posted by Sam and Michelle
Post your 450 word (minimum) comment and 100 word (minimum) response to a classmate. You should be responding to the lecture about Stages of Racial Identity – White People: Stages 3 & 4. You can write anything you want about whatever you hear in the lecture.
We then moved on to Stage 3 which is Revisioning. In this stage, one begins to see racial inequality, white privilege and racism; may not see a problem with Political Correctness; may reach out to people of color; this increased awareness leads to anger towards whites; and growing discomfort with inequality can lead to guilt. Dr. Richard then asked the class, “Who feels guilty for being white?” This really made me think. Why should a white person feel guilty for being white? Just as a person of color should not feel bad about being a person of color. You have no control of what your ethnic background is and thus you shouldn’t feel bad about it.
It was interesting to discuss how people of color can keep white people at this stage by: dismissing white concern or white guilt; keep white people on edge with anger; talk about the past and inequality; and feeling good (secretly) when a white person struggles.
In stage 4 – Reversal, discomfort can cause white people to fall back into old patterns. Reversal can bring out anger toward people of color.
Finally!! The beads!! I have been wondering during all of these lectures what the story of the beads was.
Due Date 6/16/10 (450)
The lecture was great not only was it informative but it was hilarious! It is great to see things from another person’s perspective of another race. I agree with the political correctness and I thought the apology from the Senator was unwarranted. That nonsense sends a bug up my rear end. Some people are so sensitive, and really do not know what they are being sensitive about. I am in no way stating that anyone should be called a name other than birthright. I am saying that so things are taken completely out of context. I believe today’s generation is much different and they are moving in a positive direction. When Dr. Richards spoke of the Civil Rights Era and being politically correct that was a trying time for everyone. Nevertheless, I really believe that those hard times were a catalyst for the people who were not born during that time. Most of the people in college obtaining their undergraduate degrees parents were born during the Civil rights era and that is the generation who I believe are in the pre-awaking stage and may stay there. Marches and political correctness allowed the next generation to move forward. I wrote this in a prior blog but I will speak of it again as it is more relevant to this lecture. My friend and I were having a discussion and she stated another mutual friend of ours said she could feel when people are being disparate even when nothing is said. When I agreed with what our friend said she stated, “Oh come on how can you know that.” I will tell you the truth I was so taken back when she said that. I took me a couple seconds and a quick cool down before I could say anything else. That is when I asked her does she ever think about her race or the color of her skin. Of course her answer was, “No”. I am a true mutt as I am a mixture of many things from Greek to Cree. However; the world views me as African American (Black) and I can remember many times being followed in a store in my plainclothes while working that I frequented in my uniform and the people where so friendly to me and offering me discounts. I had to remember that I am not in her shoes and she is not in mine, but sometimes people have a tendency (and I did) to think, “They should know”. Nevertheless, the question is. “Know what? Dr, Richards spoke about the knowing oneself. Very few people in the world actually know themselves (approximately 5%). The Knowledge of Self is a scary thing, and when it starts revealing its double head many people are not prepared. Several years ago, a friend of mine who is an Anthropologist held a workshop called Mirror, Mirror, and the Knowledge of Self. To be honest I thought to myself, this is bullcrap and what can she teach me. In the end, it was a revelation for all races. Most people could not get off the first page, which asked, “Who or What do you relate to. I truly mean this, sometimes, I feel so sorry for Whites when I see they are in awkward positions. They just have a look like what do I say or what do I do? I always try to break the ice and be me, and speak to them as if I knew them for a lifetime. Their shoulders slump and that is when I feel good knowing they feel comfortable and realize we are all the same.
I agree with you I think that its hard to be yourself and understand who you are. I think that society and trends of others make you feel like you are supposed to conform to a certain way of life. When you were talking about whites being put in an awkward position i think that it is true. Most whites feel like they are pushed into a wall and don't know how to get out of it. As being white i think we often try to search for the right words and things to say so that it doesn't offend anyone. When you were talking about being followed in the store I have seen that before and honestly it has offended me. You know why do blacks have to be stereotyped for so many things and whites do the same amount of crimes. I don't think that its fair for blacks to be followed in a store becuase someone else ruined it for someone else. In society hopefully people can look past color and know people for who they are and not what they look like.
June 16th, 2010 12:26 PM
I enjoyed reading your comment because I too agree that it is really hard to know ones self. Before hearing this lecture I never really thought about what makes me, me. I am a white girl and in all honesty I don’t really think about my skin color often. I don’t hold myself higher than another race because I agree that we are all the same. I also appreciate the fact that you put in an effort to help make people feel comfortable when they are in uncomfortable situations about race. I know that I have definitely been put in a situation before where I really didn’t know what to say because I didn’t want to offend anyone.
I agree with you it is hard to be yourself. It takes a lot of soul searching, to find the true you. The one thing I have done when I am store, and being followed, I just leave. I have decided that I will not give you my hard money. If you feel that I am not good enough to be in your store, I'll leave. Because to me that's what your saying, I'm following you because I don't think you should be here! I also commend you, on being you! People are prone to be a ease once the ice is broken. I think if more of us(PEOPLE) were just ourselves these awkward situations would not happen as often. I'm sure your still get someone who gets a kick out the awkwards, but in the end they will be the one who sticks out like a soar thumb.
June 16th, 2010 12:17 PM
While watching this week’s lecture I realized many aspects of my life are ones in which I never have really stopped to think about. I am a white girl who is 5 feet 5 inches, right handed, straight, brown hair, supportive family whose parents are still married, of average weight, and was brought up with my parents being able to provide for me. Since most of these qualities are “normal” as I walk through life I have never really thought about them and how they impact my viewpoint on life. It is very strange to think about how if I was a shorter person that it would probably make an impact on everything I do. Also how if you are gay you have that “light bulb moment” when I do not think I have ever thought twice about being straight. It is strange to think about. When Sam went on to talk about pre awakening I thought about how true it was. As he told the story about being in the whirl pool with a man who was paralyzed and he fell into the water and Sam did not realize what was happening I felt as if I could relate. I work at a camp as a camp counselor for students with physically, learning, and emotional disabilities during the summer. The first year I worked there I was a little bit hesitant around the kids in the wheel chairs. I was not sure what these kids were capable of and what they were not capable of. Since I never wanted to belittle them I always wanted to let them do as much as they could on their own, after all many had been like this their whole life and they probably had their routine down. It also made me nervous though because I did not want to expect too much from them and cause them to feel inadequate when they could not meet my unreal expectations. After about a week or two of trying not to step on their toes, I finally sat down with a few of the kids and told them I was clueless about how capable they are but I wanted to learn. After that day they were so much more open about everything and I learned that many of them did not mind one bit talking about their disabilities. I was so happy I decided to ask them about it rather than always second guessing myself. The next year I went back and it got easier because I had experience. I am about to start there next week for my third summer and can only hope that I will be even more capable of helping them in an appropriate manner than I have been the other two years.
You have done something that I think many people would shy away from doing. For many people, interacting with disabled people is out of the norm. Many people are afraid of getting too close to them so as to avoid causing them any unnecessary problems. Though this thought is unfounded, it is how most people think. In a way, this could be considered as you crossing into the third stage. You crossed the threshold into their world for the first time, immersing yourself in their lives. You began to see the world through their eyes, seeing all their hardships but also learning their true abilities.
The same was for me as well. It made me think more in greater detail who I really and truly am, and how I can think outside the box. Sometimes we just think about the basics on life, instead of focusing on what really matters. I also like the example with the paralyzed man. I don’t know what I would have done in that situation, but Dr. Richard’s response to it went very well. It goes to show that we can do things that we may think are out of the ordinary, and what we think isn’t normal, but normal to somebody else.
