Any "fortunate" URM's Forum

[20121109]

I guess I'd say I've been pretty fortunate...I don't want to delve too deep into the topic, but it had absolutely nothing to do with me being a URM and had more to do with life experiences. It was a sort of narrative that explained why I wanted to practice law, based on my own personal experiences. I'm pretty sure there was no mention of race or ethnicity it my PS at all.

I am another middle class URM. I also my DS for about life experience than about being discriminated against. On the one hand, I felt it was an accurate and honest piece of writing, and I was quite proud of the DS. On the other hand, I received absolutely no discernible boost for being a URM. My cycle went just like lawschoolpredictor would have said without the URM button clicked. Maybe even slightly worse, given the competitive cycle and all.


I don't wish to enter this into the debate going although it does say something to the points that many posters have made.

What kind of URM are you?

[Flanker1067]

I guess I'd say I've been pretty fortunate...I don't want to delve too deep into the topic, but it had absolutely nothing to do with me being a URM and had more to do with life experiences. It was a sort of narrative that explained why I wanted to practice law, based on my own personal experiences. I'm pretty sure there was no mention of race or ethnicity it my PS at all.

I am another middle class URM. I also my DS for about life experience than about being discriminated against. On the one hand, I felt it was an accurate and honest piece of writing, and I was quite proud of the DS. On the other hand, I received absolutely no discernible boost for being a URM. My cycle went just like lawschoolpredictor would have said without the URM button clicked. Maybe even slightly worse, given the competitive cycle and all.


I don't wish to enter this into the debate going although it does say something to the points that many posters have made.

What kind of URM are you?

Mex-Am

[20121109]

I guess I'd say I've been pretty fortunate...I don't want to delve too deep into the topic, but it had absolutely nothing to do with me being a URM and had more to do with life experiences. It was a sort of narrative that explained why I wanted to practice law, based on my own personal experiences. I'm pretty sure there was no mention of race or ethnicity it my PS at all.

I am another middle class URM. I also my DS for about life experience than about being discriminated against. On the one hand, I felt it was an accurate and honest piece of writing, and I was quite proud of the DS. On the other hand, I received absolutely no discernible boost for being a URM. My cycle went just like lawschoolpredictor would have said without the URM button clicked. Maybe even slightly worse, given the competitive cycle and all.


I don't wish to enter this into the debate going although it does say something to the points that many posters have made.

What kind of URM are you?

Mex-Am

No discernible boost whatsoever? That's peculiar...you didn't have any red flags in your application, did you? Also, you did clearly identify as a Mexican-American on your apps, right?

Sorry, just a little confused, lol...

[YCrevolution]

..

[Rock Chalk]

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[Flanker1067]

Edit: In response to your questions Gaia:



1) No
2) I don't think so. No criminal history, one undergrad with no nonsense, one lsat score...
3)I checked the box and wrote a DS partially about it, however I made no false claims about racism in my past.

[20121109]

YCrev...I wanna be a mod

[d34d9823]

GAIA, you are not the only one who is aware of romo's ineffective tactics. I hope other posters can see him for the illogical, unreasonable poster that he is.

RockChalk, regard;ess of the variety of social stati within the black community, you are failing to understand the very basic point that, in the eyes of the dominant, white society, blacks are still considered inferior and not as worthy as their white counterparts. Rich or poor, in white America, a [racist language redacted] is still a [racist language redacted].

Don't believe me, consider the OJ case and what that taught Americans across the board.

I take no issue with the bolded.

I do take issue with the bolded. Suggesting that most white people discriminate based on race just isn't true.

Growing up white, I heard racist comments, especially from older white people, but they were never mainstream and rarely accepted. It was never intimated to me that you should judge someone by their skin color and I grew up blissfully unaware that some people thought that it was OK to do so.

If you tell a racist joke in a room full of white people, welcome to social pariah status. Not because someone of color is there to complain, but because it's just not accepted.

So yeah, I'm not saying there's not racism out there, we all know there is. That said, stereotyping white society as systemically racist moves the discussion back, not forward.

[d34d9823]

YCrev...I wanna be a mod

Me too, YC. Why does nightrunner get to be a mod? I bet you just picked him because of his URM status.

[Rock Chalk]

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[hiromoto45]

Wealthy blacks still face just as much racism, but just in different, maybe less overt forms.

As we progress towards the higher levels of the socioeconomic strata, racism doesn't slowly become less rampant, it merely changes in form. It becomes more institutionalized, less obvious, but still very much present. Yes, the racism experienced by upper-class blacks may not be equal in the sense that they face the same kinds of racism of those in the lower-class, but the difference in the amount of racism (if its possible to quantify in this sense) is not substantial enough to conclude that my stance on the matter, or that of many other URMs who would concur with my view, is absurd.

I'm sorry if you find my word choice rather strong, but I stick by my claim that the first quote here is absurd due the inclusion of the bolded. I understand the difficulty with this sort of quantification, but keep in mind my assertion necessitates no specific formulation since "far from equal" is much more broad than "equal." I'd also like to add that perceived education level is a probable factor in the process, and many poor URMs are blatantly victimized by those who assume (often correctly) that they won't know their rights or avenues of recompense.

Sure it seems like apples to oranges, but it's really more like apples to rotten apples. Poor black people experience things much worse than those experienced by wealthy black people, and more frequently. I don't see anyone with experience as both or well-read on the topic disagreeing with this statement.

Where do you fit in middle-class blacks? How about African Immigrants? No ask you what your economic status and then discerns how they will treat you. You are making a generalization.

[hiromoto45]

YCrev...I wanna be a mod

Me too, YC. Why does nightrunner get to be a mod? I bet you just picked him because of his URM status.

I was wondering when that sentiment was going to come out. VanWinkle is also a mod now. Diversity Appointments!

