CharlesCS CharlesCS

Are we really ready for a Black President?

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Are we really ready for a Black President?

from JoeUser Forums
Warning - Some of the content of this article and it's comments may be offensive to some people. To be honest I could care less. I am tired of treating the racism issue like some kind of wet piece of toilet paper about to break. I plan on speaking my mind here and if you don't like it feel free to steer clear of this article.

I only have one request for those who plan on commenting on my article below. Please avoid using profanity and racist comments on this article. While I, and maybe some who plan on commenting, will be honest on how we feel and express ourselves here, I do not plan on spewing racism and will not allow it to be done either. Feel free to express yourself about the topic to follow but lets keep it as civilized as possible. I posted the warning because I know many out there love labeling everything as racist so be warned that there may be content that you could deem racist but does not necessarily mean it is. Anything truly racist will be deleted at my leisure. If you don't like it, take a hike, plain and simple. Now on to the topic at hand.

Is this country truly ready for a Black President? I ask this question because in this century, our society is not dominated by a single race or color of skin. Today we live in a country where people of all races, all cultures and shapes and sizes have somewhat learned to co-exist together. I can't say in harmony because, let's be real here, there is still racism everywhere you go. What most people fail to see is that, unlike many decades ago, racism is sorta restrained to the few who refuse to let go of the past, who, as tradition I guess, continue to pass on the history of their family, including things such as racism (White's against Blacks and Blacks against Whites and even everyone else against Hispanics). Some, of course, will argue that Black people still don't enjoy equality like most White people do. Well of course not, White people don't have things such as Affirmative Action, the United White Foundation or White History month. How could there possibly ever be equality when we continue to maintain our multi nationality names such as Afro American, Cuban American, Latino American, etc. I though we were all Americans, at least that's what the terrorist call us. I don't ever recall seeing an Osama Bin Laden video claiming to wanna kill specific nationalities in the US. As far as he's concerned we are all Americans. Can you imagine him being specific on his videos?

"To all White Americans, Black Americans, Afro Americans, Cuban America, etc, etc, etc..."

By the time he's done, the attack will have taken place. BTW, has anyone ever heard of an Afro-French or a Cuban Italian, or a Arabnese (Arab Chinese for those who didn't get that) or even a Russian Rican? What is really sad is how easily many "Americans" (because that is who we really are whether you like it or not) dismiss the progress we have made thru out the decades. How relationships and marriages have crossed both the race and gender lines. How women have become equals (in a way anyways) in almost all aspects of life (let's face it, I don't see the WNFL as ever happening). When was the last time you went to a school? Ever notice how most children are color blind these days when it comes to making friends, falling in love or simply playing a fame of B-Ball or tag? It's ironic that as adults we are suppose to be the example for children yet it is from them that we can learn so much about what living life is really about.

The truth is racism is alive and well, as I once spoke of in a previous article of mine If racism is still alive, who are the ones keeping it alive?, but nothing like it once was many decades ago. The problem is not so much racism, but those who continue to keep it alive. Those who see racism where there is none, who see racism in a few people and automatically stereotype an entire race or group of people by the color of their skin, who continue to teach racism generation after generation and then there are those who use racism as a form of weapon or shield to either advance their own agendas, to make profits or to commit crimes and get away with them.

What is truly sad (annd I don't care if the truth bothers you) is that time and again we find members of the Black community the ones who openly and out loud, refuse to let racism die. Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson are notorious for using racism as a front to any kind of criticism against their actions and comments. OBama's infamous Pastor Rev Wright spewed hate and racism as he God damned his own country, as if everyone in this nation was responsible for what happened to slaves many decades ago. And let's not forget Obama's white, Michelle Obama, who for the first time in her adult life she was proud of her country, and all it took was for the people of this country to allow a Black man to run for President, go figure. But this dislike for their country is more than mere "oops" comments, "I didn't know the camera was rolling" blurps and "no one really cares anyways" speeches. Ever since Obama began to run for President of the US, the truth about how some Black people really feel has become, not only common to hear, but acceptable as well.

