The best offense is to keep your adversary on the defense at all times. On this BBS, I've been kept on the defensive end of this equation for years. It must be jolly fun for the guys who keep doing it, but I'm seeing it more as immature and simply lame. Over these years I've invited them to have a real discussion about this shit, and they won't. I think it'd be meaningless anyway as the most in-depth and valuable conversations I've ever had about race and racism were with people from other races. I'm a white guy just like the guys who keep the accusations flowing. I think the difference may be that I have no white guilt, tons of common sense, and I'm able to spread criticism (and praise) over any and all groups of people.
Keeping it very short so there is no confusion.
Race:
a : a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock
Some people say "race" is a social construct. I don't claim to know.
I don't think it matters as most people tend to be completely willing to self-identify with racial groups. Those options on health forms, job applications, etc. - most people use them. It's an important part of the census. It's used as leverage in political strategies. So if "race" doesn't exist, all the side effects of it's presumed existence do.
In the context of all the accusations about me: I don't give a shit about race, but I'm positively interested in societies and culture. Fixated? No, but it's a major source of interest and has been since I can remember. I find failures just as noteworthy as accomplishments and I'm not shy about discussing either.
***
Racism:
a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
Come with me to any Wal Mart or restaurant with a buffet and I can show you why the idea of racial superiority is stupid. I consider culture to trump race. Example? How about Chinese culture and their success with math. They take a different approach to mathematics and they are diligent in studying. And yes, I am speaking collectively. It's appropriate.
***
The root of the accusations are that I don't like black people. This isn't so. Instead of saying what most white people say .."Why! Well..
I have friends that are black!!" - I won't. Not because I don't but because that doesn't mean shit. I have very few friends that are black. Or Vietnamese. Or Serbian. Or Maori. Or whatever. So really, what the fuck does that have to do with anything?
So, to finalize: How does Hellbilly feel about black folks? In general, I feel neutral. Exactly the same way I feel about whites. Or those Serbians that I mentioned above. I don't know "black folks". Unlike some, I don't fawn over them, I don't feel a need to protect them or defend them. I don't feel that way about whites either. Or the Vietnamese I mentioned above.
Am I supposed to feel a certain way about blacks? Apparently so the way things have here. Maybe someone can tell me what the "right" way to feel about blacks is.