I think the space in that sentence was accidental, given that he capitalised the THEM.

Either way, this tweet was racist, and admitting to killing a white boy for fun might have also been racially motivated.

At least thats my opinion. I know a lot of people with left political leanings who only claim its racist when white people do it, and I want to here them speak on this issue.

When a white person kills someone because of the colour of their skin, its obviously racist.
But when a black person kills someone due to the colour of their skin, would you consider that racist?

Well, if your race (not a biology concept, a social construct) had been oppressed for hundreds of years and you were not offered an equal opportunity by another race, then killing a member of that other race might be justice in your eyes...

OF course it would still be racist, and um, most likely murder, but perhaps circumstances made you do it? (or at least lead you to be more likely to end up lashing out at the unfair situation society placed you in)

Racism is a structural issue, not an individual one.

Nobody thinks that this guy isn't a horrible racist fuck. Please stop trolling, and take your strawman with you.

ghug?

Yes?

who was that for?

@Ghug: I can't remember if I have ever seen it on this site, but I have on others. I have seen people claim that if your a women you can't be sexist, if your black you can't be racist, etc.

I'm not saying you are one of the people who believes that, but there are people who believe that out there, and I want to here their opinions on this issue.

@red, I was talking to Fasces in reference to James Edwards.


@Fasces, There are definitely a few scattered cases of people believing that only whites can be racist, only males can be sexist, etc. but, at least in my experience, those who make such claims are either trying to justify their own racism or having their words taken out of context. In fact, the only time I remember seeing the argument made is when those on the other side of the Zimmerman fight (mainly krellin, not the ones who made intelligent arguments) tried to make the argument that Zimmerman couldn't possibly be racist because he was Hispanic.

I think the general argument that is made is that, while everyone can be racist, it is more inherently ingrained in our culture for whites to suppress minorities, for obvious historical reasons, and that society as a whole is naturally tilted in favor of white people. I would appreciate if people were argue this point with me, as I don't have the time or energy for a spirited debate and the subject was hashed out pretty thoroughly by krellin and Thucy a few weeks ago.

Of course black people can be racist.

It is interesting to link this with a discussion we had some time ago about if stating facts could be racist. If you believe that everyone is nasty (in the sense we are all sinners) and you hate them, then stating that "90% of white people are nasty and I hate them" is factually correct but is of course still racist.

Does the OP accept that factually statements can be racist?

how is it that American kids that age can have such easy access to guns?

That's hardly fair, nudge, those kids may have had to work very hard to get access to guns.

I don't think their age is all that important an issue, relatively speaking. There are plenty of children not yet teenagers in the UK with gun licenses and this causes no problems whatsoever. It's the callous cold blooded murding intent and the complete failure as human beings that is more of a concern.

But what about their right to bear arms? It's in God's Constitution! They should be able to get as many guns as they can afford! Also, Yahoo!!

Maniac, how is that factually correct? Opinions on the inherent good or evil of people do not justify selective hate towards anyone group from anyone.

Orathaic, slavery and civil inequality are over. Hanging on to something that occurred decades and even centuries ago is absolutely pointless. Not a black person today was a victim of slavery and many of them now weren't even victims of civil inequality (the younger generation that is) so they have absolutely no right to play that card. Antisemitism is more common than racism towards blacks yet no one demands social justice for the Jews. Just something to think about the next time you consider why this kind of behavior occurs. I can assure you it is not because of hundreds of years of oppression on their ANCESTORS, not them.

Kramerkov, what you've just said is just not true. You don't need to look beyond wage gaps to work that one out.

mendax, Are you kidding? Do you know how many people have gotten jobs they are incompetent at just for the sake of "diversity in the workforce." My own father's boss is driving their business into the ground and has no idea what he is doing yet he keep his high position of authority based almost entirely on his race. Not to mention the number of people who are being selectively hired just because the company want the better image of diverse employees. I have seen this in person, I am not making it up for the sake of my argument. Where do you live that this wage gap occurs on a wide scale?

Scratch the last part, I misread your statement about wage gaps.

Kramerkov - I meant to say, if someone said... "at least 90% of white people are nasty, I hate them" could be a factually correct statement. I'd still consider it racist depending on it's context.

You are quite wrong that not a single black person alive today has been the victim of slavery. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/slavery/default.stm

Maniac, I meant in the USA. Sorry should have been more specific. Anyway this subject just makes me angry and nothing good can come out of me arguing it further so I am just going leave.

@Kramer - the US has one of the highest prison populations in the world, but beyond that, the blacks make up 40% of the prison population, while only being 12-13% of the general population, that is more than 3 times more likely to be imprisoned than average (and that's an average which includes black people, it would be even higher rate if compared to white people)

This is a simple fact, and is part of a legacy of oppression. I'm willing to bet that social mobility is worse if you are black; education does not achieve the same results for black kids. The list of social inequalities goes on and on...

You can't just expect hundreds of years of oppression and slavery to disappear overnight.

