If you want to make a suggestion for the next monthly poll, add a comment below.
Coming soon in the coming weeks :
- Mardi Gras
- Posts on stuff I am reading:
- Kola Boof: Diary of a Lost Girl
- black buck stereotype
- the state of black marriage
- The gentrification of Harlem
- Race in New York: a brief history
- voodoo
- The ten most gorgeous men in the world– do a post a week oneach of the following:
- Oh Ji Ho
- Johnny Depp
- Keanu Reeves
- Will Demps
- Dogons
- Kindle
- The Last Poets
- The casting of “Flavor of Love”
- long hair
- kiss teeth
For the next Suggest-o-meter poll:
- Gullahs
- Pushkin
- Tupac Shakur
- black ghetto stereotype
- all-white basketball team
- The Black Father Project
- the n-word
- Race in Russia
- Latino father, black mother
- white ethnic hatred
- The Hughes Brothers (directed “The Book of Eli”)
- Afros
- blaxploitation films
- Ethiopian Jews
- Depo Provera
- black bodies in the white gaze
- black horror film stereotypes
- affirmative action
- K.D. Aubert
- Whites using religion to excuse their oppression of black people
I am especially interested in ideas for posts. I cannot promise anything, but if you make the suggestion then I am far more likely to write about it – especially if several people want it.
Here are suggestions for posts that I am thinking of writing:
- Beautiful women of Cameroon
- Asian stereotypes
- Asian nerd stereotype
- Ultra-feminine Asian woman stereotype (Madame Butterfly)
- perpetual foreigner
- Rhinelander case
- My opinion about the 2008 election
- How blacksare seen by foreigners in America:
- Asians
- Hispanics
- Indians
- black racism
- Bill Cosby
- white men and Asian women
- white men and black women
- Why so few black men marry black women
- white women that black men like
- The evils done in the name of Christ – or how can you believe in such an evil religion
- Some white people look down on those who are different
- Steve Sailer
- Tim Wise
- What thin black women should know: this became Hey You Feministe
- The n-word
- Black British women
- young black women
- Black IQ
- The blackness of
- Bill Clinton
- Tiger Woods
- Madonna
- Eric Clapton
- Mariah Carey
- Soledad O’Brien
- Barack Obama
- Elvis Presley
- Bing Crosby
- Snoop Dogg
- Carly Simon
- Adriana Lima
- natural hair
- dreadlocks
- Afro
- black music industry
- Quincy Jones
- Sean Combs
- Timbaland
- Russell Simmons
- not black enough
- acting white
- appropriation
- Black Barbie
- Vogue magazine
- Little Black Sambo
- youth subcultures
- lawn jockey
- English
- Coon English – the kind that black people speak in Hollywood films
- African English
- Jamaican patois
- black or Black
- blue-on-black crime
- Harlem Renaissance
- Ishmael Reed
- ska: a brief history
- Stories about black couples who made it
- Jada and Will
- Staceyann Chin
- transracial adoption
- black children, white parents
- Korean adoptees
- biracial
- honorary whites
- whiteness
- white privilege
- White History Month
- Lakota
- Attic Greek idiom
- Lisa Bonet
- Zoe Kravitz
- black patriotism
- white patriotism
- race and the city:
- racial steering
- redlining
- white flight
- black ghetto
- gentrification
- white suburb
- double consciousness
- the word “mulatto” – where it comes from
- Black beauties from the past
- white innocence
- All whites are racist
- colourism
- Abu Ghraib
- Rosario Dawson
- Claudia Lynx
- Genevieve Nnaji
- Hoopz
- Re-check list of Creoles – like Ciara, etc.
- The war in the other Georgia
- magical Negro
- food and materials that shaped history:
- Joe Biden
- Amy Holmes
- Shelby Steele
- Ki Toy Johnson
- Flavor Flav
- Brazilian models
- Sheena Johnson Tosta
- Solange Knowles
- Caroline Kennedy
- History of Nigeria
- Katoucha Niane
- CIndy McCain
- Queensbridge
- Black New York
- Black Standard English
- cassette tape
- Ebonics: time and tense
- Crazy Eddie
- Assemblies of God
- Gregory Howard Williams
- David Myers: a black boy who thought he was white
- neo-soul
- Leonardo’s notebooks
- white co-workers
- How Jesus became a Republican
- Afro-Brazilians
- The Wigger Fallacy
- Alaska
- East Turkestan
- Ebonics: a brief history
- Rosina Ferrara
- What New York taught me
- The Google phone
- Vanessa Simmons
- The most beautiful American women
- Nigerian men and American women
- ancient cities
- Ephesus
- ancient Athens
- ancient Rome
- Constantinople
- Black Caucasian
- Marmaris
- reading levels
- David Myers’s 11 questions
- Orientalism
- exotic beauty
- dusky maidens
- exotic women
- Nestorian Christianity
- Acholiland
- Uganda
- Kenya
- North Kuva
- Waziristan
- white men and black women in slave days
- Why I did not marry Erykah Badu
- rape in America: a brief history
- L. Sprague de Camp
- English Bible translations
- partly done:
- Battle of Midway
- Cassie Bernall
- Teotihuacan
- Reading Plutarch
- Reading Burton L. Mack
- Jefferson’s library
- Greek Literal Bible
- Linear B
- The Long Now
- Jesus Seminar
- Pompeii
- Negro Doll Factory
- The Doll Experiment
- Gelila Bekele, model?
- Jessica White
- The race factor and Obama
- IAT as a test of racism
- Nobel Prize winners for 2008
- caste
- The 35-year stock market cycle
- black illegitimacy
- dying languages
- Joseph Conrad
- Ethiopia
- Beverly Peele
- Laurent Nkunda
- cloud computing
- iPhone: a brief history
- Malia Obama
- Jennifer Beals
- Tutsis
- Hutus
- DR Congo
- Rwandan Genocide
- Second Congo War
- Anglophone Africa
- black beauty: a brief history
- Dawn Okoro, painter
- Negro
- Somali pirates
- David Foster Wallace
- Madagascar
- black father, white mother
- plastic
- rewrite “Michelle Obama and the Politics of Shifting”
- bold lettering
- female beauty
- Uwe Ommer
- working while black
- Susan Rice
- cutsie-pie face
- the age at which
- African English
- Anglophone Africa
- Anglo-America (or maybe just White America)
- white father, Asian mother – this become half white, half Asian
- Black Canada
- Jonathan Ive
- BlackBerry Storm
- O-notation
- design patterns
- Which Bible to read
- Worldwide English Bible
- Worldwide English
- Reading Caucasia
- The Book of Songs
- Eritrean Christians (see Davida’s comment)
- Obama and gays in the military
- Black France
- Is the war in Gaza genocide?
- tattoo
- the most beautiful thin black women
- the most beautiful thick black women
- the most beautiful fat black women
- How to tell if a commenter is white
- Black Orpheus
- How the Irish became white
- Will blacks ever be white?
- The Last Poets
- Curtis Mayfield
- The fall of Nkunda
- Apple: Mobile Human Interface Guidelines
- Obama and the white vote
- Music videos 1985-1990
- The black and white twins
- Rented Negroes
- Molly Ringwald
- Frederick Douglass
- Malcolm X
- Lorraine Hansberry
- Robert Plant
- female body language
- Ellis Cose or his book Envy of the World
- The shooting of the Oakland policemen
- Oakland – or just Black Oakland
- black supremacism
- The blacks-do-it-too argument
- the Dark Ages
- How colour-blind racists are like wife beaters (phrase that better)
- When I call you a racist
- John Hope Franklin
- Beyonce
- Sasha Obama
- Tibet
- Michael Eric Dyson
- Kola Boof
- Alek Wek
- Sunghi Lee
- Megan Fox
- General Tso’s chicken
- Amerasians
- Blasians
- Ellen Holly
- Dr. Molefi Asante on the topic entitled “Toward the African Renaissance”
- Senghor
- The 8 Stages of Genocide
- Betty Jean Baucum
- firefighters and race
- British newspapers
- black-on-yellow racism
- Asian fetish
- The 12 ways to deny genocide
- The genocide in South Sudan
- American prose in the 1900s
- Music videos, 2oo6-2009
- bell hooks
- Mali Empire
- Ibn Battuta in the Mali Empire
- Sundiata
- Mansa Musa
- James McBride
- “blame whitey”
- Ini Edo
- Gloria Reuben
- Diandra Forrest
- jump blues
- Gowers’s “Plain Words”
- Zoe Saldana
- TESL
- Fatou N’Diaye
- Oromo
- Cameroon
- Botswana
- Senegal
- Sandra Laing – Coloured girl born to White parents in South Africa in 1955.
- The Lost Boys of Sudan
- The Princess and the Frog
- Ethiopia: a brief history
- Jackie O
- M.I.A.
- Mercy Johnson
- Sonia Sotomayor
- Edmund Perry
- why each race feels justified in their own racism (comment #149)
- Roethlisberger vs. Bryant (#148)
- dance styles
- Top 10 most beautiful Asian women.
- Top 10 most beautiful Afro-Latinas
- the civilization of Great Zimbabwe
- perception of Africa through the eyes of Black Americans
- South African topics
- race in South Africa
- gypsies (#139)
- why white people think we look alike
- different styles of African music (#130)
- forced sterilization of black women in North Carolina in the 1970s
- Frank Lombard (#133)
- race
- racism 101
- Gina Torres
- White men that like black women
- Black Britain
- growing up hapa
- The most beautiful black women over 40
- Eminem
- Oge Okoye
- Miriam Makeba
- Congolese War
- Toronto’s Africentric Alternative School (#156)
- black buck stereotype
- perpetual foreigner stereotype
- June Jordan on Black English
- good hair
- natural hair: a political history
- Savage Black Rule trope
- Frantz Fanon’s “Black Sin, White Masks”
- Beverly Tatum’s “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”
- Glenn Beck
- Black power in Detroit
- Tamil prison camps in Sri Lanka
- skin lightening
- Fair & Lovely
- Langston Hughes: The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain
- health care reform
- voodoo
- differentkimds of interracial relationships (BM/AW, etc)
- shopping while black
- black sportsmen
- OkCupid and race and dating
- Raica Oliveira
- Anthony Sowell – Cleveland serial killer
- guns, germs and steel
- Robin Thicke
- Teena Marie
- race in New York: a brief history
- the gentrification of Harlem
- Mardou Fox
- the white club
- growing up Nezua
- racist jokes
- racial scripting
- “not all whites”
- “Get over it”
- the beauty of Halle Berry
- internalized racism
- colonial mentality
- Happy Token Darkie
- Tulsa riots
- Newark
- Cory Booker
- Detroit
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Detroit and black power
- Moynihan Report
- black matriarchy
- fatherlessness
- prisons
- Tiger Woods
- Mariah Carey
- The Chinese Invasion Experiment
- racist trolls
- jerks and racism
- The dark side of female-led relationships
- body chemistry
- testosterone
- oxytocin
- endorphin
- adrenalin
- microagression
And here are some suggestions of beautiful women that I need to look into:
- Rachel Crawford
- Beverly Johnson
- Candace Parker
- Jarah Mariano
- Leona Lewis
- Nigerian actresses: Monalisa, Stella Damascus, Chioma Chukwuka, Tonto Dike, Georgina, Oge Oyoke, Nadia Buhali.
- Mel B
- white women: Brooke Hogan, Amanda Vallee, Hanna Verboom, Anna Ivanovic, Amber Brkich. Blake Lively, Hayden Panettiere, Jennifer Esposito, Gabrielle Bou Rached, Kate Bosworth, Bonnie Berstein, Vanessa Hessler, Claudia Lynx
- black actresses: Joy Bryant, Naomie Harris, Robin Givens, Sydney Poitier
- Tamil women: Nayanatara, Gopika, Priyamani, Shreya, Trisha, Bharathi, Sameera Reddy, Namitha, Devayani
- Brazilian women: Alice Braga
- Latin American women: Luciana Salazar, Jimena Capristo, Silvina Luna, Pamela David
- black women: Ajuma, Rachael Williams, Januel McKenzie, Honorie Uwera, Valery Prince, Tomiko Fraser, Abgani Darego, Nina Keita, Kiara Kabukuru, Cleo Higgins, Nia Jai, Michelle Gayle
- Nikki Cash, Meagan Good, Charmaine Sinclair, Pia Reyes, Atlantis Martell, Tamala Jones, Oluchi Onweagba, Mya Harrison
- Gina Torres, Suman Rangnathan, Atlantis Martell, Lauryn Hill, Kelis, Almudena Fernandez, Bipasha Basu, Ananda Lewis, Latavia Roberson, Erykah Badu, Aishwarya Rai, Brandy Norwood, Yasmeen Ghauri, Ines Sastre, Monica Bellucci, Charmaine Sinclair, Raveena, Jennifer Lopez, Faye Wong, Mya Harrison, Bridget Hall, Sunghi Lee, Chante Moore, Whitney Houston, Sonia Couling, Sharon Leal, Nelvia Arlisa, Natalie Imbruglia, Priyanka Chopra, Toni Braxton, Lisa Nicole Carson
HI there
we were hoping to inform you of an update to Vilayna’s blog on your blog here.
Please confirm our connection with Vilayna by going to
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm/1650121/resume
We are her marketing and management firm.
Please contact us for what is to be updated.
all the best
COTERIE MANAGEMENT
bookingcm@gmail.com
LikeLike
4.26.2008 20:04
Good Evening,
Hey man I don’t know how I found your blog but I’m glad I did. I was just reading some of your post and they are insightful and thought provoking. I subscribed to your feed and I thank you in advance for the knowledge that you are sharing.
Adrian Turner
LikeLike
Thank you. I am glad you like it.
LikeLike
do you mind writing about how Asian women and Asian men are viewed in American society.
LikeLike
Good idea. Thanks.
Here is the first one:
The model minority stereotype
LikeLike
I would like to see how you feel about the election and how it’s going. Also I would like to hear your opinion of how Asians, Indians, and Hispanics view blacks when they come to the U.S and how I feel like they hate us, but I don’t know why. I love how you and your viewers express themselves, you all are on point! Thank you.
LikeLike
That is a good topic: how foreigners seem to become racist so quickly. Some are as bad as white people in just a few months of being here! You would think they would have more sense.
LikeLike
I would like to see a blog on how black foreigners tend to look down on African Americans, especially Ethiopians. Black on black racism within the AA community and black on black racism both ways with black foreigners and AA. Some of them do not even consider themselves black. Check out the article on tadias the topic has been pretty hot: http://www.tadias.com/?p=521
as just a place to start
LikeLike
I have seen plenty of that! Very good topic! Thanks.
LikeLike
Bill Cosby’s comments were quite controversial……a lot of people agreed and a lot disagreed, but no one really offered any solutions.
LikeLike
Thanks. It is on my list.
LikeLike
Hey
Your posts have been popular over at SisterLicious, an application on Facebook for Black women. I am the co-creator and would like to get you to post some of your work there. You have my email address. Drop me a line.
Thanks.
It would be best to contact me directly!
LikeLike
Okay. I will email you. I saw the hits from SisterLicious but since I am not on Facebook I had no idea what they were about.
LikeLike
Would it be possible to write about teenage black girls/young black women and their place in society, how theyre perceived etc
Also, something on foreign black women- as in European born and raised, of Caribbean descent for example. Most of the time people will talk of AA, Caribbean or African women
LikeLike
Okay. Thanks.
LikeLike
Could you discuss perceptions on Race and Intelligence. The problem with Watson and the Gates interview has legitimized race based science, etc that I find disheartening and frankly disturbing—that I may be judged and categorized and denied rates based on my perceived IQ.
http://www.theroot.com/id/46680/page/1
http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/politicsphilosophyandsociety/0,,2288048,00.html
Also would please compile a list of places that are progressive and positive for Blacks–this should expand globally not just the USA. Thanks
LikeLike
Thanks. I will do one on Black IQ.
Not sure what you mean by “places that are progressive and positive for Blacks”? Like what?
LikeLike
I am talking about places for Black fols to thrive without having to deal with racism and hate 24/7. Thanks
LikeLike
Abagond, the Italia Vogue should be in stores sometime this week. The smart thing to do is call Barnes and NOble or some other bookstore and have them put an issue on hold for you. Otherwise, you may find it very diffcult to get a copy.
LikeLike
Can you write about how Robin Givens,Will and Jada etc. I like to hear stories about black couple that make it. Also why would Someone as smart as Robin marry Mike Tyson.
I thought she and Lela Rechon (Sunshine in Harlem Nights) would be on your beautiful black women list. Also Vanessa Williams (Soul Food).
LikeLike
Thanks for the suggestions!
Lela Rochon is #4 on my list of the most beautiful black actresses:
I think Robin Givens is beautiful too. An oversight on my part.
Vanessa Williams is cute but cute but not beautiful. To me.
LikeLike
Hi, I think your website is interesting.
I think that you should post about lisa bonet and her daughter? I think that they are pretty.
LikeLike
Excellent suggestion! I loved Lisa Bonet! And I wonder about her daughter too.
LikeLike
Abagond,
I am not sure what ethnicity you are and I don’t want to assume. However, I am a black American. My mothers side of the family were African and American Indian slaves in south Carolina. I don’t know how other people feel but I don’t like the idea of people who are not black Americans with my same history being classified as “black Americans or African American(I don’t like the term) For some reason, although it is a stain on the fabric of America, knowing that my ancestors were slaves makes me feel a source of pride. I know that my people are stronger psychologically, physically and intellectually than most. I am proud of the fact that my people combined elements of all three cultures and created various styles of music that have influenced the world and that bear little resemblance to most traditional African music, of which I have listened. I am proud of the fact that my people were the ones brave enough to stand up in the face of oppression and demand to be respected to the point that other people all over the world follow our lead. I am proud of our oratory traditions, style of being, inventions, etc. Could you do a little research and see if other black Americans whose ancestry begins in America have that same ethnic pride? I am curious.
LikeLike
Sorry, there is something I am not getting: “black Americans whose ancestry begins in America” sounds redundant to me.
Also this:
“I don’t know how other people feel but I don’t like the idea of people who are not black Americans with my same history being classified as “black Americans or African American(I don’t like the term)”
But if you are black American than anyone with the same history would be the same. If by history you mean family history.
There is something I am not getting.
LikeLike
There is something you definitely did not get. 1. An African from Angola for example who is naturalized as a citizen this year, is classified as African-American or a black American by the government. For example, Barack Obama himself is considered “African-American, Black American” by most people and he self-identifies. His/their history is a separate entity from my great-great grandmother who came to this country at the age of twelve as a slave. Their culture is totally different from my culture which has its roots in the south. I say this because the Africans who came to America came from diverse ethnicities, blended with Native Americans, whites and were cut off and forbidden any contact or identification with Africa. Therefore, my roots begin as an amalgamation of cultures within America.
2. Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Brazillians, and many other new world communities identify with their island/nation. They have their own music, food, culture, history. No different from American blacks.
3. If a Brazillian moves the Dominican Republic, they will always be a Brazillian. If a Haitian, Jamaican, Nigerian, etc moves to America, they are automatically included in my ethnicity by federal government classifications. Their families have not been in this country for over four hundred years, they contributed nothing to my culture in it’s early stages, they didn’t fight in the civil war and many had not arrived until after Jim Crow. So why, should these people be eligible for scholarships, etc that should be reserved for the members of my ethnicity who suffered in this country.
Thus, I am not talking about Family history because I would never need a stranger to give me information about such things. I am talking about ethnic pride.
LikeLike
I think I see now: foreign blacks as opposed to American blacks. You are not talking about race but ethnicity.
LikeLike
Abagond stop by if you can. I need your opinion.
LikeLike
About what?
LikeLike
What about an article or blog regarding Nigerian men/American women relationships…the real truth!!
LikeLike
I added it to my list. Thanks!
LikeLike
sophie dee
LikeLike
She is a porn actress. I have not (yet?) crossed that line and do posts on porn actresses. But thanks for the suggestion.
LikeLike
Thought of a song to post
BillWithers
Kissing My Love
Hubby was singing it to me last night
LikeLike
Cool. I never heard of that song before, but I will see if I like it. Thanks!
LikeLike
Asian American poet at a contest – I am not asian or even the child of a recent immigrant to american but it was amazing and stirring poem that deals with biracial and american intigration. I was moved. Given some of our discussion you might want to watch it.
LikeLike
More Alvin Lau goodness. Thanks!
LikeLike
re oscar grant
I apoligize…I thought of telling you but honestly thought you had it in your que to right about – unless someone tells me about something I am out of it most of the time. I dont watch the news. I only knew because my sister was working the protest. I really find the news depressing in general and dont watch it much. I cook, clean, read books and your blog. I dont surf the net much or watch much tv. I really thought you would know about it.
LikeLike
Well I did find out about it in the end, but not as soon as you did. Doing a Google search on cnn.com it looks like they did not report on it till the 6th. I first heard about it on the 7th.
LikeLike
i went back and checked…I first heard about it actually on face book not my sister – sister just filled me in on the details. a friend posted the news story on jan 7th – so same day as you! Like I said – i really hate watching the news. My friends have a standing request to make sure and email me news stories i should know about.
I work full time as a secretary, care for my three sons plus my sisters two when I am “not working”, cook and clean. So my free time I log on quick to facebook and your sight then power down and crochet and listen to jazz or r&b (between 9 – 11) then collapse in bed.
I have to say – even when we disagree you are never confrontational about it. You create an environment where people call talk about sensative subjects and be heared and respected. I really admire you for that.
LikeLike
This song means so much to me…especially “I hang my head from sorrow, state of humanity”. Oscar grant, russia and georgia, iraq, and so much else
And yet with all this evil in the world “For all the mothers fighting – For better days to come And all my women, all my women sitting here trying To come home before the sun” I try to be a good mother and wife and take of the ones I love
Alica Keys – Superwomen
Everywhere I’m turning
Nothing seems complete
I stand up and I’m searching
For the better part of me
I hang my head from sorrow
state of humanity
I wear it on my shoulders
Gotta find the strength in me
Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I’m a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I’m a Superwoman
For all the mothers fighting
For better days to come
And all my women, all my women sitting here trying
To come home before the sun
And all my sisters
Coming together
Say yes I will
Yes I can
Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I’m a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I’m a Superwoman
When I’m breaking down
And I can’t be found
And I start to get weak
Cause no one knows
Me underneath these clothes
But I can fly
We can fly, Oh
Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I’m a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I’m a Superwoman
LikeLike
another topic – 100s of christians in enitrea are being held by the government in metal boxes 4 feet by 4 feet…without any sort of trial…simply because they are christian.
Enitrea is located in east africa near the red sea.
Two news stories on the subject.
http://www.cbn.com/CBNNews/CWN/041604eritrea.aspx
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7015033.stm
LikeLike
thought you might want to see thomas sowells blog – i have a hunch you might disagree with him, but he can give you an alternate pov as you do with me
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/author/thomas_sowell/
LikeLike
Thanks. I did not know he had a blog – I thought maybe he was too old for that sort of thing! And thanks for the suggestion about Eritrean Christians.
LikeLike
Davida: I love Alicia Keys, but most of her videos, the good ones at least, are not embeddable from YouTube, which is why you rarely see her here.
LikeLike
another topic – http://www.military.com/news/article/obama-may-end-militarys-ban-on-gays.html?col=1186032325324&ESRC=navy.nl
Obama may intend to end the ban on homosexuals int he military
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLike
have you ever written about tattooing? It was once taboo…now more main stream. I am a ministers daughter and before getting mine my father and I discussed why it is perceived as a sin. My father said its not a sin (of course he thought I was asking for a friend). He did try to change his story when I started getting ink but I told him its either a sin or its not and he agreed thats it not…but he doesnt like it.
I rewrote Shakespheres – to be or not to be
A Parody on Shakesphere’s Sonnet:
To be Inked, or not to be Inked: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of disapproval,
Or to conform to societies belief to avoid troubles,
Or by opposing them, do you end them? To ink: to change;
and perhaps; by inking to say better express
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To ink, to change;
To change: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that change of skin what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this normal skin,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare body? who would bear this,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something different from others,
With unchanged skin that with we bourn
We bare those ills, alone, unexpressed
Rather, make us bear those ills we have
Expressing, with our skin, what others may know not?
Don’t let society make cowards of us all;
But let the native hue of color added
To our sicklied pale cast of skin,
Be enterprises of great moment
With this regard our life we take the helm,
And in the name of knowing they self
Be all my trials and triumphs remembered in ink
LikeLike
Here is a suggestion:
“White people are stereotyped as looking down on those who are different.”
(instead of your “White people look down on those who are different”).
Not only am I offended by this generalization; most white people I know are nothing like this.
LikeLike
Thanks for the suggestion. I do not think ALL white Americans think that way. But SOME of them do, that I know quite clearly. It is not at all a stereotype. I wish it were that simple.
Also: if you are white, as your name says, then how in the world would you know? How would you find yourself at the receiving end of this sort of thinking?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Davida: Thanks. I added tattoos to my list.
LikeLike
abagond – I do think it ishuman nature to look down upon all sorts of class distinctions. I often here at work – There are often calenar conflicts, conference room conflicts etc that occur. And some of my fellow executive assistants will pull the rank card (how dare they talk to that VP like that…or dont they know this meeting was asked for by Mr. Big Shot Lawyer?) And I – in a gentle yet firm voice, wil redirect the focus to…It doesnt matter if its 10 lawyers, or 10 mail room employees…the point is common curtesy. I treat all my fellow employess at work like I do my VP. It annoys me this perception that simiply because they have a college degree they are better than the single mother working 10 hour shifts as a receptionist. They are not. Or because you ordered the latte you have the right to treat the person behind the counter as if you are better than them. I have (on more than one occasion) stopped a person and told them to apoligize to the starbucks employee…or mcdonalds employee for their rude behavior. I point out that they could have asked to have their order fixed in a manner that wasnt condesending and that one should not make assumptions about a person by what they do for a living. It infuriates me when a person behaves as if they are better than someone else and I always end up embaressing my husband. He says I have to remember I am not the universal mother.
Or to quote one of my favorite lines from a movie (all though I cant remember which one anymore) You should treat a duchess like a prostitue and a prostitute like a duchess…
LikeLike
abagond Says:
Tue 20 Jan 2009 at 22:45:39
“Thanks for the suggestion. I do not think ALL white Americans think that way. But SOME of them do, that I know quite clearly. It is not at all a stereotype. I wish it were that simple.
Also: if you are white, as your name says, then how in the world would you know? How would you find yourself at the receiving end of this sort of thinking?”
First, to make a statement “White people look down on those who are different” is a stereotype by definition. That statement did not specify “some” white people. If it did, I would not have brought this up. If you mean some instead of all than please make that clear. Unless you use that qualifying word, it is assumed to mean all, grammatically speaking.
Second, because you cannot see what I look like, I used the name “A White Guy” only to let you know that I am a white male. That’s it. I picked that “name” on the fly, because I saw that phrase a lot in your blog. I don’t live my life dwelling on being white and I would not have even brought up the subject if not for your blog being almost entirely about ethnicity.
You don’t know me at all. If you did know me, you would know that I don’t look down on anyone who is “different” from me. On the contrary, I love the diversity in humanity. So, naturally, I resent these generalizations.
Also, when I first posted under the name “A White Guy” it was on the topic “Black women that white men like.” You stated: “The features of her face can be black, but not too black.” I wanted to let you know that there are white men, including myself, who appreciate the beauty of women with strong ‘Afrocentric’ features.
LikeLike
Davida Says:
Wed 14 Jan 2009 at 01:13:50
“thought you might want to see thomas sowells blog – i have a hunch you might disagree with him, but he can give you an alternate pov as you do with me
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/author/thomas_sowell/ ”
I love Thomas Sowell. He is a brilliant and independent thinker.
LikeLike
Write a positive post on thin women for a change.
LikeLike
Abagond 0 if or when you do the tattoo post – let me know..>I have a whole series of pictures of my tattoo session…up close on the process. I love to be able to express my inner soul externally. I never felt very beautiful on the outside until I was able to express how I think I look on the inside. Now I feel alot of the time like the most powerful, glorious women in the world.
LikeLike
Davida: thanks.
anon: good idea.
LikeLike
John:
This page is a place to put down ideas for posts before I forget them, so some of them are not yet well formed or thought-out – yet. It is a kind of womb for future posts.
So while it is good to point out what you did, please do not go on to assume that it is what I ordinarily think or anything.
If I said something like that in a completed post, then that would be different since I do put some thought into what I write and try to choose my words carefully. (But even then I tend to have this way of talking in absolutes).
LikeLike
John, you said:
… I don’t live my life dwelling on being white and I would not have even brought up the subject if not for your blog being almost entirely about ethnicity.
If you are American, then you should dwell more on being white. Read Macon D’s blog for a start:
http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com/
LikeLike
Abagond, being white is not that important to me. I rarely think about it unless someone else raises the issue. I think we are all better off if we cherish our differences without obsessing over them.
LikeLike
suggestion – the twins born in london to bi racial parents – two sets of twins – one is white in appearance – one is much darker – paper calls them white and black twins…one would be suject to white advantage the other not…
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Instead of analyzing your ideas of what “white America” finds attractive in black women, why not do a list or at least an analysis on how “black America” define beauty in their women. What do black women themselves think of their beauty? What famous black women appeal most to black folks? That would be very interesting.
LikeLike
That would be extremely interesting, but how would I go about nailing down “what famous black women appeal most to black folks”? Do I use Essence or Smooth? Not only do they have different ideas of black female beauty, but it comes down to what some editors in New York think.
Any thoughts?
LikeLike
Exactly, the same way assessing Maxim or Cosmo represent more of a editorial board’s ideas than the common person’s.
You see how complex it all is?
You could gather such information by doing what you did for the previous post, gathering online lists of beautiful black female celebs decided and compiled by blacks (supposedly). Yet, really, what would they prove? Then again, it could play as a ancedotal constrast to the other list.
What black female celebs have you seen the blacks who you’ve known or observed really take to?
LikeLike
Interesting. Off the top of my head: Aaliyah, Nia Long, Chaka Khan, Phylicia Rashad, Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah and Gabrielle Union.
LikeLike
mynameismyname said:
You could gather such information by doing what you did for the previous post, gathering online lists of beautiful black female celebs decided and compiled by blacks (supposedly). Yet, really, what would they prove? Then again, it could play as a ancedotal constrast to the other list.
Good idea. At the very least it will be the (supposedly) black counterpart to “The most beautiful women according to white people”.
LikeLike
I honestly think you should take me up on my suggestion, Aba! Seriously. I’m willing to help you with it. It’s far more interesting and relevant than the other list. IMO.
All those women you named above, in answering my question, ARE beautiful. Funny, I’ve heard a lot of those ladies cited as beautiful by both blacks and non-blacks. I’m telling you, a lot of non-blacks dig Gabby. Her and Sanaa Lathan.
Jill Marie Jones and Vivica A. Fox are two black female celebs who I’ve heard many black folks (mainly males) rave about yet I never saw the “hype”.
Keisha Knight Pulliam, Lauren London, Meagan Good, Stacey Dash and Serena Williams also seem to get a LOT of love with many black Americans. Both from my own observations and others.
Like I was mentioning, we should really attempt to explore this. Just for constrast.
LikeLike
mynameismyname:
Okay. It will appear on Monday. Not Saturday – I promised Renee of Womanist Musings that I would do a list of black women I most admire before I put up another one of my tawdry little beauty lists. And not Sunday – that is when I write to my mother.
If you feel you understand how I did the tabulation for “the most beautiful black women according to white people”, you can do the tabulation if you are up for it. Search on “the most beautiful black women” in double quotes. If not I will do it. In either case I will do the write-up and post it on Monday morning.
This will be interesting!
LikeLike
Alright! I anticipate it.
I think you’d do a better job compiling the lists. I had difficulty finding the results you found, using the search terms you used on the other list.
I will tell you one thing though. Just from browsing internet discussions boards that are ran by (supposedly) black folks via the search terms you use: it seems like discussions of black female beauty inevitably turn into discourses in colorism and Western standards of beauty.
Yet, like one especially enlightned poster noted in the other list’s comment section, the conversation rarely veers into those waters when it comes to measuring black male attractiveness.
Why the double standard, you think?
See, Monday’s entry WILL BE interesting!
LikeLike
I am glad someone is bringing attention to the Nollywood actresses and also I would suggest talking about the actors too. It is my hope to sell the American black onto the films coming out of Nollywood and to hopefully improve the standard of the films so we can have big budget productions one day like Bollywood. Also, I have two books out and am looking for investors to make movies out of my work. Anyone interested please contact me at dasamota@yahoo.com. Thanx.
LikeLike
Thanks, but I find actresses so much more interesting than actors. Maybe it comes from how they look.
LikeLike
I wrote my first public little blog tonight.
On – the Smell of Love.
I posted it to my myspace and facebook pages…not sure if you can view it. I dont have an actual site yet. would LOVE your feedback
But here is the link
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=138768659&blogID=471481200
let me know if you cant see it
LikeLike
I dont think that link will work – if not try facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=65168204917
LikeLike
argh – how about this one http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-sh.En7M0dqdsfCqDCGJ2YICxPVDXsw–?cq=1&p=43
LikeLike
Wow, that is great news! Only the last link worked for me. You should make it more public, easier to get to. WordPress and Blogger are both free.
Also you should make the lettering bigger if you can. On Firefox on my MacBook there are almost ten lines an inch (2.7 mm per line). That is too small to read for long periods of time. Not sure if that is something you can easily change.
I hope you can manage to post at least once a week!
LikeLike
what did you think? worth publishing? and doing the extra effort to go to wordpress or something like that?
LikeLike
LikeLike
thanks for all your support and help!
LikeLike
It is worth publishing. Once you get it set up and get used to it, it is pretty easy. That is why there are millions of blogs – because it is so easy.
LikeLike
You should do a post on Ellis Cose or his book Envy of the World. Great book!
LikeLike
A good post on the Dark Ages will provide the White supremacists who troll this board a reminder that Human history is older than the past 500 years.
LikeLike
womens body language – and how men perceive the signals we are sending.
LikeLike
oakland PD lost four officers today.
As much as Oscar Grants death was a horrible wrong – why no comment on these four mens death? My sister actually arrested the shooter in 2001 for car jacking another man at gun point.
LikeLike
Good suggestion. I am thinking of doing one on the shooter.
Dying in the line of duty is an honourable thing, something I respect and even admire, but, just to let you know, I do not get twisted out of shape over the death of policemen. For some background as to why, I used to live in the part of New York where Sean Bell was killed:
LikeLike
my sister arrested the shooter in 2001 – after he held another man at gun point and car jacked his car.
LikeLike
What if the cops were black – would you care then? Cops have families too…and most cops are not bad.
LikeLike
might want to do an article on this
http://suicideandmentalhealthassociationinternational.org/libAfriAmer.html
Blacks Less Likely to Show Suicide Factors
By DANIEL YEE, Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA – A study of suicides in Fulton County found that blacks who
commit suicide aren’t as likely as whites to display telltale
suicide risk factors such as depression, health officials said
Monday.
“
LikeLike
Maybe you should filter some comments. I think your sight ie being overrun by White males and I preffered when your posts were more about People of color.
LikeLike
I kicked off one of them and put in place a stricter comment policy:
LikeLike
I couldnt find a post on IR relationships BM to WW so I thought I would post here – verizon wireless commercial for the verizon hub – black husband sending directions to white wife. think it gets international play or just in areas where IR relationships are more commen.
LikeLike
Thanks! I found it on YouTube and posted it on this blog:
LikeLike
Hello, great site here 🙂 I am looking for fans of celebs all over the world. If you have any fresh gossips with someone, i will appreciate your help 🙂 In exchange I can upload some top hottest stuff from my archive here. Regards! Waiting for links with good stuff, and free of course 🙂
LikeLike
Hey abagond there are 2 VERY beautiful black women I think you should write about, please write about them. There not that known but they are beautiful
One is a model named Lanisha Cole, she has done a lot of music videos and was a model on deal or no deal and the price is right. Please look her up and post her.
Another is an aspiring model name Nerissa Irving, she was born in jamica and is a very beautiful black woman.
Please can u post these two women up in one of your blogs! Thanx.
LikeLike
I know about Nerissa. She has an entry on one of my other blogs, Black Beauty of the Day:
http://blackbeautyoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/10/nerissa-kamoy.html
I will post Lanisha there too for Monday.
My posts on this blog are all 500 words long, give or take 20 words. If I can find enough to write on either one I will do a post here too.
LikeLike
Thanks im looking foward to your blog I got some info on her here at this link:
http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2007/11/topic/topic/vixens/saturday-night-vixen-lanisha-cole/
LikeLike
Wow, she is beautiful!
LikeLike
My bro in law (who is a BM) stronly disagrees with some of your view points…agrees with others.
Your viewpoint of police is one he disagrees with.
He suggested I ask you your take on the three Pittsburgh cops who died…and if you assume that gunman was not killed because he is white –
my bro – in – law doesnt think it has anything to do with race.
LikeLike
I thought that policemen were trained to shoot you dead if you point a gun at them, no questions asked. Is that true? And if so, how in the world did the gunman in this case avoid getting killed while being able to kill three policemen himself?
LikeLike
Hey, could you touch on your thoughts of the United States of Africa? There’s even a Youtube lecture video of Dr. Molefi Asante on the topic entitled “Toward the African Renaissance”. What would it mean for Africa and the diaspora economically and psychologically?
LikeLike
no – police are trained to shoot for center body mass – the chest.
This man had a vest on. There fore he lived. The head is a smaller target and harder to hit if a person is ducked down and hiding…they ended up shooting him in the legs. Chest shots wouldnt work.
People who die of police gun far are either shot in the chest and not wearing a vest or a cop got a lucky shot to the head or accidentally hit an artery – very few shooters are skilled enough to hit a person in the head or purposely hit an artery – if the victem is aware they are being shot at. Snipers are different issue since the victem is mostly unaware of the shooter. Your basic cop will aim for chest…if their is a vest on – then the person will probably live.
Cops were responding to the gunmans mothers 911 call. He met cops at the door with vest on and shot them in head before they were even aware this was something more than a mother and son fighting over the dog pee-ing on the carpet. Thats why they died and he didnt. Also why the shooter in oakland did die – no vest.
LikeLike
i miss the posts you used to do – less in response to comments and mroe on topics I wouldnt have thought off – old english, historical issues, books I havent had the chance to read. Your two posts on seeing a women and how time stopped for you are two of my favorites. Your new years day post was well written and moved me. just my two cents…their is so much evil and nastiness in this world – I enjoyed seeing beauty through your eyes.
LikeLike
Wow, thanks for the feedback. That is good to know.
LikeLike
LaSmartOne: I will look into that. Maybe a post can come out of that. Thanks.
LikeLike
Just to add another suggestion to the list:
Richard Wright’s Black Boy (the fully restored version by HarperPerennial). Amazing read! He has so many insights that are applicable to today that it should be required reading by all Americans, but most of all black boys themselves. So much has changed but so much has not and Wright illuminates the dysfunctions and quandaries of “Negro life” (both Southern and Northern) in so much stark detail that one cannot help but reflect on their contemporary counterparts. Wright’s autobiography is about the development of a mind against forces that would deny him his own humanity. I can’t recommend this book enough to friends and family, urging them to forget their preconceptions and to just read the book.
LikeLike
Hey Abagond I really love your blog. Congratulations!
I would like you to post things about Africa before europeans’ overseas expansion, such as Mali, Ghana or Gaza Empires. Those are african history pearls that should not be forgoten, because the only way to change the future is understanding our past.
Here I leave you a couple sites, in wich you can find lots of beautiful africans:
– http://bhfmagazine.com/bhfadvert_articles/bhf_mainmenu.html
(sorry about my english, it’s not my first language)
Thanks for all of your posts it’s really fulfilling to see that not everyone is being brainwashed by this society.
LikeLike
Thanks. Great idea. I knew about BHF, but thanks – you were right to tell me about it.
LikeLike
Hi there! Love your blog! I am a middle-aged black American female who is dating a middle-aged white American man. One of the things that I’ve noticed is the tendency to show famous BM/WW IR couples together in the media and in magazines quite frequently (i.e. Seal and Heidi Klum), but to only show the female side of BW/WM IRs (i.e., Alfre Woodard and Roderick Spencer).
It would be interesting to see a post as to why people think this is.
Thanks!
Regina
LikeLike
I know what you mean but I do not know why that is.
LikeLike
Yeah, there are many famous white men who are married or involved with black women (and vice versa) yet they don’t get close to the same media attention that Seal/Heidi or Bush/Kardashian get.
I don’t think it’s too hard to figure out why that is.
LikeLike
I know why it is, but simply wanted to open up a dialogue with others on the site to discuss it and hear their opinions, which could be different from mine.
Not only it is difficult to see BW/WM celebrity couples in the media and popular entertainment magazines (Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry seem to be the only ones), but I have been hard pressed to find info and pictures of famous couples on the internet as well.
How many people are aware that the prince of Lichtenstein is married to a black woman and has a child with her? Check out this comment written by a poster who is wondering why this is as well.
http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/2152/6405.html?1142425987
Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 – 12:01 am:
After all the drama with Prince Albert, I thought I’d share a love story with you.
In what some are considering a modern-day Cinderella story, former New York fashion designer, Angela Brown, wed Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in a fairy tale Manhattan wedding on January 29, 2000.
Angela Brown, the daughter of Mr. Javier Francisco Brown and Mrs. Silvia Maritza Brown, was born in Bocas del Toro / Panama on February 3rd, 1958. She attended high school in New York and studied fashion at the Parson’s School of Design. For three years, she sold her designs under the name A. Brown and also was employed until September 1999 by fashion designer Adrienne Vittadini.
Prince Maximilian, born on May 16, 1969. He attended school in Liechtenstein and earned a degree from the European Business School in Frankfurt in 1993. He currently works for Industri Kapital, a leading European private equity firm, in Hamburg.
The couple met while Prince Maximilian was working for Chase Capital Partners in New York City in 1997. They became friends and began a courtship in the summer of 1999.
The were wed at Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in Manhattan at 11:00 a.m. on January 29, 2000. The couple was joined by a few hundred friends and family members for the ceremony.
Based on America’s obsession with European royalty, why haven’t we heard more about this union?
LikeLike
Regina,
I agree. I didn’t know about Prince Max’s marriage either until I saw mention of it on some internet message board! There’s so many more examples of noted white men with their black wives (and children). They’re rarely covered by the pop media. George Lucas, Wolfgang Puck, Clint Eastwood, Colin Farrell, Billy Bob Thorton, Ben Broufman and so many more: all involved with black women for significant amounts of time. Yet, those relationships rarely got any media shine.
It’s the same with the many famous black women who married white men. You’d be surprised by the large number of noted black women who fit that criteria. Why? Because they weren’t that publicized.
LikeLike
Mynameismyname,
I agree with you regarding the fact that these relationship are not publicized.
My belief is that mainstream society wants to continue to present the white female as ‘the’ ideal standard of what is beautiful and desirable. God forbid, that a black woman is perceived to be just as attractive and desirable as her white counterpart .
Showing that there are white men around the world who date and marry black women challenges the white standard of beauty. Therefore, it must be kept on the down low. On the other hand, it will make headline news if the white guy sleeps with and has a child out of wedlock with a black woman, but refuses to marry her (Prince Albert).
LikeLike
To Mynameismyname and Regina who said:
Not only it is difficult to see BW/WM celebrity couples in the media and popular entertainment magazines (Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry seem to be the only ones.
(Regina)
Yeah, there are many famous white men who are married or involved with black women (and vice versa) yet they don’t get close to the same media attention that Seal/Heidi or Bush/Kardashian get.
I don’t think it’s too hard to figure out why that is.
(Regina)
Halle Berry, Seal, Heidi Klum, Kim Kardashian, and Reggie Bush are all famous. That’s why they get the coverage.
If only one of the members of the couple is famous then they take a backseat in the media coverage. I know little of white wives of famous black men unless they are also famous.
George Lucas, Wolfgang Puck, Clint Eastwood, Colin Farrell, Billy Bob Thorton, Ben Broufman
Ben Broufman – Didn’t know who he was until I read about him on Wikipedia.
Clint Eastwood and Dina Eastwood. Personally I think it’s a stretch to describe someone who is 1/4 black, 1/4 Japanese, and 1/2 European as being black. (Also her father was raised by a Hispanic family not a black family so I would suspect he would have more a Latino than a black identity..)
I knew about Wolfgang Puck and his Ethiopian wife.
I don’t know anything about Colin Ferrell and his wife/wives but on Wikipedia it only shows that he has been married (and now divorced..) to a white woman.
Billy Bob Thornton has been married 5 times.. the only one I knew about before today was Angelina Jolie. He wasn’t really famous when he was married for two years to his third wife (Cynda Williams who is black..) Jolie and he also made a spectacle of themselves.
Prince Maximilian – never heard of him before now.. and how many people could find Lichtenstein on the map.. or care..? People in the US are generally only interested in British royalty. As for royalty in general.. all I can say is a big raspberry. Royalty is an anachronism in the modern age and to me is complete nonsense although I will say that Prince Max and his wife make a striking couple. As Prince Albert of Monaco.. once again another royal twat (and not British..) who cares about these smucks.
Lucas and Mellody Hobson aren’t married and don’t have any kids. (I didn’t know about any of his previous relationships until I read Wikipedia including the one with Linda Ronstadt..)
LikeLike
I did a post on this, so please make any comments on this topic there:
LikeLike
I wanted to add that I do feel that individuals who express their disdain over seeing BW/IR couples have a right to do so in response to the article; however, as someone who is in an IR with a white man myself, I feel that they have no right to personally insult or attack me and my boyfriend if they take offense to our public displays of affection (i.e. holding hands and kissing).
Check out this recent article regarding the the best places to kiss, and note the outrage that many people in St. Louis, MO expressed when they saw the pic of the IR couple kissing.
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/a-conversation-about-race/general-news/2009/04/black-man-kissing-white-woman-causes-stir/comment-page-2/#comments
LikeLike
Wow. I thought Americans were beyond all that. I guess those Hollywood producers who will not let Will Smith kiss a white woman in their films have a better sense of the country than I do, as dark as I sometimes paint it!
LikeLike
There is a big difference between two regular people expressing their affection and the media portraying an atypical, contrived image of interracial romance. Missouri is 85% white! Would you expect a different response if it were two white men kissing, or a Muslim couple in turban and burka?
To me it reeks of a dying newspaper trying to stir up publicity in a last-ditch effort to save itself. It was a conscious decision to put this image on the cover. This was not an article about interracial romance, and the people in Missouri do not see this as a “normal” couple. So there is naturally some backlash from people who wonder why this image was selected. People want a newspaper that appeals to and represents themselves, not one that misrepresents their community.
LikeLike
I have heard that the couple depicted in the magazine are actually a married couple.
LikeLike
I’ve noticed that oftentimes, both black men and black women will put each other down in order to justify dating outside of the race. My question is:
Why does the reason for dating a white (pink, blue, or red) person have to be because there’s something wrong with or lacking with the opposite sex within one’s own race?? I get tired of hearing black men justify their reasons for dating white women by putting down all black women. LIkewise, I feel the same way about black women who do the same when they choose to date white men.
My decision to date a white man does not mean that I find fault with black men. Good and bad men come in all different colors. I was married to a black man for 12 years. Even though we got divorced, we still remain friends and keep in touch. Trying a different flavor of ice cream doesn’t mean that I don’t like chocolate; it simply means that I enjoy other flavors as well 🙂
LikeLike
Could you do one on white men stereotypes
LikeLike
Like which ones?
LikeLike
I have often heard people who are against BW/WW IRs argue against marrying outside of one’s race because the divorce rate is higher. Do you feel that couples in these types of IRs have a higher chance of getting divorce than same race couples? According to the author of this YouTube video, the answer is no.
http://www.blackfemaleinterracialmarriage.com/
LikeLike
Marriage is hard enough when married to someone of your own race, so it would stand to reason that it would be harder and more likely to fail if you married outside your race. But if the numbers say otherwise for certain pairings, then so it is.
LikeLike
Perhaps – if one is willing to get married and risk the negative thoughts in the first place, then they have the mindset to fight through the other trials that occur in marriage. perhaps IR relationships for that reason are more likely to succeed then same race marriages.
They have already stood up in front of their families and said I choose this person…often the families being the first to be against IR relationships. So the other trials in life, they are ready for them…
LikeLike
Hello Abagond, here is an actress from Senegal you could post on beautiful African women.
Photos:
![](https://i0.wp.com/63.img.v4.skyrock.net/63a/nubiennes/pics/538502270_small.jpg)
http://www.life.com/image/74539606
Filmography:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0618456/
I really like a musical she made (original title “Nha Fala”) from an west-african director named Flora Gomes, think he is from Guinea-Bissau (a country next to Senegal).
LikeLike
Thanks for the suggestion. That last picture was amazing.
LikeLike
I have been at my job for over a year along with me, there are two or three other black women. They always get us mixed up even though we look NOTHING a like. We’re all different shapes, sizes, complexions and you would think after a year, they would be able to distinguish us.
This happens all of the time. White people telling you that you look like or mistaking you for someone who looks nothing like you. It takes away your sense of individuality and uniqueness. It just shows that they put us all in the same category.
It is really irritating because we all would like to be seen as individual and unique.
Would you please do a blog about why some white people think we look so much a like?
Thanks
LikeLike
It would be great if you made a blog on here about how black women were forced in to sterilization up until the 1970’s in North Carolina
LikeLike
I think posts about the varying music scenes of Africa would be great! It could be a good oppurtunity to compare African music styles with Africans of the Americas’ music styles.
