The Genius of Toby Keith

[SmootSmack]

Country star Toby Keith tells Glen Beck that "black people would say" of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, that "he don’t talk, act, or carry himself as a black person."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpu...t-and-wis.html

[MTK]

"Genius" and "Toby Keith" in the same sentence. Anyone else find that to be hilarious?

SS, your link isn't working.

[BDBohnzie]

Here's the link...

Just another example of a celebrity running their mouth without thinking of what they are saying...

[SmootSmack]

Thanks BD. Not sure why my link didn't work

[saden1]

I don't like Toby Keith with his "I'm More American Than You" bullshit but to be fair he's being taking out of context in the worst way by a lot of folks.



He's definitely generalizing black people but he's definitely not saying Obama act and talks white himself which is how it's being reported by a lot of outlets.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by saden1

I don't like Toby Keith with his "I'm More American Than You" bullshit but to be fair he's being taking out of context in the worst way by a lot of folks.



He's definitely generalizing black people but he's definitely not saying Obama act and talks white himself which is how it's being reported by a lot of outlets.

Interesting, I never took it as him saying Obama "acts White" but that the Black community thinks he doesn't act or talk Black. Which is peculiar because a what does that even really mean as Beck asks and b) does every single Black person think that? If so, I'm impressed that so many millions of people think the same way. Especially when you consider that on this message board alone even you, 12thMan, DynamiteRave, and Skinsfan69 don't agree on everything

[saden1]

A lot of black and white folks recognize that for Obama to be successful he must present a more universal image and an image antithetical to the likes of Jessie Jackson or Al Shaprton who are more often than not unjustly considered leaders of the black community. He's presenting that image and all I can say is one would hope the image he presents is genuine and that he is being himself.

To be honest though black people are as diverse of a community as any other and it's hard to generalize them without making an ass out of yourself. There are some folks who do make an ass out of themselves in the back community too by claiming he isn't black enough or he acts white, sorta like this fella:



Anywho, another interesting event with respect to the diversity and unpredictability of the black community occurred just yesterday with the trouncing defeat of the racist and divisive "black candidate" Nikki Tinker by the "Jewish incumbent" Steve Cohen in a predominantly black community.

[Smooter]

No wonder people think us okies are idiots.

[redsk1]

To be fair, I used to work w/ african-american...a friend of mine. Other black people would say he acts like a white guy. So I know if it was said about a friend of mine than i'm assuming it's said about others. That's an assumption, based on my experience. It's what i've heard as selling out...and i hear it often. Bill Cosby has been talking abou t this alot recently in the last couple of years.

[redsk1]

To continue...

Alot of the black community see it as selling out when they see a successful black person who talks, dresses, etc white. Don't believe me though...i'm just trusting what Barkley, Cosby, and others have spoken out against.

[saden1]

You need not look further than that fool Ron Artest's recent comments:

"I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto," Artest said, according to the report. "That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about."

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by redsk1

To be fair, I used to work w/ african-american...a friend of mine. Other black people would say he acts like a white guy. So I know if it was said about a friend of mine than i'm assuming it's said about others. That's an assumption, based on my experience. It's what i've heard as selling out...and i hear it often. Bill Cosby has been talking abou t this alot recently in the last couple of years.

Couldn't have said it better.

I don't hear it in college at all but when I get around some of the people I work with, they're younger, 17-19 or so if you heard me talk and heard them talk, it's like two entirely different worlds. A few years back I used to work with inner city youths about 13-17 and they gave me HELL about the way I carried myself.

I think I've heard the phrase, "You talk/act white" so many times it doesn't even phase me anymore.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Couldn't have said it better.

I don't hear it in college at all but when I get around some of the people I work with, they're younger, 17-19 or so if you heard me talk and heard them talk, it's like two entirely different worlds. A few years back I used to work with inner city youths about 13-17 and they gave me HELL about the way I carried myself.

I think I've heard the phrase, "You talk/act white" so many times it doesn't even phase me anymore.

I think this is a great challenge to the black community because while I am quite sure it isn't representative of the entire population it is the aspect that is most often presented as what the black community represents. I recognize it's inaccuracies but I'd like to more fully understand why this is the image that gets presented so much when it isn't correct. Is it a media thing or what? Anyone have some strong opinions on this that make good sense?

[dmek25]

its all about what you want in life. do you really want to be successful? i was raised dirt poor, a white kid surrounded by minorities. i always wanted better. i still believe that with hard work, and maybe alittle luck, anyone can live the American dream. but people like Ron Artest do nothing but drag blacks down. that man has a god given talent, and should be a role model for the young black community. but instead chooses to be an idiot. there isn't anything wrong with being black, and proud. but talking educated, and being respectful of others isn't, or shouldn't be a white thing. its a human thing. and saden, or who ever wants to answer this, please help me out. i have been around blacks my whole life. some of my best friends are black. but i have never understood the African American thing. we are ALL Americans. you are about as much an african as i am

[70Chip]

If you're white, it's best to avoid the subject of race completely. No matter what you say you're bound to violate some tenant of political correctness which is essentially designed to silence white males anyways.

BTW, does the fact that Obama is not related to any slaves, make him less "black"? Isn't being descended from slaves an essential part of being "African American". Thoughts?