Racism and Bigotry: Are they Still a Problem?

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Wikipedian

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#1 Wikipedian
Member since 2007 • 1100 Posts

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

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Ace_WondersX

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#2 Ace_WondersX
Member since 2003 • 4455 Posts

Funny I see this thread after coming from Argue With Everyone political forums. Look there and you'll know it's still a problem.

The weird thing is I live in Texas and have never met a racist personally. You'd think that would make me feel better, but instead I'm kinda paranoid.

I think I've posted on here I've had a good friend that was a bit racist, but I don't count him.

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EMOEVOLUTION

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#3 EMOEVOLUTION
Member since 2008 • 8998 Posts
bigotry will always exist as long as we remain human. WHEN we evolve.. maybe not, but who knows.
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Ragnarok1051

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#4 Ragnarok1051
Member since 2007 • 20238 Posts

Yes but not anywhere close to what it used to be.

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Xx_Hopeless_xX

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#5 Xx_Hopeless_xX
Member since 2009 • 16562 Posts

More like a double standard in regards to racism..

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ProudLarry

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#6 ProudLarry
Member since 2004 • 13511 Posts
bigotry will always exist as long as we remain human. WHEN we evolve.. maybe not, but who knows.EMOEVOLUTION
What exactly do you mean by that?
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Snipes_2

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#7 Snipes_2
Member since 2009 • 17126 Posts

Are you referencing to racism and bigotry overall? OR just against "African Americans"?

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wstfld

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#8 wstfld
Member since 2008 • 6375 Posts

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

Wikipedian
I'm in Jersey. Sort of the same thing as around you. We have jokes, but its all in jest. I am moving to North Carolina on Friday, so I'm sure that will be a shock to the system. The kid I'm moving in with works at a bar in Raleigh. He is a bouncer, but the owner told him to keep blacks out. Crazy. Its 2010, but being white is still a gigantic advantage in life.
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Snipes_2

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#9 Snipes_2
Member since 2009 • 17126 Posts

[QUOTE="Wikipedian"]

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

wstfld

I'm in Jersey. Sort of the same thing as around you. We have jokes, but its all in jest. I am moving to North Carolina on Friday, so I'm sure that will be a shock to the system. The kid I'm moving in with works at a bar in Raleigh. He is a bouncer, but the owner told him to keep blacks out. Crazy. Its 2010, but being white is still a gigantic advantage in life.

I don't think so.

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EMOEVOLUTION

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#10 EMOEVOLUTION
Member since 2008 • 8998 Posts

[QUOTE="EMOEVOLUTION"]bigotry will always exist as long as we remain human. WHEN we evolve.. maybe not, but who knows.ProudLarry
What exactly do you mean by that?

Humans inherently display prejudice towards different culture groups. Some more than extreme than others. Majority of the population displays varying degrees of bigotry.. so I always laugh when people insight they aren't a racist.. when chances are they probably are.. just not in the extreme.

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MonkeyShow20

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#11 MonkeyShow20
Member since 2009 • 153 Posts

If it's in a joking term, I'd think it would be alright. Otherwise, not okay.

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chicknfeet

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#12 chicknfeet
Member since 2004 • 15630 Posts
As long as there are people in the world that are afraid and don't understand the differences between people, there will always be bigotry and racism
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HorseVillain

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#13 HorseVillain
Member since 2009 • 476 Posts

Is it ever not a problem?

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Tjeremiah1988

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#15 Tjeremiah1988
Member since 2003 • 16665 Posts
Though it is little, racism is still alive in America. In U.S.A, I think it will never go away. Its too much in its history
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ariz3260

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#16 ariz3260
Member since 2006 • 4209 Posts

Not so much anymore. I tend to see it the most during my HS year when people use racial/sexist slurs regularly, but then they only say it when upset or messing around. Never really seen it use in a hateful manner.

It probably is more of a problem elsewhere in the world

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GabuEx

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#17 GabuEx
Member since 2006 • 36552 Posts

Still a problem, yes, but on the other hand I think that people looking for racism and bigotry where it isn't present has also become a problem (see: the claims of racism towards Resident Evil 5), which to me signifies that it's nowhere near as much a problem as it used to be.

