Since I was of the age “to know better” I have always been curious about the subject of race: why does racism exist, why do people care about it, why couldn’t all races simply get along? Growing up in the Delta I seen racism rear its ugly head many times. I’ve endured taunting for not being “black” enough, stares for dating outside of my race, and threats for challenging the system.
Historian and professor, Robin D.G. Kelley teaches “racism is not ignorance. Racism is knowledge. Racism in some ways is a very complicated system of knowledge, where science, religion, philosophy, is used to justify inequality and hierarchy. It is not about how you look, it is about how people assign meaning to how you look. And that is learned behavior.” He adds, “That is why you can’t think of racism as simply ‘not knowing.’”
I believe that the answer to bridging the racial gap in the Delta lies within the church. The church will gather to bring light to injustice, poverty and social despair so...doesn't race fall into these categories. Opinions?
Something must be done to end racism, but I would be hesitant to use a church, since that may just create more unnecessary divisions between people.
People need to see eachother as fellow individuals each very different, yet each the same as a thinking feeling being. How does one do that? Not sure. Everyone has ways of explaining coincidence like Karma, random chance, superstition, acts of god, etc. They are all difficult to free someone from. Suppose someone used racism to explain all coincidence. And then they lived in a place where actual racism existed. It would be a VERY difficult time to get someone out of that state of mentality. It begins though with us each being role models of how to think and exist without prejudice, and not laughing at bigoted humor, or perpetrating bigoted ideas, and teaching others how to deprogram themselves from prejudice.
Bravo. I agree. I suggest the church because you mention being role models. Well looking back in history, the church was supposed to instill you with vital character to function in the world as someone with a high regard for mankind.
I agree with the previous comment that the church should definitely be a role model in how we accept other people and view them. That is so much more easily said than done because racism exists even in the church so the church would first have to pull itself together to accept people in order to turn around and be role models of acceptance to everyone else. Thinking about this, it's kind of ironic that the church should be the rold model of acceptance since everyone else seems to be pushing tolerance but no one is tolerant of Christians.
Interesting point. I spoke with my pastor with this and he kinda agrees with you. He says it starts with the church; teaching the church to love each other and then preaching that love to the community.
That makes sense. How can the church be a leader in tolerance until it ends the intolerance in itself first? How can a church which is prejudice against gay and lesbian people and against people of different faiths be seen as a role model of ending bigotry? Once the church is able to get rid of that intolerance, then I think it could be a helpful resource.
exactly
i watched this video of this first grade teacher that did an experiment in the seventies. it was called brown eyes, blue eyes i think. she told her students that brown eyed kids were not as smart and that they shouldn't be talked to and that they'd have to eat lunch last and wouldn't get as much recess. the next day she announced the same discrimination for the blue eyed kids. it was really strange because all the kids became really mean, and then they all tested lower on stuff they already knew. after that she explained that discrimination from looks is wrong and then they really understood. then they did really great on their tests. they grew up and became good citizens and such. she did a similar thing on adults to, in a prison guard seminar, and it worked the same way.
i really agree with that quote, i think it's learned, usually in childhood, and i think it's possible to unlearn it. i thought that the story was pretty pertinent to the issue.
Wow. that is great information. I'm thinking about studying this next year (well extending this study). Maybe the church's role in changing learned discriminatory behavior.