Is racism/intolerance endemic to all races

[Sam]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

This could really be a worthwhile discussion, provided everyone can remain civil and remember that we hope to be in Heaven, together, one day!!!!

Once while at a UPC Bible School I mentioned to a young minister from Kentucky that people of different races would be in Heaven together and he retorted that they wouldn't be black then so it would be OK.

[BishopMHaywood]

Originally Posted by Sam

Once while at a UPC Bible School I mentioned to a young minister from Kentucky that people of different races would be in Heaven together and he retorted that they wouldn't be black then so it would be OK.

Wow.

You can find ignorant people anywhere.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by BishopMHaywood

Wow.

You can find ignorant people anywhere.

This was in 1956 so it was a different time than today.
Also, the young man was from a rural area in KY and just reflected his culture.

Actually, I think all of us are ignorant in some way or another because we are human.

[BishopMHaywood]

Originally Posted by Sam

This was in 1956 so it was a different time than today.
Also, the young man was from a rural area in KY and just reflected his culture.

Actually, I think all of us are ignorant in some way or another because we are human.

Absolutely agreed.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

JD - would you say that a business owner, who only hires members of his/her own race is practicing racism?

It depends on the circumstances.

Setting: Mobile, AL; 1950

2 businesses:

1 owned by a white man in the wealthier part of town;
1 owned by a black man in the impoverished part of town.

The white guy hiring only whites would be in line with the systemic racism prevalent during that time.

The black guy only hiring blacks would not be practicing racism in that case.

The nuances behind their reasoning are completely different as they come to their decisions.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Setting: Mobile, AL; 2010

1 business:

Chinese Family-owned Carry-Out Chinese Food Restaurant deep in the ghetto of Mobile, AL where the local population is 90% black, 7% hispanic, and 3% white.

This Chinese business owner who only hires family members is not practicing racism.

If this Chinese business owner was to purposely hire non-family members, at the purposeful exclusion of a specific race, then this business owner is probably acting out of racial prejudice.


I understand how some could (and some do) call this racism, but it is my opinion in this situation that the Chinese business owner is wrong, but not necessarily racist, given our Mobile, AL; 2010 setting.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Yes.

I disagree. Often hatred boils up among "powerless" people. Resentment and fear are often evidence of racist attitudes.

Listen to the banter among "poor" blacks in American. Read the news surrounding criminal acts. Shooting and killing "whitey" are prominent themes.

When that African American gentleman shot and killed four Oakland police officers in an ambush, the streets were soon filled with other angry African Americans shouting that the cops "had it coming." The fact the cops were attempting to arrest a child rapist (the shooter) seemed to do little to overcome the racism of the black mob.

When investigating the initial killings of the first pair of police officers, Oakland police were met by a mob that shouted, cursed and taunted them with racist epithets. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510037,00.html

The "African Internationalist" organization "Uhuru House" handed out fliers calling for blacks to "rise up" and to "join Brother Mixon's (the black child rapist/killer) resistance." Apparently child rape is an acceptable form of "resistance" against "whitey."

Some blacks in the community did assist the police (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...LJOV.DTL&tsp=1) but soon there were street marches and riots in "support" of the murdering child rapist.

A local "black" newspaper (The San Francisco Bay View) called the shoot out where the child rapist and cop killer Lovelle Mixon was killed a "murder." Nothing was said about Mixon's murder earlier that day of two police officers nor of his child rape convictions. This is an example of institutionalized racism among hate filled "journalists." http://sfbayview.com/2009/police-2-oakland-residents-4/ Even the statements by Mixon's own family members who knew him to be a "monster" did little to sway the black racists of Oakland. Mixon's mother spoke out in support of the police - the San Francisco Bay View never seems to have reported this nor did they ever change their tone.

In view of just this one example, it is difficult to see how it could be said "that racism can only be practiced by someone who has power or authority over another..." Other examples come to mind - Al Sharpton and the murder of the Koreans and Jews in Brooklyn by a racist mob. The Duke Lacrosse case. Twana Brawley's criminal conduct that resulted in several white police officers and a white prosecutor being falsely tarred and criminally charged. The prosecution of the two Border Patrol agents and their subsequent imprisonment among the general prison population which led to numerous attacks against them while incarcerated.

The list goes on and on...

Being from a family of mixed race, I take particular umbrage to your definition of "racism" here. The countless times when I have been attacked, belittled, slandered or otherwise suffered overt racism for being "too white" are uncountable. I have family members that could "pass for black" in most circumstances, but they are often ridiculed for not being "black enough." I have cousins who live on the Cherokee Nation who won't even speak to me in public in front of other Cherokee because I look too much like my Irish mother.

Racism is one of the primal forms of hatred among human beings. It exists everywhere. To deny this, one actually has to practice racism themselves.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Setting: Orlando, FL; 2010

2 businesses:

1 owned by a black man in the wealthier part of town;
1 owned by a black man in the impoverished part of town.

If either one of them were to hire solely on race and race alone, they would be wrong-- acting on their racial prejudices. However, their race-based actions are not indicative of a systemic probelm.


Then think about this. What if they only want to hire blacks from the "other side of the tracks"-- giving them a chance that other business owners probably would not? I can't call their actions racist-- especially in the absence of hate and if their actions are not indicative of a systemic problem, based solely on the color of one's skin.


What if the two business owners are white in this scenario? What if they only want to hire blacks from the "other side of the tracks"-- giving them a chance that other business owners probably would not? I can't call their actions racist either.





It is easy to toss the racism accusation around-- but when you think about it, there is so much more involved than what can be seen simply on the surface in each of the circumstances I have presented.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Pel in order for racism to be racism, it has to be systematic.

What you have described is terribly wrong-- but we need to define racism to ensure we are on the same page.


I have already demonstrated that actions that appear to be based on race are not necessarily racist.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Yes.

You are way off base. way off