Saul,
You`re very right. Sharing my bitter experience with members of this forum is my prerogative. I dont see the problem here, and its up to every member to make his or her own interpretations of it. I cant control that. I pray though and hope that I never encounter a similar episode again.
And I dont see the problem with your definitions either, so long as you use it to proof your point. Again your entitlement. And if not I would like to know what criteria we would have to go by to approve of someones definitions. Is it that we should always go by the Cambridge, Webster or Collins dictionaries?
Personally, I`m yet to have something to apologize for in this matter, and I`ll again repeat that the character I had the encounter with surely fits your definition as far as I`m concerned. If someone happens to disagree, well thats just too bad, but I`m afraid that individual will have to deal with it.
And my heart and good intentions tells me that I`m not the least prejudice, and when I go to sleep tonight I`ll have a sound one. NO WORRIES AND NO REGRETS!
Regards,
Omar.
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
Til: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Dato: 28. desember 1999 06:49
Emne: Yusufa: Re: ON BIGOTRY AND STEREOTYPING
>Yusupha,
>
>I'm surprised you're back after the childish tantrum you've thrown about
>protesting what I wrote, and what Omar Drammeh added to. Even for a large
>List like this -Yusupha, your immaturity stands out. You need to GROW UP!
>This List is not for Cry Babies, or Men in Diapers. You cannot regulate
>anyone's thoughts here. So don't even try it.
>
>Unlike you, I've not been to every State in America. But the few places
>where I've been, I've seen all types of people of African descent. I've
>experienced all types of treatment first-hand. I've seen similar treatment
>meted out to many fellow Africans. In all these cases, it's from people like
>us, with a certain mindset. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that
>there's a huge gulf dividing Black people in this country along behavioral
>patterns. I never said you have to agree with me.
>
>I have good friends who are Black and American. I have acquaintances who I
>regard as Negro because of how they perceive themselves, and any other black
>person who is non-American. And I know many Niggers (yes N-I-G-G-E-R-S)
>because I've worked with some of them.
>
>There is White on Black racism. And always will be. But there are many white
>people I know, who I prefer to some who look like me. Why? Because they're
>capable of reasoning. Even if they don't like you, they'll refrain from
>telling you certain things in your face. Niggers don't. If you don't know
>what I saying Mr. World Traveler, go to some parts of the Bronx next time
>you're in NY, and see for yourself. See how Africans get attacked verbally -
>not by mere punks mark you, but by people who have this weird notion that
>they're "superior" to Africans because of what they read in some book, or
>images they've seen on TV. I can go on and on about what I've seen. But,
>what's the point?
>
>This whole issue is not about what I wrote on Madiba's piece. I've always
>sensed that. From the onset, you've tried hard to blow the issue out of
>proportions. Even my ignoring your childish petulance doesn't seem to help.
>I wrote my opinion. My right. You find it disagreeable. Your right. Omar
>Drammeh gave his first-hand experience. His right. Some other people on the
>List said they liked it. Their right. So, what's the big deal?
>
>What right do you have to tell I, or Omar Drammeh that we cannot narrate our
>experiences? So the dictionary defines Nigger a certain way. Fine. I'm not
>exactly white myself. I'm describing people like myself the way I've
>experienced them. No apologies here. Who said you have to agree with me?
>Where is the prejudice and bigotry that you're talking about? If you want to
>take me on because of the "way I've addressed certain members of the List,"
>come on. Give me the best you've got, and see how far it gets you.
>
>Saul.
>
>
>>From: Yusupha Jow <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: ON BIGOTRY AND STEREOTYPING
>>Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 22:42:50 EST
>>
>>After some thought and after listening to advice from people that I deem
>>wiser and older than myself, I have decided to return to this Bantaba. As
>>Hamjatta said, a return was necessary in the spirit of togetherness and the
>>unity of purpose. But, also, my return is mandated for two reasons. First,
>>it is my moral obligation as an objective Gambian to challenge the flawed
>>theories of certain members of this list whose flawed thinking and
>>demagogic
>>thoughts are akin to bigotry. Second, after seeing the way in which Mr.
>>Saidy Khan has addressed certain members of this forum, I think my return
>>is
>>necessary. I am sure some of you are asking yourselves what gives me the
>>right to make all this noise about the issue at hand? My answer to this is
>>the fact that after having lived in this country for several years and
>>having
>>received a good traditional education as well as a street education that is
>>invaluable, I speak from a unique perspective on the theories and
>>assumptions
>>that Saul has made.
