Racism and diversity

[Erythritol]

I was just talking about racism in a class of mine, and I really had to hold my tongue, because I think I was one of the only people (if not THE only person) in the class who was of a different opinion from the majority. (I really didn't want to come across as a racist or make a bunch of enemies x_x). We were talking about racism in America, and how it is still very prevalent.

Now maybe this is because I'm sheltered, but living in the relatively liberal northeast, I have not really experienced very much racism either first hand or otherwise. The worst thing that ever happened to me was someone calling me a nazi because I'm of German descent and was wearing an army shirt with the German flag on it from an Army/Navy store. I've never really met someone who is racist or seen a hate crime happen. The worst I've witnessed is probably a racist joke. People in my class were being dramatic and claiming that the United States hasn't progressed since the Jim Crow laws. I really don't think its that bad. Yes, we still have a long way to go. But, c'mon, we HAVE come a long way.

Something that really bothered me: this one girl in my class who is of black and I gather, from what said, Hispanic descent was complaining that my college is not diverse enough. True enough that my college attracts mostly white kids. But her definition of diversity really bothered me. To me, a white person from Russia is more diverse than a black person from New York City. In my opinion, skin color does not matter in diversity. People are diverse because of beliefs, ideals, and cultural backgrounds, not because of how they look. To me, the belief that someone is diverse just because they're Black/Hispanic/Asian is...well...kind of racist.

Another thing she said that I had a problem with: she said that it was very difficult to be the only black person in a class. She said that when she sees someone who looks like her, she thinks, "Oh, a new friend!" Now, admittedly, I don't really know what being a minority really feels like, so I could be completely wrong. But isn't that just PERPETUATING racism? She was complaining about racism, but that statement just seems to perpetuate it. Why does someone have to look like you or be of the same ethnic/cultural background as you for you to want to be their friend? Does it really matter? I honestly don't care what someone looks like if I think they're a nice person. I just thought it was really contradictory.

What do you guys think? Also....for the European/Canadian/International people...what is the situation like in your country? Is racism prevelent? What's your idea of "diversity"?

 

[Serge68]

Wow, um, I don't know where I should start with all of this, as there really is a lot to say.


People in my class were being dramatic and claiming that the United States hasn't progressed since the Jim Crow laws. I really don't think its that bad. Yes, we still have a long way to go. But, c'mon, we HAVE come a long way.
-America hasn't really progressed that far since the days of Jim Crow laws. The Harvard Civil rights project proves that our school system is actually more segregated now than it was in the 50's and 60's. Hell, only a very smal and very lucky percentage of the black population actually makes it through high school and goes to college. Part of it is in fact racial, and the other part is in fact economic. But these two factors have a habit of intertwining beautifully. It's difficult to escape the cycle of poverty, as well as the mentality of the ghettoes. Those of course are another couple of factors that intertwine.

And one of the main reasons for all of this is because of the way our education systems run. Many inner-city schools don't get the funding they so desperately need, and as we all know, those without education are easily lead astray down the wrong path. The other option is to grow up and take one's place in the cycle of poverty.

Though i'm not going to go ahead and say that the ghetto, or poverty has anything to do with the culture black race, that's only been the last couple of centuries. One has to consider the last couple thousand years of our very existance.

As for the second half of that. Yes, there's still tons of rcism left. Cops just aren't out actively calling me the n-word when i'm walking down the street. I've had times (and this happened here in New York) when i've taken a walk to the public library only to be called the n-word.

Hell, the greatest concentration of Ku Klux Klan members is in fact up here in the north. Why, there's even a clan headquarters within driving distance (not that i'd ever drive there mind you) from where i'm currently living. Did you hear about that incident in Louisiana with the nooses in the tree? What about New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina? It Canadian mounties came to the aid of the blacks there faster than our own relief people. F-ckin' Canadian mounties! Or how about the ten thousand plus black votes that went got screwed up thanks to that bitch Kathrine Harris? Benign neglect? Police brutality? I can't even walk down the main street of my new hometown in a pair of flip-flops no less, without being asked if i'm under the influence or involved with selling drugs by the police. Sorry to say this, and sorry to alarm you, but racism is alive and well.


