White Like Me

[Evanauto]

This was a article by Mike Rielly published in SI awhile ago. When i found it, it became instant food-for-thought

Look how white I am. Am I lame or what? Can’t jump. Can’t dance. Can’t run. Can’t dress. Can’t hang. It’s O.K. I know I’m a pathetic White Guy. I’m at peace with it. In fact I laugh about it all the time. I have to. Black athlete’s today love to make fun of us White Guys. Last week, for instance, boxer Mike Tyson had a little fun with white reporter Mark Malinowski at Tyson’s press conference—cage match with Lennox Lewis. Grabbing his crotch and using his best prison vocabulary, Tyson challenged Malinowski to fight and then accused him of being “scared like a little white p---- because he wouldn’t. In American trash talk today that’s three put-downs on a row. Little. White. And p----. Now if a white heavyweight grabbed his crotch and called a black reporter a “little black p---- he’d be spending the rest of his days playing Parcheesi with Al Campanis and Dan Issel. Nobody, though, demanded that Tyson apologize to Malinowski, least of all Malinowski. Not to worry, it’s cool!

Last season Toronto Raptors star Vince Carter came onto the court to discover he was being covered by the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Wally Szczerbiak. Carter turned to the Minnesota bench with a smile and said, according to Szczerbiak, “You better get this white guy off me, or I’m going to score 40. (Carter denies referring to Szczerbiak’s race.) Was Carter fined? Suspended? Ordered to spend six weeks in a white-sensitivity workshop? Nab. We’re White Guys. What are we going to do, sue?

Sometimes we’re not even White Guys. We’re White Boys. In his book Shaq Talks Back, Shaquille O’Neal wrote, "If you get dunked on by a white boy, you got to come home to your friends and hear it." Hilarious! Of course it wouldn’t be nearly as funny if, say, David Stem wrote in his book, “If you get out negotiated by a black boy, you got to go to the country club and hear it.” He’d be taped naked to the hood of Jesse Jackson’s car. Still, was Shaq rocked by scandal? Did principals pull the book out of school libraries? Nah. Because all us crackers know it’s true! If we dunk on you, you really suck! Besides, anytime you can slip in the phrase white boy these days, it’s just damn funny. Now, if you called Jerry Rice a “black boy” or Ichiro Suzuki a “yellow boy” or Notah Begay a “red boy’ you’d be begging spare change at a bus station inside a week. But it’s fine. We’re the last unprotected race, so bash away!

Some White Guys aren’t sure it’s all that amusing, like Denver Nuggets forward Raef LaFrentz. “When people call me ‘white boy, I take it as an insult,” he says. “It’s a negative racial term, just like then n word: However, Dallas Mavericks guard Steve Nash says he finds it funny when black guys tell him, “You’re pretty good for a white boy.’ “Besides,” Nash says, “it’s pretty accurate, right?”
See, we White Guys know we suck. We hear it all the time. When we hoop, we’ve got White Man’s Disease. When we dance, we’ve got White Mans Overbite, when we jam; we’re just another Average White Band. I know if Larry Bird were black, he’d be, as lsiah Thomas said, “just another guy.” WE know we’re supposed to giggle when Charles Barkley says, “See? This is what I hate about white people:’ He’s right! We’re all exactly the same!

When ESPN debuted its terrific new talk show, Pardon the Interruption, the preview ads promised it “wasn’t pretty.” To prove it, host Tony Kornheiser said, “We’re old. We’re fat. We’re bald. And we’re white:’ Then his partner Michael Wilbon, who is black, said, “And one of us is blind:’ Poor Tony. He’s got the big four strikes against him right there. Old. Fat. Bald, And White. Hey, the truth hurts. We White Guys have faced it. We’re wack at most everything. Basically the only thing we dominate now is stuff black people don’t have the right clothes to try—lumberjack contests and luge. But we shred documents like nobody’s damn business! We’re not mad. We’ve come to grips with it. Even when we do something good—like the three white firemen who raised the U.S. flag at ground zero—we understand you have to change two of the guys’ race to nonwhite when you want to build the statue. Who wants three White Guys hanging around forever?

