Racism - Are "Good" statements racist?

They are racist comments whether folks want to admit it or not. I don't really think that you are being overly sensitive. My mother is Native American. My father is German. My hubby is Jamaican and my children are African-American. You wanna talk about getting racist comments?? My hubby thinks the term African-American is racist and I cannot truly argue that with him. Truth is my children are American, but they are Black. They have never seen Africa nor their father or his father before him. I am a quarter Cherokee Indian, but I am of very fair complexion, blonde hair and green eyes. Should we discuss the stuff I get due to my blonde hair or my bra cup? Nah! When you get right down to it, no one is full blood anything anymore except if you live in the Bush or on a Reservation. The whole things is all kind of silly if you ask me. We bleed the same color. We don't mind who we lay next to in the nursery or the cemetary. Racism is a huge thing in America. Take a caucasian soul in Jamaica surrounded by black folks, no issues. Now put that beautiful Jamaican soul down South in America ~ entirely different situation. Well, that's my take on it anyway, what do I know?? Bless you Lizard. I had a youth say to me at the Church one day, "No offense Sister, but I wanted to buy these really cool shoes at the mall, but they looked like something a Black person might have." Go figure! Most of my family are Black. I couldn't believe that I got that at the Church of all places!!

hello lizard211, my name is wade! nice to meet you ! i feel like your peers are being racial in a sense. in order to say one race is very intelligent, you have to say that another race isn't for example, you know how to play the violin. and you are asian and people are so quick to assume, that every person who is asian are naturaly born with these qualities, no one is... when you think of a nineteen year old black man. you would never guess that he plays the violin too and has a high grade point average in college and loves alternative music...well i do lol ! some people fit sterotypes, and some don't in every race or culture, p.s great discussion !

I think there is a difference between positive and negative racism. We often call the former 'nationalism' or 'national pride' when we use it to refer to ourselves. The word 'racism' has so many negative connotations that it is hardly appropriate. Often, the kind of comment you are referring to is not so much 'racist' as the kind of generalisation which takes no account of the person referred to. It is of exactly the same order as assuming that a street sweeper, for example, is uneducated or justifying someone's behaviour by saying "Well, that's an Aries for you!" We actually encounter this sort of thing all the time. How many people have struggled under the shadow of a brilliant older brother or sister or have been branded "the black sheep of the family" because they are different from 'the norm' (which is usually a high standard). Conversely, we tend to express surprise when someone from a lower, uneducated class 'makes good'. I think that merely acknowledging someone's race does not imply a racist attitude. It is when people are excluded from something specifically because of their race, skin colour or other racial characteristic or, conversely, included or given benefit (usually to the exclusion of others) for no other reason than their accident of birth, that it can begin to be called racism. As I have said, though, many such examples are not implicitly racist at all, even though the classification is made on the grounds of race. What is really abhorrent about the kind of statements you mention is the unjust and unwarranted classification, not that race (presumably skin colour rather than culture) was the pigeon-hole used. So you play the violin, do you? Then you must be good at math because a lot of musicians are also good mathematicians ... see what I mean?

I wouldn't consider it racism just because racism is about hate and I don't believe that comments like this are meant to hurt you but were worded wrongly . I beleive that many try to say something nice and go about saying it a manner that may hurt or offend someone but was not intended to hurt the individual whereas with racism the remarks are meant to hurt as they stem from hate . I can understand you feeling sensitive on this matter but try to brush it off as the ignorance of people as well all do and say things unintentionally and then when pointed out realize what we said or the way we said it and feel bad :)

I wouldn't say they racist, per se, but they are very stereotypical. Racism carries with it a negative implication, and usually involves bias against a particular race. Stereotypical or generalizing people, however, may not necessarily have any negative feelings towards a particular race, but do believe certain stereotypes.

I think I would say that what you are describing is stereotyping. Racism to me is when a person dislikes and thinks that a person of another race,culture or nationality is inferior to them for that reason only.

God just made ONE human race and he said to Love your neighbor as yourself!!! God Bless You All! Thanks!