One thing I don't understand is why, when people make ignorant statements, some people react so angrily. If someone makes a statement to be malicious, it's one thing. But when someone is just expressing their lack of understanding, I don't think they should be treated like a monster.

 

As a gay man, I get it all the time. For example, I often come across people (even friends) who try to figure out "who's the man/woman in the relationship" when they come across a gay relationship. That's pretty offensive, but it's just them being stupid. These are often people who have no discomfort being around gay people, fully support gay marriage, etc. They just don't understand the gay experience, and they don't realize they are being offensive.

 

In these types of situations, it doesn't make any sense to flip your lid, or to make that person into an enemy. You can try to educate them (which may work to varying degrees, or not at all), but when you get really defensive toward someone who means no harm, you either make them defensive (thereby reinforcing their ignorance) or you make them feel like they are walking on eggshells whenever interacting with person of X identity. Making someone afraid to interact with people of X identity is very counterproductive to the ideal of embracing each other as equals. Picking your battles, being charitable, and educating seems like the only way to further the goal of living together comfortably and happily.

No one has explained why this is invalid. It seems to me that reacting with physical violence is the most extreme, wrong thing to do. You're not teaching anyone tolerance or understanding. You're just making the world a worse, more inhospitable place to live in. Period. No excuses.

 

Just correcting the man could have made him feel embarrassed, and perhaps made him think twice about jumping to prejudicial conclusions. Reporting the incident to his supervisor certainly would have done so. Simply explaining to him why he was being offensive, without getting all heated about it, would also have got him thinking.

 

Talk about being "in a third world kinda way," you need look no further than your brother (and from the way you talk, yourself), MTS. You're both going to wind up in jail and there you will realize just how civilized the idiot who called your mom a maid in fact was.

I think people just need to get over these cases of mistaken identity, and not read too much into anything.  I have been mistaken as the vallet at restaurants many times, even when I'm dressed up in a way that would indicate that I am not parking cars.  What do I do when this happens? Laugh it off, and acknowledge the fact that most vallets are young, 20 something year old men.  As long as you know who you are, who really cares what other people think about you?

 

Most maids are black or Latina, so assuming that a Pert Ric an woman who is admitadly dressed down is a maid really isnt that big of a stretch.  So what, the guy was rude/condescending.  Call his supervisor and file a complaint.  There's no excuse for lashing out in a situation like that.  Next time i'm handed the keys to a car while standing outside of a restaurant, let's see what happens if I grab their neck and start to choke them.  I know that racism is out there, but people are way too quick to play the race card.  Obviously race hasn't held back MTS or his family very much...

 

I shouldn't have to deal with it.  During CES in january, someone thought I was valet.  Why?  "he said, I just thought...".

 

My mom did call and lodge a complaint.  However, in my brothers defense, he would never had gone there if the person was rude to begin with.

 

And trust me, my brother is nowhere as conviving, vicious and dangerous as I am.  So he actually got off easy.

 

You all keep saying it really wasn't a big deal, but at the time it happened it was a big deal.

One thing I don't understand is why, when people make ignorant statements, some people react so angrily. If someone makes a statement to be malicious, it's one thing. But when someone is just expressing their lack of understanding, I don't think they should be treated like a monster.

 

As a gay man, I get it all the time. For example, I often come across people (even friends) who try to figure out "who's the man/woman in the relationship" when they come across a gay relationship. That's pretty offensive, but it's just them being stupid. These are often people who have no discomfort being around gay people, fully support gay marriage, etc. They just don't understand the gay experience, and they don't realize they are being offensive.

 

In these types of situations, it doesn't make any sense to flip your lid, or to make that person into an enemy. You can try to educate them (which may work to varying degrees, or not at all), but when you get really defensive toward someone who means no harm, you either make them defensive (thereby reinforcing their ignorance) or you make them feel like they are walking on eggshells whenever interacting with person of X identity. Making someone afraid to interact with people of X identity is very counterproductive to the ideal of embracing each other as equals. Picking your battles, being charitable, and educating seems like the only way to further the goal of living together comfortably and happily.

