Running Into Racism...

[BayCityProgressive]

I have been very disheartened over the last few weeks, after running into a lot of racism. I was optimistic that someone like Obama could win in 08 but now I am really beginning to think a black man would not have a chance at the presidency. It all started back around election time. I live in Michigan and the ban on Affirmative Action came up to vote on the ballot...two very good friends of mine voted to ban affirmative action and told me "why should black people get hand outs just because they are black". One of these people is a chief union stewert! The ban passed in Michigan.

A few days later I went to a co-workers home that I have always concidered a close friend. I get to her house and she says flat out " I am so pissed, my property value is going to go down the toilet, some hood rat N***ers just moved in across the street"!!!! I was absolutely shocked. I am also in the process of buying a new home with my partner. We met some of the neighbors and one couple is a young black couple. My partner's mom goes on to say "Well they seemed really nice but the bad thing is a lot of peole wont buy houses in here if they know a black couple lives here".

To top it all off I went to lunch with some of my aunts the other day and the whole controversy about Kramer came up. They just brushe dit off and said "oh well, black comedians say stuff about whites all the time so who cares". The most shocking part of all is that every one of these people is a straight ticket Democrat!!!! I really do think we as liberals are the minority in our own party. Did I just have a bad couple of weeks or do others run into this frequently?? I was shocked and saddened especially when it is coming from other Democrats!

[Boojatta]

1. Obama might not get the votes of people who live near the White House,

but most voters live far enough from the White House that they don't have any reason whatsoever to be concerned that he would lower the property values in their neighborhood.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. LOL

I am going to remember that! Good talking point.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. In this time of stress, I think latent racism comes out

people are getting afraid of what is going to happen, and so racial ideas they heard when children, and may even secretly harbor, come out. Just wait until we have a major economic collapse. You'll see all kinds of hatreds and prejudices come out, as a way of trying to mask fear and to make sense of it all.

[BayCityProgressive]

5. Good point

Neo-Nazi's are huge in Russia now that their economy has collapsed..people just want someone to blaim I guess. I know the feeling being gay...I am responsible for the destruction of civilization of course!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. Then, being Sufi, so am I, I guess!

But, seriously, do expect this sort of thing to continue as the world situation gets more stressful. If you are into spiritual practices, do them. If not, check out Eckhardt Tolle's ideas because I think they will help people stay sane.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. People are just not as open about racism as they used to be

It isn't as acceptable anymore. But that certainly doesn't mean it does not exist.

My dad explained it well to me when I was young. He said an open society, where all are treated equally, is an ideal that is very much worth fighting for but we also must accept the fact thst we very well may not see this accomplished in our lifetimes. It took literally dozens of generations to build up the 'acceptable' racism we are fighting today and it will take dozens of generations to get rid of it as well.

[mattfromnossa]

15. your dad was right.

I think we need to concentrate more on educating our youth about social inequality.

[rosesaylavee]

6. Check out this group for ways to

discuss prejudice with neighbors, relatives etc.

National Coalition Building Institutes (NCBI) www.ncbi.org

They have one-day workshops that teach effective ways of talking to people who say offensive things around you. It is something I still work on as I still get shocked and taken aback when someone says an outrageously racist or bigoted statement.

Not sure if there is a local organization near you - you will probably have to contact them directly. They have many on college campuses. If you can't find one, contact the Illinois group: www.ncbiillinois.org

VERY effective great program. Wish it was required to graduate at every high school.

[lonestarnot]

8. Cool free download Principles Into Practice, reading now. Back with evaluation.

[lonestarnot]

10. Read to page 28 and my opinion is this.

Alot of horn tooting w/o any operational keys. I kept hoping though. Maybe there is something beyond page 28, as there are 43 pages. :shrug: Not worth the effort to download this. Bet their workshops are better.

[rosesaylavee]

11. Their workshops are amazing.

Unlike other diversity workshops I have attended - they have ways of helping those that reveal deep hurt by racist or bigoted events in their lives. Locally here, a predominantly Jewish community chose these workshops over the Anti-defamation Leagues' workhshops that were planned community wide.

[lonestarnot]

16. Cool. I hope their attendance numbers are grand!

[CrispyQ]

7. We have one black family in our very white neighborhood

& I wish all our neighbors maintained their property as well as they do & were as quiet as they are. Oh, & I've seen the woman & their three children in the grocery store & the children are very well behaved. For the most part, the kids hang out in the magazine section & read.

Arghh!!! It's the 21st century. You'd think we'd be a little further down this road than we are. :eyes:

I don't think I could continue to be friends with that co-worker.

[Ian David]

9. We need to put all the homophobia, racism and anti-semitism aside for now...

and concentrate on just bashing The Mormons, until Mountain Meadows Mitt drops-out of the Presidential race.

After that, it would be nice if we could all do away with that crap and be friends.

In any case, don't put up with it from your fellow DU'ers, Democrats or your neighbors. Call them on it and challenge it.

[MADem]

12. Gee, I've been informed that Obama doesn't have a rat's chance in hell of winning because he is a

SMOKER!!!!!

Seriously.....!

[BlooInBloo]

13. Show me a person who thinks a black man right *now* could possibly be elected POTUS...

... and I'll show you a fool. An optimistic fool, but a fool nonetheless.

And note that getting elected is just the first stage of the racism to be overcome. Immediately after that will be the incessant characterization of him/her as "The Black-President". Just like in white football-society there are no quarterbacks who are black - there are only black-quarterbacks (and so white-CW goes, they may not be so good at reading defenses or decision-making, but damn are they good atheletes!).

The first (through 20th) Presidents who are black will face this and a whole slew more.

All of which assumes that which was false to begin with: that a black person could possibly be elected POTUS today.


EDIT: One component making up the over-all impossibility of a black person being elected POTUS today is The White Lie: http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/nov/09/md_sen_steele_hit_by_white_lie_in_polls

Basically, white folks SAY they'll vote for the black candidate, but then don't. As isn't surprising, they're much more concerned about the APPEARANCE of not being racist, than they are with ACTUALLY not being racist. Polls mean commensurately little when black candidates are in the field for a national office.