7 ms·

this is really encouraging. The image of African people usually vastly misrepresents their true potential. Great to see some positive news that casts some true

this is really encouraging. The image of African people usually vastly misrepresents their true potential. Great to see some positive news that casts some true light on the immense talents of these gifted people.

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
sunahsuh 15y ago
...you write this like you don't expect any black people to be reading your comment. I'm offended by reading this, so I can't imagine how black readers of HN that come across this feel. Also, they're African-American. And no, that's not nitpicking or trying to be PC; it's an important distinction.
- brador 15y ago
  Why not just call them what they are: American. Let's remove all stereotypes, not just the ones you don't like eh.
  - jessedhillon 15y ago
    > Let's remove all stereotypes Being of African descent is not a stereotype, it's an ethnicity. It would be a stereotype to call black people "basketball-playing Americans," or "urban-poor Americans." Suggesting that we all just call "them" "American" is insulting -- there is an important and distinct cultural identity shared by many African-Americans that they wish to continue identifying with, at least in part. I'm Indian-American, and if you told me to just call myself American, I would feel a) that you consider yourself to be in possession/authority over the definition of what it means to be American, and b) you had some strange interest in me behaving exactly like you, instead of expressing cultural differences. You are offering a false dichotomy -- either be American or be African-American, but not both. Try this instead: how about you be alright with African-Americans as both African and American, and not give so much of a shit about which cultures other Americans choose to embrace?
    - brador 15y ago
      Do you have an indian passport? Are you of official dual nationality? If not, then you are an American. Your personal preference is your own. As far as the state and your neighbours are concerned, you are an American. If you wish to identify yourself as Indian-American, you are free to do so. But to your neighbours, and to me, you are an American.
      - jessedhillon 15y ago
        So actually I'm right about everything? > Do you have an indian passport? Are you of official dual nationality? If not, then you are an American. In fact, you do consider yourself to be some kind of authority about who and what is an American? > If you wish to identify yourself as Indian-American, you are free to do so. But... you are an American. And you are actively pushing a false dichotomy! --- I had a lengthy explanation of how we're failing to see eye-to-eye here and what experiences I've had that you may not be aware of. But instead of investing time proofreading it, I considered it for a minute and then deleted my post, because I'm pretty sure you're just an asshole and you won't try to understand it anyway. Why would you? You've got all the answers. You obviously can't see what a dick move it is to stand on a soapbox dictate the cultural identities of other people. Otherwise, I'd have to imagine that you wouldn't do it. Unless you're a sociopath. So you're an asshole and/or a sociopath, but probably a shitty person either way. Plenty of people are willing to acknowledge and embrace my Indian-ness; I don't feel invalidated by some bigoted troll. Good luck in your life dude, I'm sure it won't be filled with mediocrity and resentment!
        brador 15y ago
        ? Are you serious? First, culturally, I am Indian. Secondly, your nationality is defined by your passport. If it says you are American, then guess what, you are American. I have no idea what your problem is, but remember this. By referring to yourself as Indian-American, you are implicitly implying White-Americans are the true Americans. If you don't get it by now, I have nothing left to say to you. Good luck in life mate, but try to be more fact based and less irrationally emotional.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- drstrangevibes 15y ago
  African American ⊂ African
- ytadesse 15y ago
  No, I disagree - and I'm black. He's right. The image portrayed of blacks (by everyone - including many blacks that have "made it") is that we are artsy folks who "do" music and play sports. As a result, people often don't intuitively consider blacks when they think of professions and otherwise intellectual activities. In fact, the only reason most people are going to even click on this link is because they are amazed to see "3 black guys playing chess" ... whoaaa! The simple fact that people are surprised and curious to see "how they got interested in chess" is proof enough that "The image of African people usually vastly misrepresents their true potential".
  - sunahsuh 15y ago
    I'm certainly not disagreeing with what you're saying or the core of what the parent meant to say regarding images of blacks in the media. What I'm reacting to is an "Othering" of blacks on HN implied by the comment. A phrase like "these gifted people" implies that the audience he's speaking to is assumed to not include "African [sic] people". It's a default whiteness (and maleness, but that's a story for another day) that's rife in the tech industry that reinforces the image that it's a white boy's club. Yes, the industry is certainly predominantly white male, but when rhetoric and attitudes assume white maleness, the environment becomes unfriendly to everyone else. -Gay Asian-American woman tired of explaining things that should be taught in schools
- dmarquis 15y ago
  You are saying the author should write differently depending on whether black people are reading the comment. Is that really what you meant?
  - sunahsuh 15y ago
    Well, no, I think the parent's tone is a bit paternalistic whomever the audience, so I'd say the author should consider writing differently regardless of who's reading. I guess there are several things that rub me the wrong way about the comment -- the paternalism and the implied assumption that HN readers aren't black. And to the parent, I feel kinda bad now that this is generating this much discussion because I understand there wasn't any malicious intent in the comment but I do feel strongly that what I've said is true.
maxklein 15y ago
The underlying theme behind the article and your comment is that black people are assumed not to be as bright as other people.
- drstrangevibes 15y ago
  no, that they are often portrayed that way, hence the word 'misrepresent'