No one has explained why this is invalid. It seems to me that reacting with physical violence is the most extreme, wrong thing to do. You're not teaching anyone tolerance or understanding. You're just making the world a worse, more inhospitable place to live in. Period. No excuses.

 

Just correcting the man could have made him feel embarrassed, and perhaps made him think twice about jumping to prejudicial conclusions. Reporting the incident to his supervisor certainly would have done so. Simply explaining to him why he was being offensive, without getting all heated about it, would also have got him thinking.

 

Talk about being "in a third world kinda way," you need look no further than your brother (and from the way you talk, yourself), MTS. You're both going to wind up in jail and there you will realize just how civilized the idiot who called your mom a maid in fact was.

 

Are you trying to preach to me?  Oh lawd. Escuelita is in session kids!

 

Honey, don't try the gay card with me.  I'm Black, Puerto Rican and Gay.  I trump you in spades!  :P

 

Top/Bottom questions are offensive and if someone made those reference I would "educate" them something fierce.

 

Again, I'm not sure how old you are, but this situation happened when I was a teenager living in my parents home.  This didn't happen last week.

 

However, something more recent.  In August, when my nephews, niece and cousins kids were here in NYC school shopping.  They were at a major department store. 

 

My nephew is mini - albeit straight - version of his favorite uncle.  When he went to pay for the items (some for him and some for his sister) he handed the sales associate his credit card.  She asked him for ID. for some reason she was like.  I need you wait right here.  My niece (who wasn't at the register) thought this was strange and followed her to another register where the sales associate spoke with another employee, (later found out not a manager) where the woman said (on THE STORES video tape), "I dint think this card belongs to this kid.  What's a 16 y/o black kid from Cleveland doing with a platinum AMEX?"  Why would she say that?

 

My nephew and niece are very well dressed and groomed kids and so are my cousins kids.  She made an assumption that a person of color couldnt have a card nor be purchasing items in excess of 4k?  Iin her own words - that equated to a black kid is using someones stolen credit card.

After what your bro did, the boss man probably completely ignored your mom's complaint. A reasonable person's sympathy quickly shifts in such a situation. "Furthering the hot-blooded latin stereotype" can be debated (I tend to think that's not a reasonable contention). But nullifying the perceived moral failure on behalf of the worker? Absolutely.

After what your bro did, the boss man probably completely ignored your mom's complaint. A reasonable person's sympathy quickly shifts in such a situation. "Furthering the hot-blooded latin stereotype" can be debated (I tend to think that's not a reasonable contention). But nullifying the perceived moral failure on behalf of the worker? Absolutely.

 

My brother was out of line yes.  'cause my parents didn't raise us that way.  HOWEVER, I'm sure you mother has never been insulted in that way.  Trust me, once the utility company found out what our address was, they more than appologetic.  It would have been a public affairs nightmare.

another case of the rich getting away with rude behavior!!

 

Home Depot asked to see my drivers license last week after making a large purchase, and I didn't even punch anyone out!!

Rude, who was rude?  What are you talking about? 

 

DanB.  We've had this talk before, drugs are bad! I can get you help.

Pardon me if I was pulling the gay card, I was just trying to say that I'm not speaking completely abstractly. You can take that as you will, whether or not you feel it adds to the content of what I said. I agree that it doesn't add to the general point. But when you come out with the "you don't know what it's like not to be white" (I don't), I can at least say I know what it's like to be in some partially analogous situation.

 

I'm not trying to say how someone should feel, or whether or not they are justified in feeling a certain way. I only analyze how they should react when placed in whatever position. The former would be out of line for someone who cannot put themselves in another's shoes. The latter holds as a standard moral or sociological/psychological claim. "Self-restraint and analysis is more productive than counterattack," was basically my claim, especially when the initial attack was unintentional.

 

I don't see how your department store story was relevant to what I had said. If your niece had smacked the b!tch, then it would have been.

I'm just pulling your chain.  (and i'm sure it's not the first time it's been pulled)

 

I get what you're saying, i'm just being difficult.  :)  It's part of my charm.

