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Importance Of Race



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Importance Of Race

Graph by gettinfunkynow, via our GraphJam builder.

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  1. Starly says:

    Indeed

  2. parksj1 = Parks & Recreation says:

    I could have sworn there were other races…but apparently Michael Jackson’s view prevails.

  3. onlinenow says:

    *crickets chirping in the background*

  4. Onion says:

    Blue and green however…

  5. Didi says:

    love it

  6. Elle says:

    This graph gives me an excuse to punch a jerk in the face the next time he says “it’s cause I’m Black, isn’t it?!” Uh no, you’re one of many idiots I’ve dealt with today, Black, White, AND Green, so STFUU!

    • crux says:

      Yeah, people who’ve had to deal with a lot of prejudiced neanderthals tend to see prejudice where it doesn’t exist. You get kind of paranoid that way sometimes. Only solution is to step back and think logically, and only assume prejudice if you know you didn’t do anything to deserve it and someone who’s not in your minority wouldn’t get the same treatment. Otherwise you end up thinking everybody’s out to get you, which is not exactly a happy way to live.

      • Little_Usagi says:

        I totally feel that way…in high school it’s pretty well seen. I was known as the “whitest black person” just because I talked articulately, didn’t dress “black”, wasn’t fond of rap and I preferred white guys. But to be honest, I didn’t really see myself as being “black” or acting “white”–I’m me, and that’s how we should define ourselves. Some of the cracks were funny, and I let it slide. But I don’t want that to define who I am. It’s sad that many of us, may we be black, white, asian, latino, or whatever, are afraid to be ourselves. But I’m not so bothered. My sister married a white guy, I’m dating a white guy–so what? I’m me, and that’s what should matter.

  7. Lukas says:

    Poor Latinos, Asians, Aborigines .. :( But i think, the message is clear ..

  8. RoyBatty says:

    Not only lolz free, but clearly made by a white person.

  9. shin0bi272 says:

    how is this graph funny? Its not even inclusive of all races it just says two of them dont matter … matter to who? for what? There are people who would argue that the graph is inaccurate on both sides (the black panthers and the kkk for example). I understand what youre trying to say but it could use a punchline instead of heres a graph thats accurate in the white liberal view of the world.

    • trevzy says:

      where does it say it has to be funny?

    • Jefoid says:

      Are you saying that white liberals are the only non-racists or that racial distinctions are good?

      Graph win, utter comment failure. Color blindness is the only path out of societal racism.

      • kthnxbye says:

        Jefoid, I think the thing is, most POC I know want their color to be *accepted*, not invisible. There is a difference.

        • Jefoid says:

          That is precisely my dispute. If we all spent less time painstakingly assuring everyone that we respected their heritage and more time ignoring it we’d be vastly better off.

          • Jimbo is bored says:

            Ignoring differences doesn’t make sense though. People are different, and there are a lot of factors that went into why. Race is sometimes one of them. Learning to respect and enjoy people’s differences is a part of enjoying humanity as a whole. Think about it this way, what is one of the things that makes Halle Berry hot? Would she be that hot if she was blonde and blue eyed?

    • Jess says:

      I think this is supposed to be a reference to the Michael Jackson song “Black or White”……therefore not to be taken as seriously as you are…

      • Jefoid says:

        Really? Well… never mind then. Sense of humor/music fail on me.

      • Jcrow says:

        Thank you! Everyone else missed this super obvious reference and got all political…

        No wonder bad graphs are often voted to the front page. When a funny one comes along, no one gets it.

    • Oohlala says:

      It’s a Michael Jackson song.
      Calm down.

  10. person says:

    it should have been, importance of race Blacks: 95% whites: 1%

    • ladykitteh says:

      Adding up percentages FAIL.

      • ringo says:

        Understanding “non-zero-sum game” FAIL.

      • person says:

        the percentages are separate… seeing as the meaning was clearly an exaggeration that 95% of Blacks care about race and 5% don’t. And that 99% of whites don’t care, and 1% do. It is of course an exaggeration, but there is truth, in the case that more people among the Black community are racist, anti-Semitic, or homophobic.

        • Kiroku says:

          sad… but quite possibly true…

        • andrewf says:

          and they dont eat red meat! whats up with that!!! all chicken diet cannot be healthy and whats up with their hair!?!?

        • Hoopy Frood says:

          I don’t know; I see roughly the same amount of prejudice from people of all races.
          Maybe it’s because I live in NYC, and there’s less racism in general… but I really don’t see a difference.

          Anyway, skin colour is the same thing as eye and hair colour, to me. It’s just an aesthetic difference that makes the species less boring to look at.

