This is probably the most controversial piece I have written here to date. My observation is that African-Americans, despite being victims of racism and bigotry throughout their history, have shown to have views that promote social injustice in recent memory. Cases in point - racial profiling in post-9/11 world and their support for Proposition-8 in California.
Racial Profiling in Post-2001 world:
Right after the 9/11 tragedy, the U.S. as a whole was very fearful of all Arabs and Muslims. Ordinary Arab-Americans were being arrested and subject to detention and interrogation due to the suspicion that they may have links to terrorist organizations. The U.S. population was split on the legality and morality of the blatant racial profiling against Arab-Americans in the U.S. "According to a Gallup poll conducted shortly after 9/11, 71 percent of blacks, and 57 percent of whites, supported racial profiling of Arabs and South Asians at airport security checkpoints." [3] Considering African-Americans are victims of racial profiling, I would think they would take the more progressive stance of opposing racial profiling. There might be a more nuanced explanation for African-Americans support for racial profiling of Arabs, but on the surface, I see a contradiction.
Fast forward some 6-7 years and look at exit polls from California's Proposition 8 banning gay marriage in the state.
Support for Proposition-8 in California:
I am intellectually in support of gay marriage , but the whole idea of giving gay couple the right to adopt a baby makes me cringe. Consider two gay men raising a baby? I think women are especially equipped to raise children and it would not worry me as much if a lesbian couple were to adopt a baby. But, gay men ... that concerns me. A child needs a mother more than anything else.
My views on the matter aside, the relevant point here is that California's Proposition 8 passed, meaning the state's legalization of gay marriage after a court ruling months earlier was overturned by the people's referendum. The vote was close; some 47% for legalizing and 52% banning gay marriage. Apparently, Caucasians were split right in the middle, but some 70% of African-Americans and a similar number of Latinos voted in favor of banning gay marriage. Gay marriage is somewhat a question of social justice and equality. It is a cause people who suffered discrimination should ideally rally for. Once again, there is probably a more nuanced explanation why the difference races voted as they did on this issue. I can rattle of a few off the top of my head, but I will pass because I got better things to do.
Racial Profiling in Post-2001 world:
Right after the 9/11 tragedy, the U.S. as a whole was very fearful of all Arabs and Muslims. Ordinary Arab-Americans were being arrested and subject to detention and interrogation due to the suspicion that they may have links to terrorist organizations. The U.S. population was split on the legality and morality of the blatant racial profiling against Arab-Americans in the U.S. "According to a Gallup poll conducted shortly after 9/11, 71 percent of blacks, and 57 percent of whites, supported racial profiling of Arabs and South Asians at airport security checkpoints." [3] Considering African-Americans are victims of racial profiling, I would think they would take the more progressive stance of opposing racial profiling. There might be a more nuanced explanation for African-Americans support for racial profiling of Arabs, but on the surface, I see a contradiction.
Fast forward some 6-7 years and look at exit polls from California's Proposition 8 banning gay marriage in the state.
Support for Proposition-8 in California:
I am intellectually in support of gay marriage , but the whole idea of giving gay couple the right to adopt a baby makes me cringe. Consider two gay men raising a baby? I think women are especially equipped to raise children and it would not worry me as much if a lesbian couple were to adopt a baby. But, gay men ... that concerns me. A child needs a mother more than anything else.
My views on the matter aside, the relevant point here is that California's Proposition 8 passed, meaning the state's legalization of gay marriage after a court ruling months earlier was overturned by the people's referendum. The vote was close; some 47% for legalizing and 52% banning gay marriage. Apparently, Caucasians were split right in the middle, but some 70% of African-Americans and a similar number of Latinos voted in favor of banning gay marriage. Gay marriage is somewhat a question of social justice and equality. It is a cause people who suffered discrimination should ideally rally for. Once again, there is probably a more nuanced explanation why the difference races voted as they did on this issue. I can rattle of a few off the top of my head, but I will pass because I got better things to do.
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