Also, as for not understanding, you're right I don't but please feel free to explain it.

Also, as for not understanding, you're right I don't but please feel free to explain it.

 

I've been trying to explain it since I joined BGP in 2006. I'm not convinced anyone cares or is listening. I can't describe the frustration of trying to explain what it is like to be black in America. Especially from people in situations similar to mine.

If were gonna talk assumptions, didn't you initially assume that it was a white kid based on his family's net worth?

 

 

You claim that you don't see color at all in personal life, yet you maintain the idea that only members of a certain race can understand the "struggle." You made this very obvious when you said that I wouldn't understand because it was a black thing. Before a few minutes ago, you had no idea what race I was and I still haven't explicitly told you, yet you have formed an opinion, based on nothing, of my race.

 

Yes I did. Self made blacks worth 20 million are rarities. My family is well off thanks to my father but we aren't 20 million dollars well off. Whole other stratosphere.

 

I don't claim that only certain members know the struggle. I do think all blacks either know the struggle or are aware of the struggle. It's hard for any black to not know or be aware of the struggle. I'll also add that the struggle includes racial equality and not just financial equality. The struggle is a broad brush.

7 years of college down the drain.

 

Nice!!

Yes I did. Self made blacks worth 20 million are rarities. My family is well off thanks to my father but we aren't 20 million dollars well off. Whole other stratosphere.

 

I don't claim that only certain members know the struggle. I do think all blacks either know the struggle or are aware of the struggle. It's hard for any black to not know or be aware of the struggle. I'll also add that the struggle includes racial equality and not just financial equality. The struggle is a broad brush.

 

To piggyback on this....

 

The argument put forth about this kid not being "down" because of his wealth is a diversionary tactic. Wealthy black folks have never been called a racial epithet? Never been eyeballed in a nice store? Never been assumed to have "gotten in" because of a quota? Come on.

 

Do they live a very nice lifestyle that is nicer than most of their fellow black Americans? Sure. Heck, they live a lifestyle nice than most Americans PERIOD. However, they KNOW of racial strife PLUS they have family and friends who have experienced it.

 

So this is just a way to try to divert our attention.

 

I'm as down with the cause as anyone but I would be conceited and foolish to think that I KNOW what it's "like." 99.9% of wealthy black Americans have a greater understanding and real-world experience than I do so I'd never knock someone as not being "down" simply because of wealth.

 

At the same time, I'm not going to kill a white guy , especially a white KID, who doesn't have real experiences with many blacks and/or poor folks. Perspective is always important and often times it's simply missing. So, SOME guys get some slack from me for being ignorant (and I'm using the LITERAL definition as in "I'm ignorant when it comes to Star Wars movies").

 

We need to educate each other vs slamming each other with the understanding that SOME obviously deserve to be slapped occasionally.

To piggyback on this....

 

The argument put forth about this kid not being "down" because of his wealth is a diversionary tactic. Wealthy black folks have never been called a racial epithet? Never been eyeballed in a nice store? Never been assumed to have "gotten in" because of a quota? Come on.

 

Do they live a very nice lifestyle that is nicer than most of their fellow black Americans? Sure. Heck, they live a lifestyle nice than most Americans PERIOD. However, they KNOW of racial strife PLUS they have family and friends who have experienced it.

 

So this is just a way to try to divert our attention.

 

I'm as down with the cause as anyone but I would be conceited and foolish to think that I KNOW what it's "like." 99.9% of wealthy black Americans have a greater understanding and real-world experience than I do so I'd never knock someone as not being "down" simply because of wealth.

 

At the same time, I'm not going to kill a white guy , especially a white KID, who doesn't have real experiences with many blacks and/or poor folks. Perspective is always important and often times it's simply missing. So, SOME guys get some slack from me for being ignorant (and I'm using the LITERAL definition as in "I'm ignorant when it comes to Star Wars movies").

 

We need to educate each other vs slamming each other with the understanding that SOME obviously deserve to be slapped occasionally.

 

And to piggyback on this.....we ALL need to be more open-minded.

http://j.school/post/133025099640/crying-wolfe-exposes-real-problem

 

I thought this was a pretty interesting take on the situation.

Now it seems the poor little rich kid who started the on campus uprising is a George Soros operative, so there was nothing spontaneous about this protest... All orchestrated by others.. Not the student body.

To piggyback on this....

 

The argument put forth about this kid not being "down" because of his wealth is a diversionary tactic. Wealthy black folks have never been called a racial epithet? Never been eyeballed in a nice store? Never been assumed to have "gotten in" because of a quota? Come on.

 

Do they live a very nice lifestyle that is nicer than most of their fellow black Americans? Sure. Heck, they live a lifestyle nice than most Americans PERIOD. However, they KNOW of racial strife PLUS they have family and friends who have experienced it.

 

So this is just a way to try to divert our attention.

 

I'm as down with the cause as anyone but I would be conceited and foolish to think that I KNOW what it's "like." 99.9% of wealthy black Americans have a greater understanding and real-world experience than I do so I'd never knock someone as not being "down" simply because of wealth.

 

At the same time, I'm not going to kill a white guy , especially a white KID, who doesn't have real experiences with many blacks and/or poor folks. Perspective is always important and often times it's simply missing. So, SOME guys get some slack from me for being ignorant (and I'm using the LITERAL definition as in "I'm ignorant when it comes to Star Wars movies").