The most recent story to hit the airways and websites? A video (of many) found on youtube.com that Schnitt from www.schnittshow.com spoke about on his show today and has a link of the website he found it on, The National Anthem? Josh Howard 'Doesn't Celebrate That S***', where Josh Howard, basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks,  with out a care about what his honesty could cost him, makes (what I consider disgusting) remarks about the US National Anthem that was playing in the background during the Allen Iverson Celebrity Summer Classic flag football game this past July. According to some websites and several videos on youtube.com his comments were as follow:

"The Star Spangled Banner's going on right now and I don't celebrate that shit. I'm black." (see video of his comments below)



He doesn't celebrate it because he's Black? I didn't get it, at least not until Schnitt began to take calls about this video to see what Black people though about Josh's comments. To his surprise, and mine, his first caller, a female listener of his, not only defended Josh and his comments but agreed with him. She claimed she, too, does not sing the National Anthem because this country is not about "all men are create equal". When Schnitt asked her if she did not like the US why was she still here? Her answer? Because "ya'll brought them here". Schnitt questioned her answer wonder what she meant by "ya'll". Somehow, according to the caller, Schnitt's ancestors were in part responsible for black people being brought to the US as slaves. Guess what, Schnitt's ancestors were not even in the US when this happened, Schnitt's ancestors happened to be Russian, German and another nationalities who actually suffered and were incarcerated due the past wars those countries were involved, yet somehow, because he was White, the caller accused him of being part of those responsible for her living in the US because her ancestors were slaves.

I still am in shock as I write this article, that there are people out there that think this way. That dare to accuse White  people, regardless of nationality, of being racist all while being racist themselves for generalizing everyone who's skin is not dark like theirs. Hell, I have met many Cubans who could pass themselves as White Americans very easily who were born and raised here and do not have the Spanish accent that would give them away. Should they also be accused of racism simply because their skin is White? I, myself, have light brown skin, typical of many Hispanic races, but I am actually Whiter than I seem because my skin is darner due to the constant sun tanning that I have gotten thru out the years that I lived in Puerto Rico, but all it takes is to life up my shirt or even my sleeves to reveal my true color. But guess what, I believe I have African blood in me because my Grandfather from my om's side is Black. Does that mean I can say the N word too (I refuse to use it because I think it's very disrespectful even coming from a Black person)?

Is this nation really ready to accept a Black man as the next President when they themselves God damn this nation, they themselves have not been proud of their country till now, when they themselves are so unpatriotic as to refusing to sing "that shit" called our National Anthem? Why do Black people allow such things to be said in their name? Why does Obama allow such things to be said and done?

It is the opinion of this Hispanic man, born in the US, of Spaniard, African and Native Puerto Rican Indian blood, a man proud to call himself an American and proud of his nation that this country is not ready for this kind of change. It is my opinion that this country still has too much hatred, too much anger, too much disrespect and too much distrust in it's own citizens and it's Gov't. I am proud of my country because while we may still have many issues concerning racism and greed, we are still a better society than many if not most countries around the world. Our legal and illegal immigration crowd is proof of that. We still have a few wrinkles to iron out, but it's up to us to actually do the work of getting rid of the wrinkles, they will not go by themselves.

I will not vote for Obama simply because he is Black. I do not agree with many of his policies, his opinions and his tactics. But his race has played an important role in his campaign and as far as I'm concerned he will have to pay the price for doing so while all these people go around making sure racism is still alive, often in his name. As the comentators in the video said, this is a bad time to be unpatriotic, especially when your candidate is Black like you.

9,001 views 61 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting cityguy, reply 5
Charles, you say a good number a good things but I also think you hold what I have learned is a common view held by some white people.  I think there are a great deal of double standards in this country.  While most are bad and need to be done away with, some are not.

