Toofan007:
so because you haven't experienced it, it doesn't exit? I think you could accused of transcribing your subjective experience and interpretation to what racism should mean, based on the fact that you were able to make friends in North Carolina!

How could i be transcribing my subjective experience to lend a definition to the term when i am in fact claiming that i have never experienced racism, and thus have had no subjective experience by which to lend any subjective definition to the term? Nor did i ever ever say that it does not exist simply because i have not experienced it.

What i did say or imply were that:

1. There is an objective definition of racism

2. People tend to overplay this racism thing

I am speechless

chiwetaluAGU:

Abokki where you belong sef?
I no blame you cause for naija here your brothers carry tribalism and oppressing other tribes for head like tren pan. North dey get everything through quota system and other senseless illogical means while marginalising others. Yet na you people dey cry marginalization pass. Hypocrisy no go kill una. Leave adichie and her americana alone. Note also that you and your brothers are not in position to tell me about marginalisation.

Useless and senseless talk

And what exactly does that have to do with the topic above?

rhektor:



Did you read this article at all? If you did and still find it difficult to reason then you must be another racist

You just quoted the leader of Nairaland Tribalist Group and NCAN,so please don't be disappointed.

I'm not trying to be tribalistic here but it's regrettable that many people here are defending Adichie on the basis of "na our pikin".What about the whites who have been lending their voices to fight this scourge?You can as well tell them to quit as they don't know/feel or experience racist attacks,good riddance.

@Post

How can someone define racism when they have not experienced it? Chimamanda Adichie is right. A white person who does not get to experience racism cannot define it. Besides, black people don't have the power to deny whites jobs in America or oppress them so even if a black person hates a white person, they don't have the political power to oppress whites as whites have the political power to oppress blacks.

Whites single handedly came up with institutionalized racism in the West that still affects blacks today. Whose idea was it to segregate people based on skin color? whites. Whose idea was it to deny blacks the right to sit wherever they want in the bus? whites. Who was lynched back in the day in USA? blacks. Who was used for experiment in Tuskegee? Blacks. So that being said, Nigerians who never grew up in predominately white countries are not in a position to sit there and judge because most Nigerians don't understand how racism works the same way a black American will not understand how tribalism works.

SmartyPants:


How could i be transcribing my subjective experience to lend a definition to the term when i am in fact claiming that i have never experienced racism, and thus have had no subjective experience by which to lend any subjective definition to the term? Nor did i ever ever say that it does not exist simply because i have not experienced it.

What i did say or imply were that:

1. There is an objective definitifon of racism

2. People tend to overplay this racism thing

bro, I assume you a Nigerian. You could say people tend to overplay it, and you will be right, as what we don't experience it in Nigeria. But, if your Mom needed US marshals to escort her to school, or you knew someone that was lynched, or somebody whose father was sold at a cattle market.
I guess you'll be more reluctant in making such statement.

And I have the right to disagree with any definition either objective or not.

Toofan007:
bro, I assume you a Nigerian. You could say people tend to overplay it, and you will be right, as what we don't experience it in Nigeria. But, if your Mom needed US marshals to escort her to school, or you knew someone that was lynched, or somebody whose father was sold at a cattle market.
I guess you'll be more reluctant in making such statement.

And I have the right to disagree with any definition either objective or not.

1. These things are way in the past. Way before you or i could have been born. i am struggling to see the relevance they have to modern day accusations of racism and racist attitudes. I hold no grudges against the white men over the things they have done to blacks, because the evidence is overwhelmingly abundant that if blacks had the opportunity, they would do, and have done, the same to both fellow blacks and to whites and other races.

2. Of course you have the right to your subjective definitions and opinion. So why did Chimamanda Adichie deprive or attempt to deprive the white man of a) the right to freedom of speech by and expression and b) the right to express a definition, which you have just asserted? On the sole basis of his skin color?

What is good for the goose is not good for the gander because the gander's grand parents oppressed the goose's?

