Black in America

DanishDynamite said:
....It is my understanding that it is fairly well documented that Kenyan runners from a given locale, have inbred reasons why they are better runners than others.

So?

What does that have to do with racism?

Is the fact that it is well documented that women bear children while men do not (despite any "undocumented" cases otherwise) sexist?
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It has little to do with racism aside from the definition of racism.
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Racism:

–noun
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
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Well, I can see how "inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement" can apply to the example you cited about Kenyan runners.

Is Kenyan running ability behind the rest of the definition of "racism"?:

......the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
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Huntster said:
Racism:



Well, I can see how "inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement" can apply to the example you cited about Kenyan runners.

Is Kenyan running ability behind the rest of the definition of "racism"?:
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No idea. We are currently discussing whether races can be said to exist or not.
 
DanishDynamite said:
...We are currently discussing whether races can be said to exist or not.
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From the OP:

....As the Rodney King and OJ Simpson verdicts reminded us, there remains a divide in black and white relations that appears from time to time that reveals we do not share cultural backgrounds and experiences as closely as we would sometimes like to pretend....
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Usually when one discusses racism in the United States, the discussion is about the problems associated with racial superiority beliefs, racial suppression, hatred, etc.

I must admit I've never heard anyone ask whether human races even exist or not. I guess it was pretty apparent to me.

Maybe I'm in the wrong thread (or wrong planet).

Denmark must truly be an......................interesting..................cultural phenomenon.........................
 
Huntster said:
From the OP:



Usually when one discusses racism in the United States, the discussion is about the problems associated with racial superiority beliefs, racial suppression, hatred, etc.

I must admit I've never heard anyone ask whether human races even exist or not. I guess it was pretty apparent to me.

Maybe I'm in the wrong thread (or wrong planet).

Denmark must truly be an......................interesting..................cultural phenomenon.........................
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Maybe you are. Try to get a grip. Thanks.
 
CFLarsen said:
As long as we don't have a commonly agreed upon definition of "race", all discussions about "race" are futile.
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race1 (rās) pronunciation
n.

1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.
2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race.
3. A genealogical line; a lineage.
4. Humans considered as a group.
5. Biology.
1. An interbreeding, usually geographically isolated population of organisms differing from other populations of the same species in the frequency of hereditary traits. A race that has been given formal taxonomic recognition is known as a subspecies.
2. A breed or strain, as of domestic animals.
6. A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine.


http://www.answers.com/race&r=67

Just in case you want to catch up and join in.
 
luchog said:
Do you honestly think that will make the slightest bit of difference to a racist? If so, maybe you should join the rest of us in this world, and actually talk to one.

The technicalities of race are completely, totally, thoroughly, and in all other ways irrelevant to the issue. All that is important is perception. It doesn't matter what you call the difference -- race, ethnicity, genetic markers, etc. -- all that matters is the perception of difference, and the judgement of "difference == bad". The beligerent pedantry you get off on is simply teaching a pig to sing. Bigots won't accept that there is no significant difference, because they can see and hear the difference. Whether they can exhaustively describe said differences in a matter acceptable to you doesn't make any difference at all in the real world, and claiming it does is ignorance and hubris.

Humans are not rational animals, they are rationlizing animals. The only thing that is going to change the subject is not nit-picking technical debates on the nature and validity of the perception of difference, it is changing the "difference == bad" judgement. Accepting difference is what is important.
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Well said!

:bigclap
 
DanishDynamite said:
Obviously not. Any 5-year old can tell who is who in a lineup of an Eskimo, a Massai, an Indian, and a Lapp.

At least I can.
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My father got mistaken for being half black, or a native american, or hispanic ALL THE TIME. Hes white, so is his entire family.

I also knew a girl who was 25%black, 25%cherokee, and 50% white who thought she was a mexican until about middle school.

I guess its not all that clear.


then there are people that are of unclear racial origins, like jessica alba- i have no idea what race she is.
 
