The First Rule of Racism...

[beefheart]

 

[Lutherf]

If white people and black people have different skin pigments, does that alter their value as human being in any way or are they still equally human?

One's race has no bearing whatsoever on one's potential as a human being. Each of us is born equal in the eyes of God.

 

[Unitedwestand13]

One's race has no bearing whatsoever on one's potential as a human being. Each of us is born equal in the eyes of God.

Is that so? Then I have a question: why is it that the term “thug” is used more often to describe an African-American committing a violent criminal act as opposed to a White person who committed the very same act?

 

[Jay59]

Is that so? Then I have a question: why is it that the term “thug” is used more often to describe an African-American committing a violent criminal act as opposed to a White person who committed the very same act?

This is the first I have heard of it.

 

[Unitedwestand13]

This is the first I have heard of it.

Here is a little expieriment: do a google search of images using only the word “thug”

 

[Jay59]

Here is a little expieriment: do a google search of images using only the word “thug”

OK. It's a hip-hop thing, which would explain why it's new to me. Still not getting the point.

Before this, thug brought ideas of British soccer fans.

 

[Lutherf]

Is that so? Then I have a question: why is it that the term “thug” is used more often to describe an African-American committing a violent criminal act as opposed to a White person who committed the very same act?

I'm pretty sure that any racial aspect to the term originated with 2Pac. Prior to that it was a rather generic term for a criminal who tended to engage in violent crimes such as robbery and "protection" rackets. It's a term that's been around for a LONG time but has only recently taken on any sort of racial meaning.

 

[OldFatGuy]

I'm pretty sure that any racial aspect to the term originated with 2Pac. Prior to that it was a rather generic term for a criminal who tended to engage in violent crimes such as robbery and "protection" rackets. It's a term that's been around for a LONG time but has only recently taken on any sort of racial meaning.

Ralph Ellison, author of the Invisible Man, used the term thug to describe young black criminals during the early 1960's in an essay he wrote for the Kenyon Review. 2Pac, in an interview on WBAI, said he read that essay while in prison, and that it defined him for himself, changing his life, opening his creativity. WBAI was one of the first radio stations to play 2Pac's work. The Last Poets, also based on Ellison's essay, performed a poem called Thug. WBAI was the only radio station I ever heard to broadcast The Last Poets live. Thug did not appear on either of the two Last Poet's albums. Bob Fass conducted the interview with 2Pac, when he dropped by the studio, welcomed as all others who dropped by, as did the Last Poets years before.