FCKH8 releases new video aimed at battling racism

[rpggal 332]

I understand your point, you're saying the only individuals who oppress blacks are white (which i would agree with), however its not the same as saying all whites are oppressors. My only objection to this video is the "hey white people" which directly states that all whites are to blame. Gays could say "hey heteros" but its wouldnt make sense because there are straights that fight for our cause and support us. Its was a poor choice of words.

I take issue with that semantic interpretation. The video is addressed to white people, but I don't see anywhere in the video them blaming all white people. To me, it seems more like "White people, this is an issue that you *may* not think affects you, and here are some arguments that you *may* find yourself making, well here are some responses to those arguments." I suppose it doesn't help that the kids are yelling into the camera, which make it seem very aggressive. But just as much as they don't explicitly say "some" to qualify "white people," they don't say "all" either.

[MahoganySnitch 67]

I see it as a cycle. Stigma = more minorities in jail = more stigma. But we can't place the entire blame on stigmas and forget people actually commit crimes out of their own will. 

It is cyclical, I agree. The free will aspect of this shouldn't be brushed off but it would be foolish for anyone to deny the racial aspects to this cycle. The fact that stereotypes like thugs/terrorists/gang-bangers exist only helps fuel this fire. 

[The Professor 1,060]

But that's what I asked you before, what other race is contributing to the social and economic disadvantages besides white people? Do you expect them to add some long disclaimer to every race discussion so you can feel personally absolved from the situation?

 

No. You were referring to discrimination of any kind, which is not exclusive.

 

In terms of economic oppression yes, look at my post above. Notice however the selectivity in your observation and be aware that there are whites fighting to fix this issue

[Willy Wonka 4]

Are people still arguing semantics rather than addressing the actual argument set forth in the video?

[Redstreak 6,653]

No. You were referring to discrimination of any kind, which is not exclusive.

 

In terms of economic oppression yes, look at my post above. 

The video was on systematic discrimination. I assumed that when saying racism or discrimination it would have been applied specifically to that type.

[Morphine Prince 109,654]

Also, the tone they are using in the videos will really turn off a lot of people. Mocking your target audience isn't a very effective tactic. 

 

Maybe this is off topic but I feel like the media in general puts so much emphasis on a WHITE cop shooting a BLACK teen, yet they completely ignore the Black on Black or White on White, etc. crimes that happen. It's always about whites vs. another race. 

[rpggal 332]

But then what do we rely on then? All the world sees is minorities in jail. How about we start trying to eliminate crime regardless of race? I feel like sometimes the disproportion is used as an excuse to justify a certain race's mistakes.

That's one of the problems, we don't have accurate data to rely on. Of course we try very hard to eliminate crime, that's why all these minorities are being put into jail (because we're actively fighting their crime). The problem is that one of the fundamental tenants of our constitution is EQUAL protection under the law. Probably most of the people in jail are actually criminals, but criminals have rights too. And whereas white criminals are able to walk around freely with drastically lower probability of being suspected of a crime, black criminals (and non-criminals) are constantly being suspected of crime, and even unnecessarily followed. A black criminal has just as much right to a presumption of innocence as a white criminal. Yet they all too often don't get that presumption of innocence. It's a human rights issue, and it's a justice issue, and any citizen should be concerned to live in a country where another citizen's rights are routinely violated.

[MahoganySnitch 67]

Of course I benefit from the system. I also don't benefit from the system because I am:

 

-Non-heteros-xual

-Overweight

-Mentally ill

 

The system is rarely 100% for anyone. It is less fair to certain groups. The system isn't clear-cut as in "all white people gain." Women don't necessarily benefit. Gays don't necessarily benefit. Etc.

 

I was born into debt. Whether you see it or not white people are seen as the oppressors.

I know I benefit to some degree, but the system isn't that simple. 

 

I work in the Intercultural-International Center on campus. We have personal seminars relating to inequality and social justice. I am not new to this.

Like people have said, it is indeed not clear-cut. I think people tend to think that when they are told they are privileged, they think they are being told they are wealthy, riding a good life with no legal or social issues whatsoever. But that's not what (I'm) saying. The privileges that exist (not stereotyped as thug/terrorist/etc.), are there regardless. They don't disappear because you happen to be gay, a white woman, etc. Those have their own challenges, but even in those movements you see hierarchies. Like female leaders of early suffrage who said they didn't want to actively fight for the Black woman's right to vote. Those women were oppressed in that they sought the vote, but some still said no to Black women inclusion. 

[rpggal 332]

Are people still arguing semantics rather than addressing the actual argument set forth in the video?

Are you implying that you can address an argument without specifying what was said in the argument? Semantics is meaning. Arguments need to have their meaning established before we can evaluate them.

[Morphine Prince 109,654]

That's one of the problems, we don't have accurate data to rely on. Of course we try very hard to eliminate crime, that's why all these minorities are being put into jail (because we're actively fighting their crime). The problem is that one of the fundamental tenants of our constitution is EQUAL protection under the law. Probably most of the people in jail are actually criminals, but criminals have rights too. And whereas white criminals are able to walk around freely with drastically lower probability of being suspected of a crime, black criminals (and non-criminals) are constantly being suspected of crime, and even unnecessarily followed. A black criminal has just as much right to a presumption of innocence as a white criminal. Yet they all too often don't get that presumption of innocence. It's a human rights issue, and it's a justice issue, and any citizen should be concerned to live in a country where another citizen's rights are routinely violated.

This is basically America's history, sadly. 

[Willy Wonka 4]

Are you implying that you can address an argument without specifying what was said in the argument? Semantics is meaning. Arguments need to have their meaning established before we can evaluate them.

I'm implying that the video is more than "hey white people".

[Prometheus 1,494]

This is basically America's history, sadly. 

This is basically every country's history.

This is the history of the world.

[rpggal 332]

I'm implying that the video is more than "hey white people".

Ah. In that case, yes people are still discussing diction, word choice, phrasing, etc. Sorry, I'm a bit picky when people use philosophical terminology.

[Willy Wonka 4]

Ah. In that case, yes people are still discussing diction, word choice, phrasing, etc. Sorry, I'm a bit picky when people use philosophical terminology.

Were people not debating semantics over the meaning of the phrase "hey white people"? Whether it was addressing all white people or if it had an implicit qualifier?

[rpggal 332]

Were people not debating semantics over the meaning of the phrase "hey white people"? Whether it was addressing all white people or if it had an implicit qualifier?

Yes, we were, which is why I asked the first question, which is whether you believed that an argument could be evaluated without establishing its meaning. It's central to the discussion of whether the video was in itself promoting racism against white individuals.