Racist or not?

[claw3]

At our local train station at the weekend with ds 12, he was looking at news stand, while i was getting train tickets.

Anyhow at news stand there was a section which had black magazines ie black hair, black beauty, black music etc, etc. Ds asked me why do black people have their own mags and would it be racist if white people had their own magazines ie white hair, white beauty etc etc.

Your thoughts, would it??

I am confused too - apparently union jack is the term preferred by the BBC. Have I said something wrong?

I thought it was the Union Flag on land (as it were) and Union Jack on a ship?

Several theories as to where the term 'jack' came from but it's the Union Flag!

One theory relates to it flying on a ship, another theory is it was derived from the name of the King who introduced it.

"'Union Jack' was officially acknowledged as an alternative name for the Union Flag by the Admiralty and Parliament in the early 20th century." Cut and pasted from Encarta (American encyclopedia)

Point is - it's the Union Flag!

You learn something new everyday!

But I understood the poster's point.

Out of interest, what does the OP suggest black hair is changed to? Keeping in mind that 'Hair' is already taken what do you suggest is a catchy title for this publication.

Btw, I suspect existing publications do not put 'white' in front of their titles because they know a lot of non white women/men read these titles and do not want to risk alienating the readers, or more likely lose the money generated from sales to none white people.

I would imagine titles such as black hair are not alienating anyone as only the people with black hair or an interest in black hair ie hairdressers would be remotely interested in paying out for the publication.

When it comes to the glossies it's all about the money, so the poster who feels punished should take comfort from that. The publisher wants to make money not punish you, they are not deliberately ommitting the 'white' from titles only because its needless and daft in a country where the majority of the population is white, it's because they want the money of the non white people too.

I wasnt disputing those points (name of mags, the need for them etc). Just using them as examples. I obviously didnt make this clear enough, apologises.

I have been disputing white as a word being racist by default regardless of contents.

Salem, I understood Angelpoises point too TBH. I'm just arsey about what the flag is called.

I also agree with Angelpoise - the word 'white' has, to some extent, been hijacked, as has, to some extent, the Union Flag!

The word white cannot be racist by default it?s only when it?s hyphenated to make it sound negative, e.g. white supremacy. Because how would someone see the term white trash. Nobody discredits Asians by their colour when they use derogatory terms like ?paki? (i.e. you wouldn?t see brown-whatever)

I feel like I?m going off on a tangent. Time to go home!

Doodle2U - I guess we all have things we feel passionate about.

Same with any word. The word black can be offencive if used in a negative way for instance one day at the chicken shop by Friend was a called a Black bitch (offensive and Racist)

Me and 2 of my friends all have the same name I am called blonde *** my friend is called Brown .... and the other is called black .... she does not feel this racist as its not used in negative term

By claw3 on Tue 27-Jan-09 13:24:14

...he/she has been to first to acknowledge that historically the word white is linked to racism

Popping in briefly. Claw... I think you'll find the answer in your own sentence my love.

Perhaps the question you should ask is why is WHITE linked in this way historically.

Not sure I'll make it back to this debate. Lots going on so may well forget so don't (no fingers pointed anywhere... just a turn of phrase) take my absence as huffiness/sulking/running away and other descriptive words that I haven't the energy to put name to.

Marslady, good morning

Quick question if you do manage to make it back! Do you think racism is a major barrier in society today?

This is on the syllabus in uni's for cultural studies. Maybe get your son it Claw?There aint no black in the union jack

There ain't no black in the union flag

Monkeytrousers - Thanks for the suggestion, my son has some learning difficulties, reading is not his forte, so to speak. Asking questions however, is!

But that doesn't rhyme AP. Tut

Well you can get it Claw!

Actually, it's a BNP slogan I think that's been reappropriated ironically I think.

I know, I was just being silly Union flag makes me think of American union for some reason.

Monkeytrousers - I have been reading some articles about racism (online i might add, the cheapskate way!)

I might well invest in the book you suggested, i do love to read Have you read it?

The same reasoning applies to make up which caters for black and asian women. The magazines and make up exist because there is a need for them. Perfectly obvious really! If anyone is offended or has a problem with this they can just watch hair adverts on TV. You won't see any black or asian women in those!