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.
6/14/2010
Looking at this week’s lesson it was very interesting to completely learn a little bit about how white people are. In today society I think most people think that black people deal with racism but what many don’t understand is that we, white people are afraid to talk about race. I thought that it was interesting looking at the last 4 steps. As white I think that it is hard for us to discuss race without being thought as a racist. We also don’t want to talk about it because we don’t know how to talk about it. I thought that Dr. Richard was absolute correct when he was talking about people don’t know to talk about race because we’re stuck in the awakening stage. I think that it is true I grew up in a town that is predominantly white and to see a black person is rare unless you travel across the bridge. When a approached college there population was mixed and I didn’t know how to act. I watched what I said because I was not sure what would be taken the wrong way. I typically tried to avoid conversations that were about race or involved different races because I didn’t want to be stuck and labeled something that I was not. Looking now according to the stages I was in the awakening stage. Now that I have been fully integrated I still watch what I say just to make sure that nothing comes out of my mouth is offensive but I am not scared and try to avoid conversation. I started going to church more often and through that I just have learned to expect people for who they are and their skin color. I feel that God created people this way and he doesn’t make mistakes on anything. Another thing that I found comical was about the wash cloths. I never knew that reasoning behind it but I know a lot of black people who use wash cloths and I know a couple white people who don’t use them. I will admit that I don’t use a wash cloth but I use a luffa. I thought that the meaning was interesting because whites feel that their skin isn’t dirty so they don’t have to use a wash cloth but I am pretty sure that everyone skin is equally dirty. Another thing that caught my interest in the lecture was about the video of the white nationalist girl singers. I was actually kind of offended that these girls were acting the way that they were. When the one said about the holocaust never happened I just wanted to come through the computer and slap her. I think that their parents are brain washing them and that they need a reality check that this world is multi- cultural and was built on the foundations of different people.
Due Date 6/16/10 Reply
OK, now that I am finished crying from reading your post. I know exactly how you feel. And don't think it is not the other way around, as many Blacks will not say that they think an issue is a race issue because they don't want to be looked upon as jumping on the race-wagon. That CANNOT compare to what Whites feel like…When I say it hurts me to the core it does. My grandfather told me a story once about my grandmother that I thought was funny but many people wouldn't understand. When I watched the senator say Nigger it made me think of it. My grandfather used to travel and he would not cut his toenails, he only wanted them cut by my grandmother. He was away for about a month and he came home in the middle of the night and was quiet not to awake anyone. Well he was getting under the covers and one of those toenails hit my grandmother who is White. He said she sat straight up in the middle of the bed and screamed…YOU NIGGGGGEEERRRR! LOL After he told the story my grandmother said she didn't mean it in a negative way it is just the way she was raised and the words she heard because she did not come from this country she is Greek. I can only say just be you and if people don't except that then oh well. "It is what it is!" By the way be proud of your race and capitalize (WHITE)
Due 6/20
I guess since I’m half White and half Hispanic and live in a sort of diverse area, I live close to NYC; that I haven’t been very closed off to race and I speak openly about it with friends and other individuals. I don’t have a problem saying my Black, Hispanic, Asian or White friend by those references, especially when differentiating between them to my grandmother who never remembers names lol. I’ve never really thought about it in a different way before. People are people and we have different cultures and ethnicities and I think accepting that and embracing it is a good thing. I do have an advantage by being half Hispanic though, I realize that. I can talk to people of different races and have an understanding there that White people might not have. PS I wanted to slap that girl too.
6/15
As a white person I know exactly what you mean. We are taught not to see color and not to discuss race so we never learn how to talk about it. It makes it uncomfortable sometimes in certain situations where there is a mixed group because I do not know the appropriate racial identifiers and I do not want to accidentally offend someone. Being white is like walking on a tight rope sometimes as I feel I have very little leeway as you have to walk a fine line when discussing racial topics. The political correctness of racial issues has stifled any meaningful conversation from both sides of the discussion and until we get over that political correctness conversations will continue to be difficult.
6/16/10
I completely agree with your entire blog posting. I wanted to slap that little girl too and you took the words right out of my mouth when stating, "she needs a reality check that the world is multi-cultural and was built on the foundations of different people,” I could have not said it better myself. I watch what I say as well being a white person because I don’t want to offend anyone by saying something offensive without acknowledgement. I definitely hate the conversations about race as well because I feel like it is always a stupid argument in the end. I have several black friends that are awesome and we are the same exact people until the topic of race is brought up than all hell breaks loose and it is never a happy ending.