You could do a piece about Malian music and then have videos with the kora. Or you could have a piece about Nubian music of southern Egypt/northern Sudan. Or Habesha (Ethiopian/Eritrean) music or any cultures of Africa!
A traditional Nubian song in Nobiin (Nubian language) in Sudan (the beginning has crazy chanting for people excited for a wedding, but at 2:19 and onward, a man sings a very beautiful song): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4_mtq6NSGU&feature=channel_page
Or…
Traditional Kora (a harp like instrument) from Senegal… very beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNl8kIwj1_k&playnext_from=PL&feature=PlayList&p=9E24A92C0661F75E&playnext=1&index=3
You know, stuff like that.
LikeLike
Have you ever heard of Helm Magazine? Its a magazine Ethopian Magazine that features beautiful black women from Ethoipa and has issues on fashion and entertainment. This magazine puts Maxim and the others to shame. Its a wonder I’ve never heard of it. I’ll provide you with a link.
http://www.helmmagazine.com/
LikeLike
Have you ever thought of posting pictures of non famous black women? We are all beautiful in our own way….
LikeLike
Abagond,
I think you should do a blog piece on this:
Frank Lombard is an associate director at Duke University’s Global Health Institute and a homosexual who was charged last week with the molestation of his adopted 5-year-old black son and actively trying to sell him for sex on the internet.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/27/frank-lombard-duke-univ-o_n_221900.html
No AP organizations have picked up on this story, however the Duke Lacrosse players were splattered all over the news and the black stripper was pilloried when it was suspected she was lying.
Here there is proof that Lombard and his white partner adopted a Black child in order to molest him and then pimp him out to the highest bidder. Although I support Gay adoption, the racial and sexual politics associated with this story is sickening.
LikeLike
How utterly sick. I will look into it more. Maybe I will do it. Thanks for the suggestion.
LikeLike
Lolita said:
Have you ever thought of posting pictures of non famous black women? We are all beautiful in our own way….
I have a website of famous and not-so-famous beautiful black women here:
http://blackbeautyoftheday.blogspot.com/
LikeLike
Victoria: I never heard of Helm magazine. Nor about the forced sterilization of black women in North Carolina. Thanks!
LikeLike
A Sudanese: A good idea – doing posts on different styles of African music. But I have to warn you, I will be more interested in West African music since it is bound to have had a greater effect on the music I know.
LikeLike
islandgirl said:
Would you please do a blog about why some white people think we look so much a like?
I never understood that. White people look more alike than black people, but I will think about it. Thanks for the suggestion.
LikeLike
Certainly Abagond. If you have the time and inclination.
Also when you have time, I think you should do a post on the Romani People. The Romani or Roma are the most hated group in Europe and the reasons that many Europeans give for why they are considered a scourge is due to crime, welfare leeches, low morals, low IQ’s, indiscriminate breeders draining precious resources, prostitution, gang violence, pickpockets, etc. which are the exact same reasons that Whites and other Non-blacks in America despise and loathe Blacks. In addition, they were one of the largest minorities that were exterminated during the holocaust http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/victroma.htm, yet they are largely effaced from the record. One of the best books that I have read on the Romani was Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey, by Isabel Fonesca. Also here is an interesting article on the Suffering of the Romani people and their tortured history in Europe: http://www.swp.ie/index.php?page=166&dept=News
It is amazing that these people are perceived almost identically to Blacks and how they are often corralled and alienated from the majority culture an thus forced to create a unique culture of their own in order to survive and yet in modern times they are still vilified.
LikeLike
What are your views on monarchies?
LikeLike
Here’s a suggestion. The evils of feminism
LikeLike
your blog is great , I thought that you could make a subject on the perception of Africa through the eyes of Black Americans. and why too much stereotypes surrounds Africa.
LikeLike
May yuo, please, include things South African on your blog? I hereby forward you to FAcebook pages that may draw your interest and deepen your appreacition in the black world generally. The two Facebook links that I provide are two to do with South African women acting talent and TV anchoring. I hope you find them of interest enough to draw your attention.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Johannesburg-South-Africa/South-Africas-Top-50-Most-Beautiful-Actresses/121266316795
http://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Africas-20-Best-Beautiful-Women-Anchors/107782846525#/pages/South-Africas-20-Best-Beautiful-Women-Anchors/107782846525?v=info&edit_info=all
Yours faithfully
LikeLike
Top 10 most beautiful Asian women.
Top 10 most beautiful Afro-Latinas.
A blog on the civilisation of Great Zimbabwe.
There’s some more suggestions.
LikeLike
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2009/07/must-see-web-tv-american-town-in-2009-without-running-water.html
Community in Mississippi that has beenw ithout water for almost 6 years – a predominately black community…
LikeLike
A blog on racist trolls!!
A blog on different styles of dance!!
LikeLike
A blog on your favourite sports, Abagond.
A blog on different types of food that you like.
LikeLike
How about a blog that describes why each race feels justified in their own racism towards others. Where does it start off? Families against families, tribes against tribes and so forth. An idea of what your solution to this inbred problem whould also be great.
LikeLike
I’m really starting to like this blog
LikeLike
This is sooooo cool… I really like this!
LikeLike
I just want to let you know about these to blogs that bashes black women and I want you’re thought on them.
whitemeat.wordpress.com
sex-white-girls.blogspot.com
please post you’re thoughts here
LikeLike
http://sex-white-girls.blogspot.com/
Am I required to take a website seriously that has bad spelling? And that uses the word “Negro” without irony? It seems like a hate blog but maybe there is more going on than that.
http://whitemeat.wordpress.com/
Not sure what to make of this website. I have to look at it some more. Does this blog ever put down black women? If so, please tell me where. The blogger says he is a black man, but from what I have seen so far it makes way more sense as a bitter satire staged by a black woman.
LikeLike
To Abagond:
http://sex-white-girls.blogspot.com/
Am I required to take a website seriously that has bad spelling? And that uses the word “Negro” without irony? It seems like a hate blog but maybe there is more going on than that.
Negro..? Perhaps they are Spanish..? Not.
From that blog:
http://sex-white-girls.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
Let’s face it: the American white male is a sick little, whiny, puppy, who has caused many white women to explore homosexuality as an option, and seek other pleasures in ‘real’ men.
The only reason why Asian women date White males is because the standards of the Oriental woman are as low as the standards from any product made in China.
That blog is bad comedy…. they certainly like to spread the hate to more than one group. I think someone misplaced their meds…
LikeLike
Sweetme1993:
More thoughts on the White Meat blog here:
LikeLike
article found in Toronto star Africentric school makes history
Toronto’s Africentric Alternative School
Principal Thando Hyman-Aman took the media on a tour of the city’s controversial Africentric school. Video by Randy Risling. (Sept. 03, 2009)
Tara Walton?TORONTO STAR
Shyheim Laryea (right) is joined by teacher/librarian Veronica Sullivan during Tuesday’s opening assembly at Canada’s first Africentric Public School in Toronto.(Sept. 8, 2009) Email story
Print
Choose text size
Report error or complaint
License this article
Gallery: Africentric school opens PLEDGE FOR ALTERNATIVE STUDENTS
Today I pledge to be the best possible me.
No matter how good I am, I know I can do better.
Today I pledge to build on the work of yesterday
Which will lead me into the rewards of tomorrow.
Today I pledge to feed my mind knowledge, my body strength, my spirit faith.
Today I pledge to take my education seriously. I will always do my best at school, at home and in my community.
Today I pledge to be focused, self-disciplined and ready to learn.
Today I pledge to believe in me.
Ashe! (Amen)
Black-focused program opens with last-minute bump in enrolment
Sep 09, 2009 04:32 AM
Louise Brown
Education Reporter
Drummed into school to a standing ovation and a rocking West African beat, 115 children made Canadian history yesterday in vivid vests of African cloth.
Less than two years after fierce public debate over the very idea of a school focused on African culture, one of the most controversial educational experiments in the country began with a
LikeLike
surprise 30 per cent surge in enrolment.
From the opening assembly, the Africentric Alternative School began weaving African culture into Ontario school culture.
Students sang “O Canada,” followed by a black national anthem written a century ago by a Florida poet, then said a pledge – “The Best Possible Me” – popular in Africentric schools in the U.S. It includes a promise to take school seriously.
“Let me hear you say ‘best!’ called principal Thando Hyman-Aman, a part-time jazz singer and the parent of a student at the school. She will lead a bid to lower the 40 per cent dropout rate among black students by stretching the curriculum beyond its European roots
LikeLike
Have you seen this, Abagond? It’s about Obama’s radio address.
http://startelegram.typepad.com/extra_credit/2009/09/arlington-schools-issue-statement-on-bush-appearance.html
LikeLike
Here’s a suggestion.
A blog on sports. I like many kinds of sport.
LikeLike
How about a post on South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba? She was so beautiful both in looks and personality, pure elegance. She was married to Stokely Carmichael at one point.
Or, maybe she can be your ‘Black Beauty of the Day’ some time – she was mesmerizing when she was young. Even though she’s a little older, I still find her stunning as she sings in the link below. Now she has got some killer eyes! At 3 mins/30 seconds in the video when she looks straight into the camera, her eyes just hypnotize me!
LikeLike
Sorry, I thought I was just including the link, I didn’t realize the actual video would appear.
LikeLike
Hello Agabond,
Maybe you should try to be more informed and post a blog about the war in congo, since 1996 it has make between 6 to 8 millions human, and as stated in the french wikipedia : “the most deadly conflict since WWII…” this sentence defines it all.
Women raped with knifes, children raped and killed, 6 millions of people murdered,…
My country is living and suffering way more than any other black nation has endured. And no one is talking about it.
Every month 38000 people die… can you imagine that ??? 38000 everymonth… so every month you kind of drop a nuclear bomb on a small town.
Every month since 1996 more or less.
I don’t think that the world is smart enough to realise that, it looks so far away for people, especially when the medias are not talking about it…
If no one mention it then it probably doesn’t exist…
Sad…
Hope you’ll talk about it… a bit.
LikeLike
I did do a post on Nkunda last year:
The trouble with writing about Africa is that it is hard to tell what is going on there. There is the BBC and so on, but they do not seem to give a clear picture.
If you can recommend any good sources of information I would be more than happy to do a post on it. (I would also like to do one on the LRA in Uganda.) If you think the BBC is good enough, then I can go with that.
LikeLike
Ok, i see your post on Nkunda, which i consider as being a part of the devil, the other part is all the big corporate companies that benefit from the death of millions in congo.
Nkunda is not congolese, he is from rwanda, but as it happened when Kabila (father) came in 1997. A lot of rwandes people claimed to be congolese, which is not the case…
I’m not going to write the story here, so i’ll stop.
But if you want more informations, there is always some part of the story in the french version of Wikipedia when you look at “guerre au congo” (war in congo), also in the english part and mostly about the “coltan” (search for it in wikipedia you’ll be amazed on what the war is about).
There are countless of websites about that conflict, if i manage to find some, i’ll send you the link.
LikeLike
I’m requesting that you do a post on Black Woman/Asian Man relationships. I don’t know how many comments you would get as it is so rare, but I was in one and would be curious if anyone else has experienced that.
LikeLike
^ Great suggestion, islandgirl. There’s such a dating/marrying disparity between BW/AM, it would certainly be interesting to learn about the experiences of these couplings.
LikeLike
I’m an African American female who has dated two Asian guys in the past. One was from Thailand and the other was an ABC (American Born Chinese). Perhaps because it was rare, people hardly paid us any mind when we were out in public together.
It’s not very common, but I’ve seen BW/AM couples and their children here and there (in Los Angeles) over the years.
Once, a young woman, who happened to be enrolled in the same community college course as I was, approached me during a class break and introduced herself. She then showed me pictures of her Japanese dad and her African American mom. This young lady was quite beautiful and exotic looking with her dark chocolate skin, long straight hair, and Asian facial features.
LikeLike
The Negritos of Asia and the Pacific Islands.
LikeLike
^ Another excellent suggestion!
LikeLike
Thanks Leigh. Are they any Negritos in the Philipines? I usually read about them in Polynesia. I knew a guy who was Tongan and he believed that Pacific lslanders had their own set of issues that were unique to the Asian experience and believed they should be seperated. In places like Australia, some Pacific Island groups like the Samoa are not model minority asian, etc.
Also do Filipinos generally liked to be grouped with Southeast Asia or Pacific Islanders?
LikeLike
Post on Negritos:
LikeLike
@Mayhue:
Yes, there are Negritos living in the Philippines. I do think that the P.I. experience is different from that of the Asian experience.
Also, regarding Filipinos being grouped with East/SE Asians or as Pacific Islanders, I can tell you from personal experience, there is this thinking among many North American born Filipinos who believe they are Pacific Islanders rather than Asians. Sure, the Philippines is located in the Pacific, but that’s pretty much it. When I think of P.I’s, I think of the Samoans, Tongans, Tahitians, etc.
Mind you, other Asian ethnicities particularly East Asians look down on Filipinos claiming Filipinos aren’t Asian enough. Whatever that means. Anyways, I consider myself Asian not P.I. as I look very much Asian.
LikeLike
Mixed raced, half-Chinese and half-African American idol contestant is a victim of racisim.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_425342.html
LikeLike
I feel for this young woman. It’s truly shameful how she is being mistreated through no fault of her own. She just wanted to enter a contest and little did she realize it would be made into some big deal.
LikeLike
Very interesting. I was thinking about some of the literature I read with some Filipinos wanting to be categorized with Pacific Islanders and I have read how Pacific Islanders want to be completely separated from Asian since their interests often clash with East Asians.
Thank you for answering some of my questions Leigh.
********************************************
I was reading about Lou Jing after it was posted here. It’s amazing that she looks like a lot of regular Black women I know. She is pretty and I find it amazing that her mother withstood all that and raised her daughter by herself. There is a disgusting double standard In China, when it’s known that Chinese men are inveterate cheaters and are known to have mistresses galore. But the mother is being demonized. The fact that Lou Jing is being persecuted because she is half Black is even more of a double standard, since China and places like Japan exoticize and idolize Eurasians. If she had been White and Asian it would have never been an issue—she may have even won the talent contest.
****************************************
Suggestion: Cape Verdeans. Many are African and Portuguese. Their island is off the coast of Angola. They were respected Whalers and many settled in MA. Fascinating people and culture. One of my favorite singers from that island is Ceasaria Evora.
LikeLike
Here’s a suggestion, abagond. I just saw a trailer of Chris Rock’s documentary “Good Hair” and the issues BW have regarding their hair. The scene with the canned soft drink dissolving in the same solution used on BW’s hair was certainly eye opening.
LikeLike
@Mayhue:
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with the hypocrisy regarding married Chinese men and their mistresses. I also happen to agree that if Miss. Lou Jing was half white rather than half black, she would have been more readily accepted and perhaps even lauded for her half white heritage.
LikeLike
I think that because of this national uproar in China over Miss Lou Jing’s mixed raced heritage, it will, hopefully, cause people to start to challenge deeply ingrained racial prejudices that many Chinese have towards mixed raced citizens who are half black. Will it change the mindset of hardcore racists? Absolutely not, but I believe that talking about it openly is a start towards creating a more tolerant society, as it forces people to rethink and redefine what they traditionally perceived as beautiful.
In spite of the obstacles that she’s faced growing up in a homogeneous society, she demonstrates a great deal courage, has a strong sense of self esteem, and carries herself with great poise and dignity.
LikeLike
I agree that her mother certainly deserves a great deal of credit. Of course I am not excusing the fact that she had a an affair and the result of that affair was a child, but she could have easily aborted or had the child and quickly abandoned (China is the land where girl children are often killed or abandoned especially if the first born is not a son—thanks to the one child policy)—especially knowing full well that they child would be half Black—but she didn’t. That brave decision cannot be emphasized enough.
Lou Ching was also brave to publicly acknowledge her mother for all her sacrifices. I just think the hypocrisy is pathetic not only in the men who cheat with impunity—but the anti-Black stance that is pervasive not only in China but in places like Japan and Korea. Half Black children unless they blow up like Amerie are often seen as outcasts compared to Eurasians. I am not sure that this will spark a greater understanding or acceptance of Black and Half Black people in those societies. They are too racially homogenous and too invested in trumpeting their superiority, which is in direct contrast to Whites of whom for the most part they fawn over.
LikeLike
Good point: because of the One Child Rule and the feelings about blacks in China, what her mother did was admirable, even if her affair was not.
LikeLike
Hey Abagond,
How about you do a blog on illegal drugs and what are you views on them?
LikeLike
Hi abagond:
Just found this on youtube. It’s a show in Australia and the offensive blackface “tribute” to the Jackson Five (Jackson Jive) as this group was called. It stirred up quite a controversy due to the connotation of blackface in Australia differed from that in America. It’s worth checking out.
LikeLike
I could never figure out as there are many African religions, most black people would choose non-African ones for those who are religouly inclined. These religions are just as legitamte as any other. Many of them are also nature-based and quite spiritual.
LikeLike
Here’s a auggestion, Abagond.
Stop doing blogs about the pairings of WM/BW.
Do some other pairings like WM/AW, AM/BW, BM/WW, BM/AW.
LikeLike
Good idea. Voodoo too.
LikeLike
Yes, Voodoo would be good.
And I like Leigh’s idea about BW’s hair.
LikeLike
Abagond you should write a blog on Black sportssmen (and women. I don’t want to be accused of being a sexist male chauvinist pig.)
LikeLike
Good idea, Vindicator. Jesse Owens was my hero growing up.
LikeLike
Abagond you should write a blog on Black sportssmen (and women. I don’t want to be accused of being a sexist male chauvinist pig.)
Why not. LOL!
LikeLike
The similarities with self-blame syndrome in rape victims and racism victims.
http://www.ibiblio.org/rcip/selfblame.html
How difficult it is to truly internalize that “It’s Not Your Fault”.
When I find myself in a racist situation, I still find it difficult to somehow not assign blame to myself for somehow bringing it on. This after having spent years immersed in academic literature on critical race theory, sociology, social psychology and the like.
LikeLike
Abagond, why don’t you write an article on the phenomena known as shopping while black? This is one of the more irritating aspects of racism.
LikeLike
I second Herneith’s suggestion.
LikeLike
I third it!
LikeLike
Interesting book alert:
A recent black graduate of the University of Washington, Lull Mengesha, has written a book called “The Only Black Student”, discussing his experience as one of the very few black students at a predominantly white university.
There’s an interview with the author at this blogtalkradio website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Victim-of-Racism/2009/10/09/The-COWS-w-Lull-Mengesha
LikeLike
Interesting book alert:
A recent black graduate of the University of Washington, Lull Mengesha, has written a book called “The Only Black Student”, discussing his experience as one of the very few black students at a predominantly white university.
There’s an interview with the author at this blogtalkradio website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Victim-of-Racism/2009/10/09/The-COWS-w-Lull-Mengesha
**************************************
That looks very interesting and Lull Mengesha seems to be a very bright guy:
Life has taken Lull down an unanticipated yet rewarding path. As an undergraduate, he completed prerequisites for dental school and majored in economics, primarily because he felt that both of these areas of study were safe and practical. His senior year however, Lull made the decision to put dental school aside in pursuit of a more fulfilling profession. Throughout his life he had been interested in business, community service, and entrepreneurship, so he decided to develop his leadership skills.
After graduating from college, he started applying for jobs at consulting firms and local technical companies to put his economics degree to use. He took on various odd jobs, including working for a cleaning service and tutoring high school and early college students before Boeing offered him a great position as a Functional Analyst. Lull is in the process of receiving his Master of Science Degree in Information Management and saved enough money over the past few years to purchase his first home. Looking back, people didn’t expect students from his high school to graduate, let alone pursue advanced degrees.
Recently, Lull has gathered a small team of young working professionals and created the PolyMath Group. An educational consulting group focused on tackling many of the issues that Lull discusses in his book by conducting workshops with students. Steady progress, hard work and a few receptive schools have already shown this venture to be highly needed.
http://lullmengesha.com/thebook/?cat=5
LikeLike
Mark Riding/Transracial Adoption for Black Parents– a black man who adopted a young white girl speaks about uncomfortable stares and kidnapping alerts.
Here is a Newsweek article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/194886
LikeLike
HEY ABAGAOND,,
THANKS FOR FINALLY SHINING SOME LIGHT ON “PUSHED ASIDE” SUBJECTS.
-WOULD YOU MIND WRITING ABOUT YOUR VIEWS ON MALCOLM X?
-COULD YOU ALSO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT BLACKMENVENT.COM AND THE BW+BM RELATIONSHIP AS A WHOLE?
THANK YOU FOR EVEN TAKING THE TIME OUT TO READ THIS, I REALLY DO I APPRECIATE IT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
LikeLike
Malcolm X:
bm/bw relationships:
LikeLike
Hey abagond,
There aren’t many posts about BW-BM relationships. So could you minutely analyse:
– the decreasing reason of endogamous relationships (between blacks)
– why the great majority of black men are not faithful (comparing to other races) and yet they feel proud of it.
And many other factors that contribute to progress BW-BM relationships
LikeLike
I missed this—-> ?
at the end
LikeLike
I think you should do a post on Elizabeth Lambert (and how Blacks are treated differently in sports compared to White women specifically), a White soccer player that was suspended for being violent on the field and contrast that with Serena Williams who was lambasted and villified as going apesh*t, becuase that is what Black people do.
Notice how much scrutiny and attention Serena got compared to Elizabeth Lambert, even though she was suspended from the team. Lambert even admitted that a lot of men came out of the woodwork to congratulate her and even asked her out. Notice how many men crucified Serena as unfeminine, becuase that is how Black women usually act.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/elizabeth-lambert-new-mex_n_349234.html
LikeLike
Mayhue:
Hmm. I will have to look into it.
On the face of it, it does not seem like a clear example of a racist double standard: Serena is a much bigger public figure. Her behaviour will be held to a higher standard and her misdeeds will be more newsworthy.
Like if President Obama was caught smoking crack with an old girlfriend, that would be seen as a hundred times worse than what Marion Berry did as mayor.
More promising might be to find examples in the press where Serena’s behaviour was racialized, as standing for all black people, where Lambert’s failings were seen as merely personal, not as a case of “you know how bitchy white women can be”.
LikeLike
Abagond can you do a post on the whole phrase “Get over it” you know like “Black people need to forget about slavery it’s all in the past” etc. forgetting that what happend during slavery and colonial times has was ingrained so deep that it effects many people today.
I was thinking about doing it myself but I’m having trouble with writing it.
I have had that phrase said to me by white people and very few black people even though I was not complaining but just sharing my experience it was seen as complaints. To the white people who have said this I have told them to get over London’s 7/7 bus and train bombing because the past is past.
LikeLike
Good suggestion. Thanks. I will do it sometime this week.
LikeLike
whats your opinion on how race relations in the US could or should be improved? Do you think they should be[and can be at all], and if so, how would you think we, as a nation could go about doing it?
LikeLike
How about doing a blog on Famous black monarchs! Not Presidents
LikeLike
Could you do one on black abortion?
LikeLike
I put all the latest suggestions into a poll. I will post on at least the top three vote-getters. Vote now:
If you want to make a suggestion for the next poll in a few weeks, add a comment here.
LikeLike
I have to second the shopping while black suggestion. Esp. how the general white retail experience differs from the black retail experience.
LikeLike
Abagond, that is a fair comparison (although I don’t quite agree) between Serena and Lambert.
I don’t know if you have done a post on Native/Black relations but there is an exhibit out at the National American Indian Muesum titled IndiVisible:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/indivisible/introduction.html, that talks about Cherokee/Black relations, although it barely touches on their slaveholding past.
Early in the 1800s, some Cherokees acquired slaves, and in the 1830s, enslaved African Americans accompanied the Cherokees when the federal government forced them to move to Indian Territory (Oklahoma), where the tribe struggled to rebuild its culture and institutions. By 1861, there were 4,000 black slaves living among the Cherokees.
After the Civil War, the tribe signed a treaty that granted former slaves, or freedmen, “all the rights of Native Cherokees.” But in 2007, Cherokees amended their tribal constitution, making “Indian blood” a requirement for citizenship. As a result, some 2,800 descendants of Cherokee freedmen were excluded from membership.
http://www.theroot.com/views/maybe-your-great-grandmother-really-was-cherokee
LikeLike
@vindicator:
You’re too much! lol! Thanks for including me with these lovely ladies. 🙂
LikeLike
Vindicator,
Thanks for the inclusion! I would add Lynette to that as well.
“I mean I wouldn’t any of them out of my bed.”
It wouldn’t be Vindicator without that type of comment!lol You’re a trip!
LikeLike
@islandgirl
I forgot to add Lynette. Thanks for that.
I only complimenting ladies who show their pics of themselves as their avatar!
LikeLike
I would’ve added Black&German to the list but I don’t know what she looks like! LOL!
LikeLike
I understand that you’re conservative. I’d be very interested to learn your thoughts on the state of black business (and perhaps even the racial wealth gap). Even your opinion on Claude Anderson and his concept of Powernomics and the fact that black people do not have enough of their own businesses and spend most of their money on other racial groups.
LikeLike
I’m late, but thanks for the compliment, Vindicator. I agree the “bed” comment was so you. 🙂
LikeLike
Abagond,
I know that I’m not allowed to post in the “Halle Berry …not most beautiful” thread but I do want to contribute some commentary to what the conversation has transpired into: yet another debate on colorism and how it affects American black women.
If you wouldn’t mind, is there a way I can allowed back in the thread. “Soul” seems to have gone and I have no intentions of losing my cool with anyone. No matter how inane they come across as.
Islandgirl is right on target. The same prejudice that can hurt “darker” black women also affects their lighter counterparts equally.
Black women, as a whole, are not victims who are hard pressed to be told that they are beautiful. That view is actually quite patronizing, no?
Also, Kanye and Ne-Yo never made derogatory remarks about black women. But like Islandgirl pointed out, both them and their comments are irrevelant to us in the real world as we do not live on a video set.
(BTW, do most people even know who Yung Berg is? Why would any intelligent adult use some C-list rapper to give credibility to an arguement? LOL)
Jasmine is also absolutely correct. You hear black folks complain about “colorism” but it seems that they are the ones who perpetuate it the most against themselves. Hopefully, a future blog on creating solutions to this eternal issue will be posed soon. Lord knows that many of us (of all races) need it!
LikeLike
I lifted the moratorium (fingers crossed). Both you and Soul can comment on the Halle Berry thread again.
LikeLike
OK, thanks.
I really think that the “solutions to colorism” post by me, you and Lynette should really be done. Discussions like the one in the “Berry…not most beautiful” post go on all the time on the internet yet they never seem to get anywhere.
LikeLike
I don’t mean to be glib, but here’s a solution to colorism. Economically empower black people to own businesses and real estate so that black folk won’t have to turn to white standards as a sign of who can better assimilate and appease white society. When we stand in our own power, we can begin to make the rules.
LikeLike
I like the idea of a “solutions to colorism” post. My personal opinion is that it starts in the home. No matter what the media says, an individual gets his/her strongest and most informative lessons from parents and other family members. I know that my family runs the gamut, from my youngest sisters who are light-skinned to the sister right under me who is pretty dark-skinned (I’m in the middle). Most people say all of us are gorgeous (;-)), and our differing skin tones have never been commented on as one being “better” than the other. I hope people start to realize how harmful the comments they make about skin color can be to their children’s psyche.
LikeLike
You should write a blog on racist trolls!
LikeLike
Can you do ones on the new Windows 7 OS, and the Office 2010 beta?
LikeLike
Oh, and I forgot, alternatives to expensive software such as Adobe PDF or Microsoft Office. there are many other alternatives to other programs like open source for example.
LikeLike
could you do an article on hip hop and the mistrust it has caused between african american men and women. Also how it may have set black people back 50 years. thanks.
LikeLike
@comment 208
Why do you call black owmen involved with white men ‘sellouts’?.
Your commentary bears an striking similarity to the mysterious ‘Ms Kitty’ on that very blog you mentioned. Interesting, lol.
LikeLike
I would like to see a blog about the most gorgeous men. I know men don’t want to acknowledge another man’s beauty, but most men aren’t blind and can see their beauty. It sometimes gets boring just talking about women.
Plus, there are so many gorgeous men walking the planet.
LikeLike
i have a question for you abagond. why is it that some people think white men who think black women are attractive are seen sometimes as weirdos who think less of BW,or who only see them as objests,etc? Isnt it possible that he just favors different traits than blonde hair\light skin? it seems theres a catch 22 with some peoples opinion, saying white guys think BW are ugly, but when one DOES like them, then theyre a racist freak whos living out some sort of “slave\master” kink. its all very insulting to me as a white male,but mostly confusing. Thank you.
LikeLike
It is not a catch 22 nor is it confusing.
White men get a bad name because of the few who are attracted to black women most of them just use them for sex. Not to say that there are not some white men who want a serious relationship, but they seem to be the exception.
One white blogger says this comes from how white men ask women out:
I do not have any studies or surveys to back it up, but it seems to go something like this:
70% of white men are not attracted to black women
20% are attracted but too chicken to ask one out
9% ask them out but want just one thing
1% are serious
Black women should be able to supply better numbers than mine.
LikeLike
“20% are attracted but too chicken to ask one out”
“1% are serious” ok, so who says these two groups cant be the same. it could also be true in reverse, that 70% of blck women dont find WM attractive,etcetc. Well, i think its a case of “why not just go with whats comfortable?” this is what i her often hen discussing these kind of things with people. i know that the 1st black woman i dated thought i was a “scuzz ball”, as you put it in your article, but later, we would always talk of these issues together, and learned that the main problem is that people have a tendancy to stick within the context of what theyre used to, whether it be race,neiborhood,music,etc. And if you put those 3 things together, it can make a white person whos into rock from the sububs and a black person from the city who likes hip hop that much more distant, unfortuately. i think the percentages you came up with represent whats on the surface, whats believed to be reality. at least i hope the 70% isnt right, cuz i cant see why….but thats me, anywho, thankya.
LikeLike
abagond says,
It is not a catch 22 nor is it confusing.
White men get a bad name because of the few who are attracted to black women most of them just use them for sex. Not to say that there are not some white men who want a serious relationship, but they seem to be the exception.
One white blogger says this comes from how white men ask women out:
I do not have any studies or surveys to back it up, but it seems to go something like this:
70% of white men are not attracted to black women
20% are attracted but too chicken to ask one out
9% ask them out but want just one thing
1% are serious
Black women should be able to supply better numbers than mine.
laromana says,
abagond,
Thanks for providing these helpful stats that help to clarify why BW/WM IRR’s are more challenging than NON-BW/WM IRR’s.
confused,
As an Afrolatina American woman I can tell you that all my life I’ve known MANY BW (Afrolatina BW, African BW, Carribean BW, African American BW) who were attracted to or even preferred WM but kept being rejected by American WM who were AFRAID to be in a relationship with them or only wanted to USE a BW but not SERIOUSLY DATE/MARRY them. For those WM who GENUINELY like BW and were COURAGEOUS enough to SERIOUSLY DATE/MARRY them (regardless of what ANYONE might think) they had NO PROBLEM finding EXCELLENT BW who were also interested in SERIOUSLY DATING/MARRYING WM.
TODAY, I see MORE American (most younger) WM who CHOOSE to approach BW in the SAME WAY they would a NON-BW and these American WM are SERIOUSLY DATING and MARRYING BW.
LikeLike
abagond Says:
“What would the name of the post be?”
I just discovered your post on Good Hair but I don’t think it covers the topic I’m concerned with. Maybe it was covered and I missed it. Anyhow, I apologise if it has been discussed already.
I guess some ideas could be:
Why long hair is important to Black women,
Why long hair is important to men,
Black women and Hair,
Black women with Long Hair,
Why most men like long hair?,
Why women try to obtain long hair?,
Why Black women think they can’t grow long hair?,
Black women can grow long hair!,
Black women don’t need to be mixed to have long hair,
It’s not the Indian in your family it’s the haircare,
It’s the haircare not the Indian in your family,
Is short hair a disadvantage for Black women?,
Do men prefer women with long hair?,
I think the hair issue is almost as big as the light skin, dark skin issue.
LikeLike
Black women can grow long hair!
This sounds like a good post
because whites, brainwashed blacks, and blacks who don’t know how to take care of their hair, always think that black women can’t have natural hair.
LikeLike
I agree the hair post is a good idea–I think I am going to write a post soon about Black women as slaves to the beauty shop, which I think contributes to the hair stereotypes and the extent of damage in some women’s hair.
LikeLike
That would be a great post Jasmin! IMO, relaxers are evil.lol They are so damaging to your hair and health. And black women are made to believe that they have no other options but to spend $50 every week or two.
LikeLike
Island girl, not to toot my own horn, but I wrote a post about it here: http://jasminllenadegracia.blogspot.com/2009/12/slaves-to-salon.html
Relaxer or no relaxer, it’s unfortunate that some Black women feel like their hair can only be “done” by someone else.
LikeLike
“Long hair” sounds like a good post.
LikeLike
The hair thing sound like a good post I did a few posts on the politics of afro-textured hair.
Oh and the salon thing I have never been to a salon to get hair “done” ever my mum always did it
LikeLike
Why not do a post topic on reading devices? They are coming fast and furious! New ones pop up regularly!
LikeLike
I did one on e-books way back in the mists of the pre-Kindle age:
I will do one on the Kindle. Good suggestion. Thanks.
LikeLike
Abagond what will “long hair” be about?
LikeLike
Or how will you approach the topic?
LikeLike
There is also Sony, I-Rex, Foxit, Cybook etc, etc. Sony is also coming out with a new model that you can download newspapers and magazines from. The market is about to take-off as the technology improves!
LikeLike
Hi, I was looking back at some of your old post and noticed that people left their numbers on the comment sections and assume that you are the person you are writing about.
I find that quite amusing so maybe you could do a post on that
LikeLike
Please do a post on black police officers and how they deal with racism from white cops.
Here we clearly see a mob of Whites engaging in unruly, disorderly conduct. After the officer explained that he is a police officer, and had his gun un-holstered in display, he was hit with another snowball. The crowd clearly was engaging in mob-like activities… They were verbally abusive, and highly confrontational to the officer…
When the police back up came, they did nothing to assist in dispersing the crowd, they did not confront any of the members of the unruly crowd who were yelling and verbally assaulting the officer…
In fact, the police officers came and starting showing the crowd how to log a complaint against the plain-cloths wearing detective…
They even suggest that they get his name and badge number information, what’s worse is that all while this is going on, the officer is being verbally assaulted, so much so, that he has to run into the crowd and attempt to make an arrest…
None of the back up officers assist him at all…
LikeLike
Bottom line, there appears to be two forms of law enforcement going on in America, both forms favor Whites…where as Black police officers don’t appear to have the same authority to engage Whites as White officers appear to have unlimited latitude to engage Blacks…
This ‘snowball fight matter’ is under investigation, BECAUSE THE BLACK COP PULLED HIS GUN, not because the crowd was not dispersed, not because one of them hit the officer in the face with a snowball after the officer said he was an officer…none of that…it’s under investigation because the Black officer pulled his gun…
Disturbing…
Meanwhile, White officers are killing unarmed Blacks like it is going out of style in America, but this officer is under investigation for showing his gun briefly to a White crowd… and the crowd gets to curse him, and hit him with snowballs for showing his gun briefly…
LikeLike
This DC snowball incident is silly, because noone in their right mind throws anything at a cop.
Cops are not playtoys, so i don’t know why these white kids thought it was ok to throw snowballs at the cop after he repeatedly told them to stop.
I know If I harassed a cop I would be under the jail.
LikeLike
If we can make suggestions, here are mine.
First thing is what I call “default human” problem. I’m not sure if that’s the right name for it, so maybe you already blogged about it. It’s about the belief member of one group (usually, white male) is a default human being. It can often be seen in movies, for example, but it is, of course, more serious than that. It’s the belief that creates such things as “spaceship crew” members in films (6 people, one woman and one black guy) sort of things. Like I said, portrayal in movies is just a start. Hope you understand what I mean by “default human”. Why is white male considered “default”?
The other thing is “good hair”. I know you blogged about it, but I still don’t understand what it means. Perhaps there’s another blog that explains this issue?
LikeLike
The default thing is good. I know just what you mean. I have not blogged on that yet. Thanks.
There is only that one post on good hair, though I plan to do one soon on long hair and, in time, one on the political history of the Afro.
LikeLike
A post on natural hair would be great. There is so much you can do with natural hair in terms of a topic. Especially when you compare it to straight hair. As someone who use to permanently straighten my hair with a chemical relaxer, I feel more freedom than I had when I was trying to maintain high maintenance hair. I feel authentic as a human being.
One of my biggest concerns as a relaxed person was how would I take care of my hair when I traveled around the world. Who would I get to care for it? Surely Europe and China would not have a stylist that relaxes hair. This is what I though years ago. Once I decided to accept my hair for what it is I don’t worry about who’s going to care for it because I do it myself and it actually looks better than a salon stylist could ever do.
I’m actually much more uninhibited as a woman. I don’t fear rain or physical activity that will revert my hair back to it’s curly texture. I’ve never worn fake hair so I love my hair touched but not by strangers. My hair is long and healthy and when I wear it down I attract more attention with long hair than I did when my hair was shoulder length. I feel feminine and pretty.
Long hair and the feminine aspect of having long hair could be a great topic and a question to ask me could be do you find women or Black women more or less feminine with or without long hair. I know for a fact that most men prefer a woman with long hair and the others are just indifferent as long as the woman looks, acts or dresses feminine. Except there was one suitor who wanted me to cut my hair short. The nerve!
I get more looks, flirts, dates, and flirty comments from men when my hair is down and flowing. It doesn’t have to be straight to be flowy. Just down and long. I also get treated better by people of all races and genders. Usually if I step onto a crowded bus wearing a feminine outfit and wearing my hair down men will give their seats up. Men are more courteous and chivalrous. Could it be that men are less chivalrous because women are more masculine in their appearance and demeanor? Another topic which isn’t race specific.
LikeLike
@ Nita
I’d love to read about natural hair, I want to know what it means. And what it means as the opposite of “relaxed hair”.
Why do black people (I am assuming we’re talking about black people) hate when someone touches their hair? (Apart from the general invasion of privacy; I don’t think anyone loves when strangers touch them, their hair especially- I know I dislike it).
I believe men tend to like feminine women. Even women accept feminine women better.
LikeLike
@Mira
The whole hair touching thing is is just that a invasion of privacy not what Chris Rock put out in the stupid “Good Hair” Movie I suggest everyone look up the movie “My Nappy Roots”
Because a lot black women whether their hair has been relaxed or natural have been subjected to unwanted touching from people
http://www.losangelista.com/2009/09/no-you-cant-touch-my-hair.html
There are many sites about the “politcal” aspects of afro-textured hair. Just the book “Hairstory”
LikeLike
Can we have an article on how mixed race individuals differ in experiences of their physical appearance and phenotypes. (For example is there a difference in a mixed race person who looks more White in a appearance than someone who does not?)
LikeLike
Mira I can’t really speak for Black people, I can only speak for myself and I like my hair touched in fact I like having my hair caressed or stroked like a kitten. And I’m not the only Black person that feels this way. We can’t go around assuming that all Black people feel one way. If a few loud mouths start screaming how they hate their hair being touched then they ONLY speak for themselves even when they try to speak for all Black people.
Natural hair is virgin hair that has not been permamently altered by a chemical relaxer. A chemical relaxer is a white cream that is left on the hair long enough for it to just loosen the curl or straighten it flat. It’s a very strong chemical that burns the scalp/skin if left on too long. It can be a painful process if the pores on your scalp are open or you have scratched your scalp around the time of getting a relaxer.
—————————————————————-
Mira
@ Nita
I’d love to read about natural hair, I want to know what it means. And what it means as the opposite of “relaxed hair”.
Why do black people (I am assuming we’re talking about black people) hate when someone touches their hair? (Apart from the general invasion of privacy; I don’t think anyone loves when strangers touch them, their hair especially- I know I dislike it).
I believe men tend to like feminine women. Even women accept feminine women better.
LikeLike
Black people don’t want anyone touching their hair because no stranger has the right to come up to you and just touch you because they feel like it.
I’m sure that’s why we have rapists and pedophiles, they think they can just touch anybody they want.
Going up to somebody and petting them on the head is demeaning and belittling.
Like someone is treating you like a dog patting you on the head, its ridiculous.
Its creepy that whites think they have the right to just touch black people, its because they still see us as their property and look down on us.
LikeLike
@ Nita
“Mira I can’t really speak for Black people, I can only speak for myself and I like my hair touched in fact I like having my hair caressed or stroked like a kitten. And I’m not the only Black person that feels this way. We can’t go around assuming that all Black people feel one way.”
I wasn’t really asking you, I “just asked” because I’ve heard about that issue only a while ago and I am interested.
Of course you can only speak for yourself (I wasn’t using you as a – what’s the word?- “native informant”); but like I said, I learned about the concept only a while ago and it seemed to me there’s more about it than the mere hairstyle issue. I am not interested in fashion, hairstyles etc., but I am interested if it has deeper meaning, such as identity. Of course nobody likes to be touched by a random stranger. I just thought there was more to this problem and I guess I was right.
LikeLike
Abagond, another idea for a post. We have consistently been taught that Columbus discovered the New World but there is another debate/controversy less mentionned. There is a possibility that Africans discovered the New World before him, an idea many refuse!
Check out these links:
Some argue the Olmecs had African origins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmec
(you can skip to the part entitled “colossal heads” under “Art”)
A Polish professor even discovered African skulls in Tlatilco, Cerro de las Mesas and Monte Alban:
Click to access beforeColumbus.pdf
Even Columbus’s log supports this as this site explains better than I can, as well as exposing more sources of proof:
http://www.rense.com/general43/before.htm
However a good argument against this is apparently, there was a Spanish ban against Africans travelling to the New World until 1501. This goes against some who believe that Columbus’s navigator (Pedro Alonso Nino) was African. There’s so much to add but I think you should cover this with a post.
LikeLike
The man shot himself in the head, i’m glad.
And you believe in karma, EE? Interesting way of showing it.![:/](https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/wpcom-smileys/uneasy.svg)
Some argue the Olmecs had African origins.
The problem with this Zethus is the racist belief that “African” features can only occur in Africa.
That’s simply not true.
LikeLike
Abagond, are you familiar with Deadria Farmer-paellmann? If not, it would be great to have a post on her. She is a researcher/activist/lawyer who recently (in 2000) exposed American corporate ties to slavery. Apparently, she has brought to light 60 corporations. Here are the links:
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/14/news_pf/Columns/Putting_a_price_on_co.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/money/general/2002/02/21/slave-activist.htm
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/repara30.htm
(her personal testimony)
This just shows how deeply rooted America is in racism, for those that do not believe and for those that argue that racism is all in our minds. There is also a whole controversy that she ties into which is recompensation for descendants of slaves:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparations_for_slavery
LikeLike
Thaddeus, you said:
The problem with this Zethus is the racist belief that “African” features can only occur in Africa.
Yes, this is a problem. But another case of proof to the contrary would be Inuits and Native Americans. The Inuits crossed the Bering Strait from Siberia into Alaska during the Ice Age. Native Americans either did this as well or crossed the Pacific depending on the theory. Bottom line though, they are considered to be Siberians who ressembled Asians like Chinese and Koreans. Scientifically, they both have then been lumped under “Mongoloid” because of these ressemblances to Asians (ex: Inuits are believed to more ressemble East Asians than Native Americans). So, Asian features cannot only occur in Asia alone just as African features cannot occur in Africa alone.
LikeLike
Of course! So the question is, are those “Africans” in Olmec land really African or just Olmecs who look African?
LikeLike
Occam’s razor says: “Olmecs who look African”!
LikeLike
I like the topic of how unmixed black women can have long hair also. I am a black woman that has long hair and I have had it most of my life. I don’t know if I am mixed (both of my parents are black) or not but I have met dark skinned women from Africa who have long hair also.
LikeLike
Please do a post on Keisha Knight Pulliam. We are the same age and she made it possible for me to see a black little girl who looked like me as positive, smart and beautiful.
LikeLike
What do Africans feel about slavery and what was their role in the slave trade?
LikeLike
Thaddeus, you said: So the question is, are those “Africans” in Olmec land really African or just Olmecs who look African?
I don’t think we can know for sure, but I’ve done a bit more digging. It turns out some theorize the Olmecs hailed indeed from West Africa. There are some similarities.
For example, language. Apparently, a Dr. Clyde Winters recently proved that the Olmecs spoke and wrote in Mende, a language traced to the Mandinkas and others in West Africa.
Search it in google.
Check this link out too:
http://www.raceandhistory.com/historicalviews/04022002.htm
LikeLike
What about a post on these individuals
India Arie
Prince
Vanity- one of the most beautiful women in the world to me
Stacey Dash
Lark Voorhies
Michael Jackson- This was a wonderful man so please focus on the positive and not the alleged charges
LikeLike
Those are some great suggestions. Vanity is very beautiful. So is Stacey Dash. Michael was a wonderful man with a great heart.
LikeLike
Zethus, I did a paper on “Africans in the New World before Columbus” way back in undergrad, so I’m pretty familiar with all the arguments, pro and con.
Unfortunately, most of the data is really inconclusive or circumstantial and as far as I can see, Dr. Winters is a specialist in education who’s a 25 year vet of the Chicago public education system. Now, I’m sure Dr. Winters is a smart and educated man, but I haven’t found any information that he has a background in linguistics, archeology, forenci anthropology or anything else that would allow him to make the claims he makes.
Now, I could be wrong. Maybe I’m slandering Dr. Winters and if I am, I would hope someone would point it out. But from where I’m sitting, he just doesn’t look very qualified to make the claims he does. Furthermore, I see very few peer-reviewed articles by Dr. Winters and none at all on the Olmecs.
Looks to me like people are mistaking his hobby for his specialization.
LikeLike
Thaddeus, either way, it is a very interesting possibility. 🙂
LikeLike
Sure it is!
My undergrad project was to develop a “primer” on some African American related topic, so I went out there and sucked up everything I could find on this possibility.
My personal belief, having read it all, is that some Africans almost certainly did make it over to the Americas before Columbus, but not enough to form a distinct “ethnic group” anywhere. The Olmecs are almost certainly a case of genetic drift and not an African immigrant group, in spite of what certain romantics would like to believe.
But manioc was in the New World before Columbus, for example. Sure, that African root could have drifted over on the tides. But the secret of making manioc edible to humans is a very complex thing. Of course, it could be that the Indians worked it out themselves: the world’s full of cases of parallel technological evolution. But it’s almost as likely that some Africans, lost at sea and recovered off the coast of South America, brought the root and the technology over.
LikeLike
We should probably take this conversation somewhere else, though, or Abagond’s going to nail us because it’s wildly off-topic.
LikeLike
leaveumthinking:
Good suggestions. I did a post on Michael Jackson:
LikeLike
I’d really like to see a post on Assata Shakur and the Rhineland situation. Though I’ve already read Assata’s biography and know quite a bit about her through documentaries etc. I still think it would be good for others to read about her story.
As for the Rhineland situation, that too needs to be highlighted. When I studied Hitler in school and the minorities he affected nothing was said about the Black German kids who got sterilized. When I asked why he didn’t mention it he couldn’t say anything as he knew next to nothing about it.
Though not mentioned in many history books it still is a vital part of Hitler’s misfortunes. If I’m correct he killed somewhere up to 500,000-1,000,000 Black Germans [I may be incorrect on the numbers].
I’d love to see a post on both of those topics. I don’t know if you’ve heard it but Common did a song about Assata Shakur in one of his old albums, maybe you could include it in your post. Here’s the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrWxrFr7TL4
LikeLike
I think we should also have a post on Africans vs. African-Americans/blacks.
Based on some experiences I’ve had, I’ve noticed some blacks have negative feelings about Africans and vice versa (ex: my father insists that blacks are hooligans and that he’d rather I marry an African like me).
Even that Coming to America movie showed a few ideas blacks have of Africans (not all, however). For example, Darryl and Akeem’s land lord had these NEGATIVE notions of Africans. For ex: Darryl tells Akeem, “Wearing clothes must be a new experience for you,” among other things! Also, the land lord shows them the bathroom they’ll all share, explains it has an insect problem and says, “Well you boys from Africa are probably used to that.” Then not to mention the “ignorant” racism displayed by Lisa’s father telling her she can’t be with Akeem as he is a goat herder or even Patrice fetishizing (or maybe it was just me thinking this) Semi as an “exotic” African prince.
Yet, I honestly believe that Africans and blacks are the same seeing as you can trace both their roots to Africa, so I just find it weird yet important to discuss. My own friend doesn’t believe me when I tell her about this divide as well as some other blacks I’ve talked to.
LikeLike
Here is a link for my last comment: http://www.library.yale.edu/~fboateng/akata.htm
LikeLike
Being a 100% black women with naturally long hair I would also like a post about pure black woman and how they can grow long hair too.
LikeLike
I second the topic on Africans and African Americans. I think that alot Africans and African Americans have misconceptions about each other. But what concerns me is that many Africans are under the impression that all African-Americans are ignorant about Africans. Maybe my exposure to Africans virtually my entire life makes me different, I’m not sure, but I have never had narrow minded perceptions of Africans. It concerns me that so many Africans have such a huge mistrust of African Americans. I know there are African Americans who are ignorant but not everyone.
LikeLike
If I’m correct he killed somewhere up to 500,000-1,000,000 Black Germans [I may be incorrect on the numbers].
