What is the future of race relations in this country?

[RagingInMiami]

I am seething right now at the obvious racism going on in helping those people in new orleans. It's so fucking obvious that it's racism.

Most people won't acknowledge it because most people are not even aware they are racist themselves. (I am a white latino - my mom is colombian and my dad was german-american)

Most white people who claim to be so fucking tolerant of other cultures and races are scared to death of black people. In their minds, they are not racist because they are down with Denzel and have no problem seeing a black quarterback or football coach.

But let's see how they act if they are approached by a black youth with dreads wearing a football jersey.

I don't have to tell you that black people have never had it easy in this country, but how much have we progressed since 1865? Since 1964?

Have we progressed?

How is Katrina going to affect the future of race relations in this country?

[fortyfeetunder]

1. It's already in the toilet.

After growing up in the civil rights era, I have come to the conclusion that the 60's-70's were a time period where race relations were starting to improve. It started its decline upon the Reagan election in 1980 and has deteriorated ever since.

But the coverage on Hurricane Katrina will further destroy race relations as we know it. We will need another person of the caliber of MLK Jr and his proteges to turn it back around.

[undergroundrailroad]

2. Absolutely! We WILL need another Dr. Martin Luther King.

Your analysis is excellent and true.

Thanks for posting.

Undergroundrailroad :hi:

[Karenina]

9. In the 60's I truly believed things would get better

Today they are WORSE than my wildest fears...

[fortyfeetunder]

18. I thought so too.

As a young child in the late 60's I was too optimistic that things would get better. But coming of age in the late 70's. Intolerance was becoming socially acceptable again. And Katrina brought it all forward for the world to see....

[msgadget]

3. Katrina SHOULD remind the left of

Democratic Party's platform of civil rights and equality. Grass roots action backed by brave politicians, old Civil Rights organizations returning to their original missions...will it happen? Have we all become too politicized to strike out against the ENTIRE racist system?

[Pithy Cherub]

4. Katrina has exposed the effects of racism.

The pictures bothered me even more when thinking what happens in South Los Angeles or East LA during a massive earthquake, what happens in Miami if it takes a direct hurricane hit, or New York has something destroy Harlem what happens? Past behavior is indicative of future performance.

This means we need to actively revisit the Civil Rights cause and see what solutions we need to put in place today. The social safety net so to speak has been destroyed. This means a galvinizing of community to become interested in voting and holding political leaders accountable. It means reviewing communication initiatives and speaking about race and its proportional impact on class. It means calling out how public money is spent and the best of everything goes to the Haves.

It means we have to redouble our efforts and gird for a moral battle in the coming days, months and years.

[fortyfeetunder]

5. Interesting about revisiting the Civil Rights era

What I noticed that the Dixiecrats kind of hunkered down and started lying low -- turning Republican after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 -- after all they can't kill Blacks anymore for voting...but became emboldened with Reagan's election in 1980.

Now with the * administration, with this population's permeation into the US Government decision making process, they are now entitled to turn the US into whatever they want it to be. And if eradicating NOLA was what they wanted, they are getting it their way.

Right now we need someone of Mohatamas Ghandi or Dr. MLK Jr's caliber to come forth and take on this newest problem.

As much as I understand and have some respect for the Revs Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, I think they are too embedded in the political process (along with its baggage) to make any headway, and be taken seriously.

But someone needs to step up to the plate. And soon. Before it gets worse.

[omega minimo]

6. It's us. We have to do it.

"But someone needs to step up to the plate. And soon. Before it gets worse"

This tragic event is a wake up call.

--Americans are being tested for a reaction (or lack of one)

--We must stand in solidarity, those of us who "get it"-- in our communities and across the nation

--We must DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY NOW from our elected representatives

--We must focus attention on the fact that the defunding, neglect and abuse perpetrated on the disenfranchised in New Orleans could happen to ANY community--- and will, if we don't respond

--We must honor the memory and humanity of those who have suffered or died this week with our concerted and focused efforts

--We cannot wait for a leader and we cannot wait for our representatives to do the right thing. WE MUST DEMAND IT.

:kick:

Open Letter to our Congressional Representatives
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4620024

[msgadget]

7. Yes, and also remember ...

Some civil rights organizations take money from industry and are tax-exempt so they are as hamstrung as politicians. Civic action, grassroots action... I think the populace has to take the lead here. During the civil rights era people, with the aid of a more fearless press, were able to guilt politicians into acting on their behalf. This majority - this administration - has always, always been proactive about halting any hint of that sort of attention or momentum until now. Tuesday should be interesting.

[angee_is_mad]

8. They have a problem w/a black football coach

that is why you see so few of them in professional leagues. There are some whites who have a problem taking direction from a black person.

As far as the future of race relations in this country- flashback to the 50s. With the death of Rehnquist, and the pictures from Katrina, and our black leaders inability to call a spade a spade (TD Jake) this country is going back to the pre-civil rights era.

This is a country of the haves and the have nots. Whites have it and blacks don't. If blacks have it, they basically have had to sell their soul for it(condi,Powell).

[Brewman_Jax]

14. Ray Rhodes former head coach of Green Bay Packers

is a prime example of this. The city and press gave him little respect or peace.

[alarcojon]

10. Katrina has exposed the truth

for all, including the rest of the world, to see.

From Reagan's welfare queens to Bush I's Willie Horton to the resurgence of the Confederate flag to Bush II's cynical tokenism, Katrina just shows the rotten truth at the core of American society.

[Brewman_Jax]

11. Now the world sees what black America has always known

most racists are NOT pot-bellied, toothless, NASCAR watching, Confederate flag waving, white hood wearing, cross burning yahoos.