  11. V Gard says:

    Wouldn’t it be nice if this graph was actually applied in real life?

  12. Cat Skyfire says:

    This would have been better if a third and fourth option, like the Tour de France and the Indianapolis 500, had been part of it…

  13. Nubify says:

    We need a column for yellow:)

    • Mae says:

      only in the song he doesnt sing “it doesnt matter if you’re black white or yellow” just “it doesnt matter if you’re black or white”

  14. Mariachi says:

    Obviously not many Michael Jackson fans on here that keep saying “there are more races than just black or white”…kind of makes me feel old now if these people don’t know this song

  15. sisyphusredux says:

    I’ve lived in the American South for a good part of my life, and spent the remainder in the Middle East and Balkans.

    As a direct result, I’ll write this: Americans REALLY need to get a grip about this subject. This country is heaven on earth when it comes to tolerance and acceptance when you compare it to much of the rest of the world.

    We really are clueless….

    • NoseMoking says:

      true, true, but it can be better. Racism is prevalent in all countries to some degree. Plus it gets tough when you get immigrants of different minorities bringing racist “baggage” from the Old Country.

  16. Rimo says:

    this graph should have included ‘according to michael jackson’

  17. Igloo McCoy says:

    This is pretty stupid. In a perfect world, this graph would be true. But in this current time and place, race matters. Though it’s not official, countries, states, etc. are still pretty segregated. Really, it’s a sad thing, but it’s the truth. We have awhile to go before race is no longer an issue.

    • inked_hippie says:

      that was dumb. you know nothing about this person or why that would make this graph. You also obviously don’t listen to Michael Jackson…or have a sense of humor.

  18. Matrix says:

    Race is a term used for an imaginary idea. The idea of race is not supported by real science, though racists have used pseudoscience to promote their imagined superiority.

    • NoseMoking says:

      Oh? isn’t it? I’m pretty sure biology would have something to say about distinct populations of Homo sapiens. Distinct people groups are very much a reality. Ask me which ones are better than the others, and I’d laugh. People act pretty much the same everywhere.

      • Lisey says:

        Ethnicity is real. Heritage and culture are real. But the idea of “race” is a cultural concept. It is not supported by biology. It is has been used to rationalize and legitimize the oppression of people. Just the idea of there being “minority” groups is an ethnocentric view.

        • California Dave says:

          Once a Hispanic male asked me if I wanted to participate in a survey. I said yes.

          He said, “What is your race?” I said, “Human.”

          He looked at me like he didn’t get it. He said, “No, I need your race.” I said, “The hundred-yard dash.”

          He looked at me again like he didn’t get it. He said, “I’ll put down ‘white’.” I said, “I’m sure you will.” THAT went completely past him.

          True story.

          • Caoimhe says:

            Hahah. I try saying ‘human’ most of the time and just get blank stares. I’ve even gone as far as “well my phenotype would be a North European white, but what you’ll learn from that I’m not sure…”

            Also, I’m glad people have gotten into the “‘race’ is a flawed concept based on pseudo-science designed to create a biological hierachy and only exists in the minds of those who believe it to” arguement. Saves me time, bother, and looking like an anthropology/cultural relations geek, lol.

            • College_Student_sMH says:

              As I said to the person who responded to my comment, while race may be pseudo-science biology wise, it is very real as a cultural concept.

              And it doesn’t just “exist in the minds of those who believe it to”, it is evident in the history and current practices of law enforcement and government, as well as how we treat each other. Differences based on skin color is reinforced by society in how we are raised as children. It was consciously and intentionally taught for many generations in this country, and now it is done for the most part unconsciously, but it is so ingrained in our culture that we don’t even recognize it anymore.

      • Matrix says:

        Sure, there are differences. there are homo sapiens neanderthalensis, homo sapiens idaltu, homo sapiens archaic, and homo sapiens sapiens. The last is the only one around, and it includes every man, woman, and child on this planet. Though we are all the same subspecies, we all vary by phenotype. Sure, there are populations that have similar phenotypes, but there are no “races”.

        • NoseMoking says:

          I did not realize that “race” in the biology world was equivalent to “species”. I tought it more akin to “breed”, as in dogs or cats. Many races, one species. Genetic variation is very small, but nonetheless distinct and produce distinct characteristics.

          It would seem that the weight and meaning placed upon the word “race” is of the most importance.

  19. tytoon says:

    In my opinion this graph speaks words that can’t be more true

  20. Elfking says:

    Original! I’m surprised this one hasn’t been done before now. Well done, Gettinfunkynow. :)
    But, say you are in a fantasy world like Alagaesia or Middle-earth? What about races such as elves, Orcs, dwarves, dragons, etc.? I would come to the same conclusion, personally.
    Yeaaaah, I’m a nerd.

