December 30, 2005
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Race
I did something dumb today while I was headed back from Texas. I made an assumption about someone’s motives. I pulled into a gas station and tried to pump my gasoline. It wouldn’t pump so I went inside thinking it was prepay. I was so upset because I hate to prepay. I asked the cashier if it was prepay and he said “Yes.” So I paid $20 and went back to my car to pump my gasoline. The pump wasn’t working. The lady right across from me started to pump her gasoline without prepaying. She was black and so was the cashier. I wondered why she didn’t have to prepay. I asked her if she had to prepay. She said no and started to pump. I walked back in and another black lady was paying for her gas after the fact.
I was upset at this point because my pump was not working and these people didn’t have to prepay. So I asked him if only certain customers have to prepay and other customers did not. He said, “No.” He told me that he asked me when I came in whether I was going to fill up. He said that if you don’t fill up it is prepay. This made absolutely no sense to me at all. Then after a few moments he admitted this was his first day and he was messing up everything. I felt he was being honest and felt foolish for my thinking it had to do with race.
To what degree is race still a factor in our thinking in this country?
Comments (129)
1st
2nd!!!
We’ve made some strides, but it still is a factor, and always will be. It’s human nature to sometimes make assumptions, whether we like it or not.
amazing!!!!!
now as for the post-im totally not racist at all but i think alot of it still exist and it really upsets me. WAKE UP WORLD!!! its just our skin color? hell!
shawna
Maybe I’m your third commenter…. because… I’m around here an awful lot these days.
MUAHAHAHAHA…
2nd I think; it depends on the person or community but as a whole, it will always be in the back of our minds, but is not usually near first and foremost.
i didnt know there still were ppl who paid for their gas without a card…
I think no matter how many years come into play race will always be a factor. And even though we truly want to have the same actions towards everyone its an instinct not to. its hard but dont worry about it. it happens to everyone no matter what race you are.
it pretty much depends on how one was raised- race still can play a huge role in some thinking and in others it doesnt mean a thing. its a hard thing to categorize
a huge factor. Im brown and sometimes when i go somewhere people assume stuff about me because its kinda hard to tell what race i am i look indian and hispanic and all that stuff but people often make assuptions and it drives me crazy. i dont think its with everyone though just with haters…
are you a professor? ive been meaning to ask.
-Neema
This happens to a lot of people. We get angry and make silly assumptions.
–kaitlyn
most people get really worked up over racism so much that we get to where we protect one but forget about the others. the bottom line is that everyone should be treated with respect as a human being and creature of God.
Unfortunately, I think race will be an issue for a long time, on all sides. It’s sad. We are all human.. so what is the point?
It depends on which part of the neighborhood you live in; some parts it isn’t a factor, where others it is, for example, I love in a tiny hick town with a very small diverse population and a majority of people here are racists. The closest city, being a few miles away, is mainly minorities.
I agree with hey__ungraceful above .. It mostly depends on how you were raised. Race plays so little a part in my views of others, but to someone else, it might mean a lot. Nobody is born racist or prejudiced .. its something that is learned from family, friends, society in general ..
much…no matter what race you are.
you commented at another’s post that you were in Desert storm. I was one of the civilians in kuwait. Thank you, and God bless you and your family.
big factor. who wouldn’t agree?
about your mention of race…..I was recommended by a church member of a certain church to not visit there, for my own sake. I’m east-indian. I’ve felt very uncomfortable in other churches too….where if I weren’t with caucasian friends, I’d have left early just because of the stares I received…
You should watch Crash. It deals with what you are talking about. But everyone will always base judgements and assumptions on you because of the way you look, but its not always based on race but also what you wear, sex, age, etc… its sad but its a fact of life.
I feel that same way. You see, I’m Asian, and people in my old school in Phoenix totally discriminated me about my race. All of them were Mexicans or blacks. Barely anyone there were Asian like me. I felt so unwanted. At the same time I feel like I’m being too paranoid over them limiting my freedom after they say a reason for what they did. I went through things just like what you went through at the gas station, except I went over other issues.
-Kiki : )
Yes, race still plays a big part in people’s thinking today. Sad, but true.
when people make it a factor, but race is a factor
Hahaha.
Race is a HUGE issue in America. You can’t even begin to try to understand how it all works. But it usually ends out in the white guys fault.
I mean, I’m only racist against the sterotypical versions of various races. Is that so wrong?
a big one, what i’d like to know is what the “why” they think its so for the people who feel the same
Dan, Please add my two questions to your posts they can be found on my site, thanks
Dear Theo:
Isn’t that unfair that when you went to the gas station that jackass wanted you to prepay while the other person with the same kind didn’t pay it until she was done? That’s many examples of racism.
