Rosie's ching-chong comments

[mikeschmike]

Two Wongs don't make a White.

So this is okay but Rosie's ching chong comments are racist? See, you talk about this issue enough and sooner or later you're going to contradict yourself.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by mikeschmike

So this is okay but Rosie's ching chong comments are racist? See, you talk about this issue enough and sooner or later you're going to contradict yourself.

He's been clear that being of Asian descent gives him latitude to make these kinds of jokes.

I'm still stuck on the fact that white people apparently say the N word in some kind of non-harmful way, like "N word, please". While I get it isn't being used in an intentionally harmful way, I just can't see why any white person would even want to say that word. I kind of don't get why black people use it either, but it's not my community and I don't pretend to know what they should/shouldn't do.

[michelle2677]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

He's been clear that being of Asian descent gives him latitude to make these kinds of jokes.

I'm still stuck on the fact that white people apparently say the N word in some kind of non-harmful way, like "N word, please". While I get it isn't being used in an intentionally harmful way, I just can't see why any white person would even want to say that word. I kind of don't get why black people use it either, but it's not my community and I don't pretend to know what they should/shouldn't do.

Well, there are a lot of words that offend me, but I'm not going to judge someone if they decide they want to use them. I guess it's just different here. It's used pretty frequently around here, so I guess that's why I feel that way. It's not something that I'm using..as you said-in a harmful way, so

is there a difference in that..and say-a straight person saying words that would usually be considered derogatory towards gays, but because you know the person and know they don't mean anything by it..it's ok.??

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by michelle2677

Well, there are a lot of words that offend me, but I'm not going to judge someone if they decide they want to use them. I guess it's just different here. It's used pretty frequently around here, so I guess that's why I feel that way. It's not something that I'm using..as you said-in a harmful way, so

I didn't mean to come across as so judging. I was just truly surprised. You're right, it's a geographical difference. The word is so completely unacceptable here that I don't think any white person could get away with saying it, no matter what the intentions. Not saying it's better here or that we are right, it's just different.

[michelle2677]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I didn't mean to come across as so judging. I was just truly surprised. You're right, it's a geographical difference. The word is so completely unacceptable here that I don't think any white person could get away with saying it, no matter what the intentions. Not saying it's better here or that we are right, it's just different.

oh..ok and I didn't mean to sound bitchy if that's the way it came across.

sounds like you need to move!!!

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by michelle2677

sounds like you need to move!!!

Never.

However, San Francisco is a complete joke when it comes to racial issues. We pretend to be progressive because we would never say the n word, etc., but we are a disaster when it comes to things that really matter. For example, there is only one elected African-American male in the entire city (including board of supervisors, school board, college board, democratic central committee, etc.)

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Never.

However, San Francisco is a complete joke when it comes to racial issues. We pretend to be progressive because we would never say the n word, etc., but we are a disaster when it comes to things that really matter. For example, there is only one elected African-American male in the entire city (including board of supervisors, school board, college board, democratic central committee, etc.)

Thats interesting. Didnt know that.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by michelle2677

I use "n*gga" all the time. (which oddly enough I think is different than "N*gger".) But it is only used like you said "n*gga please" ....but I use cracka and honkey too..so...
My father is very racist. They are divorced and in the 8th grade my best friend was black and she was not even allowed to come over My mother on the other hand-brought me up right and thankfully for her I see people for who they are, not the color of their skin.

Do you use that term around black people? If so, how do they react?

My dad is pretty racist. Which I find both sad and amusing since he is an immigrant. I like to point that out to him "hey dad, don't forget, you're a minority too!" He doesn't necessarily hate based on skin color, but he does judge.

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

They've let up in the last few years- but for older generations I guess it's hard to let go of the old notions....thankfully they did NOT pass down any racial prejudices to their kids - and therefore me and my cousins didn't get any passed down to us

My niece is dating a black guy right now. She refuses to tell her dad, even though everyone else in the fam knows & doesn't have issues with it. Well, I'm sure some of them have issues, but nobody's disowning her or anything. It makes me sad that people my age (and by my age, I guess I mean 40 & younger...) have race issues.