Due 6/20
I found the wash cloth conversation funny because for some reason a lot of White people do have wash clothes in their closets and put them on display but never use them. I’m half White and I do have wash cloths but we never use them in the shower. We use them to dry our hands after we wash them but we are not allowed to use the “special” towels because those are for when company comes. I’ve noticed that a lot of people have these wash cloths that are not to be used because they are for “special” occasions and even when there is a “special” occasion you can’t use them, you can only look at them. My mother also has these “special” kitchen towels that she hangs up that I am not to use because they are just for display and to look nice. I use them anyways but don’t tell her that (haha).
Watching that White Nationalist Girl Singers video and I was completely shocked. I hope one day they grow up and realized that they need to think for themselves and stop believing in the beliefs of their ignorant parents. It’s a shame that racism is passed down to children who don’t know any better and who are conditioned to believe in such things. I guess people can argue the same thing about Christianity. I’m a Christian but I made that decision for myself. My family is Christian and of course they wanted me to be one also but I waited until I was old enough to make the choice by myself in my own time and in my own right. I was 17 when I made my choice after reading about other religions and faiths and I just found comfort in Christianity. I’m a Christian because I want to be one not because others forced it on me or because I was born or conditioned to be one. These girls shouldn’t have been forced into a practice that should be made by adults. Children are not capable of making such a decision that will shape the rest of their lives. But I guess there wouldn’t be many White supremacy members if parents didn’t involve their children in it. I guess they’re afraid if they don’t reproduce and force their children into it they would become extinct.
My father is the type of person who brings up race when he says something about someone or is telling a story. He also says stereotypical things and I am always trying to make him stop but of course it doesn’t work. He’s White and he’s with my mother whose Hispanic and had me and my brother with her so I don’t understand why he feels the need to bring up race when telling a story. I also noticed that his mother does the same thing. I guess he picked it up from her and my brother picked it up from him. I guess I’m too strong minded to follow anyone’s path, I have always been me, I’m the black sheep of the family and I love it.
Posted: 6/16/10
Due: 6/20/10
I, like you, found the conversation about wash cloths comical. My house, and especially in my grandparents house, every bathroom has hand towels that we aren’t supposed to use and next to those hand towels, that are “special” are paper towels to dry our hands. I sometimes just think my family is lazy and do not feel like regularly washing the hand towels and that is why the paper towels are in the bathroom. I too hope that one day the young girl singers grow up and think for themselves. I do think their parents influenced their thoughts and because they are so young, they just do not know any better. It’s actually a shame. It is interesting how you thought that if white supremacy members do not force their beliefs on their children the idea would come extinct. I guess like anything, if you don’t continue doing it, it will eventually go away and be forgotten. I wonder if there is a day where this will actually happen.
June 18, 2010
I also thought the washcloth discussion was hysterical. I am white and I never use a washcloth when I shower and neither do any of my friends or family members! My mother has the same decorative washcloths out; I really do not get this – why put them out if you are not going to use them? And then I feel guilty when I use the washcloth and it does not sit as perfectly on its little hanger as it once did… In regards to the racist twins, I was outraged. Another sociology professor of mine told me that Catholics are so against the birth control pill because then people will not use it and reproduce more Catholics. The same ideology can be used for White Supremacists. It is really sick how such crude beliefs are passed down from parents to children – and we think race relations may be getting better! Last, good for you for being the black sheep (seriously)! I wish I could be. Unfortunately, I am one of those people that will throw in the race of someone in a story when it is not really necessary to do so… but I am learning to get better at not doing this (so that is a step in the right direction, right?).
6/20/10
Just playing devil's advocate here but do you suppose that you chose Christianity because of the fact you were comfortable with it? I know that sounds like I’m repeating what you said but then you didn’t really freely choose it. The reason you feel comfortable with anything is because you are exposed to it from a young age. I'm not sure about you but most Christians I know are really only Christian because that's what they were exposed to growing up. If it's always there your entire childhood of course you would be comfortable with it. I feel this is the basis of sociology; the system tends to regenerate itself. Are you absolutely sure that if you grew up your whole life with agnostic parents you would still choose Christianity as the religion you want to worship?