Something that really bothered me: this one girl in my class who is of black and I gather, from what said, Hispanic descent was complaining that my college is not diverse enough. True enough that my college attracts mostly white kids. But her definition of diversity really bothered me. To me, a white person from Russia is more diverse than a black person from New York City. In my opinion, skin color does not matter in diversity.
As much as i'd like personlity, tradition, intellect, mentality, and content of character to characterize "diversity", sadly it doesn't. This is America, and race/ethnicity will continue to matter as long as we keep going on like this. Aside from the fact that one more Russian immigrant coming to a nation that was technically founded by immigrants, doesn't really count to me as diversity. Think about the fact that that Russian immigrant came from a place where he wasn't an immigrant. A place where he knew his name, a fair bit of his family history, his culture, and his tradition. Most blacks here were stripped of all of that. Our ancestors were forced to take up the names of our slave masters, stripped of out culture, heritage, and original nationalities, and were reduced the level of property, being barely as valuable as a mere object.

We've had no other choice but to rebuild, and create our own culture. Look at Jazz culture, look at Hip-hop culture. Is that not vibrant? Is that itself no diverse?

The fact is that white ("American") culture was built on black man's back while black culture was built on the white man's scraps.

Another thing she said that I had a problem with: she said that it was very difficult to be the only black person in a class. She said that when she sees someone who looks like her, she thinks, "Oh, a new friend!" Now, admittedly, I don't really know what being a minority really feels like, so I could be completely wrong. But isn't that just PERPETUATING racism? She was complaining about racism, but that statement just seems to perpetuate it. Why does someone have to look like you or be of the same ethnic/cultural background as you for you to want to be their friend? Does it really matter? I honestly don't care what someone looks like if I think they're a nice person. I just thought it was really contradictory.
I have to admit that that girl in your class is kind of right. The reason being is that she feels that she's got nobody that she can relate to. Our problems are simply fundamentally different. Seeing another person of color, especially in a place where there's a lack thereof mean's that there's another person that one can relate to; another person that one can understand.

It doesn't mean that we can't be friends, all it means is that we do in fact come from totally different backgrounds. While most of the black and inner city kids at my school seem to have to deal with problems of necessity and survival (heavy familial problems, the police, heavy financial problems, racism, poverty, homelessness, and overall discrimination , just to name a few). The worst problem that a kid from the suburbs has had to deal with is a bad break-up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. I'm not saying that theiir aren't more serious problems that they, face. but rather, it's just all that i've seen.

 

[Miaku Kitty]

No matter what anyone does, no matter what laws are passed there is ALWAYS going to be racism and even sexism for that matter! It has been that way for thousands and thousands of years. Yes, it can get better, but it will never be gone. That's how I see it. People who are racist are wrong. And not just white's are racist, but sometimes I think that people of different colored skins feel justified in treating white people like crap because it was done for soooo many years to them. No matter who you are, what race you are, it is NOT justified by any means and everyone needs to be held accountable for that. And as for the girl who was the only black girl in the class, I actually have an opposite story to that. I have a friend who grew up his whole life in a town where he was really the only black guy. He is the whitest black man I know, and he will admit it! He feels more comfortable around white people because it's harder for him to fit in with his race. So, it really all depends...

 

[Rockman X]

Like Kitty said, racism is alive and well and will always be around so long as people are strongly opinionated. Only thing is that it's not quite as acceptable to go around yelling the "n-word" these days, so you don't see as much open racism. But if you want to see how prevalent it is, the best place to go is Youtube and watch any video of Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle.

Really though, I think alot of racism is due in part to minorities themselves though. For example, the blacks always complain about when anyone besides them uses the n-word, however, they use the word so much themselves that it's nearly impossible to avoid using the word, even by accident when singing along to a rap song (which according to this guy, isn't okay):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gYM6_hcf1Q

Funny that they have a black playing a white guy. Now, I've heard explanations given as to why blacks still say it, one being that it empowers them to take a word whites once used and make it their own and not allow whites to use it. Frankly, I think that's bull. This is a guy on Def Poetry, Julian Curry, I've never heard of him before but he seems to be the smartest black guy I've heard when it comes to the n-word:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-UpHlB9no

 

[dimmufan]

You wanna talk about racism? Let's talk racism. The county I live in was THE LAST COUNTY IN THE NATION to desegregate its school system. That happened in 1983. I don't know if this next bit is correct as it was SAID to me by someone a long time ago, but it was also the same year that my hometown had the highest crime rate per capita in the nation. Even to this day racism is a common part of our culture. My hometown is comprised mainly of three groups: Mexicans are at the top, then white people, then black people. Most of the racism around here comes from the blacks and mexicans, and the rest comes from ignorant whites. I, myself, am somewhat racist. For instance, I can't stand most mexican men, however I love me a Mexican woman. To me, black people are easier to get along with.