The fact that we’re different in every way really makes the human beings so paranoid that if you’re not the same in color of their skin, or language or appearance even financial status they discard you for good or in other words treat you like shit and really I’m fed up with this shit… No matter how hard we tried to eliminate racism, it’s still gonna standing strong… and that’s very alarming…
I think race still does play a large role in this country. There are still many bigots, although not as outspoken about it.
in my personal experience it hasnt been much of a factr, but i know that in many areas of the country and the world it definatly is. but it goes all ways…
Racism will always be an issue. Because it’s such an emotional issue. Even though things are supposed to be equal they aren’t. There are still morons who hold race against someone and keep with stereotypical views. At the same time, there are always going to be people who hold the past against the whites and are prejudiced against them. It doesn’t matter that it’s in the past, because people just can’t let it go in their hearts.
It will always exist on one level or another. I’m happy to say it seems to become a little better with every generation. But I don’t believe it will ever be gone completely.
So much of its thinking is based on race, its in a backwards way though.
George Bush don’t care about black people.
I don’t know where Kanye gets off talking about politics… but he had it right.
Please Read!
“Why do we kill people that kill people to show people that killing people is wrong?” – Johnson Advisory
this country was built with slavery and racial tensions as a part of it’s foundation. There is still so much racial discrimination in this country. the civil war ended slavery, but not the deeply divided country we became. except now, it’s not only between blacks and whites but also the asian and hispanic populations. race is so HUGE.
me.
I think it depends where you grew up and where you live. I grew up in Southern California and here I remain. My mom grew up in Compton, my Grandma in Long Beach. My sister was born in South Gate…and we are all white. I grew up seeing color as a characteristic…a way to describe someone just as if I would say, “my friend with red hair”. I love having friends of all colors and cultures…it enriches my life.
i would like to say that race doesn’t influence my thinking at all but i know that i would be a dirty liar. one day i was driving home from school and i was stopped at a stop light. so there were two kids sticking their heads out of the windows of the bus stopped next to me screaming and just being obnoxious, trying to get me to honk my horn, the whole deal. I found myself thinking, “some black people are so annoying.” sure, these two girls happened to be black and annoying but that is probably pure coincidence. granted i would not have just looked at them and said automatically ANNOYING! just because they were black, but i still thought about the fact that they were black.
i dont know. someone i know works at applebees. apparently in the resturaunt world there is the sterotype of “black people don’t tip.” sure, say this is horribly racist if you want, but if it proves true over and over again, what can you say? especially when you are the person who doesn’t want it to be true, who wants to go back to the other servers and say hey! they tipped! who cares if they’re black? but every table you get that is black doesn’t tip… what do you do?
i guess i’m saying its still a factor. ha.
Race will always be an issue. No matter if it’s black and white, or red and yellow. I think it’s easier for people to just assume a race is a certain way based on the actions of a few. I work in a mixed environment. And despite my disgust for racism, I’ve played the hypocrit more than once. Maybe it’s easier to draw on the differnces instead of finding the similarities. I greatly appreciate films like “Remember the Titans” and coming out next month, “Glory Road.” These films show how we can work around skin tone differences and establish new ways of viewing each other instead of following what others have said and do.
Racism is most often something done by accident, such as in the example you shared above. When we find an experience that seems unfair, we look for reasons behind it by categorizing people. As in, am I the exclusion to this group of people? If you are the odd one out, whether it be skin colour, economic status, height, disability, weight, etc, it only makes it easier to think it’s because you don’t fit into their group and they’re attempting to exclude you/disadvantage you in some way. Then people get upset and begin to make unfounded accusations.
My question is, how can we do something about this? If we ignore it, to people of any of the minority groups it will seem we are not acknowledging there is a significant issue. If we try to adjust things to make it more fair, the minority group will stand out even more as a target. It would be great if we could just leave everything alone and have everything miraculously fixed, but since race is such a visible distinction in categorizing people, I think this issue will be around for a long, long, time. I suppose one gain we have made so far is the stigma of outright and concious racist statements. In many areas now, racist comments are not tolerated. I encourage everyone to keep at this, and stand up for any minorities that are being mistreated, whether they are there at the time or not. (One example: I hate it when people use the word “retarded” as an insult. This is because I have an uncle who is actually mentally retarded, can’t help it, and yet is insulted further everytime this word is thrown at someone in a degrading manner.)
