Comments on Why does everything suck?: The 2008 Definition of Racism

As a Hispanic American, I too am disgusted with th...

2009-02-12T07:59:00.000-05:00

As a Hispanic American, I too am disgusted with those black persons who insist on the absurd idea that only a white man can be racist. This notion that all white people in the U.S. come from an American history of slavery is ridiculous.

Learn a little bit of American history and you'll find out that thousands of white Americans have their history only as far back as the great migrations of the early and mid 1900s. Not much of a chance to own a slave then. And they were to busy trying to assimilate into the U.S. culture to be racist, not to mention they weren't in a position to be racist anyway.

Finally, if the word nigger is so offensive, why do far more black people use it to refer to themselves or their friends than do any other race in America? I listen to Katt Williams a black comedian, and I have not heard one sentence from him that does not contain the word nigger. Yet in my daily life I never use the word, in any way, not as a term of endearment, a term of anger, or just another slang word. I say to all black people out there, if the word is so hateful, stop using it. I as a Mexican American do not go around referring to my fellow Hispanics as SPIC, GREASER, BEANER or any other derogatory term.

As an English-American woman whose family has live...

2008-09-28T01:13:00.000-04:00

As an English-American woman whose family has lived in America for 12+ generations, I am so sick and tired of all the accusations of racism that African-Americans throw at people who have skin tones a teensy bit lighter than their's. Get over it, for Christ's sake! I will not be held accountable for what my ancestors did so many years ago! Would you?! I would not have behaved as they did so why resent me?!

Believe me when I say that I have discussed this subject extensively over the years with my fellow English-Americans and European-Americans in an attempt to understand this attitude but it seems that none of our efforts to make up for the past and right the wrongs we have done is ever good enough! OK, then, you win! I give up! Are you happy now? All those accusations of racism ever did was make people more resentful.

Firstly, I'm White (shock/horror)I randomly came a...

2008-08-28T07:14:00.000-04:00

Firstly, I'm White (shock/horror)

I randomly came across this post & I have to say that it is amazing to see someone defend themselves towards racism without over using the phrase - "White Folks" - which to me gives the image of old fashioned hill billies chasing Black men with pitch forks...

You were extremely articulate & brought the point across well.

But, I am here to defend the "White Folks", I run my own, successful blog that deals with Urban Music, a world were it is very hard to make it as a "White boy". People disrespect me & my opinions because the colour of my skin, does that remind you of anything?

I dislike the fact that I am unable to be "Proud" of being White... There is no way that I can say I am proud of being white without being accused of being racists. I am proud of the fact that I am a modern, forward thinking White man with modern values & understanding of the world we live in.

I see racism towards Black people everyday but I do not include myself in it, I do not appreciate "Black Jokes", I'm not saying that everyone who laughs at them is a racist, I just think that they inspire racism by allowing people to think that it is OK to poke fun at someone of a different race.

Segregation between race is promoted by both sides of the track, it needs to be addressed that Black & White people are both racist to each other. I remember Tupac Shakur saying something along the lines of - "I can't be responsible for what every Black man does" - & I feel the same way, I can't be responsible for every racist comment, every "Black Joke"...

I am the least racist person I know, so why do I feel like I am persecuted for just being white. I don't hate Spike Lee, so why does he hate me..?

I hope you understand what I am trying to say & thanks again for your well thought out post, it was really enjoyable to read...

I completely understand the modern day dilemma tha...

2008-08-05T18:41:00.000-04:00

I completely understand the modern day dilemma that racism has imposed on the human race. There is one live play I have seen that all mankind needs to watch....Tyler Perry's "Madea goes to jail!" I have watched this 10-15 times and get a different perspective on reality everytime!

Interesting post... and I don't care if it's techi...

2008-07-25T13:30:00.000-04:00

Interesting post... and I don't care if it's techinically not tech related, it's the opinion of a techie, so that makes it tech.

I think it's hard to grow up in most of the USA without having some tinges of racism. With so many years of general acceptance it's a deeply ingrained sickness in our culture. Although thankfully things have improved significantly in the last 40 years or so (and continue to do so), it's unreasonable to expect it to simply heal completely in one or two generations, leaving no trace behind.

