White people PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!!!

I more than respect your opinion. As a descendant of a Native American tribe that is not recognized for scholastic and financial aid, it's hard to negotiate for it based upon my race alone. I'm not some distant descendant; I'm 25% Native American, which means a grandparent of mine was Native American (my grandmother, to be precise). I also have heard valid arguments about the substantiating evidence of schools letting minorities in because they need to raise their integration of minorities into their establishment. Which is b.s, no matter who it's supporting. Whether it be Asians, African Americans, Native Americans, or whoever, it's b.s. Because students who work hard to achieve the admittance to the school of their choice and have the ability and scholastic achievement needed to go to whatever that school is should be admitted first.
I don't want you to take this the wrong way. I agree with what you're supporting, and I agree that the minorities of America need to be recognized. Completely and fully. I know, I look white, and that's because im Irish-American, primarily. The other side of my family came from Ireland. But I take pride in also knowing that my family worked hard to achieve what they have gained today; and that they've continued to work hard, fighting for the freedom of others who deserve it. My own mother got beat nearly to death at 13, in 1962, against the fact that African Americans were not allowed to vote. Truly, all she said was "well, I think they should be able to; they're people too." Keep in mind, she's half Native American, and she was getting the same kind of racial stigmatism African Americans were at the same time. It's just not recognized because everyone still assumes Native American's were given their repercussions a long time ago.

Kudos to you, though.
"to be the worst of any downfall, you have to be unable to get back up."

Thanks for your post... I think you're right that white people can never really understand racism the same way minorities do.
Having said that, I'm not sure that colleges and scholarships are dealing with racism in the right way...

I'm also Native American, but I look white. People don't realize it until I write it down (which I do every time I write my race, because its the truth). Anyway, I don't end up suffering from minority issues, but some of the same issues do plague white people, such as poverty, poor education, etc.

And, as a matter of fact, I have indeed walked into work and been different than anyone else. I worked in a place where I was one of only two white people for over a year. Granted, I admit I do not understand nearly what it's like to be a minority, but one some small level I do.

I believe that it is hard for anybody that is a minority in any situation to feel completely comfortable. Poverty is not unique to people of color, neither is descrimination or prejudice. White people are faced with prejudice also, but it is not so readily mainstream (lack of a better word) than prejudice of people of color. Black people face prejudice as being violent, hispanics as being workers, white people as being country and "hicks."

I do agree with you that there are some set backs that people are not seeing. I can understand why they feel this way and that they feel they are at the disadvantage. But we do have to realize that many people that cannot afford to go to college or advance themselves in the work force are mostly made up of minorities. I think this gap is slowly closing but it's still there. Until I can go without hearing comments about "wow, I wasn't expecting him to be black" when talking about an executive, or hearing comments about when I have my hair straight (I wear it in an afro right now) that that's how I wear my hair when I'm trying to get a job, we have not solved the problem.

Prejudice can only be overcome when the people judging stop, and the people being judged get that chip off their shoulder.
___________________________________________________________________
"Most intellects do not believe in God, but they fear us just the same." - Erykah Badu

I completely agree with your statement:
"So, Unless you have ever been forced to interact with a large group of whom you do not belong you could never understand the psychological impact of racism."

I am a white woman who lived in the projects of Boston growing up and was often the token white girl but it was not until I traveled and lived in India that I felt like an "other". It was very weird to me to be the only white person and I missed the variety of American faces a great deal.

When I married my husband, an Indian, I experienced racism or better yet culturism, and there have been conversations concerning whether or not food cooked by me is suitable for consumption.

All people should experience different cultures other than American, it really opens your eyes and realigns your world view that in fact we are all the same and that the concept of race actually doesn't exist at all.

The problems of America and the world is caused by Western European culture and the US vs THEM arguments that have been around for centuries.

Look at Darfur, you have Muslim Africans killing Tribal Africans fueled by Chinese arms and oil revenues.

I encourage everyone to go deeper into the roots of racist behaviors and ideologies and who benefits from it.

Then flip the switch, speak truth to fallacy and avoid putting people into a box marked race.

A great post.

Danielle Vyas
author of Modern Musings

Live as if you will die tomorrow.
Learn as if you will live forever.
M.K. Gandhi

I think that having programs in place that disctiminate by terms of race is racist among itself, no matter who it helps.

