am I the only 'woman of color' in the Slope who's not...

law-n-disorder

pitu wrote: [quote=law&disorder]A black American friend recently said that I get a "pass" and don't even experience the full racism a black AMerican might get because of my "posh" English accent. So, I can only imagine what it might be like if I was a black American....

Watch out where that posh accent leads you tho - we had a friend looking for an apt (english black woman) who freaked out more than one racist landlord/realtor . . .Not really much that I can do (or want to do) about the way I speak. Unless anybody on here wants to offer me elocution lessons that will help me sound as though I was born and raised in Brooklyn.

sevenoneeighty

I like watching the prime Ministers question period on C-span every week.

I can never get a clear shot of the entire House of Commons, but how many Black/ African Descent members are serving in the British House of Commons and who was the first to serve in the UK? There were actually 12 - 13 a while ago...

law-n-disorder

718 - when you complain that there aren't any Oprah Winfreys or Colin Powells in Japan or in England - you appear to be ignoring the statistics. America is about 15% (I always forget the exact statistic) black and many of the blacks here have been here for hundreds of years. No idea what the stats are for Japan, but I find it hard to believe that there are anywhere near as many blacks there or that they lived there for anywhere near as long. The last stats I had from Britain showed that the country was only about 2.5% black and that many of those blacks didn't migrate there until the 1960s or later....

So, Parliament may actually be 2.5% minority in England and that might not seem like much but England believe it or not is still a very white country. Leave London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leicester and you would see what I mean....

sevenoneeighty

L&D

I think it was a simple question. really did want to know.
It wasnt meant to get you upset - but you seem to be "defined by defiance". So...okay, good luck with all of that....

But it is interesting. I'm not sure you completely understand me - I said if there is an equivalent to these people I mentioned in other countries - I'll listen, watch and study them.

You seem to really have such a hatred for all things America and Black American - and African vendors for some reason....not sure where that one came from.

I am very proud of the Black politicians, congressmen, councilmen, delegates, Governors, Mayors and Lt. Governors of America. I could name them all , but what would be the point. My parentsvoted for Doug Wilder when he became Governor in Virginia!

Yup, things continue to get better here.
I am looking forward to voting for qualified candidates when they arise.

Another question, would you ever consider permanently living in your African country of origin? You would probably be free of all of the racism that is hurting you here.

It really is just a question....but a valid one.

P.S. W.E.B. Dubois entered Harvard in 1888, where he won the Boylston oratorical contest and was one of the six commencement speakers.

Just thought you and your grandmother should know.

law-n-disorder

SevenOneEighty wrote: L&D

I think it was a simple question. really did want to know.
It wasnt meant to get you upset - but you seem to be "defined by defiance". So...okay, good luck with all of that....

But it is interesting. I'm not sure you completely understand me - I said if there is an equivalent to these people I mentioned in other countries - I'll listen, watch and study them.

You seem to really have such a hatred for all things America and Black American - and African vendors for some reason....not sure where that one came from.

I am very proud of the Black politicians, congressmen, councilmen, delegates, Governors, Mayors and Lt. Governors of America. I could name them all , but what would be the point. My parentsvoted for Doug Wilder when he became Governor in Virginia!

Yup, things continue to get better here.
I am looking forward to voting for qualified candidates when they arise.

Another question, would you ever consider permanently living in your African country of origin? You would probably be free of all of the racism that is hurting you here.

It really is just a question....but a valid one.

P.S. W.E.B. Dubois entered Harvard in 1888, where he won the Boylston oratorical contest and was one of the six commencement speakers.

Just thought you and your grandmother should know.

I'm finding this quite tedious now so this will be my last post in this particular thread. On closing, I just wanted to say that without meaning to depress you all, I believe that this is still a racist world and that America still has a long long way to go in terms of race relations. I'm talking here about the way the nation treats Black Americans. I admire 718 for choosing to be ultra optimistic and not see or dwell on the racism. But I find it hard to ignore Katrina, police shootings and beatings of unarmed Black Americans and all of the myriad other inequalities. I do some teaching in the public school system, and I see the subtle and sometimes not so subtle racism that the minority kids from poorer families are up against right from the start. Seeing Oprah's face on TV doesn't seduce me into thinking this nation is a great place for Blacks - or Hispanics either, for that matter.

Also, 718, you seem quick to throw out accusations out of leftfield, such as: "you really have such a hatred for all things America and Black American." Actually, some of my best friends are American

And, as I've stated earlier, aside from a random encounter with a cabbie, I haven't suffered any blatant racial attacks during my 5 years in America. I go where I please and do as I please. But the stories I hear from Black Americans about race and the lack of progress that's been made in this country over the years is extremely disheartening. I feel that focusing on the relatively small number of AMerican Blacks who become very successful is probably a more optimistic way of looking at things but also a way of escaping the reality of things.


