NationStates Jolt Archive

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?

So far, I have been given the advice to just lie, make something up and claim that a black guy said it.

HAHAHAHA.

Please take pics and video, or it didn't happen.

Am I asking to get my ass kicked?
You mean now, or in general?

Am I asking to get my ass kicked?
You mean now, or in general?

If I go up to a black guy, as a white guy and ask this question.

HAHAHAHA.

Please take pics and video, or it didn't happen.

Nice to see you have no problem seeing my pain and suffering. I love you too. :p

On a completely unconnected subject; Have you pissed this teacher off recently?

On a completely unconnected subject; Have you pissed this teacher off recently?

I don't think so, and it's an assignment for the whole class, so for all 29 of us.

Eh. I think if preface your question with an explanation (i.e. "Our teacher asked us to ask this question") and aren't a snot about it you'll be fine. Most people are happy to have someone listen to their opinions.

Why a black man? Because of the South's historic issues with access to education for black people? That could be kind of interesting if you interviewed someone old enough for either he or his parents to have dealt with de jure segregation.

Either lie or refuse to do it on the grounds it's insulting and racist.

Couldn't you just ask your teacher if you're so worried about The Negro attacking you?

Yeah, I doubt it. It's a simple question...you're not seriously concerned that your average black person is going to just fly off the handle here and become violent because you ask them a hypothetical question about illiteracy, are you?

Eh. I think if preface your question with an explanation (i.e. "Our teacher asked us to ask this question") and aren't a snot about it you'll be fine. Most people are happy to have someone listen to their opinions.

Why a black man? Because of the South's historic issues with access to education for black people? That could be kind of interesting if you interviewed someone old enough for either he or his parents to have dealt with de jure segregation.

True, but we're talking about now, in 2008, not 1958. So the effect on illiteracy would be similar for anyone regardless of race or gender.

I actually had a flash of some burly black guy giving you the hairy eyeball and asking, "Are you implying I'm LITERATE?"
I see nothing offensive about the question, other than the racist restriction you have to ask a black person. I really don't see what the big deal is.

Couldn't you just ask your teacher if you're so worried about The Negro attacking you?

Apparently it has to be a "random" person, so teachers are out.

Yeah, I doubt it. It's a simple question...you're not seriously concerned that your average black person is going to just fly off the handle here and become violent because you ask them a hypothetical question about illiteracy, are you?

Well you have to admit, it is a little offensive.

Apparently it has to be a "random" person, so teachers are out.
I'm sure you'll be fine so long as you don't say anything which makes it too obvious that you are shit-scared of black people etc.

I don't think so, and it's an assignment for the whole class, so for all 29 of us.

25. 4 of them already began their assignment. ;)

True, but we're talking about now, in 2008, not 1958. So the effect on illiteracy would be similar for anyone regardless of race or gender.

Actually, no. The people you might speak to don't live in a Utopia, but in Black America. Opportunities aren't quite equal yet (and we are, in fact, far from that goal), as I've explained numerous times in these forums.

But back to your main concern about a black person beating you up, you might try approaching your assignment with some humility, sensitivity, and seriousness. Perhaps you should even consider that there are people of color you could speak to that lived during de jure segregation, which wasn't that long ago, and still experience discrimination. My guess is that teaching you these things is precisely the point of the exercise.

As for lying because you are scared to do the assignment, grow a spine and some integrity.

EDIT: From another post: Check out The State of Black America (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12633540&postcount=1). African-Americans (and other minorities) are still greatly disadvantaged in our society and white males are disproportionately privileged.

And racism is still very active in the marketplace. Check out these studies:
Race at work (http://www.princeton.edu/~pager/race_at_work.pdf) (pdf)
Discrimination in Low-Wage Labor Markets: Evidence from an Experimental Audit Study in New York City (http://paa2005.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=50874) (pdf)
Discrimination against racial/ethnic minorities in access to employment in the United States: Empirical findings from situation testing (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/migrant/papers/usempir/)
Culture, Information, and Screening Discrimination (http://ideas.repec.org/a/ucp/jpolec/v104y1996i3p542-71.html)
The Use of Field Experiments for Studies of Employment Discrimination: Contributions, Critiques, and Directions for the Future (http://ann.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/609/1/104) (pdf)

I particularly draw your attention to Race at work (http://www.princeton.edu/~pager/race_at_work.pdf) (pdf) which is easy to read and profound in its implications.