Hmmm...wikipedia has a very thought-provoking entry entitled "black people." If you have the time and inclination, it's worth the read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people

I found the distinction between how black is commonly defined in the US contrasted with the way black and white are defined in Brazil to be particularly interesting. Also, the positive and negative effects on black persons in the US of the "one drop rule" are discussed. It's pretty illuminating.

AS
 
In the end, isn't this thread just idle conjecture since nobody who actually qualifies as "black" appears to have posted in it? (Unless I missed it)
 
DanishDynamite said:
Originally Posted by Huntster
......Usually when one discusses racism in the United States, the discussion is about the problems associated with racial superiority beliefs, racial suppression, hatred, etc.

I must admit I've never heard anyone ask whether human races even exist or not. I guess it was pretty apparent to me.

Maybe I'm in the wrong thread (or wrong planet).

Denmark must truly be an......................interesting............... ...cultural phenomenon.........................
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Maybe you are.....
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On the wrong planet?

No doubt about it. I don't fit here.

Try to get a grip.
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On what?

Thanks.
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You're welcome.
 
AmateurScientist said:
...I found the distinction between how black is commonly defined in the US contrasted with the way black and white are defined in Brazil to be particularly interesting....
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Maybe you haven't been around the US enough.

I'm of mixed blood. I look white. You'd never know otherwise unless I told you.

My blood brother (from both mother and father) is black.

And we grew up in a Hispanic community.

You'll never know racism until you're on the fence you never constructed and find impossible to straddle.
 
The Atheist said:
In the end, isn't this thread just idle conjecture since nobody who actually qualifies as "black" appears to have posted in it? (Unless I missed it)
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Read the OP. Read the CNN.com link. That's the point.

The point of the thread isn't conjecture. It's to share experiences and thoughts on what it means to be black in America. You have missed the point if you think it's conjecture for persons identifying themselves as black, or who have experienced being perceived to be black in America, to share what that felt like.

Tmy and LA, at least, have offerred some insight into that, although both state that they consider themselves "mixies." That doesn't mean they don't have insight into the issue. Clearly, they do.

Quit complaining about the topic. If you don't agree with its underlying assumptions, fine. Ignore the thread or shake your head in disagreement. If some of us wish to discuss the topic and issues which flow from it, and if some of us recognize it as a legitimate and real topic for discussion, however, we can do so.

AS
 
Huntster said:
Maybe you haven't been around the US enough.

I'm of mixed blood. I look white. You'd never know otherwise unless I told you.

My blood brother (from both mother and father) is black.

And we grew up in a Hispanic community.

You'll never know racism until you're on the fence you never constructed and find impossible to straddle.
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Did you read the article? Did you read my OP?

AS
 
AmateurScientist said:
Read the OP. Read the CNN.com link. That's the point.

The point of the thread isn't conjecture. It's to share experiences and thoughts on what it means to be black in America. You have missed the point if you think it's conjecture for persons identifying themselves as black, or who have experienced being perceived to be black in America, to share what that felt like.

Tmy and LA, at least, have offerred some insight into that, although both state that they consider themselves "mixies." That doesn't mean they don't have insight into the issue. Clearly, they do.

Quit complaining about the topic. If you don't agree with its underlying assumptions, fine. Ignore the thread or shake your head in disagreement. If some of us wish to discuss the topic and issues which flow from it, and if some of us recognize it as a legitimate and real topic for discussion, however, we can do so.

AS
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You ok without oxygen up on a horse that high?

You state that a couple of posters have given us their insight, but no "black" Americans have. The thread title is "Black in America". Your main question goes like this:

So, black members of JREF, and anyone else, please feel free to share your thoughts about being black in America, or share your thoughts about the posts on CNN.com regarding the same.
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(boldng mine)

You've had some thoughts, but so far precisely none of them have come from "black" people.

The rest is idle conjecture. Nothing wrong with that - most of the forum's about idle conjecture. It's just hard to give up the notion that it means something, eh?
 
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