Quote from spect8or:
Blacks and watermelons? Is this something I should know about? I don't wanna offend the black kid at the grocery store if I ask him to pass me a watermelon. 
Just curious, does that one really count as a racist remark? I don't doubt your friend took it that way, but maybe she was wrong?
Hi spect8or,
I actually wasn't present when the comment was made...
However, I trust my friend and she's a very good judge of body language...
accordingly to her when the guy made the comment his body posture was intimidating and aggressive.
(Note: He has made other comments about other cultures just not anymore directed towards her.)
I'm not calling the guy a KKK member...I'm just saying that racial remarks that are designed to belittle, intimidate, perpetuate stereotypes shouldn't be tolerated especially in a work environment.
Yes...to some blacks...watermellon comments, swinging from the trees comments, hey boy comments to an adult black man can be offensive to some while not offensive to others.
I guess is how its said that will determin if someone is just kidding around or being very serious.
Here's a fact...I quit the Jr. National when I was a teenager in a particular sport after I and a few black athletes failed to get the dismisal of a coach that referred to the black athletes with words like...
"come here boy" eventhough he referred to white athletes by their first name.
His body language had a completely different posture...very negative when he talked to the black athletes in comparison to the white athletes.
After I left the time...I heard he stopped saying "come here boy" but would only use his whistle or gesture for them to come to him...weird.
However...he eventually lost his job over another incident...racial related (the n word)...such was covered up and his public dismisal was due to misuse of funds.
When he was gone...I returned to the team.
Like I said...I wasn't there when that guy made the watermellon comment but she was and she saw his body language or demeanor when he made that comment.
In all fairness...I do have a friend that was raised in the south and he's not offended by the watermellon comment as long as the person comes across as just kidding around.
Yet...I'm in no position to tell someone what should be offensive or not to them.
Edited In: I didn't see your other comments prior to posting the above...
...Well, again you are returning to oppression being the cause of all black suffering. That is what you are saying, isn't it? In which case I simply completely disagree with you.
No...I'm referring to each individual event that someone attempts to oppress someone...not a one size fit all event.
It's the reason why I brought up specific stories about my personal experience...each has a possible resolution and such cannot be applied to other oppression situations because the
cause may be different.
It would be one thing if we had all this evidence that blacks were busting their asses trying their damndest to get ahead but ole whitie just kept holding him down, but there just isn't such (or very much) evidence.
I agree with one thing but not the other. Don't underestimate how hard blacks are working nor the evidence and such evidence isn't in some stats.
Tons of evidence...depends on if you want to see it...
Reminder: I'm from a poor background and went to college with others just like me...there's lots of evidence.
Find the real stats within the quoted stats we see in books, magazines, newspapers et cetera...
There's individual stories there that needs individual resolutions.
In fact, the evidence suggests that a significant portion of black America embraces a culture and a set of values that glorify the very opposite of education and honest, hard work as the ticket to a better life.
This is true but not the norm among black adults but is the norm among black youths...just the same in other cultures...
I've actually done my own survey of street kids to support the above fact.
Yes...I know...it's not real stats because I didn't test all of America
Now, I know you keep bringing up some "black conservative" movement that you claim is developing.
No claim...its here and they understand the words..."take responsiblity".
That's all well and good, but I'm sure you understand that those aren't the blacks who we are talking about here, the ones facing these social problems; let's deal with the ones that are.
That's the problem...the ones with the problem needs education, mentoring and so far...I'm starting to see a certain type step up to the plate and offer guidance.
Therefore, groups like the Black Conservatives and others are getting involved...
I grew up for awhile in Chicago...I can name a dozen black, hispanic and white kids that are no longer on the streets causing trouble, no longer unemployed, no longer uneducated...simply via mentor programs in the Chicago area.
My point...there is a way for some to resolve one particular social problem in America and I have relatives that have benefited directly from such mentor programs and one is currently an engineer student at the Univ of Michigan that will be graduating this year (took her 5 years).
Like I said...one size doesn't fit all...
Maybe its time to deal with each incident that's a social problem, offer individual resolutions...
Only time will tell if this grows into something larger and hopefully the dots are connected across America.
Good night.
P.S. Most youths...regardless of color of skin do not glorified education and honest work
NihabaAshi
