I just have a few thoughts on how equal a society can be. Perhaps my views are through naive eyes, but maybe more people should find a new perspective. In 2006, the University of Toledo ran a video series on race 
called “Race: The Power of an Illusion”. This series addressed the idea that race is not really a true factor that separates humans from each other, but is a false idea created in the minds of those who are in power to justify divisions placed between people who are different. The most prominent example of this division was after the 13th amendment freed the slaves in America. Though they where free and supposedly equal under the law, there were many separations placed against them. At one point this series spoke about how even scientists were searching for ways to classify the level of evolution of humans by way of intelligence through race. I feel there really is not a difference between people of different skin colors or religions. Everyone is the same no matter what he or she looks like or believes in. People place these separations on each other because of what they see. They see some one who lo
oks a little different from them and perhaps it is a sense of unfamiliarity that draws them away and makes them try to rationalize a difference that needs not to be rationalized. I don’t know how to e
xplain this. A world of uniformity….. no. I just do not understand why two people who look different can look at each other and not find equality as human beings. As far as race goes, I do not believe in this idea and until people understand the true origin of this word and stop the division due to its idea, what has happened in the past and is continuing today will never end.One more thing; I am only talking about separation due to “race” not economic or social standing.
called “Race: The Power of an Illusion”. This series addressed the idea that race is not really a true factor that separates humans from each other, but is a false idea created in the minds of those who are in power to justify divisions placed between people who are different. The most prominent example of this division was after the 13th amendment freed the slaves in America. Though they where free and supposedly equal under the law, there were many separations placed against them. At one point this series spoke about how even scientists were searching for ways to classify the level of evolution of humans by way of intelligence through race. I feel there really is not a difference between people of different skin colors or religions. Everyone is the same no matter what he or she looks like or believes in. People place these separations on each other because of what they see. They see some one who looks a little different from them and perhaps it is a sense of unfamiliarity that draws them away and makes them try to rationalize a difference that needs not to be rationalized. I don’t know how to e
xplain this. A world of uniformity….. no. I just do not understand why two people who look different can look at each other and not find equality as human beings. As far as race goes, I do not believe in this idea and until people understand the true origin of this word and stop the division due to its idea, what has happened in the past and is continuing today will never end.One more thing; I am only talking about separation due to “race” not economic or social standing.
3 comments:
I agree that racism is still quite alive in America. Many people like to believe that racism has been largely overcome. Even personally, many people believe that they are not racist, nor do they have a preference of white over black.
However, studies have shown that racism is still very much alive in America (http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articleID=2568). Tests can now be administered that measure the unconscious preference of white or black. Of 10,000 tests administered, 80 percent of the people showed a preference of white over black.
I saw this study presented on a news clip, and most of the people were shocked and embarrassed by these results. People want to believe that they base their decisions off character, not race, but the facts show that this is not the case.
I wonder if it is possible to not have a preference and to truly base our opinions solely off who someone is. It is in our nature to make first impressions and evaluate people based on what we see. The fact that we "desire" so strongly to be neutral is perhaps a product of society's looking down on racism. Because of the history, we feel ashamed to notice someone's color, though it may be only part of our nature, which we cannot control. I don't know if we can ever truly be without racism, even if we try.
The idea of race is a concept worth exploring. While race may not be important at all in terms of skin color, I do think that it is a considerable factor in determining cultural factors. Today in America, people are still relatively closely connected to their ancestry and many American families are still strongly tied to their cultural backgrounds. Maybe, as time goes on and families gain generational time in the United States as Americans, the differences will start to fade away. This is not necessarily a good or a bad thing, just a prediction. If that happens, then we might be able to say more clearly that there is no cultural difference between the races. But today, we cannot say that there are not differences. I would like to explore the idea of Ebonics. This is a cultural variation of English, that linguists have deemed valid. This vernacular holds true only to African-American citizens, but not because of the dark color of their skin, rather, their cultural upbringing. I believe that this is a clear example of a difference between races.
This is not to say that people of different races should be treated differently. I firmly believe that all human beings should, in fact, be treated equally. All people should be given the same basic rights and freedoms, and equal opportunities for success and happiness. I agree that, intellectually, people of all races, ethnicities, religions, or beliefs, etc., are equal. Yet, this does not mean that I think race is an illusion. There are cultural differences between people that mainly coincide with a person’s race (these, however, should not be generalized for all or any members of a specific race). There is a general trend in some races with differences that must be appreciated. Diversity, in my opinion, is something that should be realized, respected, and appreciated, but not treated any differently than any others.
I know first hand that racism is definitely still present in America. I lived in Georgia (near Atlanta) for my four years of high school before I can to BGSU (I lived in BG from birth through 8th grade). I saw many instances of racism while I was there. I am not saying that all racism is in the south or that all southerners are racist, but it is definitely more prevalent down there. Most of my friends were strictly against inter-racial relationships. In fact when I told then that my boyfriend at the time (who lived here in BG) was hispanic, they were surprised and some even asked why I was dating him. Another example was just this past winter break when i went down to visit; I was at a restaurant with a few friends and there was a couple sitting at the table across from us, the girl was white that the guy was black. My friend got a disgusted look on her face and said "that's just not right." There were a couple times that I asked my friends why they had the views on different races that they did and most of the answers were the same: that's simply the way they were raised. It seems that the racism decreases slightly with each generation but it is still there. For example, one of my friends grandmothers claims that while driving she "does not break for n******." When I asked one friend about it she simply said something along the lines of "we stay with our kind, they stay with theirs, thats just the way it is." I feel that our culture is saturated with ideas that broaden the gap among races. There are so many stereotypes that are associated with each race and if a person does not fit in that stereotype and perhaps more resembles the stereotype of a different race then they are said to be trying to be like that other race. I also don't thinl that white people should be blamed for all the racism. For example, I am sitting across from two black guys in the computer lab right now and I know that if I went up the them and said something like "what up homie? you look like you be pimpin' on that facebook right thurr" first of all they would probably look at me like I was crazy, then maybe they would ask me why I was "talking black" and God forbid I use the N word. Anyways, I'm just starting to ramble and vent now, so I'm just going to go. If you want to talk to me more about this then see me in class or email me. sorry if i offended anyone....
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