Michael Bennett's new book...

[2_0_6]

The title of the book is race baiting.

race baiting(Noun) The act of using racially derisive language, actions, or other forms of communication in order to anger or intimidate or coerce a person or group of people.

 

[Uncle Si]

I grew up in White Center which as some of you might know is a complete cultural melting pot, I'm the oldest of six siblings, one biological and four adopted who happen to be Black and Puerto Rican. When it comes to being around people of different races and backgrounds, there is absolutely nothing that makes me feel uncomfortable.

With that being said, I don't see how the title of his book does anything but pours gas on a smoldering fire. This will only drive people further apart, and does NOTHING to bring people together in a time when it's needed most.

I love Mike B, own his wolf grey jersey, I absolutely respect what the Bennett foundation does, but I will not spend a dime on this book. I'm sure the book will have some great insight to his life and the struggles he has faced, but the title of the book is completely out of line.

I think that’s kinda the point if the title. It’s a little tongue in cheek with the humor of Bennett but bridging a tough topic. I’d say this, I don’t see him putting a book meant to be divisive

 

[2_0_6]

I grew up in White Center which as some of you might know is a complete cultural melting pot, I'm the oldest of six siblings, one biological and four adopted who happen to be Black and Puerto Rican. When it comes to being around people of different races and backgrounds, there is absolutely nothing that makes me feel uncomfortable.

With that being said, I don't see how the title of his book does anything but pours gas on a smoldering fire. This will only drive people further apart, and does NOTHING to bring people together in a time when it's needed most.

I love Mike B, own his wolf grey jersey, I absolutely respect what the Bennett foundation does, but I will not spend a dime on this book. I'm sure the book will have some great insight to his life and the struggles he has faced, but the title of the book is completely out of line.

I think that’s kinda the point if the title. It’s a little tongue in cheek with the humor of Bennett but bridging a tough topic. I’d say this, I don’t see him putting a book meant to be divisive

I get it, but the people who aren't comfortable with being around people from different cultures/backgrounds are only going to distance themselves further after stuff like this. I get the angle of the book and I bet it would be a fun read, but the title is just a boner killer for me.

 

[XxXdragonXxX]

you could probably look back at the history of books and find plenty of examples..

but im not sure you'd notice the difference in perspective or meaning

You're trying to justify Bennett's racism with some PC BS. Nice.

Speaks volumes that's what you think Bennett's book is or trying to shine some perspective on it.

Nice... and alarming

Bennett knows NOTHING about me, but because of the color of my skin, he wants to tell me what makes me uncomfortable. You're living in an alternate universe if you don't see the racism in that.

Yes we white people are so oppressed by racism.

 

[original poster]

I grew up in White Center which as some of you might know is a complete cultural melting pot, I'm the oldest of six siblings, one biological and four adopted who happen to be Black and Puerto Rican. When it comes to being around people of different races and backgrounds, there is absolutely nothing that makes me feel uncomfortable.

With that being said, I don't see how the title of his book does anything but pours gas on a smoldering fire. This will only drive people further apart, and does NOTHING to bring people together in a time when it's needed most.

I love Mike B, own his wolf grey jersey, I absolutely respect what the Bennett foundation does, but I will not spend a dime on this book. I'm sure the book will have some great insight to his life and the struggles he has faced, but the title of the book is completely out of line.

I think that’s kinda the point if the title. It’s a little tongue in cheek with the humor of Bennett but bridging a tough topic. I’d say this, I don’t see him putting a book meant to be divisive

Exactly.

Goes against everything he is trying to do.

 

[Sox-n-Hawks]

I grew up in White Center which as some of you might know is a complete cultural melting pot, I'm the oldest of six siblings, one biological and four adopted who happen to be Black and Puerto Rican. When it comes to being around people of different races and backgrounds, there is absolutely nothing that makes me feel uncomfortable.

With that being said, I don't see how the title of his book does anything but pours gas on a smoldering fire. This will only drive people further apart, and does NOTHING to bring people together in a time when it's needed most.

I love Mike B, own his wolf grey jersey, I absolutely respect what the Bennett foundation does, but I will not spend a dime on this book. I'm sure the book will have some great insight to his life and the struggles he has faced, but the title of the book is completely out of line.

I think that’s kinda the point if the title. It’s a little tongue in cheek with the humor of Bennett but bridging a tough topic. I’d say this, I don’t see him putting a book meant to be divisive

Exactly.

Goes against everything he is trying to do.

I'm interested in reading his book. In my opinion this is a much better platform for him to push his agenda than protesting at work. I get it, people have a right to protest. Where else are you allowed to do it at work? I know 100% that I'd be unemployed if I tried to politically protest during work, in my workspace.

The bigger root of the problem is the geographic/economic divide in our country. Having grown up in rural America I can tell you that the largest conservative white political base is that demographic. In my rural upbringing, exposure to other races and cultures was extremely limited, so I wasn't exposed to traditional white privilege. However, I can tell you from experience that there is the same type of strife in impoverished rural America, where white families have almost no income and have no way out of the trailer park or low income housing. These communities are often wrought with drug and alcohol abuse and similar challenges to inner city minority communities. This can be said for Native Reservations, inner city "projects", backwoods Appalachia etc.