3. While you do have your right to form subjective definitions and opinions, you have no right to assert these as being objective or absolute realities.

Chimanda should go and sit down with her brainwashed zombified neo-libtard mindset! Donald Trump made that statement about that Judge because the Judge is a member of a Mexican racist sect (NCLR - La Raza). Therefore, Trump was right to so say he might not get a fair ruling from the Judge!!

mrrights:
ISN’T CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE RACIST?
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Since the emergence of MR D.J Trump as US president elect, issue of racism has became a burning topic. The real or perceived racist rhetoric’s of Mr Trump, during the campaign period has led to fear, election violence and wide spread protest against his emergence as the US president.

Few days, after Mr Trump emerged winner of US presidential election, Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was invited to a BBC discussion and something strange was said.

Those close to me can testify that I admire Chimamanda Adichie so much for her vocal personality. Not only do I often find time to watch interviews and events she is featured, I also do read most of her articles. Despite the fact that I am not a fan of novels, because of Adichie, I became one.

Although, while I sometimes find myself disagreeing with her views on issues, that didn’t in anyway, take away the love and admiration I have for her as person. Probably, this opinion of mine is another way of disagreeing with her.

Here is the issue.

Today, while surfing the Internet, I came across a story on nairaland front page with the caption, ‘’Chimamanda Adichie on Trump, Racism and the KKK’’ https://www.nairaland.com/3464690/chimamanda-adichie-trump-racism-kkk#51026721. The story was a video of her discussion on BBC Newsnight, about the outcome of the US election with Editor –in-Chief of a conservative magazine, American Spectator, Emmett Tyrrell.

As usual, I open the story and read through. However, not only did I read through the story, I equally watched the video to be sure some transcript or words, ascribed to Adichie was actually hers. As I watch the very heated and engaging discussion, in which Adichie sat down with style, emitting character and confidence, making me admire her even more. I can’t but shake my head in disbelief, when she expressed some views I consider very offensive to justify her stance on D.J Trump’s racists rhetoric’s during the just concluded US presidential election.

During the discussion, BBC reporter, Emily Maitlis explained that, some Republican members, such as Paul Ryan and others have acknowledged the fact that, US President elect, Mr D.J Trump used some racist language while running his campaign. However, Mr Emmett disagreed . According to him, ‘’that’s not true, he, (referring to Mr Trump) hasn’t been racist he said. He went on to ask what racist comment D.J Trump made during the campaign and Adichie responded by citing the comment made against a judge handling Mr Trump’s case, in which the then Republican nominee said, ‘’a judge, a united states judge is unable to judge him fairly because he his Mexican. That is racist, said Adichie.
Sincerely speaking, Mr Emmett is being economical with the truth. Every objective follower of US presidential campaign wouldn’t deny the numerous racist comments made by Mr Trump. Yet Mr Emmett did, which is what most political pundits often do to defend their favored politician.

As i was pointing out the bias and sentimental position of Mr Emmett to the person watching the video with me, Adichie didn’t allow me; instead, she fired a disgusting missile about racism to justify her stands. I mean, she made a very offensive remark, similar to what she said made Trump racist.

Hear her:
‘’If you are a white man, you don’t get to define what racism is. I am sorry, you really don’t’’. Adichie said.

Firstly, there is something fundamentally wrong with Adichie’s statement. In fact, everything is wrong with it.

Here is why.

According to Adichie, Mr D.J Trump is racist, because he said a judge won’t judge him fairly because he his Mexican. Then, Adichie went on to say, ‘’If you are a white man, you don’t get to define what racism is.’’ Meaning, you can’t discuss racism fairly simply because you are white.

If D. J Trump is a racist based on what he said about the Mexican judge, I am afraid, isn’t Adichie also guilty of the same offense for what she said about white people ?
Mr Emmett responded appropriately by saying, ‘’ Do you know the false consciousness, which is the theory you are talking about in concept. I mean, you are saying, I cannot even open my mouth here because I am a white man?’’. The stunned white man felt very hurt and confused.
But that’s exactly what Adichie is saying. That a white man can’t talk racism fairly or get to define racism appropriately because he his white. This in itself, is a racist comment I believe.

