Will white people ever "get it?"

[ACES]

...the black experience in america? will they ever fully understand where we've been and how that impacts where we are today? Your thoughts......

[coldfront06]

Nope...its just certain things they can never relate to. They will just never know what it feels like to be pulled over by the cops, and worry about whether or not you will be framed/beat down just because you're black. Or to wonder every time you're turned down for a job/loan/etc. was it because of your race. Some don't care at all...they don't even attempt to understand. Some do care, and try to understand but its still not the same as feeling it.

[No Screen Name]

Nope! And half of us either "don't get it" or like to pretend/ignore/turn a blind eye and "not get it" as well.

[jay0heavenly]

I'll say no as well... they'll never understand what it feels like to be able to dance real well, crave fried chicken and use the "n" word gratuitously without fear of reproach

<====Was just kidding

<====

But to answer the question, I'll say no because as one author put it, "White privilege in america to whites is like water to a fish, they are so immersed in it, they don't know it exists."

They cannot understand our social struggle because it cannot be personal to them. As much as I sympathize with women for pms, periods, childbirth etc, I'll never understand it or be able to identify with it, because I cannot for one second experience it personally to know how it feels.

A LOT of white people for centuries have been "down for the cause" and they genuinely were good hearted people, but they still couldn't "get it" because at any moment if they chose, they could've defected and seamlessly transitioned right back into white america.

[akbarjones]

Nope most of them never will and expect us to just act like these things never happened.

[ACES]

so if they'll never "get it", how can we possibly have a dialogue about race as Obama has requested?

[No Screen Name]

I thought the same thing, Aces. They feel like it's time for us to "get over it", and think we're just whining when we discuss racial injustice. So I don't know.

[Bigs]

So when do we as black folks "get it" that white folks have no desire to "get it"? When do we understand that they have no desire and unfortunately since we are in America they have the upperhand. So what do black folks do then? Do we continue to beat our collective heads against the wall or do we attempt to move forward with the understanding that most things regarding race aren't really going to change.

Obama in the white house is not going to change the fact that White folks in general feel like they don't owe us anything, not even a sincere acknowlegement that we really are still feeling effects of the United States and Jim Crow/segregation policies of yesteryear.

[ACES]

I feel you Bigs, but let "them" tell it, we're somehow "choosing" to be affected and impacted by the jim crow/segregation policies of yesteryear. Some of em feel that everything suddently became all good once the Voting Rights Act of '64 was ratified.....

[MochaD]

Nope!

Will elaborate on my next break. Gotta go...brb

[Bigs]

Well unfortunately for us..... when it become "us" vs "them" in most everything, we are fighting an extremely uphill battle. The table is not setup for it be a fair fight/competition, and any attempt to "get it" by white folks lowers their advantage over us. Thats why they don't get it, and never will. Its not advantageous for them to recognize and understand the plight of black folks. If they do recognize, they quickly follow up with a caveat that we should be better by now... what has it been 40 years since MLK died....*rolls eyes*

[LejaOMG]

and if Obama gets the white house; we will lose all right to "complain" about structural racism..."y'all got a Black president. That proves America's not racist. What else y'all need?"

[Bigs]

lejalacaribena said:

and if Obama gets the white house; we will lose all right to "complain" about structural racism..."y'all got a Black president. That proves America's not racist. What else y'all need?"

Thats exactly how it will go.... "Racism, what do you mean racism? Hell we got a black president. Ain't no racism in America...." *continues to roll eyes*

[Nupey]

So what exactly do you guys want YT people to do? What is the solution you are looking for?

[Champs Elysees]

Hell no, and I don't expect them to.

[ACES]

I'm not sure if there IS a solution nupe....I was merely posing the question....honestly, I'm not sure if they'll ever fully "get it." Each time this issue is raised by us and we begin to look at the root and source of the issue, we're accused of "living in the past" or "whining." Like Big said, "getting it" for them may prove to place them in a disadvantaged position....

[Nupey]

I guess its like the Holocaust. I mean, I'm not a jew, but I understand their plight, but I dont here them talking about it today.....

But I guess If I lived in Germany, then I probably would see any lasting racism they are facing...

[Bigs]

bigjkt405 said:

So when do we as black folks "get it" that white folks have no desire to "get it"? When do we understand that they have no desire and unfortunately since we are in America they have the upperhand. So what do black folks do then? Do we continue to beat our collective heads against the wall or do we attempt to move forward with the understanding that most things regarding race aren't really going to change.

I already asked that question Nupey......
Thats what I getting at......

[ACES]

true, you don't necessarily hear jews referencing the Holocaust on the regular....but when they do, you don't hear people telling them to "get over it." You don't hear them being accused of being "whinners." The Holocaust happend on foriegn soil. The African-Amercian "Holocaust" occured right here. This country benefitted from it and you can see the results of it, even to this day....

[Nupey]

Well what about the Japanese in War Camps?

What about Native Americans?

What about Hispanics?

[Champs Elysees]

nupey said:

I guess its like the Holocaust. I mean, I'm not a jew, but I understand their plight, but I dont here them talking about it today.....
But I guess If I lived in Germany, then I probably would see any lasting racism they are facing...