[Flanker1067]

I am told that I was made a MOD out of recognition for my general f'n awesomeness.

That or the 11K+ posts you have. If by awesomeness you mean "large amount of time spent on TLS" then, yes.

[d34d9823]

I think you're missing the forest for the trees. 3S's sentiment was that, in general, society considers white people superior to black people, not that each member is expressedly racist.

What you said (bolded) is not nearly as strong as what he said. With all respect, I don't even think what you said is true. Social interaction is complex, but alleging a group as a whole is racist when a large majority of that group is not seems suspect.

I certainly don't consider *choke* I can't even say it, it sounds so wrong. The vast majority of white people I've known don't share those sentiments either.

[Mattalones]

I am told that I was made a MOD out of recognition for my general f'n awesomeness.

Is there a "general f'n awesomeness" box that I can check in my application for mod? If so, I'd love to be a mod. I think it is my calling

[3 Stripes]

That said, stereotyping white society as systemically racist moves the discussion back, not forward.

I agree with this sentiment; I would also argue that this discussion has shown no signs of moving forward.

I think it's rather unfair to accuse me of stereotyping white America when the proof is in the pudding in regards to how the United States engages in practices with racist undertones in its systematic and institutional operations.

You can research bank practices, real estate market practices, corporate practices, etc. Racism in this day and age is not necessarily in your face but is ingrained in the culture under which various American bred institutions function.

This is no lie nor is it a stereotype.

[20121109]

Wealthy blacks still face just as much racism, but just in different, maybe less overt forms.

As we progress towards the higher levels of the socioeconomic strata, racism doesn't slowly become less rampant, it merely changes in form. It becomes more institutionalized, less obvious, but still very much present. Yes, the racism experienced by upper-class blacks may not be equal in the sense that they face the same kinds of racism of those in the lower-class, but the difference in the amount of racism (if its possible to quantify in this sense) is not substantial enough to conclude that my stance on the matter, or that of many other URMs who would concur with my view, is absurd.

I'm sorry if you find my word choice rather strong, but I stick by my claim that the first quote here is absurd due the inclusion of the bolded. I understand the difficulty with this sort of quantification, but keep in mind my assertion necessitates no specific formulation since "far from equal" is much more broad than "equal." I'd also like to add that perceived education level is a probable factor in the process, and many poor URMs are blatantly victimized by those who assume (often correctly) that they won't know their rights or avenues of recompense.

Sure it seems like apples to oranges, but it's really more like apples to rotten apples. Poor black people experience things much worse than those experienced by wealthy black people, and more frequently. I don't see anyone with experience as both or well-read on the topic disagreeing with this statement.

I still disagree with your word choice, but it can't be helped. I think some of the things you put forth to further corroborate your point are starting to touch on that gray area wherein class and race become somewhat muddled. Perceived education is a valid point but I would have to say that the way poor URMs are victimized because they often have no clue as to how to remedy a discriminatory circumstance would speak more to the heightened effect of racism in their lives, rather than any added amount. Your point about poor black people experiencing things much worse than blacks more fortunate transcends the subset of race. I could also say, "Poor people experience things much worse than those experienced by wealthy people, and more frequently." The fact that you added a racial qualifier is a moot point.

[d34d9823]

That said, stereotyping white society as systemically racist moves the discussion back, not forward.

I agree with this sentiment; I would also argue that this discussion has shown no signs of moving forward.

I think it's rather unfair to accuse me of stereotyping white America when the proof is in the pudding in regards to how the United States engages in practices with racist undertones in its systematic and institutional operations.

You can research bank practices, real estate market practices, corporate practices, etc. Racism in this day and age is not necessarily in your face but is ingrained in the culture under which various American bred institutions function.

This is no lie nor is it a stereotype.

[citation needed]

[Rock Chalk]

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[hiromoto45]

I don't like how URM threads are so heavily Moderated. Whenever there is a gathering of minorities discussing issues, there has to be an authority present to keep the peace just like IRL.

[d34d9823]

I don't like how URM threads are so heavily Moderated. Whenever there is a gathering of minorities discussing issues, there has to be an authority present to keep the peace just like IRL.

You would prefer the racist venom flow unabated? I can see both sides here.

[hiromoto45]

.

[hiromoto45]

I don't like how URM threads are so heavily Moderated. Whenever there is a gathering of minorities discussing issues, there has to be an authority present to keep the peace just like IRL.

You would prefer the racist venom flow unabated? I can see both sides here.

Well I believe that is what 3Stripes is speaking to. It may be hard for many to digest but that is a reality that many minorities live.

You can research bank practices, real estate market practices, corporate practices, etc. Racism in this day and age is not necessarily in your face but is ingrained in the culture under which various American bred institutions function.

I believe poorer minorities face this kind of discrimination more so than wealthier minorities as Rock Chalk advocates.

[d34d9823]

I don't like how URM threads are so heavily Moderated. Whenever there is a gathering of minorities discussing issues, there has to be an authority present to keep the peace just like IRL.

You would prefer the racist venom flow unabated? I can see both sides here.

Think of us as fire extinguishers.

And, at least today, the "authority" is also URM (and, for the record, has censored exactly no one).

That's not true, YC censored the guy who said the word I can't say 'cause I'm white.

[hiromoto45]

I don't like how URM threads are so heavily Moderated. Whenever there is a gathering of minorities discussing issues, there has to be an authority present to keep the peace just like IRL.

You would prefer the racist venom flow unabated? I can see both sides here.

Think of us as fire extinguishers.

And, at least today, the "authority" is also URM (and, for the record, has censored exactly no one).

It doesn't matter, just like the law, you are expected to be impartial. I'm just pointing out a fact. People must teeter on what they say so threads don't get locked.