Quote from OPTIONAL777:
Hmmmm....I had no idea that a famous black actor like Steven Quincy Urkel was meant to disparage blacks.
Sorry.
Famous white actors like Jim Nabors playing a cracker southern boy moron Gomer Pyle made lots of money as an actor, and Nabors played other parts...as an actor, and was successful as a singer.
Yet, calling someone "Gomer Pyle" has never been a term of endearment. It would be taken as an insult. His character is that of a fool.
Are you suggesting that Urkel was not just an actor playing a part, that he was not an actor?
Or are you denying that someone who looked and acted like Urkel would be less likely to be pulled over for no good reason and hassled compared to someone who looks like Wesley Snipes looked like for the role he played in "New Jack City?"
Look, lets cut the crap, okay?
Honestly, you are more ignorant that I would have thought. Do some research to see just how idiotic and ignorant your claim is. Look at the pictures of some African Americans who had to be inconvenienced by profiling and you will see that:
1. Light skinned African Americans are not immune.
2. No one actually looks like Urkel as that character is a caricature.
3. African Americans, well dressed, driving expensive cars were affected.
4. Even African Americans who wear glasses were not immune.
That's why they called it DWB. "Driving while Black." As that is all it took to be pulled over. They could only see the skin color in a moving vehicle. If it didn't look white, pull it over.
Say a black guy looks like Tupac in gangster gear is walking down the street...what are the odds he gets rousted and hassled for no reason?
Say a white guy looks like Eminem in exact same garb...does he stand a greater or lesser chance of being rousted and hassled for no reason?
You seriously know nothing. Your whole experience is based on Hollywood images. You have no real life experience whatsoever when it comes to this issue.
On Long Island, NY, as an example, teenagers hanging out of all races get harassed pretty much equally by law enforcement. I've been in many situations with my white and black friends when I was a teenager. SO I know factually firsthand. I have extended family with similiar sitauations who live in both mixed and predominately upscale communities in various states that echo the same.
As an example, I've been in a situation with one of my white friends about 20 years ago when he was driving and evading a patrol car. When we met up with a road block, he was dragged out of the car, thrown up against a fence and beaten with a baton as he resisted and cursed at the officers. He was dressed like Vanilla Ice - seeing as you can only relate to media figures. Myself? Dressed like I was a member of SW1. Look it up. I already had my hands on the dash without prompting from officers who had their guns drawn. Didn't say anything until I was asked a question. I was never dragged out, cursed at, or treated poorly. My answers always ended with "sir and officer." My tone was respectful at all times.
I was never cuffed. My friend on the other hand was arrested. I was released at the scene. The only inconvenience I had was having to wait around to speak to detectives and later arranging my own transportation from the scene. Though the officers offered to take me home. I didn't want to be seen being let out of a police car at my home so I declined and walked home.
And that's just one example.
So race is an enormous factor for the innocent. Forcing people to look like Urkel, or dress like a banker just to avoid unwarranted hassle by the police is not cool, is it?
As I said, how you dress and how you "look" is irrelevant. Though how you behave does have an impact. And that is what I teach African American and Muslim youth. Many exacerbate the situation with indignation and a poor attitude. I was taught well and while I have been inconvenienced by profiling, the inconvenience was minimal each time.
This is America, people should be free to move about without hassle...just because of the color of the skin, or income level, or manner of dress, level of education, etc. should play no role in authority rousting people up trying to find some problem.
That you somehow defend the law in Arizona is fair, or just, or not a big deal "if you are innocent" is bullshit. If you are innocent, then there is no reason to be hassled at all.
Gainsay and obfuscation. I never defended the law in Arizona. I know, you need me to otherwise you have no issue to hang your hat on. You take my lack of strong disapproval to mean approval.
I also have to assume you do not get out much and have never had an experience with law enforcement. While as a citizen you may be innocent until proven guilty, with law enforcement, they practically see everyone as a person of interest who has to verify their innocence.
Ever travel on a plane lately? International flight? You might be clearly innocent and no one would have a need to "harass" you. But since security can't do the obvious, that is to say, profile, everyone has to be inconvenienced. That includes pregnant mothers, the elderly, etc. Though, of course, profiling still happens there. I have an in-law with a Arab sounding name who routinely gets harassed. And he's White.
This racial profiling crap is un-American, and you as a black man saying it is okay speaks to your own view of your own community. Maybe you have conformed to the white man's world (Think of Clarence Thomas) and think that blacks who don't, who express their individualism in a defiant way, who reject the white culture, etc. should be rousted up and hassled.
Really? I didn't say it was OK. No where can you make the argument that I'm for it. I'm pragmatic. I deal with it. And I help others to deal with it also. Unless you actually lived through it, you're opinion is purely academic. Worse still, your opinion is based on googled and media sound bites and not on real valid or personal experience.
I mean, look who you are equating me with now? Everyone's favorite cliched uncle Tom, Clarence Thomas. Who if you really took the time to learn about, is anything but. But no, you go with his opposition's and media characterization. A characterization that was started by Black activists and endorsed by liberal media bias. Had Clarence Thomas been at least a centrist democrat, he would have found a media looking to defend him against Black activist railings of "sell out." Much like the media support President Barack Obama enjoys.
And another thing; "conforming to a white man's world?" Does the racism ever stop with you? What the hell is a "white man's world?" How insulting. It's one thing when African American's speak that way with one another - much like how we can use the N' word as a term of endearment or branding one a "sell out", but coming from anyone other is insulting and harkens back to slavery days. Sure, I know, it's a double standard in your eyes.
Perhaps you look a certain way, dress a certain way, speak a certain way that is closer to what a white man would do and on that basis there is less chance of being rousted.
On that basis, it shows that a black man has to look a certain way, dress a certain way, speak a certain way to achieve equality with whites in the sense of freedom from being hassled by the police?
That is crazy man...just crazy.
There are those police that don't care. I drive a BMW. Dress decently most of the time, depending on mood or occasion. They won't know how I am are until they have a chance to pull me over and meet me. That's when I have my opportunity to defuse things with my manner of character. And I always do. Sometimes it's quick. Sometimes I have to put a little more effort into it.
In any event, please don't pretend to know what it is all about. I've been there and done that and had to face actual racism. My stories are many. I've developed a set of skills and a positive, pragmatic, and reasonable attitude because of my experiences and upbringing. I hold no ill will towards people of other races. I do have some racist attitudes that crop up like every other human being. Mostly due to preferences or ignorance. But I do not use them to harm others. At least not intentionally. And when I'm told I'm coming off as racist, I backtrack, apologize, and take note.
You'll likely come back and say more things that damn your character. So in the interest of saving whatever dignity you might think you have left, I would suggest you refrain from commenting further in this regard. Merely comment on the egregiousness to the situation in Arizona and offer an alternate remedy or two. Hopefully in trying to formulate a remedy you will note how inescapable profiling ultimately is. It has to be done on some level.
I mean, look at how you are profiling and pigeon-holing African Americans into media stereotypes in order to attempt to make a point.
Urkle, Tupac, Clarence Thomas.
See? And I had to deal with that profiling.
