James Gunn

[One Brow]

If you type it, I'll read it. But no pressure.

It's been 40 years, so while I will do my best to say things accurately, I'm only human.

As soon as you asked the question, my mind went back to my first job at a place called The Red Barn, on Lindell Ave. in St. Louis. I was 15, and my family needed the money, so I did not feel like I could leave the job.

I did worked with a racially mixed crew, and on many evenings I was the only white employee. I recall one of my shift managers, in particular, that took a strong dislike to me. Work that was adequate for other employees wan't good enough (or so it seemed to me), and he wouldn't help me or offer advice like he did for the other employees.

However, he couldn't add on the weight of society with his actions. None of the names he could have called me (I don't think he did, this is just hypothetical) would have had any meaning to my being white. His boss was white, and it the treatment got too bad I could have gone the manager, and felt pretty confident I would be listened to.

The shift manager had no continuous participation with how society treated me, rather everything else in my life treated me like I was white. When I was walking home, I wasn't worried about the police stopping me because I fit the description of "white guy, medium height". Any of the few times I did interact with the police, they were respectful and polite, and I never felt threatened. At home, almost all the TV shows has white heroes. At the movies, I never lacked for solid white role models. My teachers showed me the respect white students get.

So, could the manager treat me badly on account of my whiteness, or dislike me for it? Yes. Could they be a part of a societal power structure that made my being white difficult for me in myriad ways over myriad spheres? No.

 

[One Brow]

I've read things that defend her and I think it's utter ********.

I'm fine with that.

It's fine with me because, as you said, she can't affect me as a white person in the USA. The whole society invests social power in my whiteness that she can't touch.

 

[Archie Moses]

The short answer is no.

If you like, I could do a 500-word essay on from my limited knowledge of sociological reasons, or a 500-word essay from my personal experience in the matter, explaining the answer, but only if you really want to read it.

By definition

So if a black American works as a shift manager, leading a diverse set of employees, is prejudiced against white people, is that racism?

By definition, yes, it is.
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

This doesn't mean that blacks haven't been oppressed or face racists 10x's as much as others. It just means that if an individual is prejudice against someone simply because of their skin color it is wrong with today's standards. I'm not sure when or why this became so complicated.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

I think this guy was on to something.

 

[One Brow]

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

I can think of few things whiter than quoting Dr. King without understanding what he actually stood for.

 

[Siro]

It's been 40 years, so while I will do my best to say things accurately, I'm only human.

As soon as you asked the question, my mind went back to my first job at a place called The Red Barn, on Lindell Ave. in St. Louis. I was 15, and my family needed the money, so I did not feel like I could leave the job.

I did worked with a racially mixed crew, and on many evenings I was the only white employee. I recall one of my shift managers, in particular, that took a strong dislike to me. Work that was adequate for other employees wan't good enough (or so it seemed to me), and he wouldn't help me or offer advice like he did for the other employees.

However, he couldn't add on the weight of society with his actions. None of the names he could have called me (I don't think he did, this is just hypothetical) would have had any meaning to my being white. His boss was white, and it the treatment got too bad I could have gone the manager, and felt pretty confident I would be listened to.

The shift manager had no continuous participation with how society treated me, rather everything else in my life treated me like I was white. When I was walking home, I wasn't worried about the police stopping me because I fit the description of "white guy, medium height". Any of the few times I did interact with the police, they were respectful and polite, and I never felt threatened. At home, almost all the TV shows has white heroes. At the movies, I never lacked for solid white role models. My teachers showed me the respect white students get.

So, could the manager treat me badly on account of my whiteness, or dislike me for it? Yes. Could they be a part of a societal power structure that made my being white difficult for me in myriad ways over myriad spheres? No.

All right. Thanks.

I'm not a fan of judging individual actions through sociological statistics. I also think whoever's in power is incidental and always subject to change. It's unfortunate that the self-styled progressives are pushing us toward a world that reinforces racial identity as an integral part of society, and yet, disregards racial discrimination (almost encourage it, if I'm being honest) if it doesn't meet some litmus test.

 

[One Brow]

All right. Thanks.

I'm not a fan of judging individual actions through sociological statistics. I also think whoever's in power is incidental and always subject to change. It's unfortunate that the self-styled progressives are pushing us toward a world that reinforces racial identity as an integral part of society, and yet, disregards racial discrimination (almost encourage it, if I'm being honest) if it doesn't meet some litmus test.

Perhaps "who is in power" is subject to change, but white people have been in power here for 400 years, and built up power structures over that time to reinforce their monopoly, so it's not incidental.