For example, you probably hate that I will refer to myself as an African-American (yes, we are Americans, too).  But no one seems to get to upset at someone calling him/herself Irish American or Italian-American. We don't call an Irish pub racist or an Italian restaurant.
End of cityguy's quote

Food is a whole different thing, there is no racism there. He specifically attacked the whole "something-american", even irish american or italian american. And the whole point wasn't that you aren't "american too", but that you aren't AFRICAN... drop the african and call yourself american. The last few throwbacks in the KKK would tell you "you are just an african, don't call yourself american". We are saying "you are just american, let prejedice die and drop the african".

When I came from isreal I was completely color blind, after my fourth year in the US I shocked myself when I saw a person and I identified him as a member of one of the ethnicities always asked for in school (check one of the following, are you: white, african-american, latino, asian, other). Note that those are HORRIBLELY inaccurate ethnic seperations, but for some reason that is how they are being split here.

I am fourth generation free, first generation post civil rights.  What does that mean? I heard my grandfather tell stories of touching his grandfathers wounds from slavery.  I heard stories of my dad's survival from lynching and migration to the north.  When you grow up with these stories, you don't immediately feel proud of you nation. As a teenager I first felt pride as an American during the Olympics (kinda dumb but I was really proud).  It's a pride I wear when I travel abroad as well.
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And I heard tales of my grandparents in the holocaust, doesn't mean jack when it comes to my dealings with germans. The people who did that are long dead.

But the things you scoff at, United Negro Foundation, Black history month, etc, recognize that history and will not allow us to forget.  It was an ugly past and this does not rehash it but instead celebrate a nations triumph over it (yes, the triumph belongs to us all). I hate when people tell me, 'It was 150 years ago, get over it!'.  But no one would tell anyone in the Jewish diaspora to get over Aushwitz.
End of quote

Read what I Said about victim mentality. The asians here don't celebreate their past abuse, nobody remembers that asians here were horribly mistreated, that they were put in concentration camps in WW2 (not DEATH camps), that there is even a term not an asian man's chance because of how they used them to lay explosives during mining with too short a rope and fuse, on purpose. How they were attacked...

Heck, Jet lee and other famous asian TV stars worked hard to get their own communities to stop being so damn closed and hateful of the "WHITE ENEMY" and accept them, and nowadays racism towards asians is completely gone in the USA

Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top

We've already had a black President. Bill Clinton.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top

I think maybe America is ready for a black president?  But I think that a lot of individuals are not.  Honestly, I believe that if Obama wins the election he'll be assassinated within his first year.

Nader '08!!!

Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top

For example, you probably hate that I will refer to myself as an African-American (yes, we are Americans, too). But no one seems to get to upset at someone calling him/herself Irish American or Italian-American. We don't call an Irish pub racist or an Italian restaurant.
End of quote

For the most part, people dont.  I dont call myself "French American".  And indeed, if you want to be inclusive, African is exclusive.  You exclude all blacks that do not have roots in Africa (a great deal considering Caribean and South American Blacks as well as Australians).  Besides, again "Italian American" is not comparable to "African American".  To be comparable, you would have to say "European American".

Me?  I wont say either.  If you like and insist, I will call you a black American.  But Nelson Mandela is hardly an "African American" and neither is Sade.

But the things you scoff at, United Negro Foundation, Black history month, etc, recognize that history and will not allow us to forget.
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And that is your loss.  My ancestors were slaves as well.  Slaves in many lands before becoming a nation (that was a patsy) but that is another story).  Recognizing past contgributions is not bad, but singling out a race for special acknowledgement is.  It means one of 2 things, neither of which is flattering:

1. You cannot accomplish with the rest of the races (we know this to be false, so why dont we have a Native Indian Foundation, Asian Foundation, Aztec Foundation?).  Blacks have been crucial to the development of this nation, not because they have achieved less, but because they have contributed as much as other races.
2. There are not enough blacks that contributed to make a significant foot note in history.  This again is false and very misleading.

Originally, the organizations were created to show that Blacks are equals in society, and for that purpose they were good.  But like all things that are corrupted, it has become not a supplement to AMERICAN history, but a separate history.  It was never intended to be.

