You cowardly racist people show everyone who you really are!!!!

You know you are right.  My extended family is Puerto Rican and there are some in the family that talk crap about Mexicans.  And my ex would talk crap about Asians and Indians...and pretty much anyone.  Him and his group of white friends would make the most horrible comments about other races.  I would try to tell my ex that if these guys talk about all of these other races what makes you think they don't say horrible things about Puerto Ricans when you're not around...but he never listened to me.  But you are correct it's not just white people.  I guess what I see the most is white people talking crap because I'm white and they think it's OK . 

It's ashame we can't all just realize we are generally the same with the same worries and struggles.  Like for all of us on here it's weight.  No matter what race, color or religion we all here fighting against obesity.

I, too, am from the south and there are definitely pockets of very horrible and violent racism.  I lived in Augusta, GA for about 7 years though and I think it was worse there.  It's a form of ignorance and nothing makes me more furious than ignorance.  It absolutely baffles me.  So yes, racism is alive and well and it is a cancer in our world.  And no... it's not EVER okay to use the word "colored" and I actually feel very strongly that the NAACP SHOULD change their name.  Just my opinion...

There are a lot of shallow and close minded people in this world... I know, I used to be one of them. After marrying an "Airmen," where I was exposed to different minorities on a daily basis and where discrimination is not tolerated, I learned to appreciate and embrace all the different races, religions, ethnic groups that this country has to offer.  I was raised in the suburbs of Michigan and my father was the Lieutenant Chief of the Southfield police dept. ( next to Detroit.) I was raised in an "all white" community segregated from the rest of the world. We made fun of Jews, Blacks, Chaldeans (Middle Easterners) and anyone else who was of color. What I find funny though, is it's alright for them to make fun of themselves and other people, but they don't like it being done to them. This country is so uptight and so worried about being "politically correct." I feel more people need to have a better sense of humor and lighten up, at the same time, be considerate of others and true to themselves. Not be so hypocritical. Just my 2 cents!

Jen-

I know what you are saying about Black people making fun of themselves and saying the word ni****.  But this is how I think of it....I am a person that like to have fun and laugh, on occasion I will make a self deprecating remark about being fat.  In fact I make remarks like that often (as pointed out by a friend) but I can tell you if a skinny person came up and made these same fat comments to me I would be insulted and upset.  Because I know when it's me or another fat person saying it, we are saying it in a good nature way and in no way putting anyone down.  But the skinny person could be saying it in a ****y, mean hearted way...at least that's how I feel.

Also it was pointed out to me that I will need to stop with the fat jokes because I am no longer Obese and if someone came along that didn't know me and know I was 354 lbs at one time they would be upset that I'm making fat jokes...so I need to watch myself because I wouldn't want to hurt someone's feelings. 

 

Good that you have a good heart! But unfortunately many do not, you know racism has gotten OLD, it's predicted that in the year 2050 the MAJORITY of Americans will be BROWN.  Truth be told MANY African Americans did NOT want to elect a Black president because MANY strongly believed he is being used as a pawn to think African Americans will forget the evils of American history...aka discrimination and slavery.

This is nothing new, many Blacks believe some Whites still in 2011 will smile in their face and put on the "Klan Hood" behind their backs.

Remember White America voted and put Obama in the White house, many African Americans wanted Hillary to win (in the beginning), because they thought Obama did not have a chance to win, but when it looked like he had a chance to win Blacks overwhelming voted for Obama even when they thought he may not be the best president, but it was historical and Blacks have fought so long for freedom and inequalities, the thought of a Black man winning the White house seemed unreal or impossible. 

From reading journals and economic times for blacks they ACTUALLY DID BETTER under the Bush and Clinton Administration based on another article from a recent publication below:

The unemployment rate for blacks was a little more than half that of whites. In 2008, prior to President Obama’s election, the unemployment rate for blacks was a little less than half that of whites. But as of January 2011, unemployment for blacks has risen to about half that of whites; the racial gap has increased under the Obama Administration.

So......... for any racist person to even insinuate that blacks are doing better with a "Black" president in office is ludicrous. He can't do more for one race and ignore another, so by electing Obama as the first "Black President" so far has not contributed to the prosperity of African Americans.

Also my hubby is extremely white with blue eyes and sandy hair and interestingly enough....we are all the same...the only difference is skin color and hair texture....it's SO ignorant to be racist.

As Martin Luther King, put it....people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.

 

Perhaps the NAACP should be the NAAAP, National Association for the Advancement of All People or NAAPC, National Association for the Advancement of People of Color, since these days we truly are a melting pot...
I will never forget a conversation I overheard between my MIL and a friend of hers soon after I was married... friend ,"Lei Italiano?"  MIL "No, lei Indiana", friend pointing at center of forehead between eyebrows "Indiana?", MIL "No, Indiana!  W.oo Woo Woo Woo!" with her hand over her mouth!  The friend didn't realize I spoke Italian...funny thing, but still would be very much frowned upon today...BTW I am 25% Ute, a tribe from the 4 corners region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah) that is no longer recognized...

I mean I dont like Obama as a president at all...but I would never say anything racist or want him shoot...thats awful!

I have read all the post on this subject and its was very interesting. Im African American, Irish, and Blackfoot Indian. I have never really had any issue with racism. I can't stand when anyone uses the N-word at anytime.  It is a cuss word in my house. I have raised my children to see no color only character of a person. Im from Ky and the use of the words (colored people) to me was offensive, but I don't think it was intended to be. So Im not upset at all.
My grandmother taught me alot about racism and ppl in general. She grew up in the south and dealt with it most of her life. I know there are ppl out there that is racist and will smile in your face, those ppl are FAKE. I can usually pick them out, bc they can't hold in all the time.
I think RACISM is worst then it was in the 60s, just because Obama became president. The FAKE ppl came out. The question is will it get better?? Hope So. Can everyone really be considered equal?? Probably Not. Thats just the way society has become. It all starts with the individual themselves.

Just my thoughts...
Lynn

BTW, loved this poem since the first time I saw it. Has been tied to Malcolm X but I don't know if that's true.

If you're hearing racist remarks at work you should report it. If you are in hearing of it and you don't say anything you might be lumped in with the racists.

I know colored is not PC but I really don't think the PP meant any disrespect. In some parts of the country it is still used even by black people. Ignorant? Maybe. Hateful. No. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with the PC vocab. and I think that it tends to make things worse when there are words that we just can't say other than the obviously bad ones that we all know are bad. I mean sometimes I get uncomfortable around a person of another race that I am not familiar with because I am afraid of offending them by saying something that I didn't know was offensive. I had no idea that "hispanic" was off limits now. Is there a list written down somewhere?