June 16
This lesson and lecture opened up a lot of doors this week I am sure. I know it did for me. It really opened my eyes and let me know what life is like from a white person’s perspective. (Well, those that are not racist for real.) Many times, I think white people are underestimated, and many forget they are not the only ones that can be prejudice and discriminators. I think many feel that it is easy to blame white people for everything that is gone wrong in the world. But this is not true. As mentioned in the lecture, a lot of the times we think to ourselves, “Who am I?” And sometimes we really don’t know the answer to that question right away. There are some things we just don’t think about, and we just continue to make assumptions and critical statements towards whites. Although they are the ones that seem to be the dominant group considered to be normal, that is not the case. There are some people that are prejudice to their own kind, and tend to value other races as normal. There are many that will judge white people based on how they carry themselves, but the same is for blacks, Hispanics, and Asians. The carrot example with Dave
June 15, 2010 Lecture 8
A lot can be learned by having the ability to first understand that possibly you may know very little. Different races constantly want to point the finger at others explaining the inadequacies that they have directed at their race. People sometimes don’t understand it’s not the lack of wanting to know more the opportunity has never happened. It is hard to understand other people when there is a lacking of first-hand experience. As Dr. Richards showed how little he knew about the handicapped when he took the faculty advisory position. He just never really thought about what it entitles to be handicapped because that was not really something that came up in his life. Not realizing the everyday tasks that come with being handicapped. And the fact that the most basic function acquire the help of others. This puts both them and you in awkward situation at first until the constant exposure makes you used to it. As he said after a while it becomes no big deal, because it becomes something familiar in your life. The same thing applies to race. It is hard for someone of a different race to really completely understand what that person must go through every day. As being white I never really contemplate what it is like to be pulled over because of my skin color. It is not something that occurs in my everyday life so little thought is put upon it. Also, Dr. Richards went into political correctness a little bit. Political correctness in my opinion is something that is reducing our abilities to become racially unbiased. It constantly sets up boundaries that people must follow and makes the categories of us and them. It says your white so you cannot say that, even if you mean no harm or negativity in what you are saying this is a line that only that race can touch. This has stopped us from really learning and listening to other people of different races, because as Dr. Richards said when a race topic comes up in ethnic setting white people generally draw away from the conversation. By doing this it makes different ethnicity jump to the conclusion of that individual being racist, but in many cases I am sure it is the opposite. That person may have really enjoyed getting involved in the conversation but we have been socially trained to stay away. I truly believe to keep evolving with acceptance we must forget the ideal of political correctness. Political correctness has lost maybe what it was supposed to mean at sometimes. Maybe at some time it was useful because of all the racial issues. Especially my generation is becoming more diverse and understanding but we still have these walls built up with subjects that are kind of all the table.
June 16, 2010 Lesson 8, White people
I never really took notice to the fact that white people never talk about being white. I am white. So, why didn’t I take notice to that? I notice that people of color often talk about their skin or other factors concerning their race, but didn’t ever think about my skin color just because I am white. It amazed me that simply in the opening line of a lecture I could make an epiphany like that. The idea of sense of self and shaping it didn’t seem like It was something that would be possible to make a complex subject. I always thought of it as something that was simple. Someone asked who you were and you told them the things about yourself that made you, you. What I didn’t realize were the things that I left out that other people may have considered an issue. The idea of height, bring straight, or being right handed don’t often come to mind as something that would shape me, but what about other people? The way Sam said “It’s just the way it is, it’s an Is-ness thing,” sort of made all of that click. It seemed to me that the things that people considered shaped them were all things that were different from what the social norms are. People who are extremely tall or short consider it a major aspect of their life. People who are gay clearly consider it important. Things that violated the idea of normality were the focus areas for people. At first when Sam said about white people being stuck in just stage two I did not exactly believe him. I thought there is no way that most white people only make it that far into the stages. After listening to the lecture and gaining a better understanding of it, he is definitely right. Most of the white people I know do avoid all racial issues. They would rather avoid all of the political issues that would pertain to race. Rather than attempting to learn, or just bring issues to light that they aren’t certain about, they will completely avoid them to avoid being uncomfortable. I think it is because they are afraid of offending a person who is different. The idea of just not understanding how people are plays into things a lot. When he brought up the idea of being handicapped I did think about it. I don’t know what it is like to be handicapped nor do I understand what it is like to deal with people who are. I do lack experience with things like that. If people had experience around people who are different than them, they begin to understand why people are the way they are. It comes back to being rounded. If you spend your life around people who are all like you, I can understand how someone could get stuck in the first two stages.
I was very excited to see that the topic of majority or white privilege and the inability or the lack of realization that those who are the recipients of it was being discussed. Time after time I have felt as if my peers did not see the advantages and privileges that were handed to them solely because of the color of their skin. Although one may not be directly related to the individuals responsible for their societal wealth, they are still reaping all of the benefits. However, one thing that came to mind during the lecture was the possible counter-argument: What about black privilege? What about all of the benefits that African-Americans receive because they look a certain way? It seems as though when we speak about race we always talk about what whites have and what blacks don't have and not the reverse. Personally, it would be interesting to hear what people think they do have. As an African-American I cannot think of any privileges that would slightly fair in comparison to those that my white counterparts may have. Even when considering affirmative action I cannot help to realize that the beneficiaries of that program are actually white women.
What are the benefits of being black? If you were to ask me I can go on for hours because I love my culture as I would hope others cherish theirs as well. My benefits however aren't those that can create jobs or wealth or prestige. They are personal and related to my ancestors. For example, I take pride in the fact that I come from a people who fought for what they believed in on a continuous basis.
What I am getting at is I always felt as though African-Americans were the race on display. Whether or not that is by their own doing or by others, this race has always been the one to watch, the most discussed, and the most debated over. Their actions are scrutinized, their talents are glorified, and their culture mimicked. As flattering as some of this may be, I never understood why. This race is among those that are the most deprived and discriminated against. Why would a majority population with so many privileges even want anything that their supposed inferior has? What is so amazing about this race?
I do apologize if this is coming off pompous and self-indulgent, but as an African-American I have had many experiences in which I felt as if I was on display because of the color of my skin. I have had many assumptions made about my culture just because it was perceived as different. I am not bitter, I am just curious. If you have the world available to your discretion, why would you even want to know what it is like to not have the same privilege?
June 20th, 2010 6:45 PM
I find your post to be very interesting. I am a white person and to be completely honest before this class didn’t think about my race on a daily basis. I live in a mostly white area and just continued on with life not thinking about it. When Sam mentioned about how white people never really talk about their race I could relate a lot. While he said that we are given more opportunities because of our skin color I accepted that but thought about affirmative action, like you said. Then also thought that affirmative action doesn’t compare to the advantages we probably receive. I find it really hard to even express what I’m trying to say because I will never know what it’s like to not be white but to answer your question as to why we would even wonder about not having all of the privileges we have…to me it is because I want to understand. I want to be able to understand how well off I do have it, to appreciate it more and to understand that maybe my idea of how other races are truly affected is probably not right on. I want to be able to know if what my idea of being a black person and how black people are treated is accurate (I assume it isn’t) but I want to understand how another race lives in order to be able to just simply understand. I know this will never happen but even for example, if I had a black friend that I could ask literally every question that came into my mind without feeling as if I were being perceived as racist, as I do fear when I talk about race, I feel as if that would help me to gain a better understanding.
I think the way Dr. Richards introduced this topic was really interesting. It is definitely entirely true that we only identify ourselves with certain aspects or characteristics we possess. In most of what Sam said, I fell into those categories. I am white, straight, average height, and right handed. I never really stopped ever to think that these qualities had a huge bearing in my life, probably because they don’t really. But when I put myself on the other side of things, I can see how these qualities might actually affect an individual. If I were a short, left-handed, homosexual I think those things would definitely affect my life. It is sad but true that minority groups or qualities can have such a huge impact on a person’s life.
Although the stories about the disabled people were funny yet sad, I think it really was a good example of how disengaged we are from people or situations that we don’t have experience with. When he was telling the story about smoking weed and the disabled guy in the pool – I laughed and thought “wow what an ass”. But really when I took the time to put myself in that situation I think I would have done the exact same thing. It’s amazing how truly disconnected a person can be when you aren’t faced with that situation every day.
The last part I want to comment on is that of political correctness. The sign was a great example of how people and groups tip toe around this issue. It’s almost more offensive in a way to have to go to such great measures to try and hide what you really mean – especially when everyone already knows. The clip of the interview about the sign was perfect. It was obvious exactly what the sign was made for. It was totally laughable when the guy was trying to convince the guy interviewing him and the audience that it was just a family you might see taking a run across the highway. The other example with the elderly senator was good too. It is so clear that he had to try so hard to find the right wording to try and get his message across. It was almost painful to watch as he had to take so long to let out a simple message. Then the fact that he have such an in depth apology for simply stating what he was actually thinking is really just obnoxious. We all know that racism and issues regarding race exist in our society today. however I think the idea that everything needs to be politically correct actually is making our problem worse – or essentially brushing it to the side and dealing with it later. Instead of hiding behind this idea of correctness we as a society should address the issue at hand.
