I sometimes wonder if the day will come, when I’m in *just * the right mood, that I’ll decide to address the elephant in the room. As respectfully as possible, of course. After all, I have years of training, and quite a bit invested, in being the “good Niggra”.
Oh no. Not at all. I said if anyone was. The idea that a private conversation is an incitement to violence is absurd, but if it was an incitement, the Enquirer is at fault for making it public. Without them, no one outside the family would have ever heard the conversation.
As to whether they are “a vicious attack on and call to end interracial relations,” I suppose they could be. Although it really seems like a call for his son to end a particular interracial relationship. I can’t see it being a “call” for interracial relations to end altogether. I assume they meant “call” in the sense of rallying cry to the masses, or at least to a target audience. Does it seem that way to you? What’s the point of having a rallying cry that you specifically say you want no one to hear?
Okay, I’ll ignore the unnecessary snark in your comments in an effort to answer your legitimate question.
I’ve posted several times on these boards that Black people, perhaps (and, likely) unbeknownst to non-Black people, tend to be very aware of unspoken cues–like body language, for instance–that alert us to people’s potential discomfort with our presence.
That’s how I’ve picked up on the vibes that I mentioned in my post. If you need to discuss it further, I’ll be happy to accommodate you. Snark-free, of course.
And if you’ll point out the irony in my statements (honestly, I’m not seeing it), I’ll be happy to accommodate you there, too.
I can’t speak for Li’l Pluck, but I did try to acknowledge, by even thinking that without any information, I have a ways to go in my development too, although I’m not willing to say I’m always wrong.
FTR, a good friend of mine who is white was married to a Black woman. The only vibe I ever got from him was of being proud to simply be married to a beautiful, intelligent and creative woman (they’re actors).
Well, he did say tht if his daughter “brought home a nigger, we would all say ‘fuck you.’” That doesn’t sound like an objection to his daughter dating a particular person but just any “nigger.”
I agree that labelling it a “call” is kind of over the top. That would imply some sort of public stance. I think it’s pretty obvious that he doesn’t like the idea of his own kids dating black people, period, though.
I have less respect for people who say that they only reserve the term “nigger” for *some *blacks. You know, the bad ones, than I do for out and out racists. At least they are being honest. And yes, he wouldn’t want anyone in the family to bring home a black person. That still does not mean that he is saying that no one should bring home a black person. Just his family members.
The irony I speak of is to judge people based soley on an unscientific feeling such as a vibe. This sounds an awful lot like Billy-Bob white trash assuming you might be a crook based on cues such as skin color and the type of rap music you like to listen to. (I’m speasking of course of a hypothetical you).
It’s almost comical the more I think about it. I dated a Black girl for a while and I too used to get the vibe that some Black people, mainly her family, had some sort of ill will towards me because I, “the evil white man” took their daughter, sis, etc.
And I’m sure this uneasy feeling I had gave ME unusual body language due to the inherent anxiety. I know in you’re previous posts you’ve already chalked some of that off due to that fact. I’m just wondering how do you tell the two aprart?
Apology accepted, and appreciated. Thank you very much.
I understand what you’re saying, but the difference here is that Billy Bob has received no “cue” from me other than the color of my skin, right? And, like 5-4-Fighting, I admit that, sometimes, my reading of people’s vibes can be off (which might *partly * explained why I haven’t yet addressed the elephant in the room). Like I said, though, sometimes. I’ve been dealing wth White people for the greater portion of my life, and while I’m not interested in painting White folks with an unnecessarily broad brush…well, I’ve been around. Part of having “been around” means that I’ve had White folks tell me things about *their * experiences with other White folks that they might not reveal publicly, so I’ve heard about the racist conversations around the Thanksgiving table, etc. What else can I say?
And please let me say that I’m sorry that you’ve had experiences with Black people who were uncool with you dating Black woman. I’m the last person who’ll deny that that shit happens, and while I can identify and “understand” the genesis of those people’s feelings, it’s still pretty shitty and unfair to you. I would like to point out, though, that there are tons of rational-minded Black folks who, in the absence of some obvious trigger (or, rather, a trigger that is obvious only to the Black person in question), don’t do shit like this.
Unfortunately, if you find yourself again dating a Black woman, I can’t tell you how to avoid this, because I really don’t know. I could advise you to be conscious of your body language, vibes, etc., but the reality is that most people, I think, aren’t always aware of signals that they might be emitting, or how others might be reading those signals. Hopefully, once people get to know you (which, I admit, doesn’t happen in passing, but which shouldn’t be a problem in the absence of “vibes,” anyway), they’ll not be inclined to mis-judge you.
If you’re still reading this I guess I owe you an apology too. I got a little snippy with you yesterday afternoon and that also was uncalled for.
Not making excuses but at the time I did that I had quaffed more than a few beers and for some reason I snapped. I’m normally a “happy drunk” too. So now I feel quite silly after going back and reading my previous comments towards you.
You know, when I park my car on the street next to a group of black guys, I always hope they realize I don’t think they’re going to steal my radio, just as I try not to think that they assume I’m going to steal their culture.