 

We need to educate each other vs slamming each other with the understanding that SOME obviously deserve to be slapped occasionally.

Good post. I have felt the condemning of the hunger strike guy for being rich was totally unfair.

To piggyback on this....

 

The argument put forth about this kid not being "down" because of his wealth is a diversionary tactic. Wealthy black folks have never been called a racial epithet? Never been eyeballed in a nice store? Never been assumed to have "gotten in" because of a quota? Come on.

 

Do they live a very nice lifestyle that is nicer than most of their fellow black Americans? Sure. Heck, they live a lifestyle nice than most Americans PERIOD. However, they KNOW of racial strife PLUS they have family and friends who have experienced it.

 

So this is just a way to try to divert our attention.

 

I'm as down with the cause as anyone but I would be conceited and foolish to think that I KNOW what it's "like." 99.9% of wealthy black Americans have a greater understanding and real-world experience than I do so I'd never knock someone as not being "down" simply because of wealth.

 

At the same time, I'm not going to kill a white guy , especially a white KID, who doesn't have real experiences with many blacks and/or poor folks. Perspective is always important and often times it's simply missing. So, SOME guys get some slack from me for being ignorant (and I'm using the LITERAL definition as in "I'm ignorant when it comes to Star Wars movies").

 

We need to educate each other vs slamming each other with the understanding that SOME obviously deserve to be slapped occasionally.

 

 

A well thought out response, and I appreciate that, but it seems like there are a few things I should clarify. I am not contending that discrimination against black people, or any race for that matter, exists. It does and it is something that we need to strive to end. Can it be ended, who knows, but it matters that we do what we can to end it.

 

That being said, I do not agree that a person being black inherently gives them a unique understanding of a struggle that they may never face. You used the example that black people get eyeballed when walking into a store. I would be hesitant to make such a large generalization that all black people face this.

 

In fact, my friend and I recently had a discussion at homecoming about an issue similar to this. He was born in Nigeria, moved to Atlanta when he was 5, and then ended up at a small college campus in Danville for his higher education. His parents aren't wealthy, but they are financially stable. We are pretty open with each other when it comes to race issues, and so I asked him if he ever felt like an "odd man out" being on a predominantly white campus. He laughed and said not even remotely,"y'all my bros" I asked him if he ever felt differently when going off campus, and he equated that to me going to a gas station in the ghettos of Atlanta.

 

I know what he is talking about with the going into a gas station in Atlanta thing, because working on the west side of Cincinnati, I get quite a few unwelcoming looks as well.

 

My original contention was that, just because someone isn't black, doesn't mean they can't know the struggle. I am not saying I do, by any means. Conversely, I don't think that being black just automatically means that you share the same struggle as every black person out there. If this opinion offends anyone, sorry.

A well thought out response, and I appreciate that, but it seems like there are a few things I should clarify. I am not contending that discrimination against black people, or any race for that matter, exists. It does and it is something that we need to strive to end. Can it be ended, who knows, but it matters that we do what we can to end it.

 

That being said, I do not agree that a person being black inherently gives them a unique understanding of a struggle that they may never face. You used the example that black people get eyeballed when walking into a store. I would be hesitant to make such a large generalization that all black people face this.

 

In fact, my friend and I recently had a discussion at homecoming about an issue similar to this. He was born in Nigeria, moved to Atlanta when he was 5, and then ended up at a small college campus in Danville for his higher education. His parents aren't wealthy, but they are financially stable. We are pretty open with each other when it comes to race issues, and so I asked him if he ever felt like an "odd man out" being on a predominantly white campus. He laughed and said not even remotely,"y'all my bros" I asked him if he ever felt differently when going off campus, and he equated that to me going to a gas station in the ghettos of Atlanta.

 

I know what he is talking about with the going into a gas station in Atlanta thing, because working on the west side of Cincinnati, I get quite a few unwelcoming looks as well.

 

My original contention was that, just because someone isn't black, doesn't mean they can't know the struggle. I am not saying I do, by any means. Conversely, I don't think that being black just automatically means that you share the same struggle as every black person out there. If this opinion offends anyone, sorry.

 

Ask your friend if he can identify with the struggle. If he can't then he has lived a fortunate life and I hope that he and his kids or future kids continue to never have to experience it.

This is where we're at now.

 

 

http://www.mrctv.org/blog/black-students-cornell-protest-pro-black-protest-led-white-students

This is where we're at now.

 

 

Black Students at Cornell Protest a Pro-Black Protest Led by White Students | MRCTV

 

Yeah, I am concerned for the future of our country. The black students are wrong on so many levels if the white students intentions are pure. Now the kids are going backwards. I need to get my money right.

PP92, I want your honesty on this one. If the Mizzou football players were undefeated right now or key players were projected to be drafted high in the NFl would they protest?

 

Also, my next question is for anyone. Does performing a hunger strike really show that someone cares more about racism than any of us? I never got the mindset out of this protest. "Look at him! He has refused to eat! He obviously cares more about racism than I do!". I just don't that concept.

This is where we're at now.

 

 

Black Students at Cornell Protest a Pro-Black Protest Led by White Students | MRCTV

 

We have a whole lot of people who just want to protest something. I love the white guy that got ripped by the black group's response...thanking the other group for calling him out on his ignorance. That's how PC college campuses are now. If you are called out you have to thank the other side for calling you out and setting you straight. I am soooooooooo glad my kids are out of college now. Anarchy is becoming the way.