I appreciate that you do acknowledge that things have not been great for Black people. It's getting better, but to ask us to let it go simply won't allow us (as Americans) to solve this issue. We need more dialogue to get over realities like this one.
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As americans we are gettitng there.  We have come far, but until we see George Washington Carver as a great American (not a great Black American) we will not be there.  He is the former, and as a foot note the latter.  And that is the way it should be.  A foot note. not the headline.

Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top

We've already had a black President. Bill Clinton.
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That comment of yours has always cracked me up since I came here to JU, Anthony.  I get what you're trying to say with that odd statement, but in my opinion it has simply missed the point of conversation in this thread.  Did Clinton have surgeries like Jackson?  We all must have missed it.

8O  

Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top

I get what you're trying to say with that odd statement, but in my opinion it has simply missed the point of conversation in this thread. Did Clinton have surgeries like Jackson? We all must have missed it.
End of quote

You will need to talk to Toni Morrison - since it was her proclamation.

Reply #32 from Stardock Forums Top

For the most part, people dont. I dont call myself "French American". And indeed, if you want to be inclusive, African is exclusive. You exclude all blacks that do not have roots in Africa (a great deal considering Caribean and South American Blacks as well as Australians). Besides, again "Italian American" is not comparable to "African American". To be comparable, you would have to say "European American". Me? I wont say either. If you like and insist, I will call you a black American. But Nelson Mandela is hardly an "African American" and neither is Sade.
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Bro, I have to dis agree with you completely there.  Being called African-American is no more exclusive than being called American.  No one is saying that this needs to apply to all sub cultures in America. You missed the point and you belittle my heritage. African-American describes a subculture in this country of individuals that mostly descended from slaves from Africa.

Black is very general and could be used to describe anyone in the African diaspora (ie Haitian, Haitian-American, Jamaican, etc).

What does Nelson Mandela have to do with this? I never said he African-American.  He of the Xhosa tribe of South Africa and would tell you that he is both Xhosa and South African.  They are not mutually or otherwise exclusive.  Neither is saying that I am African and American.

Reply #33 from Stardock Forums Top

Besides, again "Italian American" is not comparable to "African American". To be comparable, you would have to say "European American".
End of quote

Wrong again. African is chosen due to a loss of tribal heritage that happened in slavery.  You actually prove my point for me. We celebrate being of African descent as much as someone who is Irish, Italian or anyone else.  Nomenclature is not restricted to continents vs countries because you don't like it.  Why can't it be comparable.

Reply #34 from Stardock Forums Top

As americans we are gettitng there. We have come far, but until we see George Washington Carver as a great American (not a great Black American) we will not be there. He is the former, and as a foot note the latter. And that is the way it should be. A foot note. not the headline.
End of quote

Paritallly true.  When we see GW Carver as an African-American who overcame the limitations of culture due to his heritage, we can truly appreciate him as being American.

Reply #35 from Stardock Forums Top

Read what I Said about victim mentality. The asians here don't celebreate their past abuse, nobody remembers that asians here were horribly mistreated, that they were put in concentration camps in WW2 (not DEATH camps), that there is even a term not an asian man's chance because of how they used them to lay explosives during mining with too short a rope and fuse, on purpose. How they were attacked... Heck, Jet lee and other famous asian TV stars worked hard to get their own communities to stop being so damn closed and hateful of the "WHITE ENEMY" and accept them, and nowadays racism towards asians is completely gone in the USA
End of quote

Racisms towards Asians is gone? Where do you live?  They don't celebrate past abuse, but in SoCal they do celebrate victory over abuse.  But that's not even comparable.  There weren't centuries of murder perpetrated during WWII.  That's for another discussion.

 

Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top

Food is a whole different thing, there is no racism there. He specifically attacked the whole "something-american", even irish american or italian american. And the whole point wasn't that you aren't "american too", but that you aren't AFRICAN... drop the african and call yourself american. The last few throwbacks in the KKK would tell you "you are just an african, don't call yourself american". We are saying "you are just american, let prejedice die and drop the african".
End of quote

Why am I not African?  Because you said so? I have been to several parts of Africa over the last decade and I tell you this, there are so many similarities in the tribes I spent time with in culture, family ties and expression. You say I'm not African.  Try to prove it.