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Maniacc1

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#18 Maniacc1
Member since 2006 • 5354 Posts
They are, and unfortunately will remain, a large problem.
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wstfld

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#19 wstfld
Member since 2008 • 6375 Posts

[QUOTE="wstfld"][QUOTE="Wikipedian"]

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

Snipes_2

I'm in Jersey. Sort of the same thing as around you. We have jokes, but its all in jest. I am moving to North Carolina on Friday, so I'm sure that will be a shock to the system. The kid I'm moving in with works at a bar in Raleigh. He is a bouncer, but the owner told him to keep blacks out. Crazy. Its 2010, but being white is still a gigantic advantage in life.

I don't think so.


Blacks have the highest percentages of incarceration, poverty, diabetes, high school drop outs, obesity, single parent households, and several other crappy things. I'd say that being black is really a downer (statistically) in terms of your chances in life.

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Unassigned

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#20 Unassigned
Member since 2004 • 1970 Posts

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

Wikipedian
I see no racism or bigotry in my life.
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Wikipedian

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#21 Wikipedian
Member since 2007 • 1100 Posts

yeah, hate groups like the WBC are a dime a dozen these days, proof: Directory of Active Hate Groups

I've actually tried rick-rolling some of them. I'm not sure if that's the best way to amicably start a dialouge, but when they simply refuse to acknowledge anyone else, there is a simple. but overall ineffectual solution.

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Tjeremiah1988

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#22 Tjeremiah1988
Member since 2003 • 16665 Posts
Oh man, this thread will not end well ^
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Wikipedian

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#23 Wikipedian
Member since 2007 • 1100 Posts

[QUOTE="Wikipedian"]

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

Unassigned

I see no racism or bigotry in my life.

Where in America do you live?!

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peaceoutmedusa

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#24 peaceoutmedusa
Member since 2010 • 2130 Posts
[QUOTE="Wikipedian"]

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

I will just say this and you guys can take it however you want to. But I live in the city of chicago, and there is so much segregation and racism, you wouldnt even imagine. There is a huge seperation between the races on the north (white) and on the South (black). But there is one place on the southwest side of Chicago where there is obvious racism. Everegreen park (right next to Chicago) is the closest mall for blacks, but it is an prodomentantly white community. Let me tell you, you will NEVER EVER see a white person in that mall EVER. They go father out to the other malls in order to shop. And around that area, I have had WHITE people who told me at the public high school that a went to that there are so many tactics that have them kept out of the neighborhood that it isnt even funny. The few white people that went to my high school, ALL of them told me that. And then I asked this kid who was white, "are any of your friends racist" (I was being a little funny and rude at the same time, lol) but he told me to my surprise "yes".... And then I asked him how many were racists and then he told me "all of them". I was shocked. I am not saying that "most white people are racist" or anything like that. But there is too much racism still going on today.
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Tjeremiah1988

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#25 Tjeremiah1988
Member since 2003 • 16665 Posts

[QUOTE="Unassigned"][QUOTE="Wikipedian"]

Hey there,

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the observance of MLK Day.

I live in San Francisco, and despite the diversity of my city, ignorant slurs are thrown around every day at our schools, workplaces and streets. Mostly in a joking way though, most people I know use slurs out of anger or humor, and usually with little true malice. Islamophobia and homophobia are the common sentiments of today

So what is it like in your region? Is it better or worse than my part of the country?

I have a compilation of useful links here if you are interested in the stuff that goes around in my area.Check it out.

Wikipedian

I see no racism or bigotry in my life.

Where in America do you live?!

he must live in a gated community.
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Snipes_2

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#26 Snipes_2
Member since 2009 • 17126 Posts

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

[QUOTE="wstfld"] I'm in Jersey. Sort of the same thing as around you. We have jokes, but its all in jest. I am moving to North Carolina on Friday, so I'm sure that will be a shock to the system. The kid I'm moving in with works at a bar in Raleigh. He is a bouncer, but the owner told him to keep blacks out. Crazy. Its 2010, but being white is still a gigantic advantage in life.wstfld

I don't think so.


Blacks have the highest percentages of incarceration, poverty, diabetes, high school drop outs, obesity, single parent households, and several other crappy things. I'd say that being black is really a downer (statistically) in terms of your chances in life.

Those are all faults of the person involved in those Situations. I don't see how any of those give White People the advantage.

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fubbal

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#27 fubbal
Member since 2008 • 460 Posts

[QUOTE="ProudLarry"][QUOTE="EMOEVOLUTION"]bigotry will always exist as long as we remain human. WHEN we evolve.. maybe not, but who knows.EMOEVOLUTION

What exactly do you mean by that?

