"I'm not a racist but..."
"Racism is over."We are living in a time following the Civil Rights Movement where people fear dealing with racism or even talking about it. My good friend Amanda George relayed a story to me that fits neatly into this topic. She said that while she was at the bar hanging in a mixed race group and discussing what she had learned in her Sociology class that "racism" was brought up. The bartender quickly said, "Don't say that! Racism is a dirty word."
People are afraid of dealing with racial issues. They are afraid of showing that they do notice when a person's skin color is different from their own. They are afraid of being considered a racist and many hold to the belief that racism is over. They believe that people are all treated equally now and that there is no need to discuss it anymore. I disagree.
Talking about inequality and all that goes with it like oppression, discrimination, privilege, racism, ableism, sexism, heterosexism, etc. is vital in finding a way to change society. This is not one man's job but through this blog I intend to force these topics to the forefront and allow for an open discussion of inequality in all its forms.
Cathy,
ReplyDeleteI liked your "introduction" of sorts into your blog. It's nice to see a short, simple address of racism and racial issues.
However, I wanted to see pictures and links. I think you could have related this issue to something associated with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the KKK or even more recent issues within our schools and daily lives.
I also think it was too short. Though it was simple and got to the point quickly, I feel it ended abruptly. I like your ideas and position, though, and I think this post is a good platform into further exploration and discussion of these issues.
Good job for the first one!
-Laura Beth :)