Racist or Not?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Well, you know, that's a very good point. If they are saying "well, all other things being equal, I'm going to go with the black vendor to support black business in my community", that's a very different thing than saying "If my only option here is to business with whites, I'd rather, say, suffer my stomach problem."

Because then it's not specifically supporting a certain kind of business. It's a boycott of the other business.

Okay. You guys win.

[Boozy]

Racism to me implies more than just a desire to see your own (historically subjugated) race succeed. It implies a desire to see other races fail, or at least, achieve less than your own race.

This is clearly discrimination by its definition, but I don't see any malice here.

[powerboy]

Yes that is racism. If any other race done that. Then they would be labeled racist.

[Slytovhand]

The guy refused to go to the doctor to take care of his stomach problems because the only doctor in the area is white.

The mother refuses to take the daughter to get a replacement earring because she can't buy that earring from a black person.

THAT'S clear racism.

I'm sorry, but there is no reason to be choosing where you buy stuff based on the skin color of the owner. Personally, I rarely know or care who owns the business as long as the service I get is good. If the service is bad, I don't go back there. Simple!

Yeah, I'll pay that. BUT... just because those individuals chose that, doesn't mean that the concept is 'racist'. (not unless you want to start classifying any form of personal preference as discriminatory.

[DesignFox]

<snip>...doesn't mean that the concept is 'racist'. (not unless you want to start classifying any form of personal preference as discriminatory.

Well. Let's just say, as a white person, I prefer to go to white doctors. So, you're saying it wouldn't be racist for me to start a movement for all white people to start only going to white doctors? Because you know, we're supporting our own community.

I don't think so. Anyone who didn't know me would read that above paragraph and instantly label me a racist.

Having a personal preference is one thing. Taking your preference and creating a nation-wide "awareness" campaign is quite another.

[Slytovhand]

Is there a difference between 'Black' and 'African-American'? Is there a difference between 'white' and 'Italian/Irish/English/Dutch/German/etc etc'? So, if Italians can stick to their own community, and wish to see Italian-backgrounded business people, and Irish-Americans are can do the same to support 'the old home', why not 'African-Americans'?

Also, this campaign is pointing out a glaringly obvious socio-economic bias within the American nation... while African-Americans* make up 13.5% of the population, but they don't figure so high when it comes down to business ownership. In 2004, 24.7% of African-American families lived below the poverty level.[39] In 2007, the average African-American income was $33,916, compared with $54,920 for whites.[40] (Oprah) Winfrey remains the only African American wealthy enough to rank among the country's 400 richest people. (Wiki copy and pastes). If (hypothetically) an organisation was set up to help African-Americans stay out of prison and the criminal-justice system (for which they are highly over-represented given population rates), would that also be considered 'racist'?


Or, is it addressing a specific social situation??


(* personally, I don't really like the term 'African-American'. I don't use the term 'English-Australian', and I'm damn sure that most other cultures don't use similar epithets... now, if a person came from Africa, say only a couple of years ago, sure! But, when you're looking at 200 or 400 years ago, and have absolutely no links to your previous nation of heritage... let it go... please!)

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Okay. Here is where I"m going to get branded as a racist. Which is ironcic, considering what side of the argument I started out on.

I would say that the reason this concept is being now branded as racist is because the large majority of people who play the race card are black.

There. I said it.

Italians, Irish, Poles, etc. are now considered white because they insisted on being considered white and fought for that distinction. Blacks do not do that. Blacks CANNOT do that, most of them don't blend into the white population as easily as their Eastern European ("Black" European, historically) counterparts.

Go over to CS and see how many of the race card stories involve African Americans as opposed to any other race. I'm not saying nobody else does it, they do. But when you think "race card" you think "person of black african descent." So when that group does anything that can be considered racist, everyone jumps on them as hypocrites, and in many case, rightly so. (And, in my experience, nobody gets madder at them about that as other black folks.)

An Italian or Jewish person does it, nobody bats an eye. Because those are "white" people and they are simply suipporting their own community. A black person does it, well, they are then branded as just as racist as they claim everyone else is.

Just my two cents.