 

 

 

 

Sugar, you know I dont do walk ons.  However, I maybe seen on 3 TV shows very soon.  I know, you being my biggest fan, will TiVO all three. 

Cops? Reno 9-1-1? Law and Order?

 

LMAO!!  Oh DanB....How i've missed you so!

About your nephew MTS with the Credit Card, I would also be skeptical.  What is a kid from Cleveland that is 16 yo doing with a credit card.  Obviously we know, b/c you just told the story.  But if you honestly think this was a racism issue, then I think you are off base. 

About your nephew MTS with the Credit Card, I would also be skeptical.  What is a kid from Cleveland that is 16 yo doing with a credit card.  Obviously we know, b/c you just told the story.  But if you honestly think this was a racism issue, then I think you are off base. 

 

Going to have to agree. Racism would probably be a minor contributor to this, I would say perceptions and prejudices against Cleveland probably played a bigger role. Most New Yorkers would have a hardtime believing that any 16 YO kid from Cleveland unaccompanied by a parent, regardless of color would be cabable of buying 4k of merchandise with their own credit card. We are a bunch of midwest bumpkins.

I've been asked for ID when making large purchases before.... big freaking deal.  Yes, sometimes it does makes me feel wierd or uncomfortable, but i get over it.  I don't take it personally, but maybe I should.  I could cry foul, or sue!!!  I mean why are these retailers thinking tall people don't have money??  DISCRIMINATION!!!!!

While I agree the sales person would have a reason to be skeptical and protect the stores interest, I believe MTS's point was that the sales associate described the boy as a "black" teen from Cleveland.  If he/she had just said a "teen from Cleveland" then one could say that racism played no role.  The fact that the kid was black and THAT caused the person to be suspicious, if that's the case, is a reason to be upset.

My guess is that the thing that was really suspicious was that the kid was 16.  I had thought, though I could be wrong, that 16 year olds could not have credit cards.  I also had thought that a store was under no obligation to take a credit card from someone other than the cardholder.

My guess is that the thing that was really suspicious was that the kid was 16. I had thought, though I could be wrong, that 16 year olds could not have credit cards. I also had thought that a store was under no obligation to take a credit card from someone other than the cardholder.

 

It's like when the back of your debit card isn't signed, they ask for ID.  In fact, I always give them my ID with my debit card.  I find it crazy that most people just take a piece of plastic from you without checking ID.  And if I did check the ID, and it was a 16 yo kid whose name wasn't on the CC, then I would deny them the right to buy anything unless I spoke over the phone with the cardholder. 

^ Maybe, but....

My niece (who wasn't at the register) thought this was strange and followed her to another register where the sales associate spoke with another employee, (later found out not a manager) where the woman said (on THE STORES video tape), "I dint think this card belongs to this kid.  What's a 16 y/o black kid from Cleveland doing with a platinum AMEX?"  Why would she say that?

 

If she had simply said "why is a 16 y/o kid from Cleveland doing with a platinum AMEX?" - her words would cause no reason to think that race had anything to do with the suspicion, which I would agree would be justified regardless of race.  That was not the case per MTS and, allegedly, the store's video camera.

I would think the real tests would be if they did the same thing with a 16 year old white kid from Cleveland, or with an adult black person from Cleveland.  Right now, they described him as a "16 year old black kid from Cleveland", but that doesn't mean that those factors are what they used to determine if they would take the card or not, which they did anyway.

Of course you can't be CERTAIN of racial hostilities from such a statement... but you can certainly infer them.  When describing someone to one of your friends, do you typically include the person's race?  Like, "I went to high school with this black girl" or "one of my friends, who happens to be black" or "I work with this black guy."  I would think that you only do so if the person's race has some RELEVANCE to the matter you are discussing.  Otherwise, you would not even mention it, no?  That's the point - what did the fact that MTS's nephew was black have anything to do with whether the clerk was justified in her suspicion... which would have been justified regardless of his skin color?

^Need I say more

Well that looks like racial  progress in this country if we are discussing a 16 year old kid being inconvenienced purchasing several thousand dollars of merchandise with an out of state credit card.  :-)

 

We have better things to discuss, let's move on.

