Racial Pride

[VegasRonin]

I've noticed that several members express a pride in their racial make-up. In my opinion one should have pride in their accomplishments, and not an accident of birth. No one had any choice in what race they would be born into. Whatever you choose for an occupation, and/or hobbies. One should do it to the best of their abilities, and I think its okay to take pride in that. Growing up, I went through the angry Black Man stage, until I realized I had been brainwashed. The anger that I had from actual racist events in my life, got twisted until I believed all non-blacks hated me for my color. I couldn't have been farther from the truth. There's only one race of man, and that's Humankind. One can't take pride in something, one had no control over.

[dutchie]

here here. although you might make an exception for.... never mind.

BTW, is that what you would describe as a liberal point of view, VR?
heh heh heh, just kidding... :grin

[Chris4334]

Nice topic. I'd say one can be proud of one's history, but to be proud of one's appearance is just vanity. I don't see anything wrong with being proud, but there is a fine line between healthy pride and the discrediting of the just-as- valid pride of someone else by being snobbish with your view. If one is proud because his past is superior to everyone else's, that is wrong.

[Hoodlum]

I agree heavily with ronin on the part that we are all part of the race of Humans, and we need to realize that we are all the same regardless of what you see on the outside. Any person of any race people can relate to in some way or another without being shallow such as making assumptions that if your white your preppie or blacks are GANGSTA or mexicans are dirty lawnmowers. If you can get past that bullshit than people can live as one. Religion is another factor that gets in between races. Nations devided.

The U.S. is a melting pot and i cant even count the different cultures i have in me, soon enough we will all be such "mutts" that no one will give a shit what you have in you...

If we make it to that day :bncry:

[SeekNDestroy]

Defiantely.

No-one's responsible for what country they're born in, or for what other people from their country have done. Take pride in yourself :)

[Hoodlum]

cept if your a frenchie bastard


(j/k) lol :D

[dutchie]

those remarks about the french are getting kind of stale....

[lotrfan55345]

EVERYONE just hates the French. I asked a couple of people at school as is to why they hated the Frech and they just say "Thats the way it should be".

[VegasRonin]

I'd say one can be proud of one's history, but to be proud of one's appearance is just vanity. That's just it. Its not "your" history. Its a compilation of deeds that others have done, and not you. So how can one claim credit or have pride in something you didn't do?

[Chris4334]

"Race" is a sub-section of humanity - like the language one speaks - and people fit into various categories. If you are, say, Chinese, then you know your lineage goes back thousands of years and you are anxious to let others know about this history A) Because it helps others understand you B) It is potentially your own family's history (and certainly we can be proud of our own family?) C) The present is obviously linked to the past, and so we are a product of what happened back then. Thus, when one says they are proud of their past, perhaps they are unconsciously proud of themselves as an end result of history...

Race is historical, and from the above points, I don't see anything wrong with being proud of your history. Again, one has to be careful because pride can easily lead to a mentality that makes others inferior.

[VegasRonin]

A) Because it helps others understand you If I use "History" to understand a people then I have come to the conclusion that the Middle East should be the recipient of a Grand Nuclear Strike. After all, their history has shown that they can't get along. Using that logic.

B) It is potentially your own family's history (and certainly we can be proud of our own family?) Unless you had a hand in your families accomplishments then how can you feel proud? You didn't do anything.

C) The present is obviously linked to the past, and so we are a product of what happened back then. Thus, when one says they are proud of their past, perhaps they are unconsciously proud of themselves as an end result of history... Hm, this one is better, and has a lot of truth in it. However, I think the word(s) Proud and Pride is the problem here. I'm grateful and glad that my forefathers endured what they did so that I may enjoy my current status in this life. I am not proud though, cause I didn't choose to be born into my skin or lineage. I am proud of what I have accomplished with my opportunities.

[Strife]

Meh, I'm a hybrid, a hispanic, mother is light skinned, father is dark skinned, I'm light tanned, I'm a hispanic, a latino, whatever you'd categorize me, all in all, I'm human.