Lesson 9-Due 6/20/10
I found white guilt as a very interesting subject. I had never really thought about it before this lecture. At times I have found myself a little remorseful about what has been done to Native Americans in this country in the past, but that was pretty much the extent of it. This class has really led me into the Awakening stage. I have truly started to seek a deeper understanding about race issues and I feel have begun to lay the foundation to advance to the next stage in a positive way. The professor is right, from lectures and information so far in this class, I have wanted to address issues and racism in random discussions between people I know. Not so much as I am fighting for another race, more so the reason I want my friends to understand race, and what it truly means. I don't want them to ignorantly make blind statements about other races, as much as understand why they are making those comments. Aside from the Awakening I feel that I am also experiencing a bit of Revisioning. I do see a very large problem with political correctness yet, at the same time I have begun to see the racial inequality because of arguments such as the king of the mountain theory etc. I have also tried to bring up facts about racism for people of color in order for them to understand it as well, and they can be just as racist as whites and make just as ridiculous ignorantly blind statements. I can very easily see that the discomfort that white people feel can lead them right back into their old ways of thought. The discomfort can truly bring out anger because who wants to continuously feel awkward and uncomfortable in certain situations? I have known about the Black People Love Us website for some time now, and yes it is quite hilarious. I was not aware of the fact however, that black people thought all white people smelled like wet-dogs if they are wet. I did know however that Black people use wash clothes and white people tend to not. In the topic of these assumptions however, I can recall one that whites most often think about blacks and that is, black people generally smell like cocoa butter. So, in essence both sides are guilty of such comments regarding smells. The Doctor made a great point about the race table and just keeping your mouth shut after making certain comments because you cannot dig yourself out of the hole. I can see how an individual such as the student got tired of the “your white your advantaged” blame game and basically was just tired of race.
June 18, 2010
This was such an interesting lecture as it pointed out a lot of the behaviors I do as a white person along with my friends. Dr. Richards started lecture talking about how white people learn to not talk about race issues, because if we talk about race issues we are noticing color and may in turn be called racist. I agree with this; my friends and I will only talk openly about race when there are no colored people around. We do not want to offend anyone or have our words be misconstrued. Just because my friends and I do not address race with people of color does not mean we are racist. I like how Dr. Richards brought up that point. Sometimes, it feels like talking about race and not talking about race is a double-edged sword. If we say something about people of color, we may be called racist, and if we do not say anything about people of color, we may also be called racist.
I use a washcloth
So, white guilt….hmmm. I guess under the definition I have experienced white guilt. I have felt a "certain way" about the leg up I got for being white, but not enough to not wanting it. I have moved through that feeling though. It's funny when Sam was talking about people avoiding using color as a descriptor, I have done that, but to other white people not people of color. When I was using color or ethnicity to someone of color I had no problem using it as a descriptor. It's funny that it's the white people I didnt want to get a big bag of shit from and I didnt really understand why I did that other than the fact that if I avoided using the obvious descriptions that made identifying a person normal and simple THEN it looked like I was hiding from public notification of their race. You know whats so odd though is that when you are avoiding the color with a white person and then finally you need to use it, they understand. But if I were to use it right out of the gate often they would make an issue of it….ya the white person berating the white person for NOT making a big deal about someones color. frankly I find dealing with white people on the issue of race way way more confusing than with people of non-white. But then again I dont really give a crap if someones panties get to twisted up if they are offended by normal speech, too much PC IS crippling and it makes you look and sound like a complete moron.
glad to see us finally taking part with the rest of the world on this scale.
I am about to inherit my 12 year old niece an a couple days. She is having issues at home (southern california) and her mother (my sister) thought maybe me and my wife could take care of her. My sister has 5 girls, the oldest is 13, and they have been a household of non-white haters. Its the fault of people of color that somehow has put my sister and her family in poverty (maybe its not working and having a lot of kids that did that- I'm just sayin LOL). The father is a white power nut that wanted to move them all to a white supremacist compound some years ago and the mother is always complaining about the mexicans and the blacks to her kids. The first thing my sister asked was how "white" is our community. So somehow we have to figure out how to deprogram this girl and get her moving in a new direction in regard to race. I dont want my niece to grow up hating, nor do I want her to grow up wrapped in bubble wrap. Somehow she needs to experience the world and its people for the humans they are, not the skin they wear, and that could become a challenge. So far the main exposure she has had to race has been negative. Here in State College one great thing I can say is that there is Sooo much positive exposure to non-white people. I am wondering what she is going to do when she gets to the "guilt" and how you move someone through that. I know for me I just seemed to move through, I dont that it was a conscious thing, it just happened. We (my wife and I) have discussed this at great length and the only thing we could come up with is just lead by example and make corrections as they come up. I think putting in her face would be just as damaging as doing nothing at all. One thing I dont want her to feel is guilt about being white…but on the same hand I dont want her taking Pride in it either. Why feel "proud" about your skin color, it feels to me like taking pride in your thumbs or in your big toe. Is this different for people of color? Are there other things in your minds associated with pride in skin color and is not seeing that for a white person just another tid bit we are missing? I feel like Im rambling now so Ill close it off.
PS: GO USA (world cup)
June 19, 2010
And I have also avoided using people’s color to describe someone. I try to describe them in every other way possible besides using their race. I haven’t done that recently though. I have gradually learned that when you are try to describe someone it is okay to say the white person, black person, Asian person, etc. I have always experienced other people do this too when I am at work. One of my managers is an older black woman and she is the only older black woman who works at the store. Customers try to describe her every other way. And eventually I figure out who they are talking about and I always say “oh the light skinned black lady?” and of course they say “yeah that’s her”. They would have wasted less time if they had just said that from the beginning.
I also use a washcloth
Blog Comment for Grade. Lesson 9 – White People Stage 3&4. 18 June 2010 @ 1004am.
Great lecture. I liked the fact that Dr. Richards touched on the subject right off top that white people have pretty much been taught to not talk about race or racial issues. I can agree with that to a certain degree though I would not say I was taught NOT to, I wasn't taught TO talk about it either; I WAS taught to never shy aware from topics because I may be intimidated by them or in fear of what others may think of what I have to say. I agree with Dr. Richards when he stated that, as white people, if we talk about race then we see color and if we see color then we are racist. So many will crucify whites for acknowledging color and want us to just see people not color but in the same breath they too will speak on matters as though it pertains to ONLY people of color. It's like okay…so YOU can speak of racial issues and see race but I can't because I am white? Are you serious? Why is it up to white people to decipher when is it okay to acknowledge race and when it isn't? Why does the burden not fall on people of color to decide when it's worth getting upset about and when it isn't? I get that the focus of this lecture is white people but I just don't see why when it comes to racial tensions white people have to be the focus too…and by racial tensions I mean when things are bad or when things are needing or wanting to be discussed…why does the weight fall on white people shoulders? Why can't it be equally distributed…we are all supposed to be equal I thought.
Let me say, that video on those twins – OMG – I just can't grasp thoughts around that. I try to not think ill ways towards them because they are so young and have clearly been taught to think and act that way (everyone knows that hate breeds hate). I also try and remind myself to stay open, as repugnant as I may find their opinions…everyone is entitled to free speech even if I and most of the world find it deplorable. I just can't imagine, looking at my lil girl, wanting to put hate into her eyes and in her heart. Why do that to such innocent children…they seemed so nonchalant about it all and VERY programmed. They don't believe that many Jews were in existence? That is not a 12 year old talking, that is an adult talking. It's sad but that is also the reality of our world.
White guilt?!?! I am surprised students admitted to feeling guilty about their race and their ancestry. Why would anyone of any race let anyone of another race make you feel bad for who you are – like you can even help it. I don't feel guilty, not ever, for the tone of my skin. I don't relish in it and think I have some high place in life because of it and I don't think it's bad and disgusting because of the history of this skin tone. I didn't partake in slavery, nobody in my family did either – why would I feel bad? I didn't have a privileged life by any means. We were awfully poor and had nothing most of my life (nothing that people would expect me to have b/c of my skin color). When my mother remarried we had more but because my step father and mother busted their asses at work to provide for us. I have what I have as an adult because I joined the Marine Corps not because I am white. The Marines accept people of all races. I don't know, I just don't get that whole feel bad for your race and feel bad for something that is beyond your control. At the end of the day, why do you even care if people say or think you should be or feel a certain way?