For me personally, I wasn't "comfortable" with it really. I was baptized as a Catholic because my father's family is Catholic but my grandmother was a Christian. I never went to church or followed the Catholic faith at all when I was younger. I would hear my grandmother speaking about Christianity but I never really payed attention. Before I chose to be religious and the religion I wish to have I did research and read about many different religions just to find myself and what fit with my moral beliefs and that was Christianity in the end. I'm not a "normal" Christian though, I'm pretty free and believe in equal rights for everyone, including homosexuals. I'm also pro choice so there are things I don't agree with about Christianity but I do believe in the root moral disciplines and the true meaning of what it is to be a Christian not all these radical Christian beliefs that are out there.
I too was very interested in the whole wash cloth issue. I am your average white guy. I have always had and always used wash cloths. I know that many people do not use them, and often wondered how they scrubbed themselves clean. I never really knew that this was an issue that was mildly divided by race. I thought it was funny. For once, I found myself in the minority. I would imagine, like with many other issues, it is how you are raised. My family always used wash cloths, so I use them. My wife always used wash cloths and it was never a topic of discussion.
June 15th
I again am left with the same thoughts. Why is everyone so scared to talk about the "other" kind? The other kind can be white, black, blue, or green, I don't care. We are afraid if we say something wrong people think we are racist. I know I am not racist. There is nothing worse than that awkward silence of that person who says something wrong in front of the other person. Ouch. I know what words not to say, what phrases to stay away from, and what ways not to look and so on. Why should it be that way?
6/20
I've always thought that if there were blue, or green people they would get discriminated against from the jump. Or if there was another species that wanted to make contacts with humans would they be discriminated against. Just a random thought but I think it is that way because its easier to avoid saying certain things than to no be disrespectful. I mean for instance one time I said to a friend "at least you're not knocking on the door like a crazed Jehovah's witness" not trying to offend anyone, but I didn't realize her father was a witness. Sometimes it can be better to just keep your mouth shut, but the majority of the time it does suck.
Why should I be scared that if I say something, the whole world would put a big red X on me to signify I am a racist? Why can black people walk around free to say things about their own race, but if a white person says it, oh gosh watch out? I am like in the book we are reading, the lady whose family member never tells a story regarding race. I can go home and tell my family a story and my first words are usually, "this guy" or "this lady” or sometimes, "this asshole" depends on the situation…..but, never "this black…" or "this Asian…" It is interesting to me that people can even begin a story like that. Because you started your story "this white woman" does that make the story more understandable? Oh ok she did that because she was white, that makes sense. NO.
That is stupid. I think a lot of how people act towards the "others," comes a lot from what they learned at home. If you come from a family that always steered away from those kinds, chances are, that’s all you would know and that’s how you would be. I don't know that for a fact, but it’s a logical explanation just like everything else now a days. People say you are a product of your environment, so does that mean everyone who was raised racist, will be racist? I don't know. Never really thought about it. I guess that’s like saying your dad did drugs so you probably will. That’s not a really fair assumption when you look at it that way.
I completely agree with what you are saying. I also believe that how you view other people come from the training you get at home. I honestly believe family starts everything and is a center or core of your thinking. I also believe is a very logical approach to look at it that way because I have met several people who tell their children not to treat anyone differently and be good to all people. I also think it is a very touchy subject and I also think my thought process does not fit with all people but honestly who do most people go to for everything and majority of the time is their family.
I agree with you with the fact why can’t we say what we want, how we want about who we want. And my like you, if I have a story to tell I don’t start the story with the persons race, I’m telling the story about what happened, period. I work with 2 guys who happen to be white and they love rap music, r and b, hip-hop and everyday they are back in the dish room washing there pots and pans playing their music and singing the songs word for word! There has been several times I have went back there and the “N” word, the “B” word or just anything about blacks has come out their mouth and other people who see me approaching and the sing the word will stop, pause and wait to see my reaction, I just look at them smile and start singing the song too and they will look like OMG, she didn’t flip out, we can breathe now! Didn’t bother me, It’s a song! And at the same token I didn’t go home and make it a story about the white guy at work singing the black rap and said the “N” word.
Everyone has their own mind and can make their own decisions; therefore everyone is capable to not continue down that path of thinking "us" against "them." I don't think racism is a cycle that will ever break the more ignorant and naïve people in this world, the cycle will continue. Some people are straight out just bigots and biased and racist. Those people are idiots, but that’s how they are and they aren't going to change. As long as there are humans around there will always be people who are like that and who think that way.
I couldn't agree with you more! People chose to be racist, not because there parents said they have to, or because that is the way mommy and daddy taught them at home. Just like a man or woman suffers at the hands of alcoholic. They can chose to go down the paths their parents did, or they can chose to be the complete opposite and better themselves, like my mother did. She chose to live her life without having to depend on alcohol.