And it's never going to really go away unless people are willing look inside and see how it has affected them. At a concious level I would never choose to be racist, but I realize that at times racism has influenced my way of behaving towards people. Obviously it's something I'm not proud of, but I think if I'm different it's only in that I'm willing to admit it - which is the first step in getting over it.

I know I'm very late to the party, but I wanted to...

2008-07-23T23:26:00.000-04:00

I know I'm very late to the party, but I wanted to react to the Anonymous complainer on the 10th.

Hank, I doubt you need any encouragement, but please continue to write about whatever you care about.

You take a risk when you write on multiple topics: there are tech bloggers I don't read much anymore because (mostly) their non-tech posts reveal them to be foolish or odious, and some people may feel that way about you.

But it works the other way, too. It's once I know a little about someone and have experienced that they're worth reading that I'm willing to see what they have to say about something not immediately as interesting or congenial to me.

If you only wrote on race, I'd likely never have made it to this blog. If you never wrote on race, obviously I'd never be able to read it. But keep the mix going, and minds may be able to meet on several topics.

I'm in agreement that the population of anonymous ...

2008-07-23T01:54:00.000-04:00

I'm in agreement that the population of anonymous racists is high. Actually, they are only really anonymous when not in the company of like minded people.

Growing up in Jersey, things were pretty diverse. While being white, I was around so many different cultures that it would have been difficult to be racist. I just didn't see it and thought racism was something in the past.

When I joined the Army I found out the problem was still around. I lived with people from all over the country and I can say that racism is still alive, especially in the South.

The problem as I see it is that these people just get their "facts" from family members and media which don't always give an accurate view. I might have become a racist if I grew up in an all white area and my only interaction with blacks was through television.

black people call me nigger and im white. fucking ...

2008-07-17T23:46:00.000-04:00

black people call me nigger and im white. fucking racists. ;)

"It is categorizing large swaths of people with wo...

2008-07-17T22:29:00.000-04:00

"It is categorizing large swaths of people with words and language that hurt them, even if you have no idea why."

I'm very lucky that I very rarely get stereotyped in my life but when it does happen it always hurts me. I can imagine the enormous hurt of being constantly negatively stereotyped.

http://davidadewumi.com/2008/07/16/to-be-black-don...

2008-07-16T18:49:00.000-04:00

http://davidadewumi.com/2008/07/16/to-be-black-dont-miss-the-forest-for-the-trees/

I'm done here, email me if you want to follow-up on this discussion.

I want to make it clear to those on the web that y...

2008-07-16T13:17:00.000-04:00

I want to make it clear to those on the web that you are not the voice of the black people"

How foolish to believe that either of us is making anything clear to "those on the web"

"but rather the voice of one man, deeply conflicted who has seen much through a certain taint, good or bad."

Where in God's name do you get "conflicted" let alone deeply conflicted. Honestly it doesn't even make any sense in the context of the rest of your argument. In any case your argument is fascinating in its total lack of reference to what I wrote. You don't reference or disagree with any specific point. There is no deconstruction of my argument, just empty context free blather. As far as I can tell, your argument is "yes you are black, but please don't talk about it". And I reject that as being totally and utterly ridiculous.

Hank,I've been discriminated against by parents of...

2008-07-16T13:07:00.000-04:00

Hank,

I've been discriminated against by parents of a white girlfriend, friends and family of a Puerto Rican girlfriend, slandered and spited in my travels to the Dominican Republic, and singled out in the Army -- all for the color of my skin.

I'm young, sure, and I've been to a few countries, black, white, Latino, and others, and have seen a few things in the World, as well in this country.

I've stayed in Camden, NJ -- the worst city in the US a few years running -- Baltimore, and also towns where the make-up was mostly White -- Boulder and my home town.

While it's great for you to presume that you understand where I'm coming from given a post you read and a brief meeting, you are far off the mark.

