Black Lives Matter @BeerAdvocate

Excellent post and confirms that Beer Advocate is the right place to be. Thanks for being proactive and supporting everyone's rights. Cheers -

 

Thank you for this, Todd. It means a lot to me. Here is a resource that may offer some information to help tackle this issue constructively. It is from the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, of which I am a member of their North Star Society. https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race

I know we can create a better world together. Thanks to both of you for being a part of the change, of the healing.

 

I agree, Todd, we all need to become better versions of ourselves. One thing I would like to add is the offense I feel when I see or hear the term "white privilege". I feel targeted with racial hostility by the term, as it really refers to just the way everybody should be treated, in accordance with our natural rights. When we talk about "white privilege", the real issue is unequal treatment of African-Americans, or black oppression.

 

Because everything is these days. Every position has been co-opted by one party or the other and used to divide and polarize. They no longer operate on the basis of programs and long-term planning, it's all litmus tests and virtue signaling.

 

Thank you for this Todd. I have been away from the boards for years, partly because of some of the infuriating racism I have seen permitted here. I checked back today to see if Beeradvocates had discussed anything related to the murder of George Floyd. The first thing I saw was your post. This means a lot to so many. Thank you.

 

I couldn't agree more. I have encountered and conversed with many people of other races at breweries and have always enjoyed it. I despise racism in all forms.

 

To anyone belaboring the "politics" part:

Civil rights are fought for through protest both peaceful and violent, which are then established through laws created and established by, you guessed it, politicians. Politics are unavoidable, some folks just find it easier to shut it out of their own world.

Do better, listen to those less privileged than you, and help amplify the voices that have been largely ignored for literally centuries.

It's incredibly hard for an individual to change something as systemic as this overnight, but it's also quite easy to be an obstacle. Don't be that

 

I think if you feel targeted with racial hostility by the term then you should spend some time researching what it means exactly. You’re right that everyone should be treated the same. That black people should be elevated up to the same level. But there are many other layers in between. It’s easier to say “white privilege” than to have some sort of long-winded phrase that not only describes black oppression, but also covers other layers of minority mistreatment and all of the related nuances that sit in between / in addition. That’s my take anyway.

 

Is this not the duality of our culture? Everyone should be treated equally, unless of course it is culturally offensive, then we should embrace those differences. I come from a long line of poor white trash, and married into a family of Latino agricultural workers. Its eerie how both of our families faced similar issues in the past. I cant understand how people buy into the ideology that someone should be discriminated against simply by the way they were born or the circumstances they were born into. It's hard for me not to bring theology into this discussion, but I will say we are created equally, it's our decisions in this life that make us who we are.

 

I haven't posted on BA in several weeks, or maybe months, but I received the e mail today and wanted to post as a show of support and thanks.

Well done

 

Well said. Politics are inextricable from these discussions. I understand that makes some uncomfortable, but that doesn't make it any less true and sometimes comfort shouldn't be the ultimate indicator of justice or correctness.

Not having to worry about politics or being able to separate your hobbies / livelihood / whatever from politics completely is a luxury that I and many others often have; but we need to remember that this is far from the case for many, especially those in more dire situations.

 

Todd - respect for your stance.
When the nessage comes from people like you and more people like you,the tone deaf will have to start standing up and paying attention. Thanks.

 

VERY well said.

 

Bring it!

 

I see this as a customer service problem, as I see it in a few spots I happen to go to, but I get your point as those negative experiences are exacerbated by lets say a Black person who enters a white space and has this type of encounter.

 

Csn you articulate why the term "white priviledge " offends you? I sincerely am interested in your feedback.

 

Clearly this issue needs to be worked on, none of us are immune to its destructive path. Even in my (our) little corner of the world. I used to just spout "all beers matter", but after reading thru this thread I have been woke. I won't utter that tone deaf phrase again. Thanks for the push Todd.

 

It is a customer service issue, in that the server/bartender doesn't see the POC as a potential customer, but as a waste of time, and dismisses them. But, it's like Bill Robinson himself said, "My skin might be black, but my money's still green." If folks take the time to cultivate relationships, they will tend to find that people from neglected communities are the most loyal customers when they are treated like anyone else in an establishment: with respect.

 

It's possible that some bartenders are dismissive due to color, but I have found from many, many years of traveling for beer that apathetic and unhelpful bartenders are shitty to all races.

 

An example may help me illustrate what I mean. I think that a proper goal is to reduce the number of people who die while in police custody but not to reduce the number of black people who die while in police custody. If the goal is to reduce the number of people who die, a thinking person would start by identifying the context in which people tend to die. If the analysis indicates that black people are at greater risk than white people, a thinking person would set out to discover why and how to reduce the deaths of black people. If the goal is to reduce deaths and blacks are at greater risk, the focus would naturally turn to reducing black deaths. The need to narrow the goal at the onset to reducing black deaths does not exist. Therefore, I am reluctant to make the goal to reduce the number of black people who die while in police custody.