Veiled Racism in America, on LPSG

[Gisella]

The issue with these terms is that they are highly contested and have thus far been rejected by official government agencies (in numerous nations) on the basis of their problematic nature. The argument goes: that to pigeonhole some people as bi- or multi-racial is to suggest that others, by contrast, are 'pure' in race... whereas the vast majority of those identifying as being of one particular race will in fact have some degree of hybridity in their racial make-up. In this sense, the rejection of the terms bi- and multi-racial is intended to counter the illusory 'purist' beliefs of racial supremacists and segregationists.

Likewise, there has also been a problematic history with terms in the US that sought to highlight "every last drop of black blood" in people to racist ends: mulattoes, quadroons, octoroons, etc. In this sense also, the terms bi- and multi-racial have tended to be rejected on the basis of potentially replicating this subdivision of people to negative ends. (A comparable problem exists here in Germany with trying to find terms that do not echo back to Nazi ideology along the lines of Halbjude [half-Jew], Vierteljude [quarter-Jew], etc.).

And I have to agree that these are all perfectly legitimate concerns. However... they still leave an awful lot of people forced to tick the "other" box on forms, because there is no other place for them to be accomodated; or else having to straitjacket themselves into ticking a box for a single race, thus denying some of their own heritage as well. I have no idea what valid solution there might be to overcome this... [other than perhaps introducing a system whereby people can enter their own choice of terminology for their racial/ethnic make-up... but this in turn would doubtless obfuscate the very possibility of drawing up simplified statistical breakdowns along the lines that these tickboxes seek to establish in the first place.

No way we have to embrace the US academics and views of race and racism that says something like: anyone (in the US or in the world) with any Black heritage must see themselves as black. They insist in see everything from the US and European perspective. Its a first world way of thinking and narrow too. No one is perfect only because has great power and richness.

One who study must look outside the American experience if they are going to judge another culture views of their on races...i find very strange a country that only in 1967 declared wrong many terrible things that kept races apart by the law, have the "nerves" to think they are absolutely right in their studies about race and racism (in other nations too? historically we have accept and encourage mixed race heritages.)

Most brazilians are poor of every race, most of middle class and wealthy are "white" (by brazilian term of white not american) races divisions are not clear but classes are.

Well, the Portugueses who colonize us seems had no problem mixing with other colors maybe because they were considered by the northern European "less pure" (like the Spanish and Italians too) Our original settlers were encouraged to have relationships with the native indians and later the slaves, they had some segregation rules but they were always broken...for this we are one of the most heterogeneous population in the world and we are trihybrid with European, Ameridian and African roots.

I do have to be pround of Brazil mostly for that.:smile:


"love has killed in Brazil the possibility of a supreme biological expression. Hatred has created in America the glory of human eugenism". (Lobato, 1926, as quoted in Cristaldo, 2003)

 

[AlteredEgo]

I am NOT an African American. I am black. Or I am of color. Because of the impact of the diaspora, I can not trace my family back to Africa. I don't know many people who live in Africa. I have not yet been to Africa. There are no people there waiting to claim me. So. How do I get to be an African American. Someone said we are all immigrants here. Not true. I'm not. I'm an American, through and through. I can trace my family back to a man and two women who helped build this country by the stripes on their backs. They were not immigrants, their great-grandparents were not immigrants, and to call them such is insulting for reasons that should be apparent. On my father's side, I do not come from immigrants. I come from American-born slaves, and cannot trace further back than that. After that man and those women, (I have found nothing yet which takes me further back than that, or tells me if one of those women had more children after she was resold, and I only know her story as told to my grandmother by her own great-grandmother) I can count nine whole generations of free black people in florida alone. Before arriving in Florida, my family made roots in Tennesee. This is because that first free black woman wasn't really free. She was an uneducated runaway with long, silky red hair she was able to sell to earn her keep and care for her little sister. The little girls (the older being 12 at the time of escape) neither knew that they could find safety in the northern states, nor how to determine east from west, north from south. Her mother was a house negro, but they did not live in the house. She did not interact with White Massa (her term, not mine) or his children. She eventually moved to Florida after the civil war, but returned to Tennessee. My grandmother was born on her farm. But she (and eventually my grandmother's immediate family and cousins and pretty much everybody) went back to Florida. They had a farm there too. They were not share croppers, but land owners. My grandfather's folk were sharecroppers. I don't know much about them. He died without telling me his tale. I know his roots are in Kentucky, his ancestors never got free, and as I equate share cropping with indentured servitude, I would argue that he was born enslaved. My mother is only second generation American. Her grandmother immigrated here from Barbados. She would have slapped anyone who called her an African. She was ashamed of her African features, and proud of being mostly white. Some of my grandmother's cousins are not black at all. Bajan's do not talk about history. At least that's what the Bajan's in my family tell me. My conclusion is that looking too far back reminds them of their African heritage, and their slavery roots. My great-grandmother wished to be called colored. She was incensed when black became popular in the 70's (or whenever it was) and my mother gave her a greeting card which encouraged her to celebrate her blackness. She slapped my mother. On that side, my roots cannot be traced off of that island, except to other islands under or formerly under British rule, and Central America. Without sharing my mother's maiden name, I'll tell you that it has a very German sound to it. Her father's folks claim the northeast as their home, but they sound (and cook) like southerners to me.

