Being a white guy I don't think I can really do a show on racism... cause... you know... I'm white.
Being a white guy, I don’t think I can really do a show on racism… cause… you know… I’m white. Wait. That was racist!
But if it’s racist against me and my kind, isn’t that okay? Like black gangster rappers using the N-word? And I don’t mean no. I can say honky, and cracker, but you can’t. Honky Mook… where does that come from? Cracker! It’s just so funny! And not many racial slurs are funny.
Last time my ethnicity was truly oppressed was when those Romans stomped across Northern Europe, and I demand an apology from every living Roman. If it seems a little ridiculous, that’s because it is. Nobody today can reasonably be blamed for the acts of their ancestors or historical events they weren’t even around for.
It happened, but the best way to move on is to just let it go. Not forget, but just let go. I didn’t do any of that stuff to your great-great-grandparents. I don’t look at blacks and think Freed Slaves. I don’t look at Hispanics and think Illegal Immigrant. I don’t look at Asians and think Stealing my Job. I see a brother, a sister, another human being, and no matter what color you are, if you can’t look past and see a person who deserves dignity and consideration, you’re a racist.
Something’s been lost along the way since the Civil Rights movement. People use race to justify actions, feelings, and prejudices. They call it “Playing the Race Card,” but that shouldn’t matter to anyone who isn’t racist.
Martin Luther King Jr. talked about children sitting down at the table of human brotherhood, and we’ll never be able to do that as long as it matters which color the person sitting at the head happens to be. The tighter we hold to past wrongs, real or imagined, the longer the racism and reverse-racism keep on going.
Yes, I’m not an idiot. I know people today are still racist. But that’s no excuse for reactionary reverse-racism. It just makes the problem worse.
Normally we’d have a joke right here, but I can’t tell one, and that should say something about the volatility of this subject.
I have to admit, it’s a little hard to hear a rich, ivy-leaguer complain about how “their people” are being downtrodden when I have a whole lot more in common economically with “their people” than they do, except, of course, the color of their skin, and that makes all the difference…if you’re a racist.
But racism is like any kind of discrimination. It’s easy to get roped into it. I just did: their rich, I’m poor, draw the line between us, and we’re well on our way. It no longer carries the banner of racism, but it’s still discrimination, like sexism or any other -ism.
Some people might say that I’ve never been discriminated against, and that I can’t possibly understand what their going through. “Hillary doesn’t know what it’s like to be a black man!” And I’d be worried if she did. Whoa! We just made a joke! Please do not be offended.
To say that people only discriminate based on race is simply not true. People discriminate based on religion, based on ideals, based on nationality or tribe, anything that can be used to separate “us” from “them.” Whether it’s black or white, alarmist or denier, liberal or conservative, evolution or ID, religion or atheism, as long as we keep dividing ourselves into “us” and “them” and use that as an excuse for discrimination, nothing will change.
There are lots of voices out there, one for every race, creed, group, religion, or ideology. You can listen to the Louis Farrakhans tell you you’re downtrodden, or you can listen to the Bill Cosbys tell you to accent responsibility and change. I’m will Bill. “Hey hey hey!”
We know racism and discrimination are alive and well today, but if this message offended you, ask yourself this question: would this message have been offensive if the person saying it had been more like you? And please, flame responsibly.
Transcribed by: Pocstar
Being a white guy I don’t think I can really do a show on racism… cause… you know… I’m white.
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32 Comments
Mati
I don't like the over-simplification of the problem by the use of the term, "color of skin". It is ...depplover316
Wonderful video! It was inspiring, and I agree with you guys, but I also really truly believe in the message ...kenlynKILLZ
So I am a little late posting a comment. But hey, that is part of the reason. After watching this ...thegreatone
this is just a marvelous video,thanks a lot for making it,it's just great to hear things like that,really a great ...Nevin
This is a great ep. to tie in with Human Family Reunion.Meandering
I really think you guys are taking my posts off of certain episodes. Is there any truth to this?steph
i always say exactly what you say about letting it go and how it only happened in the past. i ...Nospinplease
Thank you! I have been telling people that for ages. My parents say they aren't racist, but when they say ...Phil
Science Avenger wrote: "PZ, evolution describes how genetics in groups change over time. It says nothing about inferiority or distance ...dgandhi
Re: not being responsible for ancestors actions. If you knowingly receive stolen goods, are you responsible? What about if you know ...Denise Smith
Ma, thanks for the comment. If I hadn't had a conversation with my mother when I was a girl, I ...D. B. Cooper
I think people need reasons to discriminate against one another. Because, the fact is, we're not all alike. Humans, like ...kbombbilly
I think everyone agrees that racism is bad, but what does it really look like? The black guy doesn't get ...the_5th_of_4
You made some great points but I wish you had talked more about reverse-racism I've been told that racism only applies ...ma
If you look at your ancentry which most "Caucasians in North America are mixed with Native Americans, some with Black, ...Mike
See Rene Girard's "The Skapegoat".Grey Guy
Racism is not the problem. Coercion is.Proud To Be Who I Am
Whoever thinks this man is an idiot {JOE} is actually the one who is actually the idiot, stop & think ...CindyP.
Very Well Said & Amen! I couldn't have said it all better or felt what you said more, I wish ...Jim
Great videoWilliam Wallace
Hilarious video. However, a bit too PC, and needs to get to some points. Disclosure: I grew up as ...Amy
Well said Mr. Voice of Reason.Science Avenger
PZ, evolution describes how genetics in groups change over time. It says nothing about inferiority or distance of evolution. ...joe
what an idiot.PZ
With racism, evolution is PART of the problem also. It allows that one "race" may deem another inferior because ...NSG
Racism Parenti argues that western[verification needed] racism is systemic and historical in nature and should be regarded as more than just ...pkw
if we all worked together, you'd be amazed at how far we can go. But before we can get ...Jacob
Well said. Keep up the good work, you racist b*stards!kahrytan
Because in the end, We are one race, the human race. And we all have to share this planet together.Bryan
Racism was just goofy and very uncreative. There are so many better reasons to hate most people rather than their ...Zak
Great video! I just finished watching Zo over @ myspace blog about racism as well: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=26741080neil
well said!!! this whole week has opened my mind and made me think more kudos