  21. steroid says:

    Importance of race when judging an individual: 0%

    Importance of race when judging the culture of that race: as much as you want it to be.

  22. patrick says:

    nice try, but RACE is not defined by flesh-tone, and even if it were, there are a lot more in between that seem to constantly get ignored. Unless you are The Specials. and luckily they are black and white!

    • Elfking says:

      I think most people define race as skin tone. I’m not saying that’s the truth, though.
      I, personally, think that we’re just the human race. One order of creatures. That’s just me, though.

    • Mae says:

      Um.

      Hello? This is about a song…

  23. el gordo says:

    OMG, it’s just GraphJam people! lighten up!

  24. NoseMoking says:

    with all the people whining about all the people groups not included in the graph, I’d be tempted to add them in with maxed bars. Ohhh, the irony!

  25. Novawolf says:

    We’re all the same color when you turn out the light.

  26. TheProdigy says:

    This graph jam is the funniest one yet.

  27. WhiteFlag says:

    there are no white and black races.
    humans are to complex to be dividet into races and such.
    sorry for my not so good english

  28. zorg says:

    how true it is

  29. Haley says:

    Asians matter though, Asians matter alot

  30. Greg says:

    I don’t think it’s a white and black only thing, I think it’s a “who gives a crap what color anyone is” thing.
    More power to ‘em!
    Igloo, it is a problem in some places, but if everyone decides to ignore “race” and only judge people by their actions and words, then racism ends that day.

  31. The Jungle N says:

    The thing about racism is that some people say that it doesn’t exist anymore. That’s wrong. It exists, just most of it is from people who insult their OWN race XD. Like, Black people don’t make fun of white people (much), and white people don’t make fun of black people (much), but black people make fun of black people and white people make fun of white people. I see black people calling people n***ers sometimes.
    Also, most people view racism as a white attacking black thing. That isn’t acceptable in society anymore (usually), BUT black people still make fun of white people and don’t get any flack at all. It’s reverse discrimination, I’m tellin ya.

    • Hoopy Frood says:

      Funny… where I am, people get called on being racist no matter what their colour. It’s not “reverse”, it’s just discrimination.

      The worst people are those that project their racism on to other people, and then use that as justification for being prejudiced jerks.

  32. Lola says:

    Kumbaya, m’lord, kumbaya!

  33. Wat? says:

    wheres the funny?

  34. College_Student_sMH says:

    Don’t try to imply with some cutesy little graph.

    1) I (a white male) was walking around Manhattan with one of my best friends, who is a tall black man. We passed an antique/imported good shop when he saw an item he thought his mother would like. He wanted to go in to inquire about it, but the door was locked on a buzzer system common in city jewelry stores.

    The shopkeeper looks at him, and screams from inside the door he was closed for lunch. As we are walking away we hear two white women say “let’s go look at that” and go to the store. We watch from the corner while waiting for the light to turn. The two white women were immediately buzzed in.

    A few years before a was having a sleepover at a different friend’s house, another black person who lived in a predominately black part of town. That night, other kids who knew I was there started banging on the door menacingly as a way of trying to scare me. My friend’s grandmother called the police, telling them there were people banging on the door trying to break in.

    It took police over 45 minutes to show up to the apartment, when calls from my mother over much less emergent situations have been responded to in as little as 6. If the incident at my friend’s apartment were armed invaders instead of children (and this 911 operator didn’t know it couldn’t have been), me, my friend, and his grandmother could all be dead because the police couldn’t be bothered to serve and protect black citizens as equally as they do white citizens.

    Don’t try and tell me race is no longer a factor in this country. Take your Y-axis and shove it up your ass.

    • inked_hippie says:

      Calm down there Killer. It’s a fake graph on an LOL site that’s based on a Michael Jackson song. You seem like you need a hug…or anger management therapy. Either way, you need to learn to let some stuff roll off your back. I hope you don’t always let little unimportant things bother you like that…your head will explode eventually.

      • College_Student_sMH says:

        The fact that the police didn’t bother to respond quickly in what could have been dire circumstances is unimportant? So three lives that would have been ended had it been armed invasion rather than a bunch of stupid kids because we allow the police to be an institution that discriminates against citizens it is supposed to serve and protect is unimportant? That is why I cannot stand idiots like some of the people on here who say race isn’t real. It may not be scientifically real, but it is culturally real. It is no longer a scientific concept, it is a cultural concept we created.

        And it isn’t about a Michael Jackson song. While that may have been the intended meaning created by the author, the readers of this blog have shown through feedback that most of us redefined the meaning this graph as addressing the importance of skin color when we received the message.