Instructively, when US president elect, D.J Trump made those racist remarks about the US Mexican judge, thousands, if not millions of white men and women in America condemned him for racism. So did thousands, if not millions of colored people, including African Americans.

Similarly, other thousands, if not millions of white men and women defended Trump against the same accusation, and so did colored people, including African Americans.

Paul Ryan, quoted by BBC reporter Emiley, as acknowledging Trump to have used racist language is also a white man. It is therefore unreasonable, and highly condemnable for Adichie to look down on Mr Emmett, by claiming he cannot define racism fairly simply because of his color or race.

By extension, the racist statement made by Adichie isn’t just about Mr Emmitt as a person, it went beyond him. It is indirectly telling all white men and women who have been condemning racism that no matter what they do to stand against racism, in the eyes of people like Adichie, they can’t be fair because they are white.

Let me conclude by stating that, the word racism itself cannot be claimed to have originated from colored people or Africans. While root of the word is not clear, Linguitists generally agree that it came to the English language from Middle French.

To then claim that a white man cannot define racism, simply because he his white is not only ignorant and offensive , but it is also racist.

Who in his /her right mind listens to this foolish hypocrite.

foladara777:
Let's be realistic, if you have never been a victim of racism, you can't claim to understand it... Just like straight people claiming they understand what it means to be gay in a country like Nigeria or someone who has always been rich claiming that he understand poverty.
And racism is not just discrimination... It's essentially an erroneous notion that one race- your race is superior to another. A white person in America has d same advantages as others but a black is naturally disadvantaged because of centuries of the suppression of d black race...
So... No, claiming a white person doesn't understand racism is not racist, it's d bitter truth

Go to SouthAfrica and see whites been racised.

mayorchelsea:
I'm not trying to be tribalistic here but it's regrettable that many people here are defending Adichie on the basis of "na our pikin".What about the whites who have been lending their voices to fight this scourge?You can as well tell them to quit as they don't know/feel or experience racist attacks,good riddance.

I wonder ,blacks are short sighted mentally.
Racism exist not just between black and white but across all races,Asians,Native indians.
Blacks play racism card too often even when they are at fault.

excellentelitec:
Op. I believe you have been reading all her articles in order to find fault and I'm sure u have found it and u deed not even articulate before pouring out your tribalism.

And I believe you have not travelled out of the shores of Nigeria, it would have helped you to understand the true meaning of "BLACK" and the oppression followed to it.

How can a Richman understand the true meaning of poverty?

Have u been to Russia with your black skin before?

What a dumb statement. white people all over the world face racism everyday.

Elxandre:

Yet she refused to come back home.

Don't mind the hypocrite.looking for cheap attention.
If i feel my Host is hostile to me the logical response is for me to go home. no she would not do that but will go on ranting of Racism. just to boost her ego.

Eastactivist:
So how does it equate to adichie being a racist?

It seems you lack an analytical mind.

To me by extension Adichie is saying all white men are racists owing to their role in slave trade.

Its like asking a judge to decide the case of his own mother in a court of law. You'll agree with me that it won't be free and fair trial as the case is already decided before court appearance.

Jews are also white people. Is she also saying that they don't have a say as regards racism? The jews that were almost obliterated if Hitler was not stopped. Racism is like AIDS if you are not infected, you affected. Using the word white people, black people, coloured people is racism in itself because it stereotypes people based on their skin colour. That's what Martin Luther Jnr fought against in his ; I have a dream speech.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

In conclusion I wish to believe it was an emotional statement by her rather than a logical statement. Women are emotional beings. Op let's cut her some slacks, okay? Thanks people.

juniior:
She hates white people because she thinks all of em are racist. Dats just un fair n bad

Yet she lives in a whiteMan's country. typical loud mouth hypocrite.

