to search, but instead orders civilians out of cars, posts them up around the front of the vehicle, handcuffs them, before performing a search by either simply doing so or announcing that they will without providing that POC with any choice.” Again if you brown, non-white, POC (which is too close to POS for me), black or latinos don’t know your rights then that is what happens. You guys should wise up and not let the man get the best of you.
I’m glad you recognize my post. Thanks. I’m glad you feel we are “privileged people” The more you feel we are privileged the more privileges we enjoy. Your feelings that we are “privileged people” simply reinforce your self discrimination. You probably don’t go to really nice restaurants because you “know” you will not be treated the same. It’s that attitude that creates the tension and mistreatment. “That it is you privileged folks who care about race,” Okay so this entire blog is centered on race. How many movies are there about “Colored Girls Only”? Not very many. You blacks are the only one concerned with this fabricated struggle. You want the past to be your excuse to be lazy and take charity handouts from your brothers. I’m glad you all take advantage of government programs created by Democrats to keep you controlled. When you cry about racism you are “specifically maintaining the dominance of the white race, and seek to cause disunity by failing to recognize” that you are better than what the man thinks of you. You are playing right into their hands and being controlled.
Finally, this is 2010. What is this white privilege that you speak of? Never heard of it or seen it in real life.
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John I’ve already proven my point.
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Why haven’t people done something about black being put in jail at higher rates than whites for the same crime?!! I mean, c’mon, here’s some hardcore researeched facts. Why don’t people do something?!!
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When it comes to race and regardless of all the facts, I believe one thing must be stressed and that is not to get angry of any facts being displayed, but to have humiliation and to then also have humanity and approach it with this sense. I thank you for your website.
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Don’t know how i missed this post. This is the kind of stuff every person must know.
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[…] https://abagond.wordpress.com/2010/0…s-about-racism/ […]
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I am a person of asian-australian background, and therefore can look at the issue of racism towards blacks from a neutral point of view. And I think Abagond’s post definitely tells the truth.
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this is all so right i mean im black and my hair makes it hard to get hired i dont want to sound harsh but damn white people see dreadlocks cornrows anything other than a low cut and u r labled a criminal f@ck da fact ur trying 2 get a job they see fear in everything outside what ass kissing n@ggs do to get hired or us who r proud of wat r hair really is naturally
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I have learnt a lot through this article on racism and will help me with my school work . Thank you Abagond.
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thanks , i’ve learnt a lot
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It’s seems to me that the dominant class or the privileged would like to pretend that they don’t believe racism exist. There is a simple reason for their pretending to be ignorant of this behavior. The fundamental core of racism is related to the social-economic and emotional needs of the dominant class. Most Caucasian Americans refuse to admit it, but they enjoy the benefits that come with their social status. Of course some value the status more than others and some even to the degree that they will fight to preserve it for their descendants.
One of the most effective ways of preserving the privileges of the dominant class is by public denial. Publicly denying the facts of racial inequality is extremely effective in convincing the underclass of what they see, hear, feel is only a figment of their imagination. Even some members of the dominant class began to question its existence. The quickest way to get Caucasian Americans to contradict themselves, or admit existence of racial inequalities is introduces the scenario of their children dating an African American. Usually, their objection to the idea is based on racial inequality and downward mobility and social class.
Anyone that knows something about economics know that there is not enough room for everyone at the top. In every case when there is an African American that claims space at the top of the social ladder there is one space less for a Caucasian American. I strongly agree that African Americans are upward bound in their social economic classification especially in the lower and upper poor which are moving into the ranks of middle class. This movement leaves vacancies that are being filled by the new imported class from south of the boarder.
One thing we cannot deny is the fact that in order for any successful society to exist there must be an underclass of people. Furthermore, rich people cannot exist without the poor people. Another point we can agree on is that no one wants to be a member of the underclass.
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Thanks… this is very interesting and informative and I appreciate that you took the time to gather up these statistical facts on racism.
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I didn’t even read it all because this is so bias. That’s the thing about statistics, you can manipulate it to say whatever you want it to. Think about it, in general white people typically make more money, therefore they can afford a good attorney to represent them in court. Also, think about how many WHITE PEOPLE miss out on job opportunities, or getting accepted into college because they have to meet a RACIAL CRITERIA. Black people get scholarships just for being black, but if white people did oh my that would be racist. Black people have BET, but if we had WET wow, that would be rascist. Come off it and realize that black people have just as much opportunities and chances in the world as white people do. Black people need to stop using the pity card and claim that’s why they’re not successful when in reality it’s their problem not rascism.
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Oh and I have a feeling a lot of these “statistics” are made up anyhow because they certainly are not true. Whether the person who posted it made it up, or they are just reading articles that habe no scholarly value whatsoever.
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@Jay
Since you seem to be somewhat of an expert on scholarly statistics, why don’t you post some? “Ooh, I don’t believe it, hence it must not be true” doesn’t sound very scientific.
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[…] me throw out some facts that might strike you interesting. Did you know that white men with a criminal record are more likely to be called back for a job interview than black men with no record, even when […]
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@Dunbar Kevin
Your ignorance and bias is truly astounding.
