http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023526.php SCARBOROUGH TELLS IT LIKE IT IS.... Credit where credit is due: MSNBC's Joe Scarborough criticized Arizona's new immigration law this morning, and did so in a compelling, persuasive way. As the former Republican congressman put it, "...It does offend me when one out of every three citizens in the state of Arizona are Hispanics, and you have now put a target on the back of one out of three citizens, who, if they're walking their dog around a neighborhood, if they're walking their child to school, and they're an American citizen, or a legal, legal immigrant -- to now put a target on their back, and make them think that every time they walk out of their door they may have to prove something. I will tell you, that is un-American. It is unacceptable and it is un-American."
Wow, you're really going to dig yourself deeper into a whole aren't you? Tell me, what does someone who "came from the projects" look like? Is all your knowledge of non-whites based on the images you see on TV? It obviously doesn't come from personal experience because no one who lived in and among non-whites or has close relations would say such disparaging things. Racists do though. Both the closeted and the overt. Sometimes they are ignorant and don't know any better. It's just accepted speak where they live and with whom they associate. And then sometimes they mean to do it. That you can't see how Urkel is disparaging is clear evidence of both your ignorance and your maliciousness. I'm hard pressed to think of you as other than racist. Worst still, a racist with an inflated sense of self as if that should indemnify one's racism. You know, you could have redeemed yourself by rolling with me and saying "Ok, Urkel was a bit silly. Sorry. That was off the cuff. didn't mean to offend. But PatterRec, you have to admit that an African American who presents himself in a mainstream culturally acceptable manner would likely face less racism than one who fits the stereotypical caricature of a 'gansta' or thug." To which I would reply, "That would be untrue as a blanket statement. On the streets, perhaps. But in a corporate setting, restaurant, hailing a cab, dating, etc, it only takes dark skin."
Most African Americans do. He's an embarrassment. Even among African Americans, calling someone "Urkel" is meant to disparage. Funny enough, even Tiger Woods considered it racist when non-African Americans called him that. And no, I don't look remotely similar to Urkel. If you must pigeon-hole me with a Hollywood actor, I look closest to Wesley Snipes. But I see that you're just trolling again. Not looking for any meaningful discourse or even being a reasonable individual who can acknowledge their faults and attempt to make amends. Good night.
Via I-20? About as bad as I-95 in NJ 10+ years ago. I've traveled through much of the south often enough since I have some family and friends there. Been pulled over a few times over twenty years. Never had a problem that I couldn't deal with. As I said, all in how you approach things and whether or not you are in violation of some law. Let's not blow things out of proportion. Having a problem because you're African American isn't inevitable. Just a higher probability than if you weren't.
I drive by Snyder TX on US 84 several times a month. About 10 times in the last few months I've seen people pulled over by the state cops and made to stand out to the side away from the car, about half the time the troopers appeared to be searching the car. Every single person I've seen in that area pulled over was black or mexican, not one white. The majority of drivers are white around here then mexican and then a very small percentage of black, no way is it random. It's not how you approach things if color is the reason for the stop. The most racist place I've ever been to though is Monroe LA. , those people are out in the open about their dislike or worse for black people, no hiding it there.
Hmmmm....I had no idea that a famous black actor like Steven Quincy Urkel was meant to disparage blacks. Sorry. Famous white actors like Jim Nabors playing a cracker southern boy moron Gomer Pyle made lots of money as an actor, and Nabors played other parts...as an actor, and was successful as a singer. Are you suggesting that Urkel was not just an actor playing a part, that he was not an actor? Or are you denying that someone who looked and acted like Urkel would be less likely to be pulled over for no good reason and hassled compared to someone who looks like Wesley Snipes looked like for the role he played in "New Jack City?" Look, lets cut the crap, okay? Say a black guy looks like Tupac in gangster gear is walking down the street...what are the odds he gets rousted and hassled for no reason? Say a white guy looks like Eminem in exact same garb...does he stand a greater or lesser chance of being rousted and hassled for no reason? So race is an enormous factor for the innocent. Forcing people to look like Urkel, or dress like a banker just to avoid unwarranted hassle by the police is not cool, is it? This is America, people should be free to move about without hassle...just because of the color of the skin, or income level, or manner of dress, level of education, etc. should play no role in authority rousting people up trying to find some problem. That you somehow defend the law in Arizona is fair, or just, or not a big deal "if you are innocent" is bullshit. If you are innocent, then there is no reason to be hassled at all. This racial profiling crap is un-American, and you as a black man saying it is okay speaks to your own view of your own community. Maybe you have conformed to the white man's world (Think of Clarence Thomas) and think that blacks who don't, who express their individualism in a defiant way, who reject the white culture, etc. should be rousted up and hassled. Perhaps you look a certain way, dress a certain way, speak a certain way that is closer to what a white man would do and on that basis there is less chance of being rousted. On that basis, it shows that a black man has to look a certain way, dress a certain way, speak a certain way to achieve equality with whites in the sense of freedom from being hassled by the police? That is crazy man...just crazy.