That's all I'm sayin'

sevenoneeighty

Well,

Thank you for your honesty.

I guess that is true - I do NOT focuss on the "racism" or alleged racism.
It seems that too many use that as a crutch for failure in life - and it starts early. We need to change our focus INWARD. A racist cabbie, person or shop keeper have no effect on my success - or yours.

As my grandmother said" Look in the miror before you leave your house, boy".
Are YOU ready? If more black/ african epople would ask themsleves that, I think we would see more change. White people "loving us more" cannot solve those problems.

Becuase it is pretty much insignificant for me and many others I know. I also name famous Blacks becuase they are the most known - but I also include myself and collegues as success stories or a much longer legacy that is still unfolding. My father was a great role model to me.

When I first arrive at a job site to meet with the contractors, they are surprised to see a young black man as the head project archtiect/ manager.

Do they get over it? yup.

Because through my hard work ( which I will not allow anyone to marginalize), I am now in a senior position and I am in charge at my job sites.

Do all of them like it? No.
Do I care or does it stop me from doing my best as an architect? Nope.

The way I deal with reality is head on: No Excuses.
THAT is what I am talking about.

I climbed many obstacles to get here and have many more - But many doors were opened to me by others before me - who did it in MUCH HARDER TIMES, thank you. I will not ignore that and be a victim.

Each one, Teach One.
Peace.

anonymous

SevenOneEighty wrote: Well,

Thank you for your honesty.

I guess that is true - I do NOT focuss on the "racism" or alleged racism.
It seems that too many use that as a crutch for failure in life - and it starts early. We need to change our focus INWARD. A racist cabbie, person or shop keeper have no effect on my success - or yours.

As my grandmother said" Look in the miror before you leave your house, boy".
Are YOU ready? If more black/ african epople would ask themsleves that, I think we would see more change. White people "loving us more" cannot solve those problems.

Becuase it is pretty much insignificant for me and many others I know. I also name famous Blacks becuase they are the most known - but I also include myself and collegues as success stories or a much longer legacy that is still unfolding. My father was a great role model to me.

When I first arrive at a job site to meet with the contractors, they are surprised to see a young black man as the head project archtiect/ manager.

Do they get over it? yup.

Because through my hard work ( which I will not allow anyone to marginalize), I am now in a senior position and I am in charge at my job sites.

Do all of them like it? No.
Do I care or does it stop me from doing my best as an architect? Nope.

The way I deal with reality is head on: No Excuses.
THAT is what I am talking about.

I climbed many obstacles to get here and have many more - But many doors were opened to me by others before me - who did it in MUCH HARDER TIMES, thank you. I will not ignore that and be a victim.

Each one, Teach One.
Peace.

If I may get the "last" word in here before the thread closes. I think a lot of great commentary has been stated on this thread. L&D, I feel that what you perceive here in America is that you are at a relative disadvantage with respect to the race issue. As someone from a well-to-do, upper-class background, your heritage is not helping you much here in America because we neither understand it or give extra credit for it (aside from your upper-crusty accent).

Me, on the other hand, raised in slums amidst downwardly mobile circumstances, have benefited greatly from America's lack of class barriers (despite the racial barriers). I doubt that in many Euro societies, that I would have had the same opportunities to transcend my "lack of class"

718, I here you on a number of fronts, and I truly understand that a certain level of optimism and can-do attitude is completely necessary for a black man (or woman) to make it in this world. A long time ago, I resigned myself to the fact that my ambition was going to piss off a whole lotta people (black & white). I'm a "sell-out" and damned proud of it. My success rubs many people the wrong way on so many fronts, it's not worth detailing. I'm sure you understand. And I do feel that blacks have to take responsibility and stop playing the victim card.

But, being black has definately held me back in some respects. I am wealthy by most standards, but I have constantly had to find ways to work around the roadblocks. Where would I be if I had not started with such disadvantages. Would I be running the Wall Street firm I work for instead of being a mid-level executive? Yet, if one dwells on these things too long, it can eat you alive. I do not have that luxury. I have to get out there everyday and pit myself against my peers in a war of the most competitive order. And I'm not sure I'd have it any other way. Generally speaking, I've accomplished much of what I set out to do, so it would be difficult for me to claim sour grapes.

Yet, when I look at the state of our race, I can't help but acknowledge that there is something sapping our will and drive to succeed. A few of us have broken through the gates, but it feels like the gates were closed behind us. I'm not sure how to solve those issues on a grand scale. As I said earlier, I think it's one human being at a time. That's how I got here and how I intend to help others.