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A Georgia networking event wants to help white people 'Come Meet a Black Person'

Lutherf said:
Look, merely being black doesn't place someone in a particular culture. Neither does being white. Our culture is a result of the people, ideas and values which surround us.
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I didn't say anything about "merely being black". I said that there are cultural differences within communities of different races, religions, etc. And some of that comes from lived, learned experiences...not simply the one's "values" and/or surroundings. That's just a sociological fact, Luther.

Sure there is a "ghetto black" and a "trailer trash white" culture in some places but to equate any of that with an overall determinative culture of a total race is, by definition, racist.
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First, I really wish you would take it easy with the strawman arguments. Who said anything about "ghettos" and "white trash"? Is that what you think about we talk about cultural differences?

Also, I think your definition of "racist" needs a little work. But that's hard to determine, because I don't know what you mean by "determinative culture of a total race". What are you trying to say, there?
 
Fishking said:
I don't see a problem with the event, though it's kinda couched in a hamfisted manner. Most racism is prejudice is based off of a lack of exposure so this could help it and maybe it can be the seed to a program that is constructed a little better, after they figure out what works and what doesn't from this event.
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My take, as well.
 
ultmd said:
I didn't say anything about "merely being black". I said that there are cultural differences within communities of different races, religions, etc. And some of that comes from lived, learned experiences...not simply the one's "values" and/or surroundings. That's just a sociological fact, Luther.



First, I really wish you would take it easy with the strawman arguments. Who said anything about "ghettos" and "white trash"? Is that what you think about we talk about cultural differences?

Also, I think your definition of "racist" needs a little work. But that's hard to determine, because I don't know what you mean by "determinative culture of a total race". What are you trying to say, there?
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When you say -
..........says practically every privileged middle-aged conservative white guy. You clearly need to "understand 'black'" more than most. "Understanding Black" as you put it, is about understanding culture, history and lived/learned experiences; because those are the variables that account for the honest and different perspectives that black and white Americans hold toward many societal issues. And clearly, you have much to learn.
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-you sure seem to be talking about some homogeneous "black culture". I think you might be surprised to find that not all blacks and not all whites see the same societal issue the same way.
 
Lutherf said:
When you say -

-you sure seem to be talking about some homogeneous "black culture". I think you might be surprised to find that not all blacks and not all whites see the same societal issue the same way.
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If not all blacks and not all whites see the same societal issues in the same way, you may as well say not all whites see societal issues the same way.

The notion is absurd.
 
BitterPill said:
If not all blacks and not all whites see the same societal issues in the same way, you may as well say not all whites see societal issues the same way.

The notion is absurd.
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That's the point I'm trying to get across. Not everyone see culture the same way so trying to put a broad label on it is absurd.
 
Lutherf said:
When you say -

-you sure seem to be talking about some homogeneous "black culture". I think you might be surprised to find that not all blacks and not all whites see the same societal issue the same way.
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So you didn't want to answer/address any of my question........that's fine. Kind of defeats the purpose of a debate/discussion, though...but that seems to be a common tactic by conservatives on this board. People want to vent and lecture, rather than debate and discuss.

But to your point.........NO, that's not what I was suggesting. Neither does it come as a revelation to me that white and black people view the same societal issues differently. I've been making that very point in the last two responses to you. Do you think that argues for, or against, the value of an event specifically designed to put open-minded black people and open-minded white people together in a social setting?
 
ultmd said:
So you didn't want to answer/address any of my question........that's fine. Kind of defeats the purpose of a debate/discussion, though...but that seems to be a common tactic by conservatives on this board. People want to vent and lecture, rather than debate and discuss.

But to your point.........NO, that's not what I was suggesting. Neither does it come as a revelation to me that white and black people view the same societal issues differently. I've been making that very point in the last two responses to you. Do you think that argues for, or against, the value of an event specifically designed to put open-minded black people and open-minded white people together in a social setting?
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How many times do I have to say this? I see no point in putting people together in a social setting merely because of race.
 
Lutherf said:
Do blacks have a different belief system than other people?

Churches regularly hold various events to introduce people to their beliefs and expand their congregations. The focus there is religion, not race. It's about an idea, not skin color.
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No they don't. But many think they do. Think of it this way Luther. If a person has a gay relative or a good friend that comes out of the closet, the chances of them being ok with gay rights and gay people in general goes through the roof. Having a friendly social setting where people can hang out with people of other races allows some people to see "damn we really are the same. They are worried about paying their bills and keeping their kids safe just like me."

Maybe I'm more approving of this because I've seen this kind of stuff in action. I've seen people's attitudes change about black people when a person in my family started dating a woman who had mixed race but very African American looking grand kids. And my extended family has started treating those kids just like any other little white kids that would come in to the family even though at first all I heard was **** talking and judgements on their mom and on them. Small stuff like this can actually affect people's lives in a small way.

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roughdraft274 said:
No they don't. But many think they do. Think of it this way Luther. If a person has a gay relative or a good friend that comes out of the closet, the chances of them being ok with gay rights and gay people in general goes through the roof. Having a friendly social setting where people can hang out with people of other races allows some people to see "damn we really are the same. They are worried about paying their bills and keeping their kids safe just like me."

Maybe I'm more approving of this because I've seen this kind of stuff in action. I've seen people's attitudes change about black people when a person in my family started dating a woman who had mixed race but very African American looking grand kids. And my extended family has started treating those kids just like any other little white kids that would come in to the family even though at first all I heard was **** talking and judgements on their mom and on them. Small stuff like this can actually affect people's lives in a small way.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
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Here's the difference with all that, there's a common interest in those situations that doesn't involve race.

If you get people together for a household finance seminar then people will get to know each other because they have similar financial situations. If someone in the family introduces a significant other of a different race there is a common interest (at least I'd hope there would be) of maintaining the family structure. If, on the other hand, the idea is "Come on in and meet a real live black person" there isn't that common interest...unless the common interest is rounding out your social circle demographic.
 
Lutherf said:
Here's the difference with all that, there's a common interest in those situations that doesn't involve race.

If you get people together for a household finance seminar then people will get to know each other because they have similar financial situations. If someone in the family introduces a significant other of a different race there is a common interest (at least I'd hope there would be) of maintaining the family structure. If, on the other hand, the idea is "Come on in and meet a real live black person" there isn't that common interest...unless the common interest is rounding out your social circle demographic.
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I think you really need to look at your language because it betrays you. You wouldn't have to use such silly language if you had an actual argument against this. You seem to think that this can be compared to a state fair and you're bringing people in to look at the human crab as though they are bring white folks in to look at these circus performers aka black people. They aren't saying that you must be friends with everyone. They are simply saying to come and hang out and if you meet someone who is of a different race yet still shares many of your interests and you could start a friendship, that would be a good thing.

Let me ask you, do you think the country would be better off or worse off if we could reduce the number of people who have no friends of a different race?
 
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