I grew up in the north US most my life but recently moved to South Carolina. The area i moved in to is a little darker, and im white. When i moved down here i heard a lot of things like be careful who you talk to, avoid Africa (a portion of our lunchroom where when looking down from the balcony is comprised of mostly black people, surround by everybody else), and get use to it "their still fighting the war down here" To someone who grew up in mixed schools all my life and had prejidist parents i kinda concluded what they met by that without having to ask. See down here so much is based on color, and if your white then most every black person you meet will be nasty to you. If you black its vise versa. I mean God theirs still underground KKK meeting going on down here, its rediculous. how can people judge someone so much on what they look like.
This kinda reminds me of a discussion we were having in my governments honors class one day. We were talking about how both democratic parties are not of the the standard. You have a white woman, and a black male. I personally am a republican although i am not old enough to vote but this year i am taking an interest in the democratic party. For a lot of people i know they have already dismissed Senator Obama for the pure fact that hes black. Honestly when im thinking about who i want to represent my country i could care less what they look like as long as they have our best interest in mind. We need someone who is going to help resolve the issues in our economy and lead our future not someone who is our color. America was founded by different people, different colors, and different backrounds. It was supposed to be a place where one could escape religious discrimination yet so much of our life today is based on religion.
I was watching the news the other day and there was a pole that said more white people are actually thinkng about voting for Obama because all the black people think he'll get shot. Thats horrible! i mean like... its disgraceful... things shouldnt be that way.
Another thing that bothers me, and some will think this is racist; is black history month. I say this not because i believe its wrong to celebrate the importance that many backs have played a role in, but because i believe that by singling out black history month, that is segregation for the fact that, if everyone was equal why do we have to set that aside and point them out. that history should be taught just like every history. Everything that happened in our country is just as important as something else just in different ways. I think when our country truely can say that we're equal we wont have a black history month, we wont have a number on how many asians or blacks or whites we have to have in school, and we wont have to worry about the fact that our future president might get shot because of his color.
I dont think that its just the south thats still fighting the war i think its a little bit everywhere.
people are racist towards mexicans to, which i can see where there coming from. i wonder on border states how it is?
i didnt mean to leave them out, i actually have a really close friend who is mexican and someone walked in the room and made a "beaner joke" and i was like "..... not cool man".
i just dont see why people have to be like that though.
what do you mean you understand where there coming from?
I come from Houston, Texas and there is a huge hispanic population. The school I went to was incredibly diverse. There were about 20% whites, 18% Hispanic, 12% Black, and 50% Asian (which was divided up pretty evenly between Viet, Chinese, Indian, and Muslim--from Saudi Arabia, Africa, etc.). There was very little racism among the students (the teachers were a different story. I think with the constant exposure and interaction between different races and the fact that no culture really had a majority (Chinese is as different from Muslim as from Anglo cultures practically), there was less ignorance and more acceptance and tolerance.
When there is a lot of racism, I think some of it comes from fear that you're going to be part of the minority, which isn't a good feeling. It happens more when there's an influx of immigrants than a constant flow (at least according to my observations). Growing up in Texas, I didn't experience racism towards myself (Viet) and never saw any directed towards my friends of any culture (except in the case of ignorant teachers from rural areas). Rural areas is where racism is most common because there's little exposure and no opportunity for interaction.
I'm assuming that "they're still fighting the war" was in reference to the Civil War. You can believe that ti was about race, and to some extent it was. Congress had been discussing ending slavery before the war. The Congressmen of the south decided to have their own country. At the time, we had a very weak Federal government, and the states made almost all of the decisions. For them to decide to make a federal regulation against slavery, well, pissed the south off. Lincoln wanted to keep the unity of the north and south, and that's why the war happened. He did free the slaves, but why? We all know how disturbingly wrong it is to own people. I'm sure that was part of it, but what about the north? The industries in the north needed cheap labor. Freed slaves went to the north and found low paying jobs. So, they really didn't get a whole lot out of being freed.
I've heard people from the south still "fighting the war," but from their perspective, it means fighting the strong powers the federal government now has. I would have to say, state governments shouldn't be run by the federal government. Take anything- sex ed for instance. Bush put a policy in for abstinence-only education. States got money if they agreed. If they didn't, well their funding got cut. Same thing with helmet laws, seat belt laws, etc. So even if it isn't a federal law, the federal government knows how badly states need the funding. The war was more about the power of the federal government than it was about slavery.
Racism is everywhere. I don't understand it, but it just is. It'll take many generations of education to get rid of it.
As far as the presidential election goes, I am disgusted at the media for turning the Democratic race into a gender and race ordeal. Voting is about having someone in office that holds the views you do.
"...more white people are actually thinking about voting for Obama because all the black people think he'll get shot." --That made no sense to me, and I'd like to know your source....
Black History Month, American Indian Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month.... why is this a problem? Why is this segregation? What did you learn in your US history class? I learned European American history, although we did cover those "savage" people the settlers had to kill in self-defense (in greed actually) and the bondage of the people the settlers purchased from Africa and other places (to do all the work to build this country and steal credit from).
If we ever have any hope in at least decreasing racism, people need to be more aware of other people. Histories of other cultures and races is a great start.
Think about it this way... did you have a hero in history? Do you think every race studying US history by the American education system alone could say the same?
-Sonja :)
see i am well aware that the civil war didnt start over the freedom of slaves, in all actuality history is my favor subject which is why this issue bothers me so much, because i have the belief that history repeats itself. i believe you do have a point on the " Do you think every race studying US history by the American education system alone". my opinion might not match yours or others and im okay with that. as for the electioni am disgusted at it as well thus why i partally wote the blog. my source came from an early morning talk show and i work work on finding it for you if that need be. you are right that racism is everywhere. and as for the "still fighting the war quote", although you meaning could be correct, the area in which i currently inhabit believes it to be the meaning as which i stated in the blog. i know because ive had conversations with people who have lived in the area for a long time. although the quote doesn't match up in a historically correct sence, because as we agreed on- the war wasnt over slavery, the quote s the quote. i didnt make it.
History DOES repeat itself. The US empire will eventually be in shambles. The Romans believed they were invincible too.
I do understand the "still fighting the war" quote the way you meant it. In some places, some non-whites are still virtually slaves- such low-paying dead end jobs that people can't get out of because there is no other option. There is no upward mobility. People still live in poverty. Of course, there are a lot of white people that do too. The difference is that the minorities are also dealing with a lot more ignorance and harassment.
-Sonja :)
Things that you say such has black history month sets them apart and yes it does. Why do you think that we have a black history month? African Americans work together to form a time when they can celebrate their ancestry and heritage (although they can do it anytime) I hear this from white people many times. They say, black people can get scholarships just because of their skin color. It is not because of the color of their skin but their heritage. Many 'white' people are unsure of their heritage. If they knew that, they too could recieve scholarships. There are commemorative months for all kinds of backgrounds such as hispanic, asian, and others. If you dont like the way it is, change it. Begin celebrating your own background. Dont be mad because one group chooses to excerise their right to be represented.
i think you misunderstood me, im not mad they exercise their right to be represented, i think it seperates them more furthering racism.