Again, read what I say, all of it.  I don't denounce being American.  I am proud of it.  I won't denounce being African-American.  I am proud of that too. Why is that racist?  Why is that wrong?  Because you don't like it?  Because you can't identify with it?  Being proud in no way means that I automatically hate everyone else.

I will say that it is rather unfortunate the being proud of being white is often equated with white power and other icky things. That's something wrong in our culture.

Reply #37 from Stardock Forums Top

And I heard tales of my grandparents in the holocaust, doesn't mean jack when it comes to my dealings with germans. The people who did that are long dead.
End of quote

Nor does my history have anything to do with my dealings with whites. Actually, my wife and son are white. You missed the point.  The Jewish people I know remember the atrocities and celebrate thier cultures resiliance in the face of utter tyranny.  Why can't we (as Americans of all creeds) do the same?

Reply #38 from JoeUser Forums Top

African-American describes a subculture in this country of individuals that mostly descended from slaves from Africa.
End of quote

Then you better get a different term.  Saying "italian-American" is not describing a historic situation.  And indeed, based upon your need to dwell on an incident in the past, Teresa Hienz-Kerry is an "African American" too that does not share that sitaution. 

By your definiition then, The liberals are right, and Obama is not an "African-American" which would come as a surprise since he is one of the few blacks (or partially black since virtually no pure blacks live in the US today) that actually has a parent From Africa - and not some very distant relative.

You want to remember slavery?  Fine, no one is stopping you.  But you have been duped if you think that "African American" is a means to remember that.  it is no more a grouping than "Mexicans" is to describe ANYONE from south of the US border.  You can call yourself anything you want, but that does not make it correct, a statement, or a grouping.  I think someone sold you a bill of goods.  My ancestor was never "American"  but he sure was black. 

Wrong again. African is chosen due to a loss of tribal heritage that happened in slavery. You actually prove my point for me. We celebrate being of African descent
End of quote

Yet you just excluded Nelson Mandela because he was not  a member of a particular tribe.  YOu are getting very confusing and contradictory.  Africa is a continent.  No amount of political speak will change that.

When we see GW Carver as an African-American who overcame the limitations of culture due to his heritage, we can truly appreciate him as being American.
End of quote

No, that is again contradictory.  I am an American.  My ancestors were slaves, and slave owners.  Masters and servants, peasants and kings.  But I AM AN AMERICAN.  I am none of the former.

 

Reply #39 from JoeUser Forums Top

Yet you just excluded Nelson Mandela because he was not a member of a particular tribe. YOu are getting very confusing and contradictory. Africa is a continent. No amount of political speak will change that.
End of quote

??? You make no sense.

No, that is again contradictory. I am an American. My ancestors were slaves, and slave owners. Masters and servants, peasants and kings. But I AM AN AMERICAN. I am none of the former.
End of quote

How is this contradictory? What does position have to do with ethnicty? I am not saying being descended from Kings makes you King-American.

Then you better get a different term. Saying "italian-American" is not describing a historic situation. And indeed, based upon your need to dwell on an incident in the past, Teresa Hienz-Kerry is an "African American" too that does not share that sitaution.
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Kerry is not descended from American slaves. Try again. You are really failing at making a good point. Italian-American is just as descript as African-American.[quote]

(or partially black since virtually no pure blacks live in the US today)
End of quote

Read my statement again. I did say mostly descended from slaves. Please try again.

You can call yourself anything you want, but that does not make it correct, a statement, or a grouping.
End of quote

Why? You haven't really come up with a good reason yet other than it doesn't make you feel good.