For a black to tell a black who has lived his whole life in this country that he does not understand 'what race really means' in this country is absolutely absurd. Do you think people look at me and think 'here comes an African -- his parents flew on a plane and didn't come in slave ships.'

For 99% of the American populous, black=black, and for this reason I am speaking out. I fear many will take your words as the words of 'the black guy' -- the Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton who sits on Fox News or CNN, and is the voice of the black people. I want to make it clear to those on the web that you are not the voice of the black people, but rather the voice of one man, deeply conflicted who has seen much through a certain taint, good or bad.

I will say that in this flick, you are the angry black man that every movie-goer knows to watch for -- the one who is easily offended, defiant, rebellious, and generally violent.

Physically, maybe not so, but it is clear that this issue wears deep to your soul.

The more you talk about 'race' the deeper the hole you are digging. Instead of being defined as American, or as an entrepreneur, or as a blogger, you are caging yourself in, being defined by the color of your skin, something so inherent and hereditary, it takes generations to strike from your line.

It's not about being a 'black tech blogger' or a 'tech black blogger who happens to be black' it's about the inability to see the forest for the trees.

When you think about Obama, do you think about him as the democratic nominee for President of the United States, or do you think of him as the BLACK candidate for President of the United States.

The distinction is very important. Your perception defines your reality, and I believe, unfortunately, that in this case your perception, your paradigm, is severely tilted.

One of his technology advisors is an advisor for my startup. He is White, probably of Polish descent for his last name. When he became an advisor as a startup for my team (which also features another black guy) it wasn't about charity, it wasn't about his color, and it most certainly was not about my color.

That is the whole point I'm trying to make, the forest I want to paint for you, that you miss for the trees.

It's not about being black, and the more you make it so, the worse it is for blacks everywhere. The more people think of Obama as a 'black' President and not just the 'President' (if he were to be elected) is worse for this country.

As one who has grown up around racists and race-neutral people alike, I can guarantee you the best multi-cultural relationships that foster community, collaboration, and friendship happen from those who are color-blind.

Oh they may realize you are black, or I may realize they are white, yellow, or red, but it's not the White Elephant in the room, it's simply not an issue. It's about who you are and what you bring to the table as a human being.

I understand your zeal, I understand that you were raised in a time that may have pre-dated some of the commenters and writers (including myself), and I certainly understand that you come from a different paradigm and worldview than many of us --including me myself.

This is why I say your conversation is not moving the buck forward -- it is not moving the buck forward for black people, or any other minority or 'oppressed' group that suffers for a pre-determined physical, hereditary, or social characteristic.

Thanks for the view though.

"At the end of the day, I feel this article does n...

2008-07-16T01:20:00.000-04:00

"At the end of the day, I feel this article does nothing to push the conversation forward."

I am not sure either that was my job, or even if it was, what it would mean to do so. No single article is going to change anything, any more than my articles on twitter scalability. That said, if I can change even one person's perspective or make people think about things in a way that they havent, I am happy. And by that measure, based on the feedback of people who have written to me and discussed the piece, and specifically people saying that I *did* change their perspective, this is by far my most successful piece of writing in my entire catalog.

"This whole racism meme is well overplayed -- it's not that it does not matter, it's just that it doesn't, won't, and shouldn't have that great effect on anyone."

Hmmm... I fear you are too young, too sheltered, and too "internationalized" given your family background, to have an accurate perspective on what race really means in this country. Like Clarence Thomas, inadvertently or otherwise, you serve here as an apologist for those who wish to make racially (or religiously, or sexually) driven policy or perspectives acceptable, which is truly unfortunate.

Hank,At the end of the day, I feel this article do...

2008-07-16T01:00:00.000-04:00

Hank,

At the end of the day, I feel this article does nothing to push the conversation forward.

There are two reactions to be had to this -- affirmative or negative, and for obvious reasons one would expect there to be a lot more affirmations than negations.

This whole racism meme is well overplayed -- it's not that it does not matter, it's just that it doesn't, won't, and shouldn't have that great effect on anyone.

