OMG. Only in Japan would a video game like this be made. Choosing to play devil’s advocate.
It’s not surprising to me that a video game would emerge like this. It’s has it’s basis in pornography, which despite what America likes to believe is a growing business. Worldwide it is a multi-billion dollar industry, and you don’t get to be that way marketing to a small number of people. A lot of people like porn, but are too afraid to admit it because it is still considered really taboo in the mainstream public eye. I did a search while writing this and 225,000,000 hits came up just for the word “porn” and 3,500,000 came up for the search of “teenage porn” so that tells you that people are definitely interested and it’s not just the creepy weird guy down the street that is indulging in this.
Being a young person, I’ve seen porn before, like any of my friends that I have asked. Even if they don’t like it they have at least seen one video and a lot of times I find that people watch porn because they are simply bored with the internet. I mean, how much time can you really spend on facebook and youtube anyway? After browsing some of the sites, you get a feel for the mood the pornographic videos try to take. Few in number show guys making “love” to women or giving them a back massage before they do it. In fact, a lot are weird categories like red heads, bondage, and threesomes. No matter what the category, they all have an undertone of forcing yourself on women, having rough sex, or putting the woman in some kind of submissive state of mind because of her partner.
And with viewers wanting more interacting then just sitting at their computer watching a woman be submissive sexually, it makes sense that video games allowing you to do such actions are selling fast.
To me, what you do in the bedroom or watch on your computer screen is your business. I’ve run by a few Sadist in my life and they are weird people but not bad people. They like the fact of hurting their partner as long as the partner is enjoying the pain as much as they are. What can I say, it’s bondage meets role play meets mind control. But I do have a problem with video games portraying rape as a means of fun simply because most video games are marketed at young children. I’m not saying that the game should not be produced because a lot of video games surround the concept of violence, but I don’t hear people getting their panties in a bunch over that. I just know with the easy access that the video games would eventually fall into the hands of children. And there would be that one kid who watches the games, thinks its really cool or something along those lines, and goes out and rapes a girl and will blame his actions on the video game. I just think the problem is access. I’m not saying it’s right but if we are going to have rape games in this society we should focus on keeping them in the hands of people who enjoy this kind of entertainment and out of those of our young children.

I also think that the media should do a better coverage of showing black people in different lights. Such as where are all the black skateboarders or hockey players? I know they have to be out there somewhere or if not then I know that there has to be black kids that are interested in playing but they might be too afraid to speak up because it is considered outside of the norm for a black person to play/be interested in such things. I think all in all we need to create a more culture exposing society so that black people don't feel boxed in and so that we don’t box them in ourselves.

I think that one day black people will be able to “win”. However, I think that this will take a lot of work from both black people and white America. First of all, black people should feel comfortable in their skin and shouldn’t think about the stereotypes they need to fit into or not fit into. I think that black parents should make an effort to expose their children to aspect outside of the black community like different foods, clothing, and cultures. Then if the kids want to they can engulf black culture to the full but if they want to get involved in another culture it wouldn’t be as weird or new to them because they were exposed to it when they were younger.

Secondly we as black people put the stereotype into ourselves. At least once a week I always overhear a conversation about a black person acting white which means a black person being accused by another black person of doing something outside of the cultural norms. Like wearing L.L. Bean or skateboarding. And this kind of thinking makes me angry. Because on one hand I feel like black people don’t want to be stereotyped so they do all of these things to assimilate into white society like the money, living in the suburbs and such. But it is also a taboo subject in the black community of becoming too white. Like pronouncing words completely or dating a white girl. It’s like people get made at the stereotyped but when you don’t fit into the stereotype you are screwed too.

How can we ever win? This is a very complicated question. First of all I think that we as black people have to determine what “winning” actually means. I’m sure this definition cannot cover everything but I would define winning as black feeling like they are assimilated into society (mainly white society) without losing our customs such as language, clothing, food, etc. I think this is a hard act to juggle because of a lot of reasons.
First being that society often stereotypes black people into a small box. Black people are expected to wear baggy jeans, hair extensions, and talk slang. So it can be weird for those of us that are black or any other race to look at an L.L. Bean and see black people with sweaters tied around their necks and playing golf because we usually don’t see black people doing this.

