african american societies/groups are formed so that they can get together in groups with people who share common interests if anglo americans wanted to do that, they just have to step outside.

I suspect that the so called black churches are more than willing to accept non black members. Black history month (February, the shortest month of the year...) is simply a time to commemorate the historical achievements of blacks, who are frequently marginalized by mainstream educators... And I'm sure you can watch all the BET you want... None of these things are exclusive...

i think it's because they want to be a minority and stay that way. not all blacks, of course, but this applies to certain circles of them. for instance, during the civil rights movement, thousands of Jewish people from the North (who were also discriminated against)came down to the South (Mississippi) and protested racists with the Blacks who lived there. But a few years later, the Blacks told the Jewish people to leave and basically (mind their own business). there are so many minorities (not just African Americans) who still refuse the help from an Anglo b/c they want the pity of others and the get-out-of-jail-free-card which is claiming "racial slurs and activities."

and there is white entertainment tv that goes along with BET....we call it Nickelodeon.^_^

wow interisting its like blacks are the favorite

Because they think the world owes them something.

Its interesting that so many people especially below a certain age or lack of exposure to various communities can ask such a question. But here it is. A church that is predominately American Black is as a result of discrimmination from American Anglo. Why on earth would families want to attend a church where they could get lynch, or home burned down, or cross on their lawn or as the years progressed, just plain unwelcomed even in a three piece suit. So thank God the Black American has the ability to build their own church and praise God they way they want to.

Politicians sucking up for votes has a lot to with things such as this. I always thought it was funny seeing the Clintons, some huge racists showing up in a black church. Of course Bill is a very moral person.

I am so curious as to how "WHITES" as you call them, I say Anglo Saxon. How have they bent over backwards for anyone other than to well....I will will it there.... Please anonymous...Describe what your "Whites " have bent over backwards to do....We would love to hear. By the way...About what happen 100 year + ago, how would you like your mother to experience it? Come on put on your imagine cap...Imagine...

absolutely that's why you don't see it

Because white supremacists created a stereotype that haunts us to this day. Blacks haven't done that, or at least not to anywhere near the same degree. Yet.

Um, my dear fellow citizen: I am sorry that you feel this way. However, I must inform you of some of the disparities that occur that relate to what you have mentioned here in this question. In the U.S. - Whites outnumber all other races. Blacks are about 12%-15% of the population. So that black people a minority group. - Black have endured slavery and genocide for many years. Blacks were ridiculed in the media. Blacks were called ugly, stupid, and inferior. Blacks were not allowed to vote and then only allowed to vote by paying tax while whites separated themselves and were allowed to be free and not be subjected to the same conditions. - Now that slavery no longer exists there is still a lingering hostility towards blacks because they are black and some of that slavery mentality still remains. Which is why, because of this disadvantage, we need programs of support, that support blacks to counteract the "white privilege" that you have benefitted from. So, you see, let's not look at things in black in white and recognize our differences and try to understand that blacks are not trying to separate themselves as many white have and still continue to do. It is about leveling the opportunity field and having support system. It is not racist. I suggest to read some articles on "White privilege" written by or discussed by white people. Only then, do I think you will start to conceptualize better. Glood bless you and have a wonderful day.

When ever something is made for white people only; it IS recist. When it comes to churches white & black segrigation hasn't chanded much since before the Civil War. Also we (humans) are more comfortable going to churches, watching tv channels, ect, with people of our own skin color. NOTHING should be race specific; epecially churches.

If the blacks want to have their own churches and other installations, just let them have. If you have white churches and white installations, most black people would avoid them. So I can not see the problem. And as well as black people seem to feel not very well among whites, the same feeling many white people do have. I do not know why it is this way in the USA. In Africa, I never had any problem this like. But white people usually are a minority there and I never made any bad experience with african people. I think there are many bias and prejudices on both sides in the USA which are based on the fact that most black people come from former slaves and that white people were the mistresses and masters. I fear that this will still last a long time because on both sdides thee are people who are not willing to forget. In some part of Europe people were able to see each other as friends, altough there were wars over centuries. History was as it was and I think it makes no sense to cook always the same old things in the past.

Lots of good answers. I'll just surmise that US history has been unfair. We're trying to be fair and deathly afraid of seeming that we aren't.

If you look at the question as a business issue more than a racial issue, it is easy. For TV, movies and any other media, money is made from advertising. and they advertise to the market that will get them the most money. since whites are the largest group in the US, most commercials are marketed towards them. think of a shampoo commercial, always a white women swinging her hair. to that since, you already have "white history, white TV, and all other forms. since blacks are a minority, the media like BET markets to the black audience. so they show commercials with hair relaxers, and other black products that mainstream media doesn't show. it is not an issue of race but more an issue of making money.

