The Reason for BET

[joack]

mi·nor·i·ty ( P ) Pronunciation Key (m-nôr-t, -nr-, m-)
n. pl. mi·nor·i·ties

1. The smaller in number of two groups forming a whole.
A group or party having fewer than a controlling number of votes.

2. An ethnic, racial, religious, or other group having a distinctive presence within a society.

3. A group having little power or representation relative to other groups within a society.

Good point.

#3 is the reason why white woman are covered by Affrimative Action. But talking to people here on this board they think that AA is only for ethnic minorities. Nope white woman to. And they should be covered as they have faced discrimination as well.

Read this quote from the President of the National Organization for Women, Toni Van Pelt...
"When I go out and speak to black groups the first thing I tell them is that white women have been the greatest beneficiaries of affirmative action and there's this wave of 'amens,' and the next wave I feel come over them is a wave of resentment," Van Pelt said. "That's part of Bush's divide and conquer strategy. When they say black and Hispanic, they mean black and Hispanic men. When they say women, they mean white women. When does a woman stop being a woman? Black women and Hispanic women aren't even in the mix." http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=203

 

[jackangel]

Saying that I'm wrong is an empty hole, and is completely without value.

Your argument that blacks shouldn't "feel like a minority" because they represent 12% of the population or because there are 10s of millions of them makes absolutely no sense. That's not how human nature works at all. We agree upon their history of persecution and oppression, yes? Well, history is always important, for it tells us how we got to where we are. We can't discount the past when trying to understand the present, not ever. There still exists an identifiable black culture today, and a sense of togetherness (at least in comparison to whites) or separation because of what happened before, and how it evolved into what exists now. My original point is that, in my impression, most "black groups" exist as a recognition of that identity, and not because they wish to exclude whites (or other groups) because whites are inferior. The opposite is not true.

 

[ariolanine]

The difference in percentage is equalized when you look at history (like jackangel said).

The whites in Hong Kong were never slaves and were never subject to institutional racism for over 200 years.

No black person living in the US for the past 70 years was born a slave. Institutional racism existed primarily in the south and it has been over for 30 years. In addition, black people did get a mild form of revenge with affirmative action and the ability to play the race card.

 

[jackangel]

Oh, and I forgot to put this in:

The reason why numbers aren't necessarily valid here is because black people don't think "well, there's 30 million of us now, no need to feel like such a minority". Perceptions change over time, slowly.

 

[2Thick]

No black person living in the US for the past 70 years was born a slave. Institutional racism existed primarily in the south and it has been over for 30 years. In addition, black people did get a mild form of revenge with affirmative action and the ability to play the race card.

So you are saying that that the past has no affect on the future?

Plus there was blatant institutional racism in the US only 30 years ago (only about one generation ago) and there is still latent institutional racism today.

 

[The Republican]

You are also Not a minority so you have no say in the matter.

Im an american citizen, so therefor it is my duty to have a say in the matter.

 

[The Republican]

And run down the list of black female "Best Actress" Oscar winners again?

Halle Berry is the only one.
I see the point you are trying to make, but the point is that the Academy Awards does not solely revolve around caucasions. The fact that in the past 70 or so years that the academy has only found one african-american woman worthy of the Best Actress statue shouldnt constitute racism.

 

[The Republican]

Historically, the Oscars, Grammy & Emmys only gave awards to whites. The best parts in the best movies were given to white men & women, thereby making the recipients of best actor/actress awards whites. And so on and so on for each of the categories. Realize that we were (and are to a large extent) given roles as drug dealers, hoes, pimps, athletes. The more respected characters are given to white actors and actresses.

Therefore, the NAACP Image Awards (Note: NAACP was started in 1908 by whites and blacks to end segregation in this country) is aimed at recognizing positive accomplishments Blacks. Its to say "no were all not criminals, drug dealers, we can act produce music & movies, carry out humanitarian efforts, helping our communities etc. Its a show about showing a positive image of us in America.

Whites and other ethnic minorities have and continue to be a part of the programming (not including all of the corportations Mc Donals, Ford, Chrysler etc).

You are preaching to the choir here. However this is the year 2003, not 1960. In my personal opinion there is no need for these segregations any longer.
And yes I do know that there are whites in the NAACP and that the organization was founded by both Blacks and Whites.

 

[2Thick]

Im an american citizen, so therefor it is my duty to have a say in the matter.

It is not a public matter. It is a private one.

 

[ariolanine]

So you are saying that that the past has no affect on the future?

Plus there was blatant institutional racism in the US only 30 years ago (only about one generation ago) and there is still latent institutional racism today.

The past does have an affect, but American black complaints regarding slavery are irrelevant at best. Probably more than half the people on earth have ancestors that were slaves. Slavery was practiced and suffered by every race and religion. Slavery today primarily exists in black Africa. Whites haven't owned slaves for 135 years, but blacks own black slaves in 2003.

There is no significant institutional prejudices directed only towards blacks. Fat people and ugly people suffer no less than people of color. With Affirmative Action blacks have the leg up. All they have to do is graduate college and walk into the job of their choosing. Your average white dude has no specific advantage other than the possibilty of connections. The black people that actually did suffer through segragation in the south have my deepest sympathies. They have every right to complain and do all the "black only" things they want. I don't blame them at all if they distrust and/or hate whites.