Reply #40 from JoeUser Forums Top

No, that is again contradictory.  I am an American.  My ancestors were slaves, and slave owners.  Masters and servants, peasants and kings.  But I AM AN AMERICAN.  I am none of the former.
End of quote

Speaking of which. The crueler a slave master the more likely he was to enslave his own children (from the slave women he raped). It was not at all uncommon, and many so called "african-americans" today descent from both slaves and slave owners.

And why focus on a PARTICULAR past event. You know ghenghis khan has some 18 million descendants today? king solomon some 40 million?

Should they start calling themselves Ghenghis-Mongolians or Ghenghis-chinese? I mean, it would be unsurprising if many of the 1000+ plus children he sired during his lifetime were due to him raping as he looted and pillaged. So the history of evil and suffering is there.

A person decides what he is. YOU decided that you are a black african who was ripped from his tribal roots by the evil white men (the ones who didn't buy slaves from the local black rulers that is) and subjugated and enslaved by anyone with a white skin in the USA. And it couldn't be further from the truth.

Reply #41 from JoeUser Forums Top

Why? You haven't really come up with a good reason yet other than it doesn't make you feel good.
End of quote

No, I dont beleive I said "makes me feel good".  My feelings are irrelevant to the discussion at hand.  But you still have not explained how an "italian-American" equates to an "african Americna". The former rarely used, the latter used frequnetly, but not all the time.  You aks questions of my questions. 

Indeed, while you want to create a meaning and classification for your definition of the words "African American" it is apparent that not all share your thought process as they refer to all blacks as African Americans (even those who have never been Americans - I think that is just their adherance to Newspeak).

I take a certain pride in my heritage, as I think you do as well from your writings.  But injustices done to or by my ancestors are not mine to bear or avenge.  I fail to see how they are yours either.

Reply #42 from JoeUser Forums Top

it is apparent that not all share your thought process as they refer to all blacks as African Americans
End of quote

I never said that. Some people use it to describe people of African descent who live the American life.

But you still have not explained how an "italian-American" equates to an "african Americna". The former rarely used, the latter used frequnetly, but not all the time.
End of quote

I spent a long time in Little Italy in Chicago.  Everything there is about Italian-American pride. From my point of view, it is used everyday.

It was not at all uncommon, and many so called "african-americans" today descent from both slaves and slave owners.
End of quote

Actually almost all of us are. It is uncommon for it not to be true.

A person decides what he is. YOU decided that you are a black african who was ripped from his tribal roots by the evil white men (the ones who didn't buy slaves from the local black rulers that is) and subjugated and enslaved by anyone with a white skin in the USA. And it couldn't be further from the truth.
End of quote

Can you show me where I said that? Having pride in who I am does not mean I think all white men are evil. You have gravely misspoken.

Children in school are pretty much taught that the white race is responsible for all the world's ills
End of quote

Yeah, I really do hate that.  It's wrong.

You can call yourself anything you like, African-American, Black American, or just American. That's a personal preference that neither I nor anyone else has the right to interfere with. I do, however, get prickly when you insist that *I* refer to you by your chosen term. No matter what you put in front of your nationality (American), you'll always be a 'black guy' to me.
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Thank you. Normally I would disagree with the last part, but after a duscussion with my white brother in law and even some things I have done to offend some of my Jamaican friends in the Northeast.

We (whites) truly have no 'homeland.' No nation, state, or even city run by whites, FOR whites. No national day of celebration for our culture. Yet I've seen no mention of the caucasian diaspora...
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Sure you do. Look at who most of the presidents and govenors have been. There is Columbus Day, St. Patrick's Day (who actually is not Irish), Presidents Day etc. Neither right or wrong, our society has been a celebration of the accomplishments of white people. No one would dare say it that way, but it's pretty much true.  Black history month celebrates what Blacks have contributed to the society we all live in.

But injustices done to or by my ancestors are not mine to bear or avenge. I fail to see how they are yours either.
End of quote

I bear them every day. The racism that exists today is result of those attrocities. Do you deny that? It is much better today than it was in the day of my father, and I am sure that it will be much better for my son. But racism that denegrates Blacks solely on color and history still exists today.

