Racist Teacher? Please Look

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
43

[quote]Mick28 wrote:
meangenes wrote:
Well. For one, black people didn’t go to Europe, steal white people away from their family, bring them to a new land and make them work for no pay, torture them, treat them like dogs, and kill them. Lots of them.

Your post is void of sound logic.

  1. All of the people who perpetrated these deplorable acts are now dead.

  2. Black people have had freedom for about 140 years and civil rights (special rights) which equate to rights greater than white people have for the past 40 years.

  3. And how does allowing one race to use a particular word and not the rest of the population actually help give black people equality?[/quote]

1-2. Still doesn’t negate the fact that America was FOUNDED from slave labor. Rights greater? Do you know how much wealth can be acquired from free labor, on cotton, for 400 years? Fuck rights, I’d rather have the wealth back.

  1. I was getting at the fact that this word does have negative connotation and that’s why.

Most black people have a basic understanding of this idea and will be ‘mad’ at white (politicians) until reparations are given.

44

[quote]Mick28 wrote:
Airtruth wrote:
detazathoth wrote:
omgz like a word like nigga can only be used by a certain group of the populance, while that same group also can call a much larger group words like honkey and such.

Very confused. If a black teacher called a white kid a honkey first he would be fired, then there would be a large burning cross on his lawn that night.

Ha ha…that’s total bullshit.

Please you’ll have to give some real world examples where a black teacher was fired for calling a student a honkey, cracker…whatever. And when you can’t don’t say “it could happen.”

And when is the last time that a cross was burning in front of a black persons home? This isn’t Alabama 30 to 50 years ago.

You’re working hard to keep the lie alive, but you need to get real.
Get real.[/quote]

I think I said this before a black teacher wouldn’t be that STUPID. So no there won’t be an example of a black teacher calling a student a honkey. Let me guess your the reigning example right? Some black teacher called you one?.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0528-05.htm these are reported cross burnings.

I can also recall one my senior year at college, and while the frat that did it did get expelled, fact is it still happens. So what are you talking about 30 or 50 years ago? I wasn’t alive then.

If you have something against privelages for blacks thats all fine and dandy but dont’ be stupid and act like it doesn’t exist. I take that back maybe its smart to act like that, after all thats the purpose of the white sheet right so nobody knows who the person is?

45

I can see the lawsuits coming!

Nigga please. The teacher is freaking harmless. He was maybe out of line, but the kid isn’t psychologically scarred in any way.

47

The ignorance of some posters never ceases to amaze me.

Anyone who pretends that oppression died out with slavery and that there are is no more ill will floating around between races is exceedingly delusional and likely has not had any serious discussions with black people about it.

As a white guy, I don’t have the privilege of declaring race to be a dead issue. That’s not my call because I’ve never been impacted by being white other than a few under the breath comments in the few settings where I have been a minority.

I have no idea what it’s like to be a suspect just because of my skin color. I don’t know how it feels to have people change sides of the street as I walk toward them simply because I’m black. No one thinks twice about my level of education or my socio-economic standing. If I were black or hispanic, I bet people would think things like “What a success story, if only the rest of them could have such drive and determination.”

When these sorts of thoughts are a distant memory, then, race will likely not be an issue.

DB

49

[quote]meangenes wrote:

Most black people have a basic understanding of this idea and will be ‘mad’ at white (politicians) until reparations are given.[/quote]

Indulging this argument, how does one assign reparations and who is going to be held accountable to pay them? Me? I don’t think I have any reason to be taxed for something none of my relatives were a part of. After all, the earliest any of my relatives came to the U.S. was around the 1850s and they settled in Ohio and lived as poor farmers until the early 1900s. The rest of my relatives kind of trickled in between the late 1800s and early 1900s. No slave ownership anywhere in my history.

Do you go after the families with the documented history of owning slaves? Only direct descendants?

Who benefits? Every black person in America, keeping in mind that there are many black people here who do not have ancestors that were slaves? What about those families in Africa who had healthy young people taken away? Do they get money too?

Slavery was a terrible thing and has left a lasting legacy of mistrust and hurt. But how does one logically and fairly make reparations for something like that?

The only people who will see any real benefit to pursuing reparations will be the law firms who figure all of it out. The rest of us will be bitter and angry at each other. The whites because we’ve had to pay something we had nothing to do with and the blacks because they received a check for $0.39 from the class-action suit they won.