And think of this, if a white person was playin rap loud in their car and they drove through a black neighborhood what would the reaction be?
Compare that to if a black person drove through a white neighborhood with country, classical, rock, whatever on.

think of how different those two events would be.

I think the only way to end racism and race as a factor is for EVERYONE to finaly just drop the race issue completely, dont pay attention to anyone when they make it a factor, dont give out benefits, no nothing. Then leave everyone on an equal level and we will finaly have people not learning racism, because its not a natural thing, its learned.

WHITE PEOPLE. Have you ever walked into a room and you were the only white person there? for the sake of realism, Have you ever gone to work and realized that "hey, i AM different than everyone else?"

I'm white and part asian, and I for one HAVE walked into a room and thought "hey, i AM different than everyone else?"

I'm at work right now and I feel that way EVERY time a customer walks in, why? I don't know, because I look too young to work here maybe? maybe I dress a little different? There will always be people that will judge. Everyone will be judged as well.

I think you only feel as different as you want to make yourself feel.

As far as the scholarships go... Well there are scholarships for everything these days...
Asians, indians, blacks, vegetarians (i'm escited about that one!), women over 5'10" !
They put all kinds of opportunities to people. It's just so all people get a chance. So the people who are complaining are waisting their time.

I'm sure I can find a scholarship matching just about any description.

I'm a female engineer... and I get where you are coming from, I really do.

However, I think when you say, "Hey, my background really sucked, and my ancestors had it rough," you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. It is true that when a family for generations has been poor, it is difficult to get out. My parents both came from very poor areas, one from the city, one from a dairy farm. They both worked hard, and fought their way out. It's not easy; but it does happen. My point is, the black population, they are not the only ones who have ever been enslaved (Jews), stereotyped (white trash), or felt ashamed (damned dirty Irish).

Blaming others only brings out their fear, and encourages discrimination (not that you did so here, just that it seems many blogs that start in this direction end up there). Please do not jump on the "white people" - "black people" band wagon - you are so much better than that.

Succeed on your own two feet - there are thousands of opportunities out there. Whether you are black, Italian, Irish, Asian, female, male, poor, rich, whatever... Don't let your idea of history, or what your stereotypes of what others think of you, make you lose what opportunities you have.

"that as white people you do not understand."

There are issues of racism on both sides, some African Americans stereotype "white" people, some white people stereotype "black" people. But I don't appreciate that you don't say "some white people" when you say stuff in this blog but that you generalize and simply say "white people." Thats stereotyping based on color, making that a racist comment, which no offence but between making a racist comment and having poor spelling/grammer skills I lend very little credit to everything you have said in this post.

"hey, i AM different than everyone else?"
No two people in this universe are identical, but I think you mean being with a room of people of another race than you. You don't have to think that, in fact the only way that you would see your the only "black" person in a room is if you looked at every single persons skin color in the room. I feel really bad for you if the first thing you see when you walk into a room full of people is skin color, because there are beautiful minds inside that skin and you may be shutting them out.

"that is what it is like for minorities everyday."

Not really....
Don't speak for every minority or even your entire minority before educating yourself. When was the last time you looked at your minority group and said, "hm, I wonder what the issues and struggles my group are and how can I create a change in myself and my group to help it ?" I take that sentance back if you actually do anything to advance your minority group and I would love to hear about it if you do.

"So, Unless you have ever been forced to interact with a large group of whom you do not belong you could never understand the psycological impact of racism."

You have not been affected by racism simply because your interacting in a group of people who are different than you and if you really think you know what racism is because you have been in a room with white people who probably could have cared less if you where white, then you are victimizing yourself. By doing this you are keeping yourself from reaching your full potential. And everytime you scream "victim!" like that you pull attention away from people who actually are being persecuted and judged simply on color

Racism against people in our own groups is the new issue.
Education is the new dividing line in social and economic standing. There are people of all colors in middle, upper, and lower class, the dividing line now is education and willingness to learn.

