Race relations - again

You simplify everything way too much. The 'race relations' you mention in the 60's and 70's were much more cultural differences than racial issues. As the Vietnamese immigrants settled on the Gulf coast, they continued their cultural heritage as fishermen, ignoring the 'American' conservation regulations. This pissed off the American fishermen, as would be expected.
As for names, what could be more 'integrated' than several generations of being born as American citizens, no matter what you name your children?
Guess what race these children are; Dweezil Zappa, Sage Moonblood Stallone, Apple Martin, Bronx Mowgli Wentz, Harper Seven Beckham, Bear Jarecki (name, not nickname), Kal-El Cage and lastly, but certainly not least, Pilot Inspektor Lee. I don't think black names have anything on these rather odd names, do you?

What does "too feminized" mean?

Im sure if black just change there name it will all be better, you're so right

Not like most black people already have "normal" names, or that has no bases of how race stereotypes and ignorance help perpetuate the rift between poor and the rich. And that in places like baltimore over 90% of the black living under the poverty line are concentrated in the same communities, where as only 30-40% of whites are. That wouldn't create an environment where police and community have strong mistrust or anything.

wait, so do I vote normal or not normal....or.......

???

I think the part that got him in trouble was probably where he mentioned becoming "too feminized".
I'm not sure how that actually fit into his argument about race.

I bet you're behind all these race posts. It's getting old! And I disagree with your use of the word feminized as a derogatory term.

African Americans should not just be told to assimilate. They should be able to live among other cultures and embrace them while maintaining there own cultural heritage.
I guess it's the melting pot vs Salad theory and some people believe in one while the other believes in the other though.

I'm a Japanese American if you wonder where my standpoint on this whole thing is.

I haven't heard that story, but part of what that professor apparently tried to point out are the differences in socio-economic progress in the US from one ethnic group to another. This has been measured in a number of ways, so he probably had good data to support his thinking. People think someone's a racist just because they dare to mention well-supported data - that's bogus. I've lived in a number of places around the US and have made similar observations. In my experience, people of African, Asian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Cuban origin have all been suppressed by some form of discrimination now and in the past, but have notably different levels of socio-economic accomplishment. There are also theories on why one group succeeds better or worse than another, but I'll stop short of kicking that beehive!

We are all the same as humans, what sets us apart are political, ideological, religious concepts.

he's absolutely right, people these days are just too politically correct.

I don't think the teacher deserved any sort of reprimand whatsoever, and yes, I think people in today's society are too overly sensitive. I wouldn't call it a feminization of society though. I just think we're living in a very douchey time. A lot of left-wing people have a very nasty habit of saying stupid things like, "I just can't tolerate intolerance" which would of course thereby make they themselves intolerant!

Do you wear a fedora?

Hmmm, first thoughts? University professor = dude trapped in the cushy ivory tower = not in touch with 'reality' (whatever reality may be, lol)

Second thoughts? it is interesting that as far as labeled 'minority' races go, Asians seem to be this model minority, that's the label they get. Some Asians deplore this label. Its amazing how the demographics in gad school switches to a high percentage of Asians. Anyhow, what the heck is the reason behind this? Maybe it is genetic? Let's not discount this. I mean, look at Jackie Chan? I know, I could have used a brainy science type example (lots of medical dr's I know happen to be Asian). So, Jackie Chan? Extremely disciplined. Chinese gymnasts are also extremely disciplined. Chinese laborers seem to be wickedly proficient, quick, and supreme. I'm disregarding how competitive life is in China, S.Korea, and everywhere else. The culture in East Asia bullies for excellence. But, if you've ever spoken with anyone teaching English in S.Korea? You will soon learn that all kids, everywhere, are alike. I have no idea why certain black people in the USA don't do so well. Its not all black people. Just those that seem trapped in dumpy ghetto filled with poverty and all the ills that come with it. Don't you think this professor needs to take this into consideration? Because, in China, violence happens there too. Thugs exist in Japan too (The Yakuza). This label crap? If you've ever heard of the Pygmalion phenomenon? I betcha that it holds true for black people in the USA. Black people get labeled right off the bat from someone of another race. So, this black person has to fight that stereotyped impression from the get go. That's so bassackwards and lacking of a cosmopolitan mindset. To label people like that is fitting for an academic closet racist. Having said that? Have you seen where a lot of black people reside? Poverty hell holes. Yeah, crime is going to surge there. Like, take a look at the UK. Go to Northern England. You see poverty and you find crime,filth, ignorance, and general despair. But, its a bunch of white people living there. Its not race, it's poverty that's the issue. Asians just happened to be an amazing anomaly. People should model their work ethic after these successful Asians. Yes, Asians do integrate well. Its a part of their background in a collective society.

This question of truth? B.S. There is no 'truth'. Perceptions are subjective. I can say that humans are very tribal. People group based on likeness and whatever. There's no need to like everybody if you don't want to do that. So, as far as being too politically correct these days? To the point of becoming too public relations-ish fake-ish about people relations? Yep. So, to counter that stuff, thank goodness we have comedians that say the 'truth'. Ha ha.

So how do poor white areas compare? There's plenty of destitute white-majority areas where Dave and John live. Why are they poor for generations and what's their literacy and crime rate?

What da hell is dis shit?? You sayin we aint integratin, imma bout to integrate my fist into yows head.

Insipid names are bad for any race. Don't be Lasagna!

Why is he a Duke Professor again? I wouldn't say he's racist; he's simply making ignorant generalizations. As a person with teaching degrees from Harvard, I'd expect better.

Yes, statistics are statistics:

- African Americans have the highest poverty rate

- African Americans has the second highest high school drop-out rates

- *interest whatever other negative black stat you want to focus on*

They're facts, and no one is at fault to name them. But it's a different story when it becomes a proclaimed fact for the entire race.

He's ignoring those African Americans that indeed do graduate high school, and college, and make a better life foe themselves. Sounds like he didn't even bother to glance at the other side of things.

"Virtually every black has a strange new name that symbolizes their lack of desire for integration. "

Top ten idiotic things I've read, considering his status. How do names have anything to do with this? I could name my potentially white child Shanquica if I wanted to. I wouldn't care if this professor thought that name was "strange". That's blatant opinion. That in no way inevitably determines their success.

This professor is confused with what integration is. It DOES NOT mean every person has to be named Stephanie, or John, or whatever "normal" name you want to deem in fact "normal". Such a narrow mind-set. As if the entire world is the great white America and everyone must conform to it. Ridiculous.

There can be diversity in integration. Excuse me - there SHOULD be diversity in integration. Race doesn't determine integrity.

Yaa I don't think he should have got in trouble either. The world is turning into a bunch of pussies and that's not as awesome as it sounds! I don't get involved in these types of discussions cus I don't know nothin, but it keeps making me think of something my pop pop always used to talk about, he referred to it as 'rewarding failure' and I saw a recent newspaper that brought it up again.

A particular town in this great state is about 95% black and 3 out of 4 students can't read at grade level. That may account for some of the crazy names. There's also only about 50% graduation rate yet the amount per student is over $30,000. Nearby towns spend a whole lot less per student and their percentages are way higher. I dunno, but for whatever reasons, it seems that not everyone wants to get themselves out of the rut. Let's blame other people!