I couldn't agree with you more! People chose to be racist, not because there parents said they have to, or because that is the way mommy and daddy taught them at home. Just like a man or woman suffers at the hands of alcoholic. They can chose to go down the paths their parents did, or they can chose to be the complete opposite and better themselves, like my mother did. She chose to live her life without having to depend on alcohol.
I couldn't agree with you more! People chose to be racist, not because there parents said they have to, or because that is the way mommy and daddy taught them at home. Just like a man or woman suffers at the hands of alcoholic. They can chose to go down the paths their parents did, or they can chose to be the complete opposite and better themselves, like my mother did. She chose to live her life without having to depend on alcohol.
I couldn't agree with you more! People chose to be racist, not because there parents said they have to, or because that is the way mommy and daddy taught them at home. Just like a man or woman suffers at the hands of alcoholic. They can chose to go down the paths their parents did, or they can chose to be the complete opposite and better themselves, like my mother did. She chose to live her life without having to depend on alcohol. The same goes to those that are brought up with racist parents. You live and you learn.
For some reason my response isnt working, this is in response to NRD5040
I agree with you that as white people we must keep ourselves on a tightrope as to what we say. However, I find it interesting that I can hear black people refer to other black people in derogatory ways. I will never forget one day I was with another white person and two black people. The white person said that dreaded word, the N word. The look on those two black peoples faces was priceless. I wasn't sure if the ground was going to fall beneath us or what would happen. The black people, serious as can be, told the white person not to ever say that again only black people can say that. That’s crazy. NO ONE should be saying that.
It just sounds like a derogatory and disrespectful word. In the rap world, rap songs, black people say that word all of the time. I was raised in a house that you never said that word, it was a bad word. I am baffled at how much I hear it from the black community though like it is okay. I don't understand that. Now I am not saying all black people talk like that or say things like that, by any means. But it is a common issue or subject that is never addressed, especially by a white person that’s for sure.
I thought it was funny when Sam was saying how he calls his wife “bro” or any other slang word and how if he went to the gas station and went to a black guy and said “hey bro, can I get XYZ?” He is probably correct, the black guy would probably think “this white mother f****, why did he call me brother? I’m not his brother!” I think that was funny when he said it because its hilarious. I come from NYC and I used to say nigga all the time (and yes I am white), and never thought anything wrong with it because all of my friends said it, so I thought it was just a whatever word. I knew that this was wrong to say it in front of some one I didn’t know.When I went away to Penn State, it seemed that the small amount of black people at Penn State freaked out when someone other than a black person said “nigga” just to be “cool.” I thought that was a culture shock to me. Now, when I go back to NYC< I feel that it is another culture shock to me everytime I come back frombreaks.
I mentioned this in my comment on the race relations website, so I will summarize this even more because I feel that this is something that I would like to document and keep as a personal journal entry. I will summarize it so it is short, but my co-worker and his friends saw a famous black actor walking down the street (in New York City) with his big dog and someone else, probably a body guard, and they started talking for a while and decided to ask what the dogs name was and the black actor said “lil nigga.” Now my co-worker is white and so were his four friends. They are middle aged as well. They started talking about the dog and every time the black actor kept saying the does name, such as “lil nigga, sit” or “lil nigga this” and “lil nigga that.” They felt awkward to say the word “nigga” so they kept referring to the dog as “him” instead. The black actor set up one of them to have to say the name, so one of my co-workers friends said of so “is lil nigga …blah blah blah?” The actor laughed and said “ I just wanted to say which one of you would say the word nigga.” It turned out that that was not the dogs name at all, but just a joke he was playing on them lol. I thought it was pretty hilarious how he acknowledged that whites are hesitant to say the word nigga around black people.
Blog Response for Grade. Lesson 9. 6/21/10 @ 2202.
That is a hilarious story. It is really true though; both the point of the story and your posting, white people are so afraid to say certain things. I used to say that all the time myself, not to be offensive but the better amount of my friends and associations were black and that is how they talked (not to mention they would tell me I'm Black in white body, lol) and I just became immersed in it. They were never offended and they never looked at it as a white person saying a black person thing. I always wondered how one race "owns" certain terms, trends, or music. Like you, I knew it was [according to society] wrong to say certain things in front of those who don't know me and don't know the relationship with the person I am sharing the "words" with but I think it's sad that we have to do that. Although, after I wrote that, I realized that people censor what they say, not just in regards to race relations, all the time.
