I was judge even before my voice was heard.

I don't feel anyone should be coming at you sideways, I think that is totally uncalled for. But by joining a website targeted towards BLACK people, you put yourself in a crazy position hunny.. lol. I accept everyone with arms wide open, and I'm sure I speak for most people on this website when I say that. I think alot of us just see this as a website we can come too, that is kinda.. personal? I didnt expect nor care to see any white people on here.. simply because, this site is targeted towards black people. At the same time, it is not OK for anyone to make you feel as if you don't belong..African-Americans have been put into a lot of position we dont BELONG in..

Actually, we shoud be the most accepting race of them all.

Jessica / Jennifer...this is one heck of a debate you two are having here. My question is how does this help either of you?

You, me, we are products of our learned behaviors. Having a discussion over innate characteristics (whose arms are longer, how many teeth you have at at age 80, or color of skin) is pretty silly in a discussion about culture (learned behavior).

What learned behaviors or better yet... things that can be changed... would either of you suggest about yourself/others?

I know you don't know me or care who I am...but I've argued for years that you don't have to be White to make White comments..or Black to make Black comments (see my book: http://www.lulu.com/content/3132461).

If you are on this site...I have to ask...what are you doing to make OUR America better?

I don't want or need sympathy from anyone. Thats not what I am looking for. Antagonizing. Well, that goes on both sides. I am at fault for that. I am not at fault, for writing back to her on what I said. Im not trying to open doors. I just want to know is where is our website that we can go to, to voice our concerns with out having your race in it? The only way I can voice my opinion is to join this kind of website. If I try any other way, you won't want to hear me.

I don't want or need sympathy from anyone. Thats not what I am looking for. Antagonizing. Well, that goes on both sides. I am at fault for that. I am not at fault, for writing back to her on what I said. Im not trying to open doors. I just want to know is where is our website that we can go to, to voice our concerns with out having your race in it? The only way I can voice my opinion is to join this kind of website. If I try any other way, you won't want to hear me.

Jessica,

I'm glad you are here.
What would you like to say?
What is your contribution?


LINK:
http://www.lulu.com/content/3132461

In one of your post, you stated that CNN was bias because it only covered a series on Being black in America. My question is, no harm intended if it upset you that much, then why or you logged in as a member to this site. It's clear people here do have one thing in common, and that's being Black in America, and trying to find solution to everyday issues, not being bias or crude but do you have any suggestion to the problems that or being addressed. Instead of giving your own, and defining your character

Should Whites / other ethnicities be included in the discussion here?

Absolutely.

99% of the discussion that takes place about African Americans and our well-being is between each other. One of the major complaints voiced on this site is that we do not have enough opportunities to engage other races about issues that are important to us, and when those opportunities arise, it falls back onto old stereotypes.

The fact that there are European Americans that surf past a site called "Black in America" and are interested enough to join & enter the discussion tells us that there is an opportunity for mutual growth.

We, as Blacks, debate each other daily in our homes, offices, and schools. We rarely have the opportunity to discuss race and society in a public context, because it is uncomfortable or impractical to bring up those topics in discussion.

We need to seize this opportunity to have open 1-on-1 conversation without the interference of media spin, political theatrics, and all the other interruptions.

Jennifer good approach, I personally applaud your efforts to reconcile with Jessica that was the civilized thing to do, if in actuality you did offend her in any way, but I'm still a little curious as to the question I asked........ Ms. Jessica stated in one of her post that CNN was bias because it only covered a series on Being black in America and that it offended her, and so the question still remains no harm intended if it upset you that much, then why or you logged in as a member to this site. It's clear people here do have one thing in common, and that's being Black in America, and trying to find solution to everyday issues, not being bias or crude but do you have any suggestion to the problems that or being addressed. Instead of giving your own, and defining your character, do you know what it's like to be Black in America..........this site in my mind is a dialogue which in my reference of thinking is To engage in Dialogue requires a commitment to speaking and listening in a more deliberate way than normally takes place in ordinary conversation or in discussion. One of the goals of dialogue is to discover meaning that is held by the group rather than by any member of the group. Doing so, brings to light some of the natural connections that exist between people that are otherwise unseen in our lives. Thus, dialogue requires a commitment to speaking and listening more deliberately, which allows deeper understanding to emerge and encourages a sense of shared meaning. and to be honest I don't see that you share these Quality simply because you've stated how you feel about this website/forum, and the fact that you want to debate about every issue, I've read some very intelligent post on this site concerning the issue at hand, and to be honest most of all of your comments have resembled Hate and discontent, (But Enough About You) ...........back to Ms. Jennifer Fadipe, not only do I appluad your effort to insure that no bridges were burned between you and Jessica, I also take my hat off to you because you resembled a Famous Quote I once heard....... "I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him."
--Booker T. Washington-- and I also feel that by the same Author of this next Famous Quote is why CNN created the Topic of being black in America, and Jessica shouldn't be so full of discontent and displaying her anger towards the people here or CNN................."I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Out of the hard and unusual struggle through which he is compelled to pass, he gets a strength, a confidence, that one misses whose pathway is comparatively smooth by reason of birth and race."
--Booker T. Washington--..............Jessica although you've offered to debate any and every one on this site, I'm not the one to debate, but if it was a debate. It would be a done deal.........God bless and peace............. and for the people that this website was create for, let's try and stay grounded and not deviate from the topic at hand by small and niggling issues that might sway us away from the real problems Blacks face in America.