On my mother's side, we've been here over 100 years. On my father's side, we've been here, and liberated for 9 generations. Close to 170 years by estimates. We acknowledge that we are decended from Africans. But we cannot claim people we do not know. We are Americans. We helped build this country, and it is ours. I reject the label African -American, as another form of veiled bias. In my opinion, African-Americans are immigrants, people who have no roots in this country, only a future. I am not a hyphenated-anything. This is my only home.

 

[madame_zora]

A few random thoughts, all of which relate to this thread in some way:

First, I'm "other", but I have not always been. I checked "caucasian" boxes until I was 18 because my mother told me I was white. Funny thing is, her opinion was not shared by others I met. Race is how OTHERS see you, because that's going to affect how they treat you, quite often.

Exoticism- ugh. I got it as soon as I saw it, but I never heard the word before here. However, I've been so often DISLIKED for being different, I'm actually relieved when someone likes my Indian features. I'll never live in a small town again, I get sick of being unlovable for my skin tone. Small minds suck large dead balls.

I'm relieved if someone likes me for my boobs. I'm relieved if someone will listen to me speak without interrupting, even if they're staring at my chest at the time. I'm happy enough if I just don't get instantly written off. Are my expectation too low? You bet your sweet ass, but they ARE realistic.

I laughed at the "slappahoe" comment, it was a joke. I laugh at dead baby jokes too, you're supposed to know that jokes are often inappropriate. Yes, I understand the implication of "nigger jokes" not being funny and I agree. For whatever reason, this was a mixed racial slur (native american, and "ho" is not necessarily black) that I found funny. Perhaps it depends on the teller, I think it does. I have not experienced Webster as being a racist, so I didn't take it that way. He IS supersensitive though (which you have said yourself Webster, I'm not trying to insult you), which may mean he'd do better not to take chances insulting others when he is so completely unable to take it when someone says something he perceives as insulting. Still, it shouldn't be ignored that a white guy in a dirty t-shirt is as likely to call his woman a ho as one of another race.

Best rule of thumb on racial/religous/ethnic jokes- if you're a member of group being dissed, it's okay. If you're not, it's not.

Stronzo, you are SUPERsensitive to homophobia, even where it doesn't exist at all, perhaps you should understand easier how someone else would feel put upon by something you say without getting instantly defensive. You can't go on forever being hypersensitive, but denying someone else that same right.

Gisella, I really enjoy you being a member here. You are brave to post on a board such as this, English not being your first language. You write and think beautifully, and the board is much richer for your involvement.

 

[naughty]

Jana,

I have to agree with you about Gisella. As for what occured to you in childhood, that is the real deal here in America. People look at each of us and depending upon their frame of reference do not necessarily know what we are but they make decisions anyway... So I can understand why some would think multiracial children are confused. IT doesnt makes sense!

Naughty

 

[naughty]

