BLACK LIGHTNING is a thoroughly mediocre superhero TV show, so I wasn't surprised that when it bumbled its way toward making a "statement" on white supremacy.
In the 11-27-18 episode, the hero is captured by supposed white supremacist villain Looker. How do we know she's a white supremacist? Well, first she refuses to validate Lightning's sense of minority entitlement. This is supposed to be an untenable opinion on her part, because the hero gives her a contemptuous look. She goes on to ask him why he's allowed to say that he's "black and proud" (approximate quote), but she's a racist if she says she's "white and proud."
What is the hero's response to this line of logic? Well, Looker just conveniently happens to have a Confederate flag on her wall-- though her story has nothing to do with the South as such-- and hero Jefferson makes that significant look his "reply:" that anyone who speaks of white pride must be a white supremacist, and the display of the Confederate flag "proves" this.
What a cheesy, contrived excuse for rational discourse.
BLAH blah blah.
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I presume "Black Lightening" is a Black character....BLACK LIGHTNING is a thoroughly mediocre superhero TV show, so I wasn't surprised that when it bumbled its way toward making a "statement" on white supremacy.
In the 11-27-18 episode, the hero is captured by supposed white supremacist villain Looker. How do we know she's a white supremacist? Well, first she refuses to validate Lightning's sense of minority entitlement. This is supposed to be an untenable opinion on her part, because the hero gives her a contemptuous look. She goes on to ask him why he's allowed to say that he's "black and proud" (approximate quote), but she's a racist if she says she's "white and proud."
What is the hero's response to this line of logic? Well, Looker just conveniently happens to have a Confederate flag on her wall-- though her story has nothing to do with the South as such-- and hero Jefferson makes that significant look his "reply:" that anyone who speaks of white pride must be a white supremacist, and the display of the Confederate flag "proves" this.
What a cheesy, contrived excuse for rational discourse.
I just happened to have watched that episode today and you are incorrect about Black Lightning's response. He said, "No, your t-shirt would say 'I kill and hang Party from trees'.
Now...the show did deal with the idea of racism. The show ALWAYS deals with racism as well as other issues that affect a black community. Heck, the villain is an albino black who hates everyone...black or white.
Personally, I like the show. I think it treats black issues with honesty and respect. Plus, each episode has GREAT music.
There is no such thing as 'reverse' racism. It's just racism. Pretty much anyone who has done 5 minutes of serious race issues discussions knows that...eace
I presume "Black Lightening" is a Black character....
Red:
That is hardly a defining trait of a white supremacist; however, it may in fact be a circumstantially correlated trait/behavior that white supremacists exhibit. Because failing to "validate [a Black person's] sense of minority entitlement [(per the OP-er -- What shows the Black guy has a sense of entitlement?)]" is not a quintessential quality of white supremacy/-ists, mere manifestations of that quality are insufficient support for an assertion that their exhibitor(s) are white supremacists.
On the other hand, should such manifestations that be part of a nexus of behaviors (subtle and/or overt), well, one may then have a cogent basis for asserting the actors are white supremacists. Does the noted episode contain other cues that establish that a nexus of white supremacist behaviors and mindsets do indeed issue from and reside within "Looker?"
I don't know...I'd have to "on demand" the damn thing to find out...
Blue:
One, most notably an American, having no connection to the South -- being not Southern, not dwelling in a Southern town, and/or having no notable Southern roots -- yet displaying a Confederate flag, unlike failing to "validate [a Black person's] sense of minority entitlement [(see above "entitlement comment above)]" -- strikes me as one of those "nexus-creating" behaviors.
Be that as it may, you're talking about a, what, 30-60 minute TV show, right? How long do you think the writers/directors are going to take to develop a character's sociopolitical bearing? As a practical matter, they've got to quickly get the "point" made for any given storyline and then proceed to resolve whatever dramatic dilemma accompanies that "point." They don't have time for "Looker" to call someone the N-word, go to a KKK rally, start dating a Neo-Nazi, etc., so they use cultural symbols in place of some, most or all of those activities.
Red: When I said that the character Looker was "proven" to be a supremacist by her denial of minority entitlement, I was being sarcastic. If I understand your position correctly, then we *may* be agreed that one can only make a weak correlation at best between (a) people who openly expouse white supremacy, and (b) people who are simply critical of particular political movements.
Blue: I don't know what you mean by "nexus-creating," ...
As to whether a television show can make a cogent analysis of a character's racism within the space of an hour, all I can say is that I have seen it done before on commercial TV. I don't think the writers of this show tried very hard to be cogent, that's all.
:roll:
Just when I thought I'd seen about every conceivable permutation of ridiculous white grievance on display in a public message board...we get THIS thread.
Geez...
Is there any wonder that studies show that most white people believe that racism against white is more prevalent than racism against blacks in this country?
Study: Whites See Racism as a Zero Sum Game That They Are Losing
:roll:
Just when I thought I'd seen about every conceivable permutation of ridiculous white grievance on display in a public message board...we get THIS thread.
Geez...
Is there any wonder that studies show that most white people believe that racism against white is more prevalent than racism against blacks in this country?
Study: Whites See Racism as a Zero Sum Game That They Are Losing
The only problem with using the term "racism" is that some people don't believe "racism" can be applied to People of Color. "Reverse racism" is, admittedly, a clumsy term, but it does get across some crucial connotations.
Do you watch the show?
Your straw man is burning. Nowhere did anyone claim whites were more picked on or that we face some great hardship.