In this epoch of human history, it is a times painful (and at the low point in the last several hundred years, VERY painful) to be a black. The recent era in the years ensuing the civil rights movement, it is very livable in the United States as a black. The internet is no exception -- you can start a web business, you can earn money, you can profit, you can secure a liquidity event, you can blog, you can comment, you can generate user content, you can connect with friends, you can peruse, you can browse, you can learn.

The internet is not restrictive to black people, just as it is not restricted to most of the western world.

What new pain point are you solving for then? You personally have been very irritated by a) the actions of a few and b) the reactions of many who felt that the actions of the few were not a big deal.

The pain point to me seems to be your emotions and reactions and does precious little to generate noteworthy conversation that will move the buck forward. It is simply a type of discussion where the 'good' people affirm, and the 'bad' people (probably anonymously) negate whatever you have said.

There is no idea generation, no problem to be solved, just one man of one color with a big axe to grind in light of the personal context of his history.

Paul, Thanks for the clarification. I would agree ...

2008-07-14T07:40:00.000-04:00

Paul,

Thanks for the clarification. I would agree with you were it not for Verizon and C|Net giving him a platform. To me *that* is when it is time to speak up. When people are spending $100 on phones per month, they will likely be angry when their provider is supporting someone who they feel (whether you agree or not) is aggressively insulting their existence. So I would be happy to have let it go, but I can't keep getting reminded of it. But I must say this is part of the problem with keeping silent. Kara Swisher (wall street journal) and Dan Farber (C|Net) felt it was safe to deal with Feldman because he was "accepted". This led Verizon, mistakenly, to believe the same thing.

I thought you were pretty clear about your opinion...

2008-07-13T22:48:00.000-04:00

I thought you were pretty clear about your opinion of the nature of words. I admittedly did a poor job of tying your perspective to the examples in my questions. (So much for trying to be brief in a comment box.) I wasn't saying that you hadn't addressed the topic. It just seems that while many people have similar opinions on the meaning and impact of words, the resulting societal norms don't seem to match (e.g. If it's funny, it's OK). It's a phenomenon I find confusing. Again, not specifically targeted at you, just a general observation.

I also wasn't saying that it is right that, had the circumstances been different, the video would have been OK or shouldn't be viewed as offensive. I do wish people had just written the video off as an idiot with a camera, regardless of his background or ethnicity. I felt you did something similar in your post back in March. It wasn't a vehement rant, but rather a very eloquent way of making your point.

Unfortunately, few have followed suit. Instead, this "issue" is now a hot topic. Many outraged bloggers also had a platform last August, but remained much more silent than they are now. They have essentially been baited by Arrington and company. Now that many more people are talking about it, is it moving the topic toward a constructive end? In my opinion, it is creating a much more divisive environment in which nothing will be solved and more lines are drawn. This is why I say it's getting out of hand. Maybe I'm wrong and something constructive can be achieved. If so, that's fine by me.

If I put you on the defensive, I apologize. That was not my intent. There isn't much that I disagree with in this post or your prior posts on the topic. If my point is still not clear, or if you just disagree, let me know.

Amazing. I wrote an entire piece answering these q...

2008-07-13T20:35:00.000-04:00

Amazing. I wrote an entire piece answering these questions and addressing these issues. If something was unclear that is one thing. And it would be interesting to discuss what was unclear. But it is very strange for me to read a comment which suggests you didn't even read the piece. I know this task is futile, but damn!

I agree with Verizon's decision purely from a corp...

2008-07-13T20:27:00.000-04:00

I agree with Verizon's decision purely from a corporate standpoint. He did something they disagreed with or ultimately decided was in poor taste, so they pulled advertising, end of discussion... or should have been.

I have to be honest... I think this whole Feldman thing is getting out of hand. Had Loren been a member of any other ethnic group, I believe it wouldn't have escalated. Had he produced something that was actually funny, I believe it wouldn't have escalated.

I'll openly admit to not ever having to have dealt with racism personally, but I find it offensive nevertheless. But my same lack of experience makes me ask why it is OK for one minority to demean their own race, or any other? Or why, if the racist remarks are "funny", it's considered acceptable?