Among the findings are that "blacks are only slightly more than half as likely to receive consideration by employers relative to equally qualified white applicants." (p.3)

And, a "white applicant with a felony conviction appears to do just as well, if not better, than his black counterpart with no criminal background. These results suggest that employers view minority applications as essentially equivalent to whites just out of prison." (p. 6)

True, but we're talking about now, in 2008, not 1958. So the effect on illiteracy would be similar for anyone regardless of race or gender.

That's what I would assume as well, but your interviewee might have a different opinion. Maybe he thinks that his ability to read is more important because he's black and people don't assume that he's educated in the same way that they would a nonblack man. Maybe he knows someone who can't read and he could tell you what he's observed. I'm just idly speculating, but my point is that you don't know what people think until you ask them. Your assignment isn't to come to some objective conclusion, but to find out what somebody else thinks, correct?

That's what I would assume as well, but your interviewee might have a different opinion. Maybe he thinks that his ability to read is more important because he's black and people don't assume that he's educated in the same way that they would a nonblack man. Maybe he knows someone who can't read and he could tell you what he's observed. I'm just idly speculating, but my point is that you don't know what people think until you ask them. Your assignment isn't to come to some objective conclusion, but to find out what somebody else thinks, correct?

Excellent point.

Wilgrove shouldn't prejudge the subject. For one thing, he might learn something -- if nothing else what another viewpoint is like.

Well I guess that that you probably have some friends or acquaintances that are black. Ask them what would be the best way of going about this, they know the area and the culture. Advice from a white guy in Brazil might not be what you are looking for here. Or just plain ask them the question.

Wow. You'd think NSG was a blog or sum'tin'...

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?

So far, I have been given the advice to just lie, make something up and claim that a black guy said it.

time for some creative editing.

tell the person you're interviewing that you want their opinion as to how their different their lives and occupation would be if they were illterate. don't focus on nationality or race.

I think you're asking to get your ass kicked by us because YOU'VE ALREADY POSTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM in the last few days.

-_-

Wow. You'd think NSG was a blog or sum'tin'...

Not if you tack a question to the end... or you bring up the liberal media.

Isn't the very fact that you're afraid to ask a black person this question because racist?

I mean think about it, you said that as a "white guy", would I be asking to get my ass kicked by asking a question about literacy to a "black guy"? I mean, I know if I asked some random Asian what their life would be like if they were illiterate, they would probably just say "WTF?" and walk off. Why would I expect a black person to do anything else?

Though by the way, regardless of who you ask the question to, you should definitely mention why you're doing it. Otherwise they'll probably just think you're weird as hell and walk off.

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?

So far, I have been given the advice to just lie, make something up and claim that a black guy said it.

I give you 3 to 1 odds for getting shot.

I think you're asking to get your ass kicked by us because YOU'VE ALREADY POSTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM in the last few days.

-_-

No, before it was something about the depiction of Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy. I think I saved that episode of The Wilgrove Chronicles; I can lend it to you if you want.

Gee, why don't you ask someone at the school you're taking these classes... she's probably given this assignment before.


...but seriously, are you saying you don't even SLIGHTLY know a black man? Someone you've seen at the library, someone you shop from, no one at all?

No, before it was something about the depiction of Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy. I think I saved that episode of The Wilgrove Chronicles; I can lend it to you if you want.

:tongue:

I guess the subtleties of the difference eluded me...

I'm white, I MAY have some black blood due to being Brazilian and all. Wanna ask me? o_O

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

thoughts?

Do it over the Internet.

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?


Ask your teacher what her life would be like if she couldn't read. Slip it in conversationally, as part of a random discussion. If she answers, you've done your assignment, and you avoid any embarrassing situations.

I would lie. Seriously, who would give a weird assignment like that...

May I recommend a phone interview. use the phone book for numbers try to guess ethnicity by how the name sounds. ask a few questions to set reference age/ occupation/ ethnicity/ gender if not obvious. if he can read. how he thinks his life would be like if he could not read ETC. Safe and effective.

Didn't you already have a thread about this?
Anyway, you're definitely asking to get your ass kicked in general. Fortunately, for you most people who are asking for an ass-kicking never get one; whereas people like me (who are nice and honest and happy always) get broken noses and cracked skulls for no reason whatsoever.