I am NOT an African American. I am black. Or I am of color. Because of the impact of the diaspora, I can not trace my family back to Africa. I don't know many people who live in Africa. I have not yet been to Africa. There are no people there waiting to claim me. So. How do I get to be an African American. Someone said we are all immigrants here. Not true. I'm not. I'm an American, through and through. I can trace my family back to a man and two women who helped build this country by the stripes on their backs. They were not immigrants, their great-grandparents were not immigrants, and to call them such is insulting for reasons that should be apparent. On my father's side, I do not come from immigrants. I come from American-born slaves, and cannot trace further back than that. After that man and those women, (I have found nothing yet which takes me further back than that, or tells me if one of those women had more children after she was resold, and I only know her story as told to my grandmother by her own great-grandmother) I can count nine whole generations of free black people in florida alone. Before arriving in Florida, my family made roots in Tennesee. This is because that first free black woman wasn't really free. She was an uneducated runaway with long, silky red hair she was able to sell to earn her keep and care for her little sister. The little girls (the older being 12 at the time of escape) neither knew that they could find safety in the northern states, nor how to determine east from west, north from south. Her mother was a house negro, but they did not live in the house. She did not interact with White Massa (her term, not mine) or his children. She eventually moved to Florida after the civil war, but returned to Tennessee. My grandmother was born on her farm. But she (and eventually my grandmother's immediate family and cousins and pretty much everybody) went back to Florida. They had a farm there too. They were not share croppers, but land owners. My grandfather's folk were sharecroppers. I don't know much about them. He died without telling me his tale. I know his roots are in Kentucky, his ancestors never got free, and as I equate share cropping with indentured servitude, I would argue that he was born enslaved. My mother is only second generation American. Her grandmother immigrated here from Barbados. She would have slapped anyone who called her an African. She was ashamed of her African features, and proud of being mostly white. Some of my grandmother's cousins are not black at all. Bajan's do not talk about history. At least that's what the Bajan's in my family tell me. My conclusion is that looking too far back reminds them of their African heritage, and their slavery roots. My great-grandmother wished to be called colored. She was incensed when black became popular in the 70's (or whenever it was) and my mother gave her a greeting card which encouraged her to celebrate her blackness. She slapped my mother. On that side, my roots cannot be traced off of that island, except to other islands under or formerly under British rule, and Central America. Without sharing my mother's maiden name, I'll tell you that it has a very German sound to it. Her father's folks claim the northeast as their home, but they sound (and cook) like southerners to me.

On my mother's side, we've been here over 100 years. On my father's side, we've been here, and liberated for 9 generations. Close to 170 years by estimates. We acknowledge that we are decended from Africans. But we cannot claim people we do not know. We are Americans. We helped build this country, and it is ours. I reject the label African -American, as another form of veiled bias. In my opinion, African-Americans are immigrants, people who have no roots in this country, only a future. I am not a hyphenated-anything. This is my only home.

What a great family story. YOu sound like my mom. She says the best thing to say is Americans of African Descent and that doesnt even cover it.


Naughty

 

[AlteredEgo]

What a great family story. YOu sound like my mom. She says the best thing to say is Americans of African Descent and that doesnt even cover it.


Naughty

Sounds like she and I see eye to eye on that. That is another term which is more than acceptable to me.

 

[Freddie53]

Read this thread. I am amazed at the level of writing here. There are a few comments that I will make though.

1. Not much has been said about the difference between racism as regarding skin color and features and racism as it relates to culture and ethnic differences. Case in point: The Protestant/Catholic crisis in Northern Ireland. Often times it is impossible to tell the difference if looking only at the face photo. Yet the ethnic difference is very great to the point of differences resulting in deaths and destruction.

There was a time in the United States where a person could not use the restoom available regardless of how bad the emergency, just on basis of skin color. It didn't matter the age or the person or how clean they were or anything else. In many cases, we have seen ethnic differences replace skin color as the primary criteria for "racism". The words "culturalist" or "ethnicist" would probalby be more accurate.

The "if my son brought home a person of different color who belonged to the same church I belong to, liked the same music I like, graduated from the same college I graduated and belongs to the same political party as well as wears a similar hair style, talks the same way, and dresses the same way: I think I got it all in! Then interracial mariage would be fine, but if the culture of the person of different color is not the same well then, the marriage must be called off. Son find thyself another person, "more like us."

While I am not a proponant of the above, at least it is based on choices. We both like the same kind of music. The person who losing contorl of his bladder can't change his skin color so he can use the restroom, get a meal to eat or anything else. Today,restaurant can cater to a certain crowd by their choice of decorum, food and price of a meal. But anyone can eat there if they have the money and meet the dress code.

So in this area some progress has been made.

2. Reparations was mentioned. Then some said that an apology for what was done would mean even more. Perhaps so. It is true that I have ancestors who owned slaves. My grandfather was very critical of his grandparents for the way they treated the blacks that liived on the farm. My grandfatehr was born in the 1880's so what he saw happened after the Civil War. My family is certainly not rich now nor has been in decades if it ever was. I know very little about that part of my family who lived in a different state than I do.