What, you thought White Guys had feelings?

[FUNKbrs]

what can I say? racism is a two way street, and Ive seen both sides. At least its been awhile since I was beaten for being white (too bad I still have scars from last time).

[TheShrike]

So true.

Lashing out at 'White America' doesn't make it all better.

It merely supports poor stereotypes and does nothing to further racial harmony...

[mrpopenfresh]

Its true, blacks can get away with racism scotch free. Also, lets not forget that they can get out of pretty much anything by playing the race card. That pisses me off, what sucks even more is that i cant say anything about it without being labeed a racist.

[PreacherJ]

Man I hate this kinda crap. When I lived in San Jose, I got called white boy all the time. I got respected less because of my skin color, and...

I'm going to stop talking now, because I'm just a whiny white guy.

[RydiaLockheart]

This is kinda on the subject, so I'd like to talk about something that's been pissing me off.

I've been friends with a black guy for a while. He and I recently began dating. Some of the people who I told had a real problem with it. One of the girls I spoke to said, "Oh my God! You're dating a BLACK guy?!!" She stressed the word "black" with some scorn in her voice. Bitch.

I had a similar situation earlier this year when I got a crush on a Vietnamese transfer student. What is the big problem people have with interracial dating?

[karasz]

At 5/2/03 11:43 PM, Rydia_Lockheart wrote:
I've been friends with a black guy for a while. He and I recently began dating. Some of the people who I told had a real problem with it. One of the girls I spoke to said, "Oh my God! You're dating a BLACK guy?!!" She stressed the word "black" with some scorn in her voice. Bitch.

I had a similar situation earlier this year when I got a crush on a Vietnamese transfer student. What is the big problem people have with interracial dating?

its all about how the person is raised...

i mean if i see an interracial couple i dont give a fuck... my parents probably wouldnt either, unless it was a gay couple, my dad is fine with people until they expose their sexuality... not sure how it would go down if i was dating a non-white chick, probably talk about it, but soon get over it... the gay thing aint happening though... i just like boobs too much

my grandparents though, on the other hand... nice people, dont give a shit about race usually, its just when they see an interracial couple, they'll say something, call them 'salt and pepper' which i thought was fucking hysterical... still do though... i understand, they were kids in the 50-60's... when it was really bad to date interracially...

[TheShrike]

At 5/2/03 11:43 PM, Rydia_Lockheart wrote: What is the big problem people have with interracial dating?

Absolutely nothing. Tell her to go to hell.
My girlfriend is Thai.

[TheMDude]

Uh huh, and I'm sure that I could pull up an article where an 'innocent' black person points out examples of white racism......

[BullRat]

At 5/2/03 06:40 PM, Evanauto wrote:

:Black athlete’s today love to make fun of us White Guys... Now if a white heavyweight grabbed his crotch and called a black reporter a “little black p---- he’d be spending the rest of his days playing Parcheesi with Al Campanis and Dan Issel.

SO damn true... and all this time I thought I was the only person who recognized this ironic turn on racism.

:We’re White Guys. What are we going to do, sue?

What can we do? We're not a "minority" (but if yo think about it, we will be in about 10 more years or so).

:Now, if you called Jerry Rice a “black boy” or Ichiro Suzuki a “yellow boy” or Notah Begay a “red boy’ you’d be begging spare change at a bus station inside a week. But it’s fine. We’re the last unprotected race, so bash away!

I tried calling some chiq "black girl" once... the school tried to suspend me. And when I brought up the fact that she called me "white girl" first, they just closed their mouths and said nothing!

What, you thought White Guys had feelings?

But the "white boys" are people too... only no one cares anymore. Remember when it used to be all about us? Now, we're scum (or that's what all the other races say).

[bumcheekcity]

I amost believe black-white rascism is worse, because it goes unpunished. A white rascist will get arrested for his views, sometimes, however a black rascist can get out of it in court even if he attacks a man.