[midnightsonblaze]

I think everyone should be proud of their heritage and where they come from and should have no problem expressing that. My own family background....Mothers side: Sweedish & Italian....Fathers: German & Indian...my wife is Mexican and African American and she is certainly proud of her heritage.....my son just turned 1 yrs old on March 25th and he obviously has a background...I just think everyone should be proud of who they are no matter what color or race you are and there should be no problem celebrating that.

[VegasRonin]

I see the point is lost on some of you. :ohmy:

[DontBeAfraid]

You have impressed me VR :Bow:

[VegasRonin]

You have impressed me as well this day DBA. Not in this thread but another. We both know it won't last though but that's our relationship. :rolling:

[Chris4334]

I think I agree with you that "pride" is not the right word, but I don't know another word that would be suitable. Pride is pretty close, but like you've said, there are some problems with it.

[Defiant Noquisi]

here here. although you might make an exception for.... never mind. Make an exception for what Dutchie?

I will never understand this. Differences are what make life great! How boring it would be if everyone looked the same! I think it wonderful that we have such a diversity in look and culture! Really! Why should we all be the same? We dont have the same jobs, we dont drive the same cars, we dont speak the same languages. So why should our race be the same except in that we are human? As five fingered humans we are the same.

There is nothing wrong with racial pride OR in taking care of yourself and having pride in that too. What makes it wrong is when one looks down upon another for it or when one is excessive about it. As long as racial bias exists, there will always be people such as myself to remind the naysayers of how great the differences of "race" is.

And since men are such great works of art to begin with, ones that have tans that dont fade are the cherry on top for me. Is that really vanity? Im glad there is difference in looks and race since those differences you speak against VR, are IMHO what make you one of the sexiest looking men on this planet. If thats wrong to appreciate your looks VR then you are an "accident" that I am glad happened and I am gleefully happy to be wrong. Im also happy that there are "accidents" on this board as well. Of course, the latest accident I have a huge crush on, Orlando Bloom, just happens to be a white guy.

BTW, "vanity" does not just apply to looks. It is also excessive pride in one's accomplishments as well, "excessive" being the key word here.

[VegasRonin]

It wasn't my intent to imply that we should all strive to look the same, or that I want everyone to look the same. I agree, that would be boring. I'm very happy and secure with my appearance but I can't take "Pride" in my skin tone cause I didn't choose it, cause it, or have anything to do with it what so ever. I am flattered that you think I'm sexy *wink* :blush:

[Defiant Noquisi]

....but I can't take "Pride" in my skin tone...... That's okay, I'll do it for ya. LOL YW

[Anarch]

I've noticed that several members express a pride in their racial make-up. In my opinion one should have pride in their accomplishments, and not an accident of birth. No one had any choice in what race they would be born into. Whatever you choose for an occupation, and/or hobbies. One should do it to the best of their abilities, and I think its okay to take pride in that. Growing up, I went through the angry Black Man stage, until I realized I had been brainwashed. The anger that I had from actual racist events in my life, got twisted until I believed all non-blacks hated me for my color. I couldn't have been farther from the truth. There's only one race of man, and that's Humankind. One can't take pride in something, one had no control over.

how in the heck was this missed? let us bump it for resoanence today.

[Rhiannon]

I am very happy to be white:)I don't think it is better than anything else, It's just better for me. I like my light hair and blue eyes.

Is it true that natural blond hair and blues eyes will eventually disappear. I read that somewhere a few years ago. I guess it is because blond hair and blue eye genes is recessive.

[Cartesiantheater]

You just bumped a thread that was nigh 7 years old.

As it comes to racial pride, my belief is that it's a culturally passed on idea that often slowly loses strength among the group as time passes on, assuming other factors follow the normal course of things.