Humans inherently display prejudice towards different culture groups. Some more than extreme than others. Majority of the population displays varying degrees of bigotry.. so I always laugh when people insight they aren't a racist.. when chances are they probably are.. just not in the extreme.

LOL thats true if they were not it wouldn't even be an issue.

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fubbal

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#28 fubbal
Member since 2008 • 460 Posts

I'll tell you who's at fault for racism.Thats every adult in america regardless of what color they are.WHen I was in grade school everyone got along regardless of what color they were.When I got to middle school you could see the influence the adult world and its prejudice towards others was starting to take effect,by high school pretty much everyone stuck to his or her own group,but those few friends that truely looked past each others difference regardless of what others might have said.These few individuals are the only hope we have.

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wstfld

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#29 wstfld
Member since 2008 • 6375 Posts

[QUOTE="wstfld"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

I don't think so.

Snipes_2


Blacks have the highest percentages of incarceration, poverty, diabetes, high school drop outs, obesity, single parent households, and several other crappy things. I'd say that being black is really a downer (statistically) in terms of your chances in life.

Those are all faults of the person involved in those Situations. I don't see how any of those give White People the advantage.

If a black kid and a white kid are born on the same day in the same hospital, the black one is more likely to have any of those problems than the white one.

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peaceoutmedusa

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#30 peaceoutmedusa
Member since 2010 • 2130 Posts

[QUOTE="wstfld"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

I don't think so.

Snipes_2


Blacks have the highest percentages of incarceration, poverty, diabetes, high school drop outs, obesity, single parent households, and several other crappy things. I'd say that being black is really a downer (statistically) in terms of your chances in life.

Those are all faults of the person involved in those Situations. I don't see how any of those give White People the advantage.

So according to you, all of those things are black peoples fault. So all of the years of racism, oppresion, and unequal laws in the past isnt the reason why it is like that??? WOW.

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deactivated-5a79221380856

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#31 deactivated-5a79221380856
Member since 2007 • 13125 Posts

Yes, they're still a problem. There is so much racism against whites, sexism against men, and heterophobia and Christianophobia going around. I'm half-serious, half-kidding. It seems like racism and bigotry and focused on minorities, but they happen on majorities as well. Either way, it should be stopped through nonviolent means.

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btaylor2404

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#32 btaylor2404
Member since 2003 • 11353 Posts
I live in Arkansas and yes both are still a problem here.
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peaceoutmedusa

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#33 peaceoutmedusa
Member since 2010 • 2130 Posts

Yes, they're still a problem. There is so much racism against whites, sexism against men, and heterophobia and Christianophobia going around. I'm half-erious, half-kidding. It seems like racism and bigotry and focused on minorities, but they happen on majorities as well. Either way, it should be stopped through nonviolent means.Genetic_Code

Oh, so I guess I should put this away...

Anyway, did you see the premiere of 24 tonight???

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Snipes_2

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#34 Snipes_2
Member since 2009 • 17126 Posts

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

[QUOTE="wstfld"]
Blacks have the highest percentages of incarceration, poverty, diabetes, high school drop outs, obesity, single parent households, and several other crappy things. I'd say that being black is really a downer (statistically) in terms of your chances in life.

peaceoutmedusa

Those are all faults of the person involved in those Situations. I don't see how any of those give White People the advantage.

So according to you, all of those things are black peoples fault. So all of the years of racism, oppresion, and unequal laws in the past isnt the reason why it is like that??? WOW.

So, Racism, oppression ,and unequal laws cause Drop Outs, Single Parent Households, Obesity, Diabetes, Poverty, and incarceration? I don't think you can blame all that on something that happened Decades ago. What "Unequal Laws" are we talking about anyways? I'd say all of these are user error.

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deactivated-5a79221380856

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#35 deactivated-5a79221380856
Member since 2007 • 13125 Posts

Oh, so I guess I should put this away...

Anyway, did you see the premiere of 24 tonight???

peaceoutmedusa

Yeah, it was good.

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Snipes_2

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#36 Snipes_2
Member since 2009 • 17126 Posts

Yes, they're still a problem. There is so much racism against whites, sexism against men, and heterophobia and Christianophobia going around. I'm half-erious, half-kidding. It seems like racism and bigotry and focused on minorities, but they happen on majorities as well. Either way, it should be stopped through nonviolent means.Genetic_Code

YEah, I agree. Whether you were kidding or not.

