Black History Thread

[Chris]

"Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop"

- Billie Holiday

Oh what a history we've had.
Even though I'm only partially black I still feel strongly connected to all the horrors afro-americans has gone through.
I felt the need to make a "Black History Thread" so if you'd like, add some stories or other to this thread.

[edczxcvbnm]

Why is it African Americans? We don't call white people Europian Americans. If you were born in America then you are just an American. Want to be more specific. Black American. I don't get why we call it African American when they are clearly not from Africa and were born in the states...same goes for Asian Americans also and any other thing such as that.

[fire_of_avalon]

All races and people have rich cultural histories filled with triumph, pain, happiness, injustice and a myriad of states in between. I will never, ever understand how focusing on one of these histories and one of these histories alone is supposed to be at all helpful to the human race as a whole.

Personally, I feel that instead of focusing on the history of one particular race in one particular area of the world, we should use that effort to focus on the history of the entire human race, how we relate to one another any why what came to be came to be.

[Chris]

You're right, the human race has in general been through everything imaginable to man.

[DMKA]

Why is it African Americans? We don't call white people Europian Americans. If you were born in America then you are just an American. Want to be more specific. Black American. I don't get why we call it African American when they are clearly not from Africa and were born in the states...same goes for Asian Americans also and any other thing such as that.

My ex girlfriend (who is black) always goes on rants about that. She feels the exact same way.

I think we should focus more on the present and making things better now than who did what to who where how and when hundreds of years ago.

But that's just me.

[Chris]

So we should just forget history then?

[DMKA]

Not at all. I love history and I think making sure we never forget it is vital.

[Chris]

That's exactly my main point.

[edczxcvbnm]

If that is your point then why make a black history thread instead of a persecution thread? Don't focus on one race as it has been a problem through out history.

[lordblazer]

without diversity and acknowledging the diversity in american society poems like that would've never even been seen by the public eyes.

BTW i love that poem its my favorite one ....

plus everyone has heard a lot about European History.Also Everyone has herd some about black history.People has heard of hispanic history asian history.There cultures.Nothing is wrong with it.

HEres were the problem goes.People tend to complain about it when someone says "hey lets talk about black history".ITs nothing wrong with saying that,but still it gets attacked.Why? I don't know i guess some people dont have enough time on there hand.Heck who did complement the poem.ITs literature.So what he's black.Complain about it because you think the thread starter is showcasing it?

in american history its interesting.Very interesting..One thing the guy just isn't talking about one race.He is but he is using that one race to connect it to every american.Any non white american has dealt with harrassment from guess whom.Some white person or someone from there own race. The thing in american history is.Caucasins always seems to spark the fire for hate.Just think how different the US would be if slavery never happened?If the tealing of indian lands and killing of indians never happened?If harder immigration for Asians and then harsh jobs never happened to asians.Think if MExican Americans were never harassed when they came to america and got screwed over.All this hate I see it everywhere.Yet somehow Caucasins who don't believe in hate tend to turn there head the other way.Which in fact people who deny hate is worst than the people whom are commiting hate.They are and I'm not going ot lie to you about that.Just imagine if none of that stuff had happened to all these cultures.Think of how many upper class hispanics,asians,and blacks there would be if they were just treated equal from teh start of this country.Black history is apart of US history we learn from it like any other part of history and nothing is wrong with it.So please I ask nicely.Stop making this into a big case.

[nik0tine]

Why is it African Americans? We don't call white people Europian Americans. If you were born in America then you are just an American. Want to be more specific. Black American. I don't get why we call it African American when they are clearly not from Africa and were born in the states...same goes for Asian Americans also and any other thing such as that.

Thank you! I've been saying this for years. If we section each other off into subgroups, that will ultimately lead to the demise of this country I think.

[lordblazer]

Why is it African Americans? We don't call white people Europian Americans. If you were born in America then you are just an American. Want to be more specific. Black American. I don't get why we call it African American when they are clearly not from Africa and were born in the states...same goes for Asian Americans also and any other thing such as that.

Thank you! I've been saying this for years. If we section each other off into subgroups, that will ultimately lead to the demise of this country I think.

But heres another part of the arguement.WE need to both section each other off.If we don't then really a negative effect happens.People that are colored will feel ashamed of there color.We need to recognize our differences.AMerica is not a melting pot of soup its a pot of Stew.It all blends into one thing but the ingredients that made that stew still shows up to form what we have now America..Basicly only those who get too riddled up and confused and doesn't understand how things came to be what they are now.Ask such questions.Which these questions needs to be asked and they need to be answered.Questions such as yours nik.

[Shlup]

Something a lot of people don't realize is that race is not biological; it's social. Society decides what group of characteristics to classify you under. Are the genes that define your skin color different or more important than the genes that define if you're skin is clear or freckled, or if you're tall or short, or if you're thin or... not-so-thin? I don't think so.

For example, Halle Berry recently became the first black woman to win an Oscar for best actress or whatever. This honor everyone's so thrilled about only acknowledges the gene sequences that define the color of her skin. That's it. She's half white for goodness sake.

I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's too frustrating. I refuse to acknowledge generalizations and stereotypes as an acceptable way to judge people. Unless we're making racist jokes though 'cause those are funny.

[edczxcvbnm]

Why is it African Americans? We don't call white people Europian Americans. If you were born in America then you are just an American. Want to be more specific. Black American. I don't get why we call it African American when they are clearly not from Africa and were born in the states...same goes for Asian Americans also and any other thing such as that.

Thank you! I've been saying this for years. If we section each other off into subgroups, that will ultimately lead to the demise of this country I think.

But heres another part of the arguement.WE need to both section each other off.If we don't then really a negative effect happens.People that are colored will feel ashamed of there color.We need to recognize our differences.AMerica is not a melting pot of soup its a pot of Stew.It all blends into one thing but the ingredients that made that stew still shows up to form what we have now America..Basicly only those who get too riddled up and confused and doesn't understand how things came to be what they are now.Ask such questions.Which these questions needs to be asked and they need to be answered.Questions such as yours nik.

Why the hell would they feel ashamed? The only reason they would feel such a thing is if they see a difference. There is no difference. Black, Brown, Yellow and white...its all the same. The only difference is that people choose to see color and by doing that they keep racisim alive.

[AkiraMakie]

For example, Halle Berry recently became the first black woman to win an Oscar for best actress or whatever. This honor everyone's so thrilled about only acknowledges the gene sequences that define the color of her skin. That's it. She's half white for goodness sake.

Well, you know how it is in this country. All you need is one black parent to be considered black in most peoples minds.

[q=nik0tine]
Why is it African Americans? We don't call white people Europian Americans. If you were born in America then you are just an American. Want to be more specific. Black American. I don't get why we call it African American when they are clearly not from Africa and were born in the states...same goes for Asian Americans also and any other thing such as that.
[/q]

Yeah, ive always had issues with this one as well. I dont refer to myself as african american. i just call myself Black. It jsut makes me feel like im from somewhere else when im refered to as african american. But, the thing is, it was something that blacks invented after Roots came out. Dont exactly remember the reasons why, but i know thats where it stemed from.