God I hate rascists.

[karasz]

on a semi-related note how does everyone feel about affirmative action???

[ZenGaijin]

Hehehe WhiteAmerica Plug yea we Blackfolks can be the most racist people in the world i think ChrisRock said it best "Whos the most racist people in the world OLD BLACK MEN one mintue there all Hi sir how you doning then the next there like "Goddamn Cracker Ass Cracker"

[Cutler]

There is only one cure for rascism. Everyone is just going to have to have sex with everyone else. Until we all have a little bit of everything.

[Ted-Easton]

I'm not supporting it, but I feel I do have to play a little DA here.

It's not because it's payback for whites opressing others, or a way to gain more power for other races. It's because, as the dominant race in the world, the most heard from, the most seen, etc., we have to walk a fine line to stay as such. We need to keep everyone else happy, or we'll come crashing down. Like a minority government, if you live in Canada.
When slavery and lynching was common, it was acceptable to be racist, because if anyone spoke back, you'd backhand them, or shoot them. Now, there's no way to fight back, and if there's legal protests, or negative action coming from visible minorities, it's a major inconvenience for the "ruling" whites, and there's nothing they can do. So we dance a merry jig to keep them all entertained, keeping a revolt in check.

Once again, not my opinion.

[swayside]

i made a topic about something like this a while ago. it was about how, on newgrounds, you can say jap, heap, gook, ect. but you can't say n*gger. why is that?

another thing that has been an issue on my mind for a few years is just, 'why'? why can blacks (i refuse to ever say "african american") insult my race (white) and get away with it. it's like 'black' is a dirty word while 'white' means preppy guy who can't jump. even in the so called 'black elements' like basket ball, rap, ect., if a white guy does it better, it's just fine to take it as an insult, but in the so called 'white elements' like tennis, or even polo, if a black person is even regarded to as black in the context of their talent, they can sue the life out of someone.

also, did you ever notice that whites are the only ones that really have this problem? have you ever seen an asian non-racist cracking on a hispanic? i really doubt it. but it's ok to trample the white people with sarchastic racial remarks because, hey, we're just white.

what makes it ok?

[BullRat]

At 5/4/03 01:50 AM, swayside wrote: another thing that has been an issue on my mind for a few years is just, 'why'? why can blacks (i refuse to ever say "african american") insult my race (white) and get away with it. but it's ok to trample the white people with sarchastic racial remarks because, hey, we're just white.

what makes it ok?

I, too, look down upon the term "African-American." Firstly, they were not born in Africa and did not immigrate to America, thus the term "African-American" really has no true meaning. Secondly, you're right... if we're "whire," then what are they? Would they prefer to be called "colored" or "brown" even? Oh, even better; how about "darker-than-white" or "non-white" or "them-other-folks'? *shrugs* Just a thought... since they seems to dislike the term "Black."

[swayside]

At 5/4/03 04:00 AM, kittie_cross wrote:

I, too, look down upon the term "African-American." Firstly, they were not born in Africa and did not immigrate to America, thus the term "African-American" really has no true meaning.

i gave up on the term 'african american' when i realised something:

if a white guy is born and raised in africa and immigrates to america, he's 'african american'. the term does not nescessarilly refer to blacks. since that is the only prominent use of it today, i just won't say it.

[ZenGaijin]

At 5/4/03 10:13 AM, swayside wrote:

At 5/4/03 04:00 AM, kittie_cross wrote:

I, too, look down upon the term "African-American." Firstly, they were not born in Africa and did not immigrate to America, thus the term "African-American" really has no true meaning.

i gave up on the term 'african american' when i realised something:

if a white guy is born and raised in africa and immigrates to america, he's 'african american'. the term does not nescessarilly refer to blacks. since that is the only prominent use of it today, i just won't say it.

Yea i try not to say it too and im Blck because most africans dont see us as parts of there blood lines there african and were black just something you have to deal with.

