I was called a racist today because I said that Roots is untrue....

[Pekka]

Most likely your arguments are not really arguments but pointing out that the other one is not using the rules of proper arguing. So that makes them look stupid, just make sure the ones judging are reasonable folks and not stupid, and know the proper arguing.
If they take up the challenge, you'll most likely win it. Now, you can bring up the question of them calling you a racist, and how serious accusation it is, and what are they going to do about it? I figure it's free beers and pizzas YEAH have one for me!

[Dr Strangelove]

Was the entire family history portrayed in "Roots" untrue, or just parts of it like tracing his ancestry back to an individual African?

[MrFun]

I believe the part that is untrue, is the author's false claim that this was based on his ancestors as portrayed in the novel and the film.

[Al B. Sure!]

like always in situations where someone is accused of being a racist for something he said, both sides are wrong... one side for mis-speaking and not being more careful about what he said... the other for hyping up a minor mistake

the problem with this is that it de-legitimizes the fight against racism. this is what people make a big deal about? i guess there's nothing more important...

[Japher]

Roots is true!?

I did not know this.

Apologize to ya Niggaz

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Albert Speer
like always in situations where someone is accused of being a racist for something he said, both sides are wrong... one side for mis-speaking and not being more careful about what he said... the other for hyping up a minor mistake

the problem with this is that it de-legitimizes the fight against racism. this is what people make a big deal about? i guess there's nothing more important...

A blatant, false claim is hardly minor -- it is grossly unethical in my opinion.

The material and presentation of Roots was good, but the author went about its production the wrong way.

[Japher]

A blatant, false claim is hardly minor -- it is grossly unethical in my opinion.

Well, it wasn't blatant, it was ignorant. Yet instead of trying to educate it seems they would rather slander, insult, and whatever to get the blood they want.

I agree that it was the production of Roots that makes all us Whiteys think it is fiction.

[Al B. Sure!]

i thought vesayan said it was fictional because Kunta Kente was a fictional character? did he mean the conditions of slavery, etc. were fictional?

[Kuciwalker]

This is just like che calling us rapists when we don't support radical feminists

[Dis]

I can't believe some of you guys don't know Roots.

Although it was before my time as well. I have never seen it. But I have at least heard of it.

It was the biggest television event in history. so I'm told. I was too young to watch it.

[Immortal Wombat]

Then I doubt I was born. And also on the wrong continent.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Q Cubed
yeah, some white south africans unknowingly offend some people by claiming that they're african-american.

When I was in the Army I worked with a fellow from Sierra Leone who'd get pissed off at black people who called themselves "African-Americans". In his view these people know nothing about Africa and most have never been to Africa so they should simply consider themselves black instead of African American. He even went so far as to say white South Africans were more deserving of the term African since they at least were born in Africa and had lived there.

[Al B. Sure!]

Oerdin:

yeah and while an "italian-american" can still directly trace his culture and can say that his grand-parents are of the old country, a Black american can say no such thing unless his family immigrated post-slavery from Africa. that whole slavery, diaspora, and robbing of culture has made Black americans effectively different from Africans.

it's to the point where you can say Blacks, Africans, and Caribbean peoples are different peoples entirely. i know plenty of people act like they're real different.

[Gangerolf]

Let me see. South Africa is in Africa. Therefore South Africans are African. So if some bloke from Cape Town moves to America, I guess he'd be an African American.
Same applies to Arabs and Berbers from North Africa. You don't have to be black to be African. Then why do you have to be black to be African American
It's just bloody semantics.

[MattH]

Why is this thread still going on? Didn't you pass Goodwins' 10/15 posts in?