        • Hoopy Frood says:

          That doesn’t change the fact that the GRAPH is about a song, and wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.

          Incidentally, I live in NY myself. I used to live in a predominantly-black Harlem neighbourhood. The only people in the neighbourhood who bothered me were the white cops, usually asking what I was doing in that neighbourhood (I’m very white). The residents were cool, however, and accepted me without hesitation. I was even invited – nearly dragged, really – to the block parties.

          Of course, to some people, race is a major issue. It shouldn’t be, but it is. I kind of pity those people, and hope they learn to see past something so trivial as the amount of melanin in one’s skin.

  35. wit says:

    To hell with purple people. Unless they’re choking…then help them.

  36. Racecar 56 says:

    SO TRUE.
    I agree with this graph.
    After all, all it is is just a doggone -SKIN COLOR-.

  37. DocFX says:

    Welcome to fail land. Humanity has only one race : humans.

    The differences here are *skin colours*, and as said before, too many were forgotten. Asian people are a bit more more yellow or brown. The simple act of talking about races is racist. But I guess it was a mistake from you.

    Skins are red, white, yellow, brown, black, grey, whatever.

    This graph is made to be posted on GraphJam, should be on failblog.

  38. Anomnomnom Omnomnom says:

    hey, he left out brown, yellow, and red!

  39. Bubulina says:

    There are no races of humans! There only is the human race and that’s it! The Scientific Racism was invented to justify the slavery in the nineteenth century in the USA and to justify the Nazi Party crimes against human beings.
    Of course, there’s nothing wrong in acknowledging the diversity of the human race, it’s actually a beautiful and necessary thing, but saying there are multiple human races is wrong.

  40. josvin says:

    Ohhh “Race” ! I hadn’t get it, at first. I thought it was like a car race, you know… Haha ! Poor French I am :/

  41. Rimsiakas says:

    Yes, it does matter. Call me a racist if you want to but it’s a fact. What next? There’s no difference between men and women?

    • Hoopy Frood says:

      Aside from aesthetics and originating cultures, there is NO difference between the various phenotypes. I wonder how you think it could possibly matter.

      As for men and women, the only real difference is in their genitalia. There is little that one gender can do that the other cannot (aside from give birth, that is).

  42. jacob says:

    does somebody notice, that the white bar isnt seen, and may be as as large as the top =p
    and what about asians and native americans

  43. name is required says:

    The graph title is fail, it should say importance of skin color, since black and white are not names of human races.

  44. HomoDM says:

    It matters when you’re pulled over.

  45. cj says:

    GraphJam: “MUSIC and POP CULTURE” in Charts and Graphs. What part of Music and Pop Culture do you people not get. This is not a race thing, it is a music reference.

  46. Deathbal101 says:

    This is a redo.

    Wtf.

  47. Erika says:

    For the person who called this the “white liberal view of the world:” umm, vomit. Couldn’t be any more wrong. This graph also could not be any more wrong.

    What’s so wrong with this graph? It encourages “color-blindness” and assimilation. “Color-blindness” is certainly the single most widespread form of racism in the U.S. today. You do realize that there is a huge social difference between races as created by the oppressions of a race by another race? Yes? Or are you all so color blind and uncaring about race that you can’t happen to see that difference when it matters most? When you have opportunities, money and an upbringing that are never available to some one else because of their race and subsequent entrappment in a societal class?

    You do realize that it’s a pretty racist thing to complain about people saying “it’s because I’m black isn’t it?” Because most of the time it is ACTUALLY because of that person’s race that they’re getting sought out by police, a longer jail sentence, passed up by a cabby, etc.

    Not to mention that differences in race, ethnicity, religion, etc. are all somethings that should be recognized and celebrated. It’s a little thing called diversity…and the dignity thereof. As in most European countries and Canada celebrate diversity rather than assimilation.

    Get an education and stop being ignorant. Color Blindness IS racism. And that is the true white liberal view.

    • Hoopy Frood says:

      A few points, mate.

      1. It’s a reference to a Michael Jackson song.

      2. It’s on a LOLsite. Get over it.

      3. Skin colour matters only as much as hair and eye colour. Yes, there are cultural differences between the originating ethnicities, but there’s no reason to make them major issues.

      4. Your “opportunities” example begins with the premise that race matters. It SHOULDN’T, especially when it comes to employment and education.

      4. “Most of the time” it’s about race? Right. Maybe in the American South, but not so much here in the metropolitan areas. I get passed up by cabs in Harlem just as often as my non-white friends.