Unfortunately, a great a degree.
unfortunately there will always be closed-minded people, but we have come a long way. however, where i come from i must say (sadly) race is a pretty big issue… (central wisconsin… whatchya gonna do? for the record i am not like that at ALL)
Race is a factor in the mind of the individual…only if they allow it to be.
I would say to a high degree, and not just because I’m black. I’ll admit that minorities are usually (but NOT always) the ones throwing the race card, but I guess with reason (considering the circumstances and history). Sure, I sometimes think that certain white people have a vendetta against me because I’m black, but at the same time, I get mad at black people as a result of my assumptions that they (because I’m not exactly included in this) have one against Hispanics. It’s a cycle, I guess. Race definitely affects how I think, but I try to keep an open-mind, and usually, I’m successful in my attempts… I hope so anyway. But I live in the South, so I have to be cautious at the same time…
But, yeah.. Of course, race is a huge factor in our thinking today… I can’t even take standardized exams, fill out applications for college, or take surveys about something as simple as television or movies without being asked about my racial background, when it seems that it really shouldn’t be an issue.
Oh, and yeah….
“Race is a social construct and not biological…”
Just thought I’d say that… lol…
Pretty high. Katrina? Black people were “Looting”
White people were “Finding”.
Yup.
Well I can’t comment for the USA, but in England it’s still, even though people like to think it’s not, an issue. Especially in the younger generations…they are quite often racist, ageist, wealthest (I know this isn’t a word but, hey)….I hate this thinking that we have to build ourselves up so much because we actually feel so inferior to everyone else….this is very much a part of England.
I think, Paul says it best ( I can’t remember where it is, or what his actual words are but…), he says “I don’t boast about myself, I let my actions and abilities prove my strengths”. He also says that he will only boast about Jesus Christ, his own weaknesses and about how great others are….again…I really wish I could find the referance..it’s such a cool verse.
i think it’s a factor that will take a long time to override. people automatically make some kind of assumption the first time they see someone/something. We are a race that judges things by appearances, and anything that is different, we have a natural tendency to assume is bad.
It takes something outside us to help us to realize this. Christ has helped me to realize it.
Oh, and BTW: I am black and I most certainly tip…
And I can’t dance, I don’t sing very well, and I hardly use slang terms.
Everybody is racist to a certain extent.
Sight is our primary sense, so naturally and unfortunately we make judgements first on what we see. So we make assumptions (not just by race). What peers think is a big part too (I dont want to be seen with those people). If we actually took the time to get to know people, and didnt worry so much about other’s opinions, race wouldnt be such a problem.
Last year my floor was where black football players would hang out. So many people made assumptions about them being dumb jocks, and that they were jerks, but when I actually took the time to hang out with them, I realized they were pretty cool guys. When I moved dorms later on in the year, they volunteered and helped me move.
You go shayla! you are enlightening missouri
That’s a STRANGE gas station.
I think race comes into some people assumptions, at times. It makes foolish mistakes. I get upset if people assume because of my race (or religion) they know anything about me. In college, I worked at a restaurant (durring the summer). One guy thought I didn’t like him because he was Black (I just didn’t like him). The fact that he thought I was a racist actually made me laugh (because I am such the opposite).
I can’t only comment on race issues in the U.S, but in the UK I think that race issues are gradually being cut out, maybe I’m just nieve though.
I like to think of it this way.
Before, racism was more.. publicly practiced.
Nowadays, it has seemingly been reduced to a subconscious practice.
It’ll always hold as a factor, as long as humanity exists. Many things grow into inherent tendencies within humans. Key word, however, is grow.
Bizzah!
Depends on the situation and context. In cultural terms, astronomical, but in professional terms, the emphasis is decreasing significantly.
a huge factor. but no one likes to talk about it, so people think that it’s less of a factor than it was a few decades ago.
its so deeply embedded in people’s minds that even when one thinks race doesn’t play a major part in their life, it does.
I think Race still plays a factor, and any black person will tell you it definitly does. See crash, good depection of that question.
it’s not just race… we assume things about everyone based on anything. whether it’s gender, or where ppl live or what kind of car they drive to the clothes they wear, ppl will always pre-judge whether they like it or not. it must be instinct or something… i think it’s what you think/do after that’s important. you either realise that you’re just making assumptions and then think logically or you keep your assumptions and possibly make an ass of yourself.
I think racism is still very alive. You would think we would have gotten past it by now.
I do think that it does cross almost everyone’s mind but for the most part we don’t act on those thoughts…in that perticular case I hate to prepay and if they insist I go to another gas station…I understand their view point but I don’t like to give up my money without know how much I am going to spend….
