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by Ace952 on 02 September 2011 - 19:09
Ace, of course different people have different cultures. "Black" isn't really a culture. My friend was actually from Haiti and spoke French...way different culture than people probably assumed looking at him w/his dog,lol. But anyway, my point was that now all of a sudden, people are looking suspiciously at any black people w/Pits, Staffs, hell, any "tough" looking dog, and it's totally unwarranted. Now, white little old me, of course, probably wouldn't have noticed that had he not mentioned being embarrassed by it. I just thought that some of the defenses cited were quite derrogatory and insulting to innocent people, as many generalizations and sterotypes can be.
Ok gotcha. Yes black isn't a culture. There is though African American culture and there are different cultures/ways of doing things in them depending on your economic & social status. Yeah Haitians can be very different from African Americans. Just like Jamaicans as they are all seperate groups.
You know, way before (years before) Michael Vick had this going on, people look at "black" (using as a general term to encompass all) with a aggressive dog differently. That is a fact. The whole Michael Vick thing I think just made it worse and gave some people an excuse to finally admit it.
Before Michael Vick I promise that people would view you differently walking down the street with a GSD than they would if they saw me with one. Just naturally and it may not be consciously, many would think that you are the nice owner with a nice looking dog and may ask if you was a cop or something. Same people would view me totally different. They may cross the street and wouldn't even THINK to ask if I was a police officer or trainer. Generalization & stereotypes have always been there. The whole Michael Vick case brought it from the background to the forefront. I know I will always be seen differently than say a white person when walking 2 GSD's down the street. I understand that and accept it. It would be nice to see a experiment like that on Dateline, 60 Minutes or some other investigative tv show.
But I do also agree with you Jenn
by Pirates Lair on 02 September 2011 - 19:09
Are you saying that if Michael Vick was White this would not be an issue? I'm trying figure out what race, culture or color has to do with this topic.
Kim
by Jenni78 on 02 September 2011 - 20:09
LOL Seriously though, all kidding aside, people cross the street sometimes when I'm walking a couple dogs...maybe they think "holy s--- those are nasty looking dogs and no way can that little white chick hold them back, LOL". I assure you, I have never been accused of looking like a cop! Ha!! I think it has as much to do w/the dogs as the people. Caleb tends to terrify people and they cross the street. I admit, he gets different reactions than my other GSDs.
by Ace952 on 02 September 2011 - 21:09
Im not say that at all and I hope that we never have to find out firsthand. Re-read my post, it was about how Jenn's friend feels after the whole Vick thing and how he is seen/viewed when he walks his aggressive dogs. My response is that those same looks and stuff happened way before this whole Vick thing.
LOL@Jenn.
I agree it does. Hahaha!! You know what, I would have said that to myself if I saw you walking them both up to a year ago before I learned about GSD's. I do say the whole Vick thing and then people saying, "its their culture" or other black people saying, "its our culture" doesn't help. It maybe the culture of those in certain areas of a certain background but not of all in general.
At the end of the day I don't condone what he did and I hated seeing the pcitures and hearing the stories. The guy lost everything and has had to work tog et a piece of it back and it will never be the same. I think people can change and if they are trying I am all about supporting them. No different than someone who is a drug/alcohol abuser/addict and trying to change their life around. Why put your foot on their neck instead of trying to be supportive. Takes a lot more energy to be upset & pissed than it does to either move on or be positive & support.
I know MANY of people that have doen bad thing, gone to jail and other stuff. Everyone knows someone either family or friends. I do my best to support them so that they can work on changing and moving forward. For me it would be easy to say "f him " as Im not a Christian and i DON'T BELIEVE IN gOD. I just feel everyone deserves a chance toredeem/atone for what they have done. Many times, what you say or do can't hurt them if they are beating themselves up inside and no one knows it but them.
by Mystere on 02 September 2011 - 21:09
Jenn: Yes, there is such a thing as "Black" American culture that encompasses the Black experience in this country of individuals who are descended from Africans brought here as slaves. Not "African-American," Black. Only a minute portion of Black Americans have the slightest clue what part of African they might claim some kinship. And the Africans aren't about to help in any quest for discovery, either.
"African -American "is simply disrespectful bullshit. There are individuals in this country who are "fresh off the boat" from Africa. Guess what? They know where they came from, speak the language, retain that culture and deserve to be addressed/identified by that culture, the same as their Europeans counterparts are. They are Kenyan-Americans, Ethiopian-Americans, Somali-Americans, etc. At the same time, there are Western Hemisphere immigrants who also retain their culture and brought it along with them: Haitian-Americans are one example. Why would they not be accorded the same respect as the German-Americans, Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, etc. I have never heard anyone referred to as "European American," or even "Eastern European American," have you?
Okay, off my soap-box, now.
Everyone have a great Labor Day Weekend!
by Mystere on 02 September 2011 - 21:09
It was a hell of a surprise to me that anyone thought dog-fighting was a part of Black culture. Maybe it's because I grew up in the North, but the myth/stereotype I have always experienced is the claim that black folks are afraid of dogs, don't like dogs, don't have dogs as pets. I never heard that from any black folks, of course. I have heard it countless times from cops, defense attorneys, and prosecutors, though. Coming from a family (on my father's side anyway) of dog lovers and owners, it just never made sense to me. The dog-fighting claim makes even less sense.
Again, this may be a regional issue, more than a racial or cultural one.
by Ace952 on 02 September 2011 - 21:09
Some of what you say Mystere I would disagree (can certainly see your point) but this ain't the thread for it.
by Pirates Lair on 02 September 2011 - 21:09
Mystere - you said They are Kenyan-Americans, Ethiopian-Americans, Somali-Americans, etc.
And there is the problem, while I am Canadian born, I grew up in America. And when I lived there I considered myself an American, Not a Canadian American
Afro American, Mexican American, Indo Canadian, Asian Canadian etc. ........bullshit
Your an American, Canadian, Italian, African...... or a visitor to those respective countries.
Kim
by Chaz Reinhold on 02 September 2011 - 23:09
by Chaz Reinhold on 02 September 2011 - 23:09
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