Wildly incorrect. About 10-12 million people got axed in the concentration camps, depending on which source you use. 10% of them were definitely not black.
But I’m with you on the Assata piece, Billy.
LikeLike
I’d welcome a post on black traveling. Namely, how blacks have to approach travel which differs from whites. For example, a white may rave about Russia and how amazing Moscow is, but a black cannot just take off to Russia without doing some serious homework. It is an extremely racist country. The same can be said of many E. European nation that white travelers love to boast about visiting. Blacks travelers may also be received differently in Latin America than their white counterparts. Whites of course are oblivious to it and assume blacks will experience things no differently abroad than they do.
American whites feel that they have to play down their American-ness when traveling, but often, blacks have to play UP their American-ness for good treatment as many countries frown upon African immigrantion(such as France and Italy) but may be welcoming of African-American tourists.
China is known to be racist against blacks and Nigerian immigrants there aren’t treated very well. Yet whites are treated respectfully. Japan is difficult to pin down, I’ve heard good and bad.
I’ve heard about anti-black racism in the Arab world. Not a place most people associate with racism. Though it doesn’t seem to be uniformly bad. I’ve read that Lebanon is quite racist, which is disappointing as I’ve always wanted to visit that amazing country.
Also, some discussion of what countries are the most friendly to black visitors.
LikeLike
Why, Tulio? Blacks take off to Brazil all the time without doing “serious homework”.
LikeLike
Can you do a post on why do some people believe that being gay is the same as being black?
LikeLike
tulio
I agree with you. It is dangerous for African Americans to visit other countries. Many countries are very racist and blacks should be concerned when visiting them. After all, if blacks were to visit another country and something were to happen, this country wouldn’t fight to help us.
LikeLike
No way!
LikeLike
Why not, Abagond?
Catholicism and African religions have a looooooong history of working more-or-less harminously together in Brazil. 😀
LikeLike
Hell, ask the pope for an indulgence… 😉
LikeLike
Well do what you gotta do, I’m just saying, it is an EXTREMELY dangerous country for blacks to be in as you will find if you simply google russia+racists+attacks. You sound a bit over-confident. Dealing with American whites who try to hide their racism is a hell of a lot different than Russian whites who are openly violent with their racism and walk around in gangs stabbing anybody that looks different. Watch the videos I posted, blacks that live in Russia are basically confined to their apartments and can’t even walk the streets for fear of their lives. I can’t imagine why any black person would want to go there, even if given a 1st class free ticket and hotel.
LikeLike
Topic suggestion:
Cheik Diarra, a prolific Malian that has contributed to space exploration as well as Microsoft.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/education/cheick-diarra.html
LikeLike
Deep inside, white people know black women are beautiful. They wonder if black women are interested in them.
LikeLike
Yes, it will.
LikeLike
Sorry, in my comment I meant to say blacks marry each other at rates of 90% or over. There are more black men that are married but only by a small number.
LikeLike
I second the topic on Africans and African Americans. I think that alot Africans and African Americans have misconceptions about each other. But what concerns me is that many Africans are under the impression that all African-Americans are ignorant about Africans.
That’s because many African-Americans are ignorant about Africans. Even on this blog with comments like “Africans come in two types.” But it’s not just them, and it’s not just Africa. Americans in general tend to be ignorant about other places and cultures. Some never bother to learn about other cultures unless they have to visit or live in another country or if they have friends who are not native Americans.
Deep inside, white people know black women are beautiful. They wonder if black women are interested in them.
I think this as well. Actually, some whites. Others don’t care much for black women. But some, like my bf, might be interested in black women but won’t approach because they assume black women are not interested in them.
LikeLike
i agree eruzulie
they do seem fixated on bw and how much we supposedly etc…
LikeLike
If you like Sade, try Cassandra Wilson. Another amazing singer with great range.
LikeLike
There is a documentary called The Neo african americans which explores the term “African American” and looks at the African, Afro Carribbean and Afro Latino immigrants in USA.
http://www.ireport.com/people/Kobi1
LikeLike
Natasha
Yes there are African Americans who are ignorant about Africa but the problem that I hear alot Africans complain about is the questions African Americans ask like” How do you know how to speak english” or ” Do most Africans live in huts”I discussed this with an African recently and he said that if a person ask you a question it is because they don’t know. How are you going to be angry with African Americans for being ignorant and then continue to be angry when they ask you a question? And African Americans aren’t the only ones who are ignorant about foreign cultures. Alot of people are ignorant about foreign cultures. Why not be angry with other people as well? The only reason why I know so much about Africa is becaused I discussed Africa with Africans and they told me about their homelands. Thats it. So the main way African and African Americans can learn about each other is through communication. It’s not the media presents positive images of Africans. I suppose people can read books and go on the internet I know, but one on one communication is important and that won’t happen if people are suspicuous of each other. So people should just let go of their resentments and move forward.
LikeLike
@Jeri
Being African myself Nigerian for that matter I do gert annoyed not angry when people share their ignorance about the continent. For example refering to Africa a monolithic entitiy or calling Africa a country.
“Oh you’re African? Do you speak African? My friend is African do you know him?”
And stuff like that come from different people White people, Asians, Afro Carribbeans.
But if someone ask a question and they geniunely are intrested and are not mocking me then it’s cool. Because they want to learn. (Although it is not my job to educate them on all thing African, I don’t even know all there is to know about Nigeria LOL)
LikeLike
“My friend is African do you know him?”
LOL: there are almost a billlion Africans!
LikeLike
I am glad you can laugh about it. I always get angry when I hear things like that.
LikeLike
Aiyo said:
“But if someone ask a question and they geniunely are intrested and are not mocking me then it’s cool. Because they want to learn. (Although it is not my job to educate them on all thing African, I don’t even know all there is to know about Nigeria LOL)”
I have a question and a genuine interest: I think in one of your comments you said you kissed your teeth (something I often do when reading comments). I thought that was just a West Indian thing. Do they do it Nigeria too or is it something you picked up in Britain? I want to know if it is something that goes back to West Africa.
LikeLike
People kiss their teeth in Nigeria, if I picked it up from anywhere it was most likely from my parents LOL. I think it goes back to Wet Africa becuase of my friends parents who are from Ghana, Sierra Leone etc do it too.
But yeah almost all of my friends who are black of Carribbean or African descent do it.
LikeLike
I have a question and a genuine interest: I think in one of your comments you said you kissed your teeth (something I often do when reading comments).
I had a Barbadian man kiss his teeth too close to my ear, he nearly perforated my eardrum, LOL!
LikeLike
Topic suggestion:
Same sex marriage and whether the comparison people make between same sex marriage and interracial marriage is legitimate.
LikeLike
That is a good point – mostly whites are not that interested in the lives of black people, so it is suspect. If they truly cared that much, America would be a very different country. On the other hand, they do like to point out all the failings of black people.
LikeLike
Tulio:
That is an interesting idea for a post. I might do it. Thanks. Speaking for myself, I hate that argument and in general I hate it when gays compare themselves to blacks.
LikeLike
Could you do a post on how skin bleaching isn’t exaclty the same and tanning because of their history. I had a serious argument about that with a boy in my class.
I mean seriously to any white commenters here could you tell me the last time you heard a tanned or dark shade white person say “I don’t want my children marrying any one lighter and whiter than them!” or “I only go for tanned men because pasty white men are this that and the other” ?????? Come on.
LikeLike
I actually hear some of it all the time, but it has nothing to do with race (or racism).
Pasty white men and women are considered unattractive in my culture. Period. While it has nothing to do with race, and it’s obviously not the same as saying “I don’t want my kid to marry a black man”, you can often hear comments about someone being ugly because of his white, non-tanned skin.
This is, I guess, a form of white colourism.
LikeLike
“yellow-headed superior white woman”
Copied directly from your post.
If you are a democrat then you support Planned Parenthood.
Are you a democrat? Yes or No?
LikeLike
Do we have two sock puppets at play?
LikeLike
Jeri,
Just seeing this now.
Yes there are African Americans who are ignorant about Africa but the problem that I hear alot Africans complain about is the questions African Americans ask like” How do you know how to speak english” or ” Do most Africans live in huts” I discussed this with an African recently and he said that if a person ask you a question it is because they don’t know. How are you going to be angry with African Americans for being ignorant and then continue to be angry when they ask you a question?
I don’t think they are angry at this as much as annoyed and insulted. I think Africans in general tend to have much pride in themselves and their culture so when someone asks a question like “Did you live in a hut?” they are going to be very offended.
And African Americans aren’t the only ones who are ignorant about foreign cultures. Alot of people are ignorant about foreign cultures. Why not be angry with other people as well?
Most Africans aren’t too keen on whites and other groups either, so it isn’t just black people. I think they feel a larger kinship with black Americans than any other group, actually, when it comes down to wire. They just dislike the stance that they view some black Americans to have: that of superiority. They feel that black Americans look down on them because they are from Africa.
The only reason why I know so much about Africa is becaused I discussed Africa with Africans and they told me about their homelands. Thats it. So the main way African and African Americans can learn about each other is through communication. It’s not the media presents positive images of Africans. I suppose people can read books and go on the internet I know, but one on one communication is important and that won’t happen if people are suspicuous of each other. So people should just let go of their resentments and move forward.
I agree and I think if you came up to most Africans with honest questions about their culture, they will gladly answer. It’s just when peope making assumptions about them that they dislike.
LikeLike
make*
LikeLike
The gall of Pat Robertson blaming Haiti for what happened. I just saw some of the pictures of the devastating earthquake in Haiti and it’s heartbreaking to see such harrowing anguish and suffering. Fcuk Pat Robertson!
LikeLike
Abagond,
I’m suggesting a post on what would it be hypothetically if
the American dollar and British pound were devalued lower than (and other European currencies like the Euro) countries like India, Caribbean, Africa.
I meet so many people who are only in these countries because the currency is worth more, not because the quality of life is necessarily better.
How would they Americans/Europeans fare if they had a salary of say 30,000 but it only counted as a day’s pay in other countries…
I was thinking about South Africa. The Rand was on par with the dollar, then when a Black government got elected, the Rand devalued astronomically as the world lost faith in having a Black government.
It shows how impossible it is or how rules change when a Black person tries to get ahead. Some people prob saved money their whole life,only to have it worth pennies through no fault of their own..
LikeLike
abagond,
How about a post on KD Aubert? She’s gorgeous imho. Sometimes, she’s referred to as the Black Angelina Jolie. That’s not fair to her. I find her much better looking than Angelina.
LikeLike
Abagond
I was searching for beautiful dark skin black women. I clicked on this link. These are not dark skin black women. Only one of them is. Are you kidding me. I agree with Lola and Lisa. Dude get real.
Someone made this comment on your Black Brazilian post.
Maybe you can do a post on the ten most beautiful dark skinned black women.
LikeLike
@ abagond
The top paragraph are NOT my words I copied the comment from your most beautiful brazilian post. The only part I agree with is that darkskinned women are underrepresented in the media. And I too came to this website looking for a post on darkskinned women.
LikeLike
That has crossed my mind but the trouble is that it would quickly be followed by a hundred comments about this or that woman not being truly dark-skinned because everyone has their own idea of where to draw the line. Who is light, who is medium, who is dark? If I list only the Undeniably Dark, then fans of the Not Quite So Dark will feel slighted and ask why I did not include her. And so on. In addition, because the media tends to lighten black women, it is hard to tell who is just how dark. And so on. So I think the thing would be a mess.
LikeLike
The other problem I see is there aren’t many dark skinned female celebrities out there. (at least it’s true for America).
LikeLike
Yeah you’re right.
LikeLike
No Leigh, Angelina Jolie is the white KD Aubert!
LikeLike
It would be cool if you could do somethin on Alexander pushkin and his great grandfather Abram Petrovich Gannibal.
Alexander pushkin is the father of modern russian literature, and in my opinion one of the greatest poets of all time.
His great grandfather Gannibel was an african prince or slave(forget which one now) from etriea who rose up to prominence in russian society, a feat in itself.
both amazingly interesting historical figures.
Another mixed race european historical figure is Alessandro de’ Medici, Duke of Florence. His mother was a black moor slave and his father was recorded as Lorenzo II de’ Medici (but I think many scholars now believe his biological daddy was Pope Clement VII, covered up for obvious reasons).
he was about 19 when he become Duke and was 26 when he was assassinated by his cousin (after a power struggle within the family.
his assassination was likened to that julius casear by courtiers at the time .
Alessandro had three children, two of whom were rasied in the de medici family and married other Italian nobles.
There are the ancestors of many of europeans aristocratic and noble houses.
Black european historical figures are an interest of mine, It would be really cool if you cover some.
I also have an interest in african royalty.. my grandma was a descendent of the royals of kingdom of gaza.
But I can’t find much info on that except this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Empire
and I Also remember my grandma talk about the last king of gaza, i was surprised pleasantly to find an article about him on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gungunhana
sorry for long comment, hope you find this content intersting.
LikeLike
What about post on Angela Bassett?
And black buck stereotype?
LikeLike
Black buck is going up this week. Angela Bassett this week or next.
LikeLike
LOL. Thank you, Leavumthinking. Cool avatar.
LikeLike
Thanks
Afam nation is not black. I bet he’s a fat white pervert.
LikeLike
Why am I not shocked? That sounds like a good topic.
LikeLike
What I do not undestand is the whole 42% of successful african american women is such a big deal I mean if 42% that mean 58% that means it’s over half it might as well be 60%. If it isn’t 99.9% then there’s something wrong?
I agree with the others that you should do a post on that because the 58
LikeLike
sorry the 58% are not single so why isi that something that people need to concern themselves with I have not watched the video because I cannot bring myself to hearing the same old foolishness
LikeLike
I guess no-one is interested in the historical figures I suggested.
Thats ok- I’m used to this reaction.
LikeLike
lucia,
I am more than interested in Pushkin and Alessandro de Medici (especially Medici; I am really interested in XVI century history). I didn’t know we were supposed to state here if we like someone’s suggestion or not.
LikeLike
Abagond,
Why don’t you do a post on the blaxploitation films of the 70s starring Pam Grier, if you are familiar with them? I just watched Foxy Brown and Coffy and were definitely entertained. Do you think they were liberating or degrading? How would these types of movies fare today in the industry?
LikeLike
Great idea! That will give me an excuse to watch them: I am doing research!
LikeLike
I recently saw some blaxploitation films on the Retro Channel and didn’t think it was real. They seemed almost like comedies.
It seemed like a really cool time though. Wish I could have experienced it.
LikeLike
^^^
Yeah, they were pretty campy!
Most blaxploitation flicks did some really good sountracks though. Classic ones, in fact. See Isaac Hayes’ Shaft, Willie Hutch’s The Mack, Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly, Roy Ayers’ Coffy, etc.
I wonder if the future generation will watch at “Menace II Society”, “Boyz N The Hood” and the like and laugh at them in the same way we laugh at blaxploitation films now?
LikeLike
LikeLike
Abagond,
Please do a post on Ida B. Wells and her crusade to end lynching and racial/sexual stereotypes. She challenged white male supremacy in American and the world at the end of the century. Thanks.
La Reyna
LikeLike
Excellent suggestion LaReyna!
LikeLike
I must admit I’ve never heard of Ida B. Wells before. *hides head in shame* I wiki’d her and from what I’ve read about her accomplishments, she’s a dynamic and remarkable woman. I want to know more about her. A post on Ida B. Wells, if you please, abagond.
LikeLike
Ida B. Wells is an excellent suggestion – and it has already been seconded twice!
LikeLike
children of latino men and black women that’s my suggestion that and also black mandingo stereotype
LikeLike
that includes the black latinos, white latinos and mixed latinos, all of them and black women and children. I bet you could find some.
LikeLike
@I am white
I’m white and I’m proud.
Of what?
You guys want to be treated as equals but you are not equal.
All humans are born equal and have full right to live their life as equal, and to die as equal! Is that so hard to understand?
LikeLike
*as equals
LikeLike
@Abagond
Why not do a post on the stereotypes that are portrayed in gangsta rap music and videos?
These stereotypes set us back farther than any white man’s stereotype.
Gun toting, drug using, pimp slappin’, killer that’s gettin’ paid.
Or you could do a post on why some Black men spend more on their rims than they do their own children. I’ve seen some of the cars with those Zab Judha spinners. They cost more than some people’s houses. Black men are obsessed with their cars and stereos more than white people.
LikeLike
Proud of what?
LikeLike
I’m white:
”You will never be as good as white people”
If you’re going to remostrate with someone for being racist then surely you might want to begin by refraining from that yourself wouldn’t you? It just discredits your point, so you end up like all those racists out there. Nothing to contribute except hot putrid air!
LikeLike
@abagond:
I know your blog is conscious-minded about race and whatnot, but how about a blog regarding advice for health, fashion, beauty, relationships, etc.? Sort of a fun piece. Just a suggestion. 😀
LikeLike
@I’m white:
So what if you’re white. You want a cookie?
LikeLike
^^^
Such “girlie” topics, Leigh, you trying to drive us guys away? heehee 😉
LikeLike
Moi? *bats eyelashes* 😉
LikeLike
abagond, you’re a black father. You should do a post on the black father project.
LikeLike
No one cares about race except black people. Blacks make more a of a big deal about it than any other group of people. Just let it go already. Life is not perfect. That doesn’t give you a reason to hate.
LikeLike
As someone suggested earlier Rap videos and the black ghetto stereotype could be a good topic.
I hate the stereotype that blacks always have to be ‘ghetto’ or ‘gangster’.
None of my black friends,family or indeed myself are like that.
I’ve had people before as soon as they find out I mixed race, attempting to conversate with me in ghetto slang. NO. I am a well educated classy young woman with no connection to the ghetto.
My black african grandmother was the most bright, witty, well mannered and elegant woman.
Its my angry to see the only images of black people in this west media as being Starving victims or dumb ghetto people.
Does anyone else agree with me on the irritating nature of this?
LikeLike
It may be controversial for me to say but sadly I think the ghetto black stereotype is being heavily mantained by black youth.
I have done some work with inner city teenagers(btw I am only 20 myself) and many of them revel in the ghetto lifestyle.
A lot of them aren’t interested in going to university and get a degree or to live a good ambitious life because it is not ‘cool’, It won’t get them any ‘street respect’. with some people is almost like a love of ignorance.
the sad thing is the doors are starting opening to those young people.. there are beginnings of chances avaliabe to them that their great grandparents and maybe even their parents could not dream of.
They have some potential as ‘young gifted and black’ but they throw it away.
the light is that working there I did see a few young black people who were ambitious, that was a great to see such determination and talent.
Does anyone else agree with me here.
P.s. Abagond I would really apperciate if no-one could call me a ‘sock puppet’ anymore. I am not a troll or a pretend of anyone else.
I am just me sharing my view.
thankyou kindly.
LikeLike
Meant to say
“they have LOTs of potential”
LikeLike
Lucia,
I agree wholeheartedly! Its rife in the UK, well in London at least. Most black teenagers I see in London, not only do they have the ‘street ghetto’ accent, but their dress code adheres to the American gangster lifestyle. They’re very loud as well, race aside it’s very easy to decipher their class backgrounds from the white kids. Very sad when even I don’t want to be in the same areas as these youths, I live as far from them as possible.
Sad state of affairs when even the youths of my own race embarass me.
I agree that these kids have some potential, but these kids live in a society that has almost given up on them, compound that with being fatherless, awful neighbourhoods and schools, they don’t stand a chance.
I have met some brilliant kids, but these seem almost drowned out and almost outnumbered by the undesirables.
LikeLike
^ Merrimay I live in the uk, and I did some work with kids in london 🙂
LikeLike
I live in London – and I disagree
but then again its all about ‘perspectives’… for instance like who actually controls and runs the music industry and who are the ‘consumers’ by that I am referring specifically to the artists.
I remember seeing a ridiculous stat about how many Black owned Hip Hop labels there are in the U.S??
LikeLike
I’d like to see a thoughtful post about the character complexity of Tupac Shakur. I thought he was a fascinating individual even though I still don’t like many of the things he represented.
LikeLike
😉 @ Lucia
LikeLike
He was black???, maybe he had some black ancestors, but that does not mean, was he black.
For example Puskins grandgrandfather was mulatto on Peter I. the Great court, and must it immediately mean he was black ???
LikeLike
I know that in Russia its hard for African, and you can ask white people how THEY think for example in JAR.
But doesnt mean that Pushkin was black, mathematically she was 1/8 black and it is too little.
Sorry for my bad english.
LikeLike
I talked about Pushkin earlier he was an 1/8th black.
His grandfather was Ibram Gannibal.
I can provide more infomatio if anyone needs because I have a lot of professional research on them.
I would personally consider pushkin white but with black ancestry(the same way I view my son who is also around an 1/8th black). One drop rule doesn’t really apply outside america.
LikeLike
How about a post on racial slurs and how they really don’t mean anything. The slurs are just words but we give them power and meaning. If we give the power then we can take it away. Like the n word. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just letters. Nothing at all. There is nothing you can call me that will change what I am.
LikeLike
In case I have not said it already, Afam-Nation is a sock puppet of I’m White.
LikeLike
Abagond, you’ve got Fannie Lou up. How about Howard Zinn, dead today at the age of 88?
It’s been awhile since I’ve been this upset over the loss of someone I didn’t personally know. But then again, having read everything I could by Howard, I feel I knew him well.
LikeLike
Great suggestion. It will not be the next post, but probably the next one after that.
LikeLike
@ Abagond:
When you mentioned the black buck stereotype, it reminded me of this song that I’m sure you’d be interested in. It’s by Donnie, called “Big Black Buck”. It’s about black people being gleeful consumers in a system that oppresses them.
LikeLike
Topic: The Gullahs of the SE coast.
LikeLike
Abagond can you do a post on Morris Chestnut? He was robbed his place as one of the most gorgeous men in the world.
LikeLike
You were not the only one who felt robbed. I am going to have a poll of the most gorgeous black men. I am thinking of skipping the nomination process, however, since the last one produced plenty of black men. I will jump straight to the vote but separate it by race: black women, white women and Asian women.
LikeLike
The post for Howard Zinn is up:
LikeLike
You were not the only one who felt robbed. I am going to have a poll of the most gorgeous black men. I am thinking of skipping the nomination process, however, since the last one produced plenty of black men. I will jump straight to the vote but separate it by race: black women, white women and Asian women.
This sounds like a good idea, but perhaps you should consider poll promotion? I don’t think many white or Asian women visit this website (it’s their loss, but you need more votes).
LikeLike
jasmina anema 6 year old leukemia sufferer died today
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1246941/Jasmina-Anema-Rihanna-President-Obama-pay-tribute-year-old-leukemia-victim.html
R.I.P. little angel
An article about the lack of black and mixed race bone marrow donors could be great.. If only to help raise awareness.
LikeLike
could you do one on Madam CJ Walker? I watched ‘ Good hair’ recently and was surprised that she wasn’t mentioned.
LikeLike
Yes I will. I was thinking of that too.
LikeLike
yes Madam CJ Walker would be good, Chris Rock mockumentary was just not good he lacked in several areas he did not talk about the whole good hair bad hair thing just focused on weaves and relaxers no talk of natural hair or the history of how the whole “good hair” came to be. Only type of history that he mentioned was adverts from the 70’s and 80’s SMH
“My nappy roots” which is what Chris Rock copied from is 100000X much better
LikeLike
Good ideas both. Thanks!
Feb 15th – Marie Laveau
Feb 16th – Mardi Gras
LikeLike
Can you do a post on how some people hate to see two black people together in a relationship and happy? Also a post on why people bash black men so much like other men are so perfect?
LikeLiked by 1 person
ABAGOND CAN YOU DO A POST ON BLACK WOMEN BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED IN JAIL AND UNFAIR TREATMENT?
LikeLike
“Its open season on the kids down in Haiti, instead of calling out the fact that taking kids from their family without the right adoption paperwork is kidnapping, the white media is trying to make it sound like the whites that recently got caught bringing kids from Haiti to the usa are heroes.”
i have to say that i think its wrong to move the children without proper paperwork. suppose they have extended family members looking for them, they’ll never have anyway of knowing what happened ot them. I support children having a comfortable and safe home with a family as long as the children are comfortable with that family, regardless of color. But it is a human rights violation to me to deprive them of proper documentation so their extended family can have a say or atleast an idea of their whereabouts. Its degrading to the children the family system in Haiti to automatically assume you’re doing them a favor, they should have a say in this too.
LikeLike
chris rocks documentary jsut poked fun at black women. a black woman should have made that film.
LikeLike
“White men’s obsession with the black male genitalia.
I am sick and tired of hearing white men complain or wonder about the size of a black man’s penis.
That’s a hot topic, because its real and it exposes the feelings of inferiority of many white men.”
LMAO I SECOND THIS POST.
LikeLike
peanut
chris rocks documentary jsut poked fun at black women. a black woman should have made that film.
————
I know right a woman made “my nappy roots” though her name is regina kimbell
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking
“Can you do a post on how some people hate to see two black people together in a relationship and happy? Also a post on why people bash black men so much like other men are so perfect?”
It would be very interesting a post about BM/BW relationships. But it would be even more interesting focusing on the reason that makes many black man proud of cheating, because most of women (black or white) i know who had/have a black boyfriend were cheating ones.
In my family i have lots of cousins, and there are about 2 in 10 that haven’t/won’t cheat.
I asked several of them why do they cheat, the first reaction is laughing with arrogance, my conclusion of their reasons (after questioning most of them) is this “I’m the best! Because I can have as many girls as I want, whenever I want”. That is just insane how can someone be proud of hurting others?! Yet most of them are polite,educated and caring!
I found the answer on this video (and it was really obvious, how could I forget that?! duh) :
LikeLike
Not sure if we should second suggestions, but a posts about trafficking poor black children and (not sure how to call it)- jealousy (anger?) towards happy black couples would be nice.
Also, it would be great to make posts on black men that white / Asian women like. Perhaps poll on gorgeous black men (with voters split by race) would help. I really wonder if women of different races find different “types” of black men attractive.
LikeLike
@ D&nni
“It would be very interesting a post about BM/BW relationships. But it would be even more interesting focusing on the reason that makes many black man proud of cheating, because most of women (black or white) i know who had/have a black boyfriend were cheating ones.”
It would be interesting to find out why men cheat in general. Not all men cheat and black men are not the only men that do cheat. Many (non black) women I know have had problems with (non black) men who cheat. A girlfriend of mine who is Thai said that even in Thailand it is common for a husband to have a mistress. If she is correct then the cheating men problem is world wide.
I get where your coming from. Black men who cheat certainly should be addressed. Cheating is the number one thing I WILL NOT tolerate in any relationship. I would rather be alone than to share a man. To me if you cheat you lie you steal.
Any man who is “proud” of cheating is a man of low morals. Trust me these “proud” cheating me will get caught. The truth always come to the light. When it does its up to those women to drop those losers like a bad habit.
LikeLike
I have to agree here. I don’t know about non-white men, but there are many white men I know that are cheaters. It’s really rare to find a man who wouldn’t cheat on you these days. I’ve been cheated in a relationship so I know what is like, and it has nothing to do with race! That’s why I always advice my female friends to pick a guy who is not a cheater. That is very important.
I am not saying women don’t cheat- they do. They cheat more than you might think. But it has nothing to do with race. So “cheating black man” is another stereotype.
LikeLike
men who are celibate before marriage cheat less. I think its so admirable when a man can wait until marriage to have sex. that’s a big challenge in this society in these days. with all the sexual inuendos bombardment of sexual images everywhere you go. To me it says the guy has self control and discipline.
LikeLike
Agreed, peanut. Not all men are lustful creatures with no self control in regards to sex. A handful are very admirable with integrity.
LikeLike
I might be harsh, but I don’t actually think abstinence helps, not always. At worst, that person might later ask – what did I miss- and start cheating. Things like this happened before.
If someone chose abstinence before marriage, good for them, but it’s not for everybody. It’s better not to try that path if you can’t follow it. It can lead to many problems. And even if you do it- not in strength, but you force yourself into it, you might start questioning yourself later.
I am not talking about anybody in particular, just stating my opinion. Or maybe it’s because my culture is different. It’s considered bad for a woman to be a slut, but premarital sex is norm here. But I don’t think this make people cheat more than in other cultures. So I am not sure.
Don’t get me wrong- I know there are men (and women) who can control themselves, men who don’t cheat, loyal people, people who identify sex with love.
PS-If nothing else, if women chose to wait before the marriage, so should men. There’s no difference in sexual needs and control between genders; it’s the culture and rules that made women look less sexual and more in control than men.
LikeLike
Abagond, can I make a request. You should consider doing a post on black women rapes in prison.
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/1998/09/cov_01feature.html
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/14256
these women have no right whatsoever!
LikeLike
@ Peanut
I second that
LikeLike
@ Leaveumthinking
“It would be interesting to find out why men cheat in general. Not all men cheat and black men are not the only men that do cheat. Many (non black) women I know have had problems with (non black) men who cheat. A girlfriend of mine who is Thai said that even in Thailand it is common for a husband to have a mistress. If she is correct then the cheating men problem is world wide.”
Guess I was not clear enough.![:/](https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/wpcom-smileys/uneasy.svg)
I choose black men because they are the ones I’m familiar with, but I know there are cheaters in every single race, of course.
But comparing to relationships i’ve seen with non-black boyfriends, it was not common and the only one I knew who cheated confessed it, he didn’t even got caught and his girlfriend wasn’t even suspecting…
Bottom line is I just wanted to know what are the reasons of black men who are proud of cheating. I do not find myself easily atracted to non-black males that’s why I didn’t want to focus that much on other races…
“Cheating is the number one thing I WILL NOT tolerate in any relationship.I would rather be alone than to share a man. To me if you cheat you lie you steal.
Any man who is “proud” of cheating is a man of low morals. “
Definitely!!! If he cheats on you it shows no respect and most of all no love, but why stay with someone knowing that you do not love her??? That’s what I don’t understand!
LikeLike
I meant ” I choosed…”
sorry about my english
LikeLike
This might be off topic, but I want to share a video with the women on this blog. It is a song by Erykah Badu. I love her and I love the message in this song. Hopefully, youtube will let us watch it.
LikeLike
Hear is a song by India Arie. Listen to the words.
LikeLike
This is a song by Jill Scott. Be encouraged.
LikeLike
Ah, the mighty India Arie 🙂 What a gem, I have this album, every single track should have been a hit.
Amazing artist!
LikeLike
MerriMay
Yeah, I love her!!
LikeLike
Another song by Jill Scott. Brothers, this song is for you. We need you!!
LikeLike
Let’s try this again.
LikeLike
Oh well, youtube won’t let us watch it. The song is called The Fact is( We need you). She is reaching out to the men, letting them know that despite that fact that a woman can be strong and independent, she still needs her man!!. I can relate.
LikeLike
Maybe this video will work.
LikeLike
@ D&nni
Bottom line is I just wanted to know what are the reasons of black men who are proud of cheating.
Sorry for the misunderstanding. Yes, I too, would like to know why these men cheat and why are they proud of it? I’m very interested in the excuses these so call men will use. There isn’t an acceptable reason to cheat. Why don’t they just leave? Why not stay single until they are ready for a committed relationship?
LikeLike
Please do a topic on black Canadians. My grandmother told me that I am of black Canadian ancestry. My great grand father comes from Nova Scotia Canada and my step mother is a lightskinned women from a town close to Windsor. I have always been interested in Canada for some reason. I spent alot of time there because my step mother would take me there for her family reunions. It was interesting. She had hundreds of relatives, most extremely lightskinned. I mean some had blond hair and blue eyes, but they were black. I mentioned her before. Her great great great mother was biracial who had a white father who was a plantation owner( he killed her black mother. Sad) and her other great great great mother was a white woman who was a indentured servant who common law husband was a black ex-slave. She also was of Papuan New Guinea descent. Those who any thing about that place knows it is a place where non-African black people live. I mean they have broad noses and kinky hair. Black people also live in places close by like the Figi Islands and other Pacific islands. I think they call the island Melanesia, something like that. Her great great great father was of Papuan New Guinea descent and he was a sailor, that found his way to Canada. Many blacks in Canada are descended from ex-slaves and others are from places like Africa, the Carribean, etc. It would be an interesting topic. I know little of my great grand father other that he was light skinned and moved to the USA. He married my great grandmother who was from Macon, Georgia. Also, Agagond, write a topic about the blacks of Melanesia Islands.
LikeLike
Also, write about Indentured Servants. That would be an interesting topic.
LikeLike
@jeri:
I second the topic on Black Canadians. I only know a wee bit, and it would definitely be interesting to learn more about Black Canadian history.
LikeLike
I third that! My brother inlaw is descended from a runaway slave colony called Buxton for example:
http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/
The veterans of the war of 1812 who were given land:
http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_STU/Plaque_Simcoe21.html
Black history Canada:
http://blackhistorycanada.ca/events.php?themeid=21&id=4
LikeLike
@Herneith:
Thanks for the links! 😀
LikeLike
abagond i still think you should do a post on why more bw don’t marry white men??? Or how about “the gulf between white men and black women.” I can give you a list right now. I am telling you abagond, I have seen bw with my own eyes turn down white men. It’s not always white men turning down bw. I wish people would stop pretending that. It’s both groups aren’t really that interested.
LikeLike
I think that both black women and white men are insecure. White men think that they are not muscular enough and that they penises are not big enough. Black women feel that white women are considered beautiful by society and that white men won’t consider them equal. Black men and white women don’t have these insecurities as much, so it is easier for them to approach each other. Black women and white men, even if they are attracted to each other, are uncertain if the other person is interested in them. They take forever to express an interest in each other and sometimes they never express an interest at all. This is not all black women and white men. Sometimes, black women and white men simply don’t have an interest in each other. That could be common. But that is not always the case. In fact, black women and white men seemed to have a love/hate relationship. They may like each other but they are angy with each other because they feel the other person is rejecting them. If black women and white men were just honest with each other about their insecurities, it would be a good thing.
LikeLike
Also, black women are concerned that some white men are racist and some white men may think that black women are too dominant. Black women in this country have a ridiculously bad reputation in this country and I don’t entirely blame whites for this reputation. Many black people, both men and women, believe that black women have bad attitudes. Some will swear up and down that they don’t believe this. But don’t pay attention to what people say, but what they do. I must admit, I noticed that people are often friendly towards my husband while unfriendly towards me, as if I was a black b#####. They seem cautious towards me, while relaxed with my husband. I find myself going through ridiculous changes proving to other people that I am a nice person. I am tired of doing this. Now, I have learned to stop being a people pleaser and love myself. It is not just black men who are like this but I find many black women are not friendly towards other black women. They seem defensive towards one another, not all black women, but some. I find the older the women is the more she friendly she is. So people will swear up and down, ” I love black women. I think they are queens” but their behavior reflects something different. I think most black women are depressed and they often seem cautious towards people because of past pains. It is important for us to let go of baggage so people don’t assume that we are just “evil”. No, I am not suggesting that we go too far with the people pleasing thing, but for some reason people have the wrong impression of us. We have to honest with ourselves about why this is the case. We need to examine ourselves just like we examine everyone else. Maybe some of us need to practice forgiveness, practice being joyful instead of scared, have faith instead of worrying all the time. Stop worrying that men are rejecting us and believe that “what God has for me, is for me”. It might help.
LikeLike
One last thing, Black women, we have to lead by example. Start treating each other with kindness. Let go of some the defense mechanism. Give other black women a chance. Smile at each other. Do small acts of kindness with each. Love each other. If we don’t love ourselves, no one will.
LikeLike
I know I am typing too much but Abagond, also, do a topic about the perceived differences between African American and African women. African women, who don’t deal with racism, maybe poverty, but not racism, seem way less depressed, more friendly, more joyful, and some say more feminine. One man who was white said he married an African black women because there was “less attitude”. Are there differences between African American and African women? Are there diffences between African Americans and Africans in general when it to values and behavior? I would like a discussion on this.
LikeLike
@ Jeri
I respect your comment and in many ways agree.
I think that both black women and white men are insecure.
Most black women I know do not think about white men and are not even attracted to them on average. The few black women that I know, who want a white man, have a white man. These so called lonely insecure black women, who are so worried about white men, are only on the internet because I have never met one in real life.
LikeLike
Are there differences between African American and African women?
I second this topic
LikeLike
how about breastfeeding?
LikeLike
You know that crazy white professor, Amy Bishop, who killed three other professors and sounded many more?:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2010/02/13/profile-dr-amy-bishop-alleged-university-of-alabama-huntsville-shooter.aspx
Well two out of three victims were African American!
Adriel Johnson:
http://www.uah.edu/biology/johson.html
Maria Ragland Davis
http://www.uah.edu/biology/maria.html
The third victim was a brown man of south Asian descent:
http://www.uah.edu/biology/podila.html
I wonder if there was a ‘racial’ element to these killings and if so, why isn’t this being reported on in the media(racial element if present, that is)? They can report on a clown like joe Mayers, but not something of this serious nature where people were killed if indeed the murders were of a racially motivated.
LikeLike
I have suggestion, could you write a page on Al Sharpton and/or Jesse Jackson? What I keep hearing in the media is that those two are nothing but oppurtunists. So it would be nice to get a deeper look about this without any of the BS.
LikeLike
Have you wrote about the Jonestown Massacare ? 70% of the people who died were black. What about The Jena Six.
LikeLike
I remember watching a BBC documentary about the Jonestown Massacre where one of the white survivors who fled on the last plane left his biracial black son in that awful place! rather than escape with him to the States he thought he wouldn’t be accepted for the color of his skin!
I thought WTF?!! These men are cowards who have no business having biracial kids.
That little boy’s plight struck me deeply, that his white cowardly father condemned his mixed race son to die because he was too ashamed to have mixed race progeny in racist America.
LikeLike
Not only was he a coward but he was also a selfish moron. How could he leave his own flesh and blood to die like that. If anything he should have sacrificed himself so his son could live. I never understood why white men like him even have children by black women.
LikeLike
Blackface in (French) Men’s magazines
http://jezebel.com/5475777/fancy-mens-magazine-jumps-on-blackface-trend
LikeLike
How about doing a post on those blackface “ghetto parties” that those white kids in universities throw. I read about that compton cookout thing, I mean this how these dumb arse kids get down, I know tis isn’t the first incident but some of the commentry about this is dumb people are saying how black people shouldn’t be so sensitive still more of that post-racial bull crap.
not to long ago in england there was a “tarzan party” and these fools wore animal print and were in black face.
LikeLike
Here it is their Tarzan “Africa themed” party
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/dec/12/oxford-rugby-racism-diversity-lessons
This is the “Bring a fit jew” party fit being slang for good looking
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/nov/14/oxford-students-bring-a-jew-party
Both of those parties were thrown by Oxford University students, they are apparently supposed to be the best and brightest of the UK please.
I found one article about some London students who dressed up as guantanamo bay prisoners and “blacked up” their faces
http://www.westendextra.com/news/2009/dec/blacked-student-party-%E2%80%98racist%E2%80%99
Seriously this is there idea of fun this is how they have a good time And the way people defend them is just stupid
LikeLike
Negro is now going to be a racial option again on the US 2010 census…well I know what I’m checking lol
LikeLike
I don’t get the connection between Tarzan and the blackface. I mean, not that it changes anything, but Tarzan was white. I don’t get the stupidity.
LikeLike
Racist party- so called “Compton cookout”
White college students at UCSD were invited to wear stereotypical “black” attire in honor of Black History Month.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/Compton-Cookout-Creates-Campus-Uproar-84648212.html
“Written on the Flyer:
For guys: I expect all males to be rockin Jersey’s, stuntin’ up in ya White T (XXXL smallest size acceptable), anything FUBU, Ecko, Rockawear, High/low top Jordans or Dunks, Chains, Jorts, stunner shades, 59 50 hats, Tats, etc….We will be serving 40’s, Kegs of Natty, dat Purple Drank- which consists of sugar, water, and the color purple , chicken, coolade, and of course Watermelon. So come one and come all, make ya self before we break ya self, keep strapped, get yo shine on, and join us for a day party to be remembered- or not…”
For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks-Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes – they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red.They look and act similar to Shenaynay, and speak very loudly, while rolling their neck, and waving their finger in your face. Ghetto chicks have a very limited vocabulary, and attempt to make up for it, by forming new words, such as “constipulated”, or simply cursing persistently, or using other types of vulgarities, and making noises, such as “hmmg!”, or smacking their lips, and making other angry noises,grunts, and faces.The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these “respectable” qualities throughout the day”
LikeLike
Why are you so angry? I was just trying to understand your reasoning. No offense meant. I just wanted to point out the hypocrisy and irony in some of your statements.
It is not my intention to enter an argument where there are only two opposing sides. My intention is to participate in healthy dialogues. Disagreement and differences of opinion are fine and to be expected.
If you thought I was biracial, would you treat me different? I think I can bring insight and positive contributions to this blog site, and that is my objective. I have also been learning a lot. Why not do both?
LikeLike
Why are you so angry? I was just trying to understand your reasoning. No offense meant. I just wanted to point out the hypocrisy and irony in some of your statements.
It is not my intention to enter an argument where there are only two opposing sides. My intention is to participate in healthy dialogues. Disagreement and differences of opinion are fine and to be expected.
I think I can bring insight and positive contributions to this blog site, and that is my objective. I have also been learning a lot. Why not do both?
LikeLike
To lighten things up a bit:
First Black pair figuring skating team to compete in the Winter Olympics: Vanessa James and Yannick Bonheur
LikeLike
oh yeah abagond, that reminds me…i have a question on your posts… I ordered a book by Kola Boof and I wanted to know if you ever finished reading Diary of a Lost Girl and if you liked it???
LikeLike
“This is an example of what i was talking about with old white men preying on young black women:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249095/The-history-man-fatwa-girl-How-David-Cameron-news-think-tank-guru-Niall-Ferguson-deserted-wife-Sue-Douglas-Somali-feminist.html
45 year old Niall Ferguson left his white wife Susan Douglas to be with his “somali mistress” Hirsi Ali.
It is sickening to see black women being pursued as sex objects and mistresses by old bored white men that want some action.”
you don’t know anything about Hirsi Ali or this situation, so why don’t you just shut up!
LikeLike
Peanut:
I am not done reading it yet. I will post on it when I do.
LikeLike
if you like abagond, I can email you my opinion of the book by Kola if I finish anytime soon
LikeLike
Oh dear coloface is making a comeback! I blame our hipsterism.
LikeLike
@ Lucia
I know where you’re coming from, a lot of people are judging this woman when none of us know the real truth. Unfortunately she’s being used as a ‘I-told-you-so’s’ by people to further their causes.
SMDH
LikeLike
Nope i disagree, that he is a fetishist we don’t know, that is speculation on your part. His former mistress was a blue eyed blond.
That she’s a mistress is a no no of course, but what bothers me is where people who are against Black/White couplings use this as an example of what white men are supposed to be doing to black women. That is really where such people’s stake and interest is in this story. That Ms Hirsi Ali is black, and that I’m afraid i don’t agree with!
She’s an adulterer its obvious, she’s an educated lawyer, am pretty sure she is not being coerced into being with this man. This white man isn’t making her do anything against her will. Her color is a moot point, what’s that got to do with anything??
LikeLike
i thought its was belgians who contributed the genocide of the tutsi by making those class divisions. I’ve met Paul Rusesabagina he’s a great man…
LikeLike
Hi Abagond
I sent a email to you about a town that was called “black wall street” I was wondering if you could talk about black towns that were prosperous in the early 1900’s that were destroyed by jealous whites. Or simply towns that were destroyed for other reason. And how this may have affected us today. Thanks.
LikeLike
Thanks for the email. I was thinking of doing a post on the Tulsa riot, so I guess I will do it sooner rather than later. Good suggestion. Thanks.
LikeLike
LikeLike
What’s ironic is that MerriMay and Erzrulie disagree with each other, yet I agree with the both of you. I think that automatically assuming that a white man is using a black woman for sex is a result of an inferiority complex. To not that he wants you only for sex is naive, but to automatically assume that he does, is the result of an inferiority complex. It’s like thinking well he can’t possibly want a sincere relationship with me because my skin is black. Or that I’m not good enough to be approached by a man of another color. To think that of yourself is definitely an inferiority complex, whether we admit to it or not. But on the other hand, I do understand that way of thinking simply because if a white woman is in the same situation she doesn’t have the burden of the jezebel stereotype, neither the history of being raped and ridiculed for physical features.
The reason these debates go on and on is because there is some truth to what most people are saying. Yes, there are some white men who see black women as inferior and will only want them for sex. Just because a white man cheats with a black woman does not mean he sees her as inferior either. It goes both ways. There are black men who use black women for sex as there are white men who use white women for sex too, which leads to the conclusion that this hardly has much to do with color but with the fact that some men cheat just because.
In America, black women just have the extra burden of having to be cautious when being approached by white men who are interested. But if we consciously make the effort to see ourselves as women, and not black women, then we won’t have all those notions in our heads if and/or when we do get approached. Because at the end of the day, men want women and women want men. Well, at least for those of us who are heterosexual. LOL
Abagond, Why don’t you do a post of Whoopi Goldberg? Based on box office revenue, she’s the most successful black actress and Halle B came in second. Now what’s interesting about Whoopi is that she is hardly the ideal in terms of looks, particularly for black women in Hollywood. She’s considered unattractive; she’s dark and she wears her hair natural, but yet she’s considered the most successuful. Ironic don’t you think?
LikeLike
Shani
I agree, black women like all women are individuals who should be accountable for their own choices, good or bad. If she chooses a man she knows is married then she deserves everything that’s coming to her when he goes back to his marital home.
What botheres me is when the actions of these women is feeding time for people that pick up the actions of what they think black women in general are doing with white men. It’s not a ‘black woman thing’, more a mistake any woman regardless of race does.
Also to call people that don’t harp on and on about ‘evil whites’ all the time, brainwashed and programmed is quite insulting I might add.
I don’t have to use the same rhetoric over and over to prove it!
LikeLike
Lol, I know about the names! It actually happened to some people I know, and not just in America. I am not sure if they don’t recognize last names, but some first names common in Serbia (Tijana, Milica, Jasmina) often don’t sound white enough for employers. So I can imagine what is like to have a “truly” non-white name.
LikeLike
Mira,
Jasmina is Serbian? Cool, that’s one of my nicknames. 🙂
LikeLike
It’s not really Serbian, it’s considered to be a Muslim name. However, many women and girls I know are named Jasmina (however, any J in Serbian is read as Y in “yes”, so I think it’s pronounced differently than your name). J thing is tricky, because foreign (English speaking) people never seem to know how to pronounce it (my full name, for example, is Mirjana, but I use my nickname for online use).
All in all, Jasmina sounds muslim to many people (my friend was discriminated in France based on her name alone). Another friend (Tijana) in the US, and so did one Milica I know.
LikeLike
Yazmín is what a lot of Spanish-speaking people call me, and the J is Spanish is pronounced like an H, so I’m usually a [Yaz-meen] + [Has-meen] combo.
Is your name pronounced [Meer-yah-nuh]? I like it! 🙂
LikeLike
True, I don’t live as a minority, but that’s not what I was talking about. I said that my friends were discriminated not because they didn’t have anglo names- but because some people thought their names weren’t white. Which means someone thought my friends were either black or Middle Eastern.
LikeLike
The eyelid surgery is a B-I-G deal in the Asian community. I saw that episode with the Korean woman on Tyra’s show a few years back. And imho, I found Tyra to be condescending towards that woman. The woman couldn’t get a word in edge-wise. I don’t know if people are aware of this, but not all Asians get eyelid surgery to look white although some do. Fifty percent of Asians have a crease and the other half do not. Personally, I know a couple of women who have had this surgery. Even I wanted to have this surgery.
LikeLike
Oh, I forgot to mention that my mother was aghast that I would even consider it as she thinks it mutilation. I think the Asian eyelid surgery would be a good topic to blog about.
LikeLike
@Mira:
To be honest, I don’t know of any non-offensive word to describe Asian eyes. Asian eyes is fine, I think. However, the ones I do know are: slitty, slanty, and c****y…rhymes with slinky. If there was a topic done on this, you’d better believe I’d put my 2 cents in.
LikeLike
@ Leigh
To be honest, I don’t know of any non-offensive word to describe Asian eyes. Asian eyes is fine, I think. However, the ones I do know are: slitty, slanty, and c****y…rhymes with slinky. If there was a topic done on this, you’d better believe I’d put my 2 cents in.
I agree a post on Asian eyelid surgery would be interesting. My SO says that “almond shaped” eyes is not an offensive term to him but what do you think so Ill know. And yes Tyra was rude to that lady. The lady was trying to explain but Tyra kept speaking over her. Tyra was making everything about herself as usual.
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking:
Oh, how could I’ve forgotten! I HAVE heard of almond-shaped eyes used to describe Asian eyes. The thing is, the media portrays the stereotypical Asian eyes looking almond-shaped like Lucy Liu’s. And while many Asians have eyes like hers, I have some relatives with eyes that don’t look even remotely close to Lucy’s eyes. And I mean, big, creased, doe eyes like Bambi! And it’s all natural. No surgery whatsoever.
LikeLike
I understand what you are saying. There are different shapes and sizes to Asian eyes so to refer to Asian eyes as almond shaped would not apply to all and would be a stereotype, which is offensive. Thank you for the clarification.
Even I wanted to have this surgery.
No judgement here. As long as its safe. I wanted to have the Lasik but I have dry eyes and Im too chicken to go through with it. But I do think your eyes are beautiful the way they are.
A post on black people getting blue contacts implanted inside their eyes would be a good post.