I'm not intending to carry a debate of racial/social behavior in your comments. I just think the whole issue was blown out of proportion. It was the overreaction by many that caused the real bottom-feeders to come to the surface, as evidenced by the comments in the Yahoo video chat. And anytime people like that are given a forum to express themselves, no one wins.

Of course, Hank, you are correct that the deep pow...

2008-07-13T01:12:00.000-04:00

Of course, Hank, you are correct that the deep power of racism is missed when it's restricted to only the most overt of acts. I always remind people (if the occasion arises) that racism is systemic. Thus, if A and B have the same rights and legal protections in society, and A dislikes/hates B and vice versa for B -- but the institutions of society truly treats them equally and honors the rights entitled to both -- then A and B can only big bigoted toward each other. Now, bigotry kills or can kill; but it's not backed up and underwritten and encouraged by the society. It is easier to isolate and deal with but, again, it can be very dangerous. But here is what I think is an even better example of how racism is systematically woven into our culture and into non-obvious places: Let's use a house as the metaphor. Let's say that John is a home builder who has no concern for energy nor resource conservation. Along comes Hillary and she chooses one of John's houses because he's built almost all the houses in this town. Not only has he built all the houses in this town, but John has built almost all the houses in her entire country. Hillary is a tree-hugger, a champion of energy and resource conversation -- but she's got to live in a John house. She's also got to admit that the John house is more comfortable and will yield a higher return when she sells it. Along the way, because of the John house higher value, she's able to take out greater amounts in home equity loans. The John house put her in a better school district because the schools are funded according to the tax base provided by a particular district. So, despite her fights for the environment, donations to the Sierra club, and belief that she is a conserver rather than profligate, Hillary greatly benefits from living in a John House.

Over the years, Hillary continues to fight for the Earth. She doesn't see herself as someone who supports John's values; in fact, she rejects his values. But she benefits from them. Maybe she could have moved to a non-John house, but she would have lot money and been in a poorer school district. She could have moved, but the non-John areas get fewer public and private services. Sometimes she thought about this and it troubled her, but most of the time she didn't. And over the years, she was faced with opportunities to She didn't ask John to build this type of house; she didn't want him to build this type of house. Hillary, in the end, supports John's values. Anyway, I think you get my point and much more can be said about this.

But if you want to read a satirical commentary on Hillary and race, go to www.themeditatingotter.net and look under the "Original" section. For those pre, post, and during the civil rights movement the piece might be a reminder, revelation, or rejoinder to a big part of our history.

Thanks Tom. Much appreciated.

2008-07-11T14:33:00.000-04:00

Thanks Tom. Much appreciated.

Hank,I just wanted to say I'm sorry the SAI thread...

2008-07-11T14:31:00.000-04:00

Hank,
I just wanted to say I'm sorry the SAI thread had to be shut down. We had an interesting conversation going on there for a while, despite the differing views of those involved. Its unfortunate it had to be invaded by some incredibly racist and ignorant people who had no intention of contributing to the discussion in a meaningful way.
I look forward to reading more of your columns.

Bravos, Hank. Well said. Others not wanting to get...

2008-07-10T23:55:00.000-04:00

Bravos, Hank. Well said. Others not wanting to get involved or looking the other way is, in my opinion, significantly past its best used by date.

Shel,I am truly moved by your comments. They are t...

2008-07-10T19:59:00.000-04:00

Shel,

I am truly moved by your comments. They are truly and greatly appreciated.

It's funny, how some good things come out of night...

2008-07-10T19:51:00.000-04:00

It's funny, how some good things come out of nightmares. In the 60s I marched in the South. The secret was how scared shit I was. But I discovered some great people who remained friends long after the movement died. In you, I see the qualities we were fighting for then and I am happy to see what you have made of yourself because of the doors we kicked open back then. I am moved by your wisdom and your eloquence.

Ben,The name is not ringing any bells, but my fath...

2008-07-10T19:37:00.000-04:00

Ben,

The name is not ringing any bells, but my father has passed and so I am not in a position to ask. But send me an email offline at whydoeseverythingsuck@gmail.com