DB

50

[quote]dollarbill44 wrote:
meangenes wrote:

Most black people have a basic understanding of this idea and will be ‘mad’ at white (politicians) until reparations are given.

Indulging this argument, how does one assign reparations and who is going to be held accountable to pay them? Me? I don’t think I have any reason to be taxed for something none of my relatives were a part of. After all, the earliest any of my relatives came to the U.S. was around the 1850s and they settled in Ohio and lived as poor farmers until the early 1900s. The rest of my relatives kind of trickled in between the late 1800s and early 1900s. No slave ownership anywhere in my history.

Do you go after the families with the documented history of owning slaves? Only direct descendants?

Who benefits? Every black person in America, keeping in mind that there are many black people here who do not have ancestors that were slaves? What about those families in Africa who had healthy young people taken away? Do they get money too?

Slavery was a terrible thing and has left a lasting legacy of mistrust and hurt. But how does one logically and fairly make reparations for something like that?

The only people who will see any real benefit to pursuing reparations will be the law firms who figure all of it out. The rest of us will be bitter and angry at each other. The whites because we’ve had to pay something we had nothing to do with and the blacks because they received a check for $0.39 from the class-action suit they won.

DB [/quote]

lol, It’s the thought that counts.

51

[quote]Mick28 wrote:
meangenes wrote:

1-2. Still doesn’t negate the fact that America was FOUNDED from slave labor. Rights greater? Do you know how much wealth can be acquired from free labor, on cotton, for 400 years? Fuck rights, I’d rather have the wealth back.

Have it back? Black people never had it to begin with. And no need to point out why, we all know why.[/quote]

Besides the blatant racism stated here. I’ll play along. Blacks never had the wealth huh? So blacks didn’t work the cotton fields of the south? Interesting viewpoint.

We all know why huh? Thanks for enforcing the well known faction of institutionalized racists. Didn’t you say you weren’t a racist? Now that is not good company to be in.

One thing I’ve learned in these arguments is that if a person says "Well, first off I’m not a racist but… " they’re racist.

[quote]As to your specific statement:

Are you in favor of reparations? That seems to be what you’re talking about. And that’s possibly the worst idea that I’ve ever come across, certainly the most unfair.[/quote]

I can think of one that was a little bit more unfair. It involved something like the stealing of a people from their family and native land to voyage the seas and then work for no pay, be tortured, killed, what have you, etc, etc.

[quote]Let’s have the US government write a big fat check to every black person in America…Hey wait a minute, every time a black is hired over a white in a state or federal civil service test (they are given 15 extra points on the exam because of race), that is a give back program in action.

And…every time a black is admitted to a University over a white even though the white has better grades etc, that is a give back program.

And every time a free lawyer is given to a black for whatever the suit of the day is…that my friend is yet another give back program.

And what must be truly truly amazing to you is that after 40 or so years of these “give back” programs blacks are only marginally ahead of where they were. And in fact some would argue that they are no further ahead, and in fact falling behind judging by the crime and welfare statistics. Not to mention the 60+% of black children who are raised without the benefit of their natural father.

How come 40 years of give back programs hasn’t done a fucking thing? You think more money is needed huh?

When something is proven not to work, do you do more of it?

You could not be more wrong.[/quote]

Let’s quit the patronizing. In no way are we friends, so stop with the honky dory bullshit.

But explain to me how 40 years, can even be considered a glimpse of 400 years. The people that are in power, are in most cases the direct ancestors of the people that were in power in slave times.

[quote]3. I was getting at the fact that this word does have negative connotation and that’s why.

I agree, it has an immense negative connotation. And that’s why black people should NOT be using it. Not in speech, song or otherwise.

They are in fact perpetuating it’s usage and that harms their cause…simple…very simple. Why do black people hurt themselves?

If you want a word to disappear from the lexicon you stop using it.

Duh.[/quote]

Overnight huh?

Pretty sure the origins are Latin. Pretty sure we didn’t make the word up. Nigger - Wikipedia

Is master mad that blacks have flipped a derogative term to be a term of endearment?

[quote]Most black people have a basic understanding of this idea and will be ‘mad’ at white (politicians) until reparations are given.