A major part…did I ever tell you the Tomika story? It still burns me and it happened in June!
From what i’ve seen, most racism is from embittered minoritys who are racist because…. they think we are somehow connected with other white people who have done things to other people of the same minorty who they are not connected with usally. Not only do we have to take the blame for other peoples actions, but we have to be blamed by people who arent even the victim of those actions, simply because they are of the same race. White people inslaved africans. White people also payed in blood to make them free agian. Can we just forget about it all people?
Race will always be a factor, it’s human nature. I’m not saying it’s right to knowingly discriminate, but it’s a natural tendency for people to stereotype and make quick assumptions before examining the facts.
I appreciate you sharing your experience because it’s not uncommon (I think we could all admit to similar in the past), and it shows that things aren’t always as they seem. Hope you had a good trip back otherwise!
Collectively in America is race a factor? Yes, very much so.
Is race a factor in my life? Yeah.
People say, “Hopefully one day racism in America will cease to end forever!” But I dont know . . .Has there been a time in the history of the world when racism did not exist? Did it last? No, because we are still racist right now. :p There were some communities that dwelled together peacefully. (Probably a lot but I just dont know. Im ignorant but if we really want to strive for that utopia, I think that America should make an effort to study and imitate these ancient civilizations in order to acheive their peaceful state. If we really meant it when we say we want world peace, we would study peace to a science. We do this for other things: Some call themselves cooks and are always looking for the new recipe. Some call themselves Christians; they are so serious about it that they study the life of Jesus to a science.
So why cant we do the same for peace? For the elimination of racism?
The Answer:
“Cuz aint nobody thinking ’bout that.” Our leaders arent thinking in that way. We just want to get what we want, when we want it, and easily. “Let’s just promote our agenda.” they say. The perfect example of this is Christmastime. We work ourselves into such a frenzy. Im telling u, Christians should boycott Christmas if they really want to change it into a holiday about worshipping Christ …. But arent we talking about racism? Sorry for being off topic.
Racism:
One last thing: America thinks that in order to live without racism that we have to give up our culture. That is like giving up our identity. There must be a way to live peacefully and keep our culture bc culture is beautiful. It makes who we are. I would want to live in a place where I can see a girl with a fro and no one will think that it is odd. That is how her hair grows in. And I want to see an older man walking around with a kilt, just chillen. You can think, “Oh, Ive never seen that before” but dont say, “Eww, why doesnt he/she wear something else?” We are just a bunch of followers but what are we following? When it comes to culture it is like we are some drones, following the media. We better watch out.
Um, yeah that is the end. Happy New Year.
I didnt mean to write a lot. Sorry.
Wait, did you ever end up getting gas? Or did you have to go to another pump? And how much gas can you really even get with 20 dollars?! I think race plays a huge part today in society. The katrina looting/finding was a good example from above, and how about the arab looking people (who usually wern’t even from the mideast) who were called terrorists? I think when most of us hear “Racism” we think “black and white”, which isn’t too strange I suppose remembering my history classes. When I go into schools though, with younger children or even into high schools I see a lot less of racism than I do when I’m listening to the news or just out in public. I think it plays a big part but I’m not sure it will be around forever. Parents pass on ideas and thoughts into their childrens heads, maybe once those children grow up and pass more thoughts and ideas on racism will play a lesser part. Slavery honestly didn’t end THAT long ago, I think we might still have a couple generations to go before we figure out what we’re doing. Maybe my grandkids will grow up in a not so racist society.
I like to race my kids across the lawn and sometimes down the street. Every night we race each other upstairs….oh I’m way off here eh?
Not usually as much as I sometimes imagine. Thanks for sharing that, because I have been exactly where you were and not just once. Those racial prejudices are hard to shake especially when they have been reinforce by our parents and teachers as we were growing up. Thank God that after joining the military I was able to get past a lot of that conditioning. I have had some very close friends of other races and I am proud of it.
L,r
“I have had some very close friends of other races and I am proud of it.”
Should of said that I have been blessed by those friendships instead of bringing pride into it. I am trying to send pride to the back of the bus in my life.
L,r
I think race is still a factor in this country, but it’s becoming less so. There are still many people alive today who have witnessed the racial tension in America forty or so years ago. I don’t think it’s that overt today, except in small communities where people don’t get out much. But I think it’s still an excuse we grab for when, like your situation, we feel that we were wronged in some way.
I think that race definitely still counts for something. Like it or not, traditions, assumptions, and fiercely fixed ideas were formed long ago.