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking:
Aw, thank you. You’re a sweetheart! 🙂
It’s a long story, but when I was much younger, I was racially taunted due to my eyes, and, well, I was one of the few Asians around in my school. I had some jerks pulling on the corners of their eyes making those mock Asian accent. I felt badly about myself and I heard about the eyelid surgery.
When I told my mom I wanted surgery, she was quite upset that I thought about it. She told me there was nothing wrong with my eyes and the jerks were the one with the problem. She was absolutely right. I thanked my mother for setting me straight.
LikeLike
@ Leigh
Im sorry you went through that. I never undestood why some people like to make fun and put down others for no reason. I never made fun of someone because of their differences because I know how it feels. As a child I was teased because of my skin but mostly because of my hair. I was 12 years old when I got a relaxer. It took me a long time to love my hair. Ive come a long way because I use to be ashamed of the baby pic on my avatar because of my hair. I use to actually hide that pic from company.
Your mom was right and Im glad you changed your mind. We have to accept ourselves the way we are because no one is gonna change themselves to please us. Plus its nothing wrong with us.
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking
I’m also sorry you had to go through that. It saddens me that some people treat others quite horribly over features they have no control over. What happened to me, my experiences, has shaped who I am today. At least a part of me. Besides, how can anyone make fun of you? You were quite the adorable baby. 😀
Agreed. There’s nothing wrong with us. These are the features we’re born with and God, Allah, or whatever mighty being you believe in (or don’t believe), DID NOT make a mistake.
LikeLike
Leigh,
Your eyes look quite large to me. There are always going to be ignorant people.
Leaveumthinking,
No offense, but that youtube post was kinda creepy. She clearly wasn’t meant to have those stark blue eyes.
Her brown eyes look much better.
LikeLike
You were an adorable baby.:)
LikeLike
leigh204
Yes it is sad that you went through that. Like I mentioned before, I went through something quite similar. When I was between 10 and 14 years old, I was teased and bullied, mainly from boys, about my full lips. When I was 10, there wasn’t a day that passed when other children didn’t harrass me. Once I went to highschool the teasing stopped. Thank God I was able to get into a highschool for the gifted. The other students weren’t as cruel as the kids in elementary and middle school. I was finally able to feel comfortable about myself. But I must admit, whenever I think about it, it causes me pain. I do admit however that I don’t have the same insecurites as I did when I was much younger. I feel that if other people are getting plastic surgery to get full lips, then full lips must not be all that bad. Well, I think you are a beautiful girl. I love your eyes and there is nothing wrong with them. Forget the haters. Often people who diss other people are insecure with themselves so they feel the need to make others feel as badly as they feel. All that matters is how we feel about ourselves.
LikeLike
@islandgirl:
Ignorant people suck, I say. As for my eyes looking quite large, it looks “large” when I do a slight smile, for example, in my avatar you see. You should see me smiling from ear-to-ear. My eyes turn into these little crescent moons. lol!
Definitely! Her brown eyes suited her. Those blue eyes look creepy to me as well.
@jeri:
Aww, I’m so sorry that you had to experience that. Reading your story makes me want to reach out and give you a hug. *sending you a hug*
I wholeheartedly agree. No matter how much people try to put us down, we are who we are. That’s what makes us so special. 😀
LikeLike
What say you, abagond? Asian eyelid surgery? I’d be glad to offer some input.
LikeLike
Sounds like a good topic. If you could send your input to me at abagond at gmail that would be great.
LikeLike
Will do. Must gather proper info. 😀
LikeLike
Islandgirl
No offense, but that youtube post was kinda creepy. She clearly wasn’t meant to have those stark blue eyes.
Her brown eyes look much better.
Yes they are very creepy and scary. I could not believe some Black people would want blue eyes so bad that they would go all the way to Panama to get a unsafe cosmetic procedure that is not approved in the US. She almost lost her vision. I felt sorry for her. Im glad shes okay now that she got them removed. Her brown eyes that she was born with fit her. I hope no one else get this procedure.
LikeLike
That eye color change is sad!
I heard it can cause secondary glaucoma, no good.
I understand Hitler and white supremacists try to push the idea that blue eyes is superior.
ut i don’t like blue eye color myself, never did.
I agree. I was researching the Lasik procedure and other eye procedures to correct my vision. I stumbled across her video and wanted to know why her eyes were two different colors. No I dont like blue eyes either especially artificial looking ones. If you are born with them thats fine but they are not for everyone.
LikeLike
@abagond:
I already sent it to you. I hope it meets with your approval. 😀
LikeLike
Chile got hit by earthquake 8.8
LikeLike
I went to Sheperd Eye Center for my cataract surgery 3800 to fix my left eye, very pricey sometimes.
Yes it is pricey. The lasik procedure is 2000 for each eye. So I’ll just stick to wearing glasses.
My doctor did bring up colored lenses but i just ignored the suggestion because i’m fine with my eye color.
Im glad you ignored him. You are beautiful you dont need colored eyes. I never understood the big deal with blue eye color. Thats why I was shocked to hear that a black women would have a procedure like that. I like dark eyes better.
Changing your eye color ain’t gonna make white people like you.
I agree. No matter how “white” you look. You are still a “you know what” to white folks. Thats why black people should stick together and not care what white people think of our appearance. We should still correct them on their ignorance though.
LikeLike
Abagond, I want to request a post on Nina Mae Mckinney.
LikeLike
I second that post Peanut.
LikeLike
I just see you put alot on your plate up in the list. I would love for you to do a post on Phyllis Wheatley, that would be interesting and educational. I hope you include the foolishness of Thomas Jeffersons’ opinions of her. Just so people can see what kind of leadership we had.
LikeLike
abagond, do you eat soul food?
LikeLike
Abagond, could you please do a post on Gabourey Sidibe or the movie Precious at some point? I think Gabourey is a great actress.
LikeLike
To Abagond,
I see a lot of “stereotypes” and prejudicial sentiments floating around your blog. Not necessarily from you, but from many of the individuals who participate. This is not bad, as it offers an opportunity to more freely share and discuss that might otherwise be limited by certain boundaries.
I noted a comment about “silly white people in Cowboy Hats, etc…” I thought you might want to write a piece on the history of the Black Cowboy. A lot of the early cowboys were Black, lots of Great American History there. There are even modern day Black Cowboys (primarily in Texas) but even in New York!!! (One runs a ranch to help inner city kids.)
Not sure if Thad would know anything about the “Gauchos” in Brazil or having “Black Cowboys” there, but he could potentially be a resource. (if you wanted to include that region)
LikeLike
OK, just saw this film yesterday: how about a post on “Precious”? Seems to hit on a lot of your favorite topics, Abagond, female beauty most particularly.
LikeLike
I have not seen “Precious” yet, but once I do I will post on it.
LikeLike
wat about a post on the history of the census abagond?
LikeLike
What about Black male masculinity?
LikeLike
I’m are 28yrs of age, a South African women that has always had something for white man. But begin in South Africa it has be hard to get one and let loose. I really turn to love white man, tan, tall good looking with a lot more to offer. The comfort of being loved, touched, held in public, wanted, is all that one is looking for. Not that the black man don’t do that, but i have been out of luck for the past years. As i write this in New York i have seen so much in a different light. It makes me even went white man even more. Any looking a beautiful, tall, dark skin African medium size women. mdhlulicz@yahoo.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linn, if this is for real, I’m sorry. I just can’t imagine this is real…. (BUT…. if it not a fake – sigh – ) As long as you are confident with yourself, you will find a man for you, period. Move on past this color thing please. (posting an email address after that? C’mon.)
LikeLike
With regard to:
OK, just saw this film yesterday: how about a post on “Precious”? Seems to hit on a lot of your favorite topics, Abagond, female beauty most particularly.
Embracing Precious: The nuances and truths in the individual and collective stories we tell
By Imani Perry
http://www.afro-netizen.com/2010/03/embracing-precious-the-nuances-and-truths-in-the-individual-and-collective-stories-we-tell.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_campaign=0&utm_content=92525
Any thoughts Thad
LikeLike
What are your thoughts on Monarchies, Abagond?
LikeLike
Seems like she has had the same reaction to “Precious” as I did to “City of God”, J. On the one hand, thumbs up for portraying – and convincingly – lives that rarely make it to the silver screen. On the other hand, concern that this might just be a sort of ‘pornography of poverty”.
LikeLike
Abagond, for 4th of July you should do a post on Black Women in WW2
LikeLike
How about writing a post about the Haitian Revolution from France!
LikeLike
Thad, may I ask what’s wrong with “City of God”? I loved that film (well, you can’t “love” a film like that, but it was amazing). I understand your view of it might be different. So what was that wrong, incorrect, or unethical (?) about it?
CoG ends up being a bit “pornography of poverty”. The only time the favela gets on the silver screen is when people are killing other people there. Then is becomes oh-so-photogenic.
LikeLike
abagond
You should talk about why there are disproportionally more black men in prison for drug crime.
http://blog.norml.org/2010/03/10/the-new-jim-crow-how-the-war-on-drugs-gave-birth-to-a-permanent-american-undercaste/
LikeLike
Ó Dochartaigh:
Thanks for the link. I am going to do a post on the high rates of imprisonment of black men.
LikeLike
To those saying City Of God [one of my fav. movies] is uinethical or just a bad movie- the point of film and movies is to transport you to a different reality. and city of god does just that. so, there.
LikeLike
Color of Luv
You passed for black when you were younger, so what, that makes you an authority on the subject? Thought I’d heard it all. *rolls eyes*
LikeLike
don’t know if you already did this or not:
how about a post on why blacks perceived as ‘successful’ are referred to as acting white, or joining the white community.
for example, Barrack Obama is often referred to as the ‘whitest black guy ever’.
or in Fresh Prince of Belair, Will Smith is the ‘cool guy,’ or a ‘real black person’ because he came from the ghetto and has an african-american accent. the rest of the family seems to have stereotypical white traits: carleton is the nerdy, awkward guy who takes the brunt of the jokes…hillary is the materialistic valley girl/blonde bimbo.. the younger sister and the mother are the serious, level headed, down to earth white women (found in every sit-com)… and the dad is basically a re-hashed homer simpson. and the butler has an aristocratic, english accent?
it seems to me like becoming successful, getting an education, speaking like ‘a white person’ is labelled as ‘selling out.’ if a black person is successful in business or politics, it means they must have sucked up big time to white people. afterall, there’s no way a black person can become successful on their own, right?
LikeLike
@ voice of reason
Intresting, I don’t think of the Resh Prince of Bel-Air in that way. I twas more of another side of “Blackness” that does not get shown in the media. The family is black and proud but they are no t the stereotypes that people are used to seeing and that was pointed out in the show numerous of times. They were more of a product of their environment, Hilary being a valley girl, Carlton being a stuck up trust fund baby rich boy, Ashley typical young teenager relatable to many teens who are stuck in that child/adult cute stage. The parents both successful in their profession. And Geoferry the Butler I don’t know how many times I have heard from some Black Americans saying how they didn’t know that they were any black people in the UK.
LikeLike
Requesting to do a story on a women’s role in marriage and submission. Also, sin judging sin.
It would be interesting to get a perspective from a variety of people instead of just a few who are in agreement anyways.
LikeLike
How about the notion of “Politically Correctness” gone overboard?
This came up in another thread, so I thought I’d throw it out there. I can’t speak for the rest of Latin America/Carribean, but PC speech is laughed at in Brazil. (A lot of my international experience has shown me that the US is way over the top when it comes to PC. Almost like people who grow up in a PC environment are OVERLY sensitive. Thoughts?
LikeLike
voice of reason wrote:
how about a post on why blacks perceived as ’successful’ are referred to as acting white, or joining the white community. for example, Barrack Obama is often referred to as the ‘whitest black guy ever’.”
Good idea. Especially good considering this concept was at the core of Michelle Obama’s senior thesis at Princeton.
LikeLike
abagond,
How about one of your thought experiments on a US in which blacks are the majority and whites the minority?
LikeLike
No Slappz:
That is a good suggestion, though doubtless you will call whatever I write a black fantasy since I do not believe in the Savage Black Rule trope (which some see as”proved” by the case of Zimbabwe and, in the States, violent ghettos and bad black mayors).
In any case, I already have two posts kind of along those lines, but they are cultural rather than political:
LikeLike
Do you really think political correctness causes oversensitivity, or rather causes people to bitch when they catch hell for voicing their backwards and racist/sexist/ableist/etc views?
There’s a article here that explains what I mean.
LikeLike
I despise political correctness.
LikeLike
To BLACKkittenROAR – I’m approaching this from a cultural perspective, Brazil vs the U.S, because that is what I am familiar with. (Sometimes is like travelling between alternate realities)
I would like to see studies most definitely. I can’t really comment on PR or DR like I can Brazil, because I didn’t grow up there/live there. Do you have any international experience for comparison???
LikeLike
I’m Canadian, so things are very different here. Most white Canadians I’ve come in contact with have no problem not being PC.
Canada prides itself as being multicultural. IMO multiculturalism is a load of crap. It assumes that the root of racism is lack of understanding and exposure to different cultures.
Because of this assumption, whites feel that they can say whatever they want because Canada is multicultural and therefore not racist.
Canada has a very racist past, and yet this is glossed over and overlooked because whites believe Canada “isn’t like that”. Even our Prime Minister made as asinine remark about Canada having a past free of colonialism (which simply is not true – but arguing this fact with a white person, even if other whites are there to support your claims is like banging your head against a wall…I tried the other day to no avail).
IMO people who have an issue with being PC simply do not want to give up their privilege. You really should just read the article I linked to in my last comment.
LikeLike
Hating PC has nothing to do with privilege. I hate PC even (or especially) when is about my group, and I am really vocal about it. Being polite and taking care about other people’s feeling is a good thing. Doing your best not to be intentionally hurtful, offensive and disrespectful is a good thing. But it’s not what PC is about. PC is about what you’re allowed to say out loud while still thinking all those nasty things. For example, PC is about calling black people “African American” (even if they are not African Americans), while still thinking awful things. This is a simple example about race, but PC can be about anything, really. Religion, gender, nationality- you name it.
I don’t care if people who hate me or my group use polite names. Actually, if they dislike me, I prefer them to be rude.
LikeLike
I disagree. Hating having to be PC has everything to do with not wanting to give up privilege (why should anyone have the right to be offensive and disrespectful against any group or individual simply because being PC is annoying?). I don’t give a crap who hates me because of whom they perceive me to be.
I feel everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of preconceived notions one has. And that means you don’t get to call me a nigger, or use that word in my presence even if your only doing so to be PC, and you don’t get to talk down to me just because I’m a woman even though you secretly believe we all belong barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, because regardless I am still a human being, and being respectful really isn’t that hard.
But I can already see that this concept is not something everyone is going to be able to grasp, and I do hate silly arguments, so feel free to disagree.
LikeLike
so feel free to disagree
Of course, that’s given. I’m not even trying to say my view on this matter is the right one.
LikeLike
To BLACKkittenRoar – I agree with Mira on this one.
I can think of A LOT of examples to share, but all mine are Brazilian in nature. They would definitely offend some people here, while in Brazil nobody would think twice.
Lets see…. Here is an example to a lesser degree. Lets say group A may wish to be called African-American because they deem “Black” to be offensive. Lets say group B takes pride in being “Black” and thinks it is absurd to use the term African-American.
We can define what is PC based on Societie’s rules currently, but if a certain group was offended one way or another, who would be Politically Correct? Lets think outside the box here.
LikeLike
I think you’re missing the point and getting hung up on technicalities. But as I said before, this is not a concept everyone will be able (or willing) to grasp, so feel free to disagree.
LikeLike
True. There are people who value honesty above many other things, including politeness.
LikeLike
I find this statement very troubling and it makes me very uneasy. I really don’t think being PC has anything to do with restricting the truth.
Truth is so subjective. Just because one has an abusive view of another that they hold to be true (but may not be to another), that means they get to shove that truth down somebody elses throat?
People have varying opinions, but opinions are just that..opinions not truths.
LikeLike
Abbaaagonnnddddd ???!!!! (think Costello yelling for “Abbott…) HEY ABAGONDDddddd!!!!
lol – new thread?
To BLACKkittenROAR – not sure I understand “how” I’m “missing the point”? I don’t see how the example I gave is a “technicality”.
Here is a real time example: Midgets, Dwarves, Little People. The PC term to use is “Little People”.
LikeLike
abagond,
The fatal flaw in the If Black Ran Hollywood post is this: It assumes that whites would act like blacks and simply accept the status quo while grumbling about it.
Black Hollywood might operate as you suggested. But if it did, whites would simply create a new media center and develop new business.
With respect to a US with a black majority, you can be sure whites would fear the coming of the next Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Zaire, etc. It is not the present that worries whites. It is the future.
Obama is floundering, which worries people who realize what that might mean. He’s well on his way to becoming the black Jimmy Carter, eerily duplicating many of Carter’s blunders.
LikeLike
The way I see it, PC is a tool that protects the abusers (let’s call them abusers). Any racist, sexist, homophobic jerk can transform his manners into something acceptable WITHOUT really changing what’s in his mind and his heart. He or she can quickly learn not to use certain words and society will consider them acceptable, polite and even “nice people”. Why? They don’t deserve it.
Manners are not what make us good people, our heart and mind are.
In other situations, PC gone mad leads to really stupid situations. Really, calling me “vertically challenged” doesn’t even sound good or respectful, and it makes no sense. I am short. There’s nothing wrong with it.
LikeLike
ColorOfLuv:
You do seem to be having trouble with this particular subject. Let me ask you this, if a little person wants to be called a little person, where do you get off calling them a midget if they find that offensive?
LikeLike
Mira:
Hmmmm, I do see your point there. I still think though that the majority bitching about PCness do so because they do not wish to surrender their privilege.
LikeLike
I am not ColorOFLuv, but let me present my thought on this: people should be called the way the want to be called. End of story. No explanations.
Then again, assuming all members of one group (or something that I perceive as a group and might not even exist as a group) want to be called by the same name/term, is offensive in itself. I do believe these issues should rise in conversations naturally, not to be forced by the all mighty outside source.
LikeLike
BLACKkittenROAR —
LOL…. I never said I would call a little person “midget” if they want to be called a Little Person. I posed this as a suggestion and “open ended” question.
What trouble do I have? I’m not sure what you are trying to say.
LikeLike
so what if you get certain groups of little people that refer to themselves as dwarves and that is what they prefer???
LikeLike
“For example, PC is about calling black people “African American” (even if they are not African Americans), while still thinking awful things. ”
“African American” is a useful term. It identifies a specific ethnocultural group in the United States, descendants of slaves held in the country. “Black” refers to anyone of Sub-Saharan African descent. Some things that apply to African Americans are almost certainly not true of all blacks, even those in the United States who are not descended from slaves.
LikeLike
ColorOfLuv:
I used the term midget as an example, I was not insinuating that you would call a little person a midget. You keep presenting these examples as if these terms are unheard of. I fail to see what you are attempting to accomplish. So there are different terms for groups of people but they prefer one over the other, whats wrong with that? Where is the actual argument here? What is the real problem, other than you personally feeling inconvenienced at having to call somebody something they chose rather than a label you have given them?
And who gives a flying f— if some little people prefer to be called dwarfs. If you slip up and call them little people, I’m sure they will politely correct you realizing that you didn’t know better. The momentary embarrassment you feel over using the wrong term isn’t that big of a deal, is it?
LikeLike
Nothing wrong with terms “African American” and “black”. However, calling any black person “African American” in fear/guilt of saying “black” is offensive.
LikeLike
The thing is, ANYTHING (and I mean anything) can be offensive and will be offensive to some people. Nothing wrong with that.
But forcing people to choose specific words instead of others is a typical example of censorship. Plus, it doesn’t solve the problem.
People will continue to be mean and disrespectful, but that will be hidden, because they will be behaving politely and acceptable by society’s weird instructions on what’s offensive and what is not.
LikeLike
Mira:
You say forcing someone to chose a certain word is censorship, but why should an individual or group have a label forced upon them which may not be representative of who they are just because one group wishes to be free from censorship. That seems incredibly oppressive IMO.
LikeLike
I’m sorry, BLACKkittenROAR, I think you missed my point. (Mira understood where I was going with this, but I digress)
Let me find another one: Some Latinos find the usage of the word Hispanic to be offensive and prefer LATINO. Others prefer the term HISPANIC. Which one is the politically correct term to use?
I would give Brazilian examples, but as I stated before as an “American” you probably wouldn’t be able to understand or identify with them.
LikeLike
ColorOfLuv:
Hey ColorOfLuv, way to be an asshole and label me as something I’m not. I already responded that I was not American so please have the respect to refer to me as what I am. You appear to be too ignorant to catch onto the point that I am trying to make, so keep coming up with silly examples which prove nothing while side-stepping the actual matter. To say your argument has holes would be giving it too much credit, since it seems to be nonexistent. However, I don’t feel the need to waste any more of my time on you, so have fun being backwards. You have proven my point beautifully, thanks.
LikeLike
You say forcing someone to chose a certain word is censorship, but why should an individual or group have a label forced upon them which may not be representative of who they are just because one group wishes to be free from censorship. That seems incredibly oppressive IMO.
You are talking about groups, I am talking about individuals. You don’t know how I want to be called unless I tell you. If I have some specific demands, I will tell you. If you don’t mean to be offensive you will call me the way I want to be called. If you want to be offensive or you simply don’t care, you won’t. But if you are forced by society to automatically assume how I want to be called, that is censorship. Freedom of speech? If I am allowed to say whatever I want, you can always decide if you like what I said and if you agree with me. If we both hide behind euphemisms… It’s not a good situation.
I think you see “political incorrectness” as the same as “being offensive”. You also seem to see PC as some sort of help to those who are oppressed. On the contrary, I see it as a way for oppressors to get away with many ugly things. It’s also not solving the problem. It gives offensive people tool to continue being rude, offensive and hateful without any consequences.
LikeLike
Wait a minute Kitten, you’ve had a problem with me since my first post of an “open ended’ question.
I’m sorry I did not see that you were not American. That warrants calling me a “name”?
You haven’t answered any of my questions so how am I sidestepping???????? Is MIRA sidestepping too?
C’mon BLACKkittenROAR – seriously? lol You’re way too serious!
LikeLike
To BLACKkittenROAR,
First of all, I don’t think a$$ hole is PC! lol
Seriously though, I didn’t see your post where you said you were Canadian. I don’t know if that warrants calling me a name!!! (My Brazilian example still would hold true to you since you’re Canadian. You wouldn’t understand the examples.) For this reason, I tried to use examples that I thought you would understand…
Honestly: There are Latinos offended by the word Hispanic, and others who prefer it.
LikeLike
Mira:
I completely agree with your last point, being PC does allow wolves to dress up in sheep’s clothing. But I still do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with being PC, I certainly do not see it as censorship, but I think overtime it has eroded to what you are describing which I agree should be done away with.
ColorOfLuv:
Yea, I’m done with you. You have let your true colours shine through. I have answered your questions time and time again, but you haven’t seemed to be able to grasp what I’ve been saying. Let me spell it out in bold:
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT SOMEONE WISHES TO BE CALLED, THERE IS NO ONE “CORRECT” TERM, WHAT A PERSON OR GROUP WISHES TO CALL THEMSELVES IS THE RIGHT TERM TO USE. NOBODY SHOULD EVER JUST LABEL SOMEBODY SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO BE INCONVENIENCE BY ACTUALLY FINDING OUT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON OR GROUP, PERIOD.
Why can’t you grasp this? this isn’t difficult. I’m tired of repeating myself. Take a page out of Mira’s book and say something constructive.
If I actually thought you were sorry I would take back calling you an asshole, but I don’t. The quotations you put around “American” are suspect.
In terms of asshole being politically correct or not, you have once again lead me to believe you don’t really understand what being PC really is. I’ll use the term negro as an example. People find negro offensive because the term denotes a specific class of people who are seen as inferior and as such not fully human and subject to unequal treatment. It isn’t PC to use this term, because it simple isn’t accurate (or at least publicly it isn’t acceptable to have this view). While on the other hand, you being an asshole is debatable.
LikeLike
my true colors? Listen, I fight for equality and civil rights. Just because I play Devils advocate doesn’t make me the devil.
You jumped to a conclusion irrationally and started behaving like an ill tempered child resorting to cursing and name calling.
You’re way too serious and getting offended at an open ended argument that MIRA “obviously” does get. She makes some great points! (Which is the sole reason I “suggested” this as a talking point for Abagond to put on his blog.)
(Don’t judge a book by its cover Kitten, you might find you’re guilty of commiting the very same thing you are in a hurry to condemn!)
LikeLike
i guess there already is a post on ‘acting white.’ just read it – pretty interesting.
reading the comments there made me think of another topic: why certain types of popular music are classified as being white or black. jazz, blues, rap are considered black music and rock, metal, are considered white. its strange because all music is just an evolution of earlier styles. i believe blues evolved from african folk music. jazz was a combination of american blues and classical european music. rock combined elements of blues and swing. but notable musicians who broke the race barrier are very few. today, when a white person raps, he’s seen as ‘trying to be black.’ what are people’s opinions about when a black person plays rock or metal, is that seen as a ‘white’ thing to do?
LikeLike
ColorOfLuv:
Ha! Right…you’re playing devils advocate? Then you really actually believe that being PC does not lead to oversensitivity? Or is that another term you are throwing out without properly understanding?
And whos’s being serious? This is an online convo between complete strangers. Seems to me like you may actually be the on guilty of what you accuse.
LikeLike
Black person playing rock or mettle? Since rock came from Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and rhythm and blues, and Hendrix was a serious voice in rock, its totaly cool.
I always thought, there are no passport and immigration doors to pass through for anyone to play any culture.
Heck, white people all over the Americas adopted Afro diasporic rhythms and dances as their popular music base.
But, a person has to be honest about the roots.
A white rocker not knowing the black background of rock and roll ( by the way, the 1941 clip I bought in of Dorothy Dandridge has here saying the term “rock and roll”), is being naive.
To not know the banjo is an African instrument not a country and western invented instrument, is naive
LikeLike
B.R. – my question was meant for today. and in case you missed it from before, i said all styles of music are a branching out of earlier styles. i didn’t say white people invented rock and roll. neither did blacks for that matter. but as far back as the 60’s, certain music was seen as white or black. my question is TODAY, if you see a white person rapping or playing blues, would you consider that a ‘black’ thing to do? if you know a black person who listens to the beatles or led zeppelin, would you see him as trying to ‘act white?’
LikeLike
Well, I didnt think I was avoiding today, so , I say again, I dont think there is a passport or immigration gate you have to pass through.
For me , it depends on if the person does it well.Really put in the time.
I cant speak for each individual playing the styles like you described, but , when I play jazz, I consider myself playing a black American style (especialy the way I like to play it).When I play Afro Brazilian music, I consider Im playing an Afro Brazilian style. If I am playing hip hop for break dancers, I consider Im playing a black American style. If I play in an orchestra of classical music, I consider Im playing a white European style.
If I am playing a black style, Im not sure I am “acting black”, but I sure am trying to channal my jazz idols who are black Americans and somtimes a white jazz musician like Buddy Rich, who knew he was playing a black American art also.
Maybe it is exactly that, I am acting black, but , in a channaling kind of way. So , someone else would have to define that .
Again, it makes a huge differance if someone is doing it really well or poorly.
LikeLike
BLACKkittenROAR:
I’m being serious and I agree with you when you say, “IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT SOMEONE WISHES TO BE CALLED, THERE IS NO ONE “CORRECT” TERM, WHAT A PERSON OR GROUP WISHES TO CALL THEMSELVES IS THE RIGHT TERM TO USE. NOBODY SHOULD EVER JUST LABEL SOMEBODY SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO BE INCONVENIENCE BY ACTUALLY FINDING OUT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON OR GROUP, PERIOD.”
i agree…. When I first “suggested” this as a post, I most certainly did not want to make a statement such as, “Political Correctness is…….” This is a blog. A forum for discussion and debate -contructive conversation. The fact that I posed the question should demonstrate that I want to illicit responses from as many different people as possible to receive and understand the many different perspectives. How is that bad? No ill will or bad intentions were meant by that question.
The fact that I asked, “Almost like people who grow up in a PC environment are OVERLY sensitive. Thoughts?”
I asked this with Brazil in mind. When I put “American”, in quotes, there was no ill intent there either. In Brazil, race is no where near the problem that it is in the U.S. Political Correctness does not exist in hardly any form. A lot of my fellow Brazilians do not understand the concept. Culturally, they don’t get this concept. Since I’ve lived in Brazil and identify with Brazil just as much as the U.S, I have grown up in two different worlds. I was hoping to get additional comments from a lot of the Latin American/International participants on this blog to “gauge” their perceptions on being PC and how they feel about it.
My intention was most certainly not to say, “PC is wrong, lets fight!” (that is a bit extreme and not where I’m coming from at all.)
I would like to know if there have been comparitive studies done on the PC phenomenon.
Does that make more sense?
LikeLike
Hey Aba, what about a post about Africans through african-american lens? I’m curious about what african-americans think of Afrca/africans nowadays…
LikeLike
colorofluv your apeal to international Latin American participants cant help but force me to at least address you.
I dont want to come in and make a blatent statement about it. There are too many varialbles that I see before I start making statements.
Many Brazilians you are talking about are stuck in an American pre Julia mentality. Tv is a disgrace, 3 white singers are the leading representatives of Salvador Bahia, compare the color of congress to the color of people in prison in Brazil outside of the south.
And on the other hand, I dont think there is a Brazilian black woman that would not date me because I was white and represented white privladge or a linc to the slave trade.
So there is a lot of complexity I dont want to make a statement on at this time
LikeLike
Definitely complex B.R!!! “J” and I are discussing race and latin america over on the Afro-Latino thread.
As for PC in Brazil, I wasn’t thinking in racial terms, but more along gender lines, sexual preference, ethnic background. (Por exemplo, tem muito gente meio Japonese/Brasileiro. Algums deles tem o apelido “chino”, e nem esquenta. Ta nem ai… entende?)
LikeLike
nao sei ,cara I dont know , man, how people receive nicknames isnt exactly a demonstration of real prejudices.
Im not sure your point, but, what do you think of this:
Right now, in Brazil, a country with the percentage of black people who get into college is painfully low, Idont know the exact percentage, but , its much lower than the USA, they are discussing making legal “quotas” for black people to get into college.
And there is some heated debate, and you can see some really interesting things coming from the white nationalists.
Some really interesting pr Julia ideas
And for lots of white Brazilians, its not race, its just class, its a social problem
LikeLike
That would be interesting B.R. “they are discussing making legal “quotas” for black people to get into college.”
I could just see all the phenotypically White Brazilians claiming their Black in order to get into college. I think that would be a real problem and not solve anything.
The quota idea is not a fix. Brazil needs to get in to the favelas and create a better educational system. Address the real problem, you know? Right now, only the Private schools offer a legitimate education. (Until you get to the University level, where ironically the Public ones are the best.)
LikeLike
colorofluv, you could see white Brazilians tying to get into collage trying to be black, but here is a quote of what this Brazilian thinks and I wonder if it isnt how a lot of Brazilians think:
“Brazilians don’t know about racism history and what generated the current American racial society. Brazilians never heard of scientific racism. Brazilians think the terms “east” and “west” are simple general directions you can find with the help of a compass and don’t associated them with any particular race or country.
There are so many things Brazilians in general ignore about the poisonous aspects of the American culture, and the current regime, I mean, adminstration is not interested in clarifying anything. The current affirmative action in Brazil is an unwanted thing, that the people of Brazil doesn’t approve, and they want to force feed it on us no matter what, exploiting the said cultural differences. For example, they accuse Brazil of racism, but no Brazilian knows what real racism is like. Living a little in the US would be enough for anybody to learn what real racism is, i.e., a society where “race” occupies a central role. ”
I dont agree with this, and I think if it takes quotas to get more black Brazilians in college , Im for it, and I wish it would aply to tv also, but that was dropped from the agenda.
LikeLike
he goes on to say this:
“Racism will never cease to exist in the US because it is a business. It is a business where corrupt black men can make a few bucks and advance their own careers, usually at the expense of others.
Some people (I mean the usual suspects, NGOs, Ford Foundation, etc) are funding and trying desperatly to do the same in Brazil. And yet they fail. They don’t have people’s support and now are trying to push whatever stupid law they want by sneaking it or bullying others”
and this:
“But the Black brazilians movement is funded by US based organizations and ideologically follow black Americans with “one black race”, “one drop rule”, inverse racism, etc.
There’s an American political interest, be it black elites or white or anything else, to install the same American racism in here. ”
this is what some white Brazilians against quotas are saying
LikeLike
Wow B.R… Interesting stuff. Do you have a source you could share? I would love to read up on this persons comments and dig deeper into this.
LikeLike
To MerriMay –
you said, “Made me wonder just what is said in white households about black people.”
I’m sure that it occurs in some households in the U.S, but much less than you may think. I’m almost 40 years old and have never heard anything like that in my life through the millions of connections I’ve had.
LikeLike
The best comment on American views versus Brazilian views was probably by Oracy Nogueira in “Preconceito de cor versus preconceito de marca”, written back in the 1950s.
Though Oracy is mainly talking about race, he ends up the article saying that the differences between American and Brazilian views on race are, in fact, emblematic of a wider difference between the two peoples. According to Oracy, Americans tend to see things in binary “this or that” dichotomies which are believed to be absolute whereas Brazilians see the same things on a non-absolutist sliding scale. Race views are an example of this, says Oracy, but so are views on religion, politics or pretty much anything.
Later on, Roberto da Matta came along with “Relativizando” in which he famously claims that Americans divide things in binary fashion whereas Brazilians feel more comfortable with trinary divisions.
Brazilians, if pressed, will generally feel better running to a neutral position. This is why PC behavior is something of a joke down here. Witness the recent beer commercial which had an overly sincere woman lecturing a band of samba players that they shouldn’t be drinking and singing while the world slides into the toilet…
LikeLike
Made me wonder just what is said in white households about black people. Most folks have made their minds up, they’re a lost cause!
In both my grandma’s households, mouthwash with Ivory soap would have followed the employment of the “n word”. Not that this means there weren’t other forms of racism going around uncommented, but I think too often black anti-racists have something of a two-dimensional cartoonish view of how racism is dealt with among whites.
It’s a bit more complicated than “let’s start with the bullsh#$ now that there are no n#$%%¨s to listen to us”, at least in many families.
LikeLike
Thanks for the information Thad.
LikeLike
How about something on sports!?
LikeLike
I vote for Jack Johnson!
LikeLike
Jack Johnson ? (the musician? Great stuff) I second Jack Johnson with Ben Harper.
LikeLike
I second that! I read a book a few years ago called ‘Unforgiving Blackness” by Geoffrey C. Ward. Interesting to say the least.
LikeLike
Correct me if I’m wrong Thad, but are you referring to the boxer. If so, Jack Johnson was the first Black heavywight world champion circa 1907 or there abouts.
LikeLike
Herneith —
That makes a lot more sense. I was scratching my head over the “Jack Johnson” post.
LikeLike
Jack Johnson the boxer. There’s some real juicy stuff about whiteness, blackness and masculinity in general in his story.
LikeLike
Colorofluv
Ben Harper is the man!! LOL
LikeLike
How about other black sports stars like Pele, NBA Stars (Most of them), Black soccer players in the major european soccer leagues!
LikeLike
Well, Ana Paula did her doctorate on Pelé and race. If Abagond would like something from her, I’m sure she could oblige.
LikeLike
Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck.
Those three are the lowest of the low, I found this on Bossip.
I am glad MSNBC baited out these fools talk about rude people God damn. They went after a 11 year old boy Just look at the link
http://hiphopwired.com/2010/03/19/rush-limbaugh-and-right-wingers-attack-11-year-old-healthcare-reform-supporter-video/
LikeLike
I read in an internet article that a bollywood director said that he didn’t hire dark women for his movies to play flirty, feminine roles because dark women are too sexy, sensous for such roles and when men look at them they would think of sex, and therefore would not come off as believable in such roles. He said that light women are feminine.
Now Abagond, I would like to know what you think about this director’s opinion. When he said dark women, I took it that he meant not only dark skin, but even women with white skin who have dark hair and dark eyes such as Monica Bellucci, and she is very sensuous and sexy. So I saw this as being more about skin color.
Now I know his opinion may have come off as offensive do you think there is some truth to it?
LikeLike
I watched Mrs Evers Boys today what about a post on The Tuskegee Experiment
LikeLike
Doing a post about the Israeli and Ethiopian Jews would be great I think.
LikeLike
I suffer from CRIMP-compulsive-reactive information management purchasing! Please do some posts on software. Most downloadable software comes with a thirty day trial period. You could put the software through its paces and critique the performance.
LikeLike
http://roissy.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/black-men-white-women/
LikeLike
have you done a post on refugees and displaced persons?
could be interesting…
LikeLike
No, I have not. Refugees would make a wonderful post.
LikeLike
I don’t understand these rich white people that were trying to stop Obama, they are rich they can afford their healthcare Obama is trying to help the poor and since they don’t need help, I don’t know why they would try to stop him.
I don’t understand why people accuse Obama on being a socialist (I guess it’s taken for granted that it’s the worst thing a politician can be)- just because he wants to give health care to poor people. I mean, yes, it can be labelled “socialist”, but it’s a good thing. News flash: not all socialist things are bad. Free health care and education are definitely not bad things.
LikeLike
Americans – white and black – are trained to kjerk their knee at the word “socialist” from birth on, Mira. 99.9% have not a single clue as to what the word means, they’ll just tell you “evil”.
Even smart Americans are wobbly on this point. I mean look at our gracious host: as far as I can tell, Abagond thinks “Marxism” is a synonym of “materialism”.
If it weren’t for “socialism”, people would have to accuse Obama of being a devil worshipper, which would be just about as logical. “Socialist” sounds more fearsome, however.
LikeLike
mira, you wrote:
Free health care and education are definitely not bad things.
The US spends about $2.5 TRILLION per year on healthcare. Is that your idea of free?
The NY City Department of Education spends over $16,000 a year per student. Is this another example of a free benefit?
LikeLike
The US spends about $2.5 TRILLION per year on healthcare. Is that your idea of free?
Well, obviously, money has to come from somewhere. But to a person in need, health care should be free, no questions asked. Same goes for education. US should be the richest country on the planet. I bet the money is out there.
LikeLike
Bottom line – the U.S. Healtcare system is flawed. It’s reactionary approach rather than preventative approach is quite flawed… The system is flawed as a whole.
The current healthcare plan is a step in the right direction; however, it too has its share of problems.
LikeLike
I meant: “US is supposed to be the richest country”.
I don’t know much about the proposed healthcare plan. It’s just the way I was raised… Free healthcare and education for everyone was a norm.
LikeLike
ColorOfLuv, you wrote:
Bottom line – the U.S. Healtcare system is flawed. It’s reactionary approach rather than preventative approach is quite flawed…
Preventative? Prevention is in the hands of the individual. In the US there are still 50 MILLION smokers. That’s one-sixth of the population.
Here’s a factoid for you. The lowest healthcare costs in the US are found among the residents of Utah — the state populated by Mormons. Mormons are not permitted to smoke, drink alcohol or coffee, and other bad health habits are also forbidden.
What a shock. Their clean-living philosophy has proven itself.
If no one in the US smoked, if people cut way back on drinking, avoided recreational drugs and got some regular exercise, our national healthcare bill would easily drop by a full one-third.
No program that promises to repair the damage we willfully inflict on ourselves can lead to lower healthcare costs.
LikeLike
Prevention is in the hands of the individual.
No, it isn’t. Who taught you that BS? The state most clearly has the right to excercise preventive health care and has done so quite consistently in the U.S.
LikeLike
no_slappz said:
“Preventative? Prevention is in the hands of the individual. In the US there are still 50 MILLION smokers. That’s one-sixth of the population.
Here’s a factoid for you. The lowest healthcare costs in the US are found among the residents of Utah — the state populated by Mormons. Mormons are not permitted to smoke, drink alcohol or coffee, and other bad health habits are also forbidden.
What a shock. Their clean-living philosophy has proven itself.
If no one in the US smoked, if people cut way back on drinking, avoided recreational drugs and got some regular exercise, our national healthcare bill would easily drop by a full one-third.
No program that promises to repair the damage we willfully inflict on ourselves can lead to lower healthcare costs.”
For once no_slappz, I kinda agree with you!
I feel really, really, really dirty now!
LikeLike
U.S. Reactionary = wife in U.S. has a lump in her breast. U.S. doctors say we’ll keep an eye on it. Come back in six months.
Brazil Preventative = wife in Brazil has same lump in breast and doctor recommends biopsy to be sure. No need to “wait & see”…..
A lot more examples….. but I digress.
LikeLike
All I can say is that I am glad we have free health care here in Canada, warts and all. I suppose, according to some, we are a ‘socialist’ nation!
LikeLike
“Prevention is in the hands of the individual. ”
not always, there are other factors t hat go into health of the individual. it’seasy to say well people shouldn’t smoke,drink or eat fast food, but when you live in an enviorment where you’re poor and its easir to get a big mac than a bag of apples and you have more acess to cocain than pain medication, aren’t we setting people or individuals up for failure. This is not an equal society and some people are put into unequal situations that predispose them andincrease the liklihood that they’ll have health problems. Look at the Aids epidmeic in Haiti 4 example…peole are so quick to blame the individual for their health choices, but they never stop and ask why orexamine the route cause
LikeLike
I agree Peanut and what about those who are born with medical conditions.
LikeLike
peanut, you wrote:
it’seasy to say well people shouldn’t smoke,drink or eat fast food, but when you live in an enviorment where you’re poor and its easir to get a big mac than a bag of apples and you have more acess to cocain than pain medication, aren’t we setting people or individuals up for failure.
Where are these neighborhoods that are over-run with McDonalds and devoid of supermarkets and other venues selling fresh foods?
Every neighborhood in NY City has convenience stores, markets and supermarkets that sell good wholesome non-junk food. In Brooklyn on Flatbush Avenue they are on almost every block.
The same is true for drug stores. Rite Aid, Walgreens and Duane Reade are competing on every block.
Why would supermarkets and drug stores miss out on the golden opportunity to serve poor neighborhoods? When most residents receive food stamps and Medicaid, food stores and drugs stores are guaranteed payment.
Sadly, too often I see obese black and hispanic women shopping in supermarkets pushing carts filled with pasta, canned goods and sweetened cereal.
This is not an equal society and some people are put into unequal situations that predispose them andincrease the liklihood that they’ll have health problems.
Oh. In other words you are admitting that minority shoppers are ignorant of basic concepts of healthful eating. And it appears you are saying they are unaware that smoking causes cancer and that drinking damages your liver and brain.
Look at the Aids epidmeic in Haiti 4 example…peole are so quick to blame the individual for their health choices, but they never stop and ask why orexamine the route cause
If there was ever a self-inflicted disease, AIDS is it. Now it appears you are claiming Haitians are too ignorant to have learned that anal sex and IV drug use account for the transmission of about 99% of all AIDS cases. Apparently the medical facts have failed to reach Botswana, where about 25% of the population is infected.
LikeLike
Where are these neighborhoods that are over-run with McDonalds and devoid of supermarkets and other venues selling fresh foods?
Thats not the point. The point is McDonalds 99 cents menu is much cheaper than health food. Yes preparing a healthy meal with fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, skinless chicken breast, fish, and other lean cuts of meat, whole grain rice and pasta, seasonings, prepared lowfat tv dinner like weightwatchers, basically lowfat anything, including bottled water can get expensive after awhile.
“The same is true for drug stores. Rite Aid, Walgreens and Duane Reade are competing on every block.”
Since when did drug stores start selling a wide variety of health food? There arent any drug stores like Walgreens on every block in poor neighborhoods. There was a liquor store across the street that sold zero health food and only snacks and junkfood.
“Sadly, too often I see obese black and hispanic women shopping in supermarkets pushing carts filled with pasta, canned goods and sweetened cereal.”
I guess where I live white women must be eating the same thing because most of them are obese too.
Oh. In other words you are admitting that minority shoppers are ignorant of basic concepts of healthful eating.
No one is ignorant. If healthy food was cheaper more poor people will buy it.
“And it appears you are saying they are unaware that smoking causes cancer and that drinking damages your liver and brain.”
Some people are addicted to smoking and alcohol. Why not ban these products? Oh I forgot the government (whites) would lose too much money.
“If there was ever a self-inflicted disease, AIDS is it.”
Its not self inflicted if you were raped, forced into prostitution or born with it. This might be the case in some poor countries.
LikeLike
This is interesting. McDonalds is expensive in my country. Well, not “expensive” expensive (as: classy), but not everybody can afford it. Only on special occasions, almost.
But the point is: no_slappz doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about. What else is new?
LikeLike
Leaveumthinking,
Peanut made the bogus claim that fresh food was unavailable in poor neighborhoods. He also said it was easier to get cocaine instead of legitimate pain medication.
Hence, I mentioned a few realities about markets and drug stores, as well as the crucial point that people in poor neighborhoods receive food stamps and Medicaid benefits. Thus, most are able to get healthy food and their prescription medications without much difficulty.
By saying that McDonald’s offers a 99-cent meal, you are implying McDonald’s takes food stamps.
But we know that is false. What is true, however, is that people are willing to buy junk at McDonalds rather than eat better food gotten from supermarkets with food stamps.
You wrote:
Some people are addicted to smoking and alcohol. Why not ban these products? Oh I forgot the government (whites) would lose too much money.
Oh. Were these people born addicted to smoking and alcohol?
Do you think it is possible to “ban” these products? If you think the government can ban them, why do you think it is impossible for individuals to independently stop consuming them? Smoking causes lung cancer and cardio-pulmonary disease. What more do you need to know?
As for the recipients of the taxes collected from tobacco and alcohol, well, whom might they be? Where does the money for food stamps and Medicaid come from?
Meanwhile, food stamps cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, or prepared food. Should the government handle this benefit a different way?
LikeLike
“By saying that McDonald’s offers a 99-cent meal, you are implying McDonald’s takes food stamps.”
LOL where did I mention food stamps? Are you implying that poor equals on food stamps?
“But we know that is false. What is true, however, is that people are willing to buy junk at McDonalds rather than eat better food gotten from supermarkets with food stamps.”
Not all poor people recieve food stamps or even qualify for them. Some poor people work for a living sometimes two jobs at a time and pay taxes like everyone else. Not all poor people depend on the government.
Do you think it is possible to “ban” these products?
Yes make them illegal so that there harder to obtain and some people probaly wont try them to begin with if they are illegal.
why do you think it is impossible for individuals to independently stop consuming them?
I never said it was impossible. If they are addicted it may be hard for them to stop even if they wanted to. What part of the word addiction do you not understand.
Smoking causes lung cancer and cardio-pulmonary disease. What more do you need to know?
Um I dont smoke
As for the recipients of the taxes collected from tobacco and alcohol, well, whom might they be?
Where does the money for food stamps and Medicaid come from?
If the money from tobacco taxes goes to feed and give medical care to underpriviledged children then atleast its going to a good cause.
Meanwhile, food stamps cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, or prepared food. Should the government handle this benefit a different way?
You lost me here. Food stamps should be used to only buy food. You tell me how you think the government should handle it.
LikeLike
leaveumthinking, you wrote:
LOL where did I mention food stamps? Are you implying that poor equals on food stamps?
Receving food stamps and Medicaid are reliable indicators of low income — or poverty.
You wrote:
Yes make them illegal so that there harder to obtain and some people probaly wont try them to begin with if they are illegal.
Peanut claimed it was easier for the poor to buy cocaine than to get legitimate pain medication from a drug store. Inasmuch as cocaine is illegal and illegal drug use is a huge problem among blacks in poor neighborhoods, it is obvious that banning a substance is hard to accomplish.
Banning alchohol failed. Banning illegal recreational drugs may reduce their consumption, but banning creates its own problems.
To deter use, sale of cigarettes is prohibited to people younger than 18. Cigarettes are also highly taxed, which is supposed to make them less affordable while generating revenue for the state. But untaxed cigarettes are sold illegally in NY City, especially in minority neighborhoods.
You wrote:
Not all poor people recieve food stamps or even qualify for them.
Those who are “poor” qualify. And if people qualify, they should accept this benefit and use to their advantage.
Some poor people work for a living sometimes two jobs at a time and pay taxes like everyone else.
They may still qualify for benefits. And perhaps even pay negative taxes as a result of the Earned Income Credit.
Not all poor people depend on the government.
In fact they do. More than any other segment of society. More government funding is spent on policing, fire departments, education, rent subsidies, food subsidies and medical care in poor areas than is spent on the same services in wealthier areas.
LikeLike
No Slapz what is your definition of poor?
LikeLike
Where are these neighborhoods that are over-run with McDonalds and devoid of supermarkets and other venues selling fresh foods?
Because 99 cents for a MacDonalds meal is cheaper than purchasing the ingredients for a meal consisting of of all the food groups which make up a nutritious meal. This may cost twenty dollars or more whereas the 99 cent meal will cost less than five dollars when feeding a family of four. A frozen pizza on special will cost less than a home cooked meal. Even if allotted food stamps, is the cost of preparing the food taken into account? Costs such as gas or electricity for the stove? If it is a choice between paying for heating or having your electricity cut off over home cooked meals, what should the person choose?
Do they have subsidies for utilities as well as food and housing available in the States? There are poor people who may be slightly over the ‘poverty line’ and may not qualify for these benefits. What about them?
LikeLike
leaveumthinking,
My definition of “poor” is the government definition of “poor”. That definition determines who gets food stamps, Medicaid and rent subsidies.