[Taxman2A]

At 5/2/03 09:26 PM, mrpopenfresh wrote: Its true, blacks can get away with racism scotch free. Also, lets not forget that they can get out of pretty much anything by playing the race card. That pisses me off, what sucks even more is that i cant say anything about it without being labeed a racist.

This is so fucking true that it's obnoxious! Two years ago I used to work as a bailiff, and while there I had to escort a black guy (oh wait, can I say that? Or am I racist for not using the term "african american?") who claimed we were all racists. I asked him if he would like to talk about this matter with my boss- he said he would.
My boss came out to talk to the convict, and after a short conversation, the convict had concluded that my boss was also a racist. Whats wrong with this picture? Nothing, except my boss was black too!

[Taxman2A]

Another thing- I hate the term "african american". It's bullshit, unless you literally are from Africa. I'm not a European American- I'm white... How do I know this is true? Go ahead and drop me off in Lithuania and see how quickly I assimilate back into my "motherland". My ancestors were european americans, but I'm just friggin white. If you're name is "Zydrunas Matijunas", you are a "European American", but, if you're name is "Chris Smith", you're white.

At the same time if your name is "Nnumdii Kkpadi'ii" then Ok- you are African American, but if your name is "Juwan Jackson", you are black.

Now don't get me wrong, using uninsulting names with people is definetely a good thing- for instance, I believe that Native Americans should be referred to as such, because that's literally what they are. In fact, I even find the term "American Indian" to be offensive.
Following this line of reasoning then- I think it's good to refer to fat people as "Heavy Set", because this is true, but to refer to them as "big boned" is a lie intended to disguise the truth so that noone gets their feelings hurt.
African American is the same kind of term as "big boned". If black is offensive to them then try terms like "of color", or something that is the logical equivalent. I don't see any reason why the term black should be looked at as offensive in the first place.

[bumcheekcity]

At 5/5/03 12:09 AM, Taxman2A wrote: This is so fucking true that it's obnoxious! Two years ago I used to work as a bailiff, and while there I had to escort a black guy (oh wait, can I say that? Or am I racist for not using the term "african american?") who claimed we were all racists. I asked him if he would like to talk about this matter with my boss- he said he would.
My boss came out to talk to the convict, and after a short conversation, the convict had concluded that my boss was also a racist. Whats wrong with this picture? Nothing, except my boss was black too!

How did this black guy conclude that you were rascist? That does irritate me though. They think that because they're black, if someone calls them black then that person must be a Nazi.

[Ninja-Scientist]

Most of the Black people I know like being called "Black" and not "African-American." In fact, they sometimes laugh when you call them that. lol.

I don't think we should generalize that they all dislike being called "Black."

Also, although I do believe that you can be racist towards white people. I don't think it's the quite the same in certain cases of generalization. After all, the reason the "majority" can be "insulted" is simply because they are the majority. It is much easier to generalize a minority than a majority, simply because the "majority" is always around you (you know more of these people, etc.), whereas the "minority" is not. Therefore, it is next to impossible to put stereotypes on the "majority," and not the "minority."

What about the term, "Bitch?" This term is the most offensive term for woman, just as "N#$%er" is the most offensive term for a Black person. And yet, "Bitch" is still used constantly (especially on NG). So when women are in a bad mood, then they all become "bitches," and yet when a man is in a bad mood, he's just a "jerk" or an "ass." Do you see the difference between the two types of insults now (minority insult and a majority insult)?

A "jerk" or an "ass" isn't that much of an insult, because anyone can be called these terms, and because they insult only the person himself (most likely just based on his character). Hence, they don't mean much, because they don't really target anything other than one's dislike for that partiular person. Understand?

And yet, calling someone a "bitch" is targeting the minority that that person belongs to "as cause for their attitude" or for one's dislike of them.

How about this. Would you be more offended if someone called you an "ass" or a "faggot" (the most offensive term for a gay----still often used). Now think about why.

Once again, offensive terms such as this target a person's background and affiliations and not so much the person himself. Do you understand?

Calling someone a "white boy" is hardly the isult that "N#$%er" is. Also, it is harder to make generalizations about "white boys" because "white boys" are the majority.