At the risk of sounding cliched, there are kinds of ‘stereotypes’ of certain races or certain people or certain things.
I think that many of us do not really mean think of ourselves as prejudiced racially. We don’t mean to be at all racist. But there are still stil subtle ideas that hint at it.
Racial differences are very much alive. We can overcome them … But I think that there might always be issues, regardless.
God bless,
Shohna
The media and certain minority organizations want it to continue to be a factor so they continually harp on it. The reason for this is that it means big bucks to them with lawsuits. Case in point……the absolutely stupid argument that the levies in New Orleans were blown up during the raging hurricane Katrina so minority communities would be flooded in New Orleans. Unfortuantely there are those who have bought this lie - hook, line and sinker. The media does not report that more white people were killed during hurricane Katrina that minorities. That is a fact! Look it up.
I guess you can’t have a blanket answer for this one. It depends on who you are and where you are and how ignorant you are. I’d like to say that it plays no part in anything, but I know that that is untrue. Maybe one day.
It definitely depends on your area of the country. Here, it is. That doesn’t make it right.
Oh, I think there are definitely still ignorant people in the world. Though there aren’t seperated restrooms and such for different races, people still hold on to their ignorant ideas.
About the pumps, I know here anyway, some of the pumps, mainly the outside ones are always prepay, because they think those people can make a faster getaway I guess, if they decide not to pay at all.
Race will always be a factor. Try being a black person going to an all white store, church, school…etc…..you will feel it, one way or the other. Trust.
Also to be fair, as a black person, i see that there is a a shitload of racism still going on in our own community…..The only difference between my parent’s times (50s, 60s, 70s) and mine is that the racism is ‘de facto’, not ‘de jure’ any more. The racial tension is very much still there…..just with a pretty blanket over it.
Ah-yah. I’m sick of it. I’ve never experienced such ‘reverse’ racism.
i think race is still a significant factor
as a country, i think we have made strides
but race is not just and american thing
racism is a deep thing – it goes way beyond skin color
it is wrong
it is bad
it should make us feel bad
thanks for sharing your story
Is race a factor, yes. It racism alive and flurishing, yes.
I have lived in the south for half my life with the reamined spent in the midwest/east coast and abroad. There is racism in all those places to varying amounts and in very differnet ways. I always tell people that the difference: in the south the attitude is “my black is a good one, but the race is bad” and on the east coast and midwest it is “the black race is good, but don’t let them live near me”.
I can see it all the time where I live. I was waiting to buy something at a mall in Delaware and there were some black youngsters making a racket in the walkway. The guy turned to me and said “they are all like that”. At first I could not figure out what he was talking about. When I did, we had a short but lively debate after which we did not talk to one another. My brother-in-law who lives in central Wis made some very racist comments the last time he visited us in PA. He said something along the lines of “They are all lazy and worthless”. Again we had a rather short debate and stopped talking to one another for a while. My wife wrote it off as “there are no blacks who live in their little Wis town”, but I do not think that is born entirely of ignorance. In my area we also towards Mexican workers brought to work on the mushroom farms.
I do not understand why people cannot accept people of all races as individuals. We are all unique.
i think race is a huge issue around here. i dont see why everyone cant get along with each other. it seems like the honest people are never trusted when they say “race means nothing to me” and to me it doesnt. if you equal in the factor that i go to a school where there is a total 7 african americans and im from a european country where people have never seen a african american, i suppose its a bit surprising. you cant consider peoples personal opinions on whether or not theyre racist. if one doesnt find a certain race attractive, you cant hold that against them, its just what theyre taste is.
-mari-
no, lol
peace max
Big factor
Looking upon this situation, race became an issue becuase you wanted it to be one.
What would happen if we didn’t make it an issue? What would happen if there wasn’t such a thing as a “race” card?
Some people would say that there is always a “race issue”. To those I would say: “it’s an issue because somewhere inside of you…you want it to be.”
So…after all of my rambling….i’ll answer your question: Race isn’t an issue….no matter what.
Things are much better in regards to eliminating discrimination because of race/skin color than 30 years ago. I remember what it was like when I was a kid and it was much more defined. Hopefully, as each generation comes and goes, so too will race discrimination.
However, I really don’t think that will happen. People have a tendency to look at complicated issues and explain them in simple ‘black and white’ terms (pun intended).
The ”us and them” mentality, regardless of if it’s race, religion, nationality, gender, etc will always remain. It’s a sad part of human nature.