However, I can condemn slavery then as well as now. I can condemn the actions of my ancestors who owned slaves. No one can really apologize for what they did exept them. I am sure they saw northing wrong iwth it and if they were alive would still see nothing wrong with it. But I do. It was then and now reprehensible. I am very sorry that it happened and am very sorry that I have ancestors that owned salves. I can't change the past. I can help change the future.

We have some very weathy descendents of slaves. Giving Opera a check for $500 is not going to help rid the world of racism. Helping those still suffering from the effects of slavery will. Which brings me to the next point.

3. The real end of slavery did not come in the Untied States until the 1960's. In the 1950's I was an elementary child. My father who was quite liberal for his time, was very honest with me when I asked quesitions and did I ask them.

In the farming areas of the South in 1950's, blacks still provided much the the labor as the use of mechanical cotton pickers, the big combines and such was just then really making its appearance in the South. The blacks worked for practicaly nothing. The farm had a store. The blacks could buy on credit. The prices were too high and then once a line of credit was given, the blacks could not leave the farm without the sherrif coming after them and putting them in jail for leaving an unpaid bill behind. It was a set up designed to make the blacks and also poor whites in defacto slavery with the owner getting rich off the backs of the poor.

I thought that black men were dumb as an elemtnary child because they wouldn't look at me and they certainly wouldn't talk to me. I then found out why. It was too dangerous. A black man accused of making any improper advances to any white person was quickly tried and put to death.

It took a while for me to fully understand it all. I was fortunate to have liberal parents even in the south. My mother was a teacher and my father was a minister. We certainly weren't rich in money. But money doesn't answer all of life's needs. I had a father who told me the truth about it all as I was old enough to ask or understand.

So until 1965 or so, there was some "defacto" slavery practiced in the United
States, not really that much different from what was practices in the 1850's Just a less savage and a legal cover put on it so it could continue.

3. American Education System. Lex was very right on what he said. Sure we can pick it to death for something. But the truth is, we have chidlren in schools in conditions that are illegal to have in prisons. Lex explained it well. However, there are some points he left out that Onslow tried to pick to death.

Only two presidents of the United States did not graduate from high school and there are George Washington and abraham Lincoln. We can always find some examples of people who survived their upbringing. So we have 100 boys age fourteen without any training who are forced to swim across a very wide lake and one manages to get across because a log was there that he could hold on to and this one boy had extrodinary lungs and was in pristine physical condition. Shall we say that the practice of making 14 year old boys swim across a very wide lake without the proper trainng and testng to make sure they can do it first should become standared practice? I should hope not. A system that only one in a hundred can make it and call it successful?

IQ has absolutely nothing to do with skin color. If a student happens to be self motivated enough and has a high enough IQ and has NO LEARNING DISABILITIES, then sure that child has a great chance.

I too am an eduator. I am retired now. Lex's story has been proven over and over. Pug in the child's parents' occupation, where they live, their annual income, and their level of education and presto, you can usually guess their achievement scores farily accurately.

The secret here is to break the pattern. Reparations No. Money to see that all chidlren trully have the same ACCESS to education. You bet. Money to see that those who have certainly learning disabilities get the help they need. Definitely. Money to help those who are challenged academically and aren't good candidates for college to learn a trade that they can do and be self sufficient and feel good about them selves. Should be mandatory. Anyone whjo believes enough money is being spent fairly and equally on all children is living in some dream world.

4. Sexaul attraqction. Skin color doesn't matter to me. The look in the eyes and certain grins make a difference. Some asses are very arosuing to me. In short there are African American men that are extremely sexually attractive to me. There are some African men who don't turn me on at all. The same is true for whites, Asians, and every other ethnic or racial group that I have come into contact.

No one needs to expalin to anyone why they find a person sexually attractive. But it is my business to denounce someone preaching stuff about why certain skin colors shouldn't be sexually attracted to each other. Love and romance belnog to the people involved. It is no one else's damn business.

A lot more I could write. And accidentally I may have left out something abd someone can pick it to death. In short, I just dont' have any use for racism. I am glad that in the 1950's and 1960's I had parents who were brave enough to tell me that racism was and is wrong. They might could have lost their jobs in that era here in the South.

There is so much I do love about the South. The treatment of African-Americans is not one of those things.