Elxandre:
She's lucky she wasn't talking to me.

Whites don't get to talk about racism, yet most African families are UNHAPPY and mostly unsupportive when their 'successful' sons marry white women.

I'm certain African Americans and Hispanics discriminate against whites and call them insulting names.

I agree with you.
Go to SouthAfrica and see how whites are discriminated in jobs,business,land and are even killed. the media would never report this.

dasparrow:
@Post

How can someone define racism when they have not experienced it? Chimamanda Adichie is right. A white person who does not get to experience racism cannot define it. Besides, black people don't have the power to deny whites jobs in America or oppress them so even if a black person hates a white person, they don't have the political power to oppress whites as whites have the political power to oppress blacks.

Whites single handedly came up with institutionalized racism in the West that still affects blacks today. Whose idea was it to segregate people based on skin color? whites. Whose idea was it to deny blacks the right to sit wherever they want in the bus? whites. Who was lynched back in the day in USA? blacks. Who was used for experiment in Tuskegee? Blacks. So that being said, Nigerians who never grew up in predominately white countries are not in a position to sit there and judge because most Nigerians don't understand how racism works the same way a black American will not understand how tribalism works.

Are U that Naive.go and read about Haiti after the revolution how they passed laws that banned whites from been citizens or owning lands.

mayorchelsea:
You just quoted the leader of Nairaland Tribalist Group and NCAN,so please don't be disappointed.

No wonder

Eastactivist:
So how does it equate to adichie being a racist?

Because Adichie nullified some else's opinion on racism based on the person's race.

Her comment is silly. Of course every race experiences racism. In the last 10-20 years white Zimbabwean farmers across the country had their farms taken over by mugabes government because Of their skin color. At this same time Indians and other races experienced a similar ejection from the country. All assetts from many generations of ancestors living in Zimbabwe seized simply because they were not black.

Are you saying they don't know what racism feels like or can't understand it? This is in this generation not hundreds of years ago. How many blacks in america have had their assetts seized simply because of their skin color.

There are many other examples in Usa (police being killed because they are white) and many other places including South Africa today of similar aggressions against white people based on race.

Having read all the comments, I have conclude with a prayer. May God free black man from himself.

Endy4all:
In her novel; AMERICANAH she said "Racism should never have happened and so you don't get a cookie for reducing it"

[b][/b]
You're very funny

they don't get to define it cos they wud nt be able to grasp or decipher the meaning of Racism to the depth!!! am nt a fan of the acclaimed writer but when I saw this quote some days back, I jes had to applaud her genuine understanding of the word 'Racism' in it's entirety

freecocoa:
Saying the truth doesn't make one racist.

Whites don't suffer racism so they don't get to have an opinion on it, it is just what it is.

Whites dont suffer racism, yet people make damning remarks of how 'pale' their skin are.
The other day JJC was on Primetime Africa and he was bragging about how his skin colour was the best because he doest turn 'red' whenever a pretty girl passes by.
Now look at it another perspective.p

lol

Many people are bias on certain topics. Amada was clearly wrong by that statement. The racism card is not only played against Blacks but every other race. We can see the one of the Jews. All us are racist to a certain level. When you give certain qualities and abilities to races, then you're a racist.

SmartyPants:



1. These things are way in the past. Way before you or i could have been born. i am struggling to see the relevance they have to modern day accusations of racism and racist attitudes. I hold no grudges against the white men over the things they have done to blacks, because the evidence is overwhelmingly abundant that if blacks had the opportunity, they would do, and have done, the same to both fellow blacks and to whites and other races.

2. Of course you have the right to your subjective definitions and opinion. So why did Chimamanda Adichie deprive or attempt to deprive the white man of a) the right to freedom of speech by and expression and b) the right to express a definition, which you have just asserted? On the sole basis of his skin color?

What is good for the goose is not good for the gander because the gander's grand parents oppressed the goose's?