( By the way, I'm lebanese and Malaysian and I'm easily not considered white. I was answering questions one time at an interview and the lady who was conducting it was trying to guess my ethnicity, and she guessed Muslim. Muslim isn't even a race, it's a religion, and not everyone who is Middle Eastern is Muslim, and I'm barely Middle Eastern at all, only Lebanese. I'm also graduating high school at sixteen with a 75% scholarship, none of it because of race.)

To extend on the above blog, I feel as through white people can never truly understand how racism from the past really feels, as much as someone who is Jewish, Native American, Black or Hispanics because yall have never had anything in your history where you were victimize by another race or religion for your race or religion. I am not saying that white people can not sympathize with how we feel, but its makes me mad when I here people say to me just forget about it, that was in the past.
Liv Life Your Way

"WHITE PEOPLE. Have you ever walked into a room and you were the only white person there? for the sake of realism, Have you ever gone to work and realized that "hey, i AM different than everyone else?""
Yes. Not because of race, but other reasons. Racism exists, yes. And it's sad and pathetic and reflects poorly on people. I, however, believe in equal opportunity. That means no government involvement. I don't care about scholarships that are aimed at minorities. I do care that if a scholarship for white people showed up, it would be considered racist.

"But are not the dreams of poets and the tales of travellers notoriously false?"
H. P. Lovecraft

"that as white people you do not understand."

Personally, I feel the comment in itself is racist. White people can understand bias and discrimination just as minorities can. I can say for myself, I have been the only white person in a room before, and at times I have thought "Hmm, I am different.," but to a large extent that comes from everyone's underlying racial biases.

But to another point, scholarship programs and admission procedures such as affirmative action does not help American, or even African Americans. If it's equality that is wanted, A.A. won't gurantee that because people bypassed because of A.A. will simply frown upon the minorites recieving preferential treatment. Fighting discrimination with discrimination is never a good tactic...

"We must follow the argument wherever it leads" -- Socrates

WHITE PEOPLE. Have you ever walked into a room and you were the only white person there? for the sake of realism, Have you ever gone to work and realized that "hey, i AM different than everyone else?"

Yes, though usually because I'm many years younger than everyone (seriously... the place where I work, 3/4 other people who work in the office are over 50), because I'm a woman (yeah, happens quite a bit in science classes... in high school, I was one of... 5 girls, I think, in a class of 20-25), and yes, I have even been in situations where I was one of only a few white people. I hesitate to say only white person, because my memory simply isn't that good.

My boyfriend has had rocks thrown at him because of who he is (and he's white... blonde hair, blue eyes...). This is modern day stuff, not what you read about in the civil rights movement.

My parents were both first generation college students. My mom was the first in her entire family (extended family included) to go to college. I don't think my dad was, as he was one of the youngest in his family, but it's possible. My dad grew up in rural Minnesota. My mom grew up in a city in Minnesota. They're both one of the first in their family to move out of the state (which I am forever thankful for). Just because you grow up in a certain situation doesn't mean you can't change it.

~C
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i can understand where you are coming from....I try to understand all people.
However, I meant that there is a feeling that is uncontrollable, and it comes over you when you KNOW you are DIFFERENT. NOT old, or young.

Also people tend to project different attitudes when in groups. Have you ever done something in a group that you would not have done alone??

Now imagine a group of your peers, seemingly of all the same race, religion, or political affiliation. it is no longer a group of individuals, but a group. One entity. It is human nature. it is also Human nature to recognize those who are different from you.

So, when the larger, or stonger group recognizes those who are different, ie the minority, those who are recognized also feel a certain way. Most of the time from my experiences i become more reserved, and less likely to engage in conversation.

I originally posted this thread to vent about my feelings.
There are people all over the world who go through the same things. Some are even of European descent (Albanians in Kosovo), but since I do not have personal knowledge i feel as if it is not my place to comment.

Finally I will say this. DO NOT JUDGE A MAN UNTIL YOU HAVE WALKED A DAY IN HIS SHOES.

until you have done that, you could never truly understand what that person goes through...

THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE COMMENTS. I FEEL THAT IT IS ALL POSITIVE.

Also one more thing....alot of people have the word RACISM misconstrued

it is defined as:
Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function: noun
Date: 1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

HONESTLY MAKING A COMMENT THAT ONE PARTICULAR RACE WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND ANOTHER IS NOT racism IT IS A SUBJECTIVE OBSERVATION.

