I wanted to add this as a comment to John's post but it got too long and is a bit of a tangent.
Personally, I believe that modern day racism is a product of racism. Today, besides a small amount of ignorant, simple-minded racist bigots, most people realize that all races of people are fundamentally the same. However, racism is still a problem. Why? I believe the cause is the result.
The subject of race is never far from the tongues of any Americans. Issues of race and racism are always on our mind, especially now that people have forced it upon the presidential race. The driving factor of this is extremist groups that scream RACISM at every chance. The most obvious example is Al Sharpton but there are examples for every race, even whites. If a white cop tasers a black or latino or asian then its because of their race, not because they broke a law. Now that white is practically the minority more of the reverse is seen. I know my grandpa argues that schools are racist towards whites now and focus more on the education of non-whites. It's whites being racist towards nonwhites, blacks being racist towards nonblacks, etc. that is the problem.
Another thing is the idea that "I have to look out for my own race". In the newspaper in my hometown there was an article about how a high ranking official for the NAACP was quoted saying basically that if Obama wasn't black he would not vote for him, but he cannot pass up voting for a black man. The article pointed out that if any white person said that he would be crucified. I'm also sure there are white people that are voting for McCain because they do not want to vote for a black person.
This is complete bullshit. The fact that people relate everything to race is what continues the monotonous idiotic struggle of one race versus another. It's the same old argument over and over again. The fact that you are white has nothing to do with why the black cop tased you, it is because you ran from him with a bag of weed hanging out of your pocket. Claiming racism every time something like that happens keeps it on the minds of all the public. It also makes every non-white person who sees the headline "White male gets tasered by black cop while saying 'don't tase me bro' " assume, dang he's going to claim racism, isn't he? And so the saga continues. Just like the fact that some hip-hop station DJ's say "Vote for a brother, vote Obama". There is absolutely no need for it, his skin color doesn't affect his politics, but now people assume every black person is voting for Obama just because he is black, not based on his politics.
Once people get over the color of their skin and actually pay attention this problem can't end.
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4 comments:
I certainly agree with you on that one. You bring up a great point in the mixing of race and politics. I have to admit I have been guilty of the "I have to look out for my own race" mode of thinking. It's not something we can just turn off, and it isn't going to go away anytime soon. I don't necessarily blame racism in and of itself, however. I blame the media for making race a selling point. There are plenty of people that realize that the kind of situations you speak of are absolute bullshit from both sides. However, I think humans are naturally inclined to conflict and race is just another form of conflict, albeit a more marketable one. I feel that making it a selling point detracts from the depravity and the validity of the truly racist acts in our world.
Like you were saying, "The fact that you are white has nothing to do with why the black cop tazed you, it is because you ran from him with a bag of weed hanging out of your pocket." That dude claims racism. But what happens when there is a case of legitimate racism? Everyone assumes: Oh that dumbass is just saying that to get off; clearly he was doing something illegal. That's the kind of ridiculous shit in the circle you were talking about. Maybe it will eventually end. Probably just not in our lifetimes.
High five.
I can understand where justice is coming from in terms of race, but racism is still very persistent in my home. Where I live in Mississippi black people and white people appear to be the same: They are seemingly religious (christian), poorly educated, overweight/ unhealthy, southern accents (which I still struggle with) and work fairly hard jobs to get very little income. Also most people have not left their specific region or town within Mississippi. One would think there would be equality due to this common ground but people still see the color of a person's skin and that is all that matters, people in my state pull you over if you are black and try to arrest you if you look "suspicious". White people control most political power, and towns like mine are segregated by things like a railroad track. Even my high school there were two places to eat, basically the area where poor people ate, who happen to also be black and the area where not poor people ate who were mostly white. My point is that race certainly is present in the mind of my states people.
I want to emphasize Justin's point about racism in the school systems of America. I do not understand why someone has to specify what nationality they are in their applications for college, or on the front page of the ACT/SAT. I think that this is ridiculous and that a student should get accepted solely on their performance. Also, I do not understand the purpose in minority scholarships.
Considering Jon's and George's comments, I just think it is unfortunate how segregated certain races still are in today's society. The AAA (American Anthropological Association) has declared that race is not a scientific biological category and that there is no such thing as a "pure race". Race is only a social construct. We also see that traits among ethnicities do not occur randomly. Certain traits are found in their own geographic location. However, since race is only a social construct and not its own biological category, why have we not truly abolished this social system in which racism is so prevalent? It is present, like George mentioned in certain standardized tests. I agree with you, George, that college scholarships and acceptance should be solely based on merit. If we continue in this way of giving acceptance solely based on minority or some other racial category, it will only increase the divide between the races.
I wonder if that is what creates the division we find on the Rhodes campus itself. I doubt it,in this case; however, it is interesting to entertain the idea. There is a certain divide even among the certain sororities on campus in terms of race. Why is it that none of the African-American sororities participate with the other sororities in certain activities or competitions? Rhodes is doing more each year to "internationalize" its student body but at what cost of other students who have earned a right to be here based on merit?
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