Racism Still Exists; How Far Have We Really Come?

Erg...Huh! Who cares about your bloke!? :lol: Who would have thought your bloke is an African.

 

Meaning...?

 

I know I said it more than once, but I did as a reminder of how attraction works. :wink:

 

This is a story of a woman that i picked up not long ago and i felt it was necessary to post it here to see what everyone thinks. Enjoy!!!!

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More than any of the numerous stories I have read on the subjects of race and racism, this story resonated to the very core of my being. I am biracial, with light brown skin in the summer and a "high yalla" complexion in the winter. I remember practicing in the mirror how to make my lips look thinner. Though I could never pass for white, people of all races (sometimes even blacks) have assumed I am Indian, Hispanic, Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan . . . the list goes on. Black girls have hated me because of my "good hair" and light complexion. My mother and her friends fussed over my hair and complexion. A white woman who assumed I was Hawaiian, upon learning that I am part black, advised me that "I didn't have to own it."

I remember every instance of being called "nigger." I grew up in a white, middle-class community where little white boys on their bicycles, circling around me, chanted "nigger, nigger, nigger." Little white girls ganged up on me after school, holding me down while slapping and spitting on me. When I was grown, "nigger" flew out of the mouth of a white man during an argument. At the time, I thought he loved me.

In 1974, when I was in the ninth grade, my American History class spent two days discussing slavery. On the final day, we had a debate. Not once was I called upon to speak when I raised my hand. When the discussion turned to the separation of families, an Italian boy who was sitting next to me (and who, by the way, was much darker than me) asked (in a derogatory way) what about the black children. The entire class, including the teacher, erupted in laughter and everyone looked at me. I just sat there - angry with the teacher for not protecting me, hating my classmates and wishing I could escape.

I could go on and on, fill up the pages, as I sit here crying. I'd forgotten how deep the pain was until I started remembering.

It doesn't seem that times have really changed all that much since the '70s - except that white people have learned how to cloak their racism, making it harder to prove discrimination, thereby making people of color look ridiculous and paranoid when they point it out. The white-supremacist movement is as strong as ever, with people like Benjamin Smith and Buford Furrow out protecting the white race. I was living just two blocks away from Liberty Park in Salt Lake City when Joseph Paul Franklin killed those two young black men because they were walking with two white women. I find I am becoming wary of white people, especially middle-age and middle-class whites. About two weeks ago, I noticed a white man watching me, an unfriendly look on his face. I froze in my tracks, thinking of how to escape if he went for his gun.

You know, I get tired of all this mess because I have lived it every day of my life. This letter might sound angry to you, and it is because it's true. My lifelong experiences with race and racism are emotional as well as intellectual.

 

I grew up in the 80's/90's so I didn't experience racism to that extreme. The first white kid that called me a nigger,never said it again after I knocked some sense into him.Nobody after that really ever called me a nigger at least to my face. I can't say I won't be effected if someone did call me a nigger. If anyone came directly to my face and called me a nigger, then I would probably feel sorry for them. Cause what I would do to them will hurt for years to come. We have come a great distance but nowhere near where we want to be. I definitely get looks when I'm out with an white women. But I don't care about those looks on their ugly faces. As long as they keep their mouth shut and continue to move on.

 

Never in my life have I experienced racism THAT extreme, but if I did, then I probably would be in lot of trouble with the law...

and, I am sorry that you had to go through that. I know that something such as an experience as yours can never be forgotten, but I know that from reading your posts, it has made you a much stronger and better person than the ones who harassed you so viciously, so you have my condolences and support on finding the answers you seek.

 

two very valid points...

unfortunately many people tend to believe that seeing near-naked slutty white and hispanic women in rap music videos somehow constitutes "racial progress". and any black person who talks about race in a way that doesn't excuse racists for their prejudiced behavior, will always be seen as being "emotional" and never intellectual....

 

True, malachi.

 

How far have we come? Well, not that far. A lot further than the 50-60s, I know that much. But for the most part, the ideology is still there like Cris said. I mean, people just don't voice their opinions like they used to. Instead of talking, body language(actions speak louder than words) and indirect disrespect is the way to do it. And those who verbally do it, well, they're just the same as those who were doing it in the 50s nonchalantly.

The USA was founded on racism. There was never any intent for "other races" to be involved. When they conquered this land, white was the only color they[Europeans] wanted to see. That same mission(white only) is still being pursued everyday. Though fewer whites have completely conformed to this ideology, many are still supporting it. And for many Americans(non-black Americans) blacks are a disgrace to this country. Which is why we'll always have a great amount of racism towards the race[blacks].

 

.... anyone else think we've come far?