      5. Diversity is a wonderful thing. Saying “race doesn’t/shouldn’t matter” is not the same as saying “your culture is unimportant.” You’re being reactionary and seeing prejudice where there is none.

      6. As I’ve said way too many times already, I see skin colour the same way I see hair colour and ethnicity: as a point of aesthetic interest, and as a hint to one’s ethnic heritage. I’m mostly white, and a liberal.

      7. NOT treating people of other ethnicities is not racism, except according to Bill O’Reilly. Try again, bub.

  48. The Voice of Experience says:

    I think the graph is lovely ~ in a perfect world, perhaps. Truth is, no matter how many skin colors are (or aren’t) represented on this graph, a realistic display of the world’s current racial climate would place every bar on it at the level (not listed): “matters more than anyone is willing to admit”
    Then again, maybe I am taking it all waaaay too seriously. In that case, nevermind…

    • The Voice of Experience says:

      Crap! Must be too little coffee . . . after I posted I looked more carefully at the entire comments section … but far more important, I looked at the graph again AND the video “reminder.” Um, so, ‘nevermind’ seems a little anemic. Does DOH work for y’all? Peace!

  49. ... says:

    Racist against yellow and red and whatever color people picked out of a hat to describe hispanic people as.

  50. ev149 says:

    No! You forgot red, dammit! What about Native Americans?!

  51. guy says:

    so neither black nor white people are important and everyone else is? racist.

  52. Mordaris says:

    The author of this graph is the epitome of awesome. I bow to you, sir.. or ma’am.

  53. Mick says:

    I wish this were true. But it’s not true when it comes to affirmative action…

  54. Nikky says:

    ATTN Hotheaded Children: Song Song Song Song Song Song Song Song SONG.

    Holy Jeebus.

    • Hoopy Frood says:

      Thank you. I’m tired of repeating myself.

      Of course, the little nits probably won’t read the comments.

  55. Jordan says:

    This. Is. Win!

  56. Blue says:

    EPIC WIN.

  57. TheJackanape says:

    I am aware that this is a reference to a song, but I am wondering why assimilation is so bad. I always though if people could set aside the differences that are not our choice, people could get along better. Can someone explain why just leaving race alone and forgiving the past would be bad. I would appreciate an explanation to understand please. thank you for whoever answers.

    • College_Student_sMH says:

      I would love to leave race alone. But as long as people are discriminated against, we cannot ignore it. If you ignore it when people are still suffering from racism, you no longer force people who do it unconsciously to be aware of what they are doing, and for those who no what they are doing and are purposefully racist: make them fear the consequences of it. Turning a blind eye while it is still a problem allows those who do it today to keep on doing it even worse than they are doing it today.

      Fighting racism can only end when the practice stops.

  58. TheJackanape says:

    Thank you, CS_sMH,

    So if racism somehow stopped, it would be fine to just “let race go”, so to speak?

  59. Monorail cat says:

    /hugs to the graph creator

  60. TheJackanape says:

    *whistles*

  61. Schooly says:

    You must be very, very white.

  62. TheJackanape says:

    me?

  63. SakeKitteh says:

    Damn straight.

  64. philip says:

    Americans…

    1. There are more races than black and white.
    2. What about genetic and racial diseases like sickle cell? Race matters.
    3. It matters if you’re in Alabama or South Africa (or many, many other places).

  65. Uzigawa says:

    “Chart’s That Make a Difference”

  66. Roflsneezia says:

    I bet I know what the guy who posted this is like…

  67. Eddyy says:

    It’s not easy being green!!!! O_o :P gr8 graph

  68. yah says:

    epic. epic smartness. epic. GOOD JOB, YOU MADE YOURSELF LLOOOK GOOD. *CLAP FOR HIM* *CLAP*

  69. that guy not named duct tape says:

    why can’t everyone realise that? or this be shown 300 years ago?

  70. Isabella says:

    hallelujah

  71. Deathbat says:

    Wow. So many took this seriously? It’s just a MJ song. Although the matter being discussed is indeed very serious, this wasn’t made with the intentions to make everyone so angry.

    From Black or White:
    “See, it’s not about races, just places, faces
    Where your blood comes from is where your space is
    I’ve seen the light get duller
    I’m not going to spend my life being a color”

    Race doesn’t matter (race being used as most people use it), but people act as if it’s everything, and thats where it all goes wrong. It’s only a color, it doesn’t define a person. Take away the skin and you’ll see if you’re really different.

  72. name says:

    To make this into a humorous graph it should be the same, but in the middle of the black and white do “Michael Jackson” – 100% …. that is if its not too soon

  73. lalalalalalalalala says:

    unfortunately not true graph, but i like your view on things


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