I agree that people of color do aid in keeping this cycle going and I also believe that people of color are just as racist as white people. I cannot tell you the amount of hateful things said to me because who I fell in love with (by women of color). Comments that were purely motivated by me being white and him being black. My response to that negativity was simply just to pull him in close and give him a HUGE kiss in front of their racists faces.
Lol I can see why a lot of people may make it to Stage 4 and then bounce back to Stage 2 – what do white people have to gain? Why should they take a bunch of s**t when all they are trying to do is better the racial tensions and their (maybe) lack of understanding? But at the same time I would argue that just because people of color may not want to aid you in that racial enlightening path, why let anyone stiffen you? Who cares? These stages should be about your own enlightenment – they just haven't got to theirs yet.
6/20
Speaking as a person, who does feel guilt, I would like to explain to you why I feel that way and maybe why others felt that way. Maybe guilt isn't the right word but what I do feel is conflict within my understanding of how I am so lucky to be who I am, and I feel "guilt" because I didn't deserve it more than anyone else who was born, I simply got lucky. I watch the news and I see all the horrible things that happen to people everyday, and I feel guilty for living such a simple life when others have to endure this. I don't know if I feel guilty for being white, but I feel guilty for not helping the Native Americans, and not being aware of the constant struggle that people of color encounter.
I do agree with you on some points and find it the video of the twins shocking. How can girls so young really grasp or understand what they are promoting? It makes me sad to know that they learned all their ideas from their parents who also think that it is okay to be promoting those ideas. The two daughters seemed so serious and believed what they were promoting. I also think that it is pretty surprising how people can feel guilty about their race an ancestry. People should be proud of where they came from instead of making excuses for anyone else.
6/18/10
I agree with your comment on the white guilt. I don’t understand why anyone would feel guilty because of his or her skin. I can understand feeling sympathetic for those of other races but for one to actually feel guilty because their skin is white is absurd. There have been times when I see others being discriminated against and of course my heart goes out to them, and I do genuinely feel bad, but there is no reason for me to feel guilty because I am white. No one asked to be born white, or any race for that matter, so why should we feel guilty? No one, regardless of race, should feel guilty because of their skin color.
First off I just feel bad for the two little white girls. I know that they don't feel bad yet in their life and maybe they never will but it is heartbreaking listening to them and their parents views. They are obviously sheltered and when you see the woman conducting the interview get a bit fired up and ask about the Holocaust the girls faces are blank and they immediately go on the offense. "Well I don't think that there were that many Jews around back then in the first place." "I don't think" makes me crazy. What research have these girls done? None officially. They listen to their parents and that's what makes them the way they are. Sad.
As far as the furniture commercial either those guys are very stupid or very smart. As far as a sales tactic I think it is a bonehead move but maybe their brilliance lies in their stupidity. That was a commercial from North Carolina and it made it's way to the PSU classroom and into an online lecture. I see commercials all the time that I think are the dumbest things ever but you know what I still do? Finish watching them and then talk about it after. Just the fact that I am posting about it shows that it stays with you. If I were a local there I may not shop there but when I see the commercial or drive by the store I will maybe shake my head or give a little chuckle. All I am saying is that it is a commercial you will remember whether you are for them or against or don't care at all.
June 18, 2010
When Dr. Richards asked, “How many white people feel guilty about being white?” I admit I would not have raised my hand. Why should I feel bad about something I did not have control over? Though I did not feel guilty about this, I did feel guilty about using racial identifiers inappropriately. I think it is good to feel guilt about saying something not-so-good about another race. If we do not feel guilt, how are we supposed to move forward? Are those who do not feel guilty racist? Why should we feel guilty about saying something we believe in or saying something we just simply want to say? All of these questions were running through my mind during this lecture.
06/18/10
As lesson nine continued with explaining how white people live in this racially stressed, I have begun to see how I am involved with more than one stage (of the four we have discussed) at a time. Sam has shown how complex every different racial situation we encounter is. It is nearly impossible to tell what level someone may be in at any given time. It is nowhere near being black and white. I think taking this first step to understand that every person can be any different stage in racial awakening is vital to improving the race relations in the US now.
The one thing that I thought was interesting was when Sam discussed how white people are taught to be colorblind to improve race relations between every race. I was under the impression that this was a fantastic idea. If we truly threw race out the door entirely, it would be easier to treat everyone with equality. But the matter of the fact is that race is apart of everyone and ignoring that just prolongs the healing of racial relations until later. We take this class so we can embrace race and then go forth and attempt to heal what is wrong about race relations today. If everyone tries to be color blind in society. We are really being like the white people who don’t try to say anything that might offend someone. It’s all about prolonging the discussions that we need to have.
After hearing about the fist four stages that a white person may be in, I can say that I have been at least one point in time in any one of them. There were different experiences in life that led me to feel one of the four stages that Sam has discussed thus far. There are sometimes where I just don’t know what to say about meeting someone of a new race that I have never encountered but was curious to know. There are also times where I just get fed up with people of race who constantly blame any white person for their struggles in America. I just wish everyone were more educated about how to confront the racial issues that we face today. People are often too quick to make judgments about race and keep them there until they have an experience that they take amongst themselves that will change their first initial judgment.
The last thing that I have about this lecture is about white guilt. Because of our American values that tell us the power of guilt, white people feel guilty about being the better race when they consider them selves not racist in the first place. I agree with Sam on this point. We are forced into feeling guilty for something most of the white people didn’t cause. It’s just a natural feeling that occurs due to the way that we were raised as Americans; it’s just another issue that we need to discuss.
This was yet another great lecture; it was very informative. I thought that the video about the Red House Furniture store was a little strange. On one hand I thought that it was really funny because people kept referring to themselves as black or white and that they were saying that the store is for all races. On the other hand I thought it was rather sad that someone would make a commercial for a store stating that people of all races could shop there. I mean isn’t that common sense? I guess in different parts of the country it’s not. But I definitely think that where I live people can shop where ever they want regardless of race. I also however do think that certain stores are geared toward people of certain races. For example, there aren’t many white women who get their hair done at a salon designed for black women because their hair types are so different.
I use a washcloth
And I thought that the comment about white people not using one was really interesting to hear, especially when Sam polled the class about weather or not they use one. I just figured that everyone used one, but clearly that’s not true. And what I found even more interesting to hear was the comment that white people don’t use a wash cloth because they are “clean” and black and brown people use one because they are “dirty”.
I have also tried to describe someone without using their race as part of the description. And it would have been a lot easier to get my point across if I just said their race. I notice that I have never had a problem describing someone as white, but I know that in the past I have avoided saying that black or Asian person, for example. But I have not done this recently because I know that if you are trying to describe someone, race is okay to disclose. I have also had other people try to describe someone to me. Where I work there is an older black woman that is a manager. And customers always come in looking for her, but they don’t know her name. So they try to describe her in every way possible that doesn’t imply that she is a black woman. Yet if they would have just said that they need to speak with the older black lady they would have wasted less time because there is only one person with that description where I work. People always try to tip top around a person’s race when in reality many people don’t care if you say their race when trying to identify them.
I was a bit confused with the Red House furniture commercial as well. I guess your color matters where you buy furniture from in different areas of the country. I found it kinda weird that the black guy just jumps on the couch and explains that this couch is good for both black and white people. Along with that, the white guy jumping on the bed and saying the same thing. I just feel like the marketing aspects of that commercial is very flawed just because of how offense some people may construe it, the commercial may actually be driving customers rather than drawing them in.
6/20
I found this lecture to be very interesting because most of the things Sam was talking about, I could relate to. I remember at a young age, I was taught by my grandfather just to keep my thoughts to myself about race. I remember him telling me that it is a very touchy subject and since he lived through most of the hard times that they had to go through, such as the protests and a vital event like the March on Washington. This lesson just reinforced those ideas that I shouldn’t use it race in certain situations but I also learned when it is acceptable to use race in daily conversation. When talking about this subject though, I found it very comical when the washcloths were mentioned. I felt like in every friend’s house I have been in, including mine, there are washcloths on display, but they are never used. It is just funny because I have never noticed that. It has always been just a formality I guess.