Blog Response for Grade [cont] . Lesson 9. 6/21/10 @ 2202.
You almost have to in order to be an accpted member of society. You can't be at work and cussing and using slang, it doesn't look appropriate and isn't appropriate, really, for the work environment. I have a black female friend (for years) that I was very very close to. We would ALWAYS say funny things back and forth about race stuff, just to make light of it and show how very little we gave a crap that we were best friends of two different races. For instance, I could say to her "go pick me cotton" and she would burst out laughing…but then in the same breath she would say "shut up cracker or honkey or Wop [cause I'm Italian], you go pick me some cotton cause we are taking over." I mean, we didn't care if people didn't understand that we had that kind of acceptable bantering in our friendship. Race just wasn't an issue…stereotypes were just stupid to us. I don't know, it's hard to explain all of this stuff because it's like an onion…a million layers to it.
Posted: 6/16/10
Due: 6/20/10
As a white person, I definitely think I was learned to not talk about race but I have no clue at what age I was taught this. I probably learned from my family at a very young age and just picked up on it and it is something that I have lived my life doing, not talking about race, obviously until now. I definitely agree when Dr. Richards talked about if a white person talks about race that means that we see color, and that if we see color that means we might be racists. I can see that train of thought and how this adds to the whole political correctness conversation. So we are taught to treat everyone equally and this means not to see color. It is a very interesting concept because I felt that as Dr. Richards was saying this, I was shaking my head up and down and realizing that this is pretty much how I was taught and something that I followed.
What I found absolutely shocking was the video of the two young white nationalist girl singers. Do these girls actually have an experience that has shaped their thoughts and beliefs as to why they think they are better than other people? How can these two young girls have so much hatred? I don’t think these girls have had an experience that has shaped them to being such white supremacists, but I could be wrong. I truly think, like the reported, that the parents shaped their beliefs and the children are just supporting and advocating the beliefs of their parents. I wonder what these two girls would be singing about if their parents believed something else.
In the awakening stage, the third option is to seek a deeper understanding about race and race issues to lay the foundation to move forward to the next step. Instead of being afraid of race issues, you dig into the conversation and you may make mistakes and offend someone, but that’s all right with you because you find talking about race and race issues interesting. And sometimes, we use race when there is no need to even talk about race in the first place and where it is unneeded. The video for the furniture store that brought race into the picture I thought was absolutely ridiculous. The commercial almost seemed like a joke or a spoof because of how silly the lines were. Race was not needed at all, they could have easily said something like we have furniture for everyone! We would all get the point, but in the commercial they so blatantly included race that some people probably found it offensive. It is interesting to compare how using curse words in a story make something funny, but when we include race in a story, does it truly enhance the story in any way? Maybe sometimes, but maybe not. But this is the awakening stage, we have to engage in the conversation and make mistakes in order to learn and move forward.
6/20/10
I totally agree with you about the two white girls. I can believe that their parents would raise them with their beliefs. I can’t believe that they would turn their views into a singing career. I also can’t believe that there are people out there who would buy their music and pay to see them at events. I looked up the girls’ group on the internet and they actually are popular. I can’t believe they have fans. I guess I just didn’t think that in today’s world there would be something like this out there. I know and understand that there are all kinds of music out there but I am hoping that one day while buying music I don’t see the category “white nationalist.”
There is also the notion of political correctness. Dr. Richard’s example with the Mexican restaurant was the key. Here this guy just wanted to fit in with the culture, and not make it seem like he was being rude. This was a good example into getting on the other side and perspective on things. What also made me think was the example of the kids in Philly being taught what to do when the cops pulled them over. That just brings out a whole different story. I could talk about racial profiling, but this is not the lecture for that. What this example did prove to me, is that children are being taught to fear the white man. I believe that children should be taught to fear bad people in general, of all races.
My 15th now she has some friends that will come to the house eat, play games, stay the night and are fine, my daughter will go to their homes and now the same thing and there is never any problem with the girls or the parents. Then there is some that will come to the house with my daughter never even speak to me will sit at my dinner table, eat my food and turn around and leave out the door and never say a word to me. there is one girl who I am very good friends with her mother and she doesn’t even know it. she is mixed white/black but her mother is white, she will come to my house but she will not come in will only talk to my daughter, will not speak but will ask to use the phone call 20 different people and thank my daughter and then leave. I mean there is a lot of times with these girls my daughter has to say, aren’t you going to speak to my mom?
