Just a Joke??

Over the last few days there has been a pretty heated debate on social and racial responsibility. Personally, I don't agree with either. I believe in laizes fair. I'll contribute to society by following the laws and ensuring that my family and I are productive. That's where I draw the line. I'm down for the "struggle" but only to a certain point. I could never be an activist because of the hypocrites that spread their hate and separatist attitudes.

We've all heard our share of racially charged jokes and I try my best to never repeat them because they promote stereotypes. This joke was told to me by a black (male) friend. I laughed but it does poke fun of the hypocritical thinking of many "pro-black" activists. You've probably heard it but I will repeat it in its entirety.

On a plane traveling across the country the Captain noticed that due to an extremely heavy load the plane was difficult to control. As the plane flew into turbulent skies, the Captain began dumping fuel to lighten the load. The result was minimal so over the intercom he informed the passengers that the plane was too heavy and he would have to dump the cargo holds that held their luggage. He ensured them that they would be reimbursed for anything that was lost. This too had no result on the extreme weight of the plane. Left with no choice, the Captain once again came on the intercom and informed the passengers that unfortunately FAA guidelines required him to evacuate the plane’s passengers based on race. He instructed all the African-American passengers to report to the doors and exit the plane. No one moved. He then instructed all the Black passengers to report to the doors and exit the plane. No one moved. He then instructed all the Colored passengers to report to the doors and exit the plane. Again, no one moved. In the middle of the plane sat a black woman and her daughter. The little girl, observing the activities onboard the plane looked up at her mother curiously. She asked, “Momma, why aren’t we moving? Aren’t we African-Americans, Black and Colored?” The woman shook her head and told her daughter to be quiet, “No sweetheart; we Niggers today!”

I know this is a joke but I have seen this type of behavior amongst black people very often. On one hand they want to be treated like everyone else with no regards to their race, background or color. On the other, they flaunt their “blackness” like a new coat or new car. We have to make a decision. Either we are going to be seen as human beings or we are going to be black. We can’t have both. I have friends who take this to the extreme by intimidating people with loud and verbose speech and gestures. My friends are only feeding the stereotype that black people are loud and intimidating.

I brought this up because of the recent posts concerning social responsibility of black people. I will not shoulder the burdens of the black race. Someone spoke of individual responsibility and I agree. I can’t stand it when a black person commits a crime and we as a racial group run to his/her aid because they are black. Isn’t there some individual responsibility for committing the crime? Not everything is racist!!

I know this has very little to do with IR dating and I’m sorry for using this forum as a sounding board. I do, however, feel that it supports the idea that I date ww because I happen to like dating ww. I don’t feel like a race traitor or that I’m destroying the fabric of black America because I am sleeping with a ww. Whatever happened to love and sexual attraction being the motivation behind dating? Can we get back to loving a woman because she treats you right and not because you want to uplift your race? I bet if you told a woman or a man that you loved them because it was the “right thing to do” you would find yourself alone and terribly unhappy. Love me because I love you and I am a man first. Love me because I’m consistent and I identify myself through my accomplishments to society as a whole, not just to the people who look like me.

Sorry for the long post. Just had to get that off my chest…2 Lincolns.

 

Two things:
1.That joke was not funny.
2.All you can do is live your life. Not everyone will feel the desire to stand up for other people and that's their right. Really. But if I choose to live my life by doing those things that I feel will make the world a better place, I for one don't want to be called stupid for doing it. If I'm fighting against windmills, then let me fight my fight my way. I'll respect you at the end of the day.
I often think about the old store about a person who stood by as his neighbors got taken away one by one and when they came for him, no one was left to help.
I think about about that when I do volunteer work in schools.

All we all want is to live our lives our way free of the little put downs and judgments that come along when people feel they are somehow smarter or better than you.

And with that, I'm off like a dress on prom night.
That my friend is a funny joke!!!!!

 

First, I respect your opinion. Second, do you only do volunteer work in black schools? If not then you support my point. Assistance is assistance regardless of who it is for, as long as it is for someone in need. If you only volunteer in black schools then there are a lot of non-black students who are missing out on a positive male role model. Lord knows we need them.
Third, I never once claimed to be smarter than anyone. Quite the contrary. I just believe that dialog promotes understanding. I started this post to get the mental juices flowing and state my humble opinion. You are free to live your life and pursue your dreams anyway you would like. I pass no judgments on you or anyone else that makes choices that are different than my own.
If you would like to call a spade a spade then take a look at the header for this forum - whitewomenblackmen.com. We are all like minded people who have been constantly challenged to justify our lifestyles. These are the people who are passing judgement not me.
Lastly, the prom dress joke was funny, but not so much now that I'm a teacher...

 

I hear you my man.
No harm, no foul.

I've gone to any school that needed help.
The sad truth is more of them are in the cities. :cry:

 

So true. Now that's a problem we should all be discussing. Poverty in the inner cities cross racial lines and the only people that are suffering are children. I commend you for whatever work you are doing in the schools. The future of all kinds sit in classrooms with no role models and some with no hope for the future.
Kudos to your willingess to give of yourself.

 

Gotta agree the joke is not funny. As for being part of the cause I will do volunteer stuff if I have the time but that'll probably be that for the time being.