I've been following the discussion for quite sometime, and I think we all agree not every statement is racist. In my opinion, people use the “race card” too often.  However, as a black man, I feel like I don't get the benefit of the doubt in a lot of situations. I regularly shop at Nordstrom’s and I can never get a clerk to help me. Last year, my younger brother needed a new suit. We went to Nordstrom’s to check out a few suits…we walked around the suit department for ten minutes. The clerk looked our direction several times. He asked several other customers if they needed help. After fifteen minutes, I went over to ask him for help. He said he never saw us. He clearly saw us… I was at Banana Republic last night and the clerk looked past me to ask another customer if they needed help. I was wearing loafers, jeans, aviators and a polo. I looked like I shop at BR. Okay, this could be coincidental, but this happens 90 percent of the time. I called about an apartment a few years ago and when I went to see the apartment, the landlord told me the apartment had been rented. Three days later, I drove by the same apartment and there was a "for rent" sign in the window. The security guards at my law school stopped me numerous times to ask for identification. None of my white classmates were ever asked to show their i.d. I could go on...I usually just laugh it off; however, over a lifetime its get really old. Unfortunately, there are terrible perceptions of black men. Honestly, some of those perceptions are correct. I think what's so upsetting is that people often see me as one of those "thugs" we hear about in the media. In my opinion, when I walk into a store, the clerks see me as black male. They don't notice how I'm dressed or who I'm with...they just see me as a 6'1...250 lbs “male black." I busted my butt...went to college, went to law school, got married, and yet, I'm grouped in with “Pookie" from the "hood.

Hey now... "Pookie" was one of the best football players I ever had the chance to take the field with.  Yeah, he was "ghetto" as hell, but he sure knew how to blow up an Iso trap.

Well put Sir2gees.

 

 

About your nephew MTS with the Credit Card, I would also be skeptical.  What is a kid from Cleveland that is 16 yo doing with a credit card.  Obviously we know, b/c you just told the story.  But if you honestly think this was a racism issue, then I think you are off base. 

 

Going to have to agree. Racism would probably be a minor contributor to this, I would say perceptions and prejudices against Cleveland probably played a bigger role. Most New Yorkers would have a hardtime believing that any 16 YO kid from Cleveland unaccompanied by a parent, regardless of color would be cabable of buying 4k of merchandise with their own credit card. We are a bunch of midwest bumpkins.

I seriously doubt that if these were blond-haired white teenagers who looked liked they walked out of a Ralph Lauren ad they would have encountered as much scrutiny, if any (but the "perceptions and prejudices against Cleveland probably" playing "a bigger role" is also probably true, since most New Yorkers think anybody from Ohio wouldn't be shopping for anything other than overalls and John Deere caps anyway! lol).

I have lot's of family on the East Coast, so I go there a lot (Philly, Jersey, NYC).  While there, if I say I'm from Cleveland, the most common response I get is "oh...Ohio?"  So, yeah, I get that point.

Sir2gees: Thanks for sharing your stories and perspective.

 

Is there a coastal elitism thread? If not, there should be. It's one of the most overlooked, annoying things I've had to deal with, and we probably all have experience with it.

In my opinion, when I walk into a store, the clerks see me as black male. They don't notice how I'm dressed or who I'm with...they just see me as a 6'1...250 lbs “male black." I busted my butt...went to college, went to law school, got married, and yet, I'm grouped in with “Pookie" from the "hood.

 

When I hear about stuff like this, I'm ashamed. I don't know if I'm ashamed just as a white man or as a human. Just ashamed.

Not all prejudicial stereotypes are negative, incorrect and unwise perhaps, but not negative. 

maybe its your orange vest?

 

Nope, wide red suspenders with OCL on the leather patch in the back. 

Of course you can't be CERTAIN of racial hostilities from such a statement... but you can certainly infer them. When describing someone to one of your friends, do you typically include the person's race? Like, "I went to high school with this black girl" or "one of my friends, who happens to be black" or "I work with this black guy." I would think that you only do so if the person's race has some RELEVANCE to the matter you are discussing. Otherwise, you would not even mention it, no? That's the point - what did the fact that MTS's nephew was black have anything to do with whether the clerk was justified in her suspicion... which would have been justified regardless of his skin color?