I also don't like how black people can use the n-word and no one else can. However there are a few colored folk who would reply by saying, "I ain't nobody's *****."

I can tell that racism is a part of society all over the world. For example, at another ff forum that I visit we have a thread for racist jokes. The jokes are in the Humor/Word Games forum, but they are still racist jokes. I even posted a joke there and managed to recieve some good rep for it, too. Click here or copy and paste. http://www.thefinalfantasy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52493

To sum it all up, as long as there is going to be someone being very proud of their heritage, there you will find racism as well.

 

[Rockman X]

LMAO, that thread is win, Dimmu. I'm sorry but I can't help but lawl at half of those, especially Youki Kun's mexican jokes.

One thing I find extremely hypocritical of minorities is that it's okay for THEM to be racist but not whites. It's okay for a black comedian, a mexican comedian and even a jew comedian to make racist jokes but OH NOES a white guy can't do that or else he'll be prosecuted by a hundred different people. That's just bull.

Another thing about the blacks and the N word: do they not realize that by making usage of the n-word exclusive only to blacks, by default that makes the word racist when used by anyone else? Then again, I think alot of blacks just keep the word around so they can use it to claim "racism" whenever some white person pisses them off. Actually they do that without even needing the n-word.

I remember a couple years ago in this state, some black woman was at a Cracker Barrel (southern food restaurant chain) and because her order took so long getting to her and a couple whites got their food before her, she claimed racism and sued. There are so many other reasons why the whites could have gotten their orders before hers, like they were there first, their orders were easier to cook, etc. Seems like I hear alot of stupid cases about blacks claiming "racism" just because they get pissed off at something trivial and random.

 

[The Phantarch]

As a former member of the Anti Nazi League and a current member of Unite Against Fascism. I tell you that I think England has become very multi-cultural and I'm quite proud to be English because of that.

I just wish the bastards in the racist groups like the BNP would quit!

 

[Serge68]

It's kinda' funny to me when white people talk about how it's either wrong or hypocritical for black people to use the n-word.

What's funny is that they can say all of this, speculate, upon all of it with their friends, and then come to the conclusion that they're right without ever considering the possibility of what it must feel like to be on the recieving end of the word.

Seriously, you've no idea of how it hurts to be called a ******. Being called a ****** not only brings back that ages old hurt, but also the fear of back then. How easy it was then and how easy it is still now to lose your life for being the wrong skin color in the wrong place. Being called a ****** by a white person makes me remember that fear, as nooses and torches come to mind when I hear it.

And of course, being called a ****** by a black person, or any other minority group is just plain strange.

*****' is different, and not just because of the fact that the word is used as a term of endearment. Or even because it's a part of black culture.

Imagine this for a moment if you will, with me. Imagine that after toloreating intolerance in this country (not just the people, but the government as well). Imagine that after, the word ****** still persists, and not only as a relic of the past, but of general persecution. Now imagine taking that word, and making it your own, shaping it, and changing it to the point where it's no longer the word it once was. And finally, imagine what it must feel like to acknowledge it as a new word, a term of endearment.

I couldn't tell you how much it pisses me off to hear white kids talking about the n-word with all of their petty little justifications like they can actually understand both the word, and the psychology that goes behind it.

Now i'm not saying that it's completely alright for one group to be more racist than another. However, think about the way things in this country are.

A black man was shot 50 times because a police officer though he was holding a hand grenade. In actuality, it was a pear.

Another man was shot to death by police officers on his wedding night because they thought he had a gun.

Medi coverage of the Elizabeth Smart fiasco. She got ass-loads of media coverage for being kidnapped in a situation in which she had every opportunity in the world to escape from. Meanwhile, Erica Prat, a girl of only 7 years escaped from her captor after having her body completely bound with duct tape. Then she broke a window, escaped, put her captors in jail AND managed to make it home in time to watch herself on T.V.

This is a world in which parents have to warn their own children about factors such as the police. I do not think that it's all "trivial" and "random".
Consider American history my friends. It complicates, even beyond the "right" and "wrong" concept.

History has complicated things.

Oh, and to help improve upon your understanding of things, I recommend that you read bomb the suburbs by william upski. Actually, i'd recommend you read it anyways on the basis of it being a good book.

And check out this poem...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bNdJMTHADuk