Ok, I will explain this for you. in social groups, you have a majority, and a minority. the majority will dominate the social group and thus everything will be inclined to the majority. so if you watch TV, things like shampoo commercials, or cosmetics, it is often geared toward the majority, since that is the largest group that will spend money. since blacks are so far from the majority, they tend to have opposite needs. so for this small segment of the population, they have specialized advertising (the real reason they have a BET) whites don't by hair relaxers, or have a need for hair oils, but blacks do, so they advertise on a channel that blacks will watch. the whole idea of being racist has nothing to do with it, it is all about filling a need that is not met by mainstream America. Would you get angry because they have specialized stores that sell Hispanic foods? no, because it fills a need that is not met by a normal (majority) grocery store. also, would you really shop in a store that advertise selling "white peoples" food? If you go through all of the channels, and really pay attention, Minorities are substituted in American culture for the sake of ratings and advertising. there is a show called "survivorman" and the guy (a white guy) goes and lives off the land in foreign countries, they showed how the show is filmed, and he actually learns what to eat from the locals, but would Americans watch a show with a foreign guy eating bugs? nope, they would call them "uncivilized" and turn away, but the white guy eating bugs is "innovative and smart" and viewed as a unique person that can survive despite all. take a step back and look at the world you live in, from the prospective of a minority.

...the MAJOR difference being: seldom will you see a "BLACKS ONLY" sign hung everywhere!!!

BET, MOBO Awards, black-only writing awards or anything along those lines are all just patronising. If whites started WET, as opposed to BET, they'd be called racist, even if they tried desperately to justify it by blaming advertisers and such, they'd be called racist, there is no justification for segregation, when whites do it that is, but if non-whites do it, it's all the rage, it's seen as a positive thing, it's ridiculous. I have the mindset where I have full confidence in black people's ability to compete with whites when it comes to music, writing or entertainment, so I see these pathetic awards for what they are, pathetic. You can basically translate black-only awards like this (remember, this is coming from black people): You can't possibly compete with white people, they're too superior to you, so since competing with them will result in hardly any black writers/musicians winning awards, we've designed an award that can only be won by someone black, therefore increasing the amount of black writers/musicians with awards to their name, and as an added bonus, if you don't win, at least your racist streak will be delighted to know that it will definitely go to another black person. I am not trying to offend anyone with my answer here, I'm just calling it as I see it.

The only reason people bitch about "Black" organizations is because we're a visible minority. When we cluster we're trying to be separate but they fail to look around and realize they cluster too. People hang out with people they have things in common with. Now to the why since you asked: 1. Why would Blacks abandon organizations that helped them, logically speaking? Black Frats, and Churches have helped Blacks for years since their inception. If you get out of these organizations what you need then why would you dissolve them? 2. The Dreaded Black History Month-we talk about white people, their history and their accomplishments all year even though we're a multicultural nation. We never go into real depth of the perspective of non-European American Ancestors and where they are from. Hell kids don't even learn about the Native groups that occupied the land they now live on in their local area. The reason for the omission is simple, it's not deemed important to know to be an American. Am I lying? How are we to appreciate other groups if we know nothing about them? How engaged in the lesson would you be if you were told your ancestors were slaves and that was it? But fear not, knowing the non-European ancestors of America is not a real requirement in the educational system. BET, what a misnomer? It had the potential to be innovative but became a mock up of an old format with Black characters. I remember when it was interesting. Instead of new programming that gave insight into Black Culture. It regurgitates pop culture for the masses so deem it no real threat. Remember we already have WET it's called ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. A few minorities here and there but with a strong overarching main White Character. You're still in the game kid. Let's be honest about this whole WET TV crap, is there really a shortage of media covering the white perspective? It's been set to default so long people fail to realize it is particular culture's point of view. However I am willing to relent to some degree, if you want Irish American TV, Italian American TV, or Russian American TV then go for it. But the generic white POV has been well established. (And for the record the you already have White Churches. All churches tend to attract a particular group. Same reason we have gay churches, Eastern European Churches but some how they get a pass and we don't. Every Black Church I've attended has allowed White Parishioners with no problem. Most people go to the type of Church they went to as a child and most Black people that went to Church went to a Black Church. You can blame slavery for that if you wish because that's where it started. I know Black people who've gone to a white church and most say that the service was boring to them. It had nothing to do with it being White just their style of praise.)