Wow, Mrs. Jennifer. You are one heck of a women, changing your answers and rewording things to make it sound on your behalf better. Is being two face part of your character? Seems so.

All of you are twisting my words to make it what you want to hear. Reading between the lines.

Say whatever you want. I'll read. And probably end of laughing because I'm not going anywhere. I have all the right to be here, just like you. The color of my skin makes not difference.

Jessica, I'm glad you're here. This site is not dedicated to "Black" people. It's dedicated to the discussion of so called "Black" culture.

You're comment is correct. "Black" people are not the only ones suffering, that is why we all need to help each other. Instead of retreating back into our own cultures or groups when a problem occurs.

If someone takes offense to what you are doing or saying, then it needs to be discussed( preferably without character attacks)--and vice versa.

I also agree with Jonathan. How can we have a serious discussion without different viewpoints? Without people like Jessica, we're all just a group of people agreeing amongst ourselves. I personally believe that anything dedicated to the service of a single race is rediculous. Let's tackle the entire problem, not just part of it. Think Big.

Kevin I would like to know why you would join something that you thought to be rediculous? Regarding Jessica----reminds me of people who likes chaos and the act of arguing. If the other party does not participate in the argument------then there isn't one. I understand Jennifer's point.

Because those who participate in it will not hear me unless I do. Though I don't expect to make any break through because most of the people here have already submitted to society's cultural rules, and been preconditioned to seek refuge within small communities of people who look like them. Instead of embracing Everyone, and realizing that we all have things we can relate to one another on no matter how they look. Though looks play a part in building relationships, it should not be the ONLY part.

Jessica, I don't mind you being here because like a light switch, I can turn your ignorant behind off like the next person. It's a free country and I don't think it would be right to segregate you. In that way, we would be no different that your ancestors who enslaved my ancestors for centuries.

So...welcome. However, I will say this: I have read quite a few of your comments and you come off quite flip...which you can do. I'm just curious to know what's in it for you.

And please, don't take that literally. I'm only curious to the extent that you can answer that question for YOURSELF because you don't owe me a THING.

It just seems to me that you thrive on chaos and the one way to keep you from prevailing in your ignorance is to just ignore you. Your entire argument is riddle with contradictions and shrouded in your own little measure of racist undertones. People like you make really great research projects.

Anyway, again...WELCOME. I'd say I look forward to seeing what else you have to say, but I'd be lying. By all means, have your say...just know that I, for one, will have no response beyond today. I like intelligent conversation, not foolish and arrogant banter.

Have a blessed day, Dear.

Faith...have some.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there, lisa. She never said All "Black" people play the race card. And I'm sure you can't deny that it is played, and quite often. Just because racism exists doesn't mean you have to give in to it and make it a reality in your life. You deal with that as you would any other problem in life. Racism is basically ignorance. Ignorance of other cultures. You must convince them that what they are doing is wrong. If you deal with it that way, then you can deal with racists simply by informing them. Many of them WANT to be informed, but they have nothing to go on but the stereotypes that have been exposed to.

If you can't do that, then simply wipe the dust off your feet and keep going.

It sounds to me like both of you needs to be sitting on someones couch. This is not the place to have a cat fight. So please clean it up.

Time to launch a forum on this site... more work for me, yay!