Having moved on, lived in multiple states and experienced a plethora of cultures and races I can say without a doubt that every race and culture has minorities with legitimate struggles. It's just a lot easier to articulate those struggles when you look different than the majority. We're not even 70 years beyond Brown v. Board of education. That's barely two generations. We're still growing as a country and healing those wounds we created in the centuries leading up to that landmark case. Michael Bennett and Kaep's voice is just another step toward healing that wound. I applaud them for their efforts and hope that they'll find a great platform to keep helping their community.

Signed
-A privileged white man-

 

[Mindsink]

Yes we white people are so oppressed by racism.

It must really suck to wake up every day, look in the mirror, and feel guilty for your "white privilege". What's that like?

 

[XxXdragonXxX]

Yes we white people are so oppressed by racism.

It must really suck to wake up every day, look in the mirror, and feel guilty for your "white privilege". What's that like?

Not guilty. But I wonder what its like to be dense enough to deny that other races might just have a harder time in life based on other peoples bias, and resent them for trying to change it.

 

[Osprey]

Yes we white people are so oppressed by racism.

It must really suck to wake up every day, look in the mirror, and feel guilty for your "white privilege". What's that like?

Not guilty. But I wonder what its like to be dense enough to deny that other races might just have a harder time in life based on other peoples bias, and resent them for trying to change it.

The issue for most (there's always an exception) is not acknowledgment of past and current state, it's the blurring of the lines between the two and the application of the problem as the solution.

In laymen's terms: stop acting like blacks are still in chains, every white man is holding a whip, and your goal in life is to go all Nat Turner on them. It is possible to work toward bettering a situation without hyperbole and blame.

 

[XxXdragonXxX]

Yes we white people are so oppressed by racism.

It must really suck to wake up every day, look in the mirror, and feel guilty for your "white privilege". What's that like?

Not guilty. But I wonder what its like to be dense enough to deny that other races might just have a harder time in life based on other peoples bias, and resent them for trying to change it.

The issue for most (there's always an exception) is not acknowledgment of past and current state, it's the blurring of the lines between the two and the application of the problem as the solution.

In laymen's terms: stop acting like blacks are still in chains, every white man is holding a whip, and your goal in life is to go all Nat Turner on them. It is possible to work toward bettering a situation without hyperbole and blame.

I agree to a point...but the way to a better situation is not ignorance to the fact that a problem exists, and for some, resentment of the status quo changing.

 

[Mindsink]

Yes we white people are so oppressed by racism.

It must really suck to wake up every day, look in the mirror, and feel guilty for your "white privilege". What's that like?

Not guilty. But I wonder what its like to be dense enough to deny that other races might just have a harder time in life based on other peoples bias, and resent them for trying to change it.

Many people have a harder time in life due to a myriad of circumstances. Modern left-wing politics likes to put people into boxes and cry "unfair", while vilifying an entire demographic based on their white skin.

 

[Mindsink]

I agree to a point...but the way to a better situation is not ignorance to the fact that a problem exists, and for some, resentment of the status quo changing.

A problem exists because you see it as a problem, and not just the reality of life not being fair.

Is it fair that college-educated kids land better paying jobs than their high-school educated counterparts? I've worked with plenty of professionals with only high-school level education that are way smarter and better producers than college-educated folks whom I wonder how they ever got the degree.

So why the inequality? That's ^^ how silly it sounds to me when applied to race.

 

[XxXdragonXxX]

I agree to a point...but the way to a better situation is not ignorance to the fact that a problem exists, and for some, resentment of the status quo changing.

A problem exists because you see it as a problem, and not just the reality of life not being fair.

Is it fair that college-educated kids land better paying jobs than their high-school educated counterparts? I've worked with plenty of professionals with only high-school level education that are way smarter and better producers than college-educated folks whom I wonder how they ever got the degree.

So why the inequality? That's ^^ how silly it sounds to me when applied to race.

Wow...your solution to racism is "life isnt fair" and your reasoning for how silly it all sounds is that people who worked hard and went to school get better paying jobs than those that didnt is the same thing as someone being at a disadvantage from birth because of their skin color. Holy ****. Im speechless.

 

[Mindsink]

I agree to a point...but the way to a better situation is not ignorance to the fact that a problem exists, and for some, resentment of the status quo changing.

A problem exists because you see it as a problem, and not just the reality of life not being fair.

Is it fair that college-educated kids land better paying jobs than their high-school educated counterparts? I've worked with plenty of professionals with only high-school level education that are way smarter and better producers than college-educated folks whom I wonder how they ever got the degree.

So why the inequality? That's ^^ how silly it sounds to me when applied to race.

Wow...your solution to racism is "life isnt fair" and your reasoning for how silly it all sounds is that people who worked hard and went to school get better paying jobs than those that didnt is the same thing as someone being at a disadvantage from birth because of their skin color. Holy ****. Im speechless.