First of all, Jews are WHITE. Second, they are a powerful ethnig group. Third, the Holocause itself was a period of 10-15 years. And they do talk about it, especially when assholes say it never happened.

We have been reaping the fruits of psychological degredation that lasted for more than 400 years. And a few decades of legislation is supposed to make up for that. There is a difference.

[ACES]

nupey said:

Well what about the Japanese in War Camps?

What about Native Americans?

What about Hispanics?

what about them? are you comparing their experience to the african-american experience??

[Nupey]

But Lady....what CAN they do about that? What solution do you think will statisfy us? How much money will it take to compensate for it?

[Nupey]

aces said:

nupey said:

Well what about the Japanese in War Camps?

What about Native Americans?

What about Hispanics?

what about them? are you comparing their experience to the african-american experience??

Native Americans lived her LONG before we did. They got ALL they land stole, they were killed by YT diseases, and driven to parts of the country nobody wants to live in anyway.

The japanese-americans (or people that LOOKED asian) were forced to go to jail JUST BECAUSE we were fighting a war with japan. They were abused, tortured, and we bombed the HE11 out of them, 500,000 dead....


Hispanics, well...we sent Elian Gonzales back home..lol ;D

[ACES]

nupey, there's nothing they can do to repair the damage that has been done....it's all about what can be done moving forward....and for starters, in order to "repair" the rift, there needs to be a straight up and down, both gloves off conversation about race between the races.

[Champs Elysees]

Oh, I am fully aware that things are the way they are ant that's the way it's going to be. I know money won't heal anything and I am not a proponent of money.

I think that the answer in making things in this nation for us is US.

Black folks do not want to take responsibility for ANYthing anymore.

When we took care of our own, we had our own flourishing neighborhoods, businesses OUR HBCUs WERE FLOURISHING and WE STRESSED FAMILY. We need to get back to that. Be a proud people and stop making excuses for everything. Then, maybe white people will respect us and we will be able to open up a real dialogue.

[ACES]

nupey said:

aces said:

what about them? are you comparing their experience to the african-american experience??

Native Americans lived her LONG before we did. They got ALL they land stole, they were killed by YT diseases, and driven to parts of the country nobody wants to live in anyway.

The japanese-americans (or people that LOOKED asian) were forced to go to jail JUST BECAUSE we were fighting a war with japan. They were abused, tortured, and we bombed the HE11 out of them, 500,000 dead....


Hispanics, well...we sent Elian Gonzales back home..lol ;D

let's not get into the "whose suffered worse" game. The fact is this country BENEFITED from the long term institution of chattel slavery. Give me a piece of poperty and 400 years of a self-perpetuating, free labor force and let's see how rich and powerful ACESLAVIA could become.

[Sapphire]

In short, they'll never get it. They'll never understand the suffering and damage that slavery caused. They'll never understand what it is to be Black. They can't grasp our experience, our lifestyles, goals, dreams, problems, our struggle or our community in general. Some have tried. Don't forget YT marched with Black folks too. But they didn't have to live it and their support, participation or urgency to band together wasn't the same. Not to say it wasn't an individual's intention or in their heart, but it's just different.

Black people will also never get it. White folks don't care about slavery anymore... well they've moved on. White folks don't understand the long term effects of slavery and the racism that plagued and still plagues our communities. So they're not sure why we're still bringing it up. White folks know that reparations are a lost cause... again, they've moved on. Black folks will never (as a whole) understand that not all White people are racist, not all White people are scared of you, etc. Most White folks are good hearted people. They're not always trying to screw over the Black man more than the Black man isn't always trying to rob YT and rape his woman. Black people will never get that the Holocaust was a big deal. It wasn't as long and not as devastaing on a people as slavery, but should'nt be disregarded either. No torure is the same. Try to sympathize, recognize and respect that. Same for the Native Americans who have gotten the shaft from YT for years.

For the most part I think it's just a lack of understanding on everyon's part. Plus a little fear of the discussion and denial that there are any problems. Will it change? I don't know.

[coldfront06]

I don't think it will ever change. Honestly, if you look at the history of the world, different groups have rarely gotten along. I guess its a part of human nature. Whenever you have different groups, you have the potential for one group to feel they are superior.

I guess my outlook is to do the best I can while I'm here.

[No Screen Name]

coldfront06 said:

I don't think it will ever change. Honestly, if you look at the history of the world, different groups have rarely gotten along. I guess its a part of human nature. Whenever you have different groups, you have the potential for one group to feel they are superior.

I guess my outlook is to do the best I can while I'm here.

Cold--I have come to pretty much the same conclusion--I think it's human nature. I remember reading that when the movie "Planet of the Apes" was filmed, actors naturally segregated themselves based on costume--orangutans sat with orangutans, gorillas sat with gorillas, etc.

I have been a part of many groups where people tend to "segregate" themselves based on all kinds of reasons. I also remember reading a study that whenever people join a group, they seek out people the most like themselves. People will most likely make a connection with someone who went to the same university, works in the same field, etc.