Questions about a "touchy" subject

[Lik3]

Do you feel embarrassed when you hear about or see a person who is of your own race, color, or ethnicity behave badly? Is this a common thing amongst people who are not black, specifically white people? It seems like a dumb question especially for a Christian website, but I find myself watching videos and reading articles that maybe I shouldn't be viewing or reading.

I will put up a video or two concerning this later. The videos below are just examples. Also, for instance, there was this article about a group of young black kids who behaved badly at a mall and a black person shopping there was quite embarrassed, I'm assuming, by blacks who behave so badly. Another example is you see criminals on the 6:00 news being accused of violent crime and the majority of those posted are black and maybe a white person or two who did something REALLY bad like child molestation or murder.

Many black people are embarrassed also by seeing black people being accused of unseemly things. The reason I believe is because of history and prejudice. The reasoning is that black people have been through much in this country that we need to better ourselves and it is sad that some (I'm black) do bad things.

But there was a person on Youtube of all places who asks this important question: why do black people act embarrassed when they another black person fighting or something like that? That opened my eyes. For a moment, I asked why? Why do we act embarrassed by the actions of others who do wrong? It isn't my fault or anyone else's. It is the fault of the guilty, not the innocent. I never behaved badly at a mall. I never got into a fight to the point where others are videotaping me, then showing it on Youtube. I don't even like confrontation. I believe that each and every individual has to take responsible for our own actions considering we are of accountable age.

I was wondering this because I had no business seeing these fights. So I wonder if I should even post those up. But in the interest of you understanding what I am talking about, here are a couple of videos that will give you an idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnWEbhmDQS8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEOGZrZlsG0

 

[PsychoSarah]

I don't think I feel that way about my race so much, but I do hate seeing girls behave stereotypically and stupid.

 

[Lik3]

I am glad that I don't have that old mindset of mine anymore. It is pathetic...rather those girls are being stupid. But like I said, it is not my fault. It is theirs. Mind if I ask you, if you too are black? Just wondering though it does seem like a dumb question.

 

[seashale76]

Is this a common thing amongst people who are not black, specifically white people?

Well, I don't like the thought that others not of my ethnicity might associate all of us with the badly behaved elements (especially racist sorts). It's more a case where I think those people are sad, and I find their behavior upsetting. However, the only time I've ever been embarrassed is when such a person is related to me (and I couldn't get away from them because they showed up at a family member's funeral from out of state). For the record, when I see people who aren't of my own ethnic group say and do terrible things, I only see that behavior as pertaining to those particular participants.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I am glad that I don't have that old mindset of mine anymore. It is pathetic...rather those girls are being stupid. But like I said, it is not my fault. It is theirs. Mind if I ask you, if you too are black? Just wondering though it does seem like a dumb question.

It isn't a dumb question, but I would prefer not to say. I have never really identified myself by race and personally don't find that it has mattered much in my life personally. However, while I will admit you would glance at me and recognize a certain race, if you thought about it you couldn't pinpoint any specific country that I seem to originate from.

 

[keith99]

Race, nah.

But then I'm mongrel white so race might as well be species.

Sometimes a more specific similarity can be disturbing however.

I can totally understand how it can be dismaying for a member of a minority racial or ethnic group.

 

[Joykins]

Do you feel embarrassed when you hear about or see a person who is of your own race, color, or ethnicity behave badly?

No.

Is this a common thing amongst people who are not black, specifically white people?

I don't know how "white people" in general feel. For me, I know that the person would have to have closer ties to me than race or ethnicity to be able to embarrass me. It does embarrass me when my own family members or friends behave badly, for example. However, I don't feel my ethnic group is particularly oppressed or has anything to prove, both of which might play into this sort of thing

 

[Ana the Ist]

No...I don't feel embarrassed. I think it's because I don't feel any connection to my "race" (which itself I think is a somewhat meaningless distinction). I do feel a slight connection to my ethnicity, but it's not something I really ever think of or concern myself with.

I do find it annoying whenever someone tries to speak about their race as if what stereotypes they're presenting are true. It's sloppy, lazy thinking that's usually more reflective of ignorance than experience.

