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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31 Comments
depplover316
Wonderful video! It was inspiring, and I agree with you guys, but I also really truly believe in the message of the song "Everyone's a little bit racist" from avenue Q. Everyone is racist at some level sometimes, despite what people want to think.kenlynKILLZ
So I am a little late posting a comment. But hey, that is part of the reason. After watching this I thought about going to GroupHug and posting anonymously. But the fact that very few people are going to see this makes me feel a bit better. Now, to the point. This was a great vid. I watch junk like this and think "Aww see, that's how I wish the world was." But in reality.. I am (And so are A LOT of people) sort of a closet racist. And by no means do I mean to be. Oh and ... lots morethegreatone
this is just a marvelous video,thanks a lot for making it,it's just great to hear things like that,really a great moral/ethic,whatever lesson, if learned to its potential improves anyone's relationship drasticallyNevin
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 also think that give black people things easy like getting into college is racism against whites. just a thought.Nospinplease
Thank you! I have been telling people that for ages. My parents say they aren't racist, but when they say all blacks are trashy isn't that racist? I do not think all blacks are trashy, not at all. Let's just make that clear. Do not spin what I just said! ... morePhil
Science Avenger wrote: "PZ, evolution describes how genetics in groups change over time. It says nothing about inferiority or distance of evolution. Those are distortions of evolutionary theory. Social Darwinism is NOT consistent with evolution." Well, perhaps Darwin could've been a wee bit more careful when he subtitled his book "Preservation ... moredgandhi
Re: not being responsible for ancestors actions. If you knowingly receive stolen goods, are you responsible? What about if you know that your families economic status was built on the backs of other people who were historically repressed? I'm a white guy. If I go in for a job and am the only white male candidate I have a good chance getting the job unless somebody else is at least twice as qualified as I am. I have taken these jobs. Is that my responsibility? Racism is not just history, it shapes our whole society, I would like to be done with it, ... lots moreDenise Smith
Ma, thanks for the comment. If I hadn't had a conversation with my mother when I was a girl, I wouldn't know about my indian ancestry. I'm proud of that ancestry. I think people with issues re racism are not proud of their ancestry. When we become proud of who we are, racism does not affect us. Our country was founded to allow us to accept ourselves and be proud, but it missed the main point when it allowed us to have slaves. Not all of the founders were for it, but it still carried on for 100 years. Now ... lots moreD. B. Cooper
I think people need reasons to discriminate against one another. Because, the fact is, we're not all alike. Humans, like any animal, need to be part of a group. It's our nature, it's our instincts. Being part of a better group increases your chances of reproducing with a better member of the opposite sex. There by ensuring your genes be passed on to the next generation more safely. I think we should educate our children not to discriminate based on race only because it teaches them not to discriminate based on something one cannot change. Humans are violent creatures and ... lots morekbombbilly
I think everyone agrees that racism is bad, but what does it really look like? The black guy doesn't get into the grad school he wants; the Asian has a hard time making friends; the Jew is admired simply because his grandparents lived in Germany during WWII. How do you ... morethe_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 to minorities, when it doesn't. I've been told that I cannot be discriminated against because I am not of a minority, or if I can, it doesn't matter. Because I'm ... morema
If you look at your ancentry which most "Caucasians in North America are mixed with Native Americans, some with Black, and now mixed people are all over. It's funny how many peple called themselves one thing when they are not!The US is a melting pot, and that's awesome! Obama is white and black, Tyra too. So, you might called yourself white when in reality you are mixed if you look into your ancestry closer. The whole world is taught that this country is a metling pot and that many caucasians were mixed with native americans and then the Noth American ... lots moreMike
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 about it!CindyP.
Very Well Said & Amen! I couldn't have said it all better or felt what you said more, I wish so much we could just get along and respect each other the way we expect to be respected, God Bless You & if your an atheist God Bless You Anyway ... moreJim
Great videoWilliam Wallace
Hilarious video. However, a bit too PC, and needs to get to some points. Disclosure: I grew up as a minority white person, and was educated in schools dominated by African American students and administrators. My wife is of another race and culture, and I can honestly say that *she* brought me to Christ. Our children are mixed, and are much brighter than either me or my wife. The points: 1. Experienced based prejudice is part of what makes you human. Recognizing patterns is normal human behavior. 2. A person should *not* fell ashamed for ... lots moreAmy
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. Those are distortions of evolutionary theory. Social Darwinism is NOT consistent with evolution. http://scienceavenger.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-evolution-does-not-imply-social.html If we could glean any lesson from evolution, it is that environments and needs change, and ... morejoe
what an idiot.PZ
With racism, evolution is PART of the problem also. It allows that one "race" may deem another inferior because it has not evolved as far as another "race." As kahrytan above mentions, there is but one race--the human one. I believe in creationism. That God put into Adam and Eve every genetic marker that results in the beautiful tapestry we see on our planet. I see black, red, yellow etc as just colors on God's palette. He did not intend for us to use them to separate ourselves. Rather, it shows me that He ... lots moreNSG
Racism Parenti argues that western[verification needed] racism is systemic and historical in nature and should be regarded as more than just an attitudinal problem. He claims western racism has its origins in imperialism and slavery: To justify the colonial plunder of another nation or entire continent (as in the case of Africa) as well as the enslavement of conquered populations, imperialists and/or slave traffickers dehumanize their victims and define them as moral inferiors and subhuman. Parenti maintains that racism serves several functions for ruling interests in the United States:[15] 1. It divides the working class against each other. ... lots morepkw
if we all worked together, you'd be amazed at how far we can go. But before we can get there, we have to stop tearing each other down. What can you do to make the world or just one person's life better today? 1+1+1+1+... adds up to ... moreJacob
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 color.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