Kwanzaa

[footballfanatic]

All holidays are made up. That's kind of the point. We identify something special or significant about a date or time period, and we put a big "This is Now a Holiday" stamp on it.

I could write an article as long as that deconstructing Christmas. And you can easily, and people do this every year, make a case for Thanksgiving being racist.

Again, WalksWithChrist, it's not about it being made up that's the problem. It's the intent of the "holiday" itself. If you read the article you'll see what we're talking about.

 

[Redac]

why would black people get scared / offended if white people have white pride / empower themselves?

Sent from my tablet using CF

When a black person is trying to empower themselves, it's in response to hundreds of years of systemic racism and oppression, usually at the hands of whites. So tell me, what the heck do we as white people need to empower ourselves for?

 

[Sistrin]

When a black person is trying to empower themselves, it's in response to hundreds of years of systemic racism and oppression, usually at the hands of whites. So tell me, what the heck do we as white people need to empower ourselves for?

Here we go again. We have a black President twice elected with a large percentage of the white vote, yet it is still all about whitey trying to keep the black man down.

I suppose if the day comes when there are signs on public transportation which say "whites to the back of the bus", you will simply smile and nod in approval.

 

[footballfanatic]

Redac, are you suggesting that all black people are poor and unsuccessful today?

There are poor white people. In fact, there are more poor white people in the United States than there are poor black people. So wouldn't that group have use in "empowering" themselves?

Second, we hear about "racial unity" being need among black, yet we as white people are told to be color blind. We aren't "socially allowed" to form any group at all that's separated by race. White people have literally been thrown out of "black only" events. Heck, there's even a "Miss Black America." Yet the other Miss America allows blacks in it.

Scholarships can be given to the child of a rich black family simply because he's got black skin, but poor white kids aren't eligible for financial aid because there aren't "enough" black kids in a certain college (remember the Michigan University fiasco?).

The bottom line is, if it's racist for one group to refer to themselves exclusive from other races, it's racist for others as well. If favoritism for whites is racists, it should be for blacks as well.

A movie can be made called, "White Men Can't Jump" but what if one was made that said something negative about black men? Do you think the President would have nothing to say? Or the media.

Barack Obama referred to his grandmother as a "typical white woman." Would it be okay if a white President referred to his black grandmother as a "typical black person"?

There is clearly a double standard.

 

[Redac]

Here we go again. We have a black President twice elected with a large percentage of the white vote, yet it is still all about whitey trying to keep the black man down.

What, black man in the White House means that the systemic inequality no longer exists? Get real.

I suppose if the day comes when there are signs on public transportation which say "whites to the back of the bus", you will simply smile and nod in approval.

Once again, you'd be wrong.

 

[abdAlSalam]

Every holiday is "made up". Do you really think Jesus (pbuh) was born in December?

 

[footballfanatic]

Nope, but he was really born. Again, if you read the dang article you'd see that the foundation for Kwanzaa is made up. But being made up isn't the problem. It's the INTENTION as intended by the man who started Kwanzaa and those who supported him. It was started with the purpose of taking away from the celebration of Christ's birth. That's what the founder actually said. Deal with it.

 

[Redac]

Redac, are you suggesting that all black people are poor and unsuccessful today?

I'm suggesting that there is a disproportionately high level of poverty among minorities. This is not news to most people.

There are poor white people. In fact, there are more poor white people in the United States than there are poor black people. So wouldn't that group have use in "empowering" themselves?

There are a lot more white people in the United States, so saying that is not really saying much of anything. When you look at percentages, however, you see much higher rates of poverty in black communities (something like 35% vs. 13%).

Second, we hear about "racial unity" yet we as white people are told to be color blind. Scholarships can be given to the child of a rich black family simply because he's black, but poor white kids aren't eligible for financial aid because there aren't "enough" black kids in a certain college (remember the Michigan University fiasco?).

Scholarships exist to help groups who are historically undereducated. So what?

And the way you've characterized financial aid is just wrong. I'm basically middle class, and I still got financial aid and scholarships. Saying whihte kids can't get financial aid is just flat-out wrong.

The bottom line is, if it's racist for one group to refer to themselves exclusive from other races, it's racist for others as well.

Can you rephrase this? Because I don't really understand what you mean here.

A movie can be made called, "White Men Can't Jump" but what if one was made that said something negative about black men? Do you think the President would have nothing to say? Or the media.

Really? You chose a film whose premise is a white guy who hustles arrogant black streetballers who assume he can't play, and in the end he does indeed "jump". Cry me a river.

Barack Obama referred to his grandmother as a "typical white woman." Would it be okay if a white President referred to his black grandmother as a "typical black person"?

Probably not, but then I'm not a fan of that statement either, so meh.

 

[abdAlSalam]

Nope, but he was really born. Again, if you read the dang article you'd see that the foundation is made up. But being made up isn't the problem. It's the INTENTION as intended by the man who started Kwanzaa and those who supported him.

Yup. He "made up" a holiday to unite an historically disadvantaged group of people. I fail to see the problem.

 

[Illuminaughty]

I think ____ [insert name of "race"] pride is bad news in general. Not a big fan of pride in and of itself. Not commenting on Kwanza because I really know nothing about it though but just giving my two cents on the racial pride issue.

 

[Creech]

I have no problem with African-American pride, but I do find it offensive that it seemly tries to take away from Christmas. The fact is blacks in America have become their own cultural and ethnic group of people which is far different then most white Americans. It is only natural that they would want to have their separate institutions, holidays, etc like any other group of people would want to have.

However, I do have a problem with black traditions and heroes being pushed on whites, such as MLK, Rosa Parks, and things of that nature.

 

[abdAlSalam]

I have no problem with African-American pride, but I do find it offensive that it seemly tries to take away from Christmas. The fact is blacks in America have become their own cultural and ethnic group of people which is far different then most white Americans. It is only natural that they would want to have their separate institutions, holidays, etc like any other group of people would want to have.

However, I do have a problem with black heroes being pushed on whites, such as MLK, Rosa Parks, and things of that nature.

"I have no problem with x, but x is screwed up amirite guys?"

 

[Creech]

"I have no problem with x, but x is screwed up amirite guys?"

I never said anyone was screwed up.

 

[abdAlSalam]

I never said anyone was screwed up.

Reread your own post. Judging by that last post and the things you've posted before. You have a serious problem with "not racist but".

 

[Creech]

Reread your own post. Judging by that last post and the things you've posted before. You have a serious problem with "not racist but".

I never even said anything like that. I do admit that I feel Kwanzaa is trying to take attention away from Christmas. I would have no problem if it fell on another date.

 

[praying]

However, I do have a problem with black traditions and heroes being pushed on whites, such as MLK, Rosa Parks, and things of that nature.

You don't consider them American heroes?

 

[Grizzly]

You don't consider them American heroes?

That's a fine question.

 

[abdAlSalam]

I never even said anything like that. I do admit that I feel Kwanzaa is trying to take attention away from Christmas. I would have no problem if it fell on another date.

How about the otherization of national heroes like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa parks?

 

[Creech]

You don't consider them American heroes?

You can call them whatever you wish. But just like I don't consider those who led Independence movements in Mexico my heroes or those who fought for Charlemagne. I have no problem with others considering them their heroes, but they sure aren't mine.

 

[praying]

You can call them whatever you wish. But just like I don't consider those who led Independence movements in Mexico my heroes or those who fought for Charlemagne. I have no problem with others considering them their heroes, but they sure aren't mine.

As someone said earlier, I am not racist but...