What if I said, "most white boys smoke crack." How many of you would consider this to be true?

Now what if I said, "most black guys smoke crack." How many of you would consider this to be true?

The second statement is more readily swallowed because it is a minority insult, so you are more likely to consider it to be true, because you cannot relate as well to the people it is targeted at.

That's why minority insults are more threatening to people than majority insults.

For example, how many of you heard of this expression: "Women drivers."

Now what do you think of when you hear this? Throughout the years, this has always implied a derogatory meaning to women drivers. It implies that woman cannot drive as well as men.

However, the fact is that women get into drastically less accidents and driving offenses than men.

So in fact, women are safer and better drivers than men.

So, before you knew this, if someone said "men are the worst drivers," would you have believed it? What if someone said, "women are the worst drivers?" Chances are, you would have also believed the minority insult more, simply because we can all relate to the majority better (even if we are of the minorities---mostly thanks to the media).

So, in conclusion, the "white boys can't play ball" is the only generalization that black people really have on their side. And it is still not much of a threat, because there are hundreds of white men that can be named who do (again, they are the majority).

Big deal! Let them have that.

Until we can change or better the many offenses we still do to minorities today on a daily basis, then I think we should put the few "majority offenses" on hold. Don't you?

We can start with "bitch" and "faggot," and then go on to such things as "women drivers," and the idea that gay people like kids sexually (which is something I hear more often than you may think @_o'). Then we can cover the "white boys can't play ball."
-------------
Also, keep in mind that there is still a lot of racism going on in the South now (please no offense to those who live there). But I have heard of some terrible things first hand from friends who have visited there.

Also keep in mind that in America's businesses, Black men still make only around 62% of what White men do, and that women make only 64% of what White men do, and that Black women make even less than that (I don't have that number on me, but in the early 80's it was about 76% of what White women made, so do the math and compare that to White men. That barely tops 50% @_o'! I don't know how much that rate has increased as of now).

I think these problems are much more severe and matter much more than a couple of people on TV saying that "white boys are weak."
-----------
Now, these are all just my opinions and no one has to agree with them if they don't want to. ^_^ But this is just how I feel (and I'm not Black, myself, just for the record).

[Ninja-Scientist]

In response to my last post, I have a test for all of you to perform.

I would like all of you to type the "N-word" and then try to post it.

Then I would like all of you to type the "B-word" and try to post it.

See what happened?

I think this reveals a lot about our society today.

So keep in mind that there are still insults that target minorities today, and that these insults are still being ignored or passed off as "okay." I think that we should focus on these before we get to the "insults of the majority."

Thanks. ^_^

[Ninja-Scientist]

"White Beauty"

I should probably make a seperate topic for this, but I decided to put it here.
------
The next time you are looking through a magazine (like Seventeen or Cosmopolitin or whatever @_o'), take a look at all the women of different races. Then take a look at all the men of different races. Notice something?

All the women look white. Look at all the Black women for example. In order to be considered beautiful by our society, they can't "look Black." They can't have the broad "African" noses, they can't have nappy hair, and the most important thing is that they can't be too Black. Most Black women in our media have to have paler skin and "White" features. And this goes for all races (Indian women can't have lengthy noses, for example, and Jewish women can't have "Jewish noses"). The only thing that is really accepted is "Asian eyes," but event then they can't be "too thin."

And yet, men can be very dark, can have nappy hair, and can have the broad "African" noses, or the "Jewish noses." In fact, all men of races are allowed to actually look like their race and yet can still remain "beautiful" looking in the eyes of our society.

And yet all women have to look "White."

Now some can argue that some of these characteristics (such as noses) are simply not allowed because they aren't "petite." But what about all the other examples (especially girls with very dark skin)?

Now, I have seen about 3 examples so far of women in ads that bend this rule (like, I've seen about 2 girls with nappy hair, and one girl who had darker skin), but I have seen 100s of these examples for men.

I want to know why this is. Why do all women have to look "white?"