June 20th, 2010 11:38 AM
While listening to this weeks lecture as Sam began to tell everyone that white people don't talk about race because they don't want to be considered racist I found myself agreeing with him one hundred percent. I’ve realized that when I am around people who are a different race I find myself not behaving how I ordinarily would. Not that I speak of race often but while around people of a different race I try even harder to not talk about race at all. I could really relate to when he was talking about when students want to talk to his TA and you don’t know how to go about identifying which TA without using their race. I always feel as if I am offending them even though it’s just a physical feature I would otherwise, such as the guy with the blonde hair or brown hair. It’s very odd that we can refer to other physical features like hair color or eye color and no one thinks twice about it, but when we use the color of skin to describe someone it causes people to be uncomfortable. I like how it matters in which instance it is okay to use the description of race, if you are using their race in a derogatory way or when it has nothing to do with what you are trying to say it obviously makes sense that that is not okay. I have never felt guilty for being white, because I did not choose to be white so I don’t believe I have anything to be guilty for. I don’t know if maybe I feel this way because I am white and maybe I would have a different perspective if I were a different race. I have felt bad because of certain things that have happened in the past, but to be completely honest I don’t feel guilt. I was not the person who caused that to happen so I don’t know why I would feel guilty, which makes me wonder why we have to feel guilt in order to go through all of these stages. I hope I’m not sounding inconsiderate but that is just how I think about it. I don’t like that “you can never talk yourself out of being racist”. I hope that is not true. I feel that a lot of people are always looking for some reason to become angry with someone, no matter their race. I never knew that black people thought that white people smelled like wet dogs when we got rained on. I think that’s funny, I have never heard of that. Also I never knew that there were a lot of white people who didn’t use washcloths.
I was truly bent out of shape with the two little girls. "There weren't even that many Jews." What??? I feel sorry for them. Their parents are pouring into them their beliefs, but I wonder if the twins were ever asked what they thought. Are they given the option of exploring the world outside the racist one, their parents are having them live in. I am a firm believer, that God holds us, parents, responsible for what we instill in our children and once they become adults they are held accountable for their actions. By no means am I judging these parents, I just totally don;t agree with what I've seen. It's really sad! The whole wash cloth thing, dingy me, I thought everyone used wash cloths! lol….I am truly learning a lot from this class. But the one thing I really feel is, if people weren't so afraid to have discussions about race, we wouldn't have to wonder where comments like, white people smell like wet dogs, or blacks use wash cloths because their skin is extra dirty. We as a society should be scared to ask questions or say what's on our minds. We really shouldn't be so extra sensitive.
06/20/10
Yeah the video with the two girls was really messed up. In Soc001 we watched a more in depth video about the girls and their family. In the video it showed that the girls are not completely comfortable with the ideas of their mother and the way she exploits them. They still seemed racist, but it also seemed that more and more they were being exposed to more “normal” and not racist ideas. Also their grandmother really hates what their mother is doing and has tried to help the girls see the world in a more reasonable light. If you are interested Richards could probably send you the video.
About the washcloth thing, I found it pretty funny. I went to a pretty diverse high school (especially compared to penn state) and I have heard the whole wash cloth and wet dog thing before. People didn’t make a huge deal out of, it was just something to have an innocent laugh at.
First of all, I think the video of the two twins was appalling. Not only was what they were discussing and truly believing to be true completely inappropriate, but what their parents were perpetuating and supporting is outrageous. It seriously bothers me when people think they are inherently better than other people and because of that spread the word of ultimate egotistical thinking.
I think it’s often difficult for white people to know when It’s acceptable to refer to someone as ‘black’ because we’re so often criticized by people who are black or other races for stereotyping people for the color of their skin that it’s difficult to know when it’s appropriate to break the barrier and use that term or when it’s ok to use the term and not be looked at with that expression of ‘did you really just call me black’.
It may be important to learn the language of race, but I think it’s equally important to people to not be so easily offended by shit. I think that we’re just perpetuating our tendency to call someone ‘racist’ by assuming that when they say something based off color they mean it to be offensive. You had the example of calling a black guy ‘bro’ but there’s no reason to get offended by that if you don’t know the context of what he’s saying. Essentially there nothing offensive about the term ‘bro’ and I think this a where a lot of racists issues stem from—from people (of all races) getting immediately offended without understanding that person or the context within which they are speaking.
The color of someone’s skin often comes up in conversation because that is where our country and world is at right now. I don’t think it should necessarily be considered racist if during a story the color of one’s skin comes up. Granted there really is no reason in making it a point to state the race of the person you are discussing, but there should also not be a reason to automatically jump to the conclusion that racism is a part of the discussion
Is there such thing as absolute political correctness? Will there ever be a time when there isn’t a person somewhere in the world, or even in a group, that isn’t offended by the way someone says something? I think that inequality is almost impossible to eradicate from our society until people of all races stop becoming immediately offended by the words that others say. I think my frustration begins when people are unwilling to compromise about their way of thinking or who refuse to consider that there may be another, possibly better, way to think about race, to think about other cultural spheres. I think that having open discussions between members of the same race and members of different races will aid in the process of understanding various cultures and races and understanding what is appropriate to say without immediately offending someone.
6/20 I agree with your comment on the twins. But I personally find the video unnerving and a little bit scary. I don't pretend that racism doesn't exist anymore, but it is still hard for me to understand how a person can be brought up to hate someone or a group of people they never meet and really now nothing about. I guess what I'm really getting at, is that people are so easily influence by upbringing and kind of easily brainwashed into thinking a certain way, its scary. On another note, I agree with you to a point on people getting easily offended by others and taking things that weren't meant to be hurtful as a personal attack. But it's definitely not a simple task to just have all people just stop getting offended so easily. And then to what point is it ok for one person to be blunt with another? Because there are times when someone says something to be intentionally hurtful or because they are truly ignorant to another person's culture and race. For the latter, the person to which the comment was directed shouldn't get offended and should understand the other person's ignorance and educate them in a way as to not be condescending. But for the former, it's not ok for someone to disrespect another person's culture and would it be ok for that person to get offended and respond? Or should they just ignore it and let the commentator continue with their offensive opinions?
I agree that people should not be so easily offended with stuff because sometimes I will say something not trying to offend anyone at all and would never call it offensive yet someone (of another race) would get offended just because they think they can. I could not agree more when you stated it is hard for white people to refer to someone as black because white people are criticized often so they never know what to say because they are unsure if it will hurt someone’s feelings or not. Also I agree that color is topic of conversion throughout the world. When I am talking about someone or describing them I will use their color to help describe them and I think it is definitely where our world is at today.
6/20/10 part one
I thought the whole washcloth thing was kind of eye opening. I do know some white people that use washcloths but I had no idea about this huge racial divide. I guess that’s just a product of my whiteness and the very limited amount of black people I knew growing up. I guess the whole washcloth divide isn’t really that widely known due to the fact that most people don’t discuss their shower habits in public ha-ha. It was interesting when Sam made the comment about subconsciously feeling cleaner or dirtier. I have however started using washcloths because you need to use abrasion while bathing to fully remove the dead skin cells. I can definitely understand why most white people don’t move past the third step in racial identity. It means giving up the comforts of being white, not having to deal with what’s in our face. Since people of color don’t have white privilege they have fewer barriers when it comes to moving to the next levels in racial identify. They aren’t as blinded as most white people are when it comes to racial identity.
It’s amazing how race can be incorporated into every aspect of life. I never knew that white people didn’t use wash clothes that frequently, I thought everyone used a wash cloth. Not to say it is a good or bad thing I just was not aware that there were race related reasons for things that we use to bath. For the most part I felt like either you washed with a sponge or a washcloth I never really stopped to think otherwise. It’s actually kind of funny to me because as a black person if you say you don’t use a washcloth people will think that you’re dirty. There are so many things that you would never know about other races because you are unable to experience them.