[Greenday]

An Italian or Jewish person does it, nobody bats an eye.

I don't know of any Italians who do that, as I've never heard of anyone in my area doing it.

But the Jews definitely do it here. ESPECIALLY the ones from New York that come down to the Jersey Shore for the summer. Those pricks are ruthlessly mean to non-Jews. They used to make my co-workers cry. So I'd get them back by telling them I was Jewish and that I could help them. Then after helping them, I'd let them know I was a Methodist Christian. Oh the rage that ensued.

In short, in my area, we hate HATE the New York Jews that treat the non-Jews like crap and only buy from other Jews.

[DesignFox]

Just to point out- people in the Jewish community, Italian community, etc. don't go to the media saying, "Hey look at us! We're supporting our own community!"

That's a distinct difference, too.

[AFPheonix]

Last time I got the race card pulled it was a middle-eastern man. vv

[crazylegs]

This is clearly discrimination by its definition, but I don't see any malice here.

Racism is acting in a prejudicial manner based purely on the ground of race.

There doesn't have to be malice involved, ignorance can be a significant factor as well.

The simple fact of the matter is they are treating another person less favourably simply because of the colour of their skin, and this is racism.

Imagine a world. A world where there are two equal shops of every type. The stores sell identical products, at identical prices, with identical levels of service. One company is staffed only by African-Carribean staff, the other by North European staff.

If I chose to patronise the stores (of all types) simply because they were staffed by North European, then I am treating a race less favourably simply because of their race.

If one store is closer than another, or cheaper, or has better service and chose them on those grounds then I am being objective in my choice, I am not allowing my prejudices to cloud my judgement, and act in an unfair way.

Stores should be shopped in based on their individual merits, not on the basis of the colour of the skin of their owners.

[Slytovhand]

Stores should be shopped in based on their individual merits

Following on...

I walk into a store, right next to the other that sells the exact same stuff, at the exact same prices. It's somewhere in the US or UK.

The one on the right is staffed by Aussies. The one on the left by Americans or Poms.

Neither staff at either store are rude, nor ignorant.

I still want to go to the Aussie store.

When I go to the Aussie store, I get a "G'day mate, how you going? How's back home?" etc etc.
Individual merit includes such subtle things such as how you're going to be treated. There is a slight difference in how you are treated.

I suspect many African-Americans would agree with me..(of course, many would also be lying or exaggerating certain experiences), hence the site.

[DesignFox]

Following on...

I walk into a store, right next to the other that sells the exact same stuff, at the exact same prices. It's somewhere in the US or UK.

The one on the right is staffed by Aussies. The one on the left by Americans or Poms.

Neither staff at either store are rude, nor ignorant.

I still want to go to the Aussie store.

When I go to the Aussie store, I get a "G'day mate, how you going? How's back home?" etc etc.
Individual merit includes such subtle things such as how you're going to be treated. There is a slight difference in how you are treated.

I suspect many African-Americans would agree with me..(of course, many would also be lying or exaggerating certain experiences), hence the site.

And in this instance, I'm not saying there's anything wrong in having a personal preference. But when you refuse to help yourself or your baby because there isn't an Aussie to help you, that would be racist.

If you don't go to the corner store because the owner is white- even though there isn't any place else you could go that isn't owned by someone white- thats racist.

Does my position make sense now?

[Slytovhand]

I thought I threw that caveat in somewhere..?? Oh well.

Yes, I agree... if your willing to hurt yourself or others in your control to avoid someone just based on skin colour??? Crap!!

(though, that thought does make me wonder... what if it's based on religious beliefs rather than skin colour??)

[daleduke17]

I thought I threw that caveat in somewhere..?? Oh well.

Yes, I agree... if your willing to hurt yourself or others in your control to avoid someone just based on skin colour??? Crap!!

(though, that thought does make me wonder... what if it's based on religious beliefs rather than skin colour??)

Now, if it is Kosher related, then I am a bit more ok with supporting based on religious grounds (Kosher is hella hard and important to the Jewish community if you didn't already know).

But, like someone else said, the Jewish community (along with the Italians, Arabic and others) don't really make a big deal out of shopping only at *insert descriptor here* stores.