- Sep 7, 2009
- 2,706
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Anyone who has spent any amount of time around White people know they have a tendency to ask questions which come off as stupid or even offensive. The thing is there has never been an open discussion of race in America. There needs to be an open forum where race can be discussed, where White people can ask their stupid questions and we can answer with facts and without becoming offended. Likewise, we can present points which express our thoughts, questions, distrust, and ideologies.
One might think, "Why should I have to school White folks on things they should already know?" Well, the fact is, rather they should know them or not, they don't. They wonder about things, they want to know things, so sometimes they get the nerve to ask them but when they do, they come off as stupid, offensive, or racist just for even asking such rediculous questions.
There are NO SIGNS that in the forseeable future we will live without interacting with White people. Getting "offended" accomplishes nothing. In fact, it only plays into the stereo types. We need mature, intelligent DIALOGUE in the face of their stupid questions. We need hold open discussions outside of an emotionally charged setting.
If you have spent any time interacting with White folks, I am sure you can think of dozens of stupid questions they ask. Here are just a few of many examples of what I am talking about:
They might ask....
Why do Black people talk in Ebonics?
Why did all Black people vote for Barack Obama?
Why do Black people eat chittlings?
Why do Black people kill each other?
Why do Black people call each other the N word?
Why do Black people have so many children out of wedlock?
Some of the questions are just plain stupid while others they don't even realize how they or their ancestors contributed to the condition. As in the case of Chittlings, they can't imagine how so many Black people could eat something like Chittlings. Most of them don't even realize this is a result of foods fed to slaves that over time they developed a taste for.
Speaking to their ignorance is not always productive but being offended by their stupid questions is never productive.
A productive open discussion requires both parties to accept responsibility for their contribution to problems.
One might think, "Why should I have to school White folks on things they should already know?" Well, the fact is, rather they should know them or not, they don't. They wonder about things, they want to know things, so sometimes they get the nerve to ask them but when they do, they come off as stupid, offensive, or racist just for even asking such rediculous questions.
There are NO SIGNS that in the forseeable future we will live without interacting with White people. Getting "offended" accomplishes nothing. In fact, it only plays into the stereo types. We need mature, intelligent DIALOGUE in the face of their stupid questions. We need hold open discussions outside of an emotionally charged setting.
If you have spent any time interacting with White folks, I am sure you can think of dozens of stupid questions they ask. Here are just a few of many examples of what I am talking about:
They might ask....
Why do Black people talk in Ebonics?
Why did all Black people vote for Barack Obama?
Why do Black people eat chittlings?
Why do Black people kill each other?
Why do Black people call each other the N word?
Why do Black people have so many children out of wedlock?
Some of the questions are just plain stupid while others they don't even realize how they or their ancestors contributed to the condition. As in the case of Chittlings, they can't imagine how so many Black people could eat something like Chittlings. Most of them don't even realize this is a result of foods fed to slaves that over time they developed a taste for.
Speaking to their ignorance is not always productive but being offended by their stupid questions is never productive.
A productive open discussion requires both parties to accept responsibility for their contribution to problems.