6/20/10
While watching this lecture, I was mostly impacted by the video of the twin girls and the discussion about guilt. Watching the video clip about the girls, I was shocked. It almost amazed me in the fact that girls like that really exist. They do not know better than to listen to their parents and abide by the same ideas that they have. The girls were so passionate about their beliefs and ideas at such a young age when in reality they probably do not even fully know what they are promoting. As the girls grow up and enter the real world, they will most likely face many obstacles. When the one twin said that there were probably not even that many Jews during the Holocaust, I was surprised at how serious she was. She truly did believe that which made me think, what else do these girls have a hindered view about? When Dr. Richards began speaking about guilt, I was one of those students thinking about how much guilt I feel on a daily basis. I thought about what it has been in the past week or so that I have made myself feel so guilty about. Do I really even know what true guilt is? I thought I did until Dr. Richards revealed its definition and started investigating the topic a little bit more. I know that guilt is obviously feeling bad to an extent, but I did not have an idea about its further implications. When Dr. Richards asked students in the class if they ever feel guilty for being white or feel guilt for another race, I thought back to what I brainstormed caused me guilt in the past week. I would not necessarily say that I feel bad for being white. It is true to say that through this class I have gained a better understanding of what it means to be white which has lead me to become more thankful that I am. Just because I am white and gain from the benefits of being white, does not mean that I feel bad for someone who is not. It is unfair that other races are discriminated against but I do not take that any further and begin to feel bad for them, thus I do not feel guilty for being white. I think that one can see unfairness and understand that it is in the world without having to feel guilty for other races. Moving onto white guilt, I did not even know that it had an underlying meaning. I do think that there are many people in the world who have white guilt or experience white guilt. Personally, at this point in my life I do not feel that I have truly experienced white guilt.
6/20
When you said the first thing people learn is to not talk about race issues reminded me of a time when I was in 5th grade and my best friend at the time would always start out by saying involving my race as Bl-African American, he would pause and try to say something to not offend me in any way. That always brought a chuckle out of me because I never even would pay attention to him being white, the only time I would notice is when I walked around his neighborhood, in the white part of south Philly, and practically everyone would look at me and my white friend quizzically. It’s just something that he has always been around. Those two girls singing about White Supremacy made me think of brain washing right away, and also clever editing and reporting by ABC, cutting after a certain sentence gets the point across but I can’t help but wonder what was lost, but I believe the essence of what those two girls were communicating got across. The parents are the cause of this almost the same way as they were in the movie Jesus Camp, but not much can really be said. Parents influence and control what their children think the majority of the time. I actually do know black people that want white people to “pay” for everything that they have done, but I think believing that an entire race should collectively apologize. I sometimes believe they think it’s a yearly white meeting between races where they discuss certain problems and every year agree to not apologize to every race they have offended or something. The being a bigger person idea of just walking away is what my dad tells me to do a lot, but it’s hard as hell to not actively say your views especially if they’re misconstrued because that bothers me when someone believes the wrong idea or believes what they haven’t heard. I’ve luckily never heard anyone say they need to see White people suffer for everything that they have done, because I think that is one of the stupidest ideas I’ve ever heard. I don’t want anyone to suffer anymore than they have too, and if through luck or their own lucky intuition then more power to them for eliminating suffering throughout their and their ancestors lives, I’m sure most white people have a general idea of other people’s sufferings throughout the years, and if anything it would just make people a lot more bitter. And obviously I wouldn’t expect all Asians to know Kung-Fu but I’m not going to assume otherwise. Also Dave Chappelle said in another one of his skits don’t use the wash clothes, and that they have pubic hair all over the bar of soap, and now every time I take a shower at a white friend’s house I notice those finer details.
What I also find interesting is that many people develop some of their views and stereotypes about others based on what they learn in their homes while growing up. I have heard people say that they believe things and view things in a certain way because of how they were raised. Can’t people grow up and change their views and realize that maybe the way in which they grew up was wrong? How long should people blame their behavior on their childhood and how they grew up? At some point, aren’t we all accountable for our own actions and behavior? It’s almost as if people are willing to put the blame on others instead of pointing the finger at themselves for their actions and behavior.
06/20/10
So last comment I was unsure what step I believed I was at, but know we know about a few more steps. Before this class I would say that I do not feel “white guilt” by the definition I thought it meant. To me guilt means feeling bad for something that was at least partly your fault. In that sense I do not feel guilty for past racism or things like slavery well because I was not even alive. The whole idea seemed silly to me that someone would feel bad, or blame themselves, for something that was completely out of their control. But according to Richards the real definition is a little bit different then that. According to Richards white guilt is “The remorseful awareness of having been racist or having benefited from racism”. I do not believe I am racist so that leaves feeling remorse for having benefitted from racism, which I am sure I have many times whether I liked it or not. One of the definitions of remorse is compassion which I guess makes more sense for white guilt then its other definition which is “regret of wrongdoing”. If you have not actively done anything wrong then I do not think you should feel regret. But all of us white people should at the least feel compassion for other people because of how racism has hurt them and greatly benefitted us. The reason I think compassion is the one good thing about the definitions of these words is that compassion leads to action and like it says in Richards definition awareness is a part of it. Being aware leads to compassion and compassion will lead you to do things like stand up for a stranger who is being harassed because of their skin color, like the girl in that one 20/20 video. There is no sense in beating yourself up for something that is completely out of your control, but if you have awareness of the world around you and compassion for other human beings then you can have a positive effect.
So I feel that I am in line with many of the aspects of revisioning. Seeing racism and inequality and discomfort with inequality are feelings I have regularly and strongly. I have a small problem with the “anger towards white people” part of revisioning. The only white people I feel anger towards are the ones who perpetuate racism and inequality, the ones who refuse to put themselves in the shoes of other people. Blanket anger towards a whole people seems ridiculous. Maybe that is what the slide from the lecture meant but it was paraphrasing. I do not like what the points for the reversal step. They seem like they are backwards ideas and anyone with some intelligence would be able to skip over that step unless they were hurt somehow by people of another race. I could see someone who had an experience like Richards when he was accused of being racist falling into step 4.
6/20 “But at least we have something in common – an impossible task. And that is the bridge – because we all have to face the biases of our upbringing, the blindness of our ignorance, and the fallacies of our world views in order to make the crossing.” (Making Peace 67) I really enjoyed this quote from Laurie’s book, because I felt like it summarized a lot what she was talking about when it came to the “boxes” and traps we have put ourselves in. I definitely see these “color traps” that she is talking about. I myself have fallen into them a couple of times, and only until recently have I made any type of intentional change in thought to try and prevent this. It’s hard not to judge people from a glance. First impressions take all of 30 seconds to make, and we tend to make them about everyone that passes in and out of our lives. I used to sit at the HUB (PSU University Park) during its busiest time of day and watch people coming and going. Interacting with each other and not; and I tried to pretend what they were thinking about and what their lives were like. I noticed that a lot of the things I would come up with, in some way or another correlated to their race. I didn’t mean to do this, nor did I do it in a patronizing way; but I realize how wrong it was of me to pretend I knew anything about these people from just a glance. There have been times that people have done that to me, and I don’t enjoy it. I have had friends tell me their first impressions of me and how I turned out to be completely different from what they originally thought I would be. Like I said before, I have done this to people, I see only what on the surface sometimes. I personally don’t like saying “I don’t see colors”, because I do. But in the way that I love the differences in our cultures. I think that is what makes the world so interesting, but I don’t believe people are all that different. Humans tend to be the same in certain aspects; we all feel pain and sorrow, happiness and anger. It’s interesting how a person of color can say “I don’t see colors” and this would be taken as an invitation for a white person to feel comfortable around that person. As opposed to a white person saying that and that person being considered as ignoring or avoiding the issue of color altogether. There are all these different “rules” that only seem to divide us more. These “traps” correlate directly with the idea of “boxes” that Laurie talks about in her book. She suggests that we are born into these specific boxes, depending on our race and social class, etc; and that depending on the shape and size of our boxes we are limited in our views. Some of us can only see the sky and not the ground we sit on, while others of us can only see the other boxes that surround us and ground but not the sky. As hard as it is for us to believe it, and as much as we like to pretend, the fact is that “None of us sees the entirety” (Making Peace 72)
6-20-10
Holy hell…The holocaust was an exaggeration? Are you kidding me? Okay I understand the fact that some people take the realization of their whiteness as a reason to possibly feel superior, but rationalizing the holocaust?!! That was something that I would have expected to hear from an older, nasty man. When I heard two young girls speaking like that, I was dumbfounded? It seems to me that white people have issues meeting in the middle. They either take one extreme or another. White people seem to either become so racist and give themselves a false sense of superiority, or they are petrified, and almost refuse to talk about any racial issues because they don’t want to cause a disturbance. It confuses me to attempt to understand these possible ways of thinking. Sam said it best, “if you hit someone in the street, does it matter what color they are?” Of course it doesn’t matter. People are people. You will get in the same amount of trouble for killing a black person as a white person, right? Everyone has a thought process, and if they know you aren’t trying to offend them, often you aren’t going to lash out at you in a rage. Put yourself in their place. If someone were to ask me “hey are you stupid because you are kind of polish?” I am not going to explode on them. I am going to explain sadly no I am not. If I were I would have so much fun poking fun at myself! I don’t think that a simple question automatically means someone is racist or being intentionally hurtful. Most people need to realize that. The red house video did explain it very well. Everyone shops for furniture right? People are people race doesn’t change the fact that people are willing to talk to one another with out arguing about race. I feel that a lot of people who think they are in stage 3 actually are not. I know white people who will say they understand inequalities and white privledges, but truly they do not. They make excuses for discrimination, and say that most of it is just in peoples heads. I notice this in my home town. When I talk about things such as this class to people here, they say things like “oh, I get it, I know how those things are, but most of it is nonsense.” That’s not understanding, that’s lying to everyone, including yourself. Until you realize that these things are real, and that they do have impacts, you aren’t truly in stage 3. It is ignorance that blinds us. Even though there are laws and regulations now, there are always loop holes. I can tell that I am possibly in stage three. I become angered at people and find myself arguing with them when they speak stupidly. This class seems to work well as ammo when engaging in these arguments. It is amazing how many people I never realized really are ignorant. I do feel that I will not feel guilt for being white. It was how I was born and I could never control it. What our ancestors have done to one another is in no way how I feel things should be. The only way to move forward is discuss these things with one another and let one another know that these feelings are not more. People are people, and thats how the world needs to see things.