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6X01-46P4M2S-D&_user=976582&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F1998&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1490448803&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000049118&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=976582&md5=0056e25e3f9131d2d4b5fe8d73117289&searchtype=a


The Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity was used to examine the relationship between racial identity and personal self-esteem (PSE) in a sample of African American college students (n = 173) and a sample of African American high school students (n = 72). Racial identity was assessed using the Centrality and Regard scales of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity, whereas the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to assess PSE. Four predictions were tested: (a) racial centrality is weakly but positively related to PSE; (b) private regard is moderately related to PSE; (c) public regard is unrelated to PSE; and (d) racial centrality moderates the relationship between private regard and PSE. Multiple regression analysis found that racial centrality and public racial regard were unrelated to PSE in both samples. Private regard was positively related to PSE in the college sample. Racial centrality moderated the relationship between private regard and PSE in both samples, such that the relationship was significant for those with high levels of centrality but nonsignificant for those with low levels.

http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/~jsteele/files/04082316503115471.pdf


This study examined the role that dimensions of racial identity play regarding the antecedents and
consequences of perceived racial discrimination among African Americans. A total of 267 African
American college students completed measures of racial identity, perceived racial discrimination, and
psychological distress at 2 time points. After controlling for previous perceptions of discrimination, racial
centrality was positively associated with subsequent perceived racial discrimination. Additionally,
perceived discrimination was positively associated with subsequent event-specific and global psychological
distress after accounting for previous perceptions of discrimination and distress. Finally, racial
ideology and public regard beliefs moderated the positive relationship between perceived discrimination
and subsequent distress.

I bet this is an interesting read:

http://www.lavoisier.fr/notice/frAWO2OK2ARAW6RO.html


In this groundbreaking, interdisciplinary study Anne A. Cheng argues that we have to understand racial grief not only as the result of racism but also as a foundation for racial identity. She proposes that racial identification is itself already a melancholy act - a social category that is imaginatively supported through a dynamic of loss and compensation, by which the racial other is at once rejected and retained, denigrated and idealized. Drawing upon history, literature and theatre - the author ranges from Rodgers and Hammerstein to David Henry Whang, Brown v. Board of Education to Anne Deveare Smith, Ralph Ellison to Maxine Hong Kingston - Cheng demonstrates that racial melancholia permeates our fantasies of citizenship, assimilation, and social health. A provocative look at a timely cultural dilemma, this study is essential reading for anyone interested in race studies, critical theory, or psychoanalysis.


There is a great deal of work on this topic. But who needs careful study? We all already know everything /sarcasm.

[Cyranothe2nd]

Racial pride is just a reaction to the amazing amount of privilege some people have because of the color of their skin, combined with an attempt to regain a cultural heritage that was ripped away. As long as I enjoy white privilege, I don't think I have any right to tell others that they shouldn't try to regain some of their pride.

[TC]

At the same time, someone white would be demoted in status in some third world countries, and in some cases find themselves in harms way simply because of skin color.

We bemoan discrimination in the west, but its practiced with vigor elsewhere with unrestricted hate. Ignorance? racial pride? or a collective thought?

Perhaps its pay backs for the white race forcing its religion and standards on the rest of the world over the last 300 years.

I would have to ask the question as to why pride would be part of it, is it the underdog complex? or a unity issue? either way, bringing this pride to a point of hate or dissimilation is the curse of mankind, and there isn't any race free from committed atrocities.

[tahn1000]

i believe racial pride, and any form of pride can be a good thing, or it can be taken too far. but the opposite is just as bad. self respect and strong sense of identity encompasses everything about you, including your ethnicity.

[Mezurashi]

I always find it hilarious when WHITE PEOPLE complain about Other's having Racial Pride ...

roflmao ...

[Cartesiantheater]

I always find it hilarious when WHITE PEOPLE complain about Other's having Racial Pride ...

roflmao ...

eFR9xkZm4ck

[Beatnik Bob]

I always find it hilarious when WHITE PEOPLE complain about Other's having Racial Pride ...

roflmao ...

they do? ..