I hear this crap all the time.  It's crazy how in this day and age i'll be talking to someone and as they describe a person to me they mention that the person is black...and they always do this in a whisper.  Or if i am describing a phone conversation at work i'll be asked "did they sound black?" or something similar. heck, i hear all the time people talk about how "so and so got promoted because they're black."  How do you know this?  just because you don't think a person does their job well doesn't mean that they aren't qualified, or didn't interview well or whatever.

 

Now, you can take this too far.  If i'm at a party with my friends and i'm pointing out someone and it's a room of people in blue shirts i'm not going to try and use every descriptor to point out the one black guy across the room.  I'm going to use the most obvious distinguishing feature.  (note: this is hypothetical, it's not often that i find myself at parties full of white people and one black guy.)

 

 

My nephew is mini - albeit straight - version of his favorite uncle.  When he went to pay for the items (some for him and some for his sister) he handed the sales associate his credit card.  She asked him for ID. for some reason she was like.  I need you wait right here.  My niece (who wasn't at the register) thought this was strange and followed her to another register where the sales associate spoke with another employee, (later found out not a manager) where the woman said (on THE STORES video tape), "I dint think this card belongs to this kid.  What's a 16 y/o black kid from Cleveland doing with a platinum AMEX?"  Why would she say that?

 

My nephew and niece are very well dressed and groomed kids and so are my cousins kids.  She made an assumption that a person of color couldnt have a card nor be purchasing items in excess of 4k?  Iin her own words - that equated to a black kid is using someones stolen credit card.

 

Heavens child, give the woman a break!

 

It was wrong to mention race but that doesn't mean she was holding that against him.  She might be under the impression that Cleveland has very few rich people, even fewer rich black people, and fewer rich black 16 yr olds still.  If anything, let that be a moment of pride for nephew.  "I'm rich, black, and beautiful. Now swipe my platinum AMEX!"  If he really wanted to teach her a lesson, he probably could get her fired from her minimum wage cashier job.

 

The "from Cleveland" part is probably the most derogatory part of the entire episode.

 

And while we're talking about rich blacks (no offense anyone): Wealthy Black Kids Can Be Douchebags Too  :-o

About your nephew MTS with the Credit Card, I would also be skeptical.  What is a kid from Cleveland that is 16 yo doing with a credit card.  Obviously we know, b/c you just told the story.  But if you honestly think this was a racism issue, then I think you are off base. 

 

A it's my black card, earlier I stated platinum.  When you hand someone a black card, they shouldn't open their mouth.  Period.  My nephew is a second card holder.  I gave him my car, so he has the card in the event of an emergency or to run errands for my parents or brother.

 

There are times, like back-to-school shopping, where he can purchase things up to x amount and i'll pay for them.  Traditionally the kids have always come to NYC in August to school shop and I usually pic up the tab for their school shopping.  However, now that they are older and know the city they shop by themselves.

 

The point you?  What does his color have to do with anything?  This store is in soho, a magnet for teens an young adults who like to shop at "trendy" stores.

^ Maybe, but....

My niece (who wasn't at the register) thought this was strange and followed her to another register where the sales associate spoke with another employee, (later found out not a manager) where the woman said (on THE STORES video tape), "I dint think this card belongs to this kid.  What's a 16 y/o black kid from Cleveland doing with a platinum AMEX?"  Why would she say that?

 

If she had simply said "why is a 16 y/o kid from Cleveland doing with a platinum AMEX?" - her words would cause no reason to think that race had anything to do with the suspicion, which I would agree would be justified regardless of race.  That was not the case per MTS and, allegedly, the store's video camera.

 

Bingo.  My nephews ethnicity has nothing to do with his purchases.  This woman didn't know who these kids are.

