Today’s
blogging suggestion from the Ultimate Blogging Challenge was to “share your two
cents.” Express your viewpoint on things that are happening in the world.
Today, I chose to write about racism as something that is happening in the
world that is creating horrible problems.
blogging suggestion from the Ultimate Blogging Challenge was to “share your two
cents.” Express your viewpoint on things that are happening in the world.
Today, I chose to write about racism as something that is happening in the
world that is creating horrible problems.
I am
an American, and I see racism as a cancer on our society. Racism is the monster
that hides under the bed. It is the poison that seeps into our pores, whether
we are aware of it or not. It is the cancer that eats our hearts and our souls.
It causes us to look at others as less than ourselves. It is part of our daily
life, even if we don’t realize it. When we look at other people, what do we
see? Do we see individuals with names and with gifts and with challenges, like
all other human beings, or do we put them into groups and decide which groups
are good and which are bad, based on the color of their skin? How do we talk
about other people? Do we use such terms as “those people” and then ascribe
negative traits to “those people,” who are, of course, not as good as “our
people.” Do we think that their lives have less value than ours?
an American, and I see racism as a cancer on our society. Racism is the monster
that hides under the bed. It is the poison that seeps into our pores, whether
we are aware of it or not. It is the cancer that eats our hearts and our souls.
It causes us to look at others as less than ourselves. It is part of our daily
life, even if we don’t realize it. When we look at other people, what do we
see? Do we see individuals with names and with gifts and with challenges, like
all other human beings, or do we put them into groups and decide which groups
are good and which are bad, based on the color of their skin? How do we talk
about other people? Do we use such terms as “those people” and then ascribe
negative traits to “those people,” who are, of course, not as good as “our
people.” Do we think that their lives have less value than ours?
- “they ran from the police and were shot to death. If you didn’t do anything wrong, you wouldn’t run from the police.” (justification of summary execution or extrajudicial killing by police)
- “waving a toy gun means that it’s OK to shoot you, if you’re black” (Tamir Rice was twelve years old. He was killed for being black and for being immature, which is a common condition among people who are twelve years old.)
- “those people don’t want to work. Those people just want to collect welfare and be leeches on society.” (yes, someone said that one directly to me, causing me to gape at him. When that person noticed that I was gaping, instead of agreeing, he said, “Really, that’s what those people do.” “Those people???” I said, as the other person left to find a more receptive audience.)
Racism
has been a part of the history of the United States. The creation of the United
States was steeped in racism. The majority of the Founding Fathers were slave owners.
Despite the fact that they created a country that was meant to be a great
experiment in democracy, that democracy was limited to people who were
considered worthy of it. At first, it was white male property owners. Women
were seen as the possessions of their husbands. The slaves were not even seen
as complete human beings. Each one was, when counted by the census, just
five-eighths of a human.
has been a part of the history of the United States. The creation of the United
States was steeped in racism. The majority of the Founding Fathers were slave owners.
Despite the fact that they created a country that was meant to be a great
experiment in democracy, that democracy was limited to people who were
considered worthy of it. At first, it was white male property owners. Women
were seen as the possessions of their husbands. The slaves were not even seen
as complete human beings. Each one was, when counted by the census, just
five-eighths of a human.
After
slavery ended, black people were still not seen as free and equal. Slavery was
replaced by Jim Crow laws, segregation, and the horrors of lynching. Those were the
visible signs of racism. The more subtle signs of racism included redlining
(the practice of denying mortgages and other services to people, based on their
race), “white flight,” and “food ghettos”
(places where the only food stores available are convenience stores, with
limited selections and higher prices).
slavery ended, black people were still not seen as free and equal. Slavery was
replaced by Jim Crow laws, segregation, and the horrors of lynching. Those were the
visible signs of racism. The more subtle signs of racism included redlining
(the practice of denying mortgages and other services to people, based on their
race), “white flight,” and “food ghettos”
(places where the only food stores available are convenience stores, with
limited selections and higher prices).
Our
racist history extended to the first nations. The Native Americans were seen as
savages to be exterminated. Their land was to be appropriated (stolen). Treaties with
Native American tribes were seen as optional, despite the fact that treaties
have the force of law, according to the U.S. Constitution. One of the most
notorious incidents of attempted genocide was the Trail of Tears, when the Five
Civilized Tribes were put on a forced march from their homes in the southeast
to an area now known as Oklahoma. Many people died during that forced march.
racist history extended to the first nations. The Native Americans were seen as
savages to be exterminated. Their land was to be appropriated (stolen). Treaties with
Native American tribes were seen as optional, despite the fact that treaties
have the force of law, according to the U.S. Constitution. One of the most
notorious incidents of attempted genocide was the Trail of Tears, when the Five
Civilized Tribes were put on a forced march from their homes in the southeast
to an area now known as Oklahoma. Many people died during that forced march.
Our
racist history includes such things as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This
was legislation that was approved by Congress and signed by President Chester
Arthur. It was the first significant law that restricted immigration to the
United States of an entire ethnic group. It was followed by immigration restrictions
against Japanese, Filipinos, and other Asians. During World War II, Americans
of Japanese ancestry were relocated to internment camps and were held there as
prisoners. It was one of the more shocking and flagrant civil rights violations
that occurred in the United States. It can be seen as a racist action because Americans
of German and Italian ancestry were not placed in internment camps.
racist history includes such things as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This
was legislation that was approved by Congress and signed by President Chester
Arthur. It was the first significant law that restricted immigration to the
United States of an entire ethnic group. It was followed by immigration restrictions
against Japanese, Filipinos, and other Asians. During World War II, Americans
of Japanese ancestry were relocated to internment camps and were held there as
prisoners. It was one of the more shocking and flagrant civil rights violations
that occurred in the United States. It can be seen as a racist action because Americans
of German and Italian ancestry were not placed in internment camps.
That
sort of history does not magically disappear. It is still part of our society.
Even though there are people who say:
sort of history does not magically disappear. It is still part of our society.
Even though there are people who say:
·
This
is a post racial world. Race is not an issue.
This
is a post racial world. Race is not an issue.
·
I
don’t see color.
I
don’t see color.
That is just not true. To
cure the cancer of racism, we have to talk about it. We have to talk about our
attitudes. Our history is not good but
our future could be better. Acknowledging the problem is just a first step. The next step is more active. We
have to change our attitudes. We have to listen to people who have been
directly affected by racism. We have to hear their stories and acknowledge that
we may have benefited from their pain. We have to listen to their voices. I believe that will be a start to eradicating
the horrible cancer called racism.
Here here to this post. On a day like today where people are feeling all kinds of ways, we have to come together! It's a must in order to move forward…racism is still prevalent, and where it was once quiet, it is becoming louder and we must drown it out with love and inclusivity.
Thank you for this post!
Great post hopeful one day the realize we are all connected and need to live and let live
Well written, and good way to start the discussion. I think my favorite comment is, "I'm not a racist, but . . ." Wait, if you're not a racist do you need to tell me that? And, if you're not a racist, why are you about to tell me something that is?
It's so sad how true this post really is. It's a problem I don't think we will EVER get rid of. I remember seeing it first hand as a child. Thankfully as an adult I havent experienced to that level. I get a sixth sense and get uncomfortable but have not experienced like when I was a child. I am multi-racial as are my children. I can only hope they don't run into personally but they are scared based on what they see on tv. They have been taught right from wrong and I can only trust they choose the right and honest path for the future.