Specially if they see the other girls speaking and some are white and black. I know there has to be an issue somewhere where these girls are learning this behavior. How can you go to school with a black girl all you life, they are going to the 10th grade and hang out, stay at each others homes and not speak to the parents avoids the parents at all costs in there friends home. I say to myself which parent are they learning this from because most the families are split up and they live with the mother but spend time with the father and the mother’s seem to be okay. But are they scared of my race or are they scared of saying something about race that they aren’t afraid to say in front of my daughter?
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. I am a white individual and let me just say I found a lot out about the white race that I never knew. Firstly, the Dave Chappelle clip about white people was so funny yet so true. When someone in my group of friends(who are predominantly white) falls asleep with their shoes on (when there drunk in most cases) someone always messes with them if it’s not drawing on their face it’s doing something else stupid to them and taking a picture of doing it for blackmail. 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 non-sense. I never really noticed that only white people do stupid things like that until I actually started thinking about it. While thinking I thought of a lot of things blacks do that whites don’t and it was shockingly a large amount of things.
Growing up in a predominately white community I rarely ran into people of color unless it was camp. It wasn’t until I transferred grade schools when I encountered people from a different race every day. I guess we could say after watching the lecture I was in a serious care of the awakening stage. I had no idea what to do or say when talking to a black person. Not only was I new to the class but I had no idea how to make conversation with a black person because that was all new to me as well. Before that I was living in the pre-awakening stage because I was not experienced so I had no idea what to expect. I was taught to not talk about another race at a young age and I had no idea why until I grew up and wanted to put my foot in my mouth.
When I was younger I went to a baptism church camp that was filled with black people. I was given the talk by my mother to not talk about “these people” they are the same as you they just look different but don’t bring it up. Being a young kid I just nodded my head said okay and went inside. When I walked in I found a person of the same color as me and started to play. When a person of color came up I ask her why her skin was so dark and if her mommy didn’t put sun block on her. Well that was not the right thing to say and I got a letter sent home to my mother telling her to inform her child of different races; let’s just say I didn’t go back the next day and my mother was not happy.
My best friend is black and race and color is nothing to me and quite frankly I see no differences. As a mother I am going to teach race at a young age because I feel as though it important to tell young ones it doesn’t matter what color you are because everyone is the same in the end.
I think that you bring up a great point with relating this lesson to children. It’s a common idea that children are blind to these lines and distinctions that we place on ourselves as adults, and I think that that is completely true. What you said to the other kid wasn’t racist at all; it came from the celebrated honesty of children. Kids are curious, and I think that that curiosity could help them to see past those distinctions I mentioned before, and maybe become better people. It’s a shame that you were seen as racist, you could have learned some pretty cool stuff from the other kid.
I also think this is a really good point. Issues with race can and do often start with family life. I know that growing up in a predominately white neighborhood and attending a small catholic school I did not encounter many people of different races. It wasn’t until middle school, where I switched to a public school that I was really confronted with any racial diversity. I think it is definitely something that should be stressed and brought up to young children. With more racial diversity and knowledge as a young child, this can hopefully begin to help mend issues we have without our society today.
6/16/10
One of the things that really caught me in this lecture was the question about being “Disabled”. My father is disabled, and has been since I was eight. He isn’t in a wheelchair, but he is in so much back pain that he can’t leave his bed for more than 5 hours a day. His condition gets worse every few years when he needs to get another surgery on his spine, and I’ve had to watch my dad slowly lose pieces of his independence. As I watched him with this, it was like I gained a little more of my identity as I grew older. Now, I look at my dad, and I cannot possibly take for granted the fact that I can touch my toes, that I can run or jog down the street, or that I can have a job without worrying that the narcotics I’m on will affect my ability to focus and not make a vital mistake. I’m not the only one that had to go through it. My father lived it firsthand. With every surgery and new pain, my father tells me that he’s afraid what he’ll lose next. He’s learning just what he is, by losing what he was. It’s something that I cannot possibly understand completely, but I feel like I know better than to take what I have for granted. I feel as if I can identify myself as “able-bodied”, and fully understand what it means.
I loved the stand-up video. One of my favorite things about comedy is the personas that many comedians have. I think that the reason behind that is how, by picking a persona, the comedian is able to offer a commentary on the characteristics of that persona. For example, Larry the Cable Guy is acting in a caricature of a redneck man. Part of why I think he’s hilarious is because I live in the country. I’m not as extreme as “The Cable Guy”, but I can relate to what he says in his bits. I’ve seen people that dress like he does, and I have friends that have stories much like his. I never thought about what he was saying, but the moment he says it, I laugh because I knew it. The Weird Al video is the same way. Many of the things are classic stereotypical “white” things, and even though I don’t necessarily like all of those things, I know that they are clearly “white” things.