First of enough of the im not racist at all BS nobody's buying it. firstly here's my question we have a latino, asian/hawaiin pacific, native american, women, music, and more history month but i just don't understand america's obssession to constantly dump and degrade black history month and deem it racist but not call the other months racist either hypocrisy at the highest level to me. Secondly Black churches were created because of white racism in the early days and as time goes on the reality is people of any color aren't fighting to get along so old habits of segeration will be here for I while. and lastly quit fing complaining about BET. im sick of people using BET as an example for blacks being racist as if every black in america came up with the idea to pitch money together and create BET. BET in itself in the begining was a response to racism since it only played mainstream friendly music and short changed black workers in the movie and music industry which ironically BET now does the same thing but that's for another day. So to answer your question most things people complain as racist was a response to racism. black churches, black colleges, black Entertainment television and so on. and the thing is when you could make arguements over things that other racist have as a sign of their idenity which could be deemed seperatists and not be called out yet blacks continually called out all im going to say is quit the BS. Because people who say those things keep racism alive ain't NOT ONE! NOT ONE! NOT ONE! cool as friend i have from another race every say oh you guys got BET your a racist so we cant be friends. Or you support bhm i can't be your friend. It's just a bunch of non important things people use to justify bs. except AA i hate that garbage. so downrate me if you must comment me at you peril because im not in the mood today to go PC

The world has been geared toward the majority for many years. Just watch the old TV shows..Almost NO black people on them and those who were on them were either the maid, butler, cook, carrying a tray or said, "Yes boss!" You don't see white churches? I sure as hell do. They're in every suburban neighborhood in almost every city in the US. No white TV? CBS, NBC, ABC, (FOX especially).. I grew up in an all white school system and didn't know any black people except those in my grandmothers neighborhood until after high school, but my grandmother, gotta love her, welcomed everyone in her home and was loved by everyone around her. You're not racist? If you're not you have managed to fool nearly every responder with a few exceptions.

Black people fraternize because its a tradition that came from a time when we were not allowed to be a part of anything social. And this solidarity gave rise to the civil rights movement which made huge strides for us gaining opportunity although there will never be true equality. And some white people have had white only groups for a long time. Nothing new and nothing to be upset about.

Because the white culture is strong. The black culture is a minority one and, like the gay culture, is always under threat. The dominant culture never needs to validate itself

Hmm..I have read every answer to this question, and have found each answer very interesting. I have personally heard several people ask some form of this same question before in passing conversation. This Q would seem true to a person who has not been exposed to the history of slavery & segregation among the black race. Yes, it was a long time ago, but it still explains alot of what we see today, and the effects of how racism forced a race to come together, and be seen as equal among all of human race. The black race has come a long way, and I believe, is given way more respect & patronage then what people have given credit to. In my opinion, the black race is soaring & replacing alot of titles, positions, honors, etc., of where only white people have been. So, with all due respect, before you can make judgement-whether it seems right or wrong- is important to equip yourself with the knowledge of where it all originated.

Black churches exist because blacks were not allowed in white churches. When The AME African Methodist Episcopal Churches opened they became poular, and why not? FUBU for us by us, Why shouldn't black people have their own businesses and shows. White producers portray them as criminals, maids, and pimps. Cosby put an end to that. Kinda give a new perspective to your hypotyhesis....

there are churches, tv channels, week and months, for many cultures. We live in a secular age, meaning anybody, any race can celebrate anything with any race regardless and nobody will complain. Just celebrating culture. Black, white, its such an ignorant term to describe people.

Thats because now you can be raciest to everyone but whites.

Because you have some selfrighteous white and black fools trying to create their own form of recognition ... thus creating more amplified racist issues than really need be within many situations. Racism is rife within most races, and it's not all based on color of skin, religion and segregation by flag is as much to blame ... Choose any color, race, or religion ... take a good look at their place of business and you will most likely find a mojority of the staff are from the same background as the owner/employer ... many times this is for simplicity of understanding and ease of production, but many times it can often be because others outside their race or religion are considered lower on their scale of appreciation. ;) change is slow. Peace.

i get you..but i think it's just mostly the segregation of ethnic and racial groups to each given community. i've been to many churches in different areas and they all correlate to the race in the given community...so its not technically a "black church"

The reason white history month, "WET," and the rest would be considered racist is because of a long history of "white pride" equaling "white supremacy" and violence against minorities. Until relatively recently it was not only OK but encouraged to discriminate and be violent against minorities, relatively recently being the 1950's to the 1960's. So, history can be thanked for this problem. Special events, history months, etc. for whites are not, to me, racist unless supremacy is involved. However, they would be redundant. Black history month: history is white, for the most part. Having a white history month would be redundant. What I would LIKE to see is history properly taught. Make it AMERICAN history with history accurately including all ethnicities in their correct place. Have television programs about history of various minorities aired alongside mainstream (mostly white at this time) programming. Black churches: there were many white churches that did not allow blacks so they made their own. Black channels: there can be white channels also. In fact, the majority of mainstream programming is geared around whites.

well im white nor racist and yeah they have there month and bet we have cmt not that i watch it its rather annoying to me and black people are not the olny ons with a month spanish people do to and then us we have that dumb confederate flag and people wonder why everyone thinks white people are stuck up