Didn't you already have a thread about this?
Anyway, you're definitely asking to get your ass kicked in general. Fortunately, for you most people who are asking for an ass-kicking never get one; whereas people like me (who are nice and honest and happy always) get broken noses and cracked skulls for no reason whatsoever.

your that person in the youtube videos.

your that person in the youtube videos.
I don't know what you're talking about, but maybe yes. Probably, no.

I don't know what you're talking about, but maybe yes. Probably, no.

there is this one white guy always getting beat up at random. and he is always so nice and proper. something Anon cooked up according to the info.

Find a friend who is black and ask him/her.

Failing this, ask someone you see who has a decent enough job or seems to have a good sense of humour about things i.e. don't ask some random guy who is all thugged out, ask some guy who works at the bank or is a teacher or doesn't have a job that sucks horribly. Or ask someone who couldn't possibly beat you up (maybe find a paraplegic or a really old person).

edit: I second the post a couple posts up about just asking your teacher.

Just lie and say you talk to someone. Hell talk to a white woman, it probably won't make a difference.

What about talking to a black person scares you so much, Wilgrove?

They generally aren't rabid.

What about talking to a black person scares you so much, Wilgrove?

They generally aren't rabid.

That's true - there's no reason to *expect* racial tension, even if it isn't unheard of. :tongue: Besides, the interviewee won't know that (s)he is the *only* person you're interviewing. If they ask whether they were chosen on the basis of their race, simply deny it. Problem solved.

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?

So far, I have been given the advice to just lie, make something up and claim that a black guy said it.

Weird.

Do it over the Internet.

I am surprised we are on page 3 and no nice black person has come forward to put Wilgrove out of his misery yet ;)

Not if you tack a question to the end... or you bring up the liberal media.

Quite.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u275/Gravlen/NSG/motivator3852330uq0.jpg

Are there any black people here who will answer your question?

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?

So far, I have been given the advice to just lie, make something up and claim that a black guy said it.
you shouldnt lie. you wont get the answer right.

so suck it up and find a way to talk to a stranger about a hypothetical scenario.

no you wont get your ass kicked unless you act like an asshole.

this is an excellent assignment. you obviously need some practice in talking to strangers of different backgrounds.

you shouldnt lie. you wont get the answer right.

so suck it up and find a way to talk to a stranger about a hypothetical scenario.

no you wont get your ass kicked unless you act like an asshole.

this is an excellent assignment. you obviously need some practice in talking to strangers of different backgrounds.

I suppose it could be helpful for him to reassure whoever he's talking to that if they find the question offensive, personal or overly uncomfortable for whatever reason, that they are under absolutely no pressure to answer.

So saying something along the lines of 'Excuse me, but can I ask you something, it's for a school/uni/whatever assignment?' could get you beaten up? Maybe if you've got a klan mask on, or you're wearing the colours of the rival gang of the random street negro(they're all gangbangers, dontcha know) you approached.

Are there any black people here who will answer your question?

There are no black people on the internet.

Ok, so far no one has brought up the ethical issue of interviewing random members of a specific community.

I'd like to point out that here, when you want to actually interview people for your research, however low level it may be, you have to submit a proposal to an ethics committee in your Faculty first.

I'd also like to bring to your attention the concept of OCAP (http://www.rhs-ers.ca/english/ocap.asp)...Ownership, Control and Possesion. It is used here specifically in regards to First Nations and other Aboriginal peoples whose culture is 'collective' in nature, but can also be applied to other communities and individuals. What it means in essence, as applied to your situation is this:

1) You acknowledge that the information you seek is personal, and is 'owned' by the person you are interviewing. Therefore, if you want to access that information you need to be honest about your intentions, and the uses that information will be put to. If you are going to use the interviewees name or any other identifying information in your final report, that needs to be made crystal clear at the outset.

2) If the interviewee does NOT wish to be identified, or does not want you to use certain aspects of the interview, you need to respect that. As well, if the interviewee later decides that he or she wishes to withdraw his or her participation, you acquiesce.

3) When you are finished putting together your project, if at all possible and if desired, you should provide a copy to the interviewee.

Be respectful, be professional, and be clear about what you are asking, why you are asking it, and what you're going to do with the information.

let us bow our heads in silence...

Apparently wilgrove's ass was royally kicked since he hasn't replied to this thread beyond the 15th post. :(

let us bow our heads in silence...

Apparently wilgrove's ass was royally kicked since he hasn't replied to this thread beyond the 15th post. :(

Wilgrove is fine; on his quest for the Answer, he encountered Professor Maurice Phipps, who taught him all about black people and gave him a peppermint.

