I'm confused about something. Background: A long time ago, America had a "separate-but-equal" social structure. 'Blacks' weren't allowed to share water fountains with 'whites' - they had their own. And the same went for schools, hospitals, bathrooms, etc. Eventually, 'blacks' said, "This is nonsense! Separate-but-equal is just a sugar-coated term for segregation!" Laws were changed (and rightfully so). I'm going somewhere with this... I have a (perhaps) strange view on something here. I feel that anytime a person is referred to as a 'black', it's a racist (thought not necessarily hateful) statement. To identify a person as a 'black' one is inferring that the person belongs to a group of 'blacks' and that these people have distinguishing characteristics (skin color) that are different than others. They're separate, but equal (sound familiar?). Let me put it another way. Think about a blind man. He can't see skin color. He can't recongize that differentiation. To me, it sounds racist to actually identify 'blacks' as opposed to 'whites'. True equality would be for us all to recognize each other as humans, with skin color playing no part in our differentiations whatsoever. And for a while there, it looked like we were acutually heading in that direction when we started breaking down the "separate-but-equal" barriers. But things have not gone that way at all. Now it is popular to embrace one's heritage. Cherish and celebrate the fact that you're 'black' (or replace 'black' with your own social distinction). We have Black History Month. We have Black Entertainment Television. And note, this is not to point the finger at 'blacks' because there are latino award shows and other organizations and programs that are specific to other cultural groups. So here's my confusion: I realize that many of these cultural programs and attitudes were created with good intent - to help boost those who may have been oppressed in the past (like the United Negro College Fund). But doesn't it now seem that we have gone beyond that and things are separate-but-equal again? Doesn't this build (not break down) racial and cultural barriers? Shouldn't 'blacks' be wanting the world to not refer to them as 'blacks' or 'black people' and just refer to them as 'people'? Shouldn't we learn from Dr. Suess and Sneetches? Which is more racist: to ignore race or recognize it?
I can't remember where I read this (I think it was in a psychology book that I read a few years ago) but it said that if you took a classroom full of friends, then labeled half X and half Y and let them work by themselves exclusively, then the two would naturally grow to dislike each other. If you added competition to the mix, they would grow to really hate each other.
so black people should give up everything they were forced to create because of oppression because now we are finally "accepted". no deal
There is a famous sociological experiment done on an elementary school class in the early 60s that sounds very familiar to what you posted.
Just so you know, I hate everyone equally. As long as I can still call fat people "9 months", I'm OK.
Well, race and ethnicity is something that the U.S. government takes very seriously, as have to know who is living here so we can profile them, otherwise it would be difficult to carry out daily functions.
I saw footage of this. It was amazing. They gave some kids sweaters, while others didn't get the sweaters. The ones with sweaters boasted and bragged and picked on the other students. Next week, the teacher took the sweaters from the kids and gave them to the ones without. Then the roles completely reversed. In the end, the teacher took away the sweaters and asked the kids what they learned. After being on both the up and down side of opression the kids seemed to realize that it shouldn't have made a difference. Pretty cool experiment.
But, a blind man can often tell the difference between whites and blacks. Once when I was a kid, I answered the phone from someone who dialed the wrong number. My mom asked who it was, and I said "some black guy." Being the good liberal she is, she chastised me for assuming he was black from what he sounded like. But, the guy was black. I would wager my left nut on it. The differences are not only in skin color. More generally, I think you're too amped up on breaking down racial barriers. I don't see anything good in wiping out cultural distinction. Just as I am a Frenchman, and not a German; I'm a Texan and not an Iowan; I'm a Houstonian, not a Dallasite (or whatever they call themselves); I attended University of Chicago and not Northwestern (and a South-Sider not a North-Sider; a White Sox fan (long after the Astros of course) not a Cubs fan); so too can blacks identify with their racial group. If we don't group by race, it'll be by something else anyway.
You bring up a good point, which identifies a contradiction: How can we help 'blacks' if it's racist to distinguish 'blacks' as being different? I would think that programs could be created. For example, instead of the "United Negro College Fund" it could have been something like the "Color-opressed college fund" which would help kids of all skin-colors that have been opressed, and would not identify people as being 'black'.