 

[Autumnleaf]

Some people don't know how to act right. Its not a racial thing so much as an ignorant/stupid thing.

 

[Lik3]

Thanks, all of you. I am glad that there are people who do base it not on race or ethnicity rather, but on a person's character. I guess that was my point. I thought we were supposedly living in a country where we are to judge by an individual's content of character, not only a part of who they are. I guess also the collectivism or rather, groupism, in the AA community is why I asked that.

 

[quatona]

I am not embarassed by the behaviour of a person who happens to share skin colour, profession, worldview, gender etc. with me.
I do understand, though, when members of a certain group are aware of the negative prejudices against this group, and thus are concerned with actions that are designed to amplify these prejudices (which affect them, too).

 

[Lik3]

Well I mentioned specifically white people because it seems to some of us that whenever a black person is seen on television on the local news, many of us are embarrassed. (Obviously, I have changed my POV.) If that person was white, it is assumed that the white person is judged as an individual who committed or has been charged with a crime. In short, it has been said that the white man gets a cold, the black man gets the flu, meaning that while we both have the same issues, those issues have a disproportionate effect on black people. It has often been said that when a white person is charged with a crime, it is the individual alone who is charged. However, when a black person is charged with a similar crime, it falls on all black people, despite the fact that that one person has been charged. Those are just views that are out there or at least have been out there for decades now. (not necessarily mine).

 

[Vyrzaharak]

There is zero logic for anyone to feel embarrassed for or by anyone else. Each person is only one individual, regardless of similarities shared.

 

[quatona]

Do you feel embarrassed when you hear about or see a person who is of your own race, color, or ethnicity behave badly?

No.

 

[Dave-W]

Do you feel embarrassed when you hear about or see a person who is of your own race, color, or ethnicity behave badly?

I have seen so many white males doing dumb/bad things that I am somewhat calloused to it.

The first serial killer I met was a white christian male. (the second was black and the 3rd Hispanic)

 

[Dave-W]

There is zero logic for anyone to feel embarrassed for or by anyone else. Each person is only one individual, regardless of similarities shared.

A western (specifically US) attitude that cannot be supported either historically or biblically.

Privacy and individuality are NOT biblical principles.

 

[Cassidy Bennett]

You are embarrassed bc you think others will think you behave the same as the people on the news.

I get like that when I see teachers on there doing something ridiculous. Even my parents will say things like "All these teachers keep going for these kids, etc." I have to correct them with the fact that 99% are not (including me), you are only seeing the 1% on tv.

Being embarrassed is probably one of the worst, most unproductive emotions we have though... right there with shame. It can help us behave socially when going from tantrum throwing kids to adults. However most of the time it's what I consider false embarrassment or false shame. It's not real, it's a lie. Often it makes people not reach their full potential. It's certainly not helpful to be embarrassed by others.

To fix it, just don't dwell on the thoughts that cause the emotion. Try not to worry what others think, only what God thinks.

Even better pray for those you see commiting the crimes. People make mistakes and react with the understanding they have and nothing more. If they are on drugs it's even worse. Typically these kids don't have fathers, grow up poor, and are surrounded by gangs. These gang kids may be their only friends with moms working 2 jobs, etc. There's always a another part to the story. I see this kinda stuff happening all the time with my students. They definitely need prayer.

 

[Dave-W]

You are embarrassed bc you think others will think you behave the same as the people on the news.

Right. "They are ALL like that ..."

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Do you feel embarrassed when you hear about or see a person who is of your own race, color, or ethnicity behave badly?

So many of every race, color, ethnicity behave badly, (and harm others daily),
it is very grieving to the Godly soul, like Lot was driven almost insane from all the wickedness around him, so it is today....

Embarrassing? No.
Shameful (mankind)? Yes.

 

[Vyrzaharak]

A western (specifically US) attitude that cannot be supported either historically or biblically.

Logic generally precedes everything else.

Privacy and individuality are NOT biblical principles.

I see no biblical principle in the first place. The only biblical thing there is is that Yeh'shua came down with a covenant to redeem, in short.