This is the 2nd thread you've made about this assignment. I seem to remember you even made an NSG thread when you had trouble with your neighbour playing loud music.

Maybe that's why you don't know any black people IRL? You could try spending a bit less time on NSG, and see if that helps you meet more RL friends.

So saying something along the lines of 'Excuse me, but can I ask you something, it's for a school/uni/whatever assignment?' could get you beaten up? Maybe if you've got a klan mask on, or you're wearing the colours of the rival gang of the random street negro(they're all gangbangers, dontcha know) you approached.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k274/peter89_2006/racism.jpg

Harsh!

... just be sure to pick small, black men..?

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?



ASK HER!!!! she's black, and she'd have a different occupation if she was illiterate. (Or at least I hope so, but counting the state of education these days, I'm no longer so sure of that!)

... just be sure to pick small, black men..?

No, huge big fat ones - less likely to chase you down.

Seriously though, why just "black" men? Surely anyone who is illiterate is up against it? And wtf is OT class?

Why didn't you just ask the assigned question to the Negro NSG population and pretend you were really interested?

Ask a rich one, they're less likely to kill you. Because they're white. But not. Oh yeah.

So always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath

Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

Monty Python-Always look on the Bright Side of Life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loyjm4SOa0

Or you could always act as if it was a random peson thing. I don't know how different thiswould be in the REAL South, as I live in Flria, the South's annoying wana-be cousin that the true South pretends doesn't exist and ignores.

(I like to think of the states as a family)

Ask a rich one, they're less likely to kill you. Because they're white. But not. Oh yeah.

Not even sure how to take this one! Haha

Wilgrove is fine; on his quest for the Answer, he encountered Professor Maurice Phipps, who taught him all about black people and gave him a peppermint.
It's a good thing he didn't run into Busta Rhymes first, that would have been most unpleasant for poor Wilgrove.

Could you truly get into trouble for asking that question? I mean, it´s for a college project... I´m being naive, right?:$

Could you truly get into trouble for asking that question? I mean, it´s for a college project... I´m being naive, right?:$

No, you are not being naive. The only cause for fear here is the fevered imaginations of those that seem to think talking to African-Americans is inherently dangerous.

EDIT: Another cause for fear may be in the inherent lack of insight and sensitivity of those who would approach a chance for education with prejudgment and contempt. That may well cause insult.

when my husband was in his phd program in michigan he was working on statistics of various racial and ethnic groups' bone density.

since he was working with doctors his assignment was to go to the emergency room and ask the family and friends of patients to submit to a (quick and painless) bone density scan. he was working on african american reference data.

he met lots of sketchy characters from the black community (not everyone was sketchy of course but there were a number of gang shootings that brought in young black men in his target group). he never had a moment's trouble with asking anyone to take the exam.

if you arent offensive, no one takes offense.

That's true - there's no reason to *expect* racial tension, even if it isn't unheard of. :tongue: Besides, the interviewee won't know that (s)he is the *only* person you're interviewing. If they ask whether they were chosen on the basis of their race, simply deny it. Problem solved.
Or say that they were, but only because you need a sample from their race for your assignment.

when my husband was in his phd program in michigan he was working on statistics of various racial and ethnic groups' bone density.

since he was working with doctors his assignment was to go to the emergency room and ask the family and friends of patients to submit to a (quick and painless) bone density scan. he was working on african american reference data.

he met lots of sketchy characters from the black community (not everyone was sketchy of course but there were a number of gang shootings that brought in young black men in his target group). he never had a moment's trouble with asking anyone to take the exam.

if you arent offensive, no one takes offense.
But, um, it's not really an insult to imply that someone's bones aren't dense. But implying that someone can't read is. Even though he isn't really implying anything some people might take it that way.

No, you are not being naive. The only cause for fear here is the fevered imaginations of those that seem to think talking to African-Americans is inherently dangerous.

EDIT: Another cause for fear may be in the inherent lack of insight and sensitivity of those who would approach a chance for education with prejudgment and contempt. That may well cause insult.

I'm still disturbed by the apparent casual approach to a post-secondary project...this sounds like something you'd be assigned in high school. No interview parameters, no ethics clearance needed...what the hell kind of course is this?

