African American Culture Appropriation(hypocrisy?)

[Thermos aquaticus]

What do you think "a German catholic taking on the airs of a Jew and talking about the hardships of the Holocaust." would be analogous to, specifically? Like what actual, specific action?

Take your pick. The important part is that you naturally see the problem that this would pose.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Take your pick. The important part is that you naturally see the problem that this would pose.

It's your analogy, you fill in the blanks. Yes... I see the problems such a case would pose, but I have difficulty seeing it as relevant to anything being discussed in this thread.

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

Yes... I see the problems such a case would pose, but I have difficulty seeing it as relevant to anything being discussed in this thread.

If you have difficulty understanding how it applies to this thread, then my explaining it probably won't help. It should be rather obvious.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Oh God here we go again with the comparative analysis of who suffered more than who bull crap. Bro miss me with the narrative crap. You know I get really sick of people trying to water down the sufferings of another by putting in place their ancestral suffering. I guess you never heard of the millions of Africans who died during the middle passage right?

Dude best advice I can give you is with that type of mindset stick to your own culture. Don’t worry about what my culture does. Cause right now you sound like one of them uninformed white dudes trying to have an informed opinion and it’s irritating. When you want to learn about culture you gotta come with humility and stop trying to one up someone else’s pain just because you feel some type of way.

Now, I don’t know if you’re white, but your attitude is indicative of the conversations I have with whites in my life who make these seemingly harmless opinions or ask questions then they come with this bull crap. Stuff like this ruins your sincerity because now you’re coming from a place of ignorance instead of understanding.

See, if this was a public discussion I would have shut you down like Dr. Eric Dyson cause because this was perhaps the most asinine comment. Since you have an African girlfriend learn about the history of her people and leave African-American history to us because it’s obvious you, and others here like you are unwilling to learn. I have little patience for those who water down the historical sufferings of another.

It’s amazing my long lost brothers and sisters can cast type us in a negative light but are attracted to some of the most idiotic human beings. SMH European Colonialism at its finest.


Btw if your people were Irish that myth of Irish being enslaved comparable to Africans was debunked in several articles already:


Debunking a Myth: The Irish Were Not Slaves, Too

Suffering isn't zero sum, either. While indentured servitude and transportation as punishment weren't exactly the same thing as chatel slavery, they were similar enough that you should feel similarly about both groups subjected to them. Pointing out that other people were treated badly doesn't diminish the suffering of African slaves, and vice versa.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

If you have difficulty understanding how it applies to this thread, then my explaining it probably won't help. It should be rather obvious.

Well it's not obvious and frankly it seems like an overwrought strawman. I'm happy to work through whatever analogy you use, but if you can't explain how your anology is relevant, don't blame it on me. Perhaps try to come up with something clearer?

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

Well it's not obvious and frankly it seems like an overwrought strawman. I'm happy to work through whatever analogy you use, but if you can't explain how your anology is relevant, don't blame it on me. Perhaps try to come up with something clearer?

It's clear.

 

[columbus]

It's clear.

No it isn't.
Tom

ETA Perhaps you could clarify what "taking on the airs of" means.

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

No it isn't.
Tom

Does this help?

These are black students who had to be guarded by the National Guard just so they could attend college classes.

 

[columbus]

Does this help?

These are black students who had to be guarded by the National Guard just so they could attend college classes.

No, not really.
Did you see my edit?
Tom

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

No, not really.
Did you see my edit?
Tom

"Taking on airs" is "acting like". In other words, cultural appropriation. To use another analogy, it would be like Jerry Seinfeld dressing, walking, and talking like a cowboy while walking around in Manhattan as if he comes from that culture.

 

[columbus]

"Taking on airs" is "acting like". In other words, cultural appropriation.

If you mean pretending to be Jewish, to fool people, I can see it.
But just being German and talking about the horrors of the Holocaust, no.

To use another analogy, it would be like Jerry Seinfeld dressing, walking, and talking like a cowboy while walking around in Manhattan as if he comes from that culture.

In what way would that hurt anyone? People do it all the time.
Real cowboys, such as still exist, might roll their eyes at a sequined leather vest. But it doesn't hurt them any.
Tom

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

In what way would that hurt anyone? People do it all the time.
Real cowboys, such as still exist, might roll their eyes at a sequined leather vest. But it doesn't hurt them any.
Tom

When we are talking about a group of people that went through 400 years of slavery and discrimination, it is a bit different.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Does this help?

These are black students who had to be guarded by the National Guard just so they could attend college classes.

What does that have to do with the hypothetical you came up with? I'm not seeing the connection.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

When we are talking about a group of people that went through 400 years of slavery and discrimination, it is a bit different.

How? Specifically?

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

What does that have to do with the hypothetical you came up with? I'm not seeing the connection.

In case you were unaware, Jews were discriminated against in Germany at one point.

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

How? Specifically?

It is seen as stealing culture from a group who has already been stolen from for centuries. There needs to be at least some acknowledgement of the pain and suffering that gave rise to that culture as well as a respect for those who built it.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

In case you were unaware, Jews were discriminated against in Germany at one point.

Thanks for the history lesson, it doesn't answer my question, though. Black people and Jews and a bunch of other people have long, tragic histories of discrimination and persecution. No one is suggesting otherwise. This fact is not, however, a magic wand with which to make a claim logical.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

It is seen as stealing culture from a group who has already been stolen from for centuries. There needs to be at least some acknowledgement of the pain and suffering that gave rise to that culture as well as a respect for those who built it.

How is it "stealing"? No one is losing anything. Borrowing from a culture is not antithetical to respect or acknowledgement of the past.

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

How is it "stealing"?

When you copy someone else's work without giving them credit, that is considered stealing.

No one is losing anything. Borrowing from a culture is not antithetical to respect or acknowledgement of the past.

Others don't share your opinion.

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

Thanks for the history lesson, it doesn't answer my question, though. Black people and Jews and a bunch of other people have long, tragic histories of discrimination and persecution. No one is suggesting otherwise. This fact is not, however, a magic wand with which to make a claim logical.

I guess a magic wand can't give people empathy, either.