The fact that I look at those things and feel connected to them made me realize that there is an “us” and we have a list of stereotypes. This is where I think stereotypes are somewhat useful. We use them as a way of establishing our group and making it unique. Many of them are bad, but there are some good things as well. Either way, I think that stereotypes and jokes about stereotypes help us to go from stage one to stage two much more quickly than we would if we were stumbling around our world with no idea of what it means to be “white”.
I am glad I read your post because it made me think even more and opened my mind to something I was not even thinking about when I first read the slide during lecture about giving others a sense of self. You mentioned the fact that your father is disabled and in the end it ended up giving you a sense of self and it made you re evaluate the way you lived and it gave you a sense of independence. When i read the slide, i just thought about the extreme negative and the extreme positive of a situation. For example, when a person teases a child or makes them feel worthless, the start to believe it. Or on the positive end, when a person is popular and everybody makes them feel on top of the world, they get a sense of self and in return the people around them give them their confidence or lack there of. You made a good point and made me think on a different path when it came to that piece of lecture.
Just in the beginning of lecture, I saw something that really made me stop and think. The slide says “Your sense of self is shaped by others around you.” This made me think of how people can tell people so much and make them think one way of themselves. Whether it is somebody putting you down or just somebody always complementing you, the way others view you or act towards you can give you your own sense of self.
Also while watching the youtube clip of Senator Robert Byrd, I honestly got a little mad. He stated in this clip that we talk about race too much. How do we talk about race too much when there are still many situations and issues when it comes to race? Obviously we still have issues with race when we see hate crimes going on nonstop in America. Yes, times have drastically changed and race is not as big of a problem as it was back in the day but we have now drifted into a new era of race relations.
i feel that he is blinded by the fact that we don’t have drastic race problems such as those that occurred when Martin Luther King was alive but to me, we have issues that are just as big. In the same clip he says, I think we need to work together to make things better. How can we do that if in the beginning of the clip, he claims that we talk about race too much? This is an issue I feel is heavy in America. People want to be equal and want to make peace and get on the same page but they are not willing to take the necessary steps needed to get there. It gets on peoples nerves when we talk about race too much but yet we want to see a change.
This also made me think about how people think black people talk too much about race or always think “the man” is holding them down. It made me think what is honestly the root of this mentality. I, myself, am black and I know I have friends who always seem to think the world is against them as a race and it made me wonder when I watched the youtube clip. Is it because black people think their feelings are swept under the rug when it comes to racial problems? Do other races ignore black people because of the fact that they complain too much?
The youtube clip made me think but it also made me a little upset because I don’t think the senator thought about his answer on a larger scale or thought about it period before he gave an answer. I also would like a detailed explanation of what a “white nigger’ is. That’s the first time I heard that term.
Reply to JJlayton-due 6/20/10
It is very true, we have wash clothes on display all over my house because my mother insists on decorations yet no one in the house ever uses a washcloth. The wet dog smell thing kind of surprised me though because I have never head it and I have been around quite a few black people in my life and they definitely would have let me in on something like that, probably kidding me about it. I do remember seeing Dave Chappelle making fun of white people in a stand up routine because we did not use washclothes, I remember laughing because I thought it was so true.
June 18, 2010
I have always wondered why people of color think whites are racist because we do not say anything. It is hard because when talking about political correctness we tend to ask “What should we do,” but different people give different answers. I have always been a firm believer in politely saying what should be said (and if something cannot be politely said, say it anyway); it is better to have things out in the open because then deeper issues can surface and some headway may be made in race relations.
June 18, 2010
After all of this talk about moving forward in race relations, I was disgusted by the two twin girls who sing about White Supremacy. What struck me most was when the girls said “Hitler wanted to preserve his race” and that it is an “exaggeration” that six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. I was so taken back by these comments and found myself yelling at the computer screen. These girls were so young yet they had this impression, obviously instilled in them by their parents and their community, that whites reign supreme. It is so sick to me that children can have such hatred for other groups. Do they even know the true reason why they “hate” colored people? Do they have an idea of what white people did to the Native Americans? This drove me crazy!