Virtually all food stores, convenience stores and supermarkets in NY City take food stamps, EBT cards, whatever. Thus, “poor” people are able to eat healthy — or they can choose to eat junk.
But at McDonalds, they must pay cash, which means they are making a conscious choice.
For the price of a McDonalds meal it is possible to buy healthy food at a supermarket. Fruits and vegetables, for example, that require almost no prep work.
LikeLike
herneith, you asked:
Do they have subsidies for utilities as well as food and housing available in the States?
Yes.
There are poor people who may be slightly over the ‘poverty line’ and may not qualify for these benefits. What about them?
Subsidies are granted on a sliding scale. And there is the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is a program that grants eligible working people extra money from the government. In other words, instead of Paying Taxes to the government, people qualifying for the EITC Receive money from the government.
LikeLike
My definition of “poor” is the government definition of “poor”. That definition determines who gets food stamps, Medicaid and rent subsidies.
Well neither of you understand the definition of poor. Poor doesnt mean living on or being qualified for werlfare. There are people who live modestly, work hard but make a low wage and live from paycheck to paycheck. They barely make ends meet. Just because these people do not quailfy for assistance does not mean they arent struggling. If you make close to minimum wage, live within your means and still barely make ends meet then you are poor by my definition.
For the price of a McDonalds meal it is possible to buy healthy food at a supermarket. Fruits and vegetables, for example, that require almost no prep work.
Fruits and vegetables dont fill you up. Unless someone has trained their body to eat like a vegan in the beginning this should be done under a doctors supervision to make sure you get the correct balance of vitamins and minerals. What poor person can afford that?
there is the Earned Income Tax Credit,
This is for those who have dependants. Not all poor people have kids.
In other words, instead of Paying Taxes to the government, people qualifying for the EITC Receive money from the government
Again unless you overpaid throughout the year if you do not have dependants you will owe instead of recieving money.
LikeLike
leaveumthinking,
Inasmuch as you are claiming people are weakwilled and have little control over what goes into their bodies, maybe the government should ban junk food.
You wrote:
Fruits and vegetables dont fill you up. Unless someone has trained their body to eat like a vegan in the beginning this should be done under a doctors supervision to make sure you get the correct balance of vitamins and minerals.
Yeah. Get a doctor to supervise. As if today’s obesity problem is due to doctors prescribing a heavy intake of junk food.
LikeLike
Yeah. Get a doctor to supervise. As if today’s obesity problem is due to doctors prescribing a heavy intake of junk food.
Well thanks to Obamas health insurance everyone including the obese will be able to go get medical help and treatment.
LikeLike
I agree with Leaveumthinking’s definition of poor. There are many people who do-not qualify for these benefits who maybe work two jobs in order to make ends meet. They simply don’t qualify for these benefits. There must be an income cap for those who do qualify. If you are a little bit over, you will not qualify but you are still poor.
Its about how they can’t stand a black man working as president in the white house and they’ll do anything to mess him up if they can.
From what I have been reading I think this is true. Why the resistance to a universal health care program which espouses preventative health care measures? All the other so-called first world nations have health care programs why not the States? this has always baffled me. Do they not want healthy citizens? Free health care should be a universal right.
LikeLike
Herneith
Hi, fellow “socialist”! 🙂
I never understood that either. Go figure.
LikeLike
Abagond, and what about posts on most gorgeous men in the world?
LikeLike
^ Ooh, I second that, Mira. I’d like to see more yummy eye candy if you please. 😉
LikeLike
The Uk also has free health care the NHS I remember there was some Brit that went to to US and was bad mouthing the NHS just so he can get on all those talk shows it did not sit well us LOL
LikeLike
@Aiyo:
There were ‘commercials’ in the States with Canadians complaining about the our system as well. The pro-health care faction countered with commercials countering these turncoat’s position. Good thing for the Americans that the anti-health care faction lost!
LikeLike
Hey Aba
You should do an biography-entry about Brandy….I noticed that you havent done one yet.
LikeLike
Mira & Leigh:
Yes, I must get back to the gorgeous men posts. Will Demps is next.
LikeLike
Y:
Yes, I have forgotten about Brandy.
LikeLike
@abagond:
Awesome! For joy! For joy! I CAN’T WAIT!! 😀
LikeLike
How about a post on the psychological and physical effects of beefcake on women while you’re at it? You could post numerous photos of examples of beefcake to illustrate your points!
LikeLike
@ Herneith:
LMAO.
LikeLike
@Herneith:
A woman after my own heart. Bless you! 😉
LikeLike
A lot of people are infected with the fantasy of FREE healthcare. Where are the doctors, nurses and long list of medical professionals who work for free?
Is anything free? Maybe the air!
On the contrary. The new healthcare plan signed by Obama is a huge gift to the entire healthcare industry. Pizza for everyone. Lots of it. And lots more healthcare jobs. Not only more jobs, but pay increases too.
Capitalism at its’ best! Jobs for everyone! More money to shop, thereby shoring up the economy!
LikeLike
On the contrary. The new healthcare plan signed by Obama is a huge gift to the entire healthcare industry. Pizza for everyone. Lots of it. And lots more healthcare jobs. Not only more jobs, but pay increases too.
And this is bad, why? You reptilian types never bitch when defence spending does the same for the armaments industry. Oddly enough, you only seem to be opposed to keynsian economics when it’s actually being spent on things that can HELP people. You have no complaints about military keynesianism, do you? 😀
LikeLike
You have no complaints about military keynesianism, do you?
If it cuts into my ability to shop, yes! Shop till you drop! Pizza, clothes. electronics, purses, shoes, boots, computers, software hardware, chocolate!!!!! Don’t get me started. Give everyone a job so we can ALL enjoy the benefits of shopping, a sport in and of itself!
LikeLike
Maybe (if you haven’t already) you can talk about why people who are considered black in America can’t say that they have different ethnic backgrounds in them because they are black but whites can sit and say they are everything in the world.
LikeLike
@ Kelly,
You make a very good point. However, the general response to your question is that the “One Drop rule” and segregation in the U.S. (until recently) shaped society’s rules in that Blacks were a homogeneous group (despite the fact they are not) while “Whites” in the U.S. were subjected to categorization based on ethnicity: Greeks, Italians, Irish, Germans, etc…
(That is the short answer; however, if you browse through and read enough of the threads here on Abagond’s blog, you will find much of what you suggested is already present here.)
LikeLike
Abagond
You should do a post on Tim Wise!
If you do you must note that he is also the epitome of white privilege. The things he says are the things black people have been saying for years. Now that its a white man saying it white people take it more to heart but if its coming for a black person it gets dismissed as “black paranoia” and “hypersensitivity”
LikeLike
http://www.racialicious.com/2007/03/26/where-da-white-women-at-details-magazine-plays-up-on-racial-stereotypes/
did i miss the mandingo post??
LikeLike
No, that is still to come. Thanks for the link. Pretty sick stuff in more ways than one.
LikeLike
A post on Time Wise is an excellent idea.
Unfortunately, part of white racism is to not take seriously what people of colour say, particularly if it is about race and particularly if it is coming from a black person. When the VERY SAME WORDS come from the mouth of a white man, suddenly they are taken way more seriously. I have seen it with my own eyes at work. Sad but true.
LikeLike
Tim Wise?
He is truly a hapless clown.
It is hard to judge how well he is known among whites. I suppose he’s best known by the college-age demographic. But the majority of whites have probably either never heard of him, or, if they have, they consider him a dope.
LikeLike
Comformity and group pressure.
LikeLike
Bay Area Guy:
Since Tim Wise is publicly taking unpopular positions on stuff white people do not want to think about or talk about, I doubt he is doing it for the money. He could probably make more money and live a much quieter life writing books about dogs or gardening, things that white people are way more interested in.
LikeLike
Ó Dochartaigh:
Conformity is an EXCELLENT suggestion. Thank you.
LikeLike
Can you think of any others (just curious)?
LikeLike
Some ideas:
-the invention of racism: race as a social construct
-white racism seen as a mental illness
-the tiger woods syndrome: BM becomes successful and basically ditch BW
-why society is apprehensive to embrace the Black woman’s beauty, body, etc.
LikeLike
Bay Area dude so are you saying you agree or disagree with Tim Wise’s stance???
LikeLike
jade/hilda/jodee/glitter:
Please stick to one name or you will be banned:
LikeLike
Is it older white men preying on young BW or is it just being old enough not to conform, and to ditch all the stereotypes and propaganda about beauty, BW etc,..
LikeLike
didn’t know there were such rules agabond … I apologize for the mistake…
LikeLike
(stickin with jade) The way the onlookers in Erykah badu’s vid Window Seat reacted to her nudity was very peculiar this may be a good topic as well…
LikeLike
Abagond, how about a post on Miles Davis ?
He was in on , or actualy changed the face of jazz music 4 times:
bebop, cool school, modal jazz, jazz rock
He was a succesful black man who suffered greatly at the hands of racism in the late 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
LikeLike
How about talk about British blacks?
LikeLike
And what about a post on Toni Morrison?
She’s one of my favourite authors.
LikeLike
wats the next post gonna be about abagond??? something historical???
LikeLike
Peanut:
Not sure. Probably Phillis Wheatley.
By the way, my post “How to talk to white people*” started out as a post to you. You said:
“It just seem like no matter how hard I try to explain stuff, it doesn’t get through. Like there is a wall up or something and I’m finding this to be true in 90% of the interaction w/ white guys I have. there might be 2 who try to understand what I’m talking about, the rest seem to have issues either admitting that there is benefit to being white in this day and age or just avoid/ignore issues of race altogether.”
So I started writing in answer to that but then the thing morphed into what it is now. Personally, I would not waste any time on the 90%. Be glad you know it now and not deeper into the relationship that they are jerks who have no empathy.
LikeLike
how about a post on paul L. dunbar and we wear the masks…??
LikeLike
A whole subject on ‘African Global Presence’ across the world, where people live and have done so in some instance for over a thousand years.
You could possible put it with the ‘Negritos’:
Groups would include:
Afro Iraqis, Afro-Iranians, Afro-Turks (Turkey), Afro-Abkhazi (Caucasuses), Afro-Siddis (India & Pakistan), Afro Sri Lankans, Afro-Mani (Thailand/Negritos), Afro-Semang (Malaysia, Negrito), Fiji/Vanuatu (in the Pacific) and the list goes on
LikeLike
This should read (always have problems spelling it correctly):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Abkhazians
LikeLike
The “Quilombos” …. most of which I know of were in Brazil: The most famous being “Palmares”…
I believe there were some in the U.S. too near the Georgia Outer Banks and also Florida everglades (???
EXCERPT
The most famous Quilombo was Quilombo dos Palmares, (Palm Groves) which was documented as a system of about 8 or nine separate compounds and settlements covering a large area, partly in Pernambuco and partly in Alagôas.. From the time that its existence became known, 25 separate recorded attempts were made to take it before it finally fell. (Estimated 11k-20k inhabitants in a single ‘Quilombo’!!!)
additional link = http://www.diaspora.uiuc.edu/news0307/news0307-5.pdf
LikeLike
Abagond, why don’t you do a post on the new IPad?
LikeLike
@abagond:
I missed dani’s post the first time around and I’d like to second this.
LikeLike
MAybe you could do a post on black comedians
LikeLike
I’m with Leigh. But I’d like to explore how biracial people feel about their status in comparison to monoracial. I’m am curious because I read a post, by someone who used to comment here, about how her biracial status made her superior to monoracial in terms of appearance, better dating options, higher intelligence and she is less boring. She also indicated that she “pity’s” black women because of their lack of dating options and though she doesn’t have that problem, she likes to champion black women because of that.
Is this the thinking of a lot of mixed raced people?
LikeLike
@Islandgirl
if you want to gain insight into what a lot of “bi-racial” people “THINK” themselves, try hitting some of the threads on mulato.org / You’ll find the same as you posted above to the complete opposite.
LikeLike
@ Leigh & @Dani –
You said, “is there a difference in a mixed race person who looks more White in a appearance than someone who does not?”
ANSWER: YES…
LikeLike
“I’m with Leigh. But I’d like to explore how biracial people feel about their status in comparison to monoracial. I’m am curious because I read a post, by someone who used to comment here, about how her biracial status made her superior to monoracial in terms of appearance, better dating options, higher intelligence and she is less boring. She also indicated that she “pity’s” black women because of their lack of dating options and though she doesn’t have that problem, she likes to champion black women because of that.”
DAMN SMDH…
LikeLike
Y,
Yeah, it’s ashamed. At first I was furious when I read it, then I realized that obviously this person has issues. A white guy called her on it and she later recanted.
That is the problem in some cases, when other women view themselves as superior. And I don’t just accuse people with no justification, but when you have something spelled out so obvious, the mentality is clear.
Color,
I will check that out. I know that a great majority of mixed raced people don’t share that mentality.
LikeLike
I’m am curious because I read a post, by someone who used to comment here, about how her biracial status made her superior to monoracial in terms of appearance, better dating options, higher intelligence and she is less boring. She also indicated that she “pity’s” black women because of their lack of dating options and though she doesn’t have that problem, she likes to champion black women because of that.
Lolhuh?
Biracial people (black/white, or otherwise) do not look better than monoracial people, on average. They have their goods, okays, and uglies, just like every other group. We just only ever hear about the conventionally goodlooking ones. And someone is going to have to provide (numerous) studies that back the “higher intelligence” bit. That claim is very tentative, to say the least.
LikeLike
That was from me, I enter my email address incorrectly.
LikeLike
^entered*
LikeLike
Natasha,
Yeah, that’s a real “lol”. According to her, the only negative stereotype to being biracial is being “unusually goodlooking”.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. There is a misconception that biracial people are above monoracial in attractiveness. While there are some very attractive biracials, there are also very attractive people in every group. It’s not exclusive to just one group.
After re-reading, the commenter mentioned that her high intelligence didn’t cause one to question because of her “ambigous”, mixed race appearance. Just to clarify. Which is still a slap in the face to monoracial groups.
The post went on to suggest that people mix and procreate because, “the children will be fine, just a bit stuck up”.
This is not what you want to instill in your children. To think that they are better than anyone else. This way of thinking is very disturbing – for anyone.
LikeLike
I’m am curious because I read a post, by someone who used to comment here, about how her biracial status made her superior to monoracial in terms of appearance, better dating options, higher intelligence and she is less boring. She also indicated that she “pity’s” black women because of their lack of dating options and though she doesn’t have that problem, she likes to champion black women because of that.”
I would have loved to have been here when this commenter made these bogus statements. My responses would have gotten a bit ugly.
LikeLike
Leaveumthinking,
It was not on this blog, but is was expressed by someone who was a regular here. It is very insulting. She later apologized because she knew that it was wrong, but is this her normal though process? This person really irked me because of her superiority complex.
It would be great to explore this way of thinking further and for biracial people to express their thoughts and feelings about this.
I hope that she is in the very slim minority.
LikeLike
I think she spoke what she truly felt and believed, so her apology came from guilt therefore not sincere. I always thought biracials and blacks were okay with each other until I started reading their comments on the internet. One girl on this blog said that black women were jealous of biracial girls because they have long hair, light skin, and dont look like they just came back from picking cotton. I mean is she unaware that monoracial black women can have long hair and light skin. Do they think all monoracial black people look alike too. And they talk as if other women are never jealous of us monoracial blacks. Those same women who gave her a hard time would probaly do the same thing to us.
LikeLike
Islandgirl,
I think she spoke what she truly felt and believed, so her apology came from guilt therefore not sincere. I always thought biracials and blacks were okay with each other until I started reading their comments on the internet. One girl on this blog said that black women were jealous of biracial girls because they have long hair, light skin, and dont look like they just came back from picking cotton. I mean is she unaware that monoracial black women can have long hair and light skin. Do they think all monoracial black people look alike too. And they talk as if other women are never jealous of us monoracial blacks. Those same women who gave her a hard time would probaly do the same thing to us.
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking
this would be great to cover on Abagond’s Colourism Post. Its a throwback to topics like good hair, good skin, and the fact that these are cultural concepts/mis-concept-ions. There are bi-racial people who are not as accepted because they’re not “Black enough”. Either way it goes, its stupid.
LikeLike
Leaveumthinking,
It may not have been guilt so much as it was that people (white guys) called her on it. So that’s even worse.
It’s true. With the internet, you can express your deepest, darkest feelings with no consequence.
This isn’t really a colorism issue because there are monoracial blacks who are light skinned, long hair. It’s more of a racial issue. Don’t get me wrong, there are women who may give biracials a hard time, but there are women who give ANY woman a hard time. That’s not just experienced by biracial or lighter skinned women. There are plenty of monoracial, darker skinned black women who may have it rough because they are attractive.
My problem is not with biracial women, because most that I have encountered have been very nice, but with the (hopefully) few women such as this commenter that I mentioned with a superior attitude.
This would be an interesting topic. And it would be great if that commenter or another with the same frame of thought would explain from where these view derived.
Natasha,
Since you are in an IR and will maybe have children someday, do you think that biracials with black mothers are more well adjusted and down to earth? I just do not see too many black mothers tolerating this way of thinking.
LikeLike
islandgirl, I’ll be responding to you on the “white father, black mother” post.
LikeLike
Don’t get me wrong, there are women who may give biracials a hard time, but there are women who give ANY woman a hard time. That’s not just experienced by biracial or lighter skinned women. There are plenty of monoracial, darker skinned black women who may have it rough because they are attractive.
I totally agree with this entire statement and thats what I told her it could have because she was attractive, slender, etc.
My boyfriend is a racially ambigous man of mixed heritage when the post is complete maybe he can add some insight. He says he is shocked my some of the comments made by FG.
LikeLike
Despite the brazen nature of that biracial woman’s comments I must admit I have heard this in tamer form in person. Whenever a black woman is consider pretty the follow up question is, “what are you mixed with”.
Also, I have to co-sign Leaveumthinking… I thought everything was cool with black and bi-racial, at my HS most of the biracials (give and take a few) identified with black despite the school being majority white. Its not until I came online last year that I realized these things went on. Thinking back, I have heard some bi-racials say out of pocket things about being “better” than monoracial blacks.
@ Islandgirl
I think the main reason bi and people are automatically seen as more attractive than monoracial blacks is because negroid features are not seen as attractive in our society. Many biracials have (forgive me for saying this) “watered down” black features that are more appealing to the white masses, hence why biracial women often play “black” roles on television. On top of that, there are not a lot of biracial people walking around so nobody can say for sure if they are TRULY better looking than monoracial blacks. For instance 95% f whites on TV are beautiful, if we went by what we saw on TV we would think that most whites are very beautiful. Most people dont believe this because they interact with plenty of white people, so they know better and have a realistic gauge of what the average white person looks like.
Biracials,on the other hand, they have the benefit of the doubt. Because there are not many of them people can build their perceptions of biracials from what they see on TV. These perceptions, for the most part go unchallenged because most people do not encounter enough biracials to get an accurate gauge of what the average biracial looks like. Thats why you get people running around saying biracial people are the most beautiful, based mainly on what they see on TV
LikeLike
Y, you hit on a pertinent colorism issue. I’ll be responding to you in the colorism post since this discussion is a bit off-topic for this topic.
LikeLike
I can say for a fact my biracial son doesnt have any of these type atitudes.
If anything, he always has the spectrum in the background that he wont be accepted by anybody
LikeLike
Y,
I think that you are right. Just like I’ve met Africans who have an image of black American women based on T.V. and some have expressed that they were surprised about how the average black American doesn’t look like that. Same with biracial women.
Like I said on another post. Most biracial women are hard to distinguish. I’ve seen very few who look like Lisa Bonet or Jasmin Guy in terms of being ambiguous.
B.R.,
Your son probably was raised really well to be level headed and down to earth. But, no one wants him to think that he will not be accepted, either. Like I stated, not all biracial people think like that. I was only referring to this particular commenter and the VERY few who think like her.
LikeLike
Islandgirl,
When did that happen? I couldn’t find the origin of the comment you were talking about, but I do remember a different tone to this blog when I first started reading here.
LikeLike
Jasmin,
Are you referring to the commenter? This was on another blog, alltogether. One in which most of the audience where white males. It was a link to a blog of another commenter here. The commenter did post here a lot, though but has recently stopped.
LikeLike
Islandgirl,
Yes–that’s interesting. I’ll have to think on that a bit (gotta head off-campus). 🙂
LikeLike
I hear you Islandgirl.
To me, the comments by this person, sound like someone speaking from insecurity, getting something out in cyberspace she cant say in her day to day life.
LikeLike
I’m still wracking my brain trying to figure out whom this commenter may be. Hmm.
LikeLike
@ islandgirl
Yep, I have a friend that grew up in Japan up ultil she was 11. She told me she grew up watching TV and thinking white people, on average, were extraordinarily beautiful, slim and intelligent.
She said it was a shock when she came to the US and saw what the average white person was like. Its wasnt until she moved to a predominantly white country that she realized white people, in aggregate, are average in looks and intellect.
Its the same with another minority group. If the only knowledge you have of biracials is what you see on TV, you too would believe them to be more beautiful than your average monoracial person.
LikeLike
Jasmin and Leigh,
If you think about it, you’ll realize who it is. I don’t want to put her out there by disclosing the name. But this persons arrogance was very off putting to me. I wish I could provide the link so that you could see for yourself.
“I hear you Islandgirl.
To me, the comments by this person, sound like someone speaking from insecurity, getting something out in cyberspace she cant say in her day to day life.”
That is percisely what that is about. Because on this blog, the person was very much for black women and the struggles. But on another blog, it was completely different.
Y,
I totally believe that.
LikeLike
@islandgirl:
I think I know now the person whom you are referring to.
LikeLike
Leigh,
I’m sure you know who it is. I discovered those comments a while ago, that’s one reason why this person rubbed me the wrong way.
Sorry, but those comments were wrong.
LikeLike
I think I do too–now I’m trying to figure out which blog this was! (I’m not up on my cross-blog communications.)
LikeLike
^Me too!
LikeLike
This is a little off of your normal topic interests. But I think inter-office fratinization would be a good topic. I work in an office where I have all of the qualifications for a job. However; the women who is over me is the director of the entire department with no degree or experience. Plus she works 20 hours a week and makes twice as much as me. I found out today that there is a reason….
Things like that are so unfair.
LikeLike
“I think I know now the person whom you are referring to.”
Who is it??? Do they still comment here???
LikeLike
Islandgirl,
I’m sorry to hear that! How unprofessional…
LikeLike
Thanks Jasmin! Unprofessional is an understatement. This company is so corupt. This is very discouraging because this is a black owned company and he is fulfilling all of the sterotypes that people have about blacks. The staff doesn’t respect him.
LikeLike
Y,
I think she was before your time.
LikeLike
Abagond, could you do a piece on how ignorant some AA are?
How they’re so easily led to believe pseudosciences, bogus histories and distorted religions. It would be a great to understand how certain AA can believe these bogus myths that even a three year old kid with down syndrome would recognize as false.
This piece would also explain the education sources like Youtube U. Youtube U is one of the most embraced eduMacation outlets for these types of “conscious” AAs
Thank you, abagond
LikeLike
How about a post on black people having more testosterone than other races and whether its true or not?
I second this.
As for great white man’s suggestion, a post on pseudoscience would be nice… But it’s hardly black community the only affected by it (just take a look at white people’s comments at posts such as “black rape”).
And I must repeat my own suggestion: Toni Morrison. Anybody interested?
LikeLike
I second Toni Morrison.
A post on blasians would be nice. I want to know about their experiences and do they share the same type of veiws as some of the black/white biracials.
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking:
I second this!
LikeLike
abagond, why are we born if we’re just going to die one day??
LikeLike
I answer that question, as I think most people do, through religion. In at least Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism this life is just a stage. When we die we do not just disappear into nothingness. From what I have read even Neanderthals believed in life after death (they buried their dead with flowers).
LikeLike
^ Are you still going to do a post on Morris Chestnut?
LikeLike
Yes, I’m still looking forward the the “Gorgeous Men” series.
LikeLike
I know he never finished that one. I was waiting on Will Demps. And what about the Most Gorgeous Black Men post?
@ Abagond with all due respect, you have many post about women which is understandable, but I want to read about and look at some fine men dammit!!
LikeLike
^”Just joking with the demanding part”
LikeLike
I want to continue the Gorgerous Men Series. Will Demps is next, probably this week. I was going to do him last week but got distracted.
LikeLike
lol, leavum!
Meant to say “to the most…”. I’m admitedly careless when I type posts while multitasking.
Thanks Abagond! Looking forward to some testosterone.
LikeLike
@abagond:
Woohoo! I’m looking forward to it. 😉
LikeLike
Great article here, by the way:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/04/the-ghost-of-bobby-lee/38813/
Perhaps an article about myth versus history and how that particular dichotomy affects both blacks and whites…?
LikeLike
abagond, can you do a post on depression in the future sometime? sometimes i really get depressed being a bw and i mean really
LikeLike
an interesting experiment would be: take the same face and show it to a groups of men, one white, asian and black version, the exact same face and see which one gets the highest response rate for attractiveness than we’ll surely know whether its about racism or not…
LikeLike
I second Peanut’s suggestion, abagond.
LikeLike
“I think its ridiculous that whites are on a continent where black people originate from and they are giving nazi salutes and telling blacks to leave because they want to be seperate from the black people.
They wouldn’t like it if blacks went to europe telling white people to leave and seperate and treating them like they are inferior.
Everywhere they go they bring their superiority complex with them.”
yeah i always found it odd that whites came to s.africa and forced the blacks to live ase second citizens, when black south africans were there living in peace first…its always amazed me
LikeLike
About the blasian biracial thing, I remeber a while ago I watched a documentary called Our Pride: the Spirits of Black Japanese in Georgia directed by Yohei Suzuki about a few families and their children. Unfortunetly most of the links to watch the video are dead.
But there is this site http://www.watermelonsushi.com/WhatItIs2.html
LikeLike
Mira said:
“I despise political correctness.”
We are on the same wavelength!
LikeLike
Do a post on other interracial relationships.
Let’s see, you’ve done –
White men/Black women (loads of times now, it’s become flogging a dead horse)
Black men/Asian women
You need to do a post on –
White men/Asian women (The most common interracial couple)
Black men/White women (So you can p*ss off all the white supremacists LOL!)
Asian men/Black women (the least likely interracial couple, a shame really 😦 )
Asian men/White women (This isn’t common either!)
LikeLike
Excellent suggestions, Vindicator!
LikeLike
Asian men/Black women (the least likely interracial couple, a shame really)
It is a shame. In my opinion Asian men and Black women make beautiful couples. This would be a excellent topic.
LikeLike
Terreblanche got what was coming to him. I dont feel bad for him at all
LikeLike
^ He lived a life of violence and hate and it’s not surprising what happened to him.
LikeLike
One less disgusting, hateful man walking the earth. Good riddance.
LikeLike
I know it’s just a movie, but “The Exorcist” movie scared me, too. I’m such a chicken when it comes to that stuff, you’d see feathers. 😉 *shudders*
LikeLike
you gotta be careful w/ ouija board its nothing to play with
LikeLike
abagond,
It’s unlikely you are aware of J. Bruce Llewellyn, therefore you should take the time to learn about him. He died a couple of days ago. Yes, he’s black.
J. Bruce Llewellyn
1927– 2010
Chairman and chief executive officer, Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Nationality: American.
Born: July 16, 1927, in New York, New York.
Education: City University of New York, BS; New York Law School, JD, 1960; Columbia University, MBA; New York University, MPA.
Family: Son of Charles (linotype operator and restaurant owner) and Vanessa; married Shahara Ahmad; children: three.
Career: Harlem liquor store, 1952–1956, proprietor; New York County district-attorney’s office, 1958–1960, student assistant; Evans, Berger, & Llewellyn, 1962–1965; Housing and Redevelopment Board of New York City, 1964–1965; Small Business Development Corporation, 1965–1967, regional director; New York City Housing and Development Administration, 1967–1969, deputy commissioner of housing; Fedco Food Stores, 1969–1984, president; Dickstein, Shapiro, & Marin, 1982–?, partner; Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, 1985–, chairman and chief executive officer; WKBW-TV, 1986–, chairman.
LikeLike
maybe intraeuropean racism would be a good topic, like the irish/italian/greek stuff that used to go on back in the day. i always wondered why wp w/ tan skin are called “olive skinned,” why is that???
LikeLike
i would just like to say thanks abagond for such an interesting blog and for taking the concerns of your followers seriously. I know you are bombarded with suggestions daily, but you are one of my favorite bloggers.
anyway, can i suggest a post on the “the day in a the life of a slave,” like what it would be like to be a slave in the antebellum american south…I really love your historical posts
LikeLike
i miss your historical posts, they are the best!
LikeLike
Abagond do you have specific blogs you always read. I think everyone would enjoy a post on your favorite blogs!
LikeLike
abagond…are you out there? can i suggest a post on melba patillo beals or if you haven’t already the best looking asian men???
LikeLike
abagond, i would love a post on young black women…you mean like college age?? i’m sitting in my apartment room right now i can give you a good perspective on what its like…
LikeLike
Abagond, did you do a topic about the movie “Precious”? If you haven’t, please do. My mother watched the movie and she said it was horrilbe. She said it made black women look really bad. She said that the character that Monique played was absolutely horrible. She was a abusive, wicked mother. Personally, I am tired of seeing movies and television shows that portray black women as evil, loud or ghetto. Just yesterday, I was watching a movie with a black woman in it and I was hoping that this woman wouldn’t play a stereotype. I was hoping she would be a kind and intelligent woman. But of course, she had an “attitude” and seemed to lack any likable characteristics. I immediately turned the channel. I thought to myself, I refuse to watch this movie. I personally think that black women should start boycotting movies and television shows that make them look awful. If a movie/show caters to stereotypes, we shouldn’t give our support by watching the movie in theaters. We shouldn’t watch them on television either. I would really appreciate it if you talk about this, Abagond. Thanks.
LikeLike
I just got “Precious” from the library so that will be coming soon, probably this weekend.
LikeLike
What I also didn’t like about Precious is that stupid white people thought it was a documentary and went up to Gabourey Sidibe and asked if her kids were alright.
The movie had Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz, two very big international stars for Christ sake!
It’s like what Paul Mooney was saying about on film Black actors and actresses are like reality stars to white viewers.
LikeLike
If you want to make a suggestion for the next monthly poll, add a comment below.
“Increased troll control: yea or nay?”
LikeLike
What I also didn’t like about Precious is that stupid white people thought it was a documentary and went up to Gabourey Sidibe and asked if her kids were alright.
Wha… Are these people for real?
I don’t know much about the movie, and I don’t know if it was made as a mocumentary, but Mariah as a social worker and Lenny as a nurse should be clear signs.
I wanted to watch it, I often watch all the Oscar nominated movies to form my opinion before the awards night, but I must admit I didn’t watch this one. People told me it’s way too depressing. It’s not like I like only happy movies, but I guess I wasn’t in the mood.
Then again, I haven’t seen “The blind side”, but friends told me it was horrible politically correct propaganda crap and that Sandra Bullock didn’t deserve Oscar.
LikeLike
Actress Sandra Bullock has adopted a beautiful baby boy. I went to a forum and many members commented, “Well, it proves she’s not racist.” The baby is black. Omigosh, so cute! Anyway, I think those members referred to her husband, Jesse James, because of his affair with a tattoed woman who took pictures with neo-nazi symbols on her body. It’s alleged that he’s racist. And that Sandra Bullock knew full well that he was racist from the start and married him anyway because she supposedly was racist as well.
LikeLike
the movie the blindside was garbage. the way they depicted michael oher was insulting. they made him look like a buffoon and a moron.
I just couldn’t believe some bp actually liked the movie, i was offended by it…it was stupid, unrealistic (yes i know it was based off of michael’oher’s life but aren’t they always??) and biased. Why did they choose the most unusual, out of the norm story to portray? Most nba players do not get taken in by white families. By and large most black athletes come from black families. Why did they make the neighborhood he came from look evil and why were all the bp in the movie portrayed as being evil?? Yet the wp were made to look like these kind-hearted saviors to the sorry negro. His mother is a crackhead (ofcourse) and all his black ghetto friends lust after the kind-hearted white woman who takes him in…(ofcourse) and Michael’s character has to swoop in to rescue her good name…(ofcourse).
In the beginning of the movie, the mother is afraid he’ll rob the house, then there is the fear that he’ll violate her daughter…then the teachers think he’s stupid. After they establish that he does have a working brain…the kind-hearted white people go out of their way to orally deliver tests and examinations to little Michael, so he can past the class and get his little athletic scholarship.
It was just ridiculous…the whole thing was just oh so predictable, hidden beneath the facade of a “true story,” just like “dangerous minds,” and “freedom writers.”
LikeLike
I am in no way criticizing the family, they did what they did and they did a wonderful thing. I am criticizing the media for manipulating that story and for using it to further an agenda. By and large we all know most blacks are raised by other blacks. Most black athletes come from black families, so why did they go out of their way to make the bc seem incapable and uncaring for their own??…
the thing that irritates me about these type of movies is the fact that the media selects these type of stories and uses them to further an agenda. WHy did they have to make bp out ot be innately dysfunctional and incapable of surviving w/out white help?
Why were all the bp in the movie antagonists and only whites were the good ones? In addition instead of the movie examining the root cause of the dysfunction and imbalance in the black community, they just make blacks out to be inferior.
They dont’ talk about how the government exploits these impoverished black communities. They don’t stop to examine WHY michael oher can’t read his exams. They don’ t look at the underfunding in inner-city, predominately black schools. They dont look at the fact that in the 1980s, the government allowed Nicaraguan druglords to smuggle drugs into the bc to get money for weapons in exchange for these drug lords fighting against the sandinistas. They don’t look at the fact that inequalities in the bc and racism is what has destroyed so many communities…No they don’t talk about that…
they just portray bp as innately dysfunctional, incapable of governing themselves…all of them waiting for some white goddess or white god to come and rescue them from blackness. Disgusting, hypocritical and yes racist.
LikeLike
abagond, I have a serious question and I would really appreciate an answer:
what can we do to fix the black community???
LikeLike
What they should have done in the blind side they should have stuck to the book and made Michael the main star instead Miss nice white lady.
LikeLike
I think this has been mentioned once before, but since we already have The most beautiful East Asian women post, what about one for the most gorgeous Asian men? I’m sure Natasha W, jeri, Leaveumthinking, and a few others I’ve missed (my apologies), and yours truly would thank you. Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with sugar on top? 😀
LikeLike
Isn’t Stacey Dash’s husband a virtual unknown in celebrity world? She’s not exactly A list so I doubt the media would take that much interest. Not like Rihanna and Chris Brown who garner much more interest. Stacey Dash has come out of nowhere with the allegations, airing her dirty laundry, I hope she’s doing it to speak out against domestic violence, not to further her flagging career.
Kim Kardashian made public her decree nisi, her black ex hubbie beat her regularly too. I’d say there isn’t much interest there either. Surely a black man beating a white Armenian woman in the US would be the more controversial, not so.
LikeLike
Abagond could you do a post of African resistance to the slave trade and how many countries in Africa tried to stop Europeans. I think it would go well with the “Africans sold slaves too.” argument. It seems like white people love to bring that up all the time. I had to delete a comment like that on my blog so fool telling me to learn my history. puh-leeze
LikeLike
Im all for ones about pornography and the jazz scene in New York…..
(Ill be hitting there June 17 and 18th)
LikeLike
I’m for por as long as it isn’t a “shame, shame, h the objectification of women” take on it.
LikeLike
I am for it as long as it deals with women’s true passions….SHOPPING!!! Post some fliers to a Macy’s sale for example. That will send women into gales off ecstasy! Shopping, the female version of porn!
LikeLike
Shopping for vibrators, maybe.
LikeLike
Black sci-fi authors!
Three suggestions: Octavia Butler, Steve Barnes and Samuel R. Delaney.
Word to the wise, though: Delaney will make you cringe if you can’t handle graphic descriptions of non-hetero normative sex.
LikeLike
Come Abagond, do a post on black sportsmen!
LikeLike
How about you do a post on the Tuskegee Airmen!
I can relate to them being a black warrior!
LikeLike
Abagond, am I annoying you w/ all my suggestions?
Can I suggest a historical posts on Krotoa, the south african woman: http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/people/bios/krotoa.htm
LikeLike
Abagond, could you please take that pic of that unpatriotic “RBG” American flag down?
You may only use to depict OLD GLORY, other than the RWB, OD Green, Urban Asphalt, Desert Sand or subdued solid as per uniform.
Thank you
LikeLike
Vindicator – You in the military? 27E, Spent time in Mannheim, Germany and with the 82nd in NC.
LikeLike
Hi Abagond, just throwing a couple of points perhaps for some inspiration.
FIRST of all, my utter respect to Neil deGrasse Tyson, one of the most brilliant scientists of our time. It might hit a sore spot on a few very religious peeps but that man is a living icon and an inspiration. IMHO science and religion shouldn’t be mixed anyway.
In your section about black women, how about a space for Rama Yade (France’s most popular MP), and the actresses Tiana Benjamin (Eastenders) and Freema Agyeman (Dr Who). Three gorgeous women from the ‘old world’ 🙂
LikeLike
JOHN BROWN, freedom fighter/slave abolitionist/revolutionary.
The topic would also intersect with the topic of ‘White liberal/conservative politics’ and revolutionary politics amongst other things to name a few.
Hip Hop live’s y’alll (still bopping away to the tune with my hood up)
LikeLike
I second Niel deGrasse Tyson!!
LikeLike
I’d like to see a post on white liberals.
LikeLike
Re-reading Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf with my students. All rhetoric about Godwin’s Law aside, it occurs to me that Part I, Chapter IX, is a very interesting read when read in conjunction with the comments made by Steve Sailor’s drawer full of sock-puppets regarding “white supremacy”.
When you read Hitler, you clearly see why it’s an incredibly dangerous thing to run around out there screaming that one race is superior to another. Hitler’s argument is by and large rational and logical, but based on totally false premises.
If we except the idea that x race is, on the whole, better than y race (whether globally or in something in particular), then Hitler’s views make perfect sense. And because people are NOT equal, nor is the human population biologically identical, folks are always going to be able to find something that seems to prove that this group over here is better than that group over there.
What prevents this from degenerating into Hitlerian logic is PRECISELY the fact that races DO NOT exist in the sense that Steve Sailor or Adolf Hitler believes: i.e. as cohesively bounded, discrete sub-species with “typical” behaviors attached.
So how about a good strong look at Hitler’s chapter on “People and Race”, comparing and contrasting it to Steve Sailor’s views on the same?
LikeLike
I just read a great article about Wentworth Miller and the “Race Card”
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_snE93W25r60/R4PYsD0rijI/AAAAAAAAANM/Y5pfhZKYIvU/s400/Dr,%2BGreene%2BFort%2BPinkston.jpg&imgrefurl=http://theblacksocialite.blogspot.com/2008/01/wentworth-millers-connection-to-black.html&usg=__JK_NW27dJ4bJN_ZcbVEGNW3vov0=&h=320&w=247&sz=23&hl=pt-BR&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=f3Q35ytkFNV2IM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3DWentworth%2BEarl%2BMiller%2BII%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dpt-BR%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1R2SKPB_enUS347%26tbs%3Disch:1
LikeLike
CNN is running an interesting series on how quickly racial bias gets into kids at a very young age:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/18/doll.study.parents/?hpt=Mid
LikeLike
it’s peanut…abagond, here is a suggestion, i think you should run a happy birthday blog post! Your blog has been up and running atleast 5 years right, i don’t go back and look at the index but i remember seeing some posts from like 2005 i think… you should have a celebration a happy blogday!!-
LikeLike
CNN is running an interesting series on how quickly racial bias gets into kids at a very young age
Thanks for the link. It’s horrible. I don’t know why the white mother was surprised by her daughter’s result. Then again, I guess we would all be deeply hurt if it was our child picking black doll as the evil one.
LikeLike
@mira
what is more disturbing is not just how much the mother seems to try to justify her daughter’s choices but the comment section.
just looking at the racist comments against blacks in the comment section, how is it any surprise to any mother that their child is unconsciously taught to be racist? it seems that the only thing whites can think about is how whites are somehow victims because of blacks wanting equality and racism to end.
its like most white peoples identity is surrounded by being racist cause i have never seen so many people desperately try so hard to hold onto it by justifying it and explaining their racism away and condoning it.
LikeLike
i know this isn’t the right area to discuss it. just wanted to comment to mira about her comment thats all.
LikeLike
maybe that would be a good idea for a post…white people’s need for racism to be their identity.
LikeLike
I didn’t see any comments… Will have to scroll down.
just looking at the racist comments against blacks in the comment section, how is it any surprise to any mother that their child is unconsciously taught to be racist? it seems that the only thing whites can think about is how whites are somehow victims because of blacks wanting equality and racism to end.
I think they believe racism is over, and that blacks want to take advantage of the race card or something.
To be honest, I am not sure how I’d react if it was my child choosing black doll as the evil one. I think it would be a clear sign of me as a failed parent.
I don’t know why whites don’t want to talk about race with their kids, like it’s a dirty subject or something. If 3 year old kids can be racist, then what are we talking about?
its like most white peoples identity is surrounded by being racist cause i have never seen so many people desperately try so hard to hold onto it by justifying it and explaining their racism away and condoning it.
As far as I can tell, being called racist is about the worst thing you can say to a white person. So obviously they want to defend themselves, to prove they are not horrible humans… In this defence they don’t really care about blacks and other non-whites, and they don’t really care about not being racist. All they seem to care is not to APPEAR racist and not to be called racist- as if racism is about them and their feelings.
LikeLike
Yes, this could be a good post, Abagond.
LikeLike
With regard to
“As far as I can tell, being called racist is about the worst thing you can say to a white person. So obviously they want to defend themselves, to prove they are not horrible humans… In this defence they don’t really care about blacks and other non-whites, and they don’t really care about not being racist. All they seem to care is not to APPEAR racist and not to be called racist- as if racism is about them and their feelings”.
This is very insightful, but permit me if I may, I would like to add m
1. If racism is a deliberate system of oppression and designed that way but based on duplicity, disingenuousness etc then those Whites must keep the facade or the APPEAR-ance that they are not racist
Then there is another angle :
2. Those who sincerely believe they are NOT racist, but cannot understand how a racist system is built, operates and thrive, and so they jsut continue toact as if everything is normal. Paradoxically there are many Blacks who fall into this category also, which nicely leads me on to my next point/suggestion.
LikeLike
I am aware you have done a thread on ‘internalised racism’.
However, I think following the recent discussions you have to talk about ‘self-hate and its denial’.
There are so many aspects to it manifested on this board.
I guess you could discuss:
1. The black male implosion
2. inter-racial dating
3. Black male/Black female diatribe
4. Black middle class against Working classes
5. The reticience to blame the system/Whites but the victims
6. A lack of race pride or knowledge of things pertaining to Afric
And the list of contradictions on this board is endless.
In this way I think it would force individuals, as painful as it may well be for some, to confront themselves and also ‘think’
LikeLike
@J
you mean like colorblind racism right?
I find that whites only want to appear like they are not racist because of the possible ramifications they could suffer if word got out.
but i don’t think most whites care anymore. kramer (seinfeld), goes on a racist tangent and people laugh and defend him afterwords.
i know many people who have friends who are racist.
those who condone racism are just as bad as the racist themselves…if not worst since you don’t know where their allegiance falls.
LikeLike
@ tulio
Thanks for posting that link. I was going to suggest the same, so “second that and bump.”
@ alwaysrigth101
I don’t think J was talking about ‘colorblind’ racism, but Abagond and a lot of others have addressed that multiple times in various threads. It would be a good topic in and of itself. Also, you are in STL right? (I just moved from there.)
LikeLike
No…
I am referring to Blacks who literally hate themselves and their race by extension. This is going way beyond the term ‘internalised racism’
Hope this has clarified
LikeLike
yeah stl still…living in what i call the redneck state that is still 40 years behind the south.
LikeLike
@J
I getchya. kinda sounds like my sister although she would probably deny it.
LikeLike
I’m not sure if the little girl’s answers have to do with racism or colorism. It may be a simple case of self-centeredness. She said she attributed negative characteristics to the darkest animation not because dark skin people are in reality bad but because it was the image furthest from her in appearance. Also, remember that she did not pick the lightest image as the best but the next one over because that is the one that resembles her most, in her opinion.
LikeLike
Hat tip to tulio:
Anyways yeah I understand her choosing the kid that looked like her as having the good attributes, of course that makes sense. But it was interesting how she associated all things negative with being dark. If she said a dark person was mean to her or whatever I would have had more sympathy but no, just because that kid was darker. She is obviously picking up this racism from where. It may not be directly from her mother but from other people, television ect. Children are very keen and can pick up on the slightest changes in body language and demeanor. If the people around this child dont express in words their dislike for darker people it wont make a difference. That child will learn all she needs to know about race politics by observing the unspoken communication of her elders
About a week ago I saw the same test done with black children and it brought tears to my eyes. Many of those kids chose the darkest doll for all negative attributes, and when asked to pick the doll that looked like them the either picked the dark doll, or picked one lighter than them. Also some of the black kids were asked to point out the doll they would most like to look like and they picked the doll 1-2 shade lighter than there complexion. sad stuff 😦
LikeLike
What’s scary about that article to me, CoL, is the presumption that runs through it that the guy is “really” black, even though he looks white and for all intents and purposes gets white privilege.
The cartoon he published re: Dr. West was in poor taste, though that doesn’t justify the attempts to ostracize him as a racist. What’s scary though, is the assumption that he could’ve brought up the fact that he’s – what? – 1/16? 1/32nd? African descent and then people would have said “Oh, that’s OK then.”
And he gets a role playing a guy who has some black ancestry and passes for white not on the basis of his abilities as an actor, but on the basis that he’s presumably the same thing. This is so much the case that the producers actually ask him for colored photos of his family “proving that he’s really black”.
Now think about that for a moment.
Even if he didn’t have any black ancetors, shouldn’t he have got the part just based on his ability to make the director believe that he did?
Man this “I look like x but really I’m y” notion of American race is ioncredibly screwy. Americans really do believe that there’s some black racial essence and that it’s a permanent “stain” on one’s family tree.
LikeLike
@alwaysright
I’m in Miami now. If you think STL is bad, stay out of places like Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Those are places where you pray your car doesn’t break down outside any major town.
STL still has a separtist mindset among a significant population, much like the MidWest in general. Still though, there are a lot of integrated churches in STL, and they are growing by leaps and bounds. (I used to attend Grace & sing on McKelvey before I renounced organized religion.) Personally, all the “prejudice” attitudes I encountered in STL were directed at me by Black men (strangers obviously) who only saw a “White Man” with a “Black Woman” -even if we were speaking Portuguese. (Thank God it only resulted in one physical altercation, but could have been more.)
LikeLike
@ Thad
I agree. That is why I put it in the “suggestion box.” I have eluded to this many times in other threads.
LikeLike
Thad,
I believe Wentworth is 1/4 black. But that’s besides the point. I am still confused about the way Americans see race.
Y,
The saddest thing about doll test is the fact nothing has changed over the past decades. Which means racism stays on the same level. All people learned, is not to express it the way they did back in the days. Also, it prevents many people from seeing themselves as racist. Isn’t it better to face your own prejudice and unlearn it? Isn’t it better to at least you know it’s there?
LikeLike
“I believe Wentworth is 1/4 black. But that’s besides the point. I am still confused about the way Americans see race.”
The issue of the black-white racial border probably confuses some because there is a disconnect between public discourse about it and the situation on the ground. Miller and other phenotypically white people of known African ancestry are increasingly accorded white social status in American society. That’s probably why Wentworth did not try to deploy the “race card” in his own defense. It wouldn’t have been viewed as valid. Few actually see him as black. Be that as it may, journalists, academics, and other prominent public figures pretend that the One Drop Rule is in full force and there’s no such thing as the mixed race experience or mixed people who identify and are treated as white. The lack of public aknowledgment is due to pressure from minority groups and advocates who fear the current transformation of the racial order (“Brazilianization”)
LikeLike
Mira:
I believe Wentworth is 1/4 black. But that’s besides the point. I am still confused about the way Americans see race.
I very much doubt he’s 1/4 black, Mira. Look at his “black” ancestor of a few generations ago, who could also pass for white.
The problem with these sorts of racialist determinations is that they reset in the U.S. in every generation. So Wentworth had a “black” grandpa: said grandpa almost certainly was what we call “light brown” here in Brazil and was probably at least 50% European himself.
But because “black” is considered to be an all-encompassing category, Americans say someone is 100% if they were a) socially defined as such and b) there is no public information regarding their ancestors.
LikeLike
The lack of public aknowledgment is due to pressure from minority groups and advocates who fear the current transformation of the racial order (“Brazilianization”)
Funny. In Brazil, people fear “Americanization”.
LikeLike
WTF is Brazilianization???? Do I want to know? Thad? Color?
FG,
I am confused. Wentworth certainly don’t look black, but it’s not like only his great great great great grandmother was black. He has close relatives who are black and his father is mixed. So I don’t think it’s fair to see Wentworth as a black wanabee or something.
But then again, you’re right: he can pass for white and I guess that gives him privilege. While I think it’s great the he acknowledges his black ancestry and never try to hide or deny it, I am not quite sure if he ever had to fight racism. People, face it, the guy looks white.
Now, another question- and as I understand your situation, you are close to Wentworth’s phenotype (can pass for white- I am not saying you try to pass, but as far as I understand, many people don’t realize you’re black). So, do you think Wentworth is accepted as white by whites? (Even after they learn about his ancestry).