You know, it's statements like that which really make me feel disappointed in American society. I am American and truth be told I hate what we've become. Everything in today’s society is about race and stupid conflict over issues that pale in comparison to the rest of the world's problems, including our own. Honestly, do you think cops just pick on black people because they're racists? No, it's because there is a complete lack of responsibility in the black community which has become dependent on everyone else taking care of them. Parents are not taking responsibility for their children and teaching them the right things to do in life. A father-figure is essential to a young boy and many in the black community do not have father-figures so their young men grow up to be thugs and delinquents. Do white people have a similar issue? Of course, it’s just on a smaller scale and EQUALLY as much an issue. This is not a stereotype, it is a known fact and many of the people I talk with, co-workers, teachers, friends, family, etc… agree. Many of whom ARE black. The same goes for poor whites.
We take advantage of these systems that are meant to help those in need and abuse them to a disgusting degree. Food Stamps, Medicare, Worker’s Compensation... all were designed to help those who needed it. Quite frankly the people who NEED it aren't getting it because those who are lazy and don't wish to work piggy back off the programs and exploit them through fraud. Those in charge of the programs are completely incompetent and show gross negligence in handling them because they take advantage of the system themselves. It's nearly impossible for government workers to get fired what with tenure and this bullshit about having a more "diverse" yet incompetent workforce. I don't care what your skin color, religion, ethnicity, or even your political views are. Just do your fucking job and contribute to society. Give back to those who helped you. We take and we take and we take. We never once think about anyone but ourselves (as a whole that is, individual acts of charity don't count as they only represent a few). Why do we have to gain something from doing the right thing? You're supposed to do it because IT IS the RIGHT thing! Everyone needs to stop ranting about racism this, and unfair that, and we should have this! How about we all appreciate what we do have and move forward. Work constructively to improve our society. Don't sit around and wait for someone to do it for you whilst you complain on the internet about how we just aren't given enough.
Our government is a laughing stock and is too busy playing political games with the country to realize the damage they are causing. Democrats and Republicans are both guilty and should be held accountable. There is no compromise anymore. It's all about who can gain enough power to FORCE changes. This country was built on compromise, not political maneuvering! I know there are people out there who are trying to help, but the bold few are always silenced by the deafening cries of the many who spout their blatantly misguided and extreme views of either side of an issue which usually has little to no consequence to your average American. We take everything on the internet and social media as absolute fact. News flash! They CAN LIE! Fox News, CNN, NBC, ABC… they are all just political propaganda meant to skew people’s opinions in their favor. If everyone could just THINK FOR THEMSELVES for ONCE and stop looking for something to follow we would make so much more progress. People shouldn't politically identify themselves with whoever they voted for and specifically what their policies are. You should identify yourself with what YOU BELIEVE actually helps people and is beneficial, not what the news and politicians want you to believe.
It's not just the government that is destroying what America stood for; it is the general mentality of the people. We are, without a doubt, one of the worst generations of Americans and I am ashamed to be a part of that group. All we do is demand more for less. You get out of life what you put into it. What YOU put into it. We are ALL RESPONSIBLE for the way America is because America is not defined by region, or geography, or policy. America is DEFINED BY ITS PEOPLE. I used to wonder why the rest of the world hates us, but now I know why. We have been arrogantly sitting on the success of past generations boasting about our power and freedom while the rest of the world moves on and laughs at us (for those of you who doubt look up the united states' rankings in the world on any number of issues ex= education). The United States is a shell of its former self. We used to stand for something more, but now... I don't know what to think. I often think about leaving this place and that deeply saddens me. I know we are capable of better, but ALL OF US have to step up to the task. Don't leave it for the next generation to deal with, don't fix a little and pray that's enough.
That is all I have to say. Take it how you will, but I feel very strongly about this and no amount of bullying or espoused factoids from some random website will change my mind. You don’t need to look up a fact to know how things are. Just STOP and look up. We place too much value on money, tangible items, fame, and success. Appreciate what you have and strive to be better than you already are without it being at the expense of others. Life is too precious for that. Don’t waste.

*Don't waste it.
...kind of ruins the message a little due to the typo.

Jesse Jackson - Black Community leader, tweets about the killing of a white kid by two black kids. Such a *ringing* statement against violence. Saith the Reverend JAckson: "Praying for the family of Chris Lane. This senseless violence is FROWNED UPON and the justice system must prevail."

Uh....excuse me...murder is "FROWNED UPON" by Black Community leaders? Uhhh....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/21/jesse-jackson-tweets-that-killing-of-chris-lane-frowned-upon/

Just to clarify, I do not direct this at anyone in particular. This is a broad spectrum statement and I hold myself just as accountable. Once I am out of college and fully in the workforce I plan to do my part just like everyone else.

kramer, maybe think concise, maybe even terse.

It the real world (when you student loans dry up) no one is interested in reading past the first paragraph.

Just so you know.

Fair enough dirge, but this was more for myself. It felt good to just put that out there and say it. If I really feel like going into this I will make a thread, but I don't very much care to discuss this right now.

Yeah, I know what you mean, I mean, I live in Eugene Oregon for f's sake. The phrase "black responsibility" seems so verboten. But I think that's mostly in white liberal circles and among dumb ass activist idiots like Sharpton. Black individuals I know have no problem talking about responsibility and the need for it in their own communities.

Personally I think we are at a tidal social shift. Normal people are not will to swallow this race card horse crap anymore. Why isn't Jesse Jackson crying out for federal charges against these race hating murderers who happen to be black?

Same here. Literally every black person I associate with is a well respected and hard working member of the community. It's the known majority (mostly in the major cities) who give them a bad name. I mean "known" as in the people who form the face of the black community such as Jesse Jackson. I think there are plenty of people out there who are doing real good, but they just aren't getting the recognition they deserve. If more people knew how positive an effect they had we probably wouldn't have nearly as big a problem as we do now.