I've been following the discussion for quite sometime, and I think we all agree not every statement is racist. In my opinion, people use the “race card” too often.  However, as a black man, I feel like I don't get the benefit of the doubt in a lot of situations. I regularly shop at Nordstrom’s and I can never get a clerk to help me. Last year, my younger brother needed a new suit. We went to Nordstrom’s to check out a few suits…we walked around the suit department for ten minutes. The clerk looked our direction several times. He asked several other customers if they needed help. After fifteen minutes, I went over to ask him for help. He said he never saw us. He clearly saw us… I was at Banana Republic last night and the clerk looked past me to ask another customer if they needed help. I was wearing loafers, jeans, aviators and a polo. I looked like I shop at BR. Okay, this could be coincidental, but this happens 90 percent of the time. I called about an apartment a few years ago and when I went to see the apartment, the landlord told me the apartment had been rented. Three days later, I drove by the same apartment and there was a "for rent" sign in the window. The security guards at my law school stopped me numerous times to ask for identification. None of my white classmates were ever asked to show their i.d. I could go on...I usually just laugh it off; however, over a lifetime its get really old. Unfortunately, there are terrible perceptions of black men. Honestly, some of those perceptions are correct. I think what's so upsetting is that people often see me as one of those "thugs" we hear about in the media. In my opinion, when I walk into a store, the clerks see me as black male. They don't notice how I'm dressed or who I'm with...they just see me as a 6'1...250 lbs “male black." I busted my butt...went to college, went to law school, got married, and yet, I'm grouped in with “Pookie" from the "hood.

 

I completely understand this.

About your nephew MTS with the Credit Card, I would also be skeptical.  What is a kid from Cleveland that is 16 yo doing with a credit card.  Obviously we know, b/c you just told the story.  But if you honestly think this was a racism issue, then I think you are off base. 

 

Going to have to agree. Racism would probably be a minor contributor to this, I would say perceptions and prejudices against Cleveland probably played a bigger role. Most New Yorkers would have a hardtime believing that any 16 YO kid from Cleveland unaccompanied by a parent, regardless of color would be cabable of buying 4k of merchandise with their own credit card. We are a bunch of midwest bumpkins.

I seriously doubt that if these were blond-haired white teenagers who looked liked they walked out of a Ralph Lauren ad they would have encountered as much scrutiny, if any (but the "perceptions and prejudices against Cleveland probably" playing "a bigger role" is also probably true, since most New Yorkers think anybody from Ohio wouldn't be shopping for anything other than overalls and John Deere caps anyway! lol).

My nephews, niece, cousins kids and my neighbors kids in Harlem are uber trendy.  And one of the kids in the group comes from a very politically connected family.

 

And as I explained to my nephews and nieces, you have all this technology, if someone in a customer service oriented field is rude or your stopped by the police, take out you camera phone and record the entire thing.  When it's on video, it is what it is.

 

So when I got to the store, the kids showed me the videos and then I spoke with the GM who then reviewed the surveillance tapes.  The sales person should have never said that, nor should a sales person take your ID and leave the area, they are suppose to call for a manager to come to them.

 

in Soho half the kids look dirty, however, their ethnic background, what they look like and are dressed in, is not indicative of their financial status.

My nephew is mini - albeit straight - version of his favorite uncle.  When he went to pay for the items (some for him and some for his sister) he handed the sales associate his credit card.  She asked him for ID. for some reason she was like.  I need you wait right here.  My niece (who wasn't at the register) thought this was strange and followed her to another register where the sales associate spoke with another employee, (later found out not a manager) where the woman said (on THE STORES video tape), "I dint think this card belongs to this kid.  What's a 16 y/o black kid from Cleveland doing with a platinum AMEX?"  Why would she say that?

 

My nephew and niece are very well dressed and groomed kids and so are my cousins kids.  She made an assumption that a person of color couldnt have a card nor be purchasing items in excess of 4k?  Iin her own words - that equated to a black kid is using someones stolen credit card.

 

Heavens child, give the woman a break!

 

It was wrong to mention race but that doesn't mean she was holding that against him.  She might be under the impression that Cleveland has very few rich people, even fewer rich black people, and fewer rich black 16 yr olds still.  If anything, let that be a moment of pride for nephew.  "I'm rich, black, and beautiful. Now swipe my platinum AMEX!"  If he really wanted to teach her a lesson, he probably could get her fired from her minimum wage cashier job.