When I lived in Montgomery, AL race was very distinguished. I would go into a store and be treated disrespectfully and rudely because I was white. I experienced this every single day I was there. I thought it sad. But, I just smiled and ignored it and was completely pleasant. I don’t think racism will ever go away. It’s unfortunate, but I feel true.
It is a much bigger factor than most Americans, especially many whites, care to admit. When it is eliminated completely from our thinking, then our country will progress exponentially towards truly achieving our ideals of freedom and equality.
Also, there are people out there who WANT racial tension for their own purposes. Some are people in positition of political power or in the media and that I find disgusting. Instead of trying to pull this nation together, they keep pulling it apart for their own gain.
I have heard stories from my relatives and friends lives there in USA. But I personally know, some people abused my friends here in Indian Call Center’s. Outsourcing and its after effects actually made us to believe racism is still there in America.
When Hurricane Katrina happened, there were articles in Asian magazines about, how the poor people belongs to a certain race suffered in America with out getting any help from the authorities.
that one was a pretty quick assumption
I think race at times can be a huge problem in this country and it goes both ways. There are racist on all sides of the issue not just white on black. I also think that you can discriminate and not be racist. Both are a learned behavior I think. At other times we come together and fight on the same side. Men and women alike. I believe your life experiences determines your levels of racisim and discrimination. We must have SOME discrimination in our lives or we wouldn’t be able to decide which shoes to put on in the morning. Some days we like this and some days we like that. Some things we just never like. I think much of it goes back to how we were raised. It’s the same with people. I had one or two bad experiences as a child near my neighborhood and they frightened and influenced me for years. Now as an adult I have enough experience to see that those were isolated instances and not the rule. Many of the sterotypes I grew up with have disappeared and new ones have replaced them. I think race is still a big factor in the behavior of people today, however with so much information available and such a global society we are better equipped to deal with that it. But I’m afraid there will always be racism. Many people will believe their race is better than all others and it comes from all directions. Now that I am older and (somewhat) wiser when I am driving in the city …………….I lock my cars doors when I see ANYONE walking.. Paranoid? Call it what you want but my sister-in-law was carjacked in Nashville and geez I guess I’m rambling here. I should put some of this on my own Xanga! Thanks for the question Dan. See ya
Yes, as long as there are differences among people, inside and out, there will always be some sort of thinking based on those differences.
its pretty important
Well……I’ll put it to you this way……
When you started putting assumptions on the clerk at the gas station…..how high up there was that degree of racism for you lol
Not saying you’re racist but here in the states from day 1 we’re constantly bombarded by stereotypes and what not……and that’ a shame
I don’t think it’s nearly as big of a “surface” issue anymore but…….we all know it’s still there in one shape, form, or another :/
It’s always been a big factor and probably always will be.
All men were created equal.
- Nicholas
Still a BIG FACTOR….
it depends on where you’re raised. im growing up in a VERY country county only 20 minutes to the nearest city, but there’s a huge mix of all sorts of races and everybody gets along really well. however, in the urban schools in the “richer” county below us, there is a much bigger separation between the races and its hard to find mixed cliques.
more or less, its a huge issue that needs to be faced. im afraid to admit, however, that there’s probably nothing we can do about it.
It’s such a huge factor, just such a huge huge factor. So few people can truly look at someone and not make some judgements based on how the look. I myself am not even free of this flaw though I try to be. Racisim is getting better with every new generation but I think until no race is economically better than the other, and until no race is more represented in higher education that another, racism will still be a big problem in this country.
Racism is still alive and kicking in society. Just the other day a kid told me, “Happy 9/11″ once in 2001, a group of kids pushed me in a puddle of pee in the bathroom. Nothing has changed since the Civil Rights. We live in unity, but no equality. Diversity, I feel, is frowned upon by America, unfortunately. I feel the Arab race is in the same position as the African Americans were in the 60s.
Its a big part today. I honestly believe the race will treat their own special verses the oposite.
Well now, that depends…. how many bigots do we have in this country?
((( GRANDMA HUGS )))
Lori
only because the people make it one.
Big one!
If you listen to ppl talk no matter their race, they’ll always tell you the race of another person when telling a story…it’s just a natural thing I think we all do.
don’t know about other parts of the world, but generally in america, race is important (data collection, administration, cultural heritage, etc). it can be used to discriminate. but a lot of power can be gained from it for individuals who use it appropriately.
when it’s applied against a group of people however, that always leads to trouble or embarassement. which isn’t an unusual occurence and happens all the time.
I think race plays a huge part in the way people are treated. There are other things that play a factor. Like someone mentioned the way you look. Your size. Your social economic status etc all play a huge part on how you are treated by others.