As for Thad’s comments, I never saw the guy acting – my mother is Prison Break fan, but I have no idea if the guy can act or not. Still, I do think it was great they cast a mixed buy who can pass for white as a mixed guy who passed for white- instead of a white actor with a tan. I mean, if nothing else, it’s more believable. Now, if Wentworth completely sucks as an actor, they should have found another mixed guy for the role, but that’s another thing.
LikeLike
I very much doubt he’s 1/4 black, Mira. Look at his “black” ancestor of a few generations ago, who could also pass for white.
Wait… That guy is his only black ancestor? I am confused. I really thought his grandfather was black.
Funny. In Brazil, people fear “Americanization”.
People all over the world fear Americanization, for various reasons. Which is a bit pointless, if you ask me 😛
Abagond, how about “blackness of Wentworth Miller” post?
LikeLike
Mira,
Mira,
“So, do you think Wentworth is accepted as white by whites?”
I think that many whites do seem him as white (even if “ethnic” white), but some, like my SO, see him as “mixed.” It really depends on the person and what their particular experiences with race have been. I thought when I first saw Wentworth Miller that he must have some black ancestry, but I know that’s because I have mixed friends and relatives who appear similar.
One person who I definitely don’t see as white (and don’t know many people do) is Mariah Carey. I just don’t see it. I can spot a fake blonde from a mile off. 🙂
LikeLike
Mira, you’re name is so nice I had to say it twice!… that was a typo. 😉
LikeLike
“So, do you think Wentworth is accepted as white by whites? (Even after they learn about his ancestry).”
Like Natasha said, many (but not all) would view him as white. That’s part of the frustration of being a near-white mixie in America these days. There’s no consensus about our social status and thus we don’t always know what to expect.
LikeLike
@Abagond
How about a topic on Nationalistic Pride and complexities:
1. Im Proud to be a Puerto Rican, but….
2. I’m Proud to be an American, but…. (Tuskeegee experiment, and a million other negative examples) I.E. mentality that you hear so often, ‘America is the greatest country. Yeah, but what about….?’
3. I’m proud to be Brazilian, but….
I hope that makes sense. Its like an oxymoron and most countries have their variations. I mean, I’m Happily Depressed to be an American always some of the time. 😉 (wink)
LikeLike
Yeah Wentworth is probably like 1/16 black(probably less) … he looks like a white man to me. His ancestor looks like he is 1/4 black if that
LikeLike
^Some sources suggest his father is biracial, some say his father is “black.” Either way, Wentworth is at least 1/4 black. Wenthworth Miller himself said, “My father is Black, my mother White. That makes me a Lone Ranger between the two ethnic communities.”
I think he has a similar appearance to my biracial cousin, except my cousin’s hair is curlier, so he is never thought to be white.
LikeLike
Color of day , well based on that you let me know from the other thread, let me say this.
Im an American living in Brazil
I am very proud to be an American , and, feel I need to “look in the mirror ” about the faults, or , how could my pride be genuine ? And, I do hate a lot of Americans , even if I love the country.
And, Im honored to be a guest resident in a wonderful country like Brazil …and, dont really like to critisize the country Im a guest in, not that I couldnt find faults , and, sometimes do state them. I just dont like to be complaining about Brazil , I love the country.
LikeLike
@Col of the day
yeah STL is segregation city….every now and then you may see a black person and white person speak to each other briefly at school. in fact that seems to be the only place you will ever find “diversity” or other cultures….
i definitely don’t want to go to the south cause I have no idea how bad their racism is. I always kinda felt the midwest was slightly behind the south which in itself is far behind this country and the world.
the only way one can talk me into going to the south is because of NASA.
LikeLike
Hi, Abagond
I’m new around here. I stumbled upon your blog only a few days ago.
I had an idea while reading your article about the Empire of Mali, illustrated by a picture of present-day Djenne.
It’s a little known fact that there exist thousands of photos of pre-colonial Africa, took in the 19th and early 20th century. Some of them are available on the internet.
For instance, check the pics featured on the following page:
http://home.planet.nl/~kreke003/djexpo.htm
I can’t help but think that, despite those photographs were shot centuries after the collapse of Mali at times where this part of Africa was dramatically less populated than it once was (and less economically active), they are best fit to give an idea of the atmosphere of the cities of ancient Africa than pictures of our time.
So here is my idea: an article (or, better, a series of articles) confronting what Ancient Africa actually looked like to the representation peoples living in the western world (most of your readers, I believe) have of it.
Should you decide to go by a series of articles, you could proceed by themes (i.e.: architecture, clothing, religion, etc…)
Obviously, such a work would require a good deal of research, but I believe it will be interesting.
It might even yield a few surprises.
LikeLike
abagond, you should do a post about Dr. Charles Drew.
yeah i know this is coming out of nowhere. i was watching M*A*S*H when they mentioned him in the episode Dear Dad 3 where Hawkeye encounters a racist who doesn’t want the “wrong color blood”..
maybe that too would be a good post, the issue of blood in the past and how it was given.
i am curious, was the Red Cross ever in the business of denying blacks the right to give blood on the basis of color?
LikeLike
A post about Lee Daniels would be intersting. His movies have gotten alot of praise and even more flack,due to the “questionable” way he has portrayed Black people, specifically, Black women in them. If nothing else it would start a coversation.
LikeLike
@alwaysright101
Lots of good people in STL. I know a lot of Blacks, Whites and other groups that go “out of their way” to help people. It just depends where you’re at… Here in Miami people would just as soon run you over! lol…
@ BR
I love Brazil too! My wife and I may actually end up there in a few years as her major “partners” in business are there. My problem is that I simply do not want to live in Sao Paulo. Unfortunately, that is where we would most likely end up. (Can I please just win the Lottery already? LOL)
My whole point was that you find a lot of people “Proud to Be Americans.” (Which is great, but it is sort of like looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Sometimes people don’t really want to take a hard look in the mirror and see things for how they really are: The good and the bad, the blessings and the curses.The World is an imperfect place just as each of us are imperfect. Does that mean Americans (or anyone else) should NOT be proud. Answer: No, not by a long shot. But people should be honest – and I think that is what is at fault with most. —Trolls on the blog come to mind…
LikeLike
Emari:
Oh yes, Mr Daniels most certainly needs a post. Thank you.
LikeLike
can’t wait to read it
LikeLike
Monstrous Balls!
LikeLike
Col…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh its you
I didnt recognise the new picture and “Col of the Day”
LikeLike
I have to share this one:
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100426/OPINIONS05/4260349/1006/OPINIONS/Snider-Americans-don-t-owe-slave-descendants-any-apologies
I found it via a personal website. Sorry if it’s an old link and if it’s already been discussed.
LikeLike
@mira
that dude is nothing more than your typical conservative who is proud that slavery happened in the US.
my question for guys like him is why do they always forget about jim crow?
many people are still alive from that and we are still suffering from that. now reparations are definitely in order due to jim crow alone.
LikeLike
These people keep forgetting that there would be no US they know & love without slavery and the land their ancestors stole. Oh, wait… I forgot. Their family didn’t own slaves.
LikeLike
abagond
a good post in conjunction with the “i didn’t own slaves” excuse whites use to derail issues pertaining to race would be how whites always seem to conveniently forget about jim crow racism and its effects.
i am curious abagond, have you ever done a post on how to maintain your ground when a white racist tries to derail an argument.
like what kinds of words to avoid using, or what kinds of arguments they will use and what you should use in response to them.
i know one should keep their cool and not result to name calling and if possible (depends on where the debate takes place) have some supporting evidence.
but with white people, they don’t like to follow the rules and so its hard to tell them anything without them crying racism or getting offended.
LikeLike
@mira
that is true isn’t it!? everyone keeps saying their family didn’t own slaves…well someone’s family had to otherwise this country wouldn’t exist.
LikeLike
Hi abagond:
How about a post on gorgeous fashion model, Lana Ogilvie? She was THE face of Cover Girl cosmetics in the early 90’s.
LikeLike
Oh, and what about the beautiful model extraordinaire, Karen Alexander, too? These two incredibly lovely women made me want to buy more make-up because I very much loved their looks.
LikeLike
@Mira
These people keep forgetting that there would be no US they know & love without slavery and the land their ancestors stole.
Of course, the same thing could be said about pretty much any country in Europe, too. Serbia, for instance…. 😉
LikeLike
Speaking of supermodels Abagond, would you please do a post about “white women dipped in chocolate” and how the constant promotion of these women undermine the beauty of African features
LikeLike
Here are few thing I wouldn’t mind reading about and seeing people’s thoughts on and didn’t see on your list:
1. Jazz music, it’s orgins and where it is today–I think it would make an interesting discussion.
2. One of your other commenters mentioned HeLa cell line on the Tuskegee entry, which is very interesting.
3. Gullah culture in South Carolina: language, culture, origin etc. (a lot of people have no clue about them)
4. Colonel John C. Robinson and Melaku Beyan–both their roles in the Ethiopian/Italian war and civil rights of black Americans respectively (something else a lot of ppl don’t know about)
5. Tension between Africans and African Americans: identity, stereotypes, media, education, MIS education, love etc.
6. Vast African genetic diversity: erasing the myth of a certain “African phenotype”
LikeLike
Haiti has a fascinating history. You should write about the Independance (Toussaint Louverture, Henri Christophe and Jean-Jacques Dessalines each deserve an article) and how the Haitian intelligentsia and government supported the liberation of South America.
The occupation of Haiti by the USA in 1915 would make an interesting topic too.
LikeLike
@Thad
Of course, the same thing could be said about pretty much any country in Europe, too. Serbia, for instance….
Oh, I know that, Thad. But the difference is, Serbia is not the most powerful nation in the world (and can’t shape all humanity’s destiny), while claiming it to be the most democratic and the fairest place in the world.
Btw, genetic tests are really popular here, because each ethnic group wants to prove they are the indigenous one.- But to no avail. All tests show Balkan populations are mixed, all of them. But that’s another story.
PS-I don’t hate America. I just dislike this “we are fair and the best and you should all listen to us” mentality… While practicing heavy discrimination not completely different than any non-democratic nation US government loves to hate.
LikeLike
Great suggestions Image, especially the Jazz history and origin.
LikeLike
Yeah !! Great idea about jazz history….
No offence, Abagond, I dont think you have it in you….
I dont think I see anything near a jazz mention on all the past threads
LikeLike
Write a post about the 2010 FIFA World Cup!
Go England!
LikeLike
He can write a post about it, but I doubt he’d support England. 😀
LikeLike
Yes indeed…2010 World Cup, and its in South Africa too.
Though many women and even Americans are not interested in:
“Soooockkk-ur” (said in a thick US accent). Its usually called football over here in the UK
Either way it can be hard to often resist the ‘soap opera drama’ of what happens on the football pitch in these tournaments, especially as it will be everywhere in the media
Or again the ‘sexy legs’ of the men for the ladies. Its a pity that FIFA changed the rules where players cannot have their socks rolled down to their ankles in this respect.
Back then you could se the men’s leg in their entirety
ha ha ha
LikeLike
@ Image & B.R.
Definitely Jazz… (B.R. -why don’t you try collaborating or checking with Abagond by diong a guest post? You are a Subject Matter Expert.)
I also second the “Gullah” post. That would be very cool.
@ J
As for SoccerRRRR. Might as well just do a post on why Brazil is the best. No need to talk about anybody else. (just joking!!!) Kum ba yah, buddy, kum ba yah… LOL
LikeLike
How exactly does this Suggest-o-meter poll work and when does it happen? I will be busy later on in the week and want to make sure I cast my vote? lol
LikeLike
@Image:
I don’t think there’s an actual poll, but if you want to make a suggestion and someone seconds or thirds it, etc., abagond is more likely to do a post on it. 🙂
LikeLike
OK, Thanks leigh204
LikeLike
Tulsa Riot (Black Wall Street) 1921
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot
LikeLike
Food Health from Dr. Abagond – Don’t think I have seen this topic covered here like wheat and/or milk being difficult to digest, re-drinking from plastic water bottles and such matters. It may also prove to be very useful…
LikeLike
http://www.jamilaakil.com/2010/05/pair-bonding-vs-marriage-between-blacks-and-whites-a-primer/
If you ever get around to doing the post “J” suggest about internalized racism and black women who diss black people/men, please make sure to include this sad soul. Im at a loss for words when its comes to this woman. I was going to go through and analyze everything she said but it wasnt worth the time.
Or you can do a post about black people that feel inferior to other races and/or think they are superior to most black but inferior to most non-blacks
LikeLike
Y:
Wow. Thanks for the heads up on Jamila’s blog.
LikeLike
WOW is what I said too. Check out the “Why Race Matters” thread…pay attention to the comments. She says “Im smarter than most black people, and a lot of white people”. WTF
LikeLike
I perused the one post on that blog. She sounds like the female version of RR, LOL!
LikeLike
Great. Yet another biodeterminist. [roll eyes]
LikeLike
How about a post on bilingual children?? Aren’t you bilingual abagond? Did you teach your boys your mother tongue?
LikeLike
Abagond, i’m sorry if i’m being a backseat blogger and giving you all these suggestions that I like. I am not trying to boss or dominate the blog btw…
LikeLike
1. A post on Richard Wright
2. A post on Graham Greene
3. A post on Toni Morrison( I guess I fourth that)
4. Another post on psychoanalysis + race. I enjoyed reading your analysis of Fanon.
5. Banning racists like AGWM. I find that these people are so distracting. I enjoy reading this blog and it’s discussions because I want to be enlightened not insulted. I was completely disgusted by some of those comments regarding the 7 yr old girl murdered by the police
6. A post on the book “Aint I a woman?: female slaves in the deep south” by Deborah Gray white
Please keep up the good work abagond!
LikeLike
I think I read # 6, its a really interesting book. There was an interesting look at slave masters masochistic treatment of slave women. Slave masters didn’t always whip their slaves for misbehaving some really did just enjoy doing it…that’s the sad part.
LikeLike
i should really put “misbehaving,” in quotes since that is subjective. what slave master considered misbehaving was usually just normal human behavior.
I would also like a post on Toni Morrison. I liked her book “bluest eye,” I did not like “Beloved,” (i think the movie ruined it for me). I am about ot read another book called “Jazz,” and I’m looking forward to that.
LikeLike
oh abagond, i would really LOVE LOVE LOVE a post on black women during WWII. http://www.spike.com/video/hidden-heroes/946660
LikeLike
“Jazz” is my favourite, maybe because of its structure. “Bluest Eye” and “Beloved” are not available in my country, which is too bad because I really want to read them. Toni Morrison is one of my fav authors (and, as bad as this may sound, one of the few female authors I appreciate).
LikeLike
Following on from Reginald’s comment about Gandhi….A post on ‘Mahatma Gandhi’
Then perhaps I can enter into a dialogue with Reginald – without being guilty of hi-jacking another thread, which I have been prone to doing off late
LikeLike
Gary Coleman from Different Strokes has passed away. My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking:
Likewise.
http://neckback.blogspot.com/2010/05/rip-gary-coleman.html
LikeLike
abagond…do you watch the history channel by any chance?
LikeLike
suggestions:
1. scipio africanus
2. baroque/augustan poets like swift, dryden
LikeLike
abagond, what about the 1968 Olympics’ raised fist of freedom by Tommie Smith and John Carlos? What a significant statement they made. I wiki’d Smith’s quote:
LikeLike
Abagond, good source of photos for your beautiful black women blog: http://hiphopvideomodels.net
LikeLike
Mira,
Toni Morrision is one of my favs too. Whenever you get a chance, burrow those books or something from someone because they are really goood. Her books have a tendency to always pull me in.
LikeLike
The problem is that not all of her books are translated in my language. My English might be good for reading chick lit (not that I do that) or even articles about archaeology and anthropology, but not for serious literature. But I guess I’ll end up reading “The Bluest Eye” in English because I really want to read that one.
Toni Morrison is an amazing writer.
LikeLike
Why don’t you do a post on the obesity rates in the minority communities vs the majority communities?
LikeLike
Hi Abagond
I read your post about the black man that lived in a zoo. It was so tragic! I was wondering, there was a woman that lived a similar life. She was African as well. I think she was a Hottentot. She was forced to live in a carnival in Europe because people were fascinated by her large buttocks. Her life was just as tragic. I don’t know her name but I was hoping you could do a post on her. You have probably heard about her. I would appreciate it. Thanks Abagond. Take care.
LikeLike
Sarah Baartman is the name
LikeLike
do a post on “the tears of white women”
LikeLike
I second Y’s suggestion
LikeLike
do a post on “the tears of white women”
By all means, yes! I third that! Good suggestion, Y.
LikeLike
Y said:
“do a post on “the tears of white women”
Yes, I was thinking of that myself! That makes four of us (Y, Aiyo, Mira, Abagond), so it will not be the next post but the one after that.
LikeLike
Self fulfilling prophecies for black folks.
LikeLike
Count me in for a post on The Tears Of White Women.
LikeLike
It’s going to be a hit! 😀
LikeLike
@J
Thanks. I couldn’t think of her name! It was sad what happened to her. Even after death, she was treated disrespectfully. I am glad Nelson Mandela demanded that they return her remains!
LikeLike
how about a post on Ousmane Sembène
LikeLike
ousmane sembene film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Girl_(film)
LikeLike
bamako: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckYT_8uLxUg
LikeLike
awesome! Thanks for the support everyone! looking forward to it abagond! thank you!
LikeLike
Do a post on the etymological roots of “Caucassian”. Nell Painter claims they can be found in white sex slavery.
LikeLike
how about a post on patrice lumumba?
LikeLike
or a post on tupac shakur?
LikeLike
If you havent already you should do a post on race bending (the uses of white people to portray non-white/Anglo people) in Hollywood movies.
Recern Examples:
Jake Gyllenhaal in “Prince of Pesia”
The whole case of “Clash of the Titans”
The “Asians” in the Last Airbender
Popular portrayal of “Cleopatra”
Angelina Jolie in the Daniel Pearl Movie, D. Pearl’s wife is half Afro-Cuban half Cuban White
and many others
Also the use of make believe people/things that represent actual people and stereotypes, includes:
Avatar
The characters in the new Star Wars move, i.e Jar Jar Binks is a “alien” that closely mirrors the coon stereotype of black men
LikeLike
woah wrong link… and please excuse the typos
LikeLike
http://www.happynappyhead.com/2010/06/why-i-wont-be-watching-avatar-last.html
LikeLike
you could do a post on sickle cell anemia. it affects people how live in the tropic where malaria thrives, Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East and South Asia. I recent had a friend lose her mother to the disease. the mom died the day of her HS graduation. Sickle cell has been on my mind for a week now.
LikeLike
@Y:
Yes! It always boggled my mind time and time again how Hollywood miscasts white people to play POC. Take the movie,The Last Airbender, as an example. The story’s set in Asia with an Asian theme. And with Asian people. Hello? Where are the Asian characters? What really bothers me is the director of the move, M. Night Shyamalan. As a POC, he should know know better.
The Last Airbender was originally a cartoon. Two of the Asian characters are played by a white actor and actress and the third Asian character, the villain, is played by a POC. Wth?!
Now don’t get me started on Memoirs Of A Geisha. The three actresses who played geishas in the movie were Chinese. Geishas are supposed to be Japanese. Oh, yeah, that’s right. Asians all look alike. *sarcasm*
I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s mother. 😦
LikeLike
I meant the third Asian character is played by a POC and he’s the villain.
LikeLike
Yes, Hollywood whitewashing would make a good post.
I simply boycott those movies. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Last Airbender, Avatar…
The funny thing is, as racist as they may be, people in the audience don’t buy this sh!t. There are many who’d love characters to be authentic, played by actor of the appropriate race/ethnicity, without historical changes, etc. True, most of them will say: It’s not a big deal, don’t be so sensitive! But reviews and often the box office show that whitewashed movies (and those that don’t respect history or culture in question) often flop and are ridiculed.
Though I don’t understand about “The clash of the Titans”. Aren’t characters white?
PS-Sorry to hear about your friend’s mother, Y.
LikeLike
As for prince of Persia, there’s a funny thing about it. Persians were Indo-Europeans, not Semites. Jake Gyllenhaal is Jewish. Jews are Semites.
Both these groups are Caucasians, however, Indo-Europeans are usually seen as “whiter” than Semites. So in some twisted sense of cultural constructs about race, Jake is too dark, not too light, to play the prince of Persia.
lol
LikeLike
Yes Racebending, I will definetly NOT be watching the last Airbender the whole casting is so racist but of course white people are scraping for every single excuse to say it is not racist this has happend many times look up Earthsea casting.
The biggest bullcrap excuse I have heard for Last Airbender is: They are not from Earth so there is no Asian if you look on wiki and go on their profile it states their race which is water tribe etc.
So becasue nobody said they are asian they are automaticaly white? It’s based on Asian culture mythology and history. I mean if I was to make a book/tv show/comic manga or whatever based on African culture, mythology different tribes but they lived in the fictional world of Acirfa they must automatically be white? GTFOOHWTBS
LikeLike
Re: The Last Airbender; This is too bad that they would have to whitify the original characters form the cartoon, which was quite enjoyable. Yes I enjoy animation! The argument offered by these movie executives, is that they have to have known ‘stars’ in order to get the funding for their movies. This is obviously a bs excuse. Based upon the link given by Leigh, these are not well-known actors. What they really want to say, is that they want to appeal to mostly white audiences, in effect further promoting white supremacy. This is one of the reasons I stick to cartoons instead of movies!
LikeLike
hey i have an idea for one. Ive noticed the term fetishist thrown around this site a bit. let me explain. whenever there is a white guy that likes black women, or large butts, or dark skin, or curlly hair, etc, theyre called a ‘fetishist’. i think statements like that imply that it is not normal for a white man to think a black womam is beautiful. which, again implys that it is only normal and natural for races to stay away from one another and fear interelationships, sexual or in society. this language belittles men like me to creeps of some sort that only view black women as play toys or sexual get offs. yes, theres sickos for every race, body part, or action you can think of, but i thought considering a woman to be beautiful was natural, no matter the color. is it so unimaginable to some black women that there is a white guy out there that appriciates the distint qualities of black women, as with every other race? i mean, we are men. all women make us drool, so whos to say you woudnt be included?
LikeLike
Thank Leigh and Mira…
Its actually a miracle she lived as long as she did. Most sickles dont survive to see 25, let alone 45 AND she had 3 kids. Truly a blessing.
LikeLike
In the spirit of the Word Cup season do a post on Pele. On of the best players to step onto the pitch.
LikeLike
correction: THE BEST player to step onto the pitch
LikeLike
“White” people perceived as “Black” – but not. gee, don’t know why that would interest me? 😉
Example: Keith Jarrett, Jazz musician – played with Miles Davis.
Image: http://jazzdunyasi.jazz.az/pict1/Keith_Jarrett1.jpg
Exerpt from an interview:
GROSS: In the ’70s, I think a lot of your fans debated with each other whether you were black or white.
MR. JARRETT: Yeah. Well, you know, at the same Heidelberg festival, there were some black musicians, or black audience members, trying to disrupt my performance because they claimed it wasn’t black music. And, of course, it wasn’t. One reason was that I wasn’t black. But this was a jazz festival. They were claiming not only was it not black music, but it wasn’t jazz and it shouldn’t be at this festival. And this was, I guess, during the time when, you know, the Black Muslim thing was pretty big.
And I went backstage afterwards, and I was rather heartbroken because I
thought, `Gee, these are fellow musicians or, like, people who like music, and why are they doing this?’ And I was just sitting alone in my dressing room probably very upset, and a man and his daughter knocked on–a man knocked on the door, blacker than any of the guys who were trying to disrupt the stuff on stage, who was actually from central Africa. And he and his daughter came back and said, `Mr. Jarrett, we just want to say that that was so beautiful.’ And I thought, `OK. Well, this is going to be just a political problem for me. It isn’t the music, it’s just the politics.’
GROSS: Did you think that a lot of people assumed you were African-American because your hair was really curly and looks like an Afro?
MR. JARRETT: Yeah. And a friend of my ex-wife’s was arguing with me and her that I had to be black, no matter what I said. And once Ornette, backstage, said something…
GROSS: This is Ornette Coleman?
MR. JARRETT: Yeah, Ornette Coleman. One of the earliest times I was in the same room with him, he said something like, `Man, you’ve got to be black. You just have to be black.’ I said, `I know. I know. I’m working on it. I’m…’
GROSS: Well, do you think that that worked in your favor?
MR. JARRETT: Well, it didn’t hurt, you know. I don’t think it hurt to be—when I get that kind of feedback from the actual players, who I’ve felt were partly my inspirations, who happened to be black, yeah. I mean, it’s great. It’s a compliment.
LikeLike
Indeed Pele…….
Excellent player but one who has also taken stick for his politics in Brazil, in certain circles.
And/or the role of football in Brazil, tied in with a history of the game, when Blacks were not initially allowed to be represented in the national side, and that it was a Englishman who introduced the game to Brazil etc.
LikeLike
I’ll bump Pele ! – just amazing.
By the way J – the U.S. was robbed of a win!
LikeLike
Yes they definitely were – but still have a chance tomorrow.
LikeLike
By the way, ColorofLuv
that was a kind off a ‘moving’ interview with K. Jarrett
perhaps belies your point. I hope you have not had such difficulties??
LikeLike
I know the US should have won that game. We will see what happens tomorrow.
LikeLike
Ana Paula has just written an article on Pelé, race and nationalism in Brazil, based on her doctoral thesis. It was just publiched in the National Black Law Journal (or review or whatever). She has an entire chapter dedicated to Pele´’s political dififculties with race.
If you’re interested, Abagond, I’ll see if she’s willing to write a post on Pelé and cross-póst it to our site. She’s probably Brazil’s leading black Pelé scholar at this point.
LikeLike
Link to abstract of Ana Paula’s article…
http://journals.cdrs.columbia.edu/nblj/index.php/nblj/article/view/26
LikeLike
Rofl! I just noticed that the people at the National Black Law Journal must have run the title of Ana’s thesis through Babelfish (it wasn’t translated in the copy she sent off). So “Pelé e o complexo da vira-lata” has become “Skin and the Complex Turns Tin”.
How ’bout dem apples, CoL? 😀
LikeLike
@ Thad – lol
I will admit though, “Pele and the Mutt Complex” doesn’t translate too well literally. But damn – those people over there need to check the translation! “turns tin”??? 😐
LikeLike
@ J
I was never put in a spotlight and treated poorly for “not really being Black” by anti-white militants. Keith Jarrett had to deal with this on a public level. (I can’t imagine this) Ironically, had he played gigs in a slightly different era, he would have been subjected to segregation as a “Coloured Person.”
Different eras, different people, different times. However, suffice it to say, I can definitely relate to his experiences.
LikeLike
Cheers Thad,
An interesting article
LikeLike
Tell it to Ana, J. All I did was translate it.
LikeLike
““White” people perceived as “Black” – but not. gee, don’t know why that would interest me? ”
I’m still a bit perplexed that you would have this problem. You not only look white to me, but Waspish.
LikeLike
Thanks Ana – very interesting!!!
LikeLike
FG, I don’t think you saw his younger picture. CoL looked like what people consider to be black. For reasons unknown he’s amazingly changed into white. 😀
LikeLike
@ FG
– without putting myself out there more with personal pictures, I don’t know what else I could say. Trust me, I wouldn’t make this up ! ! ! If you look at certain pictures now that Keith Jarrett is older, I doubt very seriously you would have people telling him, “no you’re Black, aren’t you?” However, in his youth (much like myself) it was often assummed he was. I m ay post a few more pictures via Abagond and then request that he delete them. (Maybe a summary of my ‘metamorphosis’ from white, to non-white, to white again. Like I said, how could I make this stuff up. It would be much easier to ‘ignore’ it, but how can I when it literally is the story of MY LIFE ???
@ Thad & Ana – thanks for the article.
LikeLike
Cheers ColorofLuv,
Just to add that if you looked Black, I had envisioned you being more under ‘attack’ from Whites in the US
Hope you did not experience this either??
LikeLike
I think it has a lot to do with the hair. I didn’t see any of your younger pictures, Color, so I can’t judge (but to me certain black people don’t look black so I’m not the right person for this job).
LikeLike
^The hair, yes, but also his complexion. It seemed to have darker undertones vs. the pink/red undertones that most whites in the U.S. have. And his other features were not very indicative one way or the other.
“(but to me certain black people don’t look black so I’m not the right person for this job).”
I guess the obvious question is, what does black look like to you?
LikeLike
@ J
I wouldn’t say “attacked”. Considered “non-White” – yes. In Huntsville, Alabama, I was referred to as ‘half-breed’ by an older Black Cab driver. He only verbalized what many thought – – and I most certainly would not venture into the rural countryside outside of “Huntsville”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could have problems for being a Northern Yankee, let alone a ‘non-white’ person!
LikeLike
“I think it has a lot to do with the hair.”
Yes, it really takes just one distinctive characteristic like tightly coiled hair for people to suspect admixture.
LikeLike
Keith Jarrett then:
Keith Jarrett now:
LikeLike
Abagond, what about a post on professional figure skater, Surya Bonaly? She represented France for several years and won many championships. She was known for her athleticism especially her trademark backflips. If I recall, she was criticized for her lack of artistry due to her strong jumping ability. Her spirited performances were a joy to watch.
LikeLike
I remember her! Good suggestion.
LikeLike
@ FG –
If you really are who you say you are – and you walk that pass for white – bi-racial – are you Italian – line, (so to speak) I find it hard to believe you think I’m “waspish”…
If anything, I would think you could identify with me.
My only thing is (primarily due to my hair loss/thinning) I no longer sport F3 “Black Hair”. (as a child I was often called Brillo Pad. When I went swimming, my hair didn’t change or get wet – I was made fun of, and called N*&*&*& – on several occasions – not ALWAYS) As I’ve gotten older, my complexion has changed. In the past, I was much darker – in the summer. In the winter, more yellow/white. As a younger person, I even had ‘almond shaped’ eyes. This has changed. I was born with auburn/red hair that was fine. At a certain point in my life it changed to coarse brown/wavy. Then to black coarse tight curls: This is when I started to “identify” with the Black Experience in terms of racism. I was often compared to Roland Gift of the “Fine Young Cannibals” or El DeBarge – by my FRIENDS.
For whatever reason, the hormone responsible for melanin production must have reduced in me with age. (Visual indicators for someone thinking I was mixed/Black/bi-racial were: Hair (primarily), complexion (summer), rear end (yes, baby got back), and ambiguous facial features – except the almond eyes (between ages 7-16)
The interesting question here (Which many on this blog have posed) – just exactly what is Black? How Black do you have to be, to be “accepted” by the Black Community? Conversely, How White do you have to be, to NOT be accepted?
Imagine being “White” (not even Bi-Racial) and being told YOU’RE BLACK! Imagine not being “Black enough”. Imagine dealing with your phenotype changing!!!!!!!!!! Which is why I find it crazy that one can say they can “tell” when somebody is “Black”. Just what does that mean? Ambiguous features? – Oh – Look at the hair! Oh, the complexion. Oh – the nose! Oh – the lips! Oh …. this…… oh that.
LikeLike
Another thing:
So – If I go get a deep tan, and don’t pass the paper bag test, will that then make me Black? (Think of Abagond’s Angelina Jolie picture where he darkened her skin.) My pictures in my profile which I freely share publicly with anonymous posters are un altered.
LikeLike
@Color,
Eh, you do remind me a bit of Sinbad.
LikeLike
Strange. I’ve heard of mixed people changing in appearance with age. For example, some think Jennifer Beals looks less ethnic now than when she starred in Flashdance. I haven’t heard of people who are almost entirely of one racial group looking more or less ethnic over time though.
LikeLike
@ FG – that is why I’ve been virtually “obsessed” with this. When I read Keith Jarrett’s story, I was saying to myself: Finally somebody like me!!!!!!!!!!!!!” A White person mistaken for Black who walks through society only to phase in and phase out of that prejudice. Like I said, you CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
Keep in mind, while a “Brazilian” there was never any racial self conflict – which only further served to ‘confuse’ me upon my return to the U.S.A.
LikeLike
“@ FG – that is why I’ve been virtually “obsessed” with this. When I read Keith Jarrett’s story, I was saying to myself: Finally somebody like me!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
LOL. Yes, yes, I understand this feeling entirely. It’s hard living in a society where hardly anyone, even personal acquaintances, looks like you and people think you are strange because of your uniqueness. When you see someone who is in a similar situation, you identify with them. I think that’s why I’m fascinated by some of these mixed celebrities.
LikeLike
“Keep in mind, while a “Brazilian” there was never any racial self conflict – which only further served to ‘confuse’ me upon my return to the U.S.A.”
That’s a reason why so many American mixies are enchanted by Brazil.
LikeLike
@ J – And the USA wins 1-0 !!! (World Cup / Pele bump Abagond)
LikeLike
Do a post on who you think are the top 10 most beautiful south asian women
LikeLike
Leigh,
I am a huge figure skating fan*–great idea!
*Though Kristi Yamaguchi will always be my favorite. Tara Lipinski, pssh! 😛
CoL,
I think nowadays, with so many Black celebrities claiming “anything but Black” (Megan Good, I’m looking at you), it’s easier for people to believe that even “regular Black people” are more than just Black. I think I look like average American Black girl #14, and I’ve been mistaken for Afro-Hispanic, Afro-Brazilian, Indian, Mexican even Blasian. It makes me wonder what it takes for people to label you “just Black”. 😉
LikeLike
@ Jasmin –
I think as the U.S. population dynamic continues to grow in its diversity, more of these judgements will be made about race, ethnicity, and nationality (heritage wise.) only contributing to more confusion!!! LOL I do see it as positive that people are ‘confused’ by you – and myself. Maybe one day we truly will get past this Black & White, EITHER / OR bullcrap. (or bullshoid as I have recently coined the term.)
Americans (and those indoctrinated by living in American society) have this obsession with classification and categorization. In Brazil, this is “almost” non existent. Compared to the U.S, it is non existent. For example: In the U.S. you may hear the question: What are you? (you immediately know what someone is referring to.) In Brazil, if you ask, “What are you?” -someone will respond, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” – LOL Even in the United States, the Japanese Brazilians will not say, “I’m Japanese”. No!!! They will say, “I’m Brazilian”.
LikeLike
“I think nowadays, with so many Black celebrities claiming “anything but Black” (Megan Good, I’m looking at you), it’s easier for people to believe that even “regular Black people” are more than just Black. I think I look like average American Black girl #14, and I’ve been mistaken for Afro-Hispanic, Afro-Brazilian, Indian, Mexican even Blasian. It makes me wonder what it takes for people to label you “just Black”. ”
As with Colorofluv, I’m having a hard time processing it. I can’t believe anyone would mistake you for Indian, Mexican, or Blasian. And typical Afro-Brazilian looks like Halle or Beyonce.
LikeLike
Its been a few months since I last made this suggestion, but I’m going to ‘bump’ this back on the radar:
BLACK AMERICAN COWBOYS: “In reality, more than 30% of the cowboys on Texas trail drives were African American, Mexican, or Mexican-American.”
LikeLike
Jasmin:
It makes me wonder what it takes for people to label you “just Black”. 😉
LMAO its seems like black people have to look stereotypically black to be labeled “just black”. IF you dont have blue-black skin, the kinkiest of hair, and a extra-broad nose you are assumed to have something else in your background. Its weird. I have relatives in Nigeria with naturally light-skin, and some with sharp noses. They are just black.
I agree with FG you look plain black to me.
LikeLike
@Leaveumthinking:
Girl, you have to upload your pics from your computer to a free image hosting site such as photobucket.com, tinypic.com, imageshack.us, etc. After that, you simply copy the link of your pic and post it in here. Hope it helps. 🙂
LikeLike
Perhaps something on this classic book:
“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary”.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=w5j6ZeMMNsoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=miseducation+of+the+negro&source=bl&ots=eTpvW4aPx3&sig=euWQD5VxAV4wfuqjsPYZKYiPEv8&hl=en&ei=vT4lTOuJKIT20gTV77nLBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDIQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
LikeLike
Oh Lol Thanks Leigh
LikeLike
@Jasmin:
Kristi’s my fave, too! She was the all-around figure skater. Co-sign regarding Tara! 😉
LikeLike
FG and Y,
I have no idea–the people who’ve mistaken me for these things have been of that respective ethnic group, so it’s not like an American going by what they see on tv. Though I guess that makes sense, because people of a certain ethnic group have a much broader definition of their own “ethnic features” than what’s assigned to them by the mainstream media. I still think it comes down to wanting to make some kind of “identity connection” by grasping at straws.
In a stereotypical American context: the paranoid parts of me wonders if people who give me a lot of compliments on my appearance just figure that “plain Black girls” can’t be pretty or beautiful without something mixed in. I won’t lie, I would expect people to say that to lighter-skinned Blacks (but that doesn’t make it right), but not your run-of-the mill brown person like myself. Once in awhile I’ll get snarky and say, “Yes, I’m better looking than you–reconcile that with yourself however you know how.” 😛
Side note: Most people that I see with broad noses are Asian (usually Korean), so I find it hard to look at people and see a “Black nose”. Lots of White people have that “bump” on their nose that makes it crooked, but I still wouldn’t call it a “White nose” since there are White people with no bump as well. (I wonder why that’s never been stereotyped as an ugly nose, I’ve seen some people with some awkward looking lumps and bumps, usually women.
LikeLike
Leigh,
High five 🙂 And she won (and is the most talented contestant ever, imo) on Dancing with the Stars!
LikeLike
FOOTBALL!!!
And I mean real football, Abagond, not that “hand-egg” sport some Yanks enthuse about.
Football was eliminated as a popular sport in the U.S. in the early 20th century, largely because it was seen as a “foreign” sport. Hand-egg was enshrined at the same time as the sport of “superior” anglo-saxons.
And today, with more American children practicing football than baseball and hand-egg combined, the right is at it again, claiming that it is the sport of “poor brown peoples”.
So a post on football would be great.
LikeLike
You should do a post on why protesters wear black masks. Toronto is on lock-down due to the G8/20. I have noticed that many of these protesters are clad in black or wearing black masks to conceal their identities. I think there are underlying issue in regards to that. Your take on it would be very interesting. Things are heating up for normally ‘staid’ Toronto!
LikeLike
‘Honour Killings’… something which is becoming a prevalent issue in the UK, not sure about the States though
LikeLike
Sorry for not commenting for a while….
@Natasha W
I guess the obvious question is, what does black look like to you?
I have no idea. But I know who looks white to me- but is not considered as such in the US: for example, Jennifer Beals and Mariah Carey. Not to mention Wentworth Miller or Adriana Lima.
I thought they were white, but to US people all of them are “visibly non-white”. *
* There are exceptions. For example, I assumed Slash
was black/mixed first time I saw him (I was about 12)- and yet, some black people (Abagond included) claim they weren’t sure about him. To me, Slash is more “visibly black” (whatever that means) than any of the people listed above. I have no idea why some don’t find him “obviously POC” (the fact he’s into “white” music, perhaps?)
So I guess “black” (or generally “non-white”) to me means “someone who could not pass for white in MY culture”. The people I listed could easily pass for white (maybe not locals, but white definitely). So it is difficult for me to say who is seen as white (or black, Asian… ) in the US.
I don’t doubt Color’s experience and racism he faced, but to me, he looks white. The way FG described himself, I believe I’d see him as white too.
There’s no right or wrong way to do this; we all know race is not an absolute, or a biological fact. It is always open for interpretation.
LikeLike
Coats of Arms from Negro European Families from Germany Austria and Switzerland 1200 to 1700 AD
An interesting topic.
The video sums it up all basically
Nice music too
LikeLike
Here’s a suggestion Abagond.
Update your index. It’s missing a threads.
LikeLike
With regard to my point about Nigeria elsewhere. Had me thinking that the Berlin Conference 188(?), would be a good topic to discuss the origins of countries on teh African continent.
LikeLike
Do a post on who you think are the top 10 most beautiful South Asian women. Please.
LikeLike
I want to second the post about Black American privilege. Have you done a post on American Privilege? If not you can make into two parts.
1 American Privilege
2 Black American Privilege including the differences between this and White American Privilege
LikeLike
I third Vindicator’s and Leaveumthinking’s suggestions.
LikeLike
American Privilege & Black American privilege are excellent suggestions. I’d love to see those posts. But I am not quite sure if Abagond is the right person to do it. He can try though.
LikeLike
Black American privilege gets my vote.
LikeLike
Abagond you should do a post on african resistance to the atlantic slave trade.
you could write about people like queen nzinga, abdel kader kane
LikeLike
And non-black American privilege doesn’t? 😦
LikeLike
It would get my vote if this were a general blog about Americans, Mira.
LikeLike
The boxer Jack Johnson.
Following this interesting article in todays Guardian (UK)
Jack Johnson Was a Pioneer Who Gave Hope to Black Boxers Everywhere – Exactly 100 years ago Jack Johnson won a fight which divided America and still resonates today
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/jul/04/jack-johnson-pioneer-black-boxer
LikeLike
I don’t understand. Even with several popular topics, this is still a “500 words on whatever I want” blog.
Personally, I don’t think black American privilege post makes sense without American privilege post, or at least a section on American privilege. Because black Americans are Americans and share some privilege with other Americans regardless of colour. Ignoring that is not a good thing.
But maybe that’s just me.
LikeLike
African Martial Arts
http://www.usadojo.com/styles/styles-by-region.htm
LikeLike
What can be best described as ‘Black Economics’
“Money circulates in ethnic communities who are adapt in commerce(Jewish, Asain, etc) for 30 days before it leaves the community.
The money in the Black community circulates for 8 hours or less, and then it’s gone to enrich other communities”.
http://www.nublackwallstreet.com/buyblack/money.php
LikeLike
Vindicator said:
“Here’s a suggestion Abagond.
Update your index. It’s missing a threads.”
Good suggestion. I just did. It has been almost three months since I last did it!! I did not think it had been that long.
LikeLike
SW6,
Sorry for not replying earlier, I didn’t see your message.
I can’t open J’s video now, but I’ll do that as soon as possible. (WHAT video, btw?)
Mira, take a look a J’s video link if you would. The majority of the coats of arms depict black people in a “charcoal black” style instead of just brown. Any special reason to make the art so ‘emphatic’ for lack of a better term.
I’m asking you because you had some interesting things to say about how the Egyptians depicted people in their art, in the Anta Diop thread. Incidentally, I have a question for you in the Anta Diop thread.
Are those African/black coat of arms, or European (white) ones with black people on them? There are really horrible ones with black people used by whites. Is that what you’re talking about?
(I think I must watch the video first, so please tell me where I can find it).
LikeLike
SW6,
You are correct it is JA Rogers. I am not sure if it is in Sex & Race, I think it is. However, its definitely in ‘Nature knows No Color Line’
LikeLike
Not a suggestion, but what do you think about this?
http://www.usanewsweek.com/news/More-Tapes-Of-Mel-Gibsons-Racist-Rant-Against-Oksana-Grigorieva-1278181921/
Obviously Mel Gibson went crazy and insulted his ex girlfriend (who is Russian), and with other insults, he used the N word.
Now, he was not referring to Oksana, who is white – so why do many journalists call it “racist rant against Oksana”? (not just this one article, there are others) I mean, the rant itself is definitely against her, but it’s racist against blacks. Another case of “insulting white woman is more alarming than insulting blacks”? Or am I being paranoid?
(Needles to say, I don’t think it was ok what he said to her, but still the title is wrong).
LikeLike
Mira:
Because it was a racist rant and it was against Oksana. He was trying to insult HER, not black people (who were not present).
LikeLike
Abagond, the e reader market is heating up. The prices are being dropped in order to compete! Barnes and Noble dropped the price of their Nook e reader. Kindle DX followed suit. The devices have improved dramatically! I currently have a Sony reader touch. I am thinking of upgrading to the Kindle DX with its’ 9.7 inch screen. How about a post on e readers, the time is ripe!
LikeLike
Because it was a racist rant and it was against Oksana. He was trying to insult HER, not black people (who were not present).
But is it possible to insult someone by insulting other groups? I mean, sure, it is what happened, but in reality, not many people feel insulted if it’s not their group that’s being attacked/disrespected.
LikeLike
How about a post on black fascism? Get a so-called “afrocentrist” to write it and tell us why they think German romantic essentialism and nationalism is a good thing for the black man.
Seriously.
Also, e-readers is a great idea. I am devoted to the Kindle, myself.
LikeLike
Did you see the new Kindle DX? It has a 9.7 inch screen! The rendering of the fonts is better also. There is an explosion of these devices coming out.
LikeLike
GO ESPANA!!!
LikeLike
Herneith, I will be happy when we can combine the Kindle, with its liquid paper screen, with the IPad.
Full color liquid paper screens?
I am so there.
LikeLike
I tried out the IPad, and it ain’t all that! However, I agree, I would also like the full liquid colour screen in the new Kindle DX!
LikeLike
Kindle + netbook = Ipad with full color liquid paper screen.
I will only have one gadget to carry instead of two.
LikeLike
Thad said,
I thought that the “meaning” of sex was to have a good time. One of the meanings, any road. So, absent rape, how can there be “meaningless sex”? Just a nit.
As for “dignity when it comes to sex”… It makes me wonder if the people who believe such a thing can exist have actually ever had sex.
I realize this has been suggested before, but perhaps a post on sex? I know Thad would love to dig his teeth into that thread. LOL
LikeLike
Sure, I got something written about that already, but it’s 1000 words. I need to find the time to cut it down to 500 for Abagond to publish it.
LikeLike
World Population (ie Third World) or Over-consumption (First World) as the cause for the planet’s peril ??
LikeLike
How about a post on Uncle Tom, Abagond?
How did the name of this character – who dies rather than reveal the wherabouts of two escaped female slaves – become accepted by blacks as a synonym for race traitor?
LikeLike
Would you consider writing a primer post on stereotypes and why they exist? Many of your posts have to do with various stereotyped beliefs that whites hold about blacks and other minorities. There are plenty of comment threads where people defend and denounce various stereotypes. So what about a post about stereotyping itself and the purpose it serves in an oppressive, stratified society?
Frequently people argue against racist stereotypes with “white people do that too” or “white people do that more” or even “white people are more likely to do that”. Yet whites and their rented others continue to use stereotypes as one of their main sources of argument. This is because, contrary to the belief of most white people, stereotypes are not based on fact, reason, evidence, or even personal experience. Rather, stereotypes are a tool used to justify dominance. Accordingly, like all tools of dominance, stereotypes arise AFTER the dominating group needs to rationalize some oppressive act. As Buchanan and Cantril establish in their book “How Nations See Each Other”, stereotypes are a symptom and not a cause.
The dominant group needs a way to justify hoarding most of the societal resources and discriminating. They need a justification for dehumanizing and othering, so they come up with stereotypes and disseminate them primarily through mass media. Any good thing done by whites can be portrayed as a bad thing when done by blacks and browns, because that’s the only way for whites to maintain the majority of the social capital.
But this is not the way white people see stereotypes. They do not perceive stereotypes as coming after oppression and discrimination, but before. The trope “some stereotypes are true” is therefore not reasonable, and stereotypes should be deconstructed to examine their use for the dominant group (and not how applicable they “really” are to minority groups) but it would surprise most people to think that or look at it that way.
LikeLike
Harvey Pekar, dead at age 70 on July 12th, 2010.
The original blogger.
How about a post on him, Abagond?
LikeLike
Danila:
Excellent suggestion. I am working on a post about stereotype formation.
LikeLike
Danila,
High five!
Abagond,
I think your post should be a 2-parter: half on what Danila wrote about (stereotypes as an instrument of oppression) and half on what I mentioned to you (stereotypes as a result of confirmation bias). Essentially, some people think that stereotypes are just an “un-PC truth” that only they are brave enough to admit to, but it’s not that way at all. I am replying to your email now. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
I’m greatly looking forward to the stereotype formation post.
LikeLike
I guess, sooner or later, someone had to make this suggestion, I suppose it might as well be me.
MEL GIBSON: Racism among the Hollywood elite.
A reflection on how some people (Are you listening Whoopi?) can still maintain that a celebrity, who privately uses derogatory epithets against both racial minorities, and women, is NOT a racist. I find it interesting that Whoopi is probably saying what much of Hollywood is secretly thinking.
“I know Mel, and I know he’s not a racist. He may be a bonehead.”
“I can’t sit and say that he’s a racist, having spent time with him in my house with my kids.”
“Being a black woman, you think you would give me a little bit of leeway to have some feel if I was around a racist.”
LikeLike
Didn’t Whoopi defend her ex-bf, former Cheers’ actor, Ted Danson, when he appeared in blackface at some Friars Club roast?
LikeLike
Ordination (or not) of women priest, which is proving to be a contentious issue at present
LikeLike
@leigh204
she sure did, you know when white people say “some of my best friends are black” after they say something racist Whoopi is the friend.
LikeLike
you have done topics about what black women white men like and why not many black women and white men marry each other. how about topics on what white women black men like and black men’s marrying patterns.
LikeLike
Can you help me. This person on a forum is arguing that blacks are more racist than whites, and while I don’t dispute that racism comes from both sides some of the things he is saying kills me.
Here are statistics that he posted
http://www.libreopinion.com/members/standarteslc/race05.html
http://www.racismeantiblanc.bizland.com/005/06-02.htm
What does everyone think of this? Because I don’t know how to respond to this person.
LikeLike
I give credit to LINDA for this one.