I’m glad you asked this question about Asian Americans. Sam does cover a lot of material on white vs. black/ African American people and he does have other information pertaining to the other races but I don’t feel like he really goes into issue involving Asians, Latinos, etc as much. I guess he uses mainly white and black examples because it is the most familiar to us in terms of what races people usually think about when it comes to racial and ethnic relations.
So here is what I know about Asian Americans from an African American, female, inner city point of view.
1.I cannot tell Asian Americans apart to save my life. They all really do look the same to me. Yellow skin, black or dark brown hair and thin. I can notice suddle differences in facial structures when I look at them but I’m not sure what specific part of Asia these facial structures belong too. Which I’m pretty sure is the same thing that people say about black people which I find impossible because all black people look nothing alike but if you are not used to being around them I can understand why you would think this.
2.Asians really are smart. All of the Asians I ever knew were the majority of my friends in elementary and middle school. They all always had straight A’s. And I don’t mean A- but straight A’s. I thought it was kind of cool how Asian parents push their kids to get the highest grades. Even though every parent from every race does this, I feel like Asian parents do it more and to a more extreme extinct. But on the other hand a lot of the Asians I met were always stressed out because of grades and they weren’t really allowed to pursue artsy areas, only science and math.
3.Asians are nice people. Over the summer at my internship the staff was probably 90% Asian, the rest white and me being the only African American in my department. I by no means consider myself racist, but I was a bit uncomfortable the first week or two at my job because I hadn’t been around that capacity of Asians before. They had their own jokes and talk about things that were culturally referenced to them. I knew they wouldn’t be racist toward me but I had a feeling that maybe they wouldn’t get me. But they were really nice and wanted to know more about me and my culture. They didn’t just write me off as a black girl from the hood, but really got to know me. I would say one thing that bothered me was that when they were all talking to each other they tended to use their own language and this sometimes would make me feel secluded especially when they were telling jokes but other than that Asians are good to be around.

I’m pretty sure this question is probably one of the most commonlyasked questions that white people have. And why wouldn’t it be? Black comedy at the expense of white people is everywhere. Just take a look at even a minute of Chris Rock’s or Kat Williams’s videos and you’ll know exactly what I am saying. But after viewing this, white comedians wouldn’t dare make fun of black people by the bases of race or it would be considered racism.
So what’s the catch? How can black people get away with making fun of white people and white people not get away with making fun of black people?
I would like to introduce you the reader to the old American pastime: THE DOUBLE STANDARD.
According to Dictionary.com a double standard is, “any code or set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another, esp. an unwritten code of sexual behavior permitting men more freedom than women.”
Provisions? Principles? Woe those are some big words. And I’m confident that the sexual behavior tidbit has nothing to do with this article. But I think for those of us with at least a 2nd grade comprehension level (sorry 1st graders) can at least understand the concept.
Basically, one group of people, in this case black people are allowed to make fun of one group, cough cough (white people) but white people aren’t allowed to make fun of black people.
Big whoop?
Are there really any white people dying to tell jokes about black people? (I hope you are not raising your hand reader)
If you have ever seen a Chris Rock show then you would understand there is a reason why he is a successful worldwide comedian. People of every color love Chris, black, brown, white, eggshell, toasted caramel….
The point being, it's a double standard that white people will for the most part never be able to break. Like a man calling a woman a bitch or the nursing profession being scene as a female dominated profession.
I think instead of fighting the double standard sword of racism we as a society should embrace it for what it is. Just a different attempt to healing this country’s wound of uncomfortability when it comes to talking about race. Some people use, lecture or pen and paper to get through the uneasy discussions. These people use humor.
Because really, all you, I, or anyone for the matter want to do at the end of the day is to be comfortable talking about race issues in any setting with a diverse group of people. We can talk about race till we’re blue in the face but really how far have we really come as a society if we cannot laugh about it?

Who knew a themed party could cause so much controversy? On one hand I do get where the people that was throwing the party are coming from. They probably just assumed that having a “black” party would make a fun theme because dressing up as gangtas and acting black is all the rave in the white community nowadays.

But on the other hand black people or even some white people might say that this kind of theme party is racist because it allows fun at the expense of an ethnic group of people. (Which it does no matter how detailed the note said to act.) But don’t we do this all the time as a society. When we go see movies, like the ones with Chris Tucker, where he can often be found making fun of black people or portraying a role that has all of the black stereotypes?

I think where the party people went wrong was the note. It was just too detailed, if it would have just said that we are having a gansta party wear baggy clothes and bring your gats then it wouldn’t have been that bad. But for someone to sit there and write out all those details, it’s just too much thought for many. It makes me think that the party host had to think at some point like a racist.