I sometimes wonder what people think in the small town my parents live in. They have a gas staion that is pre-pay to everyone except locals and the credit card thing does not work. I sometimes explain it to people and other times I don’t. Usually there are white people who don’t have to pre-pay at the station at the same time so I am sure most people can figure out why they have to pre-pay. I am sure it makes strangers feel welcome. I don’t know if that was the situation or not at the gas station you were at. If not, some people are ignorant and that is just how life is.
Erika
I think diversity in people is so wonderful and I love the internet for I feel getting to know people from different cultures than our own gives us insight. It might even be the bases for world peace. I can’t say how much racism remains as I feel that letting racism go begins with me. Judi
It is a factor. Most of us try to get it out of us, but I think it’s just part of our judging, classifying nature.
It’s still a big deal, but people want to avoid the issue. People who say they’re not racist, are. They just don’t think that they are. I’m even racist to some degree, though I’ve met people of all races that I like.
hey can you help me with my profile
Well, I think that race still affects our thinking more than we think. I think that the movie Crash expresses this idea. Anyway, I attend a Lee University, and I really can’t see racism being a part of life on campus. However, it makes me realize just how much the community I live in at home is full of racism. It seems to permeate the fabric of the community. People don’t even realize alot of times that they are racist. I am from the town known as the birthplace of the KKK. The town wants that aspect of their history to be over. However, despite their efforts, it still exists.
There was once a girl named Ashley who had a
boyfriend named Jack.
Jack was the most popular guy in school. The
three most popular girls were
Courtney, ASHLEY, and Emma. Jack thought of
Ashley as OKAY, but he REALLy
liked Courtney. Courtney liked jack also.
Well of course she did, everyone
did!
Ashley and Courtney were worst enemies.
Courtney tried to steal Jack away
everytime she had a chance to. One day,
Courtney asked Jack if he wanted
To go to the movies. Ashley heard
everything….what movie theatre and what
time.
Ashley approached the movies that night and
followed Jack and Courtney.
Ashley sat right behind them. she watched
them get close to each other and
kiss….not only kiss, but practically get
it on in the theatre. Courtney
told jack “Do you want to come to my place
and skip this boring movie?” He
replied “hell yes.”
Ashley had peeked through Courtney’s window.
Jack and her were messing
around and Ashley watched the whole thing.
The next day at school Ashley wasn’t there.
For the next few days Ashley
wasn’t there. A week later her mother found
her in her closet dead… she
commited suicide because she had loved Jack
so much. Next to ashley’s dead
body was a note.
A note that read: My dearest Jack, I watched
you at the movie and at
Courtney’s house and I will continue to
watch you. I never thought you
would do something like this to me. I really loved
you jack. I died for you just
like Jesus died for us.
Always with you, Ashley
Please foward this to more than 15 people or
Ashley will haunt you and try
to kill you because she wants everyone to
know about Courtney.
Thankyou.
Please Scroll Down.
**In loving Memory of Ashley Halagey**
What ashley did to one person who did not
send this…….
One girl was looking through her e-mail and
she deleted this message
thinking it was another silly forward…the
next day she was found dead in
her bed.
and look what time is it.. u only have 15
mins
to pass this one…
Gosh…I know I have felt the same way. I know that racism still exists, I try not to participate. Still…I have been guilty in situations like the one you descirbe.
I try to avoid the race issue as much as possible. When I first started out as a Cub Scout leader, I had a den of 7 boys. One was black, the other six were white. Naturally, the black kid stood out and was one of the first who’s name I remembered. My son asked why I knew this boy’s name and didn’t confuse him with the others. I said “Well, he’s the only kid wearing glasses.”
“Dad,” my son said, “He’s black. Didn’t you notice?” I guess it’s hard not to focus on that difference sometimes.
110th!
hmmm…race is a factor for many people…do you see what jokes comics make? stereotypes in movies? stereotypes in the music industry? race isn’t the only thing that people judge, people also judge gender, religion, sexuality, wardrobe, people just assume things about people who don’t look/act like themselves…human nature? who knows…
I try not let it play a role. I grew up in a an environment where every joke was either about blacks, polish, or Kentuckian people. Okay, maybe the Kentuckian jokes are still funny. hehehe. Seriously, we take ourselves way too seriously.
It wouldn’t be a factor if people weren’t trying so hard to not make it one. And then there are those who are convinced they’re being discriminated against even when they’re not.
If that made sense.
Race will always be a factor everywhere. In certian areas, the blacks are discriminated against, in others, the whites. in Government, it is the whites and the foreigners (because they are so afraid of offending everybody except whites, because most of them are white). In the middle east, it is the whites, in Palistine, the Israelites, racisim will always bea defining factor in every country all around the world.