I feel that right now I am between awakening and revisioning stages. I am definitely more aware of the racial inequality issues that have gone on and are still continuing in the world today. I am starting to feel anger as well. After hearing about the inequalities Native Americans faced I was and still am very angry. I think about it all the time. I talk to and tell anyone I can what is going on. I feel like I need to do something to help. I have looked up several possibilities that I can partake in and I will help as much as I can. The thing that I am still kind of confused on is the guilt. I understand everything that was said in lecture but I guess I’m still trying to process it all. I do feel guilt. I have felt guilt many times. And I do have remorseful awareness. This is something I am going to keep thinking about and trying to understand. Once again, I loved this lecture. I am always going to refer back to the racial identity stages. Oh and by the way, I am white and I use a washcloth.
As I was viewing this lecture, one thing that came to my mind was how people make disclaimers before or after they are about to talk about something that involved race. Is there a reason for this? For example, I have had people say things to me right before they are about to discuss something about someone of a particular race. Usually, this happens when someone is a different race than me and is about to say something about someone who is Black. They may say, “Don’t take offense to this” or “I’m not being racial.” All I want to say to them is to continue on with the story. I really don’t need people to give me any background into their personal views on race. Maybe a reason for this is that people don’t want to seem to be racial or want to be viewed as having racial tolerance for all people? Who knows?
I couldn’t believe the white supremacist twins! Its 2010 who still proudly raises their kids to be racists? Not even just racist, but white supremacist pop singers. I wanted to ask the mother what she would do if she had another child and the eyes weren’t blue, would she discriminate against her own child? I actually felt very bad for those two girls because they are being raised by ignorant people, and it’s going to be a very rude awakening when they are separated from their extremely sheltered lives that they are living right now. I could never fully understand how people can be racist. I must admit that I have probably said some prejudice things or maybe something that could even be considered racist, but I do not personally hate or believe that someone is inferior to me because of their race. It’s actually very sad that people can be that misguided by extremely old and false beliefs about different people. There is enough evidenced in this world for us to understand that the differences we see are because of outside factors, not because of the color of someone’s skin or the color of their eyes. The part of the lecture where the professor talks about why it is important to leave out unnecessary things like white person, Asian woman, female, gay guy, any of those unnecessary things, because if we continue to pay attention to those very important details then we will continue to always look at color or sexual orientation, or any of those things that we use as descriptors of people that are not needed. We also should be comfortable enough to bring up ones race in a conversation if needed, like with the TA example, we should easily be able to say the black TA or the white TA easily, because that’s what they are. This is the point where the political correctness comes into places, because people do not want to be the person to seriously offend someone or be called a racist, but stating a fact does not make someone a racist. When the professor talks about how black people are always playing white people when it comes to making them feel bad about something that they didn’t really care about, is actually funny to me because this really does happen. I can say that there have been times where I have made a joke with my friends saying things like if this person doesn’t do a certain thing I’ll just call them a racist and they probably will, and they usually do. I do not think that white people should have this blanket of guilt covering them for something that they do not have a direct connection with. You are the person who controls how you act and live your life not your ancestors, and if a person black or brown makes you feel like it is your fault for events that happened centuries ago than they are the ones who are ignorant.
I smell like a dog when I am wet? Really? That comment is probably the thing that will stick with me the most from this lecture. This was a very interesting lecture, but that one really got me. Now, to go back to the beginning of the lecture. I would have to agree that white people are either taught or learn not to talk about race. Speaking about race, in and of itself, can be perceived to be racist. We are taught to treat everyone equally.
The video clip of the two white Nationalist girls was very sad. These two beautiful young ladies are being taught to hate and that their race is superior. As the old saying goes, “You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family.” These two girls will be entrenched in a life of hatred simply because of who their parents are.
Is it really true that white people are taught to not see color from early on? That this makes them assured that they are not racists? I find this such a difficult concept, or truth, to grasp. I hate the whole idea of political correctness, especially coming from white people because I feel that it is often just based in avoidance or excuse tactics. It drives me crazy. I would much rather that someone comes out and speaks their opinion blatantly like a white supremacist (however ignorant), as opposed to those who hide under a cover of innocent ignorance. An example of this would be the one that Professor Richards brought up a few lectures ago pertaining to racism from white people in the North as opposed to the South. Yes, it can be difficult to deal with the turbulence that you encounter along the path of awakening whether you are black or white when dealing with these topics amongst one’s own people, but can be ten times more difficult for one is in the presence of a majority of the other group. So it can at times be understandable when let’s say a white person in a room full of black people grapples with finding the courage to speak their minds racially, but I think that it is so necessary. And even more important can be to have patience and understanding coming from the black group’s perspective. I also think that black people or even other minorities are not given the opportunity to prove their willingness to be fair and productive in these conversations. As expressed in regards to the stage of revisioning, yes anger often comes into play. Anger, however, is not always the first response by people of color in discussions =surrounding race. As a matter of fact, many times an honest conversation would be so welcomed that we would often probably offer up a lot of “passes” not necessarily warranted! Even when people say ignorant and dismissive things like “get over it already & move on!’ Oh, the frustration! At the end of the day it’s not about assigning guilt, or perpetually victimizing minorities. It’s mostly about recognizing and stating that one realizes there is a problem that exists, in order to evoke a genuine emotion of concern and responsibility to contribute to a better way forward. I know that it can be difficult because sometimes we don’t move past the guilt, but this is a necessary hurdle to cross and move past to get to a solution. Until now I couldn’t really identify with white guilt the way that I do know after having learned more about the plight of the Native Americans, and subsequently how my inaction contributes to their continued plight.
Chappell was not only funny, but true. My husband was actually listening to this lecture while he was playing on his x-box, and as soon as he heard Dave Chappell talking about someone putting a carrot in someone’s butt, he said, “White people always talk about doing that stuff.” This goes to show that this example is true. We all do this though. We make assumptions that it’s just white people that do and think up different things, but why does it have to be like that? Who said that a white girl that has a black or Hispanic boyfriend just wants to be black or Hispanic? Why can’t she just love that person because he is a good guy? That’s the way it is of course.
I had to laugh at this one! First the two sisters, I hope when they grown up they think about the real world. And the Red House Commercial video, what was that? I was thinking the whole time, Is this real or was it a joke I mean is this a real store and do people actually shop there? Who goes and buys furniture based on the color of the workers, the color of the owner and rather the item of furniture is suitable to whites or blacks or any race for that matter, lol, or if he given credit to everyone! I laughed then showed it to my daughter. We never talked about race in my family coming up and race was never an issued my children even asked about, but we don’t hid from it either. This is something that is learned, in my opinion. I mean even when my daughter was the captain of the high school basketball team more then half was white they came to my home, stayed the night and never had a problem from these girls.
June 18, 2010
So why do people stay at the race table? I think we do because it is necessary to do in order to move forward in race relations. Furthermore, it gives us all an opportunity to call each other out – not just people of other races, but people of our own race. It gives us the opportunity to address people who call us “racist” and also gives us the opportunity to explain to others how they may be keeping us at this stage. Furthermore, we can address people of our own race, like the twin racists, and give them knowledge about inequality and race relations in hopes of improving their views on other races. This may stir up some anger in us (for seeing how ignorant people can be) and other people (that their views are being challenged). I am definitely going to bring up some of these topics during Thanksgiving and see how it goes!
