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From: gregbo@houxm.UUCP (Greg Skinner)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.politics,net.music
Subject: Re: American(?) Music Awards <>
Message-ID: <1131@houxm.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 9-Feb-85 00:17:57 EST
Article-I.D.: houxm.1131
Posted: Sat Feb  9 00:17:57 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Feb-85 04:35:22 EST
References: <281@panda.UUCP>
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Xref: watmath net.flame:8275 net.politics:7489 net.music:6024

> From: slf@panda.UUCP (Scott Fisher)

>> In article <285@ptsfc.UUCP> joyceb@ptsfc.UUCP (Joyce Black) writes:
>> ...what we know is not what they tell us...
>>
>> Racism is so deep in American attitudes that it often goes unrecognized.
>> It is so deep that its expression goes unnoticed except by those to
>> whom it is directed. It is so systematically encouraged that when one
>> has that "peculiar sensation", one is more likely to think oneself too
>> sensitive rather trying to deal with the very real duality of life
>> as a Black American.
>>
>>					Joyce Black

> Let's see, There is the American Music Awards with a special catagory for
> black singers, there is the United Negro College Fund ("a mind is a terible
> thing to waste") And in many places there are quotas for hiring blacks and
> other minoritys. I think these things are *very* racist! 

(1) The "special" categories for black singers are not EXCLUSIVELY for black
singers, but designate a type of music which black people typically enjoy.
It so happens that black people typically make such music, therefore they are
usually the ones who win the awards.  If you think black music awards are
restricted to blacks, you have never heard of KC and the Sunshine Band, Foxy,
Teena Marie, Hall & Oates, and a bunch of other white artists who have done
very well on the r&b charts (and some have even won the black music category
awards in past years).

(2) The UNCF (United Negro College Fund) was set up in order that blacks who
would otherwise not have the chance to attend college (due to financial,
societal and other conditions) but who demonstrated the capability to succeed
if conditions were otherwise would have the chance.  It is not meant to
segregate against non-blacks, rather to enable blacks (who, historically,
have been among the most misfortunate, if not the most misfortunate Americans,
when it comes to upward social/financial mobility) to have the chance to suc-
ceed.  The same can be said for black hiring quotas, affirmative action, etc.

> What do you think would happen if somebody tried to organize
> the United White College Fund? or a special music award for white singers?

Well, actually, someone once did try to organize the United White "Rid America
of Every Other Type of Person but Us WASPs" Organization, otherwise known as
the KKK.  I think that says enough.

> By making special catagorys for blacks you are saying they are different. 
> If special awards, scolarships and quotas like this were eliminated I think 
> much predjudice would be eliminated. Before you hit the "f" key, scolarships
> should be "global", excluding *nobody*.

Now, for once, I understand the arguments for net.women.only, etc.

It is attitudes like the above that are the cause of prejudice, not the reasons
stated above.  I thought that we were above the level of crying "spilt milk"
because a minority got a job/got into a college/got whatever and a non-minority
didn't.  Chances are the non-minority's chances to get what he/she wanted were
much better than the minority's.  And, let us not forget, the whole thing star-
ted when whites enslaved blacks, took them OUT OF THEIR HOMELAND AGAINST THEIR
WILL and forced them to work their land, with NO PAY, with NO HOPE of freedom.
They were OWNED by their masters, treated as CHATTEL, sold at the master's 
wills, families split up, some were raped, some were killed trying to escape
(I digress ...).

For any of you who think you are being discriminated because you are losing
things to minorities, why don't you try imagining being a minority for once
and knowing that doors are closed to you still because of who you are, and
that no matter what you do you cannot change your fate.

Flames welcome.
-- 
If you wanna ride, don't ride the white horse.

Greg Skinner (gregbo)
{allegra,cbosgd,ihnp4}!houxm!gregbo