Often when our government tries to "fix injustices" in other nations, I wonder if we shouln't finish cleaning up our own act before we go and tell others how to do it.

Do some blacks take from the system without doing the work? Sure. And do some whites make millions off the backs of other people? Look at the war in Iraq. I think Dick Cheney et al have made enough money off everyone else a long time ago.

And to Bronx's question is racism veiled in America? Certainly. One would have to be a total moron to not know that people find ways to hide their prejudices and justify their questionable actions.

 

[b.c.]

The recent posts to this topic (and its evolution thereof) reminds me of yet perhaps another kind of bigotry, which i'll illustrate first by telling this true story:

I and a co-worker (a black woman) were sent to a training session for a job we had both just started. It was held in Texas. There were about 6 others at this session, all white, from various parts of the country: from Minnesota, from Texas...we had a guy who participated in rodeos (sitting there in his cowboy hat), someone's mom, a college graduate...but my co-worker and I were the only two blacks. In the beginning we all had little to say to each other, but by the next week I had warmed up to the others whereas my co-worker had not. Well, back then, many blacks here were uncomfortable around whites, so i knew this was the problem with her. I on the other hand was not, (have always been equally comfortable in a crowd of whomever). Anyway, one day we're in there cracking jokes and having a jolly old time when my co-worker suddenly made a disparaging comment aloud, aluding to my having so good a time with them. I later asked her what the deal was, and the upshot of it all was that she thought I had forgotten myself. Fact was, i was not who she apparently thought i was, or perhaps more accurately, I was not who she thought I SHOULD be.

The fact is, bigotry exists even within the "black" race. Bigotries based not only on skin tones within the black race (yes...it exists) but also on
preconceived perceptions and definitions (whose I don't know) on an acceptable form of "blackness", something I've dealt with, in various ways, most of my life.

You see it in the media, in black comedy etc. The character whose dialect, mannerisms, tastes, etc. is perceived as being too non-black (i.e. white) is often portrayed as an object of ridicule, the assumption being that the character is not only being not true to his race, but also not true to himself.

We as a race have always had a narrowly defined set of acceptable criteria in this regard, which is only now beginning to broaden. And so, in this regard, there is a bigotry of thought among us.

I am a product of where and how i grew up, first. And have always tried to be true to that, often to the confusion and/or dismay to those around me. And as such, I have come to the conclusion that discrimination, racism, and bigotry can be distinctly different things.

Racism, i think, is bigotry based on race, usually to the exclusion or detriment of people of another race. Discrimination being the result of that kind of bigotry. But I think it a mistake to confuse bigotry with bias, or (its alternative) preference. We ALL have preference.

We may be able to do something about discrimination... racism, to some extent, as well. But we'll always have bigots, because people will always have biases, and preferences whether they be based on personality, gender, sexuality, physical characterists... whatever.

It's not a perfect world. And last time I looked, we still have a right to choose. I don't particularly care what your choice is, just so long as you get "outta my way" and that my rights, opportunities, dignity, etc. are not trampled upon... because I too have a right to choose.

 

[Webster]

.

 

[Webster]

.

 

[Webster]

.

 

[Pappy]

Webster, you're right. Madame Zora/Jana is very attractive. I'd give her my 10% anytime!! That's the thing about those Others/People of Color, they don't have to work to get a good tan like us white folks do, lucky stiffs!!

 

[madame_zora]

Webster, you're right. Madame Zora/Jana is very attractive. I'd give her my 10% anytime!! That's the thing about those Others/People of Color, they don't have to work to get a good tan like us white folks do, lucky stiffs!!

Haha, if I spend much time in the sun, I get darker than most black people and I rarely burn. My father was dark skinned and it just doesn't take much.

Thanks for the compliment (and from you too Webster), you guys make an old girl blush.

 

[GoneA]

you guys make an old girl blush.

except, of course, when you spend time in the sun

 

[AlteredEgo]

____________________________
Thank you. As usual, you tell it like it is and make it acceptable.

My comment was intended to make people laugh. I see humor in almost everything.

I have always found that avatar extremely distasteful. I don't care to see a giganting flapping ass when I am trying to read what has been posted. Numerous other people have complained about that avatar in the past. Someone mentioned that it was someone from a porn film. Mr. Dilzik even asked (if I remember correctly) who the porn star was. If it had been an actual photo of the member, I would never have said a word, because it is not my intent to insult people unless they ask for it(not the case here).

My comment had absolutely nothing to do with the color of the gigantic flapping ass.