I thought that’s where you were going. And of course reparations won’t help the black population anymore than the many programs given to that same race. And in fact would probably drive them down emotionally further as a race. I’d hate to think that my entire success in life is dependent on the federal government in the form of an entitlement.

I don’t think you can lower your self esteem any more, at least not in the legitimate world…

People are not helped by being given anything. They’re helped by being taught how to earn it![/quote]

So essentially, the black man needs to learn how to profit from the free labor of the white man. Hmm.

[quote]You’re basically pounding the same drum as the racist Al Sharpton.

Not good company to be in my friend.
[/quote]

What it comes down to is that you don’t know what it is like to be black, you’re not. Therefore you don’t have a viewpoint on using the N-word period. Unless of course you choose to use it derogatively. Bravo.

52

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
dollarbill44 wrote:
meangenes wrote:

Most black people have a basic understanding of this idea and will be ‘mad’ at white (politicians) until reparations are given.

Indulging this argument, how does one assign reparations and who is going to be held accountable to pay them? Me? I don’t think I have any reason to be taxed for something none of my relatives were a part of. After all, the earliest any of my relatives came to the U.S. was around the 1850s and they settled in Ohio and lived as poor farmers until the early 1900s. The rest of my relatives kind of trickled in between the late 1800s and early 1900s. No slave ownership anywhere in my history.

Do you go after the families with the documented history of owning slaves? Only direct descendants?

Who benefits? Every black person in America, keeping in mind that there are many black people here who do not have ancestors that were slaves? What about those families in Africa who had healthy young people taken away? Do they get money too?

Slavery was a terrible thing and has left a lasting legacy of mistrust and hurt. But how does one logically and fairly make reparations for something like that?

The only people who will see any real benefit to pursuing reparations will be the law firms who figure all of it out. The rest of us will be bitter and angry at each other. The whites because we’ve had to pay something we had nothing to do with and the blacks because they received a check for $0.39 from the class-action suit they won.

DB

lol, It’s the thought that counts. [/quote]

I guess what I was getting at is that Meangenes’ assertion that only reparations will make things better, is there really a way to make things better between blacks and whites if is no way of logically and fairly getting to reparations?

Btw, this is not strictly an American problem. Other countries have gone through this debate, such as Germany with the Holocaust, former Yugoslavia with their ethnic problems as well as some African countries where land was seized in tribal wars and then repatriated decades later when a new regime has taken over, causing more bloodshed and rioting.

I see reparations causing new problems in order to settle old wrongs. If it’s the thought that counts, then I will have thoughts in your regards :slight_smile:

DB

55

[quote]dollarbill44 wrote:
The ignorance of some posters never ceases to amaze me.

Anyone who pretends that oppression died out with slavery and that there are is no more ill will floating around between races is exceedingly delusional and likely has not had any serious discussions with black people about it.[/quote]

It can be taken too far. If I honestly thought the teacher was using the term to try to insult or belittle the student, I’d have a much harder time saying he shouldn’t be fired. That situation would call into doubt his ability to impartially do the job he is paid to do.

And again, the piece is set up to make him look like a bigot who got off easy. Obviously the school district had a reason for retaining him; hell, the anchorwoman even says so. Do they present that side of the argument during their story? No. “Tune in later.”

As to the rest: some of us get tired of hearing people bitch and whine. Life sucks. Get over it. There are always excuses to be found, no matter what ethnicity or demographic you belong to. Racism, sexism, ageism, etc. should not be free passes.

Honestly, if I thought most of the people chattering on about race really wanted to change the world positively, I wouldn’t get so riled up. But so many seem to use it as an excuse to claim entitlement to this or that. And frankly, as long as you have the attitude that someone or something external to you is “holding you down,” or that you need some sort of reparation, or that someone owes you something before you can once again be whole… well, you’re just asking to live a miserable, dependent, disappointed life.

56

I don’t think the teacher came across well. I think he was trying to reflect back what he hears on a regular basis from his students. The N word has become quite popular with our young people. It is not uncommon to hear white kids calling each other that word.

Perhaps the teacher is sick of hearing his students debase the language by trying to sound like a bunch of ghetto assed hip hoppers. He is an English teacher after all.

It seems a bit hypocritical to get upset when black entertainers (who black and white kids look up to and want to emulate) throw that word around all the time. Bill Cosby has gone over this a few times, people should listen to him.