This is exactly what we just finished talking about in Constitutional Law. After 1954 the courts adopted a strict scrutiny review of all laws and statutes that were based on race classifications. The state had to show a legitimate governemt interest for the law and also show that there were no alternative methods for reaching the same goals. Sounds like that would make sense, no more laws based on race. Then comes the opposite of Jim Crow, Affirmative Action. While the majority of the court says that the state has a compelling interest in enaccting these statutes to attone for the past evils of racial discrimination, Clarence Thomas ( I was surprised) said that Affirmative Action is the same thing as a law that is Jim Crowe-like. He said that it is a policy based on race and is a violation of the Equal Protection clause of the 14th amendment. In addition he said that in effect, Affirmative Action gives handout to underserving minorities and thus places a stigma on those minorities that make it to the heights of society on their own merits.
Randolph and Mortimer had a nice experiment going for a while too....Randolph almost got a Nobel Prize for it in fact..
Police officer: Yes ma'am, could you please describe the person that mugged you? Mugging Victim: Well, he was a human with black hair, about 6'2", he had on brown khaki pants and a black t-shirt.....and he had a tatoo on his right arm. Officer: What race did you say he was? Victim: He was...ummm...human race...
The problem is simple It should not matter a black human v gay human v white human should all be treated the same no matter what What you suggest is similar to ASSIMILATION wherein . . black folx would be nothing more than White folx with black skin The rich heritage and accomplishments would be for naught and forgotten I remember in Bulworth the movie The guy said. . . We should continue f*cking each other and mixing until we are all the same I thought about it and it saddened me deeply to think The only way we can get along. . is if we are all the same that . . . is sad that we cannot grow enough to accept differences and celebrate that we . .as humans are wholly INCAPABLE of treating someone who is different . . .equally Now. . . I don't think that is what you are suggesting but . .. If the only way to eliminate racism . . is to eliminate race what does that say for Sexism? Homophobia? Rocket River
Referring to someone as black could be a distingishing or a segerating comment. Most automatically assume its segerating. If there are 8 whites, 1 mexican, and 1 black, what is the easiest way to distinguish the mexican or black? Just as if there were 9 men and 1 woman, are you going to say, "that lady..." or "that person with the purse...". Going a little further, lets say there are 5 blacks and 5 whites. If one tried to use color, then there is a good chance that person will be criticized for using color as a distinguishing comment. Now if there were 5 women(and only one person, a female, who has a red shirt) and 5 men, its perfectly ok to say, "that woman in the red shirt ...", without being criticized of being a sexist. Race and sex are the most common distinguishing factors. Trying to eliminate race just because you're afraid that you might be racist is absurd. There is an outer difference between a black person and a hispanic or white. No matter how much you try to convince yourself that we all are a neutral color, a persons color will always be there.
eliminating racism, sexism, ect .. ect is not the answer. Everyone has a choice to be who they are. What makes your choice of anti-racism any better than someones choice to be racist? Where do you draw the line? Keep your opinions/choices where they are wanted. If you like other racist, then go hang out with them. If you only like your race, then hang out with your own race and leave the other races alone. Regardless of what view you stand for, if a person keeps it to themselves and are not imposing on others, then let them be. No need to go on a self righteous crucade. People will aways have different opinions. If racism, sexism, homosexualism, abortion, and every other debatable topic could be solved, then we'll be fighting over something petty such as likes and dislikes of food. Humans need to get over their superiority of eachother, not their personal opinions.
I don't have a problem with someone referring to someone else by race, depending on the context. The ignorant person will clearly stand out when using a racial reference in a deragatory way. While I wouldn't categorize your actions as racist, there was definitely some prejudice behind it. I'd wager your left nut on it. Seriously, if it sounded like the average white dude that isn't a redneck, would you have said "some white guy"? Somehow I doubt it. Anyway, I'm not judging you by your statement because I truly believe that everyone has some measure of prejudice in them. What matters is the degree of prejudice that makes up your character.
