Why is it that whenever I ask questions about race issues on the internet....?

Question

I get accused of being racist? Is it because people don't want their views and beliefs about that subject questioned and they would like to simply avoid the question by classifying it as a racist question?

The question was: "Why don't black people think the BET is racist?"

Its the idea that only black people will find the station's content entertaining while white people do not. Since when does the color of your skin determine your personal entertainment criteria? The same would go for a "White Entertainment Television". Why would people make a racist assumption that only white people would be interested that channel?

These types of things are inherently racist. White this, Black that.

Instead of having an intelligent debate on the question most people replied:

Your racist

The BET is owned by a white guy

Its not racist

Because only black people like it

Great responses........ All of them moot and not pertaining to the original question.

Answer 1

The way you phrase the question is important - do you see the contradiction that you made in the paragraph?  You asked, "Since when does the color of your skin determine your personal entertainment criteria?"  But then, the question that you asked is "Why don't black people think that BET is racist?" - there is an assumption in the way that you phrased the question that all black people, and only black people, feel that BET is non-racist. The way that you phrased the question is akin to asking, "Why do white people in Alabama join the KKK?"

If you had truncated the question to: "Is BET racist?," you would have received completely different answers minus the personal attacks.

But, as far as the quality of your answers, your judgment is once again clouded. It is not only posts about race that result in irrelevant/wrong answers - it is nearly all posts on this forum.  I decided to chime in to this forum, because I noticed how much wrong information was given out, and I wanted to do my small part to correct that.

Answer 2

people see things in black and white.

thats how i put it.. you know ?

this is what someone told me awhile ago "if a white person calls a black person the "n" word.. it's wrong.. but if a black person calls a white person a "cracker" or whatever it's okay"

it's kind of what you said but in a diffenret subject thing lol.

Answer 3

I am a black woman and I do not think the question you ask was racist. However BET is not racist. The reason why BET is called that is because twenty years ago the stations like MTV did not play African American artist so BET was created to give blacks a chance and to play music that we listen to like hip-hop and r&b.

Answer 4

oh S**t. The first person that responded to ur question took my answer. BTW they hit it right on the nose!

Answer 5

Obviously ,racism and prejudice are problems not yet solved in America .  Racism is ignorant ... but so is our reaction to it.

Answer 6

I didn't see the original question so I don't know if it was offensive, but I think that we SHOULD discuss these issues so that we can clear up misconceptions and develop a common understanding.  For example...

1.  I don't think it's accurate to say that only black people like BET.

2.  A parallel would be to say that CMT is racist because only white people like it.  I don' think that's accurate either.

3.  Anyone who wants to watch BET can watch it.  It is a channel that celebrates a particular culture.  What's wrong with that?  It's not saying one thing is better than another, it's just specializing like for example, CMT does.

When I disagree with someone's post I would rather try to persuade them than delete their question...unless it's clearly inappropriate and inflammatory of course.

Answer 7

I'll take a stab at this question.  I am white, but I think I can give a clear answer.

For so many years, the oppression of the Black citizens of this nation were oppressed.  If you read anything about the history of slavery and the Jim Crow South, then youknow that things took a long time to change in there lives.  Even then, it was still tinged with the aspect of black skinned people being inferior to white people.

There were many Blacks who fought the incredible racism and made many strides toward the equal freedom they were entitled to by virtue of the Constitution of the United States.

There have been problems, and there continue to be problems in the Black communities, and there is at best a limited vision of the unlimited opportunity that has always been available here in America.  As you no doubt know, noted Black men have chastized Black men for being absent parents, Bill Cosby, Barrack Obama, Colin Powell, Denzel Washington, Sidney Portier, Harry Belafonte, just to name a few.  These men has seen the sadness and the disfunction that has come from the lives of Black kids who have few role models in their lives, except the overpaid, over hyped Rappers, who, if you will admit often lead very shallow and unfulfilling lives as well, but they are able to do it with an excess of money and notice by the world.

The Bet is a place where despite the lack of (I don't know what word to use --- class is the closest to what I mean), the lifestyle and music of these entertainers is both envied and enjoyed.  I am not putting them down, I just think that there is a spirit of ownership that has emerged from the Black communities that allows some Black people to hold onto and admire.

I have a dear friend who is Black and his interest in this is nill.  He is both a Doctor and a humanitarian who has dedicated his life to helping educate and improve the lives of those people he comes in contact with.  He has worked hard to get where he is, and he admires all people who have worked just as hard to achieve their goals.

I think I have rambled enough, but I too believe that it is possible for ANYONE to achieve what they want in this life with some hard work and tenacity.  Why is it not ok for there to be an all Black entertainment channel?  I think there should be more of them, and I also believe their should be Asian Channels, Latino channels, and any other channels that are necessary to afford Americans to express themselves.  

I do draw the line at n**i channels, extremists, and terrorists, and anti American rhetoric.

Answer 8

A lot of people are in complete ignorance of what actually constitutes racism.Yes, I think you are right about it.

Answer 9

Because race is the only issue by which a true racist person can un-leash their OWN racist feelings without any fear of retribution or criticism.

This subject is only taboo to the one who draws first blood.(in other words-the one who brings it up)This person is the bad guy and is unrighteous.

The one who is in defense mode is usually considered the victim.

Answer 10

It's because most people on here are 13 year olds and don't know what Racism is.

Answer 11

I think in  modern days we are somehow trying to compensate for the errors of the past, and we have become oversensitive to race issues. For some reason we don't separate the culture of a given race and the individual.

I'm Mexican, and in my country we make all kinds of jokes about ourselves that can't be said in Spanish speaking networks in the US.

Answer 12

To be onest the world we live in is all about "Oh we must not say tha it will ofend other people"

but the ppl who call u rascist are jus not intelligant enought to seperate the difrence.

don worry i understand were u coming from.

its lil words you say, people automaticlly think its racist but its not soo if people read this an call you racist still

**** OFF lol :P thas telling them

peace.. Dann

Answer 13

I know what you mean.  I asked a question once about why so many Indians owned hotels, and people acted like I had committed a crime.  I wasn't being racist.  I just wanted an answer because I was curious.  I did actually get a few intelligent anwers, though, from people who actually took my question for what it was worth.

Answer 14

Because we've allowed it go that far in America.  It's ok for a black person to make fun a white person, but not the other way around.  I think its the same thing as it being ok to have a school for black people but if you had a school for white people it would be racist.  

And who knows, maybe a lot of them do think the BET is racist but they are apparently ok with the fact that we treat them as exception because of that unspoken guilt.