Hope. I would like to think that the reason people stay at the table is hope for a better world and a better society for not only themselves but their children. I like to think that many stay because they may not see it yet, but are willing to stick it out and work through it. They know that things dont just magically fix themselves, and that life WILL happen regardless of what you do. I just watched Invictus and I have to say that I did not take as much of a view of Mr. Mandela and what was happening in South Africa during that time. What I took from that story was that if a nation so totally divided can come together then it was not by mistake. Someone had to stay at the table, someone had to continue the dialogue, and more than 1 person had to stand up and push for understanding. They could not just sit back and let it happen or it wouldnt have.
I agree. We need to lay everything out on the table if we want to move forward with the race issue. Nothing is easy especially at first. The first person to do something was never successful the initial time they tried so with this we need to have the mindset that with time and effort something positive will come of it. Just ignoring the issue or trying not to hurt feelings will keep us at a stand still. It is a matter of taking that first step though with the thought that eventually the race table issues will be understood and we can live with a bit more harmony.
I found the two white nationalist girl singers to be absolutely shocking and I kinda laughed at the same time. It is amazing that parents promote children doing this at such a young age and that they are doing this dance around a SWASTIKA for fun. I just wonder sometimes how they can have such strong opinions about such a controversial topic at a young age. I feel like it shows how a few bad white people can give a bad name for the whole race. This also reminds me of a 20/20 video that showed a 7 year old boy, whose parents were a part of the famous Westboro Baptist Church. This child is telling the people from ABC that God hates fags, Jews, and gays. This kid is also saying that all Americans are going to hell because we support the military and gay rights.
6-20-10
Agreed. It was Amazing that children could be saying these things. There are some crazy people in the world. I don’t think that these children honestly feel this way. I feel that the ideas were pounded in there head every since they were very, very young. When this is all you know, and you are taught these things when given very biased one sided facts, its understandable for them to say these things. Children are very easily influenced, so when their parents tell them this is what is right, often they will believe them. Only in the future when they are given the true facts about events such as the holocaust or the gay community, will they be able to make a true decision on how they feel. Once they realize that their parents have been lying to them and conditioning them to appreciate hate, they are going to resent their parents for a long time.
6/20/10 part two
I definitely feel a little of the guilt Sam was discussing, I understand that it’s part of the process and hopefully I can mature as a person and one day have a more balanced outlook, maybe even be more pro-active when it comes to race-relations. I definitely feel that Sam is right when it comes to making a “faux pas” and being called racist by someone who doesn’t understand where you’re coming from, it’s happened to me before and there is essentially nothing to do. Once that happens you can never talk your way out of it. A wall goes up and the conversation is over, it’s so deep and emotional a five minute conversation will not be able to take that wall down. Neither party will be able to understand the other person’s feelings because we aren’t able to live our whole lives in their shoes.
The childhood of white people and black and brown people are very different when considering the topic of race. Throughout the early years of schooling, white children are continually told that all people, regardless of the color of their skin, are equal. Racism is bad. To a little kid, this can be confusing. This is the thought process going through all white children’s heads: if all people should be treated equal, and racism is treating people differently based on the color of their skin, and racism is bad, then just pretend that all people had the same color skin. This is how most white people learn at an early age to keep quiet about race. In order to avoid offending anyone and being called a racist, white people just stop talking about race all together. However, black and brown children are taught at an early age that racism exists. They are taught how to survive in a world where they are not treated equal.
I also want to talk a little bit about white guilt, in that it’s something I struggle with regularly. I find it hard to draw the line between feeling guilty as a result of my personal action and simply as a result of the privilege which I inherently possess. I can comfortably say that my actions have not made the lives of people of color any worse. That is not to say however that my ancestors did not. So where then do I decide to differentiate between responsibility and acknowledgement?
I am not the type of person who would really care about other people’s thoughts. I think indifference is good sometimes, especially when somebody is expressing their thoughts, and these thoughts are not matching mine. I abhor all kinds of censorship and denying people their freedoms for any excuse whatever it is, but this issue of race supremacy is starting to tick me off. My issue is not with whites only. I do not know much about many cultures, but I believe in almost every culture, there are teachings given to the kids early that tell them that they are born special; hat they are better than some other group, or even worse, they are the best group. Now as I said earlier, I oppose all kinds of censorship and opinion control, but the nonsense of the universal argument that the race of somebody is better than the other is really annoying. I fail to understand what some people see in the color of their eyes. So the album was called: “Prussian Blue.” My question is, what is the big deal? Does this prove they are immune to cancer, or that they can see at night? No, and what is driving me crazy is that other cultures would have a similar attitude towards another unique physical feature, and the same people go to rallies that supports their agenda. I really fail to find excuses for the two girls for not realizing that what they are doing is ignorant. Or why would they claim they are superior over mere physical characteristics that are continuing to get worse and worse in shape as long as you age. What is the difference between a Latino or an Asian and a blond guy? I fail to find any difference other than that the obvious looks that can almost prove they are not white. I cannot understand what makes dividing the people, making enemies, and causing threats to you and others, worth it as long as you “preserve your race.”
I find it funny that I talked solely about the anger I felt when I saw that clip, because I stopped the lecture after the clip was over and wrote about what made me angry, and then as I continued watching the lecture, Professor Richards talks about how anger can be caused by increasing awareness about racism. I have had long, heated discussions with many people: family members, friends, and strangers about the issue of racism. I found myself defending white people on one day, and black people on the other, and on another day I was defending Asians. It is really frustrating when you see that racism not only common in all groups of people, but that it is embedded in the brains of people, and it will be passed on to their successors.
While watching this week’s lecture I realized so many areas of my life are ones in which I never really stopped to think about in a whole. I think this class does a good job of forcing you to stop and think. I might feel that I am normal in certain people views but I know I am not. I also think my family has done a great job in making feel as normal as everyone else. I went to catholic school all my life and my parents have been together for 23 years and are very happy. I am also black latino since my family is not from here and speak spanish but I look just like every other black kid. I was born and raised in brooklyn and was brought up with my parents being able to provide for me. Since most of these qualities are normal as I just went through life I have never really thought about them and how they impact my viewpoint on life. It is through is class I realize how lucky I am and that these week lecture hit me right on the head. It is very strange to think about how if I was white person that it would most likely make an impact on everything I do. I sometimes think how life would be different is I have white and how much more opportunities I might have but never really truly thought it as I do now. Another topic Dr Richards brought up that I thought was interest was if you are gay you have that “light bulb moment” and how did you realize or now when you were not straight. Thoughts like that would never cross my mind, honestly I just always thought gay people knew from the beginning and was just to afraid to tell people. It is strange to think about. Well I have to say that this by far was my favorite lecture. Not only was the lecture hilarious but it was very interesting as well. The Dave Chappelle clip about white people was so funny yet so true. I am very glad he played that and was completely shocked because it is one of my favorite shows. In State College going to Penn State I realize a lot of that skit was completely true and on the money. I also believe why he was so successful was because he allowed people of all colors to see a little about themselves and their actions but in a funny way. Dave was totally right if that happened to a black person that individual would wake up swinging or come after you because they don’t tolerate that immature stupid stuff like that. I never really noticed that only white people do stupid things like that until I actually started thinking about it and seeing it for myself here at Penn State.
…..
In today’s world, I feel that most people are trained to try to be politically correct. If people are not politically correct, it becomes a big issue. The word “nigga” is pretty controversial today. When was it okay for anyone to be saying it? I feel that today everyone uses that derogatory term. When black people say it, it makes it okay for any other race to say it. But when other races say it, black people are offended.
(cont'd) I think many people are too sensitive and want to be liked and accepted by everyone else. When you think about it, how can someone feel bad or feel a certain way about him or herself based on what others say? In my opinion, you can only feel a certain about yourself if you allow yourself to feel that way. I don’t care what someone says about me especially if it’s not true. I don’t take those kinds of things to heart. People are going to believe what they believe anyway. So why waste time trying to explain yourself to another person? Obviously, if you are in a court of law and need to defend yourself, that is different. Otherwise, why can’t people have a thicker-skin about things and disregard personal attacks that others make about them?