3. While you do have your right to form subjective definitions and opinions, you have no right to assert these as being objective or absolute realities.

Wait, you don't see the relevance of racism in past to struggling against it now! Really? So in your opinion, when would be the right time to talk about it that would not be over playing it? Racism in any form is wrong, however, I think it's a little bit rich for you trying to belittle what others went through.

And yes, you don't begrudge the whites because you have no reason to! But, it seems disingenuous ,at least to me, to begrudge the victims or the offsprings of the victims for saying or doing something to prevent reoccurrence because you have overwhelming evidence that they would have done the same or because you friends who are white.

Toofan007:
Wait, you don't see the relevance of racism in past to struggling against it now! Really? So in your opinion, when would be the right time to talk about it that would not be over playing it? Racism in any form is wrong, however, I think it's a little bit rich for you trying to belittle what others went through.

And yes, you don't begrudge the whites because you have no reason to! But, it seems disingenuous ,at least to me, to begrudge the victims or the offsprings of the victims for saying or doing something to prevent reoccurrence because you have overwhelming evidence that they would have done the same or because you friends who are white.

Belittle? Really?? Where and how have i done that?

The fact that racism occurred in the past does not lend any default credibility to the claims of racism today. Because your great grand mother was enslaved does it mean that every white person who looks at you for more than 2 seconds hates you? You must have solid, tangible reasons, today, to allege of racism today. The right time to talk about racism is when a genuine act of racism occurs, not conveniently twisting the words of a controversial figure knowing that people would buy your faulty logic, and then quickly proceeding to shut up an intellectual because you know they would expose the flaw in your logic. As simple as that. Stop meandering all over the place.

Secondly when it comes to preventing a recurrence of racism, how does walking around with an "everyone is being racist to me" attitude help to achieve that? If anything it only deepens the divide.

Whining and complaining about racism will not stop racism because racism is an attitude first and a behavior and you don't change people with undesirable attitudes and behaviors by antagonizing them, which is exactly what educated black people in America tend to do.

You change their attitudes and behavior by improving your station in life. That is, if there is even a need for you to bother about someone else's attitude towards you.

SmartyPants:



1. These things are way in the past. Way before you or i could have been born. i am struggling to see the relevance they have to modern day accusations of racism and racist attitudes. I hold no grudges against the white men over the things they have done to blacks, because the evidence is overwhelmingly abundant that if blacks had the opportunity, they would do, and have done, the same to both fellow blacks and to whites and other races.

2. Of course you have the right to your subjective definitions and opinion. So why did Chimamanda Adichie deprive or attempt to deprive the white man of a) the right to freedom of speech by and expression and b) the right to express a definition, which you have just asserted? On the sole basis of his skin color?

What is good for the goose is not good for the gander because the gander's grand parents oppressed the goose's?

3. While you do have your right to form subjective definitions and opinions, you have no right to assert these as being objective or absolute realities.

If the goose above is making noise trying to prevent the gander from doing what his grand parents did to him, you think it's alright for a cockerel to claim the goose is overdoing it because he, the cockerel is able to make friends with the gander?

On your third point above, neither do you.

Toofan007:


If the goose above is making noise trying to prevent the gander from doing what his grand parents did to him, you think it's alright for a cockerel to claim the goose is overdoing it because he, the cockerel is able to make friends with the gander?

On your third point above, neither do you.

guy you are becoming annoying. Are you a first year student??

WHERE HAVE I MADE ANY SUBJECTIVE DEFINITION WHATSOEVER?? WHERE HAVE I EVEN ATTEMPTED TO DEFINE ANYTHING??

smh. bye.

Charlesdock:
Many people are bias on certain topics. Amada was clearly wrong by that statement. The racism card is not only played against Blacks but every other race. We can see the one of the Jews. All us are racist to a certain level. When you give certain qualities and abilities to races, then you're a racist.

I disagree on you calling one a racist for giving qualities and abilites to certain races.
Do you think all the races have equal qualities and abilites?