Racism

CIncyHR · #1 09-28-2005, 03:10 PM

I got in a big argument today with someone who said that they would never marry a black girl. I clarified that given two girls whom he likes equally, and likes everything about, he would marry the white one but not the black one becuase he would feel uncomfortable with her. I told him him that this was blatantly racist. He got incredibly upset and told me to shut the [censored] up, and that he is the farthest thing from racist.

So it got me to thinking, was I right, or is he right in that it is not racist? seems pretty clear cut tome, though its obviously a topic to avoid in the future.

And beyond that, what IS the defintion of racism? After some thought, it seems to me that the belief that there is an inherent difference between people based on race, and that you already know two people are different before you ever meet them solely based on race is what constitutes racism.

Thoughts?

EDITS: Its nto about physical attraction. He owuldnt marry a black girl that he thought was mroe beautiful than any woman alive becuase he "wouldnt feel comfortable walknig around ion public holding her hand."

InchoateHand · #2 09-28-2005, 03:14 PM

Hmm, I see this thread becoming a productive discussion of social constructionism, institutional/structural racism, the shift to the psychological model (a "racist" [person/act/speech] vs. social embedded patterns of dominance and inequity), the history of "races," their deployment both in the Colonies and in Western Europe, and the net effect of resiliant social sanction.

I don't really need to say "PSYCH," after that, do I?

kyro · #3 09-28-2005, 03:15 PM

Personally, I'm just thrilled to have the opportunity of reading another racism post.

asofel · #4 09-28-2005, 03:15 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Hmm, I see this thread becoming a productive discussion of social constructionism, institutional/structural racism, the shift to the psychological model (a "racist" [person/act/speech] vs. social embedded patterns of dominance and inequity), the history of "races," their deployment both in the Colonies and in Western Europe, and the net effect of resiliant social sanction.

I don't really need to say "PSYCH," after that, do I?

[/ QUOTE ]

f'ing BIMO

WackityWhiz · #5 09-28-2005, 03:15 PM

that is not racist at all. I'm not racist and I would prefer a white girl over a black one. Just a personal preference. I also agree that I would be more comfortable with a white girl. It's just the way I am I guess.

I hope i'm not alone on this.

spamuell · #6 09-28-2005, 03:18 PM

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that is not racist at all. I'm not racist and I would prefer a white girl over a black one.

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Well, there you have it.

jba · #7 09-28-2005, 03:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
that is not racist at all. I'm not racist and I would prefer a white girl over a black one. Just a personal preference.

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you don't understand what the word "racist" means.

This is definitely racial discrimination which is a form of racism.

what you guys are answering is really:

"racial discrimination (ie racism) in the area of hiring for a job, allowing into schools, preferential treatment from the goverment, etc, is agreed to be wrong in our society. What about racial discrimination in who you choose to date?"

Edge34 · #8 09-28-2005, 04:06 PM

The concept all the people yelling "RACISM!!!" are missing is the part where he said "all other things being equal" from the original post. Of course, the OP can't even keep the things his "buddy said" in line, so who really knows whats up?

All other things equal in two chicks: Personal preference

SoloAJ · #9 09-28-2005, 04:15 PM

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you don't understand what the word "racist" means.

This is definitely racial discrimination which is a form of racism.

[/ QUOTE ]

Umm, I would date a black female if the opportunity arose I think. That said...

This is a stupid assumption in general. If someone finds black women unattractive because of their skin color, it isn't 'evil' or 'ignorant'. If you want to call it racism, then you're really diluting the term.

The example of a bald woman goes with this well. That is like saying that the guy who chooses to avoid the bald woman is just as 'the racist' guy who chooses the white lady.

What you're doing, therefore, is diluting the term 'racist'. You are making it seem like it's just as silly as the person who is a 'baldist' (or whatever the term)....And I think it is clear that 'racism' should not be equated with someone who simply has a personal preference of a lady with hair on her head.

All in all....I struggle to call this example racism, and if you do, then your term has lost meaning of what is really important about the meaning of the word.

All of that said, it sounds like the OP's friend wasn't similar to this example. Depending on his motives--which none of us can truly know--he may or may not be racist.

jba · #10 09-28-2005, 04:29 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

you don't understand what the word "racist" means.

This is definitely racial discrimination which is a form of racism.

[/ QUOTE ]
...
This is a stupid assumption in general. If someone finds black women unattractive because of their skin color, it isn't 'evil' or 'ignorant'. If you want to call it racism, then you're really diluting the term.
...

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with some of what you said but

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Its not about physical attraction. He wouldnt marry a black girl if he thought she was the most beautful woman in the world.

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the above is racial prejudice -- and racist -- and there is no way around it. He is refusing to marry for exactly one reason, which is race. this is racist.

I am not making a moral judgement here just a semantic one.