eflynn

Yes, it's possible but ignorance is no excuse. The fact that he referenced the "Wannabees vs the Jigaboos" in School Daze shows some awareness of the term's meaning. He's since said he understands how and why it was offensive but that doesn't change what's already happened.

Not funny.

In regards to music, there is PLENTY of backlash regarding the images or women and how they're portrayed. If you don't follow the music closely, you simply won't hear that much about it unless something "big" happens like the '04 protest at Spelman College. It's wrong either way. Out of a rapper's mouth or Don Imus' mouth.

The first time I've ever heard it come from a white person's mouth was Don Imus'.

If you're goint to blame "hip hop culture," whatever that means, you're going to have to blame the entire music industry. From the artists, to the fans, AND the people at the labels who determine who gets the budgets to say what they say. They're all responsible and play a part in what gets said and what doesn't. It wasn't always like this.

That doesn't make it any less hurtful. It's beyond frustrating for me to try to explain how the phrase "nappy headed ho" from my playground days, to high school, through college and my adult life still has the same sting to women. Having gone to school with mostly white people until college I don't think there's an equivalent statement that would make those who don't, understand.

While I understand the point you're making and agree with it to an extent, a comedian making jokes, black or white, is different from a nationally syidicated radio personality making the comments that he made. I won't debate Al Sharpton's and Jesse Jackson's transgressions and I do feel that they're about remaining in the public eye just as much as they're about "helping." Especially Jesse Jackson. But please don't confuse those two as the voice of black people everywhere. If Jesse Jackson walked in the front door of most buildings, a fair amount of black people would walk out the back. What Rosie said was awful and it sholdn't have been excused.

Actually yes that could be an insult.

Hardly.

You've obviously missed the point.

Your friend referring to her hair as "nappy" doesn't change the fact it has a negative connotation. Her using the word in reference to herself, in front of you doedn't change anything either. She had a grade of hair that was difficult to work with as opposed to "good hair," a term that's also used in the black community. Hardly bullshit. You're confusing your lack of understanding for me lying. I've never said or alluded to it not be offensive coming from a black person's mouth. It's actually worse in my opinion.

It's a big deal when people feel their standard is the only one that should apply.

For you to say "Black people DO have nappy hair" show you obviously don't fully understand what the term means. "Nappy" has a decidely negative connotation and is 10 out of 10 times an insult. Take into account the other things he said right along side that comment and it was obvious HE understood what he was doing. He also referred to them as "hoes" and I hope I don't have to explain how that's an insult as well. Stick and stones? Garbage. Words do hurt. I promise you he wouldn't have said that to any of the players' faces. The difference here is there is no equivalent experience for people who aren't black. It IS a big deal, and honestly if you displayed a little humility and honestly wanted to learn and understand you might be able to. You don't. Still don't think it's a big deal? Walk up to a black person and tell he or she their hair is nappy. It's a big muthafucking deal.

There's a big difference between dressing like the folks on soul train did and putting on black face. The people on soul train in the 70s, for the most part, dressed just like everyday people.

You sound like a Mad TV skit. It's interesting that as you tried to "cleverly" ask/call someone ignorant (an "a" not an "e") you spelled it wrong.

If you're who I think you are you can add one more to the list. I'm pretty sure I met you when we were both visiting Russel at a spinal recovery center a few years back when he got hurt. I jumped at Monroe and now I'm still looking for a new home.

All of one race of people don't speak one way.

First off I understand the point you're making and I'm not offended. I do however disagree with the notion of us, black people, not making much history AND that notion actually serves to illustrate my point. While the same people you mentioned seem to get the same amount of mention in most history books there are sooooo many more who most people have never heard of. Beyond the individuals are their accomplishments, failures, inventions, works of literature, scientific achievements... It goes on. Ever heard of "Black Wall Street?" I've never seen that in ANY history book but it's certainly worth mentioning for more than one reason. Google it (hint, it's not the record label). You mentioned the Tuskegee Airmen, who incidentally NEVER lost one bomber they escorted, but I heard about them from my mother. Never a history teacher. I could go on but I think/hope you get the point. Yes, black people have the UNCF and I don't see anything wrong with helping people get an education. Asian, black, white, whoever. The UNCF isn't taking money out anyone else's pocket or depriving anyone of what they're due so what's really the problem? Diversity is a strength and should be encouraged and fostered. "White students' association." What exactly would the WSA discuss at Texas A & M? I went to Morehouse so we didn't have a BSU, black student union, (you get a gold star if you can figure out why) but I have plenty of friends who went to Michigan. Having been to one BSU meeting at Michigan I have to say it would be "interesting" at best to see how the WSA would discuss issues pertaining to white kids (which is part of what goes on at BSU meetings) on campus. How difficult do you think it would be for a white kid from anywhere to adjust to a sea of... more white kids? Don't confuse that to mean college doesn't pose some of the same challenges for all students but i do think there are some that are different based on race. While we're all connected we're certainly not all the same.