Reply #43 from JoeUser Forums Top

As cityguy pointed out, White Pride is viewed as 'ikky' but it's perfectly acceptable to demonstrate the pride of any other race or culture.
End of quote

I think we all need to figure out what to do about that.  There is a HUGE difference between white pride and white power. No race is perfect, but come on, pride is who you are is okay.

Reply #44 from JoeUser Forums Top

White pride?

Why in the world would I be proud of the color of my skin? should I have brown pride for the color of my iris? black pride for the color of my hair?

The very notion that I should take PRIDE in my SKIN color is ludecrous, yet that is exactly what most brown to black skinned people do.

 

As for cultural heritage... that is something you could, MAYBE take pride in, and even then not much since it is not something YOU did... And quite frankly, the "tribal heritage" is as backwards and primitive as the "slave ownering landlord" heritage and both are equally worthless. If I want to take pride in something, it is in the fact that I became a US citizen who is living in the USA of 2008 (and in a few months of 2009...) I am a person, I am an american, I am not <skin color> or <religion of ancestor> or <crime of ancestor> or <suffering of ancestor> or <color of anything else on my body>.

Reply #45 from JoeUser Forums Top

As for cultural heritage... that is something you could, MAYBE take pride in, and even then not much since it is not something YOU did
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My heritage HAS been made into the color of my skin.  Have read the other posts? I talk about my African-American heritage and the pride that I have in that. It's not what I did, it's who I am. The basis for many depression related conditions is lack of pride in oneself.

And quite frankly, the "tribal heritage" is as backwards and primitive as the "slave ownering landlord" heritage and both are equally worthless.
End of quote

Why? Because you say so? In other places where English is spoken in the world the word tribe and ethnicity are interchangable. It may seem backwards to you if you are only familiar with your way life, which obviously, you are.

If I want to take pride in something, it is in the fact that I became a US citizen who is living in the USA of 2008 (and in a few months of 2009...) I am a person, I am an american, I am not or or or or .
End of quote

For the last time, being proud of being African-American is not mutually exclusive to being proud of an American in todays society.  Get it?

Reply #46 from JoeUser Forums Top

yes. We are ready...America is a melting pot and I think that having a president that represents that concept is very fitting.

Reply #47 from JoeUser Forums Top

In a melting pot you would have a president who is most qualified and you wouldn't be say "ooh, FINALLY A BLACK PRESIDENT" you would say "OOOH, obama is such a good president... black? well yea i guess, I never paid it attention".

Wanting him BECAUSE he is black is the exact opposite of tolerance and melting point, etc...

Reply #48 from JoeUser Forums Top

You know what, I missed something...

Explain to me exactly what is that "tribal heritage" you are celebrating...

1. Whites were in tribes too, only thousands of years ago instead of hundreds... (many are still in clans to this day)

2. There are THOUSANDS of seperate LANGUAGES in africa, each one with countless different tribest and cultures using it. Many are hostile to each other, or completely differen't. It is a very ethnocentric (delicous irony) viewpoint to look at all of them as one entity called "tribes"

3. It is quite unlikely for a person to know WHICH tribe he descends from since slave owners didn't exactly keep records, and slavers probably didn't even bother to check when snatching them up, not to mention the people themselves not bothering to pass it on or not being able to (seperated from their children by the slave owners)

Reply #49 from JoeUser Forums Top

Many are hostile to each other, or completely differen't
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A common misconception among many "enlightened" americans is that the evil europeans went over to Africa, captured a bunch of blacks and then sold them to the Colonists.  The truth is that traders (usually portugese or muslim) traded goods to Black Tribal leaders for captured enemies of their tribe.  Basically they sold them into slavery (but they were already slaves as captured people were slaves to the capturer - so the only real difference was who was the slave owner).

Slavery still exists in parts of the world today.  Especially in Subsaharan Africa where blacks are routinely enslaved.

Reply #50 from JoeUser Forums Top

One thing many whites seem to conveniently forget

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A truly excellent comment!