C A R N A V A L
Abagond – You should really do a post on this. Its a great topic. I think it would be a great to summarize how influential it is throughout the Americas: especially New orleans, Louisiana, Caribbean and Latin America. (Brazil primarily) – differences and similarities with European Carnival traditions.
LikeLike
how about a post on shirley sherrod and black farmers…i knew giving that link about racism black farmers face months ago would be relevant 🙂
LikeLike
If you are considering doing a post on FGM. This may or may not prove to be useful.
British girls undergo horror of genital mutilation despite tough laws
Female circumcision will be inflicted on up to 2,000 British schoolgirls during the summer holidays – leaving brutal physical and emotional scars. Yet there have been no prosecutions against the practice
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jul/25/female-circumcision-children-british-law
LikeLike
This goes under the, “What if this had happened in an African country” banner. How differently would it be seen? And how would it be read differently, as a reflection on both the country, and it’s people.?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100724/ap_on_re_eu/eu_germany_love_parade_deaths
LikeLike
you should do a post on Nina Simone.
LikeLike
Have you ever considered having a Black news page where you can update news??
Admittedly you do not have to it everyday, but you could do it occasionally, and it would also help to post valuable information, which could not be posted elsewhere.
In fact maybe the commentators could post the information therein
At present I am listening to an internet radio talk show and they just revealed:
“A Russian milestone: 1st black elected to office”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38401493/ns/world_news-europe
LikeLike
How about about black american music? I mean ALL present day popular music comes from that. And I do mean all of it. From 1800’s on black music influenced to white America’s music and from early 1900’s it influenced on all the popular music of North America and Europe.
First black jazz musicians visited Finland early 1920’s few years after our civil war and independence, and they had a huge impact on young finnish musicians in Helsinki area. According some sources there were even black guys playing in house bands during late 1920’s and this was Finland, litterally beyond anything.
Today they play black american music all around the planet. Even Indian Bollywood music and dance music has been influenced by it. Japanese ultra pop is influenced by it. There is just no popular music which has not been influenced by the black american music.
I remember me and my friends standing in the snow as teenagers singing doowop oldies made by black american groups back in the fifties. We listened Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, those guys, and the early soul stuff, Sam Cooke and those masters. Imagine that: white teenagers thousands of miles away in Arctic night singing acapella “That’s the sound of the men, working on the Chaing Gang”! Talking about influence! Of course we did not understand what is was all about, but somehow the voice of Sam Cooke and the whole thing just clicked.
I think this is one good subject. Black american music was one of the absolutely most powerful cultural things during the last century in the world. Everybody talks about movies, television, but black american music was and is as powerful thing in the global culture. It is something to think about. And perhaps to talk about. Why it is so? Why the kids in China, in Russia, in Siberia, in Finland, in Egypt, in Crete, in Spain, everywhere dig it?
The whole brittish pop in 1960’s was born straight out of the black american music. There would have not been The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Cream, Eric Clapton, any of those guys without blues and soul music. Makes one think.
What other music has been so influental at any time in the history of the mankind? Church music in the medieval period? Perhaps, but only in churches and towns. But the black american music? The sailors took the songs they heard in New Orleans and New York saloons, bars and cathouses with them around the world before radio and records.
What music can compete with this? Not one.
LikeLike
I remember me and my friends standing in the snow as teenagers singing doowop oldies made by black american groups back in the fifties.
Just how old are you sam? Jist kidding! An interesting subject indeed! You would have to go back to the slave days, minstrel shows, ragtime, syncopated music et al.
LikeLike
Kindle post up on my blog now Herneith.
LikeLike
Thad or anyone who knows:
Is there a name for that thing where the music industry upgrades to new technology forcing you to buy your favourite music over again in the new format?
LikeLike
Thanks Thad!
Is there a name for that thing where the music industry upgrades to new technology forcing you to buy your favourite music over again in the new format?
Yes it’s called ripping you off once again. No, maybe you are referring to DRM? A lot of software, when updating a version, requires you to purchase an upgrade to the new version. If it is a device, you may be screwed. However, many of the software can be deactivated and reactivated on the new device. When purchasing a a new device, make sure you read the licensing terms that come with it. When you install the device and the software that comes with it, you may not be able to use your former software with it. Sometimes, the company will let you trade in the device for the newer one and give you a discount(I remember Sony doing this, unfortunately this wasn’t available in Canada at the time, only the States). Perhaps you should look at the lesser known devices? Sometimes they will give you deals to rev up their business. Otherwise, to put it quite bluntly, your screwed when it comes to these gadgets! I know, as I scoured the internet for a deal when I upgraded my Sony 500 series ereader, to the Sony 700 touch screen! The good news? There is an explosion of these types of devices coming out on the market and price wars! DRM is the devil here!
LikeLike
Planned obselecence?
LikeLike
@ sam:
you have good taste!
I find it interesting that Finnish people have found such a connection with black music. There are quite a few really good soul & jazz artists that come out of Finland – Tuomo, Jimi Tenor, the Soul Investigators.
Amazing how black diaspora music finds a home in places that you wouldn’t expect; another example is New Zealanders’ obsession with reggae music.
LikeLike
Planned obselecence?
Yes and it tees me off! However, just like the various Windows Os, you do-not have to necessarily upgrade your devices, it depends on what you want to do with them. If you just want to listen to music, you may not have to buy a new device for some time yet. However, if the do a total overhaul of the device, you just may need to in order to keep on listening to your purchased music. No wonder many people resort to music piracy, it’s that damn DRM also!
LikeLike
Herneith, that was back in 70’s when we had somekind of fifties music and style revival up here. We were not orthodox in that since I remember singing Jimmy Ruffins What becomes of the Broken Hearted and Supremes Can’t Hurry Love for some girls, and of course, Sam Cooke tunes.
But it would be interesting indeed. Like you said, from the minstrel shows, ragtime, slaves music and its impact on the whole music at the time. It would be interesting!
What intrigues me also is the evolution of rock from pure black music into the ultra hybrid it has become. And on the racist note: does anybody else find it funny that nazi skinheads listen their own version of rock music, which, like all rock is based on black roots?
That could be another subject too, but originally the skinheads in England were not nazis nor racist, but a working class kids and hooligans. The skinhead style was born out of poverty: heavy boots lasted longer, short cropped hair meant less money spent to barber etc. Their music was ska and rock steady played mainly in jamaican clubs in big cities. In the early days there were even black and other ethnic skinheads!
It started to change when National Front started to recruit these kids for their rallies and such, and after the media started to promote the same idea: skinheads are racist. In few years racists adopted the style and here we are today: skinheads are supposed to nazis! Another example how media can manipulate something for another.
One of the biggest bands of the so-called second wave skinhead movement was the Specials, which has several black musicians in it. And they play ska, black jamaican music that is.
Another example of the influence of black music around the world!
LikeLike
abagond please highlight this poem by Upenn graduate Joshua Bennett It’s called 10 things I want to say to a black woman
LikeLike
abagond please highlight this poem by Upenn graduate Joshua Bennett It’s called 10 things I want to say to a black woman
LikeLike
White privilege in action:
http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/video/stop-bike-thief-10589721
LikeLike
Great example, Tulio! Thanks for that link!
LikeLike
It’s interesting that the white flight attendant who jumped out of the plane on the tarmac is being billed as some sort of Joe six pack type hero, sort of like the Joe the Plumber of flight attendants. I have a feeling if the guy was black, we’d be hearing none of the fanfare. People would be talking about how unprofessional he is, how impulsive, angry, how this is another example of the bad black attitude and lack of temper control that marks black people and the guy would probably never get another job again. But when he’s white, he’s a folk hero.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129127376&sc=fb&cc=fp
LikeLike
sam says,
That could be another subject too, but originally the skinheads in England were not nazis nor racist, but a working class kids and hooligans. The skinhead style was born out of poverty: heavy boots lasted longer, short cropped hair meant less money spent to barber etc. Their music was ska and rock steady played mainly in jamaican clubs in big cities. In the early days there were even black and other ethnic skinheads!
It started to change when National Front started to recruit these kids for their rallies and such, and after the media started to promote the same idea: skinheads are racist. In few years racists adopted the style and here we are today: skinheads are supposed to nazis! Another example how media can manipulate something for another.
One of the biggest bands of the so-called second wave skinhead movement was the Specials, which has several black musicians in it. And they play ska, black jamaican music that is.
Another example of the influence of black music around the world
laromana says,
sam, thanks a million for pointing out the true history of the ORIGINAL skinheads and how racist Nazi’s STOLE their unique style. A lot of people don’t realize that true skinheads aren’t racist/haters.
LikeLike
Hello,
Please find new information on Playboy Playmate and TV Host Neferteri Shepherd in the press-releases below. You can also pull new photos of her at: http://www.neferterishepherd.com
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-playboy-playmate-neferteri-shepherd-is-back-with-a-bang-enjoying-motherhood-and-getting-her-figure-back-1278217018.html
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-los-angeles-dodger-baseball-and-the-playboy-bunnies-1281417633.html
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-midsummer-night-s-dream-party-playboy-style-1281417017.html
Kindest regards,
Cynthia Plessy
Imperial PR
nefinfo@ymail.com
LikeLike
Sup’ Abagand,
I think a post on black conservatism in the United States would be interesting, either as a general phenomenon or focusing on a specific individual (Washington, Sowell, Thomas, etc).
David
PS: Sorry if you’ve already touched on the subject, I’ve only read a few dozen of your posts so far.
LikeLike
Wow, a fundamental and egregious typo in my very first comment. This does not bode well for my time on your blog.
LikeLike
And on Friday the 13th no less. And about conservatism. So many inauspicious omens compressed into so little space, this is rather terrifying.
LikeLike
So, we’ve all heard about Dr. Laura. There’s been a lot of speculation as to why she went on the tyrant, but no one pointed out the obvious. I think that she had issues with the bw/wm relationship. And her issues manifested into her rant.
There has always been much talk about black women’s insecurities with bm/ww relations, but I know from experience that white women have deep seated issues with minority women who they preceive as a threat. I’ve had several conversations/experiences with this. Also, it’s evident on message boards, ect.
Could you write a post about maybe ww insecurties in relation to women of color.
LikeLike
Could you write a post about maybe ww insecurties in relation to women of color.
I second this. It is an interesting subject.
LikeLike
I’m interested in how your religious predilections as a Catholic interact with your political views.
For example (correct me if I am wrong in making this assumption), you have a great deal more support for the Democratic Party and it’s current personification of Obama than you do for the Republican Party and it’s most recent incarnation of Bush, yet Bush and the Republicans with regards to almost all social issues exemplify the moral teachings of your form of Christianity much more than Obama (opposition to abortion, opposition to the normalization of homosexuality, support for abstinence before marriage and other traditional Christian values).
LikeLike
Hi Abagond –
I think doing a post on Laura Schlessinger and her recent comments would makea great topic.
LikeLike
How about doing a post on the Glenn Beck Rally, a spoof post! He bears a striking resemblance to Alfred C. Newman!
Glenn Beck:
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfVLdEugqZTuHpphCWPn5Bs4KTsH58D-MN9ee0AbSulYHgp3M&t=1&usg=__TXIMUbM32uj4BBObuY2kuN0iTJ0=
LikeLike
Islandgirl,
I agree. Everyone talks about bw insecurities with bm/ww, but no one talks about ww insecurities with bw/wm. Just society protecting ww feelings as usual.
LikeLike
Yeah Aba, are you going to do a post on Tim Wise? I think I suggested this before, but Im not sure.
LikeLike
Help! I just quit smoking cold turkey! Right now I am jonsesing for an after dinner cigarette. I will never cuss out a crack head or drunkard again! Any suggestions?
LikeLike
Well, are you allowed to smoke hot turkey?
LikeLike
@Herneith,
Pretending to “smoke” a drinking straw cut off to the length of a regular cigarette helped me. I’d draw on the straw, inhale and then exhale, all the while imagining that I was experiencing the taste and sensation of mentholated cigarette smoke. You can also try chewing gum (but only when the urge to smoke hits you) or sipping water.
Hang in there — the urges don’t tend to last more than a few minutes at a time. Good Luck!
LikeLike
Well, are you allowed to smoke hot turkey?
Does that work?
LikeLike
Hang in there — the urges don’t tend to last more than a few minutes at a time. Good Luck!
Thanks! Funnily enough, I only get an overwhelming urge for a cigarette after dinner, otherwise, I don’t get strong urges. However, I wish to stop altogether. Some people have told me that one a day isn’t bad. That’ like telling a drunkard that one beer a day isn’t to bad. I wish to stop altogether, not have one even once a day!
LikeLike
Abagond, how about some posts presenting “panafricanism” and “afrocentrism”?
Both terms pop up every now and then in the comments yet folks seem to have confusing to outright wrong ideas of the concepts they embrace (as I keep seeing them reduced to what hairdo one sports or what race one dates).
Also, I noticed that (some) African sites make a distinction between “afrocentricity” and “afrocentrism” (the former being the real thing and the latter the strawman that some ideologically oriented white scholars built out of it), but this distinction doesn’t seem to exist in the African-American online community.
LikeLike
You should do something about blacks getting plastic surgery to look more white. It’s a growing trend, starting with almost every single black female in the media to everyday citizens who are opting to have more “european” features.
LikeLike
Here’s a good topic for you abagond! Muhammed Ali. Controversial guy if any, fighter in the ring and outside of it, guy who really stood for what he believed was right, got his working rights taken away from him (what does the constitution say about that?) and went for a jail for a short stint, came out and worked himself back again. In the end took too many fights, got injured, but still is one of the all time sporting heroes in the world.
I remember following the buildup for the fight against Foreman in 1974. I read every story in the papers, watched everything on tv, listened the radio. I was a school kid in Finland and yet this black guy was one of my greatest heroes. I was affraid of him gettin hurt, beaten, demolished. He was not. Can you imagine how I felt? I carried the newspaper stories in my schoolbags for days after that fight.
Even today, with his parkinsons and all, if and when he shows up somewhere, people will cheer and look up to him. Ken Norton, one of his tuffest opponents in the ring (a guy who once broke his jaw), recalled that when he had a bad car accident and woke up in the hospital, Ali was sitting beside him doing silly magic tricks. Ali also payed the bills. Of one of his harderst competitors ever. And Ali never told this story to anybody. It was Norton. What that tells you about the guy?
Guy everybody loved to hate and who once said, that when he retires, boxing as a sport will fall again from the heights he took it. So happened.
LikeLike
Ooh! Oooh! Second the Ali toppic, Mistah Kottah!
LikeLike
Abagond, please do a post, or even better, a series of posts, about racism perpetrated by Asians against blacks/ East Asians against other Asians!
I know some white racists love to hear about this type of racism because they buy into the whole “well, they’re doing it to!” argument. Believe me, I’m not trying to divert your blog along those lines.
I just think that you have a talent for understanding and writing about these things; it’d be really enlightening and awesome to hear your point of view.
I’m surrounded by East Asians at the moment, and sometimes I get so sick and tired of the smug sense of superiority that some of them have towards black people and basically anyone who isn’t white or East Asian.
Really, some East Asians think that white people and them belong on some pedestal, while the rest of humanity are inferior races. This is the power structure so many of them have deluded themselves into believing, I swear.
LikeLike
correction:
“well, they’re doing it too!”
LikeLike
Also, marry me, Abagond!
LikeLike
aeigfc
I second your suggestion.
LikeLike
Abagond have you ever seen the movie “A Soldiers Story”? It would make a good post.
LikeLike
Beautiful women to look into: Model Chrishell Stubbs (from Turks & Caicos)
LikeLike
Check this out, Abagond: classic example of racist prejudices being used to make a video go viral:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18725_the-truth-about-epic-beard-man-viral-video.html
People should really read this. Interesting case.
LikeLike
Hail Abagond!
Been awhile since I visited this site and as always my revolutionary spirit has been sparked. Wanted to add feedback on one matter in particular: B/W relationships as portrayed in American media (BBC tends to be more diverse and place dark-skinned men/women in non-stereotypical roles & relationships).
As a long-term unemployed Af-Am male (despite a lifetime of professional work experience, a college degree and keen intelligence), I have a criminal amount of time on my hands. When not engaged in the futile job search, I’ve had occassion to see a vast number of films, and keep abreast of current media image trends.
Fact: the prevalence of dark-skinned, beautiful, classy Af-Am women being shown running into the embrace of a usually average/plain-looking Eur-Am male (or on some luxury vacation w/a Eur-Am male) FAR outweighs any showings of Af-Am male/Eur-Am female pairings. eHarmony, vacation commercials for Carribbean trips, Hollywood films–9 times out of 10, the social engineering done by those making these films implies the ‘trendiness’ of Af-Am female/Eur-Am male pairings, but forget about finding many instances of a DARK skin Af-Am male with a ‘picture-perfect’ Eur-Am female.
Deliberate racism, delibarate social engineering, delibarate social conditioning.
Usually, racial parings support the longstanding ‘Aryan Ideal’ shoved down our collective throats. Light-skinned, all-but-Eur-Am in appearance are far more prevalent in films. Even in ‘Black’ films, notice that the dark-skinned leads almost ALWAYS have wives or girlfriends who are light-skinned, long-haired, etc. I mean, why not just use a Eur-Am actress? Not much difference it seems–so many Af-Ams have consciously or subsconciously embraced self-hatred, hatred of their ‘God’-given genetic features and are so ashamed about the limited perspective of African history taught in these schools that they will go to great extremes to be as ‘less Black’ as possible.
Ignorance in our community is rampant, growing and has to be a factor in the nation-wide 45% dropout rate of Af-Am students (an other pathologies ripping our community to shreds).
Imagery in this nation: The fear of dark skinned men of African descent is alive and well. The ‘powers that be’ want ‘us’ to embrace and glorify the Aryan Ideal.
But those with discernment have declared war on this campaign, and make sure our children are made aware of why they see who they see in films.
Abagond: please keep doing your thing! You and millions like you, are desperately needed.
T.
LikeLike
^I think that is a grand example of confirmation bias.
I just came from my morning workout and whilst watching television (which I’ve only recently began doing again, because I think TV is overall negative) I saw THREE black men/white woman pairings. In a 2 hour time sequence. One was a commercial where a white woman runs into a black man on her way out of the house and they end up “falling in love,” the second was Heidi Klum and Seal kissing, and the third was a black man/white woman couple just chatting on this talk show.
So, yeah, these things aren’t far outweighed by the opposite, by any means. Mind you, I saw zero black women with white men during that time period… even though I was waiting for one to come on. This is why I don’t get when people complain about the former type of union not being shown; they definitely are shown.
[This is not to say I “disapprove” of these pairings, but to illustrate that a person is always bound to find what they look for.]
LikeLike
Since movies are a hot topic, how about blaxploitation movies from early 70’s?
LikeLike
Could you do a topic on self-hating people. Jews, Blacks, or even hating your own gender.
LikeLike
Abagond,
here’s something that might make for a good post and discussion.
A confession of sorts: I use the word “nigga” a lot. Almost every day, in fact. Not in a hateful way, however. It’s because I am a big fan of hip-hop, and as I listen, I often rap along with the lyrics.
And there’s almost no rap song out there that doesn’t use that word at least once.
Now I don’t personally see a problem with me saying it in this context, but I can understand that black folks might think differently.
There’s an interesting scene in “White Chicks” that touches on the problematic social convections of rapping along to one’s favourite song:
Remember that most fans of hip-hop worldwide are not black, and like me they are probably saying “nigga” a lot in this context.
In addition, I have a few South Asian friends who occasionally address each other with this term. (“What’s up nigga?” and so on.) Clearly this is a result of the normalisation of that word through hip-hop and other forms of black American popular culture.
So I’d be interested to see what you and other people think about the rights and wrongs of this, and how this fits into the broader context of race relations.
LikeLike
Here’s a suggestion.
Top 10 most beautiful South Asian Women.
LikeLike
Abagond,
Please! Could you do a piece on my man George Grier. Everyone in his community should be proud that he stood up to the gang.
I think we need to support this brother. I’ve had 25 gang members come at me and my friends only for them to pistol whip my boy in front of his mom and sister and fracturing his skull. I only survived because I happened to know one of the members and he had a crush on my sister. That was my only saving grace, having two attractive sisters. It’s kind of funny now but that day I didn’t laugh one bit.
Thanks for listening.
LikeLike
What do you think about this?
I do think it would be great to write posts on American privilege and male privilege. They don’t have to be guest posts, and they definitely don’t need to be written by me, but I think it would be great to discuss this.
LikeLike
Mira:
I will guest post anything you want to write on those subjects. I think they are worth discussing and I think you would probably write better posts on them than I would.
LikeLike
Great! I’ll think about it. I want to do it right. 🙂
LikeLike
The Love of Fathers. . . (Abagond perspective?) James Jones and the school bus incident…
LikeLike
please do a post on Bamboozled the movie. I love that film. I watch it at least 2 a mont.
LikeLike
I would like to see a post on the notion that “africans supposedly sold out other africans to the europeans…so that excuse the slave trade/white racism.”
Another idea for a post would be african resistance to the atlantic slave trade, there were organized armies in the central african region who fought against the Dutch/Portuguese, then there were kings in senegambia areas who stuck together to raid slave ships coming to capture people. Ofcourse there was queen nzinga too. just a suggestion
LikeLike
Peanut,
That is a good suggestion, but I thought there was already a post on that subject. At least I remember reading about it.
Abagond, what about a post on non-white (or just black) rock musicians? If I’m not mistaken, you said it would be a nice thing to explore in a post.
LikeLike
@ Mira & Peanut:
“Africans sold slaves too” would make a great post. I am working on it now. I covered bits of it but never directly:
@ Mira:
Black rock musicians would be good. I am thinking particularly of doing:
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
Jimi Hendrix
Lenny Kriavitz
Santigold
LikeLike
.. Slash? 😀
Abagond,
Yes, please! And it you want to include non-white rock musicians in general, there are many, many more (for some reason, Kirk Hammett and James Iha are always the first ones I think about). (Often the people nobody knew they were not 100% white, such as Eddie Van Halen. Btw, is Freddie Mercury seen as white in the US?)
LikeLike
Mira, since according to some, black culture(s) is a matriarchy/matrilineal, Slash is definitely black. So he would be good too. 😉
LikeLike
I believe Lenny and Slash are “equally” black (black mother, white father). But for some reason many people didn’t/don’t know Slash was (part)black.
I admit Slash is a bit (?) overrated, but since I had my GN’R phase I’d love to see him mentioned and discussed here. 😀 😉
LikeLike
Because Slash looks like a white guy with wavy/curly hair and Lenny looks like a caramel-skinned black man, same with Maya Rud. I was telling my SO that Slash had a black mother, and he was all “Really?” I showed him a couple of pictures of Slash’s mother and he was flabbergasted. He does look an awful lot like his father, but if you look closely (beyond his wild hair, lol), you can see he looks like his mother as well.
It’s like when I found out the Canadian singer Amanda Marshall has a black Trinidadian mother and a white father… I thought she was just a white chick with cool hair.
LikeLike
I am terrible at guessing people’s race, but it was always clear to me Slash was (part) black. I don’t know why. It’s not that white people can’t have that sort of hair, and back in the day (late 80s-early 90s) nobody saw Slash’s face to “judge” his features 😉
I first learned about Slash in the early 90s, and for some reason it was always “clear” to me he wasn’t white. Of course he’s not as “obvious” as Lenny, but do you think that many people didn’t realize Slash was part black because rock is stereotypically seen as white music?
What I’m saying is, if he was an actor or a R&B musician, maybe it would be more “obvious” for people to guess.
(Note the fashion sense… Or lack thereof).
LikeLike
Above should read “Maya Rudolph”.
Amanda Marshall:
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:2V8jfMAsweX66M:http://www.addicted-to-amanda.com/pics/photoshoots/am10.jpg&t=1
LikeLike
Amazing hair! (Amanda Mashall). But you’re right, she does look white.
LikeLike
Mira,
“I first learned about Slash in the early 90s, and for some reason it was always “clear” to me he wasn’t white.”
How though? If it wasn’t from his feautres?
I thought he was just not WASP-y and/or mixed somewhere down the line, but not directly. Like Johnny Depp or someone like that.
“Of course he’s not as “obvious” as Lenny, but do you think that many people didn’t realize Slash was part black because rock is stereotypically seen as white music?”
What I’m saying is, if he was an actor or a R&B musician, maybe it would be more “obvious” for people to guess.”
No, I doubt anyone was confused as to whether the rockers Abagond listed were black or not.
And I think I and abagond weren’t the only people who thought Maya Rudolph was Jewish. And Emily King makes soul-ish/R&B music and I doubt most people guessed she was half black at first.
I think even if they do know a person is half black, they won’t “see” the person as black, unless they look it. I think blacks and whites are the same in that regard. Like I doubt my SO now thinks of Slash as a black man and neither do I. Which is why I disagree with FG that blacks one-drop people; the average black person is not going to see a mixed person as black unless they look mostly black or like a regular black person.
LikeLike
@abagond: dont forget Phil Lynnot of the Thin Lizzy. One of the most inluental black rockers ever. Whiskey in the Jar, irish song, was made rock by Thin Lizzy and still kicks ass. Even Metallica made their version of it, in the style of Thin Lizzy.
I cant remember where somebody said about Slash: the guy is black and jewish and one of the best rock guitarists ever!
I never thoughed he was anything other than black. Like abagonds list shows, there has been great black rockers always and it was they who started the whole thing. For some reason some younger guys forget this. It was black music in the 1940’s, well before Elvis and others brought it to the mainstream.
LikeLike
sam,
“I cant remember where somebody said about Slash: the guy is black and jewish and one of the best rock guitarists ever!”
I was going to say “Isn’t he half English?”, but I remember his father is Jewish by religion. However, I don’t know about him being Jewish since Judaism is matrilineal (like black/African cultures :). If you want to get even more technical, he’s Nigerian and Jewish; his mother was second-generation Nigerian.
“I never thoughed he was anything other than black.”
Are you just saying that? Or do you really know tons of black men that look like him? I’m not one of those “unless you’re dark brown with kinky hair and broad features you’re mixed” fools (ahem!), but he does not look like an un-mixed black person or even especially black.
LikeLike
Mira,
“I admit Slash is a bit (?) overrated, but since I had my GN’R phase I’d love to see him mentioned and discussed here. 😀 ;)”
I missed this… overrated? Oh, no you just did not. All Slash fans are going to be after you; there’s lots of them lurking the internetz too, so they just might pay you a visit. Now I know why you get hate mail (just kidding :)). But, seriously, have you heard “Back From Cali”?
http://www.youtube.com/user/slash?blend=2&ob=1
LikeLike
Natasha,
I honestly don’t know why I “knew” Slash was part black. I think I was around 13 when I first saw him (and developed a crush on him- there, I said it). I think it was because of his hair. I am aware whites can have curly hair, but I guess I didn’t think about it at the time.
On the other hand, it’s possible that somebody mentioned Slash being half black so maybe I knew about it from the start and I didn’t have to guess (I don’t remember this, but it’s possible). Also, Slash’s race was never seen as a big deal here, or a deal at all; it was more of an interesting fact.
I was going to say “Isn’t he half English?”, but I remember his father is Jewish by religion.
He was born in England and I though his father was English. I had no idea he’s Jewish (his father).
I missed this… overrated? Oh, no you just did not. All Slash fans are going to be after you.
Eh… Slash is one of my fav guitarists, maybe THE favourite, so I felt comfortable saying this. The hype was too much, imo. He is good… But nobody’s THAT good (like certain fans try to portray him). Still, he can do some pretty amazing stuff and has a distinctive sound. + November rain solos (if noting else).
Abagond,
I hope this on-going discussion proved Slash needs to be included on that list! 😉
LikeLike
Yes, it seems like Slash would make a good post too.
I thought he was white when I first saw him. There are Jews with curlier black hair than he has. Not that I gave it much thought since he was in a white band doing music for a mostly white audience.
LikeLike
Thanks!
You might also mention a fight he had with Axl concerning racism. The both deny it now, but it was much discussed back in the day.
LikeLike
Abagond, true. He’s like a cooler Howard Stern. 🙂
But I think it’s the deep black hair color would be an indicator, if one were to think he was mixed. There are lots of (non-Jewish) whites with curly hair, but their hair is usually brown or light brown.
Mira,
“He was born in England and I though his father was English. I had no idea he’s Jewish (his father).”
His father is English, but Jewish by religion. I think people get confused when they hear he is Jewish because they think Eastern European. He could’ve even been full Jewish if his mother was as well, since there are Nigerian Jews. But I think he doesn’t practice anyway.
“Eh… Slash is one of my fav guitarists, maybe THE favourite, so I felt comfortable saying this.”
Ah, okay, you’ve redeemed yourself. Maybe. Lol.
LikeLike
This is interesting.. When I hear “Jewish”, I never think “Eastern European”: I either think about Jews from the Eastern Mediterranean/Western Asia OR white Americans.
LikeLike
@natasha w: I guess it was because of Phil Lynott I never thoughed that Slash was not black. But that was not really the point. He played/plays some kick ass rock, and that was/is all that counts in my book. Being a rock listener myself that is.
LikeLike
Hmm, yeah, they think “white” but ultimately “Eastern European” since the overwhelming majority of Jewish Americans are of East or East-Central European origin; they are seen as different (mostly in appearance) from other white Americans who are Western European in origin.
LikeLike
^To Mira.
Sam, ah, okay. But I think it’s more obvious at first glance that Phil Lynott is mixed.
LikeLike
It would be interesting to do a post regarding Black Women/Arab Men relationships. There are so many dynamics to this pairing. It’s probably one of the most complicated IR’s.
Also, I know personally that Arabs love black women.
LikeLike
Met every last one of those Arabs, islandgirl, or just the majority of them? 😀
LikeLike
Thaddeus,
Whatever. I made that statement because I think a lot of people think they are not. And I see a lot of people who think that different men don’t find bw attractive, I want people to know that it’s not true.
Plus, I’m dating an Arab now and he shares alot about their views about Americans and blacks.
LikeLike
I think rokc doesn’t come more black than this:
One more reason to do a bit of black rockers.
LikeLike
And heres a black irish dude leading a white rock band on a irish folk song which became one of their best known classic rock anthems. Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy.
LikeLike
Plus, I’m dating an Arab now and he shares alot about their views about Americans and blacks.
Oh. Well, I’m married to a black Brazilian woman, so that means I personally know what black Brazilian women like.
Ya think? 😛
LikeLike
How about doing a post on people like Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Robert Johnson, and other Blues singers/instrumentalists? This is where Rock and Roll came from originally. How about doing a post on black Opera singers?
LikeLike
I second the request for black Opera singers.
LikeLike
Will you do a post on bounce music? and it’s sub genre Sissy Bounce? I saw Big Freedia from New Orleans last weekend and it was incredible. Also, there’s some interesting stuff going on as it’s coming straight out of the projects yet it’s being lapped up by white hipsters like me.
LikeLike
Here is something about the top secret CIA project that ran at least from 1940’s to 1960’s. Check it out abagond.
LikeLike
abagond, i’m sending you an email about something that i think is very relevant to the topics you talk about on this blog will you please check it?
LikeLike
How about you reserve a special post/section for arguing with Thaddeus. That way when he derails a thread those who wish to respond can do so in the Thad section, leaving new topics uncorrupted. 😉
LikeLike
I didnt know where to post this so I’ll just put it here. This is a post suggestion, not a poll suggestion
Abagond, please can you write an article on this book? This guy was on The Colbert Report last week (Eugene Robinson) and it seems really interesting, and is very relevant to your blog.
LikeLike
How about enslavement for rubber production in the Congo and the Amazon, with an article on Roger Casement, pioneering human rights crusader, Irish revolutionary and alleged pedophile/homosexual, according to the British secret police.
LikeLike
As far as the fields of social, political and historical topics are concerned, they are always interesting to read, some to be recalled and some rather unknown or widely unpublished ones to discover. It’s also revealing to read the posts of visitors on here.
However I think it would be intriguing to go beyond past and present, beyond the known, studied and seen and look ahead. Perhaps but not necessarily with examples of contemporaries with visions, projects and constructive ideas. Those who make, at least attempts towards, efforts that could help pave the way to eradicate the probably strangest social illness which is racism. But mainly to hear other people’s visions – btw not to be confused with fantasies or dreams. Visions are what you get when you wake up from a dream.
I’m definitely no expert in history and social sciences and I’m not someone you could call a bookworm, so this might sound like a naive suggestion to some. What I do have though is 48 years of life experience, my five senses and a brain. I had to learn to tackle issues with a constructive approach and creativity. I also still believe that society is what we make out of it. It is much less the static construct it appears to be.
I don’t know if I’m alone on this but it often happens that after reading an article about racism (and racialism, segregation etc) I’m left with the unsatisfying feeling of “what now?” What’s the conclusion? What could be done to at least improve this, if not prevent it from happening again?
I know that there are quite a few country-specifics, some of which may inspire people to dive into disbelief or even make ideas become fodder for the ridicule. However in an ever growing world population and with political and communication borders getting more and more blurred, I believe that we as a human species cannot afford to be idling in fatalism. Or even worse, start building new, even more unnatural borders, or cultivate existing ones. As soon as there is something wrong with the status quo everybody will know it sooner or later. That is part of education and spreading information. But what comes next? The question should be what can be done to improve it. I recently heard someone saying in an interview “we should thrive for the type of globalisation that we choose, not the one that’s being handed out to us.”
Each one of us has probably made, at some point in each of our microcosms, consciously or unconsciously, some kind of constructive positive contribution, something sustainable, something that left the other person(s) with a sense of realisation and judiciousness. And hopefully those people passed it on to others, were able to convince, to “spread the word”. The other way around has also happened to most of us. In situations where we dropped the veil of our defensiveness, out of realisation, not out of conquest.
Don’t get this wrong, I’m not hyperventilating but I’m convinced that there are better alternatives to complacency on the one hand and polarisation on the other.
I’m aware that it’s too much of a complex issue as to whip up the ultimate recipes, universally applicable. However I think it’s safe to assume that both the militant and the fatalistic approach are stifling to any effort to achieve a positive result in anything.
As it appears that most visitors and Abagond himself have a lot of knowledge, opinions and are socially engaged, it would be interesting to hear people’s visions. I’m sure there are a lot of creative minds lurking…
LikeLike
Have you done a post on trans-racial adoptions? I heard of a white child being adopted by a black family and the racism they have encountered…
http://www.newsweek.com/2009/04/22/raising-katie.html
LikeLike
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101017222820AAmsbuF
It’s comments like these that make me not want to go on the internet anymore.
Anyways, do Latino father, black mother! Would be interesting.
LikeLike
I would love to see an article on Hollywood whitewashing and/or Americanising foreign films in horrid remakes that suck all the original culture out of it that is often an integral part of the film itself. Unless there is already one you have done on this and I haven’t found it yet.
Some examples have been mentioned above (The Last Airbender) and did you lot know that the famous anime Akira is also going to be whitewashed and Americanised? With Zac Efron as Kaneda? And of course they will use the old excuse of it being ‘impossible’ to find a talented actor who is ethnically Asian. Or, ‘Oh, the characters in the cartoon looked white enough to me, so there’s no problem.’
Some examples of films snatched from other countries and remade (or in the process of being remade) into an Americanised version: The Eye, The Ring, Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In), Nikita, Solaris, Il Mare.
LikeLike
Ella:
I have never done a general post on it, but I have done bits and pieces of it:
The casting of “The Last Airbender”
In my post on David Carradine, I talk a bit about yellowface:
I did a post on blackface:
How Hollywood would be if it were blackwashed in the same way it is whitewashed now:
Zora Neale Hurston on why black characters in Hollywood are so flat:
I also did a post on why Japanese anime characters seem to look white to Americans:
LikeLike
Hello Abagond,
I think an interesting post would be discussing the standards of beauty in Europe and how they potentially differ from the those in the States , especially when applied to black women.
Anytime you post anything about white men and black women, many chime in about how great Europe is when it comes to how they view black women. Though I’ve personally noticed a huge difference of how black women are treated in Europe versus here, I think a huge and very obvious contributing factor is that we are exoticized. I do have to admit that I get semi-frustrated that black women in America say its great over here (I’m currently in Sweden), but the reason for this is because they are Americans; if you are an immigrant from Africa their attitudes totally change in my opinion. I don’t think they think you are necessarily less or more physically attractive, but I do think you get less respect if you say you are from Somalia or Gambia. I”m sure this has been discussed, but just a thought.
LikeLike
Thank you for the links, Abagond.
I have another suggestion. I apologise if you have already done it: I do scan the list, but it is so long it’s likely I would miss a few things.
I would like to see an article on having a white partner (or a partner who is of the privileged race in the country you’re living in) and discussing the topic of race and racism with them. This is because those of us who are of an ethnicity that makes us part of the unprivileged are inevitably influenced by our experiences of racism throughout our lives, whether it is subtle or obvious, only words or violent attacks. For some, it is a large part of their lives and not because they chose to make it that way: it is something forced upon them by society. It is very likely that eventually the topic of race and racism will come up at some point in a relationship, but how does one help their privileged partner understand? Is it possible for them to ever understand, even if they are ready, willing and acknowledge that racism exists? What can be done when one has been a victim for so long and the other simply ‘doesn’t get it’?
LikeLike
Good topic – how to make your white partner understand racism – but one that I have no answers for.
It comes up on this blog because there are white commenters with long-term black partners. They understand Racism 101, mostly, and know that black people are not making this stuff up, and yet there is a part of them that fights against fully admitting to it and seeing it clearly.
The two posts that would most apply are these:
LikeLike
How’s about…
SHOCK! AWE! HORROR!…of:
White man’s (supposed-or not) sexual inferiority complex when dating a black woman?
Hmm?
LikeLike
Abagond,
May I suggest that you do a new post on the Massie Case in Hawaii. That case had all the elements of pure white woman hood, racism, sexism, and the mob mentality regarding some in Honolulu’s white community regarding the perpetrators. Here’s a link to a news article by Honolulu’s newspaper:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Oct/14/op/op03a.html
The racialized violence wasn’t confined to just Blacks in the mainland US during the time of Jim Crow. It also involved other people of Color as well.
Please read the article and do a thorough research on the Massie Case online over the weekend as well.
La Reyna
LikeLike
Thank you for the links, Abagond.
I would like to suggest an article on ‘Yellow Peril/Terror’. This is basically a fear of Asians threatening White people’s standard of living.
I think the fact that universities in the US already hold back Asian students relates to ‘yellow peril’. They are afraid to have ‘too many’ Asian people:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/08/do_colleges_redline_asian_americans/
Apparently some White Canadians feel the same way:
http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/11/are-canadian-colleges-too-asian.html
It seems as if this idea of a ‘yellow peril’ is rising this year, especially with the recession and people panicking about the idea of China becoming more powerful.
For example, the game Homefront is all about Koreans invading the US.
http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/02/evil-north-korean-invaders-in-homefront.html
http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/11/homefront-will-make-you-angry-at-evil.html
Then there were adverts like this:
With people using xenophobia in efforts to win votes.
There is an article about it (and how this is no different from fear of Asia in the past) here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/11/04/apop110410.DTL
LikeLike
Finally! A blogroll! Thank you!
LikeLike
Try a post on Haki Madhubuti
LikeLike
illuminati
i love conspiracy theories!
and spiritual stuff *not necessarily religious base*
LikeLike
Definetely write about this:
“The evils done in the name of Christ – or how can you believe in such an evil religion “
LikeLike
abagone will not think the religion is evil. he is catholic.
LikeLike
abagond, can you put up a random post header, that way when people feel the need to say something off topic, we won’t derail the main thread. like my convo with mei ly the other day although we kinda sorta were still on topic.
LikeLike
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy is a very interesting topic that connects a lot of what everyone discusses on this blog. Feel free to youtube her lectures.
LikeLike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QolmVWudFc. There are 15 10:15 minute clips.
LikeLike
Someone said:
Abagond, can you put up a random post header, that way when people feel the need to say something off topic, we won’t derail the main thread.
Menelik says:
this is by far the best suggestion, Abagond: please give it serious consideration!
LikeLike
Chic noir came up with an excellent suggestion. Can we please have one, abagond?
LikeLike
it’s okay charles, you can call me chic noir again. I’ve forgiven you.
*lets be e-friends*
thank you leigh 🙂
LikeLike
How would white people react if mostly black individuals policed their communities as they police ours would be a great topic.
LikeLike
Interracial dating amongst the teen generation and how it affects their lives.
Quite an intresting topic???
LikeLike
@ Abagond,
could you please consider seriously ms noir’s suggestion so we can get on with the business of posting random stuff?
Thanks
LikeLike
Abagond,
I’ve read your post about the war in Georgia (the other Georgia). Well, how about a post about the Yugoslav War (1992-1995). It’s easy to find the racism in that.
LikeLike
I “4th” Chic’s suggestion. 🙂
LikeLike
Hello, I thought your post on Black women that white men like was very interesting and I was wondering if you could do one about black men that white women like, since you said before that white women tend to go for certain types of black men and not others, just like white men.
LikeLike
I second Yasmin…
You’ve said you’re weary about doing a post on black men and white women, but Im sure many people will be interested in reading it.
I mean, you’ve done about 6 posts on BW and WM, its only fair you do a post on the reverse 😀
LikeLike
thank you y and charles
LikeLike
hey Y, i just read alte HBD post. OBS was being a real azz over there.
LikeLike
Yeah me too, I read it when it first came out. Its hard to defend him when he does stuff like that. Alte got him good in the comments though, lol, although she deleted the original. He has stated his piece on “swirl” anything else just looks like sour grapes…Anyways Im done with the swirl stuff, its not that serious..
LikeLike
What happened to Chic’s comment? I was coming to reply to it but it’s gone.
LikeLike
yea, what happened to my comment?
LikeLike
Chic:
I deleted it because it got into Mr O’s personal life, not just stuff he has said.
LikeLike
Hey, abagond. I was wondering if you could do a post on ethnic plastic surgery. I’ve always found it interesting that POC who have surgery are accused of wanting to look white while white people who opt to do this want to improve their features.
LikeLike
Second Leigh.
LikeLike
ok abagond sorry 🙂
LikeLike
Have you heard about the abuse of young Haitian orphans by Doug Pearlitz(spelling?). Just watched a segment on CNN about it.
LikeLike
Abagond, you are doing quite a few ‘top ten’ posts. How about doing top ten posts on the worst books, songs hairdos etc?
LikeLike
How about the N-word in Huck Finn?
LikeLike
Do a post on this movie. How would most Americans behave if this became real. What percentage do you think would vote to take us away, indifferent and let us stay. What would be the reason why whites would vote take us away or keep us here.
there are two more parts to this movie.
LikeLike
Chic Noir:
Excellent suggestion! So excellent I already did it:
Most whites would vote for it. Why do you think they built so many prisons?
LikeLike
haha thanks abagond.
🙂
I’ve got a few others that I would like for you to do a write up on. looking for the clips now.
LikeLike
How about good literature on African history prior to slave trade?
LikeLike
Or how about whether or not the DNA tests that try to determine where you originated from in Africa are any good? Didn’t Oprah take one of these?
LikeLike
lookingforanswers
yes oprah took an std test and her test said that she’s has lineage with the zulu people from Southern Africa. That’s one of the reasons why she built a school in
South Africa btw.
LikeLike
*chic noir slaps head*
that should be DNA test.
From what i’ve read about those test they are spotty. One of the reasons is that African-Americans most likely have ancestors from at least two tribes or ethnic groups since blk Africans who came into this country were taken from more than one ethnic group.
LikeLike
See if you can do more posts on software!
LikeLike
abagond will you do a post on science fiction which covers the end of men, or men killing themselves off via war.
here is an episode from the outerlimits
http://www.hulu.com/watch/68273/outer-limits-lithia
would the world become less violent without men? would women be able to function without men? would technology end without men?
LikeLike
Here is a good subject for us: the acient civilizations of Africa. Why they are not more popular with black revisionists? Why try to claim that Rome was black when there were numerous truly black african civilizations? Did you know that Nubia rivalled Egypt for thousands of years?
LikeLike
Sam. A post by Abagond on: Cheikh Anta Diop: The African Origin Of Civilization: Myth Or Reality
Which, I might add, is long over due and surprisingly absent from all these posts about Racism in its various forms, would help clear up a lot of these debates and discussions about the contributions of past ancient cultures to present day civilization.
Over to you Abagond…
LikeLike
@kwamla; I was going to put that link to your e-mail but lost the damned link 😀 Pretty interesting stuff that also.
LikeLike
Hi Abagond.
I’d love to see something on anti-black racism and colorism in China. I ‘ve heard how hard it is for blacks to find jobs there, find places to live, etc. I know you’ve probably heard how black people were kicked out of certain establishments in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics because China didn’t want “to look bad” to the world.
Great blog, buy the way. So deep and insightful.
Thanks for taking that time.
LikeLike
How about the queen of Sheba, or Saba as it really was called?? That black woman, after all, was one of the greatest names in history. And yes, she was a real historical person.
LikeLike
Cabrini-Green Housing Projects
Actually, Id like to see some posts on the most (in)famous housing projects in America.
LikeLike
I have a good subject: Marlon Brando and the civil rights movement. Just saw a documentary of his political activism. I knew he was interested in native american rights but I did not know that he marched with King etc. At the time it was not that usual for Hollywood stars to be active and he was at the time one of the bigges stars there was.
He also met Black Panthers several times and according to one of the founders of the panthers on this documentary, Brando was “that close to call himself a panther.” He also partcipated on panther demonstrations, spoke publicly in their meetings and was at the funerals.
How many knows this??
LikeLike
Articles I would like to see
1. Sexism in movies. The messages that the media sends to women. The media seems to still not believe that a women can be happy and single.
2. Top most beautiful East and North African women
3. Goth subculture
4. The black racism of the one-drop and the herd mentality. BET will show a ww that sings R&B over bw that rocks out.
5. The lack of diversity on the black comminuty.
6. A review of Hollywood Shuffle and Afro-Punk.
LikeLike
“Here is a good subject for us: the acient civilizations of Africa. Why they are not more popular with black revisionists? Why try to claim that Rome was black when there were numerous truly black african civilizations? Did you know that Nubia rivalled Egypt for thousands of years?”
I would to love an article on Nubian and Egpytian culture. It was the first time I fell in love with Africa, bedies the Fulani and the Somaili people. Another place that interesting is Madagascar. The wildlife is beautiful and lemurs are so adorable.
LikeLike
Hey agabond, have you ever talked about Halle Berry and Gabirel Aubrey? They’d be pretty interesting considering the things going on with them right now and the accusations against Gabriel are intriguing as well. Of course, the story would be more complete at the end of the trial, but some interesting race issues have come up with it.
Also, if you haven’t already, and article about Central Asia and it’s stereotypes would be interesting.
LikeLike
Abagond,
do a post on Dr. Charles Drew. He’s an excellent counterexamle to HBDoers.
LikeLike
A post on the Nsibidi script. West Africa’s first indigenous system of writing.
LikeLike
Interesting article on Michael Fosberg:
http://www.thegrio.com/news/how-a-white-man-became-black-overnight.php?page=2
LikeLike
Here is pretty interesting guy abagond. His story could open some eyes about the racial segregation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Plaatje
LikeLike
@sam:
I have been an admirer of Marlon Brando for quite some time; even more so when I learned about his march with Dr. King, meeting with the Black Panthers, and his little-reported activism in Hollywood in trying to get more prevalent and non-stereotypical movie roles for non-whites. I’d definitely like to see an article about that! 🙂
@abagond:
I’d like to see an article about the whole IR ‘adoption experiment’ and how one-sided it was/is – white people get to adopt any child from any country at any time, but one never sees non-white couples with pale-faced children! Go figure, eh? The argument behind IR adoption is just as silly as the one regarding homosexuals and adoption. Since most (if not all) ‘gay’ people were raised in ‘straight’ homes, it’s ridiculous to assume that straight people couldn’t emerge from a home with two loving, gay parents! 😎
LikeLike
abagond,
I hope you receive this suggestion before this topic becomes irrelevant.
I’d like to see a post that discusses how the Charlie Sheen debacle illustrates White privilege at its extreme (his being allowed to get away with beating his spouses/other women for years, his drug use going unpunished, etc.) .
Show a comparison between how America treats a WM celebrity engaging in irresponsible/sometime criminal behavior vs. how BM are/have been treated (eg. Michael Vick, Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Kanye West, etc.)
I don’t believe ANYONE (regardless of race/social position)should be allowed to get away with criminal behavior but I find it interesting how, even when BM are punished for/pay for their crimes (eg. Michael Vick ) or are condemnend for inappropriate behavior (eg. Kanye West), they are NEVER praised/supported/overhyped by the American public or allowed to PROFIT from their misbehavior in the way Charlie Sheen is/has been.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ laromana
Co-sign. I’d like to see a post on that also.
LikeLike
Laromana, did you see the response and links I posted for you a few days ago?
LikeLike
laromana,
Did you see this editorial in the latest Harper’s Bazar?
Blk models from the most chocolate to the lightest. Features run the gamit of what blk women look like.
http://www.beautyisdiverse.com/2011/02/rose-cordero-ataui-deng-jeneil-williams-more-whats-bright-now-harpers-bazaar-march-2011/
LikeLike
http://www.averagebro.com/2011/02/black-history-in-making-ursula-burns.html
Black women you shoud know Ursula Burns.
LikeLike
http://naturalbelle.tumblr.com/post/3029339263
Atui Deng who I sometimes use in the gravatar in an advertisement for Catherine M.
LikeLike
chicnoir,
Thanks for the links (saw them today) and I’ll definitely check them out.