I'm not debating the rationale behind why history is worded the way it is; just the effects. I had a high school AP history teacher who spent the entire semester exposing the "truth" and since then I've always questioned things. That's a good thing. He, amongst others, helped me become a critical thinker.

The point the original poster is making is there's no need for "White History Month" because in the US the vast majority of history is told from a white person's perspective. Thumb through a high school history text book and see how many "great moments" don't involve white people. Again, if history books were writen with the whole truth in mind there's wouldn't be the need for Black History Month.

As a black skydiver here's what I think it is. 1. It's much easier to do something new or different, which I think we'll all agree jumping out a plane is, when there are people who look like you who do it. I realize this concept may seem a little foreign to most of the people who read this because generally, you're surrounded by people who look like you. Ever wonder why there's usually a table of black people at the work picnic? "For every minute in the sky we spend an hour on the ground."Skydiving is a social sport and if you don't think you'll be comfortable simply talking to a person the notion of jumping out a plane with them and trusting your life to them is the furthest thing from your mind. 2. There's a common misconception that skydivers are wild ass bikers, or drunks who jump between shots of jaeger. A friend of mine I jump with Bryan works with the cousin of a guy I grew up with. Bryan's been trying to get him to jump for years and his response has always been something along the lines of "There's no way I'm jumping out a plane. Brothers just don't do that." Bryan's response was "There's a black guy at my dz (me) who jumps. He can't get enough." He responded "There's no regular brother who's going to jump out a plane. He must be different or in the military." So anyway, my friend's cousin and I bump into each other during all star weekend in Atlanta a few years ago. We're catching up and I mention I skydive and his eyes get big. "Do you know a guy named Bryan?" "Yeah I know Bryan, we jump together all the time." "YOU skydive?" "Yeah I skydive and I'm still the same guy who used to ride bikes with your cousin, talk about who looked better between Vanity and Apollonia, and begged his mother for a pair of Jordan 1s in '85." He laughed and looked at me as if to say "You're regular just like me and you jump out of planes." All this to say most skydivers are just regular people but for whatever reason you have to have a conversation with one to realize it. I've had similar experiences with white people as well. 3. Most other sports you don't have to make as much of an effort to get involved. Football, tennis, soccer, swimming, basketball... most sports you can get involved with in high school and continue if you'd like to by simply going to the nearest gym, park, or via intramurals in college. Skydiving isn't as simple. Factor that in with the previous items and it's not just something you stumble into. To answer the initial question, other than myself a friend of mine named Sharon jumps, I met a guy whose name I don't remember at Deland, and back when I first started jumping there was a guy named CC who lived in Kentucky I jumped with.

Or you could look in the mirror and say it to yourself every morning. You're guilty of what you're accusing others of. You obviously don't know "a good portion of the black population" because we could care less about funks and those who think like you. If you don't like Black History Month then put a stop payment on the check you wrote to F.U.N.K.S (the Foundation for Underage Negro Kid Skydivers). Get a bar.

Having not seen your textbooks and taking your word for it, I'm happy my/our history is now included. Simply put, if the texts just told the truth, the entire, whole truth, there would be no need for Black History Month. There have apparently been strides toward making them more accurate which in part came from people opening their mouthes and saying "Hey, this isn't right." A closed mouth doesn't get fed.

No, we don't always "bust out the race card," nor do we all dress improperly ("proper dress" is open to interpretation) and not speak well. If you truly believe that, then you don't know ANYTHING about Black people and would actually benefit from some of the things the go on during Black History Month. As much as you'd love to believe it and see it on television, we're not all the same. As the world is bigger than you, it would be of great benefit to learn about something other than your immediate surroundings.

What's a "ghetto" name, how does his qualify as "ghetto," and please provide some facts to support your curse theory.