At what point does the party cross between just having fun and being offensive? I feel like they were able to throw this kind of party or for it to even go this far because the people that they were trying to imitate were black. Because they could always say that, “they were just having fun” and didn’t mean anything by it. So then, does it make it okay for people to throw disabled people themed parties or Nazi themes parties and turn around and say” oh we were just having fun with the concept of the idea but we really didn’t mean anything by it”. If the theme would have been disability then the party wouldn’t have made it pass the first proposal but since it is black people then it is okay for the party to go on.

But in a way a feel like there are multiply arguments to justify both throwing the party and not throwing it and if all these arguments are stable then what is the right answer? To throw the party or not to? I think people just have to know when something is wrong. Just like when a person says they are okay but you can tell that they are not. How do you know they are not? Because you just get a feeling. You just know. So for future themed parties just take a look at what your goals are and really know/feel if the party will be generally okay for those attending and those it is themed to imitate.

After listening to Sam’s lecture and watching some of the videos that he presented in class, I have come to realize that Native Americans have it bad. I always strongly believed that slavery took the cake when it came to European injustice in what we now call America. 300 years of slavery, segregation, and the Jim Crow area? Seems pretty tough, but at least African American have had a chance to progress since then. Racism is not nearly tolerated as much and overall blacks are allowed to complete fairly with other ethnic groups when it comes to jobs, houses, etc. But the injustice that has been done to Native Americans are still going on. Based on the video and other facts that Sam presented they are the poorest in the country, have higher violence rates, and more prone to alcoholism/suicide. And yet as I country we have to ask ourselves how did such an existence come about. Well the obvious answer is that Europeans came over here and acquired red land through genocide, but do we not all own houses, go to school, or shop at malls on this red land? So this leads me to ask my next question: Who is responsible for taking on this blame?
I can see argument A: The Europeans back then are responsible. It tough luck for the Native Americans that things turned out the way that they did but that’s life? But I can also see argument B: That we today are responsible. This was once their land so we are obligated to give it back? Or at least pay them some type of reparation. But then this leads to the other problem that none of us were born back then and therefore we can not be held responsible for what happened and so we do not owe them anything.
I just feel like we are chasing our tails with this issue. I do believe that people should know about the injustices that Native Americans faced and their current state but this idea of blame and responsibility, I think that area has passed. I think that blame could have been pushed into the founding father area where an apology would have been more relevant but we are in the 21st century right now. I’m sure Native Americans would appreciate an apology but what is that really going to do for them now?
I think the important part is to acknowledge the injustice and help educate the American public about their culture and what they can do to make Native Americans feel more apart of the United States. I personally feel like I have done nothing wrong to Native Americans and I’m pretty sure that many of my classmates feels the same. So the question still remains: Who is to blame?

Wow, that video was intense. I never once gave thought to LGBQT issues revolving around American citizenship and being gay or lesbian. It was so surreal when the mother got deported in the end. I thought that it was one of those clips where everything starts out sad but then there is a happy ending. To find out that America would actually deport someone because they don’t have citizenship in this country even though they would technically have it if they were straight, is disgusting.
I just don’t understand why it is such a big deal to give them citizenship status. It wouldn’t have hurt anyone. Versus there other decision. No good can come from separating a family like that. When I saw the little boy crying my heart almost broke.
It’s like we live in the country of freedom. We are not supposed to have any religious affiliations when it comes to government. Yet it is everywhere that we turn. For instance, on our money it says “In God we trust” and children are required to sing the pledge of alliance which talks about god. It’s like in this country that we are basing our laws off of Christianity rather than what is truly best for the American citizens.
It seems like there has to be some middle ground that we can find here. I know that most people have a hard time excepting gay marriage but maybe instead of just having the title of married, gay and lesbian couples can instead enjoy some of the benefits that come along with being married. Such as tax breaks and citizenship for your spouse if you are already American yourself. I just really don’t get why this is an issue. It just seems like gay and lesbian rights are not coming fast enough. But then again I take a look at the black civil rights movement and it took years for blacks to achieve the current status that they have now.
I just feel like if the organizations that fight for civil rights for LGBQT people showed videos such as the one above then there would be more response. It’s like when you walk down Polluck road and see the people with the anti abortion signs. Sure, it’s out there and can be a bit disturbing to take in at first but you have to admit that they defiantly get their point across and that the idea sticks with you. I just don’t know what it is going to take to get the American government to see that gay marriage is not such a crime. Maybe a few more hundred broken gay and lesbian families?