Sat., famous 6/6 Pawel Fludzinski

[magus]

THEME:   none
   
GOOD ONES:     
"Piano is not my forte," e.g.   PUN [a pianoforte is the original name of a piano --- still used in Italian]   
Meter starter   PERI [not a coin]   
Blue books?   PORNO [blue is a term for smut; blue books are exam booklets]   
Opening numbers?   AREA CODES [not songs]   
Pepper trio?   PEES   
Price support?   BRAVA [cheers for diva Price]   
A virus may cause one   FATAL ERROR [I though flu, etc. probably because I consider computers relatively recent phenomena]   
   
BTW:   
Crossing FRANK GEHRY with ARHAT, while fair, is a bit sadistic.   
   
ENOW   I studied Macbeth but didn't know the quote; a better clue might be "Enough for Shakespeare."   
   
   
RATING:    
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun   

[rbe]

According to the NAACP, the 1976 Springarn Medal was awarded to Hank Aaron. Alvin Ailey won in 1977.

[magus]

Amazing!  How did you know that?

[Thomps2525]

The NAACP website notes that the Springarn Medal is awarded annually for "the highest achievement of an American of African descent." In other words, whites, Asians and Latinos are not eligible. That is an example of racism. The website also explains that the medal "was instituted in 1914 by the late J.E. Spingarn, then Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors." So he was already deceased at the time he instituted the medal? That sentence should not have included the words "the late."

Read all about it! http://www.naacp.org/pages/spingarn-medal

[magus]

Rewind---

Look up the definition of racism, then see if you think the award is racist.

[Thomps2525]

From Wikipedia:

"Racism consists of ideologies and practices that justify or cause the unequal distribution of privileges, rights or goods between different racial groups.....It may also hold that members of different races should be treated differently."

The Springarn Medal is awarded to members of only one particular race. All other races are excluded. To me, that is an example of racism. This forum is not really the place to dwell on this topic but I could cite many more examples. Here is just one: We have a "Black History Month." Can you imagine the outrage if we instituted a White History Month?

[magus]

from Webster's:

Full Definition of RACISM
1:  a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2:  racial prejudice or discrimination[my note---here the term means prejudice]

Alas, Rewind, you are wrong thrice. 
Once for not realizing that the definitions of words is indeed the proper object of this site. 
Twice, for using Wikipedia as an authority to help resolve any issue. [Even so, it does not support your case.]
And thrice, for not realizing that racism has a pejorative denotation while awarding medals to people of a particular group does not. 
     The Medal of Honor goes only to those who fought in war; is the medal militaristic?
     The Mother of the Year award goes to a woman; is the award sexist?
     American Pharoah will win horse of the year; is that unfair to asses?

[Thomps2525]

All right, I accept your chastisement...and you all know I'm not the chastisement accepter I used to be. I agree that the word "racism" is almost always a pejorative but the word can not be equated with "militarism" or "sexism." the Medal of Honor is not restricted to members of any particular race, nor is the Mother of the Year award. The NAACP award is restricted to one particular race. To me, racism is simply the favoring of one race above another (or others). Obviously I need to come up with a different word besides "racism." As for American Pharoah, his name is misspelled and I refuse to talk about him.