Wow. Talk about a point flying over your head. When did I ever provide a solution to racism?

You can be disadvantaged from birth because you have parents with no money, or bad parents, or abusive parents, or a physical disability. Why do you have to make it about race?

 

[2_0_6]

The whole "Im disadvantaged because Im not white" message is not true across the board. In certain areas of the US ya it is, but painting with a broad brush and saying EVERYONE that is of color is oppressed is far from the truth.

For instance my brother who is Black, is college educated, works for the City of Spokane, has a great big house, and nice toys.

My youngest brother who also is Black, lives in California, is college educated, owns his own business, and owns a few rental homes.

Sure they had had some brushes with dumbasses calling him names, but I did also growing up living in a predominantly Latino neighborhood and Im a white guy.

 

[Uncle Si]

The whole "Im disadvantaged because Im not white" message is not true across the board. In certain areas of the US ya it is, but painting with a broad brush and saying EVERYONE that is of color is oppressed is far from the truth.

For instance my brother who is Black, is college educated, works for the City of Spokane, has a great big house, and nice toys.

My youngest brother who also is Black, lives in California, is college educated, owns his own business, and owns a few rental homes.

Sure they had had some brushes with dumbasses calling him names, but I did also growing up living in a predominantly Latino neighborhood and Im a white guy.

Statistically, the chances they have to battle through disadvantages based on their race is far (far) greater than their white counterparts, as it is with females.

Because there are some stories out there of people who have either overcome racism or been lucky enough to miss it does not, should not, ignore the fact the systems of this country (economic, political, academic, social, etc) are geared against people of color.

Thus, the discussion makes people uncomfortable, and the typical responses are a "I know a black guy whose doing quite well" or 2. "im white and its total bullshit that I cant talk about race like black people" as a means of downplaying it

While I get what you mean, dont forget how fortunate your brother is, because that's not the standard.

 

[XxXdragonXxX]

I agree to a point...but the way to a better situation is not ignorance to the fact that a problem exists, and for some, resentment of the status quo changing.

A problem exists because you see it as a problem, and not just the reality of life not being fair.

Is it fair that college-educated kids land better paying jobs than their high-school educated counterparts? I've worked with plenty of professionals with only high-school level education that are way smarter and better producers than college-educated folks whom I wonder how they ever got the degree.

So why the inequality? That's ^^ how silly it sounds to me when applied to race.

Wow...your solution to racism is "life isnt fair" and your reasoning for how silly it all sounds is that people who worked hard and went to school get better paying jobs than those that didnt is the same thing as someone being at a disadvantage from birth because of their skin color. Holy ****. Im speechless.

Wow. Talk about a point flying over your head. When did I ever provide a solution to racism?

You can be disadvantaged from birth because you have parents with no money, or bad parents, or abusive parents, or a physical disability. Why do you have to make it about race?

I mean, you basically said that the only reason there is a problem is because people view racism as a problem instead of just saying "life isnt fair."

Yes there are many disadvantages in life. You pretending like that means racism isnt something we should strive to eliminate is ludicrous.

 

[hawxfreak]

White 52 yr. old guy here
I've never understood racism in any way
Growing up I was the one teased by the white kids , black kids , Japanese kids and yes , even the handi capped and remedial kids
Why ? Well as a bright red headed son who's dad passed away and mom remarried I was the only RED HEADED STEP CHILD in my school , but through all the jokes and jeers it brought me closer to everyone
Can't say anymore as I don't want to get political but I get where many of you are comin from on both sides of this discussion

 

[Mindsink]

Statistically, the chances they have to battle through disadvantages based on their race is far (far) greater than their white counterparts, as it is with females.

Because there are some stories out there of people who have either overcome racism or been lucky enough to miss it does not, should not, ignore the fact the systems of this country (economic, political, academic, social, etc) are geared against people of color.

Thus, the discussion makes people uncomfortable, and the typical responses are a "I know a black guy whose doing quite well" or 2. "im white and its total bullshit that I cant talk about race like black people" as a means of downplaying it

This is exactly the crap that's been peddled by mainstream media for the last few decades, under the guise of "equality". The reality is that we're NOT all equal, and that's ok. Accept that fact first. And then you can have honest conversations about race.

While I get what you mean, dont forget how fortunate your brother is, because that's not the standard.

The mere fact that you say this perfectly exemplifies the type of attitude that fuels racial division and bigotry. "Your brother should thanks his lucky stars, because most black people suck at life, because white dudes". That's basically what you're saying.

No, his brother is a HUMAN BEING who is smart, worked hard, and made something of himself -- because he had the opportunity to, just like every other American.

"The soft bigotry of low expectations."

 

[Mindsink]

I mean, you basically said that the only reason there is a problem is because people view racism as a problem instead of just saying "life isnt fair."

Yes there are many disadvantages in life. You pretending like that means racism isnt something we should strive to eliminate is ludicrous.

You and I seem to have different definitions of racism then. If I'm interpreting you correctly, then efforts to eliminate racism is akin to trying to turn a gay dude straight. Sure, you may have good intentions, but the desired result has no foundation of reality.