Let me give another example. Is anyone here familiar with "The Proud Family" (the Disney series). Look at the African American characters on that show.

ALL the women have small noses and pale skin, while ALL the men have darker skin and broad noses (excluding "Oscar" on the nose part). Also, one boy has nappy hair, while none of the girls are allowed this.

The only exeptions to the "attractive rules" for the women, are the two characters that aren't supposed to be attractive to begin with (namely, the grandma character and "Dejonei"---not sure how to spell it).

Check it out for yourself: http://www.disney.go.com/disneychannel/theproudfamily/index_main.html

Why is this?

What about Tera Banks who has pale skin, straight hair, a thin nose, and even green eyes? And the list goes on and on when it comes to models and actresses.
-----
All in all, although we may not realize it. There is still some racism alive in our society today. All you have to do to see it next time you're watching TV or reading a magazine, is to look for it.

You may be more surprised than you think.

[FUNKbrs]

so then none of this has to do with actual hate then, Ninja_Scientist? Have you forgotten my example of ME BEING BEATEN BY BLACK RACISTS?!! I think you underestimate the power of racism. You seem to think that it stops at name calling. This IS NOT the case. If only it were just name calling, then none of this would be an issue. The point were trying to make is that if descrimination is wrong, it is wrong for everyone, not just "the majority". White people are not the majority in the South, as you seem to think. Even during slavery Blacks out numbered Whites in the South. Memphis, my city, is 80% black. Whites are the MINORITY here. I have many stories of white friends of mine being in "the wrong neighborhood" getting attacked by blacks. Whites are not always the minority, and they do not always benefit from discrimination. White stereotypes are not "harmless". This is a double standard, and I expected better from you, considering how you normally fight for equality and justice.

[ZenGaijin]

At 5/6/03 10:13 AM, FUNKbrs wrote: Supportive Stuff

Yeah any race is fully capable of having assholes i would like toapoligize on behalf of the black race to what happened to your friends and such.

Oh yea I can do that, yup sure can.

[JMHX]

Racism is human, and it's never going to go away. Try as we might, and for every Martin Luther King that manages to open up rights for their culture, there's going to be an Al Sharpton who blames every problem of his race on people of the opposite skin color.

"We don't get the jobs, and it's a sign that the integration of schools has not given us equal education. The white male populous must know that the young black man is just as capable of working..." Al Sharpton

Yeah. That seems a little one-sided to me.

[FUNKbrs]

At 5/6/03 10:24 AM, DarkBlueFlame wrote:

At 5/6/03 10:13 AM, FUNKbrs wrote: Supportive Stuff

Yeah any race is fully capable of having assholes i would like toapoligize on behalf of the black race to what happened to your friends and such.

Oh yea I can do that, yup sure can.

Ok, and I'll apologize for the KKK, the Nazis, the Church of the World Creator, and Rednecks in general.

if you can do it, so can I

PS: do you have a hot sister?

[Ninja-Scientist]

What the heck are you talking about FUNK? You seem to have a knack for missing the point of my arguments.

I know it doesn't stop with name calling. I was just using that as an example. Sheesh!

My point was that women, for example, are being killed, beaten, raped, etc, every day by sexist freaks, WAY MORE THEN WHITE MEN ARE BEING BEATEN BY BLACK MEN.

The same thing goes for gays. At junior high, there were some gays who got the tar beaten out of them frequently, and yet no one was ever beaten for being white.

And there are way more racist organizations run by white people still in existance today than there are racist organizations run by blacks.

You even named some yourself:

"Ok, and I'll apologize for the KKK, the Nazis, the Church of the World Creator, and Rednecks in general."

My point was that we should get on issues such as these before we start worrying about issues that aren't as severe in comparison, that's all.

I didn't say that "it doesn't happen to white guys," or that "it doesn't hurt them." Sheesh! You need to calm down.

PS. No offense, but how do you know that those black guys beat you up just cause you were "white" and not because you were annoying or scrawny or something. lol. ^_- And that's not meant to be funny.

And not like that makes it right, either. I'm just saying.