>>
>>To actually challenge the validity and logic of his article, it is
>>necessary
>>to view the article in the context in which it was written. His response
>>was
>>prompted by a very interesting article that Madiba posted to all of us. It
>>concerned Mr. Henry Louis Gates' documentary on Africa and how it portrayed
>>Africans as also having been an integral part of the trade itself. This is
>>a
>>disputable fact and has been the subject of many a debate over the past 400
>>years. In response to this, Mr. SaidyKhan took it upon himself to
>>stereotype
>>African Americans negatively to make his point that Africans did not
>>participate in the slave trade. He proceeded to naively categorize them
>>into
>>three segments: Blacks, Negroes and Niggers.
>>Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam typified the way he
>>expected
>>a black man to be and he subsequently called him a black. His next
>>categorization was what he called the Negro. According to him, Henry Louis
>>Gates fit this category and this could explain his the postulation that
>>Africans sold one another during the slave trade. This was a rather naive
>>categorization of Mr. Gates to make a point. This man is one of the
>>foremost
>>scholars of African studies and has done his research over a period of
>>many
>>years. Therefore, Mr. SaidyKhan's pathetic attempt to explain Mr. Gates'
>>postulation was laughable at best. All this being said, my biggest
>>objection
>>to his futile attempt at stereotyping was to his use of the word Nigger.
>>
>>The word Nigger is defined in any dictionary as a black person, a member
>>of
>>a dark skinned race or a socially disadvantaged class. However, the
>>dictionary stresses that it is the most offensive word in the English
>>language. The truth is that this word did not exist until Europeans coined
>>the term to describe our ancestors. The word was used to describe our
>>ancestors at their lowest state. Brothers and sisters from The Gambia and
>>other places from the continent who, after being subjected to a process
>>where
>>even to uphold one's pride and self esteem was a burden, were called this
>>word. And as time went by, every negative unfounded stereotype about
>>black
>>people was associated this word. Stereotypes such as big lips, big noses,
>>savagery, laziness and unintelligence were one of the few unsavory
>>stereotypes that were associated with the word . Those of us that have
>>seen
>>glimpses of old racist cartoons, like Sambo, can understand my abhorrence
>>to
>>the negative use of this word. In certain instances, the use of word is
>>acceptable when it is used by black people as a term of endearment. But
>>when someone uses a broad brush to paint a whole section of a population
>>with
>>the most offensive word in the English language, it's use becomes offensive
>>and derogatory. Mr. SaidyKhan tried to justify his use of the word by
>>saying
>>that it's use indicated the mindset of those he was trying to describe.
>>But
>>his interpretation of the word was twisted and completely wrong. Neither
>>Mr. Saidykhan or his supporters can come up with any evidence of an
>>alternate
>>definition of the word. I openly challenge those of you who proclaimed
>>that
>>Niggers existed with an exclamation point to come up with evidence for a
>>justification of your statements. Yes, it is true that unsavory characters
>>do exist everywhere. But to label them as Niggers without any
>>justification
>>for the use of the word is akin to bigotry.
>>
>>The fact that Mr. SaidyKhan is guilty of stereotyping is quite funny.
>>Given
>>that in response to one of Alpha Robinson's pieces he talks about
>>stereotyping. It is as follows:
>>
>>"I have vowed not to let anyone get away with perpetuating such
>>stereotypes -- however subtly they put it"
>>
>>Mr. SaidyKhan openly vowed that he would not let anyone get away with
>>stereotyping, yet he perpetuates the same type of behavior. Is a man like
>>this to be taken seriously? You be the judges to that.
>>His use of the word in a very negative way, explains a whole lot to me.
>>Because, as I explained earlier, this word was used to humiliate our
>>ancestors at their lowest state, his use of the word can be described as a
>>manifestation of self hate. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that he
>>aptly
>>described himself when he coined his definition of the Nigger. He is the
>>educated type, mind you, ALA Armstrong Williams .
>>
>>To conclude, I would like to address a phrase by Hamjata Kanteh. In
>>response
>>to my piece about my PROTEST, Hamjatta said that this is a democratic forum
>>and all views should be entertained that we should agree to disagree
>>respectfully. To that I say that we can never agree to disagree with
>>bigoted
>>views. Before we start looking at bigger issues, let us start with the
>>bigots on the Gambia-L.
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