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

The Mexican guys are angry at those who hold power in America (the whites), the ones who have the biggest houses and the biggest cars (the whites), and the regime that wants to criminalize them. Unfortunately you happened to be a whipping post for some of their frustration. I'm not saying it was acceptable or appropriate... only understandable.

Personally, I agree with you that no term is that derogatory towards whites. The worst I've been called is a "white bitch." Was I a little upset? Of course. But I can deal with 1 or 2 isolated incidents.

BUT - your last observation seems to say "well, it wasn't cool but I can see why they wanted to beat the sh*t out of you." I have a problem with this, because if that's the case it could be applied to all situations. Like, if black people robbed my house it would be understandable for me to hate all blacks & call them n*ggers? A lot of people defend their views with stuff like this - "well, this happened to me, so it's OK." And I don't think it is.

Originally Posted by markolas

I've never heard that. Members of my family used the "n" word quite liberally, and it was clear to me that it applied to all black people.

Exactly. The people I know that say that word (which I honest to God cannot bring myself to utter, even in a discussion like this) say it to demean. They aren't saying "you're a poor uneducated black person." They're saying "you are an inferior human being." They're saying "I am better than you and you are beneath me simply because I am white." I know what the word itself actually means, but that's not how it's most often used.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by skcin

Do you use that term around black people?


Personally, I agree with you that no term is that derogatory towards whites. The worst I've been called is a "white bitch." Was I a little upset? Of course. But I can deal with 1 or 2 isolated incidents.

BUT - your last observation seems to say "well, it wasn't cool but I can see why they wanted to beat the sh*t out of you." I have a problem with this, because if that's the case it could be applied to all situations. Like, if black people robbed my house it would be understandable for me to hate all blacks & call them n*ggers? A lot of people defend their views with stuff like this - "well, this happened to me, so it's OK." And I don't think it is.

Let me clarify that any insinuation of violence is NEVER acceptable, appropriate or understandable unless you are in a position of self-defense. I don't think Sparky's original comment included the "beat the sh*t out of you" part. I was more referring to the comment the Mexican guys made about the minority of whites in the Home Depot. Again, I think what they said was idiotic and inappropriate. However, given the way Mexicans are blatantly discriminated against and looked down upon, especially in racially tense areas like SoCal, I can understand their anger at white people in general. And unfortunately Sparky just happened to be the random recipient of this invective. Accordingly, I don't necessarily agree with the radical African American movement espoused by the likes of Louis Farrakhan, etc... but I do understand why they are so angry at white people. In NYC I can understand the resentment people have for white people who swoop in to gentrify and price out formerly working class ethnic neighborhoods. Again... it's all about the power dynamic, money, politics, etc. that white people symbolize in America...

And if black people did rob and pillage your house, and you started using the "n" word when mentioning black people, I would definitely find that inappropriate and unfortunate. However, you are only human, and you went through something extremely traumatic... so I would understand why you felt this anger, even if I didn't necessarily agree with you.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

. . . In NYC I can understand the resentment people have for white people who swoop in to gentrify and price out formerly working class ethnic neighborhoods. Again... it's all about the power dynamic, money, politics, etc. that white people symbolize in America...

But, by your own argument, black or ethnic people sold them that land and likely at a profit. So, clearly they have come egg of their faces as well. Yet, you do not mention that. It is all the white guys' fault. then, what if non-white people buy the new product, what of them?

I know of a few neighborhoods in Harlem and north of there where this has happened. So, it is unfair to blame it all on the white people. Thus and IMO, it is socioeconomic argument as opposed to race.

[michelle2677]

Originally Posted by skcin

Do you use that term around black people? If so, how do they react?

My dad is pretty racist. Which I find both sad and amusing since he is an immigrant. I like to point that out to him "hey dad, don't forget, you're a minority too!" He doesn't necessarily hate based on skin color, but he does judge.

well...if I'm close to them and I know it doesn't bother them. I would never say that around someone I didn't know. And believe me, I never use it in a negative manner. It's mostly in songs and the way previously mentioned.