Bronxbombshell has been baiting me for some time now with out ever saying what she was angry about. It wasn't until Mr. Dilzik mentioned it, that I thought I knew what she was mad about.

I would welcome responses on this subject.

Regardless, now that I know why Bronxbombshell was angry, I offer a no strings attached apology to her and anyone else who was offended by my comment.

I accept your apology.

 

[AlteredEgo]

@ Webster -- If you offered an explanation of the "slapahoe" statement via PM, you are more than welcome to post it here (as is Bronx as it was sent to her). ...

_________________________
Mr. Dilzick posted something like that. Bronxbombshell hasn't told me what her problem is.......


edit.

Please see following post.[/quote]

here's the thing though.. You need to stop lying on me. How can you say I never told you what was bothering me, when I specifically pasted the quote into a message I sent you and (though i don't remember what I wrote word for word) the subject of the message was "No." and in the body of the message I know I used either the word unacceptable, or inapropriate. You are too intelligent to be able to say,
"It's the darndest thing! She said she was upset, but never said why." I will continue to call you a liar, as you continue to say I never explained.

 

[rawbone8]

*bewildered*

looks up meaning of dominatrix.

 

[Irvy]

I think an important part of life in general is our sense of humour. I listed it in my list of things I look for in people I'll spend time with. Zora is very right - there has to be room for inappropriate humour.

Here in NI insults are an art form. I call my best friends all the names and slurs I can think of, and they insult me right back. Most of my mates are straight, so I suggest that they are all gay. I'm gay, so they suggest I'm really straight, and call me "twat licker" instead of cock sucker.

Some will find that odd, even insulting, but it's like I said earlier. Unless we can sweep away all the "ism"s from both sides, they'll stay.

I've witnessed times when friends of mine who have friends who are coloured/foreign/gay/disabled, whatever, and those friends join in with the insults and banter we all share. They're used to being able to joke about it in a way that's not insulting, and is never intended to be. I've seen them make the same jokes, in the same way, with the same humourous intent, but infront of someone who then takes issue with their "inappropriate humour". My friend making the joke didn't have the problem. They were anything-ist. The person taking offense was.

I give my friends permission to rip the piss out of me (NI slang for make fun of). They can make jokes about me being gay (one of their favourites is based on a movie name. My bf's name is Denver, so their favourite movie title is "Things to do in Denver when you're Irvy"). They can make fun of my big chin. My dick size is also fair game. All my physical "oddities", whatever they can come up with. The reason they have that permission is that I also have permission to do the same to them, and that makes it fair, equal, and funny.

Go look in a mirror and laugh. You'll find something to laugh at. I know I do.

 

[naughty]

Irvy,

I think you have touched on something. We have that tradition here in the North Americas and Carribean. There is a thread where folks are participating in it right now. It is call "Hey Pecker, yo mama..." LOL! Even though we associate the "Yo mama" with black people who are "Joneing" or putting each other "in the dozens" something that came out of slavery. I have a feeling it probably did have roots in the convergence of Celtic and African cultures here in the Americas. From very early on we had interaction.
As for black on black prejudice. IT is very much true .If you look back at my thread concerning the term "biracial" I said that "Free people of color" and "Blacks" were put together as "negros" after reconstruction. They were not the same color, class, education ,etc. and there was probably much elitism that could be pinned on mere color but it was much more than that.Bronxy's great grand was not uncommon in her attitudes. However, I have seen instances where people were accused of that where none abided. But it is alive and doing well still today. I have lived around, dated, and worked with individuals who hold this insane attitude and it really is an interesting one.They feel that kind should stick to kind .I say love who you want, it is a hard enough commodity to come by as it is.

K.

 

[Irvy]

I was watching one of Chris Rock's stand up shows on dvd, and he had a brilliant rant about "I love black people.... but I hate niggers". I loved it, because it showed that actually, the stereotypes that are out there are based in fact. It's not true that "all" black people behave that way, but some do, and that minority is the basis for the stereotype.

For years I've said something similar. I love gay people, but I hate poofs. I get annoyed when gay men talk about themselves and their male friends as if they were females. "She did this", "Hey, Girlfriend", "Oh, what's a girl to do?". I sometimes wonder if they pee sitting down too. Does that make me homophobic? Or do I just get annoyed when I see people proving the homophobes right, and personifying the very thing I'm trying to prove isn't "part" of being gay?