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peaceoutmedusa

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#37 peaceoutmedusa
Member since 2010 • 2130 Posts
[QUOTE="Genetic_Code"]

[QUOTE="peaceoutmedusa"]

Oh, so I guess I should put this away...

Anyway, did you see the premiere of 24 tonight???

Yeah, it was good.

Stay tuned for the rest of the premiere tommorow!!!
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#38 Nifty_Shark
Member since 2007 • 13137 Posts

It will remain a problem for a long time. Just from observing people in other countries and cultures.

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Famiking

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#39 Famiking
Member since 2009 • 4879 Posts
I always wanted to meet a white supremacist and then be better at him in everything. But I've never met one. :(
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bigdcstile

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#40 bigdcstile
Member since 2004 • 2236 Posts
Depends on what your definition of 'problem' is. Is it a problem that some random Joe Blow is a racist/bigot or is it a bigger problem if some corporation/institution has racist/bigoted practices? It's harder for the latter to be more prevalent, the former has no bearing on whether or not we can move forward in society because that individual has no real effect on whether or not another person can get the same opportunities as another in this country.
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GabuEx

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#41 GabuEx
Member since 2006 • 36552 Posts

So, Racism, oppression ,and unequal laws cause Drop Outs, Single Parent Households, Obesity, Diabetes, Poverty, and incarceration? I don't think you can blame all that on something that happened Decades ago. What "Unequal Laws" are we talking about anyways? I'd say all of these are user error.

Snipes_2

The environment in which one grows up plays a huge role in the person whom one ultimately becomes. One may change one's course if one has the will to do so, yes - but where does that will come from? It tends to be a vicious cycle: an environment in which education is not highly encouraged, in which marriages tend to fail, and in which people are poor and prone to criminal behavior is also an environment that will produce people who are poorly educated, who do not try hard at marriage, and who are poor and prone to criminal behavior. In that sense, the specter of racism still looms over the black community: even though the bonds that shackled them down have long since been lifted, their effects on that community linger on. To say that they need to just get over it or whatever is to completely ignore all of the effects that such things have on a person's psyche.

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Guntrix7

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#42 Guntrix7
Member since 2007 • 347 Posts

YES it is. At least where I live, the white guys don't leave the asians alone. Everytime I go out of the house, I always, and i mean ALWAYS get descriminated based on my race.

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#43 carrot-cake
Member since 2008 • 6880 Posts

Racism will always exist as long as different ethnicities exist. The only reason racism may disappear within humans is if we encounter different races and start to be prejudice and racist towards them.

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#44 coolbeans90
Member since 2009 • 21305 Posts

Eh, to some extent. I doubt it'll ever be gone completely. Though, I think the problem to some extent is largely overblown.

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#45 bigdcstile
Member since 2004 • 2236 Posts

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

So, Racism, oppression ,and unequal laws cause Drop Outs, Single Parent Households, Obesity, Diabetes, Poverty, and incarceration? I don't think you can blame all that on something that happened Decades ago. What "Unequal Laws" are we talking about anyways? I'd say all of these are user error.

GabuEx

The environment in which one grows up plays a huge role in the person whom one ultimately becomes. One may change one's course if one has the will to do so, yes - but where does that will come from? It tends to be a vicious cycle: an environment in which education is not highly encouraged, in which marriages tend to fail, and in which people are poor and prone to criminal behavior is also an environment that will produce people who are poorly educated, who do not try hard at marriage, and who are poor and prone to criminal behavior. In that sense, the specter of racism still looms over the black community: even though the bonds that shackled them down have long since been lifted, their effects on that community linger on. To say that they need to just get over it or whatever is to completely ignore all of the effects that such things have on a person's psyche.

Here's the sad thing, while I agree with you in that it has an effect (it's not solely responsible, mind you, but it is a major effect), the question is what causes the almost defeatist mindset that leads to one accepting mediocrity?
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enterawesome

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#46 enterawesome
Member since 2009 • 9477 Posts
Oh yeah, they still exist, I for one always had some sort of prejudice for Brits (I refer to all Europeans excluding Scottish/Irish as Brits, BTW) in me, but for no real reason. Perhaps it's the accent... Sure, on women like Chloe from Uncharted 2 it sounds incredibly sexy, but I can't help but laugh when a guy has one. Or maybe how they consider all Americans fat. Not al of us are getting ridiculously tubby off McD's! Or maybe it's the Revolutionary War... Or maybe because it's so damn fun to poke fun at them! The results can be hilarious sometimes. But when they actually prove me wrong... Gah! It just grinds my gears. It's even more strange that all my heritage are European. Of course, it's not really a problem, since I'm right.
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joksterz78

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#47 joksterz78
Member since 2008 • 273 Posts

Yup it still exists and it still is a problem. Affirmative action, income levels etc. etc... You can pretty much say nearly all our social issues are cause because of racism.

