When I saw your pic last week, all I saw was a black man in chains. My first thought, was slavery and subjugation.
I did not know, and I will repeat, I did not know at that time, that it was Kunta Kinte. I did not know it was a fictional character.
Was I to know at that time? No
Should I have known at that time? No
Does it make me ignorant, did it make me ignorant at that time, when I first saw that pic? No
It's apparent that everyone else seemed to know it was Kunte Kinte, well good for you. I did not know.
Sushill, I apologised to you publicly and privately, that I did the wrong thing by 'running' to Admin. I will not betray your confidence and relay your response to me, in this matter.
I will let everyone know, that I did tell Sushill, that the PM, I sent to him privately, I allowed him to put it in the BWA Clan Forum, for all of its members too see.
I had said publicly, and repeated a number of times, I didnt know it was Kunta Kinte.
What do I percieve to be ignorant of, in this context? Well, if last week, I saw that pic, and if I saw that it was Kunta Kinte, the fictional character, and I still 'ran' to the Site Admin, with feedback, to request its removal, then that would make me ignorant.
If I choose to say, I found it 'racist in nature' and offensive, that is my right, to formulate that opinion in my own mind. The fact that I said it in your thread that you posted, I was expressing my thoughts, which I have a right too. I had the choice not too. But, I did. And I do not apologise for expressing my opinion.
I get the sense, that certain people, are of the opinion, I knew it was Kunta Kinte, that I was just being so damn ignorant, and I still 'ran' to Site Admin. You are all wrong.
I'd like to point something else out. I've been on this site, over 2yrs now. I have seen in that time, who the BWA are. In that time, I had read, I had not been told by anyone, I had read, that the clan has white members, who pretend to be black.
The only posts, I can recollect, to the best of my ability, is that of Kirksey's. I do not recollect, seeing any of yours, Sushill. Not, until last week.
I did not look, in the general forum's last week, to look for you, to target you, because you are in BWA, because you had that avatar.
Last week, in the general forums, I was reading posts, (in betwween Chess moves), saw your avatar, and I cringed, my guts were churning, because all I saw was a black man in chains.
When I first mentioned the BWA, in a much early post, when the thread started, I had said, "Can a BWA member, justify to me and others, what kind of attitude Kunta Kinte would have, with chains round his neck?" I did not mention your name specifically.
Notice : that I mentioned Kunta Kinte, in that post. It was AFTER No.1, said it was. The thread progressed, and several times I mentioned, that I did not know who it was.
Yet, certain others, and yourself, believed me to be ignorant of that fact.
Sushill, the only thing I am ignorant of, and being painfully conscious of, is that I did not PM you, to ask you in the first place. I ignored the fact, that you would have an explanation/reason for having that pic.
I am saying all of this, honestly and openly, for all to see, but this is for you, Sushill.
Originally posted by Elamef37You didn't - it was really your only option. You should not have to chat with other users about such a sensitive subject, especially if it affected you emotionally.
I did the wrong thing by 'running' to Admin.
The admins should have opened dialogue with Sushill as they usually do in these cases.
Let me just say here that the avatar was removed because it disturbed me personally. We have hundreds of avatars alerted to us with people requesting they be removed on the grounds of racism, sexism, religous reasons, etc... and the decision over whether to remove them is always made by us and not simply because someone requested their removal. You have absolutely no need to make a defense Elamef37 - you alerted the avatar because it concerned you, and then we took the decision. I've never heard of that character either and in any case the argument that an avatar is suitable simply because it potrays a fictional character is pretty weak at best.
Originally posted by CrowleyNone of my chess buddies and/or friends, knew of this. Please understand that I've said this.
You didn't - it was really your only option. You should not have to chat with other users about such a sensitive subject, especially if it affected you emotionally.
The admins should have opened dialogue with Sushill as they usually do in these cases.
I have no reason to involve anyone. I have no reason to discuss this with anyone. I made a choice/decision, fully, and on my own accord. I had to prepare myself, to be faced with whatever comments, came to me, good or bad. I've dealt with this, on my own, the best way I can.
Originally posted by Elamef37Good grief.
I did not know, and I will repeat, I did not know at that time, that it was Kunta Kinte. I did not know it was a fictional character.
Was I to know at that time? No
I am saying all of this, honestly and openly, for all to see, but this is for you, Sushill.
Have a little diginity.
Sure, you should have PM'd the dude first before jumping to conclusions, but that's about it.
No need to wallow around in that there mud (unless your naked and are showing pics).
Originally posted by Elamef37So did you have an opinion about my posts? I used to post quite frequently in the spiritual forums. As for your opinions about BWA, I offered to be in a dialogue with you about that in a PM and you responded that you weren't interested. And as always a "thanks."
When I saw your pic last week, all I saw was a black man in chains. My first thought, was slavery and subjugation.
I did not know, and I will repeat, I did not know at that time, that it was Kunta Kinte. I did not know it was a fictional character.
Was I to know at that time? No
Should I have known at that time? No
Does it make me ignorant, did i ...[text shortened]... g all of this, honestly and openly, for all to see, but this is for you, Sushill.
Originally posted by kirksey957I could very well have had an opinion. As to what opinion I had, I do not recall. I could in fact, read your forum posts now, to jog my memory, but I will say this, what my opinion could very well have been then, could in fact, be quite different now.
So did you have an opinion about my posts? I used to post quite frequently in the spiritual forums. As for your opinions about BWA, I offered to be in a dialogue with you about that in a PM and you responded that you weren't interested. And as always a "thanks."
Yes, you PM'ed me, and asked. I responded, I was not interested.
I'd like to point out, I wasn't interested then, because at that time, I was dealing with what was being said in the thread, your fellow BWA member posted.
If I could suggest to you, Kirksey, if you would like me to know, whatever it is about the BWA I should know, you can if you'd like, PM me. I leave this up to you. Please know, I mightn't be able to reply to it, straight away.
Thanks 🙂
Originally posted by CrowleyExactly, any person on this site has the right to "run" to admin any time they choose. Any person can choose to send a PM. They can choose to nothing. Perhaps we should have another thread with over 500 posts about whether someone has the choice to do anything.
You didn't - it was really your only option. You should not have to chat with other users about such a sensitive subject, especially if it affected you emotionally.
The admins should have opened dialogue with Sushill as they usually do in these cases.
Originally posted by ChrisWay better avatar 😉.
Let me just say here that the avatar was removed because it disturbed me personally. We have hundreds of avatars alerted to us with people requesting they be removed on the grounds of racism, sexism, religous reasons, etc... and the decision over whether to remove them is always made by us and not simply because someone requested their removal. You have abso ...[text shortened]... t an avatar is suitable simply because it potrays a fictional character is pretty weak at best.