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

sunahsuh 15y ago

...you write this like you don't expect any black people to be reading your comment. I'm offended by reading this, so I can't imagine how black readers of HN that come across this feel. Also, they're African-American. And no, that's not nitpicking or trying to be PC; it's an important distinction.

brador 15y ago
Why not just call them what they are: American. Let's remove all stereotypes, not just the ones you don't like eh.
- jessedhillon 15y ago
  > Let's remove all stereotypes Being of African descent is not a stereotype, it's an ethnicity. It would be a stereotype to call black people "basketball-playing Americans," or "urban-poor Americans." Suggesting that we all just call "them" "American" is insulting -- there is an important and distinct cultural identity shared by many African-Americans that they wish to continue identifying with, at least in part. I'm Indian-American, and if you told me to just call myself American, I would feel a) that you consider yourself to be in possession/authority over the definition of what it means to be American, and b) you had some strange interest in me behaving exactly like you, instead of expressing cultural differences. You are offering a false dichotomy -- either be American or be African-American, but not both. Try this instead: how about you be alright with African-Americans as both African and American, and not give so much of a shit about which cultures other Americans choose to embrace?
  - brador 15y ago
    Do you have an indian passport? Are you of official dual nationality? If not, then you are an American. Your personal preference is your own. As far as the state and your neighbours are concerned, you are an American. If you wish to identify yourself as Indian-American, you are free to do so. But to your neighbours, and to me, you are an American.
    - jessedhillon 15y ago
      So actually I'm right about everything? > Do you have an indian passport? Are you of official dual nationality? If not, then you are an American. In fact, you do consider yourself to be some kind of authority about who and what is an American? > If you wish to identify yourself as Indian-American, you are free to do so. But... you are an American. And you are actively pushing a false dichotomy! --- I had a lengthy explanation of how we're failing to see eye-to-eye here and what experiences I've had that you may not be aware of. But instead of investing time proofreading it, I considered it for a minute and then deleted my post, because I'm pretty sure you're just an asshole and you won't try to understand it anyway. Why would you? You've got all the answers. You obviously can't see what a dick move it is to stand on a soapbox dictate the cultural identities of other people. Otherwise, I'd have to imagine that you wouldn't do it. Unless you're a sociopath. So you're an asshole and/or a sociopath, but probably a shitty person either way. Plenty of people are willing to acknowledge and embrace my Indian-ness; I don't feel invalidated by some bigoted troll. Good luck in your life dude, I'm sure it won't be filled with mediocrity and resentment!
      - brador 15y ago
        ? Are you serious? First, culturally, I am Indian. Secondly, your nationality is defined by your passport. If it says you are American, then guess what, you are American. I have no idea what your problem is, but remember this. By referring to yourself as Indian-American, you are implicitly implying White-Americans are the true Americans. If you don't get it by now, I have nothing left to say to you. Good luck in life mate, but try to be more fact based and less irrationally emotional.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
drstrangevibes 15y ago
African American ⊂ African
ytadesse 15y ago
No, I disagree - and I'm black. He's right. The image portrayed of blacks (by everyone - including many blacks that have "made it") is that we are artsy folks who "do" music and play sports. As a result, people often don't intuitively consider blacks when they think of professions and otherwise intellectual activities. In fact, the only reason most people are going to even click on this link is because they are amazed to see "3 black guys playing chess" ... whoaaa! The simple fact that people are surprised and curious to see "how they got interested in chess" is proof enough that "The image of African people usually vastly misrepresents their true potential".
- sunahsuh 15y ago
  I'm certainly not disagreeing with what you're saying or the core of what the parent meant to say regarding images of blacks in the media. What I'm reacting to is an "Othering" of blacks on HN implied by the comment. A phrase like "these gifted people" implies that the audience he's speaking to is assumed to not include "African [sic] people". It's a default whiteness (and maleness, but that's a story for another day) that's rife in the tech industry that reinforces the image that it's a white boy's club. Yes, the industry is certainly predominantly white male, but when rhetoric and attitudes assume white maleness, the environment becomes unfriendly to everyone else. -Gay Asian-American woman tired of explaining things that should be taught in schools
dmarquis 15y ago
You are saying the author should write differently depending on whether black people are reading the comment. Is that really what you meant?
- sunahsuh 15y ago
  Well, no, I think the parent's tone is a bit paternalistic whomever the audience, so I'd say the author should consider writing differently regardless of who's reading. I guess there are several things that rub me the wrong way about the comment -- the paternalism and the implied assumption that HN readers aren't black. And to the parent, I feel kinda bad now that this is generating this much discussion because I understand there wasn't any malicious intent in the comment but I do feel strongly that what I've said is true.

maxklein 15y ago

The underlying theme behind the article and your comment is that black people are assumed not to be as bright as other people.

drstrangevibes 15y ago
no, that they are often portrayed that way, hence the word 'misrepresent'