THANK YOU

I'm really sad and disappointed in the direction the commentary to this post went. When people bring up racial issues in their blogs, it is an opportunity to discuss our differences and our similarities from our own varied perspectives. It would be fantastic if, in response to the statement that _____(insert race/ethnicity/creed/sex/gender/orientation here) cannot possibly understand what it's like to be _______(insert race/ethnicity/creed/sex/gender/orientation here)," people would say, "You're right. I can't understand. Tell me about your experience, and then, when you are finished, I will tell you about mine." The end. Insulting each other's intelligence gets us nowhere.

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman

The ability to understand others is a capacity; one for compassion and understanding. If anything, your individual inability to recognize this and to stereotype "white people" constitutes blatant racism.

I'm sorry if you cannot understand....i have on multiple occations wrote that i can understand where a person is coming from since they have a different upbringing, views or whatever. CAN YOU HUMBLE YOURSELF AND SAY THAT?
Also, i feel that it would be patronizing if i were to act as if i TRULY understood, because i have a different perspective.BEING HONEST

AND Idid leave out the second definition because the generalizations of prejudice, or descrimination would lead away from the topic.

THE POINT OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT ITS NOT ALWAYS A OVERT ACTION THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE THE MINORTY. IN AMERICA IT IS JUST CURCUMSTANCE.

MINORITIES MAKE UP LESS THAN HALF OF THE US POPULATION COMBINED.

the point of this thread is not to throw racial judgements, it is ironically the opposite.

WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS, AND AS PART OF THE MINORITY, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THINGS THAT THE MAJORITY CANT. WE ARE DIFFERENT! IT JUST SEEMS THAT THERE ARE certain people WHO DONT UNDERSTAND THAT.

SINCE CAUCASIAN AMERICANS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY IT IS ONLY LOGICAL THAT THOSE WHO CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE MINORITY ARE A PART OF THE MAJORITY.

MY COMMENTS ARE NOT FACTS THEY ARE OPINIONS THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE. IF I WERE TOTING MY OPINIONS AS FACT THEN it would be racist.

YOU SHOULD COPY YOUR COMMENT AND APPLY IT TO THOSE WHO THINK THAT THERE IS AN ACT CURVE FOR MINORITIES. that is racist!lmao

"MINORITIES MAKE UP LESS THAN HALF OF THE US POPULATION COMBINED"

Yeah...that is what makes them a "minority." But again, big deal. So what if people who identify with your "race" make up 12.4% of the population?

Being a minority should not make you feel as if "Oh woah, I'm different than everyone else so I think I'll go write about how white people and other races don't understand me," it doesn't hamper your success, intelligence, etc...

And for your information Mr. Warbanks, the "YELLING" you inflict on people who simply point out flaws in your argument, are really uncalled for. If you want to clarify your point, go for it. But "yelling" at people, is ridiculous.

I think if we all just remembered that humans, biologically, are all one race, we wouldn't have this problem. It's been scientifically proven (as per my anthropology teacher, Paul Derby, circa 2007, Castleton State College) that humans are only differentiated by a very very small margin. At the very most, we are all 50th cousins. Think about that. Any racists out there, you're related to those you "hate"--with unconscious and unreserved outburst. And to those who are supposedly making an argument that one race humiliated and defiled another race, don't put down that first race just because they were the primary supporters, because clearly, there is a huge margin between those that procured the deeds and those who look like those who procured the deeds.

Honestly, the Dutch were the first to invade and capture people from Africa. But that doesn't matter, right? That they led the forefront to the slave trade? Absolutely not. If anyone is to take blame, go yell at a grave site, for Christ's sake. Go yell at the sailors and the dead slave traders, and so forth.

Just because we may be descended from slave traders, or because the color of our skin is the same as theirs, does not mean we think the same way. This is 2008, and granted, there are still a lot of problems; but if people stopped identifying one another by the color of their skin or their hair or their eyes, their religion, their sex, etc; we'd all realize, we're essentially all the same.

Different shades, different creeds, different tiddly bits in the nether regions.
It's not a big deal unless you make it one.

-dåh
"to be the worst of any downfall, you have to be unable to get back up."