Clearly the teacher wants everyone in her class to talk to a black person and find out about their life. Hint: don't make the question about what would your life be like if you couldn't read - scaffold the question.
Ask a lot of questions about education. Do you want to go to college? What course? etc.
Then after about five or six questions, make up some ones on literacy. "Do you think that the government should ensure that everyone should be able to read and write? Do you think that education is a right and not a privilege. Research 'Brown versus the Board of Education'. Ask your interviewee if he or she has heard of it.
I's ask a question about Obama....Is he going to make a difference.

By the way, if you are feeling shy about talking to a black person, talk to someone you know who is black. Another teacher? A neighbour? A storekeeper? etc. (It doesn't have to be a street hustler wearing a fur coat and bling with a pistol in his pocket - anyway, maybe you only find them on rap videos).

I'm still disturbed by the apparent casual approach to a post-secondary project...this sounds like something you'd be assigned in high school. No interview parameters, no ethics clearance needed...what the hell kind of course is this?
Maybe it's the sort of school where you have to have a humanities credit, a social science credit and a science/engineering credit to graduate no matter what your major is and this is the joke/bird class everyone takes. I TA a course like this and it's mildly depressing. A lot of the kids don't care and just want a good mark, but then every now and then there's a kid who is actually interested in learning... of course because the department wishes to keep enrollment in this course high, it has to be easy so the kids who don't care and don't care about the subject often end up with the same marks as the kids who do.

Either that or the whole school is a joke.

I'm still disturbed by the apparent casual approach to a post-secondary project...this sounds like something you'd be assigned in high school. No interview parameters, no ethics clearance needed...what the hell kind of course is this?

Well, to be fair to Wilgrove's instructor, we have scant and somewhat juandiced information about what the project is and what parameters it might have.

As far as I can tell, it is Wilgrove that seems to have a casual (and, to repeat myself, contemptuous) attitude towards the assignment.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k274/peter89_2006/racism.jpg

Harsh!

http://images.quickblogcast.com/35238-32833/ThatsRacist.gif

I think the fact Wil's teacher is a 65yr-old Black female effectively eliminates the chance of passing off a made-up interview. She'll know what's true and what isn't.

Here's an idea Wilgrove: Instead of just bloggin' about this assignment on NS, if the thought of approaching a Black stranger is really that scary to you, why not speak to your teacher directly?
Explain to her that you don't know any Blacks personally and feel very uncomfortable about approaching a stranger, of any ethnicity. Ask her if she could introduce you to someone she knows (I'm figuring she probably knows quite a few Black people personally). That way it shows to her that you are seriously trying to complete this assignment.

Another avenue: Head to a local old-folks home, explain to the people in charge the details of your assignment and politely ask if it's possible to interview a few of their inmates - sorry, residents. I'd recommend asking a few, to get a clearer picture of the problems they faced. While you're at it, you'd have the chance to interview an orderly/nurse/doctor (assuming there's a Black man among them; if they're female, ask if it's okay to interview their husbands) which would give you insight as to how much (or how little) has changed over the past 6-7 decades.
Or are you that scared of Black people that even an incontinent 80yr old frightens you?

http://images.quickblogcast.com/35238-32833/ThatsRacist.gif

I think the fact Wil's teacher is a 65yr-old Black female effectively eliminates the chance of passing off a made-up interview. She'll know what's true and what isn't.

Here's an idea Wilgrove: Instead of just bloggin' about this assignment on NS, if the thought of approaching a Black stranger is really that scary to you, why not speak to your teacher directly?
Explain to her that you don't know any Blacks personally and feel very uncomfortable about approaching a stranger, of any ethnicity. Ask her if she could introduce you to someone she knows (I'm figuring she probably knows quite a few Black people personally). That way it shows to her that you are seriously trying to complete this assignment.

Another avenue: Head to a local old-folks home, explain to the people in charge the details of your assignment and politely ask if it's possible to interview a few of their inmates - sorry, residents. I'd recommend asking a few, to get a clearer picture of the problems they faced. While you're at it, you'd have the chance to interview an orderly/nurse/doctor (assuming there's a Black man among them; if they're female, ask if it's okay to interview their husbands) which would give you insight as to how much (or how little) has changed over the past 6-7 decades.
Or are you that scared of Black people that even an incontinent 80yr old frightens you?

If I am corrrect that by "OT," Wilgrove means this is an occupational therapy class, I wonder what he plans to do if (heaven forbid) he ever has a black client? Go to his boss and explain he is scared of black people? Find some way to cheat around serving the client?

