<p>Freedom of speech is one thing...but hurting someone feelings are another. Thats where morals come into play and I guess their parents never taught them any better.
Hyakku- I actually got offended when you said the black mindset. What on EARTH is the black mind set. Is it listening to rap, talking loud or being on welfare. There is no such thing as a "black" mind set because every black person in the world has different life experiences. You think the black people in Kenya, Paris or any other country in the world fit into your stereotype.
Drew- please tell me your not comparing someone try to convert you to a religion verse someone making you feel like nothing all because of skin pigment.</p>
<p>"Freedom of speech is one thing...but hurting someone feelings are another. Thats where morals come into play and I guess their parents never taught them any better."</p>
<p>I agree that it was immoral of those dudebro frat guys to do that, but they still have the RIGHT to say it. Just because something is immoral doesn't mean it should be illegal</p>
<p>"Drew- please tell me your not comparing someone try to convert you to a religion verse someone making you feel like nothing all because of skin pigment"</p>
<p>It wasn't trying to convert me to their religion that offended me. What offended me was them saying how gays will burn in "hell" and things in that vein.</p>
<p>Thank God I live in Canada were freedom of speech has it limits! :)</p>
<p>Drew00- Oh now I understand yes that was very wrong! I'm a christian and I hate fake ones. Some of them forget the fact that the bible says that they shouldn't "judge" anyone. They had no right telling you that. Those fake jerks</p>
<p>Hanna: You have to notify local authorities before having a march. If they feel that violence or danger is possible because of the march, they will not allow it.</p>
<p>This is not a politically correct comment, but my D went to school in Canada, but grew up in the states before high school, she has friends of all races in both places.</p>
<p>Her roommates at her US university her first year were black, she was excited about her potential new friends. Her year was miserable (my D is white) because they had no interest in being friendly....they told her it was a black thing, she could not understand their black lives....that is a tiny nutshell explanation of her year. I could go into much more detail, but suffice to say, the girls who grew up in a US inner city black world thought differently about their blackness than my DDs Vancouver friends.</p>
<p>She ended up deciding her Vancouver friends did not grow up in a black lifestyle!!</p>
<p>So, it may not be racism from whites....my D does not care what colour people are, just how nice/fun they are.....it may be racism from Blacks that you have not lived their type of life and do not understand them! :eek:</p>
<p>My D made every effort to get to know them, to ask about their lives, they just were not giving it up. Maybe she offended them unknowingly early on? One girl was much much friendlier than the other and they still say hi in the halls to this day, no one was rude, they just would not become friends, they kept a wall up and wouldn't let her cross it. She is the kinda kid who wants to make friends with every one and she was deeply deeply hurt by their lack of interest/willingness in being friendly!</p>
<p>"Drew00- Oh now I understand yes that was very wrong! I'm a christian and I hate fake ones. Some of them forget the fact that the bible says that they shouldn't "judge" anyone. They had no right telling you that. Those fake jerks"</p>
<p>They do have the right to say that, and I have the right to be offended. Their right to free speech far outweighs me being offended.</p>
<p>" Black lifestyle"... umm interesting no comment.</p>
<p>I am an African-American student and I think no matter where you go you will find yourself in discriminatory situations but it isn't like someone will make you feel inferior on purpose. I know going to school in the South is very different from growing up in a diverse city like Chicago. It is interesting that many people add their two cents about this situation but are not African-American. I'm not saying that only African-Americans face discrimination but the question was addressed to ask fellow African-Americans their opinions about their issues. To answer the OP's question, I will advise you do your best at whatever institution you attend because discrimination is not only based on ethnicity but economic background as well. Also, your experience in the US will be different than living in Canada and that is just a give in. Just keep God in your side, work ten times hard, and remember no matter what happens that a new day will come tomorrow. Take care and best of luck in your future endeavors =)</p>
<p>T-macgirl, first are you black? If not I don't understand why you are offended.</p>
<p>If you are, then you are being blind to America's truth. First, I didn't say that it was a black mindset, but if you head down south, you WILL notice a huge difference between the mindsets betweens blacks from everywhere else compared to them, alot of htem really feel that all whites have something against them, even if they don't show it. This is a truth, whether you choose to accept it or not is your choice.</p>
<p>I haven't encoutered racism once in my life; I attend a public high school in southern california, so maybe schools around here would be good ;)</p>