[bliss_eternal]

12. Right! Just because no one is burning a cross on your lawn

or yelling out the 'n' word, doesn't mean it isn't racism.

:eyes:

Dh and I had this very discussion years ago with mil (mine), she didn't get it. Probably still doesn't...

[alarcojon]

13. No doubt

That's the hardest point to get across to someone who doesn't "see" it. You can't tell a racist by looking at them. They will rarely utter the "N-word" except when in the company of fellow racists. But they feel in their hearts that black America deserves less, as does immigrant America, as does poor America in general.

The important thing is, now that the racist nature of the American Empire has been exposed by a natural disaster, how many racists will be swayed and come to accept the reality we already know, and begin to work to change it? Unfortunately, I am not particularly optimistic in that regard.

[Brewman_Jax]

19. It's NOT classism when

the news captions read:

white people find items...

black people loots from stores...

[ismnotwasm]

15. I had a black southern high school teacher

This was back in the seventies. I was an extremely poor student, got kicked out of school, did a lot of bad things, ended up in this "alternative" high school (that one didn't work either) But I was a voracious reader. I knew about Malcolm X and Harriot Tubman and the black cowboys. "Black Like Me' has affected me to this day. By this time, I had taken "black history' 3 times. She asked the class to do a paper on what we thought was the biggest contribution of black people to our society. Because I was still young and dumb, and partly because it's a huge contribution, I did a paper on music. Kinda beside the point. Anyway I asked this woman what she thought of racism in the north as opposed to the south. I have never forgot her answer-- "I'm more comfortable down south, because they don't bother to try to hid it. If they're racist you know it. Up here, they'll smile in your face and stab you in the back because of the color of your skin"
And thats what I think has happened on a larger scale. You see it in the gated communities. Any large city has it's "black areas and it's "white" areas. I know here in Seattle, I've always found it interesting how close to upscale neighborhoods the "black" neighborhoods are. We're still segregated. Northwestern rural areas are almost all white, except for certain Asian cultures, Latino, and Native Americans. I don't see a lot of mixing there either, and I've heard some of the most foul racist statements you can imagine. In the city, there is some blending with the kids in schools but not nearly enough. The trust isn't there. Poverty and crime go together, and there are folks who will throw in a color equation into that.
I used to work on on upscale island called Mercer Island at a nursing home. I told every single new person of color to expect to be pulled over by the Mercer Island police at some point, because that's what they do. And I was always right. Most of these were Ethiopian immigrants who didn't quite understand. The police there KNEW we had many of these immigrants, but pulled them over anyway. I could go on and on, but I already have.
So what's the future? After spewing all that I have to say I don't know. I know I'll my part to speak up when I hear racist statements. In fact I recently had to do that when a nurse I work with said she was a good dancer "I think I have a little black in me, I really do" I couldn't believe that shit. Well, yes I could.
I should say that I'm white, have been very poor. I've lived everywhere from housing projects to Indian reservations. I'm a nurse now. And I rarely share where I've come from, because I know people don't understand the culture of poverty and what you do to survive. They don't understand it only has to do with color if that particular color is immersed in poverty.
And none of this touches the "black middle class" those of you who either have not been poor or have worked your way out of it. I have a black friend who lived in an upscale neighborhood. She and her husband makes very good money. They neighbors didn't bother to talk to her until they realized she was a home owner, and she drove a brand new Lexus. She hated every minute of living there because of that and other little "messages". She moved.

[bliss_eternal]

16. Hi ismnotwasm--

Thank you for your post! It was an interesting read. So sad to hear how pervasive racism is all over the country. There's really no where that you can go to get away from that sort of attitude, is there?

Was your friend living in an upscale neighborhood in the Pacific Northwest? I was under the impression that it is more diverse and not quite as intolerant there?

:hi:

[fortyfeetunder]

17. Pacific NW: Shades of intolerance

I'd say the intolerance in the Pacific NW is both racism and classism.

[ismnotwasm]

20. It really depends on where you live

As the poster below notes, it class and racism. Our Seattle police force has an abysmal record of shooting black men. It got to the point that everytime I heard of a police shooting of an person, I would think, "god I hope they're not black". Not because I want anybody shot, but it getting was surreal. Black people went to the street in protest. The police had to do a LOT of damage control up here. We hide our racism. My up-scale friend was originally from Florida, and wasn't prepared for the "they smile in your face" crap a person of color can run into up here. Where she was living is an area called Issaquah, which 20 years ago was basically a small white town. Now it's where the "new rich" will often choose to live. I could write on and on about the difference in schools, police response, general attitudes of the oblivious in suburbia. But it's the same old story. Racism is alive and well everywhere.

[undergroundrailroad]

21. Great post! Thanks for your comments. (n/t)

[Karenina]

22. Well, the GERMANS get it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4690701

[Brewman_Jax]

23. Unfortunately, most white Americans don't

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3975118

[Karenina]

24. That discussion turned my stomach

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

75,000 folks on this board and two white guy who really "get it."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4703997#4704330

This next thread is an EXCELLENT bit of writing. Do read the whole thing.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4703997#4704330

[fortyfeetunder]

26. What ticks me off more

are the "upper crust" Black folk I know who harbor the classist attitudes of their less fortunate folks.

recalling what a relative said, "you may be my color but you aren't my kind"....

[Brewman_Jax]

25. Even the poor aren't treated equally

by the media and in society, as the hurricane so shows. Tim Wise does an excellent job at covering this in his article Collateral Damage: Poor Whites and the Unintended Consequences of Racial Privilege