The fundamental core of racism is related to the social-economic and emotional needs of the dominant class. Most Caucasian Americans refuse to admit it, but they enjoy the benefits that come with their social status.
We don’t need to practice racism to have and continue our success. The “privilege” we have comes from what whites have generated and built over generations. We have money and success vis-a-vis blacks because we earned it while blacks did not.
The “racism” you mention is just whites not wanting to associate with a people – blacks – who are different and less competent than us.
The quickest way to get Caucasian Americans to contradict themselves, or admit existence of racial inequalities is introduces the scenario of their children dating an African American. Usually, their objection to the idea is based on racial inequality and downward mobility and social class.
No, this is not a contradiction. We see blacks as different, less competent, and less able to live like we do. That’s why blacks are generally seen as lower class than whites. Of course, we don’t our children to end up in a lower class environment. The “racial inequality” is not something whites invented; it just reflects that blacks are less able then we are.
Anyone that knows something about economics know that there is not enough room for everyone at the top. In every case when there is an African American that claims space at the top of the social ladder there is one space less for a Caucasian American.
You know nothing about economics. It is possible for resourceful people to create more in an economy and expand opportunities. So far, whites are successful at creating opportunities, while blacks have been far less so.
One thing we cannot deny is the fact that in order for any successful society to exist there must be an underclass of people.
Again, not necessarily true. Successful people do not have to be successful by climbing on the backs of others. If a person creates a new or improved product or service, then they will succeed. The new product or service will help the economy in general, and the lower class people, if the new P/S is improved, cheaper, or new.
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DENIAL.THIS IS FACT THAT MOST CAUCASIANS,WHITE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE A CLUE THE PAIN A BLACK MAN ENDURES ON A REGULAR TRYING TO BE PART OF SOCIETY THAT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T BELONG & TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY PRETEND. THAT IT DOESN’T EXIST THANK- GOD- FOR THE OTHER WHITE FOLKS WHO ARE MORE. IN TUNE OF WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN CAUSE WITHOUT THEM THROUGH HISTORY WE WOULDN’T OF MADE IT THIS FAR SO IT REALLY ISN’T ABOUT RACE IT’S MORE ABOUT ONES HAPPINESS & HOW A PERSON FEELS ABOUT THEMSELVES & SOME PEOPLE LOVE TO PUT OTHERS DOWN TO MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL UP WHICH IS RIDICULOUS CAUSE WITHOUT -GOD- IN YOUR -HEART- YOU COULD NEVER BE UP,PRETEND YEAH BUT TRUE HAPPINESS IS EXPRESSED THROUGH THE GIVING OF -LOVE- SO YOU SEE HATE IS A WHOLE OTHER STORY OF DECEIT, DENIAL,MANIPULATION, SLANDER & A HOST OF OTHER UNGODLY RHETORIC
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Reblogged this on Lady in the Red Boots and commented:
Bless it Jesus.
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thankyou sooooooooooo much! that helped me heaps with my school project. 🙂
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@ Bliff
It is YOUR ignorance and bias that is amazing.
I do not know if you will even read this but I took the liberty of posting some definitions for you.
Prejudice (attitude)- any rigid and unfounded generalization about an entire category of people which usually develops before interacting with the specific people in question, not based on direct experience, difficult to change
Discrimination (action)- unequal treatment of someone or some group, often based on appearance or income, education, lifestyle, or religious or political beliefs
Stereotypes – an exaggerated description applied to every person in some category
Racism – the assertion that people of one race are less worthy or even biologically inferior to others
You obviously believe that blacks are inferior to you. What proof do you have? Their low economic status? I can explain that through legislation that degraded black rights for centuries, which has a large effect on their current economic status. What proof do you have? That they are not hard working?
You said, “We don’t need to practice racism to have and continue our success. The “privilege” we have comes from what whites have generated and built over generations. We have money and success vis-a-vis blacks because we earned it while blacks did not.”
What did whites generate and build? Racism? Slavery? because it is a well known fact that the only racism that existed before slavery in America was religious, with the Protestants against all other religions. You want to say that blacks are not hard working? What about all the hard labor that they do every day for minimal pay? What jobs do the majority of whites have? Office jobs, corporate jobs, and jobs for the government.
You said, “The “racial inequality” is not something whites invented; it just reflects that blacks are less able then we are.”
There is no biological proof that any race is less capable than another. Eugenic scientists tried to prove it and failed, Samuel George Morton tried to prove it and failed. The only evidence that you have that they are less able is your own sick stereotypes.
You obviously just have a selective perception. Since your writing is of the same caliber as a person with no formal education I will give you the definition of selective perception as well.
Selective perception – stereotypes become the lenses through which we view people.
I hope you learned something.
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[…] Note – I compiled this list from two sources:https://abagond.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/some-facts-about-racism/http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~rgibson/RACESTAT.htm […]
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[…] Racism is dead. […]
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This thread can be updated to add that whites believe they are now the victims of racism. LOL
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This is a good video posted last week showing a white guy making an argument that the data about black racism supports that it still certainly exists and does not match the majority of white people’s perceptions.
Links for the data presented are all also provided.
(http://youtu.be/GQdMgtncpoE)
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Bigots of today have removed their white cloaks and hoods in exchange for police uniforms, suits and ties and robes.
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