PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT- CULTURE

by serenitynow! 113 Replies latest jw friends

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  beksbks

  I really wanted the thread to be informational. I like to try to keep in mind that even though I may not understand why a person feels the way they do, or why they get upset about something I think is trivial, that their feelings are valid, and I think we would all benefit from remembering that.

  I totally understand what you are saying (you can make fun of me for sounding like a white girl from California). But sometimes I think it's difficult for people to see that what they are experiencing is not because they are black, but because that's life, or there are jerks/idiots in the world, no matter what color you are.

  I think I understand the hair thing, correct me if I'm wrong. It must come from some kind of 'Ohhhhh what an odd thing that is" on the part of white people. Like blacks are some unusual animal with funny hair, and they feel the need to touch it. I think Snow's approach is perfect, yea touch it, it's just hair, now you know.

  Seems to me most problems come in with the fact that we don't interact with each other enough (one reason I love this place!)
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  agonus

  OK, the gal below the picture of the adorable little girl is pretty much my ideal of African-American beauty FWIW. Coffee with a drop of cream and sugar and a swirl.
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  John Doe

  1. Non-blacks- you simply cannot say the n-word period. Chris Rock does a really funny bit on this. Honestly, we shouldn't say it either but it's our choice.

  Bull crap. You lost all respect with this point. I didn't continue past it.
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  serenitynow!

  "I'm asking out of sheer curiosity and ignorance... do you think, given how you feel, Princess Tiana is an appropriate icon for you to use? I know, first black Disney heroine and all, but isn't she something of a stereotype?"

  Agonus let me be honest, I have not yet seen the movie. I do have the doll though. So you would have to give me some info about what you thought was stereotypical about the character.

  I grew up on Disney films. It wasn't til I was an adult that they progressed to the point of making a black princess. We (black girls) want to be princesses too! It's important when you are a minority to see yourself represented. I don't know if people fully understand the damage that prevalence of only one standard of beauty can have on minorities.

  I'm always happy to see a black Miss America/Miss USA. Shoot, I was happy to see the first Middle Eastern Miss USA, a beautiful Lebanese woman from my state!
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  beksbks

  Serious question, does it seem like we lost ground in general on women and blacks (is that an acceptable term?) from the late seventies on? Seems to me from the mid sixties, we were just making major progress on both, and then all of a sudden we stopped. Anyone recognize this?
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  serenitynow!

  " It must come from some kind of 'Ohhhhh what an odd thing that is" on the part of white people. "

  Honey you would be surprised. I came in with my hair twisted- not braided, but similar. One of my white lunch buddies was like "wow, what is it." I was kind of like that when my white friend told me that sometimes white newborns eye color changes. I don't fault people being curious and you are right alot of these issues could be dealt with hanging with diverse groups of people. But back to the hair, I really encourage y'all to look some things up about it to understand why our feelings can be so strong about it. Part of being able to get along with different people is understanding and respecting the differences.
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  serenitynow!

  "blacks"

  I prefer blacks. I refuse to say "african american."
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  shamus100

  MAY I ask a question?

  In America we call you Africans African Americans. What do you call Africans in Canada? African Canadians?
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  beksbks

  Don't you want to touch my hair???
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  serenitynow!

  "Bull crap. You lost all respect with this point. I didn't continue past it."

  That's all right, you don't have to like what I said. But I would like to know are you upset that I feel blacks can say it, or that I don't want you to say it?