Interesting QuestionFollow

Okay, I have consumed enough liquid courage to start a thread here in the Asylum, and have prepared myself for the worst possible flaming... so here goes.

The question is as follows: Why, in America at least, or certain parts thereof, is it acceptable for a member of a "minority" ethnicity to proclaim pride in their ethnic background, but when a white person makes a similar declaration, they are almost immediately denounced as a racist?

Example: At a recent gathering of "friends", a guy of Asian descent said during the course of a conversation, "I am damn proud to be Chinese," and no one batted an eyelash. Another guy, who happens to be of European descent, German, I think, followed with, "And I'm proud to be white." The next thing you know, the gathering has degenerated into a battle of racial slurs started by people of various "minority" ethnic groups, almost all of whom said that quote-unquote white pride is mark of a racist attitude. Why is this?

(Please note, the selection of a Chinese-American was not intended to single anyone out, but was based on a real-life experience.)

Well how about it then mooglefUcker?

"White" isn't really an ethnicity. Had he said "I'm proud to be German", I doubt anyone would have much cared.

And, yes, "black" technically is about the same thing although, in the US at least, the severing of family history makes it such that most African-Americans don't know their nation of ancestry and "Black" has become a distinct culture in the country as opposed to "White".

There is difference between someone being proud that they are polish/ukranian/english/american/scottish (well maybe not scottish) and being proud they are 'white'.

In this instance that clearly wasnt the case though.

Which would make me wonder why they're so proud.

"Hooray! Someone in my bloodpool came from somewhere on the Eurasian continent at some point in history! I'm so proud!!!"



Edited, Feb 19th 2007 9:47pm by Jophiel

Hey, I've seen that guy! But I thought the single tear was because he saw the pollution and destruction brought upon by modern man?

because whitey is discriminated against!!!

yeah so bite me I can't spell tonight/morning

Edited, Feb 20th 2007 12:18am by Darqflame

That explains it maybe?



Sorry Tsu <3.

But in some way, I think that the situation is a matter of equality. I don't mean social equality so much as I mean an equality of confidence. If I come from a minority, I don't have the security blanket of a big group to which I belong, and thus I will always be the odd one out, right? So I try to bring myself up to their level (even though realistically, it isn't necessary) in a strictly psychological manner. Pride in a background is one way of doing this.

But if you are already a part of that "group", by displaying that same pride you somehow make the minority's "pride" less meaningful, because it's no longer something that belongs only to me - it's something that I alone doesn't have. Suddenly, the big group outweighs me again on the scale of equality, and my psychological "boost" is no longer effective.

Personally, I have had very little experience with racism, so I don't know if any of this is true or not. For all I know, your friends could just not like that guy and were just beating him down... But I suppose that if they are thinking along those lines that it might account for their reactions to your white friend's "pride".


That or I have no idea what I'm talking about, which is also pretty likely.

It's quite simple, really.

historically, people from an ethnic minority have looked down upon by the majority. African-Americans were slaves, and were then denied basics rights until the 60's. Still today, being Black can be a "disadvantage" in society. It's as though white society has made them feel inferior, and I guess slavery is a good way to make people feel that way, and as though there was something wrong in being black. Hence, when people say "I'm proud to be black", they are saying that despite societies negative vision of them, they are proud of what they are. They have nothing to be ashamed of.

So when they say "I am proud to be black", it means "Despite society making me feel inferior, I am proud of what I am."

So, unless you have been oppressed, or are discriminated against for something which has nothing to do with you, there is no need to assert a certain form of identity, which at the end ofthe day is irrelevant.

Having said all that, I think being proud of something you were born with, and which has therefore nothing to do with your existence, is weak. Being "proud" of being white, of being French, of having brown eyes, of being 6 feet, is ********* It's often the last refuge of people who have not achieved much, and must therefore comfoprt themselves with something they born with, and which nothing to do with them.

There's a lot of racism towards white people. White people aren't even the majority worldwide and it's been projected that before too long they will be the minority in America as well (though the numbers aren't everything; financial and political power are large parts of this as well). A lot of the racism towards white people is that they are the majority and as such some people will readily assume that they are racially insensitive, have little or no grounds for empathy, or are just plain racist pricks. No, it's not right, but people who identify themselves as a minority are always going to feel surpressed by what they identify as the majority, even if the actual majority isn't paying any attention to what makes that person a minority or is even makes efforts to accomodate them. It's not necessarily a reality so much as a state of mind in many cases. Particularly with many young people who have never experienced real racism, they can become offended by what they think is racism when it's actually nothing of the sort.

There are a lot of existing double standards though, such as BET (what if there was a WET?), black organizations and ceremonies. Generally the public accepts this because they view these groups as disadvantaged and as needing or deserving these tools to keep on their feet. I personally think it's a step back and only serves to further segregate the country (seriously, minorities complain frequently about exclusion but have no reservation about segregating themselves... that's not referring to any particular group; just your basic human ignorance), but I can't force someone to consider themself a part of "my group".

Duh, whites are the minority! They shall be oppressed.



Even you agree.



Yeah next thing you know they're whining about how no one understands their lives and that they don't have their own crappy TV network.



Why so much hate against minorities? Just trying to keep the white man down again, aren't ya.

FTFY