"We"? Do you speak for all white people? Are you the official spokesperson for white people now? Or, perhaps, when you said "we", you were speaking for white people like you who suffer from white victimhood "issues"? Because your remarks above certainly qualify as exhibit A. LOLWe do tend to get a little sick of people feeling so incredibly superior that they feel we should ignore warping reality and being racist against us.
But, feel free to again rewrite the story so you can make us out to be the bad guys for getting bored with all the preaching and virtue signaling.
:lamo
Speaking of Strawmen...."NOWHERE" did I claim that anyone in this thread has said that whites are more picked on or that you face some great hardship. So why would you say the above? That's just dumb. Perhaps you should go back and re-read my remarks.
What I said is that, when you see threads like this one (claiming "reverse racism" against Black Lightning) it just reminds one of the FACT that most whites today actually do believe that they (not minorities) are the primary victims of racism in America. I'm sorry if that FACT bothers you, but it is what it is. Just please, don't create Strawmen to accuse others of the same, ok?
"We"? Do you speak for all white people? Are you the official spokesperson for white people now? Or, perhaps, when you said "we", you were speaking for white people like you who suffer from white victimhood "issues"? Because your remarks above certainly qualify as exhibit A. LOL
Exhibit B: White Victimhood.
Neither do I. Seems like a comprehension problem, to me. Don't rely upon your personal interpretive skills next time. If you want to know what I've said, ask and I'll clarify....or just quote me. I don't think my initial remarks were all that complicated, really. But apparently they were complex enough that you needed a Strawman to rebut them, huh?You linked to articles and talked on a thread about racism about how whites feel so picked on. Can't imagine where I got the idea you were claiming people on this thread were implying people on this thread were doing exactly that.
No, Strawman is about right. I wasn't mistaken.Your claim of a straw man is just disingenuous . Notice I went more accurate than "dumb" there.
You're dissembling now. And again, it really doesn't matter what you think. Your opinions are worthless in this discussion. The simple FACT of the matter is that this is a fairly well studied issue. It's a FACT that most whites today feel that whites are victims of racism more than minorities in this country. That documented phenonenon (as pathetic as it may be) is simply not arguable, so I'm not sure what you thought you were going to debate with me.The boring old claim that most white men feel picked on is just that; boring. If it had some reality, I'd get into the debate, but since you claim it as a fact, and created straw men to argue it and then pretended I had done the same, it's pretty obvious you aren't interested in real discussion.
:lamoFurther evidence you aren't serious about discussion. Obviously the "we" being referred to is those who have shared concerns about the considerable racism of this show and other virtue signaling. There are many of us out there who feel this way, as these shows tend to tank quickly in ratings and reviews.
The story line in season 2 is not as interesting. That's why ratings are down...not because a bunch of conservative snowflakes got their panties in a bunch over "reverse racism" in the show. Geez, man...:roll:In fact, black lightning's first season literally had 100% critics rating, then it went on air and viewer ratings the first several weeks averaged around %32.
That's a fun dodge and all. You even managed to horribly misapply a label that should actually mean something but has been so wasted and overused by people with their head up their ass that it just sounds like a weak way of avoiding a subject.
Neither do I. Seems like a comprehension problem, to me. Don't rely upon your personal interpretive skills next time. If you want to know what I've said, ask and I'll clarify....or just quote me. I don't think my initial remarks were all that complicated, really. But apparently they were complex enough that you needed a Strawman to rebut them, huh?
No, Strawman is about right. I wasn't mistaken.
You're dissembling now. And again, it really doesn't matter what you think. Your opinions are worthless in this discussion. The simple FACT of the matter is that this is a fairly well studied issue. It's a FACT that most whites today feel that whites are victims of racism more than minorities in this country. That is simply not arguable, so I'm not sure what you thought you were going to debate with me.
:lamo
As I said, and as you just confirmed, "we" meant people like you. Got it. But, then again, we already knew that. And the very fact that you think there is considerable "racism" on the show simple illustrates how little you understand about the issue.
The story line in season 2 is not as interesting. That's why ratings are down...not because a bunch of conservative snowflakes got their panties in a bunch over "reverse racism" in the show. Geez, man...:roll:
Awh...does the term "White Victimhood" irk you? Well, sorry, but that's what it is. You're on an anonymous message board whining about how "we" (i.e. angry white guys with "reverse racism" issues) are tired of being made into "the bad guys" simply because you are all "bored" of the "racism" of others........so, YEAH, you have some serious white victimhood issues. Sorry if that bothers you, but I thought you right wingers appreciated "politically incorrect" dialogue.
:roll:
Just when I thought I'd seen about every conceivable permutation of ridiculous white grievance on display in a public message board...we get THIS thread.
Geez...
Is there any wonder that studies show that most white people believe that racism against white is more prevalent than racism against blacks in this country?
Study: Whites See Racism as a Zero Sum Game That They Are Losing
Your straw man is burning. Nowhere did anyone claim whites were more picked on or that we face some great hardship. We do tend to get a little sick of people feeling so incredibly superior that they feel we should ignore warping reality and being racist against us.
But, feel free to again rewrite the story so you can make us out to be the bad guys for getting bored with all the preaching and virtue signaling.
Nice tap dance, but not only comes across as clumsy but also ill informed and sets up the rest of your ramble as opinion not fact....eace
Do you watch the show?
Okay, you either lack reason and intelligence or a desire to discuss honestly. Good luck with that and all. I hope you find great joy in barely understanding a topic or dodging so you can feel like you've scored points.
I'll wait for honest replies.
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