 

The "from Cleveland" part is probably the most derogatory part of the entire episode.

 

And while we're talking about rich blacks (no offense anyone): Wealthy Black Kids Can Be Douchebags Too  :o

 

She should have thought about that before she opened her mouth.  I worked very hard from Junior High to now to be an example and not a "stereotype".  I refuse to be treated as a second class individual or have people make an assumption about me based on the color of my skin.

 

She should have thought about that before she opened her mouth.  I worked very hard from Junior High to now to be an example and not a "stereotype".  I refuse to be treated as a second class individual or have people make an assumption about me based on the color of my skin.

 

Seems to me you could handle it in a couple of ways. One, you could be a gentleman about it and make someone think their first impression was wrong and teach them something; or two, you could act in a manner to reinforce the person's original assumption.

 

There are certain things that are clear descriptors.  One is color.  If you and I were standing together, and someone across the street was trying to indicate one of us, would they say "the white/(black) guy"; the short/(tall) guy; the well/(poorly) dressed straight/(gay) guy; the fat/(thin) guy? 

 

Which is easier or more offensive?

 

But those are REASONABLE descriptions for the above situation.

 

I always designate people by the size of their genitalia.

I always designate people by the size of their genitalia.

 

You size queen!  I thought Atlas and ProkNo5 were the only size queens on UO.  lol

bump for the newbies

This is probably the most important and potentially consequential piece on race that I've ever read by a serving politician.  I can't name one Republican senator who could pen something like this.

 

From Sen Jim Webb (D-VA) in the Wall Street Journal:

 

Diversity and the Myth of White Privilege

America still owes a debt to its black citizens, but government programs to help all 'people of color' are unfair. They should end.

 

By JAMES WEBB

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

JULY 22, 2010

    Those who came to this country in recent decades from Asia, Latin America and Africa did not suffer discrimination from our government, and in fact have frequently been the beneficiaries of special government programs. The same cannot be said of many hard-working white Americans, including those whose roots in America go back more than 200 years.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703724104575379630952309408.html

The Roots of White Anxiety

By ROSS DOUTHAT

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Published: July 18, 2010

 

Last year, two Princeton sociologists, Thomas Espenshade and Alexandria Walton Radford, published a book-length study of admissions and affirmative action at eight highly selective colleges and universities.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/opinion/19douthat.html?_r=2&scp=5&sq=Ross%20Douthat&st=cse

White Anxiety?    ::) ::) ::)

The Roots of White Anxiety

By ROSS DOUTHAT

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Published: July 18, 2010

 

Last year, two Princeton sociologists, Thomas Espenshade and Alexandria Walton Radford, published a book-length study of admissions and affirmative action at eight highly selective colleges and universities.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/opinion/19douthat.html?_r=2&scp=5&sq=Ross%20Douthat&st=cse

 

White anxiety is a misleading title since it only applies to lower-middle class whites. This article doesn't talk about anything new. Admissions at many elite universities want to attract an alumni who are well-connected and who later on down the road will contribute the most to their endowment while meeting a racial quota. Big shocker there.

3231, why are my articles being snipped down to one or two sentences?

Here's the New Black Panther Party leader giving praise to Osama 6 months after 9/11.  Why weren't the New Black Panthers prosecuted by the Department of Justice?

 

New Black Panther Party, Malik Zulu Shabazz glorifies Osama bin Laden "deserves respect".flv

 

 

DOUBLE EDIT

The "New" Black Panther Party is NOT the same as the Black Panthers.

The "New" Black Panther Party is NOT the same as the Black Panthers.

 

I was pretty bowled over at that video.  I edited the post and added "new".

 

Here's the New Black Panther Party leader giving praise to Obama 6 months after 9/11.  Why weren't the New Black Panthers prosecuted by the Department of Justice?

 

You sure you meant to say "Obama?" I heard him praise Osama Bin Laden, but I didn't hear anything about Obama in that video! I heard him mention Bush and Rumsfield; Bush was still in his first term then.

 

You might want to edit your post again and fix that, too.