<p>Being a white high school kid living in los angeles, I can say there are definitely racial barriers still waiting to be broken. I talk to black kids just the same as I would anyone else, and I don't treat them differently or anything, but I don't have any black friends and most black kids I see don't have many white friends. Its not like I went out of my way to do this, it's just the way it worked out. My parents and even more so my grand parents can still be racist at times. Hopefully in the next generation the last walls will be destroyed, and I know I will be pushing my kids towards that goal.</p>
<p>Whether it's because of blatant racism or the "everyone's out to get me" attitude so many have, we'll always have racial issues.</p>
<p>And I'm sorry, but all this "political correctness" people are trying to push isn't helping anything. It just makes things more tense.</p>
<p>^ i totally agree. (oh, and i forgot to say, i live in orange county)</p>
<p>"It is interesting that many people add their two cents about this situation but are not African-American."</p>
<p>Yes, it is interesting. </p>
<p>"She ended up deciding her Vancouver friends did not grow up in a black lifestyle!!"</p>
<p>I wonder what would qualify as a white lifestyle. Living in a trailerpark? A house in the suburbs with two cars and 2.3 kids? Shopping at the GAP? NRA membership? Listening to punk rock? Confederate flag in the back window of the pickup truck? Hmm. Now that I think about it, I guess these are true of white people occasionally... but all white people cannot be pidgeon-holed into a simplistic set behaviours and characteristics. The white community is not at all homogenous, so trying to generalize them all into a single common "white lifestyle" is hopeless...</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you are, then you are being blind to America's truth. First, I didn't say that it was a black mindset, but if you head down south, you WILL notice a huge difference between the mindsets betweens blacks from everywhere else compared to them, alot of htem really feel that all whites have something against them, even if they don't show it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I live in Memphis, Tn. and I personally bear witness to what you are speaking of all the time. It is kind of surreal.</p>
<p>About people adding their two cents and not being black...well...if they admit it up front...what's the harm? White people have black friends, have sometimes witnessed racism, and of course can speak about their own prejudices and tension they feel. So, the OP asked for opinions from black people, but, come on, not everybody is black, but everybody will have an opinion and might have something useful to add.</p>
<p>And about the "black mindset", the truth is some black people (even though you can't generalize it, duh) possess a mindset that is unique to groups who have been historically discriminated against...being antagonistic, sticking to their own, feeling like the world simultaneously owes them and is out to get them. I think that's a valid and interesting point. Call it the gay mindset, the Catholic mindset, whatever. It exists and seems to be particularly alive and well among black people. </p>
<p>And, oh yeah, I'M WHITE. So factor that in. Because obviously it means so much. Hah.</p>
<p>I see that us whities aren't good enough to post our thoughts on the "black thread." </p>
<p>::look of disgust::</p>
<p>I kid, of course. :)</p>
<p>I have family in the South and to a degree, am from the South (Virginia). The "all whites against me attitude" is very true amongst many people and due to many experiences some of these people have been through it may be warranted. I'm a firm believer in the whole "be what you wanna be" thing, but sometimes it is hard because in the South the economic differences were (and still are) so visible and apparent that every white person that someone can know would be rich, whereas most every black person they would know was poor. And after seeing things like that the only assumption that could be made is: "they must be doing somthing to take advantage of me and the other blacks I know". And unfortunately as generations move on the mindset is instilled upon children, I know this because my mom has it in her. But nonetheless that doesnt make it right, anybody in this day and age that wants to be somebody can do it regardless of race.</p>
<p>In the last 40 years, race relations have improved to an extent, and on paper everything seems equal. But in the places where diversity/equality would matter most, at the top, it's almost non-existent. Only one black senator, and only 4 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. To me, this shows alot about how truly accepting people have been to the idea of an Af-American running things, we still have ways to go.</p>
<p>Hey folks, can we get back on topic here?</p>
<p>This isn't a thread about race relations in general. It's a thread about what it's like to be a black person at a prestigious college in the US.</p>
<p>Feel free to refer to post #1. Thanks.</p>
<p>Well you can just look at the admission statistics for any top school and you will see that admissions are more lenient towards underrepresented minorities in terms of grades and test scores as well as other factors for admissions.</p>