What do you all think about this term? Is it ok to call someone "whitey?" For example, suppose a celebrity was discussing a white person who quit his job, and said "Whitey quit his job."

What does the use of this term say about the person who said it?

It's a form of racism and I find this type of thing destructive. It does absolutely nothing to help solve the issues of racial discrimination that (I presume) it is supposed to strike out at. If anything, it just feeds the fire. However, it is also reasonably unfair to complain about this type of thing unless you also dislike and avoid stereotyping against any other racial/ethnic/gender/etc group yourself.

One of your "liberal" friends said it, didn't he?

Wow, lots of qualifications.

Maybe. She, not he. I'm hearing rumors. Obama's wife may have, but the left is already cirling the wagons and claiming she said "why'd he..."

That's likely the case, I can't imagine someone that educated being stupid enough to say something like that. But then look where she's been going to church and who she's been hanging around with.

If this recording I heard about sees the light of day, I'll listen to it and the context before I make my determination.

Hi Raz!!
You did not specify the nationality of the celebrity..if they were causasian conversing with another caucasian..no one would think anything..now..any other nationality might be affected..it is like this.

I believe predjudism will remain on this planet until earth disintegrates..its a shame we cannot form a more perfect union,,but it will always be about face with this issue..

Sherri

Oh ya..and anything that has to do with the democratic party as far as Obama being the nominee scares me..to many half noted notions with the spiritual end of things there..that is alarming.

That's a racist notion. You are applying one standard to one race, and another standard to the other.

Well, I disagree with that. The concept I think Sherri is touching on is that it's OK for white people to use the term 'Whitey' in the same way it's OK for black people to use the term 'niggaz' etc. There is certainly a fair argument there, in that they are the same because you are using them directed at oneself, rather than at others. Personally I still find it destructive, and pointless.

Its either a epithet or its not. Giving some people a pass to use it because of their skin color is racist.

Hi Kevin..
This was my exact nature of the statement submitted..thank you..

Sherri

Hi Ras..
Think about what I am saying here..no racism intended on my behalf what-so-ever..cant believe you would think that way of this statement..

Sherri

By racist, I don't mean that you look down on any particular race, I'm just saying that discrimination based on skin color is racism.

Hi Ras..
Well if you are basing the conversation between the nationalities as racist..then one could suppose it be racist, but not the way I see it. I taught my children differently when it comes to other nationalities..because of the God factor in our lives..

However.. as my son attended high school there was much racial and biased activity taking place. Rather it was direct or in-direct..so dont fool yourself here..unfortunately its very alive..maybe more-so in the schools than elsewhere. My boy found himself in trouble when he tried to mesh in and be friends to other nationalities with-in the school system.. I can tell you this..there is no particular nationality that does not discriminate one against the other.

I learned things early on in life and not in a proper respect due to others. My travels taught me on a personal basis to respect all regardless of color or creed. Its just something you learn and pass through..learning how to deal with other people regardless of nationality..

I should think for the kids today growing up it may be easier..on account of the melting pot is more alive than ever. When we were in high school a foreign student was an ex-change student. We knew they were a different culture, it was exciting to learn of there home and the language.


You know Ras..we are all different..its life..no-matter the skin color..God did not make us the same or our nationalities. So we can learn to love one another or disrespect one another..we teach a person how to treat us..regardless of skin color.


Sherri

That could be the person's name, such as Whitey Bulger. Then what?

For a person of a different color or race to do that, then it WOULD sound racist. Just as it would sound racist for a person of another race to use the N-word.

What does it matter what color the person is who is using an epithet? Its either an epithet or not.

It matters a lot, and yes it is.

I'm Afro-American, and if I called you Whitey and that's not your actual name, of if I called you a cracker, then in my book, that's being a racist.

If I were white and called you the N-word, that's also being a racist. Either or, I don't like racism. It's ugly and it's ignorance and idiocy.

Why does skin color of the person using the epithet matter?

It's also the race as well. And people do it to be stupid.

I think you are taking an extremely literal interpretation of the word racist here (possibly quite deliberately, for argument's sake). By that degree of literality (if that is even a word? literalness maybe?) then it is racist to even employ the term racist at all, hence making that extremist context somewhat redundant).

To my mind, for there to be racism involved, there needs to be some degree of denigration involved (intended or not). And it is the 'intended or not' part where it gets into a grey area. I think its better that people just altogether grow up and put it all behind us as much as we can instead of keeping the focus on it by using it - which includes the self-reference variety).

Another example - the often used generalisations that White people can't play sports, or dance, as well as black people. Most people (I think) would find this a reasonable statement - but in reality it's rubbish - there are plenty of black people with no sporting prowess, and plenty of white people with rhythm and/or dancing skill (trained or untrained). The generalisations serve no purpose at all except to prop up concepts of difference between 'races'. Personally I don't even like the term 'race' - there is only one race - it's a species - homo sapiens.

Basically, when race matters, its racist. I think it may be more harmful (or backwards) saying that it is ok for one race to do something, but not another, than using a term like we're talking about.

When you're just instulting someone, its really only words, but when you start playing around with premissions to do one thing or another, and applying them or prohibiting something based on race, that's another thing altogether.

I do take a literal interpretation of most words I use. I like it that way - when words mean something. This is counter to how the word "racist" is abused and thrown around indiscriminately, which as evidenced in this thread, has diluted or obscured the real ugliness of racism.