LikeLike
Your welcome laromana 🙂
I thought I posted the links above on the open thread. sorry abagond.
LikeLike
dignified blk people and having to watch(hi chuck) the behavior of other blk peope in front of whites. blk people beinf parnoid of acting in sterotypical blk ways in front of whites.
LikeLike
Abagond,
I dont know if you’ve made a blog about this or not, but I thought I’d throw this idea out as a suggestion.
In one blog you talked about white guilt. I was thinking you could do one about black guilt or black shame. I made a few blogs about it, but I was wondering what you thought and felt about it.
http://willcapersblaqueink.blogspot.com/search/label/black%20shame
LikeLike
@ Blaque Ink
I felt myself, almost inclined to applaud after reading your two blog topics. They really should be copied and pasted as a guest post, because they were just that spot on! But it’s Abagond’s blog, and it’s obviously his say.
LikeLike
Franklin,
I’m going thru Blaque Ink’s blog right as posted!
LikeLike
here is another remarkable story of a black kid in Europe. Ok. white mother and black father but check out where he grew up. I bet there is not many black kids who actually wanted to join the Hitler Jugend.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Massaquoi
LikeLike
I read the article that was posted by Blaque Ink about black guilt. It was excellent. I have never read about that topic before. It is worth reading!!!!!!!
LikeLike
@Jeri,
weirldy enough I couldn’t locate blaque Inks post on black guilt….link please.
LikeLike
“why white people think we look alike”
It would be cool to read this one and I remembered you said you were going to talk about how the Color Purple became successful.
LikeLike
Blaque Ink said:
I pretty much agree with you, but I wrote my own take on it in any case:
LikeLike
What about most gorgeous white man poll? (And, Hispanic, if they are not considered white).
It’s fair to have that poll, too.
LikeLike
Found some interesting articles regarding IQ tests:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-barry-kaufman/intelligent-testing_b_829620.html
and heredity:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-barry-kaufman/nature-vs-nurture_b_837915.html
LikeLike
Hey Abagond. I think you should do a demographics poll for the blog. Most of the commentors seen to be black, but it would be interesting to see how the racial (and/or age) composition of your audience.
LikeLike
Why not do a post on the Down-Low boogeyman. I’m surprised it wasn’t included in your post on Black pathologies. Keith Boykin has some interesting thoughts and TheRoot presented an article recently: http://www.theroot.com/views/mister-cee-and-myth-down-low-boogie-man?page=0
How much of this concern over bisexual cheaters is overblown, and how much is legitimate in regards to sexual health in the Black community? Is it scapegoatism using prejudice against homosexuals and associations with HIV as a “gay disease” more harmful to the people supporting it?
LikeLike
I think a good blog topic would be “Complacency”. For me it’s one of the main reasons racism is still rampant.
LikeLike
Could you do a story about the Parsley Massacre in the Dominican Republic.
LikeLike
I’d second your suggestion Femi. That video you posted on a report by ABC into racism experienced by Black shoppers highlights this sickening attitude amongst some white people.
That only a few white people could be moved by the degrading and racist actions, portrayed by the actors, shows how deeply complacent white people are when confronted with everyday racism in a real life situation.
Yes. Some white people did respond and challenge what was going on, but…as the reporter explains, the vast majority did nothing and just went about their business.
Thats complacency, indifference or just plain ignoring and even condoning racism. Its just sick and explains why the few white people who actually challenged it ended up crying.
LikeLike
Abagond, how about a post on the anti-black racism of Ghandi?
http://www.zimbio.com/Ghandi+quotes/articles/23/ML+King+know+Gandhi+racism
LikeLike
The article which Tulio links points to a major reason why the “people of color” rhetoric makes little sense. Racial tensions between non-white groups can be just as bad, or even worse, than that those between whites and non-whites. Very little research is required to discover that Africans and their descendants are not well-regarded in many Asian cultures.
LikeLike
Here we go again
http://conversations.blackvoices.com/entertainment/99435682aaea4564b24369ed6fc90973/sistas-they-still-s%20…/5241bb8866a545a7aafefe26b6268e01?sn=3
LikeLike
Hey Abagond,
I suggest you do a movie review post on the Brazilian film City of God. Idk if you have seen this movie yet(came out in 2002), but I guarantee you will love it. It’s on my list of top 5 favorite films. It ties w/ Jules et Jim as my favorite foreign film, nvm the fact that I don’t watch many of those :). The cast is mostly Afro-Brazilian, so I think you’ll enjoy the subtle racial politics. You can watch the entire film in like thirteen parts on youtube if you don’t have netflix.
Synopsis:
“Ҫitӯ of Ḡođ is based on a true story that spans the 60s to the 80s where in the slums of Rio de Janeiro two boys growing up in the neighborhood take on different paths in life. The story is told through eyes of Rocket, a poor young fisherman’s son who dreams of becoming a photographer one day. His story narrates the violence and corruption surrounding the city and the rise of the city’s most notorious boss: Li’l Ze. As a drug war emerges on the streets Rocket’s only way out of this violent life is to expose its brutality to the world through his pictures, making their story famous.”
_______
Oh, and your blog has gotten much better w/o all of the HDB post. I think it is important for every black person to be aware of this pseudoscience, but the trolls those post attract get really annoying at times.
LikeLike
Yeah City of God is a seriously great film.
LikeLike
Do a post on Black comic book characters.
LikeLike
you should do a post on female privilege.
LikeLike
Last week marked the 90th anniversary of the of the 1921 Tulsa “Riots.” I’d Love to get your take on this. Was it a riot? Massacre? Pogrom? Or all out war?
LikeLike
Alex Datcher..not given enough credit..
LikeLike
I checked the archives and you dont have a post on Frances Cress Welsing and/or the Isis Papers.
LikeLike
I think you should do a post on the adoptions in the U.S. where children are priced based on color. It is quite shocking just how much of a price tag they’ll put on these children especially the Caucasians vs minorities especially black. It’s basically a supply and demand sort of strategy. To think some human lives have more value than others. Sick, sick, sick…
Also in recent new: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/07/man-jailed-for-real-check_n_892296.html?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl1|sec1_lnk2|76882
Post-racial society? I think not!
LikeLike
I think the idea behind my topic of adoption kind of segue-ways into the whole Casey Anthony trial and how far most Americans go to focus on Caucasian children who are murdered or missing, yet there’s a whole population of minorities out there who have been in the same scenario. A case in point is that 7 year old girl who was killed by cops in Detroit last year, and the parents got squat. There was no national news coverage, news updates, Nancy Grace, etc. If she were white that cop would have gotten more than a paid vacation. But one little white girl down the hole and everyone has to stop traffic. It is sad what happened in the Casey Anthony case, but people could care less if she’s not the only one out there whether the kids are white, Asian, black,etc.
LikeLike
First of all Abagond, this is one of the best blogs I’ve ever read in my life. All I ever seem to see on these internet blogs is the inferiority of Black people ( of course backed by people like steve sailer, halfsigma, and v-dare) and their using this non-sensical pseudo-science ( codenamed: “human biodiversity” and “eugenics”). Im sure these studies can help our society as a whole if used in the right way ( not like these racists thats propagating their hate). I fully support your blog and hope you continue to post everyday.
LikeLike
I love your blog Abagond
LikeLike
Hey Abagond, so could you try doign a piece on these quotes and the like? i ran into them while surfing the web and they’re an inetresting twist: would be even more intersting if you covered them 🙂
“Peoele don’t talk about Chinese privilege in China or black privilege in Africa, only white privilege in white countries”
“Anti racist=anti white”
“Africa for Africans, Asia for Asians, White countries for everyone.”
“The the west is expect to kill itself off my embracing multiculturalism and importing people to dilute and destroy it;s gene pool. The rest of the world is allowed to keep their culture and remain homogeneous.”
Keep in mind that these aren’t my opinions, I;m justtrying to paraphrase things as closely as I can:)
LikeLike
@ Blah Blah
Sounds like you’ve been on a White Supremacy site a.k.a H.B.D. site.
LikeLike
@ Blah Blah:
It should be like a rule that if you bring people in chains to your country or take over other people’s lands you should not get to whine about homogeneity.
China, by the way, has the same sort of issues:
LikeLike
@ Abagond
You should do a post on Rama Yade
LikeLike
Yo Abagond,
You should do a post on the BWE crowd! These are some of the most deluded women I’ve ever seen or heard. The way they latch on to white man and always attack black men and white and east asian women, (hell, even some black woman) is sickening!
The women that typified the BWE mentality are Natasha W, Jorbia and Patricia Kayden (among others!)
Have you noticed that they don’t comment anymore ever since you’ve stopped making white men/black women relationship posts.
These types of black women are have some serious issues!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ska music and the followers therein i.e. Rude bwoys, skinheads (in the U.K).
Many Skins who started to follow the music were not originally motivated by racism, that evolved apparently due to the social climate and factions devloped within the group therein.
It seems that the media yet again has a part to play in terms of their influence of the subculture that grew from this..
My interest in this – I love Ska music and never realised growing up as a child that I had anything in common with what was such a prevalent hate group when I was growing up.
http://www.thedarksighed.com/ska/bk2_4.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinhead
LikeLike
BWE = Black Women Empowerment
BWE is a vile off shoot of feminism. Basically it’s about Black American women (and Americanised BW) bitching and moaning about how awful black men are. While praising the white man and trying to get one (even going so far as to be a white man’s ”plaything”!)
Truly sad and deluded
LikeLike
@ Bulanik
Black Women’s Empowerment
LikeLike
BWE = Black Women Empowerment
BWE is a vile off shoot of feminism. Basically it’s about Black American women (and Americanised BW) b***hing and moaning about how awful black men are. While praising the white man and trying to get one (even going so far as to be a white man’s ”plaything”!)
Truly sad and deluded
LikeLike
@ Bulanik
Lol! Yeah, it’s this kind of thing
http://madamenoire.com/22660/8-reasons-to-date-a-white-man-30188/
LikeLike
@ Bulanik:
Vindicator’s ad hominem attacks aside, the commenters he referred to are women who (understandably) get annoyed with, and angry at, people who claim that black women aren’t worth dating or marrying. They particularly seem to get angry with black men who claim that black women are undesirable; again, this is an understandable feeling from my point of view. They didn’t just come out and denigrate black men for no reason; they denigrate the black men who go out of their way to denigrate black women – but they would pretty much lash out at ANY man who cut black women down. Hope that gave you a more honest answer…
LikeLike
sepultura13 is right, that the BWE movement is really more of a countermovement to some of the anti-Black Woman mindsets out there.
That’s not to say that some of it doesn’t go overboard to impugn ALL Black man (as a class) at times, but you can’t help that happening in a heated debate, I suppose.
LikeLike
@ vindicator
I did not know that had a name. What are some of the main websites?
Although I did stop writing about that stuff, I think it was mainly Obsidian who drove them off.
LikeLike
@ King and Bulanik:
I think we’re pretty much on the same page with that! 😎
@ abagond:
I was wondering where they went off to – it’s a shame they allowed Obsidian to get under their skins; I rather liked their input on some topics…
LikeLike
sepultura13,
@ Bulanik:
Vindicator’s ad hominem attacks aside, the commenters he referred to are women who (understandably) get annoyed with, and angry at, people who claim that black women aren’t worth dating or marrying. They particularly seem to get angry with black men who claim that black women are undesirable; again, this is an understandable feeling from my point of view. They didn’t just come out and denigrate black men for no reason; they denigrate the black men who go out of their way to denigrate black women – but they would pretty much lash out at ANY man who cut black women down. Hope that gave you a more honest answer…
laromana says,
sepultura13,
Thanks for countering vindicators INACCURATE/DISHONEST/SELF SERVING ANTI-BW smear of BWE blogs/bloggers. It NEVER ceases to amaze me how ANTI-BW BM are the ONLY race of men who PUBLICLY PROMOTE/CONDONE attacks on the humanity, digntiy, and feminity of their SAME RACE women and EXPECT them to tolerate it. At the same time, these ANTI-BW HATER BM intentionally ignore the MAJOR role they play/have played in the degrading, demeaning, disrespectful treatment of BW by EVERYONE in American culture/media.
I commend the BWE blogs/bloggers for EXPOSING/CONFRONTING/CONDEMNING ANTI-BW BM/OTHER BW HATERS and debunking the many ANTI-BW lies, myths, and stereotypes in American culture/media. Most importantly, I strongly agreed with the way BWE’s encourage BW to only form serious dating/marriage relationships with QUALITY men of ANY RACE.
Only ANTI-BW HATERS have a problem with BWE’s desire to uplift BW’s lives at every level.
LikeLike
Yes Bulanik, it does seem that way. This guy (who had a blog space of his own) would just post novel after novel of (in my opinion) a lot of senseless crap.
LikeLike
sepultura13 said:
”Vindicator’s ad hominem attacks aside, the commenters he referred to are women who (understandably) get annoyed with, and angry at, people who claim that black women aren’t worth dating or marrying.”
Yet the BWE women feel that it’s okay to smear and b***h about black men! While understandable, it is very hypocritical!
sepultura13 said:
”They particularly seem to get angry with black men who claim that black women are undesirable; again, this is an understandable feeling from my point of view.”
I’ll say it again. Yet the BWE women feel that it’s okay to smear and b***h about black men! While understandable, it is very hypocritical!
Also the marriage stats for Black American men speak for themselves. Yet will the BWE women listen or acknowledge them. Hmmmmmmmm let me think!
sepultura13 said:
”They didn’t just come out and denigrate black men for no reason; they denigrate the black men who go out of their way to denigrate black women – but they would pretty much lash out at ANY man who cut black women down.”
That’s not true at all. This movement started back in the late 1970’s early 1980’s. It was called a different name. It was the ”Black men ain’t sh*t” and ”I’m a strong, independant black woman” crowd. The BWE is a feminist movement which just happens to have every black man on it’s crosshair. They see every black woman as a victim of the black ”patriarchy”! However they seem to think that the white patriarchy is going to be better as ”Something New”
LikeLike
Abagond said:
”@ vindicator
I did not know that had a name. What are some of the main websites?
Although I did stop writing about that stuff, I think it was mainly Obsidian who drove them off.”
I don’t know all the BWE sites. However King’s link pretty much sums them up
http://madamenoire.com/22660/8-reasons-to-date-a-white-man-30188/
Also this site does a great job in debunking this very vocal, bitter and ignorant minority of black american women (and Americanised black women)
http://blackmenconfrontingthelies.blogspot.com/
You should get the guy that runs the site (the 2nd link) to do a special blog post on you blog, Abagond!
BTW Jorbia stopped commenting because Cynic, Shady Grady and King schooled her hardcore.
LikeLike
@ vindicator:
You didn’t read what I said. You skimmed. Thank you for helping prove my point – I can see that you have a few knee-jerk reactions to people who want to keep things in proper context… 😎
@ laromana:
You’re welcome. I appreciate your viewpoints, and if people can’t understand where you’re coming from, that’s their problem. They want to misconstrue your words and twist them around, but I hear your message loud and clear.
LikeLike
@ Gen:
You summed up that individual quite well!
@ Bulanik:
Yes – there were very heated debates going on with these commenters for a while. What vindicator calls “schooling”, I call pulling the “Last Man Standing” trick…
LikeLike
@ Bulanik:
Abagond has a great article about the “Last Man Standing” technique – I don’t have time at the moment to locate it, but a quick search of this site should bring it up, if another helpful commenter doesn’t post the link first! 🙂
It does seem to be a type of psychological warfare – a means to shut someone up by wearing them down. I’m betting that the people who utilize this method the most are classic emotional abusers…just my semi-expert opinion.
LikeLike
@ Bulanik:
LikeLike
Here’s a suggestion for a topic, abagond – adoptions, specifically white Americans adopting non-white children (either American or from other countries), and the abuse those children suffer at the hands of their parents. Here’s the local news article that made me think of this:
http://www.kgw.com/news/Ethiopian-adoptee-starved-to-death-in-WA-home-130852443.html
The story is heartbreaking; the evidence in the probable cause affadavit is sickening. The questions in the comments below the article are very pertinent.
I myself was adopted as a child, and I can attest to the fact that I was treated in a much harsher manner than my “natural-born” siblings…perhaps it was my parents’ way of getting me ready for the ‘real’ world, but I seriously doubt that.
LikeLike
Abagond, I know you’ve done a post about “The Space Traders.” Have you considered doing a series of posts about Derrick Bell’s “Faces At The Bottom Of The Well -The Permanence of Racism?”
LikeLike
I think Herman Cain and his popularity (?) among Republicans would be a good topic. The news pundits seem baffled by his rise (?) in the numbers.
LikeLike
Hey. I’ve been a frequent lurker. Great blog, there’s always some food for thought. I think you should do a piece based on a recent article by the Huffington Post about the NYPD using a tactic called “flaking”. I feel that this might help against some of the trolls who often invade and use the excuse that blacks are inclined to be criminals. So much for “protect and serve” and the war on drugs. Cops are just criminals on patrol.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/ex-nypd-cop-we-planted-ev_n_1009754.html
LikeLike
Wonderful suggestion. Thanks.
LikeLike
I wonder how many other cities and townships in Amerikkka are employing this same criminal enterprise in the WAR on DARK PEOPLE? I would guess more than a few.
This Huffingtonpost blurb is more proof of a conspiring white supremacist/racist Jim Crow/Slave police state that feeds black and brown people to profiteering private prisons and manufacturing corporate interests that pay next to nothing for virtually free slave labor.
Jim Crow, Black Codes & Slavery all HIDING in plain view!
Insatiable whiteness – even the rocks scream out to the Heavens for justice.
LikeLike
@ Matari:
The ‘War on Drugs’ is, and pretty much always has been, a ‘war against non-whites’. Every drug law that exists had a racist basis. All drugs were legal at one point in American history, and were only criminalized to ‘save’ the ‘pure white woman’ from evil Mexicans seducing them with marijuana; evil Chinese seducing them with opium, or the ‘drug-crazed negro’ hopped-up on cocaine-filled ‘pep pills’…the list is endless.
In fact, the drug laws seem to tie in to the fact that the ‘pure white woman’ really isn’t that pure, seeing as how she is so easily seduced by any man with the right drugs! 😆
LikeLike
Yes. The victims of these situations are more than not minorities who aren’t seen as credible or able to defend themselves. You probably wouldn’t see them pull something like this on the elites in a city like Manhattan, because only poor minorities do drugs. Wrong! The legal system is a joke and a business at that. And if getting arrested for these minor charges aren’t a nuisance, think about how it has ramifications on their future prospects. Not being applicable to scholarships, having to place their record on job applications… it’s a never ending cycle. Yet you still have the ignorant attesting that they bring it upon themselves because you know it’s just, as cops would say, TNB (typical n-word behavior).
LikeLike
@ Sepultura
“In fact, the drug laws seem to tie in to the fact that the ‘pure white woman’ really isn’t that pure, seeing as how she is so easily seduced by any man with the right drugs! ”
Too funny!! Ain’t that the truth.
Perhaps Abagond will do another post (part II) about pure white women — and their penchant yet errant, desires.
But, at least we now know (in theory) who’s ultimately responsible for the current WAR on DARK people as well as slavery, black codes and Jim Crow. It can all be traced back to their root cause — the “pure” white women. lol
*shaking my head*
LikeLike
Perhaps Abagond will do another post (part II) about pure white women — and their penchant yet errant, desires.
Yes, he can subtitle it; ‘Pure as the driven snow in July’!
LikeLike
Hey Abagond
You should update your index!
LikeLike
I was thinking the same thing!
LikeLike
please have an article about blacks listening to/producing rock (like indie rock) music nowadays, and/or in the past. it’s relevant to my interests.
also an article on David Bowie! I love him and Iman together,and he’s a pretty sweet dude, who influenced music in various areas
LikeLike
there are many blacks who listen to indie rock btw. you may think it sounds crazy but the few concerts I’ve been to for bands like MGMT and Arctic Monkeys, I’ve seen a fair amount of blacks, like myself, in the audience
LikeLike
India is more hardworking and intelligent country,even better than south Korea,Japan,China and U.S.A.
LikeLike
Hey abagond, what do you think of Petey Greene?
LikeLike
How about: former neonazis/skinheads, blackfoot indians ( I think that this part of history is rarely told and is very touching! I believe that my family was the product of the many native american+African intermarriages that took place back in the 1800s! I really can’t wait to trace my family tree back to my great great grandmother who my grandmother claims to have been a full blooded native American, and my mysterious great great grandfather who I’m guessing was a free man…I want to know there story!), Tarut island. Eh, that’s all for now!!
LikeLike
How about a post on the possible fall of the dollar and the entire world economy and it’s impact and consequences on all our lives and how it would affect the Black community, and the and peak oil and the energy returned on energy invested problem the world is facing.
Also the implications of an American/Israeli attack on Iran.
LikeLike
This being the Christmas Holiday I would like to see Abagond do Zwarte Piet since it is a racist Holiday character the Dutch celebrate.
LikeLike
I think you should have a Star Trek post. There are things in the show that actually relate to the sort of things you post on this blog. Hopefully you know what I’m talking about. I’m a pretty new fan of the series, after recently watching the original series and the 2009 movie. It’s quite fascinating. It was quite ahead of it’s time; the original series even had what is seen as the first interracial kiss depicted on scripted television.
Here’s an interesting livejournal post relating to the movie, concerning the negative response some trekkies had to the spock/uhura relationship: http://ankhesen-mie.livejournal.com/24009.html
LikeLike
I did a response to this study that was conducted recently about the news media’s depictions of black males using local news stations and papers in Pittsburgh. I was wondering how you felt towards it, and how it relates to American news overall:
http://www.heinz.org/mobile/secondary.aspx?SectionID=6&ParentID=251&SubID=255&RootID=6
LikeLike
Hi Abagond,
Its been a long time coming but at last – a guilty verdict for the murderers of the then teenager Stephen Lawrence. I thought you might find this an interesting Post topic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/03/stephen-lawrence-verdict-society-murderers?newsfeed=true
LikeLike
^
Update on the Stephen Lawrence case
2 of the suspected 5/6 murderers will be sentenced tomorrow though only as teenagers since this is what they were when the crime was committed. The Metropolitan Police have been accused of institutionalised racism for their part into the investigation of the crime. The new trial hinged on evidence revealed 15 years later !!!!! Forensic evidence found fibres and blood of the victim on the clothes of the suspects. When questioned, the suspects had no response.
Stephens parents have campaigned tirelessly for justice at a cost to their marriage. Their stoic and dignified attitude is something to be respected and admired. I can only hope that their fight for justice has not been in vain and that in the future, no parent will have to pursue justice in this way.
The Murderers still deny killing Stephen Lawrence…
LikeLike
From the Stephen Lawrence case….Saw Demerera’s post above…
‘Black people still second class citizens’
LikeLike
@Happiness
Thanks for that link. Forgive me, not sure where you are located, was this shown in the U.S or has Jesse taken a particular interest in this case? Interesting reading the comments directly beneath it- seems that it proves that there is still a significant way to go….
One individual got 14 years and 3 months whilst the other other got 15 years two months. Neville Lawrence has said that now that these 2 are banged up he basically hopes that it is just a matter of time before they give the names of the others involved.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8992356/Stephen-Lawrence-murder-three-or-four-killers-at-large-says-judge.html
LikeLike
@ Demerera
Stephen Lawrence is an excellent suggestion. Thank you!
LikeLike
@abagond
Thanks. I was the same age as Stephen when he was killed and as a parent now, this resonates even more.
The following might be beneficial to you in terms of background and how the whole story unravelled in case you were not privy to the historic details.
http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=298683
Just in case you cant see it via this link, the programme was called
Stephen Lawrence – Justice for a Murdered Son and was aired on the 3rd January 2012.
LikeLike
LikeLike
@ dee
Oh yes, I must do a post on that video, What a classic – it is hard to believe it is only two days old.
LikeLike
A classic indeed. Also Abagond, while I know this may be difficult for you, but would it be possible to look into some the factors that impact Black women specifically?
LikeLike
http://bastardette.blogspot.com/2011/12/us-adoptions-dirty-little-secret-us.html
Or with other words, why is the USA selling Black children for adoption to Canada and overseas?
LikeLike
Click to access Master%20Thesis%20American%20Studies.pdf
Keti Koti and Juneteenth. With other words Slave Emancipation in Surinam and the Southern US compared.
Another funny one would be would be Captain Confederacy II
LikeLike
Demerera
Hi, I was just watching some videos on YouTube and then came across it. I’m not too sure where or in which country the press conference was held.
LikeLike
@Happiness
I was just curious thats all. Sometimes i’m not too sure how much awareness there is of crimes worldwide, though it seems that the Lawrence case did have generous exposure, particularly following the Lawrences’ meeting with Nelson Mandella.
Thanks for coming back to me on this 🙂
LikeLike
Not really a suggestion, but don’t really know where else to put this. What do you think about it? And the fact that the author of this article is white?
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/11782/carlton-banks-racist-alfonso-ribeiro-wants-you-to-know-he-bleeps-white-chicks/
LikeLike
Wow. So I just checked out the woman’s other articles.. and holy shit, what a racist, ignorant, (insertexpletivesandotherbadtermshere) blog. don’t support that shit whatsoever
LikeLike
Why don’t you write about the 2nd most visited Black American Website. World Star Hip Hop Has perception become reality?
LikeLike
Native Blood and Identity?
By that I mean, how white people will proudly proclaim their Native Inheritance but still think of themselves as white, whereas if it was a comparable amount of African Inheritance they wouldn’t think of themselves as white.
And of course society wouldn’t either.
LikeLike
Hi. Suggestion: racial triggers
I came about this suggestion from looking at this thread (the OP is most likely White–privileged and ignorant):
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/extended-discussion/niggardly/t.77024299/
LikeLike
Tuskegee Syphilis Study
LikeLike
@ Nom De Plume
LikeLike
@Abagond:
Thanks.
LikeLike
Hi Abagond. I find that I’m slowly but surely getting drawn into this blog. For now I’ll say that this is not an unhealthy relationship. Anyway I came upon this article on the grio. Actually I saw it on my homepage and traced it back to the grio
http://www.thegrio.com/black-history/white-slave-kids-front-schools-campaign-in-1860s.php
It’s about the use of light-skinned creole children to raise money for public schools in New Orleans. I’d like to hear your observations about it.
LikeLike
Seconding the Octavia Butler request! Just finished Kindred, it’s terrific.
I would really love to see your breakdown of the case of Trayvon Martin, a black Florida teen who was stalked and killed by a white self-appointed neighborhood watch captain while walking back from a convenience store in his father’s neighborhood for candy and soda. George Zimmerman, who was 11 years Martin’s senior and has a history of violence, called police about Martin first and was told NOT to follow him. He has confessed to Martin’s murder and is claiming self-defense. Unsurprisingly, he has not been charged. More on this here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin_n_1335984.html
LikeLike
And I’m going to third that Octavia Butler request. Seed to harvest (a compilation of the trilogy) was wonderful!
@RMJ
Maybe Abagond should do a post about attacking with skittles.
LikeLike
@ RMJ, Cece D:
I cannot NOT do a post on Trayvon Martin.It will probably be my next post. Octavia Butler is an excellent suggestion too. Thank you.
LikeLike
^^^ An Adam Curtis fan?
LikeLike
Hi abagond,
Have you heard of excited delirium? It’s a condition that is increasingly being used to explain deaths in police custody, but it’s dubious as to whether its a real thing or not. I heard about it on this radio program http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bb703 (hope you can listen to it in the us).
(PS. I posted as Sarah a few times ages ago)
LikeLike
How about a post on “everybody wants to be a nigga but nobody wants to be a nigga” syndrome or whatever you might call it.
Its just something I”ve noticed from the PoC in my own family, they’ll adopt “black” ways of talking, acting, listening to rap etc….but then turn around and say some fairly racist things about black people.
it seems strange that people who seem to love at least an aspect of black culture would have that much of a disrespect towards black people themselves.
LikeLike
Threaded comments.
An examination of some of this stuff
http://www.onlineitdegree.net/is-tech-racist/
Black Women’s Empowerment
LikeLike
I think you’ll love this parody feature article:
Africans Shocked By Uncivilized Antics Of European Savages
http://www.hayibo.com/africans-shocked-by-uncivilized-antics-of-european-savages/
LikeLike
@Charles
Africans Shocked By Uncivilized Antics Of European Savages
Yes, the whites are quite savage compared to the Africans. You would think that blacks world-wide would be planning to escape the white hell-holes they live in now, and return to civilized Mother Africa.
So the ultimate joke is on you, Charles, because I don’t think the big reverse Diaspora is going to happen. The blacks are going to continue to live in their white host countries, where they can leach off the whites. If they go back to Africa, they’ll find out what a real hell-hole is.
LikeLike
The blacks are going to continue to live in their white host countries, where they can leach off the whites….
The so called ‘White’ host country that was originally ‘leached’ off of the native Americans. Is that what you mean?
LikeLike
@SatanForce
Is Tech Racist??
http://www.onlineitdegree.net/is-tech-racist/
Of course it is!! That’s the black man’s answer to everything that shows their incompetence. Forget that Asians from many countries are well represented in Tech. It’s only blacks that are discriminate against.
Time to do what blacks do – protest and sue.
LikeLike
@Demerera
The so called ‘White’ host country that was originally ‘leached’ off of the native Americans. Is that what you mean?
No, that’s not what I mean, because we never leeched off of the native Americans. We created a society and civilization the native Americans would never have created on their own.
It’s the blacks who are leeching off the whites, because the whites created this civilization where the blacks can live a first world lifestyle that would never have if they were back in Africa and the whites had never come to Africa.
LikeLike
@Bliff
No, that’s not what I mean, because we never leeched off of the native Americans.
If you want to continue this, lets go to the Open Thread where your U.S peers will probably be able to counter your ‘logic’ more succinctly than I could but, forgive me for being forthright and downright bloody minded here but, I could have sworn that, if not for the Native Americans, you would not be celebrating Thanksgiving as your ancestors probably would not have lived to have anything to be thankful for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We created a society and civilization the native Americans would never have created on their own.
The Native Americans taught your ancestors how to cultivate the land, how to hunt, how to live, how to survive and how were they re-payed????
It’s the blacks who are leeching off the whites, because the whites created this civilization where the blacks can live a first world lifestyle that would never have if they were back in Africa and the whites had never come to Africa.
Strange isnt it, Black Africans were torn from their lands, enslaved and brought to the U.S and you act like they flocked to your country, willingly and in droves, to reap the benefits and bleed the good old U. S of A…. dry. Have a word with yourself will you!!!!!
LikeLike
http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s16e07-cartman-finds-love
this new south park episode, where a new girl comes to town, who is black. watch it, i thought it would be relevant to this blog. pretty amusing and sort of sad at the same time
LikeLike
http://jezebel.com/5905291/a-complete-guide-to-hipster-racism
LikeLike
@dee
Wow, I just literally posted the same link in open thread. Great minds think alike 😀 .
LikeLike
^ funny
brave new world. we just read it in my english class. the more i think about it, the more i see how it relates to our world today, and how we get brainwashed everyday. it’s definitely one of my favorite books now, and makes me question things more in the world.. i’ve never really had a book invoke that within me. i think the novel’s concept is very worthy of a post
LikeLike
this stupid article
http://hellobeautiful.com/2515368/ny-times-black-women-fat-writer-responds-to-critics-exclusive/
LikeLike
gay marriage (related to obama’s announcement)
i can just keep going on with these suggestions
LikeLike
I would like to see a post on the Korean monopoly of black beauty supply stores. Until the 1960′s it was black owned, but then the American government started giving grants to Koreans to undermine black business.And it worked. Today Koreans use racist methods to eliminate ( competition) black owned hair business.
LikeLike
Do a post on BWE (Black women empowerment) movement. They need to be exposed as the vile hypocrites they actually are!
LikeLike
Damn. Everything from vindicator down sounds like my ideas for the next two weeks.
He said that he would post it a week from now two months ago.
True. They vary from less vile to vile.
I se what you did there…..
LikeLike
@ Peanut
BWE, yes. like later this week or early next (hopefully not two months from now!). Tacky’s War in July, after I do New York Burning.
LikeLike
Just as planned…..
LikeLike
Nina Simone in July
LikeLike
@SW6
That is my absolute favorite version of ‘Ain’t Got NO.. I Got Life’ by Nina Simone. I always imagine the bursts of happiness that enslaved blacks would enjoy under a life weighted by oppression. The unique, peculiar and yet wonderful feeling of an immense surge of elation in the midst of despair. That song has honestly helped me push through hard times. Good choice
@Abagond
Thx
LikeLike
I made several post suggestions to you Abagond via e-mail,
but you keep ignoring me
-:)
LikeLike
Woops
*:-)
LikeLike
@Bulanik,
No that’s were i miss the mark because i don’t follow up. lol,
but what is with all this bullying from white kids on other white kids? You don’t notice kids of color involved in this stuff. . .that would make an interesting post.
LikeLike
You should write a post on “racists cartoons” Disney and Hanna Barbara. I just now are becoming aware of them. I’m shocked about how blatant they were!!! They really get into children’s subconscious and shape how they see others.
LikeLike
@Bulanik
Yea.. this is me.
LikeLike
@Bulanik
Lol thank you!
LikeLike
Oh wow. Thank you. I have heard about that stuff. That is a good suggestion, especially since one of the mysteries about white men is their strange (homo)sexual hang-ups about black men, something that comes out in lynchings and debates about rape statistics and penis sizes.
LikeLike
Arthur Lewis… First and (so far) only black person to win a Nobel Prize other than Peace or Literature:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Lewis_(economist)
LikeLike
@ Abagond,
I already mentioned this in another thread: could you post an activism thread tab(devoted to petitions, rallies, etc.)
JT
LikeLike
@ Bulanik,
=)
LikeLike
http://www.vice.com/read/i-walked-around-in-a-burqa-all-day-and-im-not-muslim?utm_source=vicefbus
I’d just like to share this link with you. Really highlights Western ignorance with regards to practicing Muslims and how they percieve them. The comment section is a doozy!
LikeLike
ABAGOND!
Would you please do a post on White Liberals (TM)…..I feel man are very disingenuous and usual just a racist as “obvious” racists.
Please?
LikeLike
@ Peanut
Okay. Good suggestion.
LikeLike
Daniel Ken Inouye, who left us yesterday.
Most recent President Pro tempore of the Senate. Disabled WWII vet of Japanese ancestry only 3 heartbeats away from Presidency.
50 years in the Senate, plus 2 terms in the House.
LikeLike
Please do a post on Yelena Khanga, she’s an Afro Russian journalist
LikeLike
@Abagond
If you haven’t already, could you please consider writing a post about the U.S. prohibition of cocaine and its link to the character assassination of African-Americans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries? Thanks!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine
LikeLike
@Legion; Happy Friday. That’s an excellent suggestion. I like that.
LikeLike
Ok Abagond, where’s that Tommy Sotomayor article? I’m looking forward to seeing your assessment of him
LikeLike
@ Louise Jacuzzi
The Tommy Sotomayor post goes up on Wednesday.
LikeLike
^^^ Beat me to it by two weeks.
LikeLike
@Legion
Ditto. 😛
LikeLike
@ Abagond
Just a germ of an idea.
Searching your index, I haven’t seen a reference to 19th century Egyptologists Flinders Petrie or Ernest Budge. They are people of interest because the ideas of one took hold and the contentions of the other did not. The impact has been enormous. “He revolutionized the way we see the world.”
The former became known as The Father of Scientific Archaeology and held the first chair of what is now Egyptology. What is often forgotten in the memory of Flinders Petrie’s greatness, was that although he was precise and methodical, he was also a eugenicist. He believed that Ancient Egypt’s achievements was only possible through the “civilizing” influence and sheer fine-ness of the Caucasian peoples.
Ernest Budge, on the other hand, believed that the beliefs/civilization of the Egyptians came from the indigenous, Nilotic peoples of the continent, and that Egypt was essentially African not unlike other African nations.
However, his presentation was looser than Petrie’s, and not given to clear details. Thus, because of the way he said it, the belief that Ancient Egypt was essentially African did not become fashionable among the scientific elite.
Some readers prefer Thucydides over Herodotus because it’s said that Thucydides is more realistic, his methods of info-gathering more scientific. AFAIK, Herodotus was also scientific methods, but had a different style of writing: did that make him unreliable? Who would say that and why?
Herodotus also wrote about Egyptians being black-skinned Africans.
A BBC documentary, “The Man who Discovered Egypt”:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIO-Xacp_8Q)
LikeLike
Abagond: Correction: please insert “He revolutionized the way we see the world”, after the sentence ending “…first chair of what is now Egyptology.”
Thanks.
LikeLike
If you have an opportunity to watch the documentary, you’ll notice within the the first 2 minutes that Egypt is clearly fixed as The Middle East without as much as a nod to its georgraphic origins, or that the “Middle East” did not exist thousands of years ago…!
LikeLike
@ Bulanik
The question I have, Bulanik, is why would any Black person want to listen to what ANY white has to say about the subject of Human History? Have we not learned that their EuroSlanted view of the world is for their racist benefit?
I’ll take Dr. Diop, Dr. Van Sertima, or Dr. Clarke over any “historian” of pale skin, past or present.
LikeLike
@ Average Bee
And, I’ll read Doctors Diop, Clarke and Van Sertima and think for myself.
An Afro-centric work may be more resonant, and truer, but it won’t end there for me.
The worst thing about Euro-centric tripe, is that even when one thinks they have not listened to it, or are not listening to it, it has already been broadcast.
I like to trace where notions come from, and identify the threads, if I can.
Sometimes they interconnect, and sometimes they don’t.
Some versions of history stand up, others don’t.
LikeLike
Lets not forget that Black scholars like: Diop, Clarke and Van Sertima have all studied the Euro-Centric scholars but have in addition brought forth their own diligently researched perspectives. Something Black scholars almost inevitably do is read the works of Euro-Centric scholars. The same can not easily be said of past Euro-Centric scholars.
The question then remains whose work and perspectives should we look more favourably on?. This is an easy decision for those of us who acknowledge the role racism plays in clouding ones perception of the world. And it doesn’t even follow that simply because a scholar is Black they will automatically have this racism awareness perception.
However, the Black scholars mentioned I would definitely argue ALL shared this racism awareness perception in their historical works.
Which past Euro-Centric works – by definition – can meet this criteria?
LikeLike
Should we leave them un-examined and un-named because they don’t?
LikeLike
Kwamla and Average Bee, I don’t mean to say that I don’t see your point(s).
I do, and I am with you for the most part.
For me, it’s not a matter of not being aware of the existence of ideas or agendas. I’ve never studied archaeology, but I am always curious about where notions come from, how they develop, who pushed what idea and so on.
In the same way, I don’t know much about anthropology, although I’d heard of Margaret Meade and Bronislaw Malinowski, for example, but had I had never heard of Franz Boas before coming to this site.
I didn’t know what he thought or who he influenced.
LikeLike
Abagond, would you consider doing a post on Michaela Deprince, the Sierra Leonean American ballet dancer who has surpassed incredible odds. She will dance the part of the Black Swan in Swan Lake. She is worth looking into. She is quite amazing.
LikeLike
Could you do a post on Black Wall Street? http://sfbayview.com/2011/what-happened-to-black-wall-street-on-june-1-1921/
LikeLike
Does anyone know anything about the Film “The Butler”, or well enough to do a post on it? I want to know what they think.
Just watched the trailer. To me the most chilling scene is the Freedom Riders going through Alabama. I know that town.
LikeLike
@ Jefe
Lee Daniels is the director, he who directed “Precious” and produced “Monster’s Ball”. So I am not holding my breath.
LikeLike
So, what are we saying, reinforcement of stereotypes, “white-feel-good” type of movie? I am sure it will have a post-racial conclusion, ending with Barack Obama. The message might be, “This was the past.”
I guess he wants to make money.
But, we *might* be surprised.
LikeLike
Just saw the preview, looks interesting but I will watch the whole movie before commenting on it. There are so many exemplary people of color in history whose stories are so intriguing but they never really get their time in todays sun light. I really want to enjoy historical films and fiction but…
LikeLike
abagond, jefe,
“Lee Daniels is the director, he who directed “Precious” and produced “Monster’s Ball”. So I am not holding my breath.”
The fact that it’s based on a true makes me think it might not be that bad, but after what they did with “Red Tails” and “42”, I’m not holding my breath either.
I am looking forward to seeing “12 years a slave”.
LikeLike
How about “Fruitvale Station?” Has anyone seen that yet? Seeing that preview, it looks like the whites are more like cardboard props in the movie, and look like thugs in police uniforms.
Now, I have 2 movies on my list.
LikeLike
How about The Watsonville Riots of 1929, The Massie Affair, and Harry J. Anslinger, father of the drug war and a racist.
Stephanie
LikeLike
@ Stephanie
For you, Stephanie, anything.
LikeLike
Dam somebody is….. thirsty. hey peanut I got a man for u he posted his email on the Joshua Solomon thread. bahaha I was lookin out for u while u were gone. u can have Adonis he is just like sondis except younger or u can try br on ur blog. rofl.
LikeLike
somebody seems like their in a good joking mood. lol good to see u too. I’ve been great thanks for asking u know I haven’t done anything much just got my hair chopped off today and started a blog u know nothing too major. rofl
LikeLike
Abagond, you should do a post on Antoinette Tuff. The heroine in Atlanta. Who talked that would be school shooter from killing innocent kids and his own fool self. Of course they said he had a sad tragic life.
LikeLike
Peanut I am natural know since I got my hair cut today after transitioning for 6 months. I think if u click my name it will go to my blog. here it is http://awakeblackgeneration.wordpress.com/ I graduated hs last year lol.
LikeLike
@ Peanut
I removed it. No harm done.
LikeLike
Please do an article on Moral Monday, when civil rights activist protest against Republican policies in NC.
LikeLike
@ stephaniegirl
I will do a post on Moral Monday. Thanks for the suggestion!
LikeLike
1. first black miss israel
2. 23andme free genetic testing for people of african descent
http://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/23andmes-african-ancestry-project/
LikeLike
and the first black israeli is an ethiopian jew, btw!
LikeLike
The hazing and racial bullying going on in the NFL this week, The Jonathan Martin and Incognito using racial slurs. Why this is allowed.
LikeLike
Ms. Mary,
that situation right there is a mess. From what I’ve read, the black Miami Dolphin players consider Incognito to be an “honorary black man” — so they support him completely —
They openly stated that they didn’t think Martin was “black enough” and that Incognito was more a “black man” than Martin was.
it’s a sad day in paradise when a bunch of black men excuse a white man when he calls a well-educated, upper-middle class, biracial man a “half-n’gger” — that means the black players did not like Martin and had no respect for him, so unleashed their redneck barn dog Incognito on Martin.
Here’s a clip that talks about it:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/11/shannon-sharpe-richie-incognito-shouldnt-be-allowed-to-use-racial-slurs/
LikeLike
@ Linda: Thanx, for replying, This is just madness to me. What in the seven firey rings of hell is going on? How does that make any sense? It’s my opinion, they are jealous of Martin because of his socio/economic and racial background. He came from a more priviledged background than some of them who grew up underpriviledged and so they are bullying him because of this. I am shaking my head at this madness. Abagond, needs to do a post on this.
LikeLike
Mary, I agree and I think you’re right…
If Martin speaks proper English (talks like a white boy), then you know they made his life miserable and he had to work overtime to try and fit in
LikeLike
Yes that nfl mess is crazy and ppl are siding with the racist and saying well jonathan martin could’ve whooped his arse, but these same ppl were probably the same that were mad at ron artest for going into the crowd after someone threw their cup at him. I think mr martin handled it as best he could as they would more than likely have fined him and suspended him a couple of games if he did get into a fight with this fool. THe black males attacking him need to sit down i’m tired of seeing sellout athletes defending the racist. Michael vick defend that white player that said the n word and now this smh.
LikeLike
“mstoogood4yall,
Yes that nfl mess is crazy and ppl are siding with the racist and saying well jonathan martin could’ve whooped his arse”
it’s easy for those people to sit in their chairs and Monday-night quarterback with “should-a, could-a, would-a”
and what’s funny is half of those people making fun of Martin couldn’t beat that big, beef-eating, milk-chugging mastodon Richie Igcognito in a fight
LikeLike
^ yea they sure wouldn’t, but I’m not surprised as they did do a study and found people don’t think blacks feel pain. And the same way they don’t really care about concussions and expect them to suck it up then its no surprise they expected him to suck it up or fight back, as it seems that is all black ppl are supposed to do we are not supposed to ask for help and get it smh.
LikeLike
http://newsok.com/jury-finds-del-city-police-captain-guilty-of-first-degree-manslaughter-gives-four-year-prison-sentence/article/3908689
White officer convicted of shooting black teenager found guily of mansluaghter.
LikeLike
From the list, I’d suggest a post on Bill Cosby!
LikeLike
How about a post on William Wilberforce?
LikeLike
Write a post about Sandy Cornish.http://www.thewakullanews.com/content/story-sandy-cornish
LikeLike
Abagond,
I feel that a post on the condition dyslexia is long overdue. A more than cursory summary would be most excellent as well, as the problem with diciphering written material typically leads to the cropping up of psychological issues, as the child (and later, the adult) is forced to ‘manage’ social interactions, mostly with non-dyslexic others who will have no understanding of such a condition.
LikeLike
Orisha and africa gods,buck breaking,black ice aka hockey team, sarah rector,WILLIE & GEORGE MUSE – The Freaks From Mars,Eating the Black Body: Miscegenation as Sexual Consumption in African American Literature and Culture,Ainu,Lowest Totem, Culture Vulture Slavery in Canada,Rent A Dread-Sex Tourism,Cakewalk,Warbrides and Caste System
LikeLike
Dearest Abagond,
First off, your site is great. Very informative. Love it. I had a couple suggestions:
1. A write up on Race: The Power of Illusion. It’s a really interesting series done by PBS. The first part talks about how race might not be real, but racism is very real. I think your take on this series would be really interesting to your readers/followers.
2. A pairing of white American’s tendencies towards dichotomous thinking WITH David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water.” His amazing essay/speech is all about writing a new narrative or having a new default setting, something many white Americans need to do when it comes to race.
Thanks. Keep up the good stuff.
LikeLike
@ Aaron
Good suggestions. Thanks.
LikeLike
@Abagond,
Hi Abagond, since it’s May, I wanted to know if you’d seen this before?
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdS-l0SeTTc)
Thank you for all the great, informative posts!
I mainly lurk on the site, but they’re always appreciated 🙂
LikeLike
I want to thank you for sharing your insight. It’s a breath of fresh air. I learn a lot from you, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
LikeLike
It would be good to do a post on writer Sophia Stewart and The Matrix lawsuit against the Wachowski Brothers.
LikeLike
Menji Restoration
Human Poaching
3/5th human
Nude Color
Origin of Perm
Rabbit Proof Fence
Black Madonna
King Billy
Importance of Playing Game Boards
Marie-Joseph Angélique
The Issue of Cartoon Jetson
Decode Black Characters on TV: Zombies, Monkey,Robots and Blue People
Racism in LBGT Community
Umoja-African Village Banned Men
Colorism in Grimm Tales: White Bride & Black One
Soul on Ice Book
Blaxploitation
LikeLike
Can you write a post about Daryl Davis? I just went to one of his lectures at Purdue University and I felt very felt inspired. He actually interviewed memebers of the KKK and befriended them. He actually got them to quit the KKK, but people think he is strange or even an uncle tom. I wonder what you taugh
LikeLike
Can you do a post of Daryl Davis? I went to one of his lectures and he talked about his experience interviewing the KKK. He befriended some of them and was able to get them to give up his robes .
LikeLike
Just read a little bit about Seneca Village, the first black community in New York City. That would make a great post, given the interest in this blog on black history in New York City.
Interested to learn that it was
– one of the first integrated communities of Blacks and Irish after Irish began to move to New York
– the site of what would later be Central Park. Residents were forced to move and no new place was provided for them. Most ended up moving to slums.
LikeLike
My topic suggestions:
Human Leather: Made from black skin
East African women and American men
African origin of martial arts
LikeLike
I was wondering what are your thoughts on the Anglophonization of Africa. I would love to see an article on that subject.
LikeLike
hey. i just discovered june is black music month.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2017/06/09/curtis-mayfield-gentle-genius-reluctant-preacher/
also, you have a white music post. how about a black music post? cause i wasnt sure where to post this link.
LikeLiked by 2 people
@ nomad
Excellent suggestion. Thanks!
LikeLike
I would love to read a post about Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori, a West African prince enslaved for forty years in Mississippi. It’s a fascinating story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulrahman_Ibrahim_Ibn_Sori
LikeLike
Hi Abagond. Anton from Russia is here. I keep enjoying your blog via receiving posts by email.
Did you ever wonder how racist is Russia? Were there any african descendants there ad so on? I would really enjoy reading such a post, and actually I read a bit about some African–americans/eropeans in Russia in early 1900s (may be in your blog?).
If you’d like to jump in such a topic, you will find this post from kind of russian reddit very interesting. They are overreacting there at the fact that Will Smith could be not black enough for some chatacters he plays.
You probably also would need to know, that the n-word (негр) was never thought of as racist in nowadays and also in Tsar-Russia. Paradoxically, this word does not want to go! It is used even by officials at times (with no negative meanong though). When I was at school (1993-2004) this word could be easily found in school textbooks.
Anyway, I observe some racism in those discussions. Weird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://pikabu.ru/story/kogda_tyi_negr_no_nedostatochno_chyornyiy_6554096#comments
LikeLiked by 1 person