If I am corrrect that by "OT," Wilgrove means this is an occupational therapy class, I wonder what he plans to do if (heaven forbid) he ever has a black client? Go to his boss and explain he is scared of black people? Find some way to cheat around serving the client?
I was trying to offer some constructive advice to Wil. Since this is his 2nd blog, sorry thread, on the topic it's obvious freaks him out. He doesn't know any Blacks, and it's obvious his entire knowledge of them comes from listening to NWA records. (He reminds me of the scene at the begining of 'Office Space' where Mike is listening gangsta rap loud in his car and really getting into it, but when he sees a Black guy walking towards him, immediately turns it down and locks the doors)

Best thing for him to do, imo, is 1st meet some Black people in a non-threatening situation, like either of the two I suggested. That way he might start to see his fears and prejudices are unfounded and begin to gain confidence to approach them naturally.

I was trying to offer some constructive advice to Wil. Since this is his 2nd blog, sorry thread, on the topic it's obvious freaks him out. He doesn't know any Blacks, and it's obvious his entire knowledge of them comes from listening to NWA records. (He reminds me of the scene at the begining of 'Office Space' where Mike is listening gangsta rap loud in his car and really getting into it, but when he sees a Black guy walking towards him, immediately turns it down and locks the doors)

Best thing for him to do, imo, is 1st meet some Black people in a non-threatening situation, like either of the two I suggested. That way he might start to see his fears and prejudices are unfounded and begin to gain confidence to approach them naturally.

I understand that, and your advice was more substantive and constructive than most.

But my patience with treating Wilgrove with kid's gloves (which I admit was thin to begin with) ran out after he failed to reappear in this thread. And, after his comments that despite the fact race clearly matters to Wilgrove, it shouldn't matter to his assignment and doesn't adversely impact anyone anymore.

No, you are not being naive. The only cause for fear here is the fevered imaginations of those that seem to think talking to African-Americans is inherently dangerous.

Indeed. While I was in the US, I never encountered African-Americans that fit the stereotype so commonly seen in movies or that some (many) comedians try so hard to convey. That´s why to me is so odd that someone would get his/her ass kicked just for asking a question.

I understand that, and your advice was more substantive and constructive than most.

But my patience with treating Wilgrove with kid's gloves (which I admit was thin to begin with) ran out after he failed to reappear in this thread. And, after his comments that despite the fact race clearly matters to Wilgrove, it shouldn't matter to his assignment and doesn't adversely impact anyone anymore.
I can understand your patience for Wil is wearing very thin. I've only been here a few months and Wil strikes me as a bit......needy.

However, in his defence, he has said he's had some pretty severe facial reconstruction surgery. Which, presumably, would make him much more self-conscience than the rest of us.
So it mightn't just be the idea of approaching a Black male stranger that threatens him, but approaching any stranger. In which case getting some help, through his teacher for eg, to set up an interview would be extremely beneficial for him, not only in meeting Black people but also gaining confidence to be around strangers.

Apparently it has to be a "random" person, so teachers are out.



Well you have to admit, it is a little offensive.
Go ask someone at church.

So one of my assignments in one of my OT class is that I have to ask a black person what their life and occupation would be like if they couldn't read. Keep in mind, I am a white male, who lives in the South. I have no proof that a teacher gave me this assignment because she gave it orally (giggity). I dunno, it just feels like it's going to offend people and if I ask the wrong black guy, I may get my ass kicked.

What's ironic is that the teacher is a 65 year old black female.

thoughts?

So far, I have been given the advice to just lie, make something up and claim that a black guy said it.

Dude ask a friend or fellow student.

But, um, it's not really an insult to imply that someone's bones aren't dense. But implying that someone can't read is. Even though he isn't really implying anything some people might take it that way.


anything can be an insult when you are singling out people by race.

it is your approach that determines whether or not it IS an insult.

there is nothing insulting about asking a person what would be different about their life if they couldnt read.

So saying something along the lines of 'Excuse me, but can I ask you something, it's for a school/uni/whatever assignment?' could get you beaten up? Maybe if you've got a klan mask on, or you're wearing the colours of the rival gang of the random street negro(they're all gangbangers, dontcha know) you approached.

That was pretty funny.

well if you do decide to ask your safe by the freedom of speech, and the fact if they attack you, sue

or you could lie or outrite refuse

or what part of the south are you in ...it makes all the differance