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theycallmeRP

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#48 theycallmeRP
Member since 2009 • 1656 Posts

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

So, Racism, oppression ,and unequal laws cause Drop Outs, Single Parent Households, Obesity, Diabetes, Poverty, and incarceration? I don't think you can blame all that on something that happened Decades ago. What "Unequal Laws" are we talking about anyways? I'd say all of these are user error.

bigdcstile

The environment in which one grows up plays a huge role in the person whom one ultimately becomes. One may change one's course if one has the will to do so, yes - but where does that will come from? It tends to be a vicious cycle: an environment in which education is not highly encouraged, in which marriages tend to fail, and in which people are poor and prone to criminal behavior is also an environment that will produce people who are poorly educated, who do not try hard at marriage, and who are poor and prone to criminal behavior. In that sense, the specter of racism still looms over the black community: even though the bonds that shackled them down have long since been lifted, their effects on that community linger on. To say that they need to just get over it or whatever is to completely ignore all of the effects that such things have on a person's psyche.

Here's the sad thing, while I agree with you in that it has an effect (it's not solely responsible, mind you, but it is a major effect), the question is what causes the almost defeatist mindset that leads to one accepting mediocrity?

That's a good question. I'll try and take a stab at it. I'm a black man myself, I've went to both public and private school. I've been in predominately black schools and predominately white schools. If you've been in an inner-city school your set up to fail. There isn't enough supplies, many are overcrowded, and the teachers are mediocre and are a revolving door there. Public schools in better areas are drastically better as far as resources are concerned. They also tend to expose students to way more different things (ex. better field trips, more choices of sports, expanded curriculum, etc.).

Stereotypes also play a major role. When your viewed as dangerous and seen as less intelligent, you begin to beleive it. I remeber one of my earliest expereiences with racism. I was at the county fair in Los Angeles with my parents. I was 9?? We were in one of those tarps where the salesmen advertise their product. I was standing next to my mother and an older white lady. She looks down at me, looks at here purse, and then switches her purse to the other shoulder away from me. What danger was a nine year old holding is mother's hand to her? I don't know, but little stuff like that can really hurt your confidence and make you feel like your dirt. Since then, I've been called the N word multiple times in my life. And I wasn't dressed "ghetto" or doing anything to anyone. One time it happened while I was in my Catholic uniform in front of my high school waiting for the school bus.

Now I was raised by my parents, Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles. My mother and her side of the family are immigrants of another country. I was taught at a young age that I should be proud and happy of my heritage and my self as an individual. I was lucky to have such a supportive family that taught me at an early age to go to college, and that I am just as intelligent as anyone else. That I can go as long as my will takes me. Not every minority gets that support. Too many other factors take parents away from kids (drugs, poverty, violence, stress, society, self-fulfilling prophecy, etc.) Not everyone gets to hear that college is an option and that your worth it. Some families are so crippled and beat down by life that they have nothing to lift their kids with.

As far as the original post goes, yes racism and bigotry are still a problem. I have never met a minority (black, Indian, Persian, Chinese, Fillapino, whoever) that has not felt or had some type of racism directed to them. It's a problem, but as long as we teach our children to grow up with an open mind and to treat each other with respect then I have hope that one day it will end.

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wstfld

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#49 wstfld
Member since 2008 • 6375 Posts

[QUOTE="peaceoutmedusa"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

Those are all faults of the person involved in those Situations. I don't see how any of those give White People the advantage.

Snipes_2

So according to you, all of those things are black peoples fault. So all of the years of racism, oppresion, and unequal laws in the past isnt the reason why it is like that??? WOW.

So, Racism, oppression ,and unequal laws cause Drop Outs, Single Parent Households, Obesity, Diabetes, Poverty, and incarceration? I don't think you can blame all that on something that happened Decades ago. What "Unequal Laws" are we talking about anyways? I'd say all of these are user error.

So you think the effects of 250+ years of slavery followed by another century of legislated racism, can be wiped out in 40 years? That's impossible.
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Mercenary848

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#50 Mercenary848
Member since 2007 • 12143 Posts

Yes, just less visible.