Taverner
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Tue Jan-16-07 02:04 PM
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Serious Question: were you ever at ease with your racism when younger? |
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Note, Im not saying "were you ever racist" simply because I feel all people are racist to some extent, and its more a matter of being OK with your racism, or striving to change your thoughts and actions.
Anyway, were you ever more racist previously?
I used to be, in High School. Used all kinds of slurs and epithets. People knock the political correctness of the 90's, but it was through that trend that I was able to view my own racism and decide to make a change.
How about you?
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jpgray
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Tue Jan-16-07 02:06 PM
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1. I used to be so terrified about being racist it became racist |
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Seriously! Condescension that comes from pity, and the sort of "Aw, how does it feel to be a problem?" mentality it projects can be pretty offensive--of course this was years ago when I was in jr. high and such. :D
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Oeditpus Rex
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Tue Jan-16-07 02:12 PM
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2. It wasn't a matter of 'being OK' with it |
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but of being ignorant to its real meaning and effects.
But, yeah. When I was a teenager, I thought it was okay because I didn't really think those things. I had a good friend in high school who was black, and sometimes I'd drop an 'N' on him in a joking manner. I thought, hey, I'm making fun of the word, so it means I'm not racist.
Until the day he politely but firmly told me I'd pushed the envelope.
We learn, y'know?
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YankeyMCC
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Tue Jan-16-07 02:20 PM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Tue Jan-16-07 02:23 PM by YankeyMCC
And I don't want to sound like I have some sort of superiority complex :) Because I certainly have had and still have many failings. But surprisingly I was never comfortable with racism.
You're right I think in that all people have racist tendencies, thoughts, biases, etc...I certainly can't claim to be color blind but somehow I always recognized the immorality of not treating people equally based on color or ethnicity etc...
I say somehow and "surprisingly" because I grew up surrounded by a lot of racism. My friends and family would often tell racist jokes and I even witnessed some 'friends' express violent ideas about minorities. I even kept the fact that I was once mugged from my friends and family for a long time because I was afraid of the reaction because the muggers happened to be black.
One of my failings was that when I was younger I usually didn't do anything more than remain silent when the jokes were told. Now when I hear such things I speak up.
I've had to have some stern talks with my mother about watching what she says around my son.
I don't do enough to help my fellow man, I'm not giving enough, or doing as much as I should in my community, I can be impatient and even distant but I can at least say I managed even with all the racism around me to have enough sense to recognize it was immoral.
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jrandom421
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Tue Jan-16-07 02:29 PM
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4. Never have been and never will be |
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After growing up with mom and dad's, aunts and uncles, telling stories and showing photos of the internment camp, I never will be at ease with racism, my own or anyone else's.
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DU
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Wed May 01st 2024, 10:50 PM
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