The comment from momof7at40 was actually from me. She is my future mother in law, and I’m on her computer. So please, don’t anybody send her any hate mail!!
Mo matter how cruel it is it will live on forever some cases more extreme then others.
Watch the movie “Crash.”
I think it addresses your question quite nicely.
race is still a factor because as majority we are trying to make up for past grivences which just brings them back up, just leave that shit alone sorry but serioulsy i dont own slaves you dont own slaves so freakin drop it
Race is a prejudicial issue that isn’t going to die. If we eradicate racism against other races, people, incomes, and other factors, racism would only began to sprout within ourselves…
Several years ago, when I was a renter, I used to keep my front door open most of the time, weather permitting, with a doggy/kiddie gate to keep the doggie in. One nite, 10ish PM pretty late by my standards, a neighbor knocked on my door frame and offered a plate of home cooked meal; I gratefully accepted, which opened the evening for a late visit’n conversation.
I had lived in this apartment for a couple of months only and had just met him. He shared with me that management had held his apartment while he did his time in prison. Naturally, I asked. He had done about 1 ½ yrs for allegedly assault with a deadly weapon. At this time, and because it was getting late, I made lame excuses to escort my visitor out of my apartment, shut the door and go beddie bye. Yes, I slept quite well, actually.
The next morning, I shared my new found friendship with my coworkers, who were immediately concerned about me and urged me to seek living quarters elsewhere . . . which I did not do.
I also shared the incident w/another friend who also urged me to seek shelter elsewhere. On an unexpected whim, my friend visited me and a while walking from the car to my door, my neighbor passed by, we greeted each other and we went on our merry way. This is when she asked if this was “the neighbor”. I confirmed. She came back with “you didn’t tell me he’s black”.
“OK, ‘assault with a deadly weapon’ does the color of the skin really matter?”
HELLO! At what point does the color of the skin matter?
Does it make any difference living next door to “assault with a deadly weapon-neighbor” if the color of his skin were any lighter? If I were to be assaulted with a deadly weapon, quite frankly, the assailant’s color of skin wouldn’t matter one bit. I’d still poop my panties! And I’d probably cry too!
Oh, he never assaulted me. He did offer to detail my car several times for xtra spending cash and cuz he liked killing (no pun intended) idle time detailing. Drove him nutts when I’d let my car get all grimy.
So yeah . . . skin color . . . not relevant!
race is so important because its become something underlying that no one can pin down cause no one will talk about it…
its a major factor
for examply if there are kids of another race around my house my dad tightens up and tells me to be careful or doesn’t even let me outside
however he is not of a caucasion race he is iranian. but i believe its the minority [black and mexicans] that are mistreated and people assume what their motives are based on what is in the media.
im pretty sure not ever black or mexican are gangsters or whatever they describe in music [i.e. media]
sometimes i believe that we are all racists. no matter what, we have all thought something racist, we have all done it many times, and will continue to do so in the future. racism is innate. we are all born with it becuase we naturally see differences and make judgements. people are all racist in a way. its just what we choose to say that seem to matter. thats what i think…i think.
Much too Much a factor
We’ll never really learn
So, are we rec’ing old posts about racism tonight?
I don’t know, I always assumed it wasn’t a factor at all before I moved to CO. I grew up in SD and WY, there are only white faces around there and I never heard anyone speak negatively of any other race. I assumed that prejudice and bigotry against people of other color was gone and over, until I moved here where there is diversity. Now I see race is a factor in many things, and asking a sincere question about things can be insensitive, and not paying attention to race a slight. I am still pretty naive about it all, but I am learning how to recognize when and where I need to be sensitive.
I’m using them as shields right now, but even before, I know that humans deny themselves. You’re all racist, but you can be easily tricked. You also want to kill retards. We care for our sick now, but we used to say they were infested by demons and kill them or cursed. This prevented diseased individuals from spreading disease. In Hindu text you find it. In African cultures you find it. It’s universal.
It’s normal because we are pack mammals and rule by conformity or in my opinion as humans naturally discriminate against things. Nature tells us to get rid of the different and the weak so that we-I survive. It’s worked great for our species, but it’s inefficient. It’s our turn to take it a step high.
Now civilized society is a little more gentle about this.
I’m just hoping we get can get out of the dark ages all the way.
I didn’t realise this was from ’05. Interesting post and comments, though. Sorta reminds me of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b20D_ON2Etc
i’m from the south….