Melanin "Science"

[Mourne]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin_theory



It disgusts me that if this play (link below) were done in the opposite fashion, from a position of white supremacy to blacks, that there would have been an uproar, a boycott on the play, and time on the national stage (no pun intended). But, because it's claiming that black people are superior to whites, it's all good, the play gets rave reviews and there is 0 outcry.

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/theater/reviews/05rela.html

I'm sick of the double standard, quite frankly. You'll find no white guilt here. I've never owned slaves, neither have my parents, neither have my grand parents, neither did my great-grand parents. Enough is enough with this racial double standard bullshit imo.

Edit: can someone move this to the Poop Deck? I meant to put it there. :(

[Mutt]

From what I read, the premise explored Melanin theory and the main supporter is denounced in the end for her beliefs.

I dont get the double standard. Theres been plenty of instances of the KKK for example around movies and not all are the campy pillow case on the head jokes. Just like the black panthers have been similarly lampooned, just on a lesser scale.

[Mourne]

Didn't you hear? You're a racist! :D

[Mutt]

As to why theres no outcry? I dunno, maybe because no one cares about some random crappy play in a recession?

[Mourne]

You saw the play is from 2006 right?

As for the double standard, I wasn't speaking specifically about this instance, but in general. I'm not sure how things are in Canada, but in America there is something called White Guilt that essentially allows minority groups to get away with more than is allowed to whites in terms of accusations etc. My problem with is is that if we're supposedly all equals, then the same standards should be adhered to by everyone.

It's been my general experience that blacks seem to be more racist than the white people I've met. Maybe it's just been in the places I live, who knows. But, when I hear crap like "black people cannot be racist because they don't have the social power to be" and "white people are all inherently racist as a product of their upbringing" etc., it gets old fast. Especially when all the while I know there would be an outcry if it was whites saying those things.

Edit: Furthermore, what you said almost speaks directly to my point:

As to why theres no outcry? I dunno, maybe because no one cares about some random crappy play in a recession?

This random crappy play came out well before the recession, and no one cares. If a play with the role of white/black reversed came out right now, in the middle of the very recession you're referring to, you'd still be hearing about it like crazy. In fact, Obama would probably be having beers with the playwrite and Al Sharpton.

[Diraker]

Maybe it's just the nature of how play reviewers write but I can't really make any determination about the content of the play. Although this one line seems to make sense to me.

"Though their melanin science sounds preposterous, by the time they're done you know why many people, especially those with a history of being oppressed, are deeply suspicious of what passes for scientific progress."

Anyway, I am not outraged or anything but I know what you mean about double standards. I might be upset though, for instance, if there were some sort of teacher, or judge, or cop, or politican, doing the double standarding. Where I can simply ignore private citizen Cassandra Medley I find it harder to ignore stuff done by representaives of the government or other people in positions of authority.

edited to add: As far as the bigger picture goes Where I live the biggest race related issues involve migrant workers. People spit on them, steal from them, beat them up, and even kill them. It makes me sad. There is almost zero white vs black animosity.

[Mourne]

wtf people really do that crap to migrant workers where you live?

[Mutt]

As for the double standard, I wasn't speaking specifically about this instance, but in general. I'm not sure how things are in Canada, but in America there is something called White Guilt that essentially allows minority groups to get away with more than is allowed to whites in terms of accusations etc.In Canada, people tend to get offended for other cultures/races etc long before there is an outcry from said groups. The only real recent race issue in Calgary at least is the fact that groups of asians are denied entrance into night clubs.

For the most part things tend to stay pretty reasonable. Like this recent challenge to the zoo for a statue of Ganesh from a christian group: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/09/25/calgary-zoo-elephant-statue-christians-response.html

Pragmatism seems to rule the roost, although larger centres like Vancouver/Toronto and Montreal have larger issues.

[Diraker]

wtf people really do that crap to migrant workers where you live?

Part of the issue is that they stand around on the side of the road or near stores waiting for a contractor or landscaper to pick them up for a job. Of course the local residents don't like them there, littering and peeing and such. Of course the local shops think it hurts business. Of course the local government dosn't want to spend money to build areas specifically designed as pick up and drop off spots. Of couse the landscapers and contractors don't want to put any money in. Of course the people who benefit from cheap labor (like folk with lawns or roofs in need of repair) don't want to chip in either.

Most recently there was murder that afaik made national news when some teenage punks killed an equadorian man.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/nyregion/14immigrant.html

And maybe day laborers is a better description than migrant workers.

[Mourne]

How come the asians were denied entrance to the night clubs? Was it a gang sort of thing?

[TheKraken]

"Though their melanin science sounds preposterous, by the time they're done you know why many people, especially those with a history of being oppressed, are deeply suspicious of what passes for scientific progress."

I really hate it when people look for an excuse to ignore science. The scientific method is a triumph of logic and objective inquery. If you think a scientist is saying something wrong, find some evidence to show it's wrong. Don't rely on feelings and what you want to be true.

[Diraker]

Yeah I know what you mean. Although I think the key phrase is passes for science . Sometimes what the general public thinks is science is really just psuedoscience dressed up to look like science.

[Mutt]

How come the asians were denied entrance to the night clubs? Was it a gang sort of thing?some of the larger gang activity in the city is asian based. Its completely racial profiling, however its not a blanket policy. Clubs just turn an scrutineering eye towards groups that may bring gang issues into their business. Unfortunately innocent groups of club goers get denied as a result.

That said, clubs have always picked and chose who they let in. Ive been denied with all white friends due to "improper footware" (more likely being a result of young, cheap male students) and conversely never had an issue when entering with mixed company. And as everyone knows hot women dressed to showcase the goods never have an issue getting in (or waiting in lines for that matter).

[Gnioss]

I for one am O U T R A G E D!!!

You mean people that are one color tend to be fearful and ignorant regarding the habits of people that are other colors? PLZ THIS SI NOT TRUE.?!1.1?

let them have their play.

[Mutt]

lolz gnioss, the voice of synopsis

[Mourne]

I for one am O U T R A G E D!!!

You mean people that are one color tend to be fearful and ignorant regarding the habits of people that are other colors? PLZ THIS SI NOT TRUE.?!1.1?

let them have their play.

omg! What are you trying to say by "them" and "their"?? Racist.

[Gnioss]

omg! What are you trying to say by "them" and "their"?? Racist.
their
  /ðɛər; unstressed ðər/ [thair; unstressed ther]
–pronoun
1. a form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun: their home; their rights as citizens; their departure for Rome.

[Mourne]

srsly? lol I didn't think my trolling skills were that good.

[Gnioss]

not no srsly.

[Mourne]

double negative!