57

[quote]gainera2582 wrote:
But think for a second, turn the situation around and if a black person called a white person a cracker, would he/she lose his job? Not in a million years because of their skin color. What a stupid double standard we have in this country, I thought everyone was supposed to be treated equal when it came to our rights as a citizen and we all abide by the same rules and laws. [/quote]

You aren’t serious with this statement, are you? A black person MOST CERTAINLY WOULD lose their job for calling a white person a cracker! What world are you operating in that this would be tolerated?

A white person that calls someone the n-word and a black person who calls someone a cracker would both be, at a minimum, sitting in their respective HR offices begging not to be fired.

Corporations make it very clear that this is not tolerated AT ALL.

58

[quote]Sifu wrote:
I don’t think the teacher came across well. I think he was trying to reflect back what he hears on a regular basis from his students. The N word has become quite popular with our young people. It is not uncommon to hear white kids calling each other that word.

Perhaps the teacher is sick of hearing his students debase the language by trying to sound like a bunch of ghetto assed hip hoppers. He is an English teacher after all.

It seems a bit hypocritical to get upset when black entertainers (who black and white kids look up to and want to emulate) throw that word around all the time. Bill Cosby has gone over this a few times, people should listen to him.[/quote]

He seemed to be saying in one breath that parroting the students is an accepted way to discourage derogatories, but then in the next breath he insisted at length that “nigger” and “nigga” are two very different things and “nigga” is acceptably nice.

It takes an incredible fool to believe either of these things. I love words - all words - and I use them all in their appropriate context. Well, most of them, anyway - the word in question is one of the very few I don’t use.

But there’s a time and a place for the words. To students as a teacher is not the place for “bitch,” “fucker,” “dickhead,” or the myriad others kids call each other in the hallways at school.

Teachers are meant to call each other these things, at the bar after work. That’s the time and the place.

As for trying to be a good English teacher and somehow discourage their use…I can’t see how that could possibly work. English teachers don’t teach students not to call people dumbasses by calling people dumbasses.

God. I don’t think I could be more irritated. Even the look of him got on my nerves.

As for the entertainers, I’m not seeing how it’s hypocritical. Porn stars do things we expect teachers not to do at school. Is that hypocrisy?

Or wait…you’re not specifying the teacher there, I guess. You’re saying all whites should be able to say it if blacks do? Eh. I don’t know. Don’t we all mock our own people but expect others not to?

59

Bill Cosby is an uncle tom.

60

[quote]EmilyQ wrote:
He seemed to be saying in one breath that parroting the students is an accepted way to discourage derogatories, but then in the next breath he insisted at length that “nigger” and “nigga” are two very different things and “nigga” is acceptably nice.
[/quote]

We have to understand that words are just a convention to convey meaning. We must also understand that these units of speech take on different meanings depending on context and culture, and therefore should be considered different words.

The fact that the pronunciations, spellings, and meanings of the words “nigga” and “nigger” are noticeably different should also tell us they are not the same word. They are merely derived from each other.

Do you notice any similarities in the following words?

Negro; nigger; nigga.

They are all derivatives of the Spanish cognate for black which is negro. Should this word also not be shunned. Only one of those words is a spiteful word. I think you can guess what I am getting at here so I’ll just come out and say it.

I don’t think this guy was being hurtful which is one of the only instances in which I would be in favor of firing a teacher–not because he said something that sounded silly.

62

[quote]meangenes wrote:
Well. For one, black people didn’t go to Europe, steal white people away from their family, bring them to a new land and make them work for no pay, torture them, treat them like dogs, and kill them. Lots of them. [/quote]

But if they could have they probably would have, no…?

In fact, we only notice it as white against black slavery because that is all anyone talks about – its always a race issue. Over there they enslaved their own people. You never hear history talk about that painful fact.

Slavery, though absolutely immoral, was purely economically driven – it wasn’t about racism. It was about cheap labor. We never hear about the horrors of Rome and Greece how they enslaved everyone they conquered – it wasn’t about race.

Racism is any thought, or action that is motivated by race. It does not have to be inherently mean spirited or hurtful. The whole notion of racism – or sexism for that matter – is so ludicrous because nearly every single person alive has these tendencies. It does not mean we have to be driven by hatred or intolerance. I would call people with these tendencies bigots.