Why is it that black people end up being the most strongly generalized and stereotyped group of people? I have come to realize that there is no generalization other than that we are all humans with advantages and disadvatages, and that judgement should be based on the individual rather than a meaningless stereotype.
I bring this up because whenever there I see a thread posted about a black person or black people, there is always something racist, someone saying that they are against discrimination--though they speak like bigots, some study by someone with no relavent issue, or some question like "are blacks dumber than the rest of us?". Perhaps I am wrong in posting this and I realize that this could lead to some serious racial debate, but I really want to know why black people get picked on so much. Maybe I just think this is a problem because it has always been a part of my life, but I really would like some feedback and possibly an idea or two on how to stop racism.

I have come to realize that there is no generalization other than that we are all humans with advantages and disadvatages, and that judgement should be based on the individual rather than a meaningless stereotype.
I agree. It is ridiculus to stereotype millions of people based simply on some arbitrary shade of skin color or any other physical trait. Why does it commonly happen? I think because it is an easy and lazy way to look at things. It is harder to realize that each individual person must be judged independantly. That would mean sweeping statements that attempt to justify the controlling and repressive nature of man over others must be discarded.

Why is it that blacks (in itself a fairly vague term nowadays) are the victim of stereotyping more than others? I assume you are speaking for the U.S. I think it is obviously the history of the country from slavery to civil rights to the present. Blacks have been fighting an uphill battle from the beginning.

I don't know that blacks are any more the target of stereotypes than any other ethnic group or minority in America. I think that they get about what can be expected of such a large minority group.

this thread is strongly in danger of becoming a battleground of "i'm more oppressed than you". let's not compare minority groups and their individual experiences. life has sucked for all and you can't know if yours has been worse than another's.

on a side note, though not very pc: i think that jews have the worst track record of using the "i'm more oppressed than you" card. wasn't is albert einstein who said that jews use it as a means of fostering unity among themselves?

Most interesting thread.

Prehaps it is the vocal minority that brings the attention. I do much agree with you that it is indeed the individual that should be dealt with as racial catagorizing only leads to stereotyping and generalizations.

In any race you will find those that excel and those that don't. Really has nothing to do with race but everything to do with individual characteristics.

Prehaps we are lazy by nature when it comes to talking about the other guy...

Simply put, slavery. In order for America to justify slavery and still claim a high moral standard, it had to make claims that Africans were sub-human. This is what was written and taught during slavery, and the stigma from these lies have lasted to this day.

Static, nicely put. I would also add melanin: It is easier to generalize and stereotype when a given group can be easily distinguished.

Minority is all a matter of perspective nowadays.

As a young, white male I have no additional rights or services to benefit me.

I get no minority benefits such as scholarships or aid of any kind. I hate filling out the race/origin info on my applications. But my "miniority" friends love it.

And women get special scholarships and benefits too.

Some may argue that it is fair. I don't see how. IF we are to truly move past any kind of stigma, and be able to look past color or sex, then there should not be special programs of any kind based on such criteria.

And with regards to slavery, I understand about slavery...it has existed for thousands of years. Each race has done it, to themselves and others. Africans sold Africans to the Europeans. Yet you don't see blacks going after Africans for restitution, instead, they target America for its deep pockets completely ignoring that every race has fallen victim to slavery of some kind.

Slavery is indeed disgusting and inexcusable, it is largely responsible for what made America a capitalist icon...but Americans really need to move past that. Including the black ones. We cannot forget the past in fear of repeating it, but we dare not hold onto it as an anchor that would drag us down forever.

Just my thoughts.

I am Mr. Beard.

Ever since 9/11 the arabs have become serious contenders to dethrone Mr. Black from the Hall of Shame...

i think that the majority will always marginalize or flatly deny the pains and coplaints of minorities.

Originally posted by SwedishFish
on a side note, though not very pc: i think that jews have the worst track record of using the "i'm more oppressed than you" card. wasn't is albert einstein who said that jews use it as a means of fostering unity among themselves?

it brings all minorities closer together when they're oppressed.
but different groups have different ways to react to oppression.
some fight it with stones and sticks and guns...

while, some try to adapt by learning 10 times harder than the white man, working 10 times harder than the white man, being 10 times more polite than the white man, being 10 times less confrontational than the white man......and thus ending up progressing in life because they are more attracting to employers (and irritating the white man even further with success, in the process)

its pretty ignorant that people can't accept people for who they are. you cant just stereotype a race, you can't generalize a group that big. people come from different lives, different places, and they are there own very unique person. any kind of discrimination having to do with religion, race, and sexual preference is simpleminded and shallow.