As long as people treat others differently based on race, there will be differing racial experiences, and so differing racial identities.

 

[Siro]

Perhaps "who is in power" is subject to change, but white people have been in power here for 400 years, and built up power structures over that time to reinforce their monopoly, so it's not incidental.

As long as people treat others differently based on race, there will be differing racial experiences, and so differing racial identities.

A better approach would be the rejection of race as legitimate identity and working toward its elimination. NOT the reinforcement of the legitimacy of racial identity and ethnic differences, then acting shocked when people become ethno-nationalist and racially prejudiced.

 

[The Midnight]

Ok so I watched Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 last night.

It was actually better than the first 1 for me. What sets it apart from the 1st movie for me was how much 'heart' it had and the theme of not judging the book by its cover and how people (or creatures) from all walks of life can co-exist and even form a 'family'.

As an example there were scenes where Drax, the big blunt ugly guy, would talk about his inner emotions and connecting with other characters at a deeper level. I initially didn't really like this character in the Vol. 1 and though he's a bit rough and didn't belong in this group of 'heroes', but he really grew on me in Vol. 2.

Another character that really surprised me was Yondu, the rough ravage that was one of the bad guys in Vol. 1. But in Vol. 2 we learned that he was actually a 'dad' figure to Peter Quill (the main protagonist), and when it's all said and done he was a loveable guy and the scenes involving him at the end brought tears to my eyes.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was, James Gunn wrote and directed both Vo. 1 and Vol. 2, and it would be a damn shame for him to be fired for things he did years ago that wasn't even illegal. He is like Yondu. He did things that he wasn't proud of. But does that mean his life should end there in Vol. 1 as a bad guy?

No. I think James Gunn deserves a chance to turn his life around and to be punished for the rest of his life for what he did years ago - I think the world would be worse for it. He still has a lot to offer and it would be a shame 'sentence' for the rest of his career this way.

 

[Archie Moses]

I can think of few things whiter than quoting Dr. King without understanding what he actually stood for.

You're making things too complicated, dude.

I can't think of many things more simple than we are all equal regardless of color. A human is a human and it's a damn shame if you treat someone differently based off of their skin color.

 

[Archie Moses]

Ok so I watched Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 last night.

It was actually better than the first 1 for me. What sets it apart from the 1st movie for me was how much 'heart' it had and the theme of not judging the book by its cover and how people (or creatures) from all walks of life can co-exist and even form a 'family'.

As an example there were scenes where Drax, the big blunt ugly guy, would talk about his inner emotions and connecting with other characters at a deeper level. I initially didn't really like this character in the Vol. 1 and though he's a bit rough and didn't belong in this group of 'heroes', but he really grew on me in Vol. 2.

Another character that really surprised me was Yondu, the rough ravage that was one of the bad guys in Vol. 1. But in Vol. 2 we learned that he was actually a 'dad' figure to Peter Quill (the main protagonist), and when it's all said and done he was a loveable guy and the scenes involving him at the end brought tears to my eyes.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was, James Gunn wrote and directed both Vo. 1 and Vol. 2, and it would be a damn shame for him to be fired for things he did years ago that wasn't even illegal. He is like Yondu. He did things that he wasn't proud of. But does that mean his life should end there in Vol. 1 as a bad guy?

No. I think James Gunn deserves a chance to turn his life around and to be punished for the rest of his life for what he did years ago - I think the world would be worse for it. He still has a lot to offer and it would be a shame 'sentence' for the rest of his career this way.

This is a great post. Thx.

 

[JazzGal]

But isn't that the issue? It is easy for someone of the race that holds the most power to say that race should not be an issue. Race does not define the world for that person, so it is easy for them to hold this view. I rarely have to think about my race. But race defines nearly every aspect of life for minorities, and pretending otherwise does not make sense.

 

[Archie Moses]

But isn't that the issue? It is easy for someone of the race that holds the most power to say that race should not be an issue. Race does not define the world for that person, so it is easy for them to hold this view. I rarely have to think about my race. But race defines nearly every aspect of life for minorities, and pretending otherwise does not make sense.

Are you guys actually listening to what you're saying and thinking about it?

Maybe instead of simply pointing out, yeah, well, you're white so... Or implying I'm not aware of white privilege or minorities struggles because I think no one should write/say hatred or vile stereotypes towards a people because of their skin color.

Like I've said, I don't think she should be fired. I just think her tweets (a lot of them, not all of them) do more harm than good to society and are, well, racists and inexcusable. It's crazy to me this is even a discussion and arguments against it include my skin color, and people said mean things to her first.

It's simple really. Racists tweets are racist. No one should get a free pass on it.