Question for my fellow minority posters?

[HoosierHorn]

my parents did not tell me this - ever.

however, by the 4th grade, i understood it and i accept it as true - not necessarily in terms of behavior, but in terms of overall life and production. the punishment for doing bad will be greater, and the reward for doing well will be less - because you are black.

i will tell this to my children when they are old enough to understand. they'll ignore it, because they will know this isn't how things should be. then, one day, we'll talk about it once they've encountered it and come to learn it to be true.

it is what it is.

 

[HoosierHorn]

as for what others think about your race, it's pretty strongly ingrained already.

ask reggie white. (RIP)

 

[EPThorn]

I grew up in a primarily hispanic city in El Paso, so this was never an issue.

Sort of off topic, I ABSOLUTELY HATE those of my ethnicity that portray the negative stereotype. Here in el paso it is the mexican gangster/thug or 'Cholo". I care for them less than thugs of other ethnic groups, because they reinforce a bad stereo type.
If I was a cop i would treat other ethnic thugs like policy says, but i would be a complete ******* jerk to those 'cholos'.

 

[accuratehorn]

My Jewish grandmother considered "Jewish" to be a race, a culture, and a religion.
Sometimes it is useful to use the term "race" to differentiate groups, but maybe race isn't the correct way to do so.
What is the correct definition of "race," scientifically speaking, when referring to humans, and other species, because the term is used on species of birds sometimes as well? Anyone up on this? I am curious. Is this an obsolete concept?

 

[viethorn]

I came here as an adult so my parents didn't say anything. But I didn't do that to my kids. I suspect they will become lazy and bad manner like white folks.

 

[THEU]

accurate I took a Plan I Honours class entitled "Jewish Experience in the 20th Century" The overarching question of the class was, "what does it mean to be Jewish?" It was a pretty wild semester as we searched through that one question.

 

[overmaars]

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[Gadfly]

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[beencounting]

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[txangel03]

yes. Growing up in an affluent area, we were often told this as we were the "token" Blacks, and perhaps the only interactions with poeple of color our neighbors would have. When I was younger, my mother wouldn't let us go out with our friends by ourselves because, "If there are any issues, YOU are the one that's going to get in trouble!"

Now, it has manifested into, "Not only are you Black, but a woman, so you have two strikes on your head!" Advanced degrees are not an option in my family - they are required in order to receive inheritance. It's resulted in a lot of pressure which my sisters and I have sworn never to pass onto our children.

 

[Napoleon]

Accuratehorn-

How was/is your grandmother's matzo ball soup? Does she make a light & fluffy matzo ball or are they almost as solid as rocks?

RE: Starbucks- They hang out there all day because they can.

RE: another post... the grammar used calls into question your statement.

RE: the stereotype that "Asians are smarter"-

I've never thought this. But I think that most people would agree the average American thinks that there is more family pressure to study and excel in Asian families than most other ethnicities/races.

I guess being naturally gifted with numbers, I noticed at a young age that I was faster and more accurate with calculations in my head than any of my peers no matter what the ethnicity/race. It was only after I stopped studying and others continued to study that I noticed people finally passing me in mathematic ability. But they definitely didn't have it naturally.

 

[falloutboy]

I'm white, but I live in China, so I'm probably the biggest minority in the thread. Here I'm often reminded how "foreigners/Americans are like this, so why are you being different?" I purposely try to act a certain way that will change the perception of foreigners for the better. I know that one incident can change many(many) peoples' minds about "how Americans are," so I make an effort to make this change of mind a positive one. My students were amazed when I donated over $50 (!) to the earthquake relief fund because "Americans love money."

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[falloutboy]

Oh, and I always thought Ramathorn was Mexican

 

[accuratehorn]

Grandma's matzo ball soup was great, and the matzo balls were not glued together rocks like you get at most restaurants. But aren't all memories of our departed grandparents' cooking special?
Still wondering if "race" is correct for those of Semitic origin, as my grandmother considered, or is "race" an obsolete term, or just too politically charged to use much these days.
THEU, what did you class on the Jewish experience at UT have to say about the term "race?"

 

[YChang]

I thought Viethorn's comment were sarcastic and yet you have two posters who, in my opinion slam him for his comments.

But when we have threads poking fun of minorities (see Asian name thread)...you don't see much attention brought to it and it's just all in good fun.

 

[NBMisha]

By now its well established that their is no biological definition of race, nor use for the common term/concept as a term or factor in biology. The human race is a pretty mixed up group, superficial indications not whithstanding.

Ethnicity is probably the work that correpsonds to what most of the conversation is about. And its all about social interaction, obviously.

I'm not sure I would call use of the term "race" as barbaric, but I would directly label it outdated and, because of confusion around the issue, likely offensive or dangerous, thus best to use another term.

Being totally silent, i.e. insensitive to all issues, may not be my recommended approach. But making it all a non issue is my hope.