Lack of "Everyday Racism"

Dr. Cheese · #1 10-12-2010, 10:32 AM

http://www.theroot.com/views/empty-s...-wish?page=0,1

An essay by John McWhorter

Relic · #2 10-12-2010, 10:35 AM

Nice. I like to read stuff like this

macaroni tony · #3 10-12-2010, 10:41 AM

Refreshing story

Brad Johnson · #4 10-12-2010, 10:43 AM

Some do, some don't. That shouldn't come as a surprise but in this world of broad brushes many won't take time to consider that.

I don't deal with it daily either... of course I never said I did. When it does happens it's more sad than anything. And I don't pull the card every chance I could.

When I recently got stopped on a fishing expedition by a Rockville cop while driving my slightly modified sports car, I chalked it up to my car, not me. When I got stopped late at night on the Beltway while driving my luxury car in what I was told was a "suspicious manner" (aka 'the actual speed limit") I had my doubts.

Selta · #5 10-12-2010, 10:48 AM

Man, ya gotta link to the first page in these things :P I get half way through and realize I'm on the 2nd page

Good read though. Interesting to hear of things from that perspective. I have guessed that not all black people experienced racism as much as it is portrayed sometimes, but it's good to see that someone at some level confirms it. I suppose it makes me happy to know that we are getting somewhere with it. It wont go away over night, or even over a couple of generations.

macaroni tony · #6 10-12-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Some do, some don't. That shouldn't come as a surprise but in this world of broad brushes many won't take time to consider that.

Too true.

I mentioned it in another thread before, but you can go 20 miles in either direction and have completely different life experiences for certain groups of people.

It is refreshing to hear from a guy who has a positive story, especially here on TB. We tend to get depressing ones in waves here

Dr. Cheese · #7 10-12-2010, 10:58 AM

Like McWhorter, as an adult, I have experienced little direct racism, and not on a regular basis. I think some of it simply stems from the fact I have aged out of the "menace to society" age bracket. I also know how to act in a way that does not attract undue attention. It also pays to be a professor who has simply taught a whole lot people. I am struck by how often I go somewhere, and I run into former students.

I have tended to post a lot about racism because I think it still is a significant problem, especially for those who are poorer, or who have lower levels of education.

hbarcat · #8 10-12-2010, 11:13 AM

Good article by John McWhorter.

He's a gifted author (probably because he's a language professor

) and I've really enjoyed most of his books. His book on the origin and evolution of our "bastard" English language is fascinating.

He even has a book called "The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should Like Care." I haven't read it yet - need to pick it up from the library soon.

Kwesi · #9 10-12-2010, 11:34 AM

Sounds like my life... well, whenever I'm not on Xbox Live, lol.

Dr. Cheese · #10 10-12-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbarcat

Good article by John McWhorter.

He's a gifted author (probably because he's a language professor

) and I've really enjoyed most of his books. His book on the origin and evolution of our "bastard" English language is fascinating.

He even has a book called "The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should Like Care." I haven't read it yet - need to pick it up from the library soon.

I think McWhorter is an interesting writer. I think he is popular because he tends to take a contrarian view of most popular opinion among black people. That in itself is cool, but sometimes he can be silly. A good example of that is an article he wrote about the defeat of the DC mayor in an election a few weeks ago. I won't give a link since it is a political piece.

One reason why I posted this piece is that it is from The Root, an online journal that many feel is biased (it is, but IMO, all news sources are biased, it's just that we are used to some biases and not others.) My point is that The Root publishes McWhorter and a number of black and white conservatives in addition to some of the links I have posted.

Phil Smith · #11 10-12-2010, 12:43 PM

John McWhorter would have a point if he was riding the same route as John Edgar Wideman.

BurningSkies · #12 10-12-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I have tended to post a lot about racism because I think it still is a significant problem, especially for those who are poorer, or who have lower levels of education.

Are you saying that on the whole, TB is poor and uneducated?

Dr. Cheese · #13 10-12-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Are you saying that on the whole, TB is poor and uneducated?

I don't know, are you?

BurningSkies · #14 10-12-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I don't know, are you?

You didn't answer the question. Either you are, or you aren't.

But by saying that you post about it frequently on TB, and that you do so because you find it a major issue for poor and uneducated...you're making that suggestion.

Brad Johnson · #15 10-12-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

John McWhorter would have a point if he was riding the same route as John Edgar Wideman.

Environment can definitely be a factor.

DreadRaver · #16 10-12-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

John McWhorter would have a point if he was riding the same route as John Edgar Wideman.

Why?

He only offered his experience, which is different than Wideman's. He clearly states that he is not attempting to invalidate Wideman's experience.

Is his experience less valid?

Phil Smith · #17 10-12-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Environment can definitely be a factor.

Something you would think that a scholar would know.

Dr. Cheese · #18 10-12-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

You didn't answer the question. Either you are, or you aren't.

But by saying that you post about it frequently on TB, and that you do so because you find it a major issue for poor and uneducated...you're making that suggestion.

I don't know the overall socio/economic status of TB'ers. I guess the owner does if he runs surveys. I don't have the info. I think most reasonable people would assume that I was refering to the victims of racism. If you feel I was talking about you, that's on you.

Phil Smith · #19 10-12-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadRaver

Why?

He only offered his experience, which is different than Wideman's. He clearly states that he is not attempting to invalidate Wideman's experience.

Is his experience less valid?

He's not traveling on the same line as Wideman and he knows it, why would he even think his experience would be the same? His mystified but yet he's not even riding the same route, how can he be mystified?

**bassybill** · #20 10-12-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Are you saying that on the whole, TB is poor and uneducated?

I didn't get that from his post, tbh. After all, "poor" and "uneducated" are both relative to, presumably, something close to a bell curve distribution. I can't see either word in terms of absolutes, personally.

So, IF the largish number of members on this forum are collectively a representative sample of the population, then about 50% of the people would fit into one or the other of those categories, right? Just sayin'.