June 18, 2010
I particularly liked the discussion about racial identifiers because I admit I am one of those people who struggle with when to use them. I will also admit that I have told a story or two and described someone’s race when it was not necessary. For example, just the other day I told my friend how I got cut off while driving. But I did not just say “I got cut off;” I said, “I got cut off by some Asian.” I immediately felt bad about this after listening to lecture, and I guess you could say I felt guilty.
6/18/10
The first thing I wanted to comment on was the twins at the beginning of the lecture. Wow, that was excessive. I cannot believe that people would brainwash their children into thinking like that. When they made the comment about the Holocaust and said that there were not that many Jews around back then, I wanted to punch them. How could anyone say that? It’s a shame that parents teach their children to hate at such a young age. I feel bad that these girls are so young and have so much hatred inside of them. The parents obviously instilled these views onto their children at a young age, and it makes me wonder if the twins will instill the same views onto their children. What is going to happen when their parents aren’t around and they have to think for themselves and make their own decisions? They are going to get a big reality check when they get older. I also thought the commercial for the furniture store was a little ridiculous as well. It seemed unnecessary to put the race aspect into the commercial. I can see some people laughing at this commercial, while others probably got offended. It went hand-in-hand with Dr. Richards was saying about storytelling and how some people will say “this asian cut me off” or “this white woman cut me off”. The fact that the person was male or female, or whatever race, was not a vital piece of information to the story. I thought the commercial was pretty stupid and including the race aspect into was not needed. Another thing I wanted to touch on was how white people are told not to see color. No one ever told me how to approach race or how to discuss race. White people always have to watch what they say, as to not offend anyone. When Dr. Richards gave the example of sitting at the race table with whites and those of mixed races, and the topic of race emerges, the whites usually sit back in silence. That silence gives the impression that they don’t want to say anything because they are racist. In my opinion it seems like no matter what whites do, we can’t win. If we don’t make a comment then we are thought to be racist, if we speak out and make a comment about being white, we are still going to be labeled as racist. Even if we stand up for, or make a comment about other races, they will more than likely respond with, “you’re not black, brown, etc. you don’t know what it’s like” and those people, then in turn, normally label us as ignorant. It’s a lose-lose situation.
I took Sam's soc 001 class last spring and we actually watched a documentary about the twins and their band Prussian blue. It was interesting to see how the freedom of speech in the United States gives the parents the opportunity to raise their kids however they feel necessary. In the rest of the documentary, the audience later finds out that the mother of the girls "the father is not in the picture" was sexually assaulted by a black man when she was a girl. The mothers personal experience is probably the driving force to her promoting the white race as much as possible and using her daughters to do so. The girls actually confess that they don't want to sing about their mothers harsh views anymore and eventually push her out of making the decisions for the girls lives. As for the commercial, I think it was meant to show the audience that the audience will always point out the difference between white and black no matter if it is on the street or in a furniture commercial.
How scary is it that people so consciously ignorant exist? The very concept of white supremacy is so blatantly racist that I can’t believe people still support it today. It makes me wonder if such an idea would still exist if the world was forced to sit through Sam’s 119 class.
But seriously. Denouncing the validity of the holocaust on national television? That’s a bit over the top in my opinion. This type of thing is a clear indicator of how vulnerable children are to parroting their parents’ views. The danger of racist individuals manifests in their ability to produce more racist individuals.
6/20/10
Looking back on the lecture, the video clip about the twin girls was the main portion that really stuck out in my mind. I had the same thoughts that you did. I was dumfounded by the fact that the one twin said she did not even think there were that amount of Jews during the Holocaust. It is surprising to see how their mother did not even think anything was wrong with this, as if it was totally normal. To her, it might be, but I thought it was a little extreme as well. I also agree with you in the fact that it seems that whites cannot do anything right, one way or the other, and whites can never win.
The one letter that Sam read from the girl was very interesting as well. It helped me understand the stages a lot better. Before coming to college, like this girl, I didn’t refer to myself as white, Italian or even Italian American. When I got to Penn State, I had an experience exactly the same as this girl. Everyone on campus referred to themselves as a certain nationality or color. I feel I am not in the beginning stages of the revisioning stage though. I feel like I am starting to feel guilty for some of the things that my ancestors have done and I haven’t really thought much in detail of what they actually did to get this land of to farm before this class. I was more worried about myself but now, I feel, like if I don’t understand these concepts, how will I survive in the real world?
6/20
The video about the white nationalists girls, Prussian Blue was their name I think, was pretty sad. We watched the entire video in Sam’s Soc 001 class and these girls were basically brainwashed by their mother. It is disturbing to hear such offensive; hateful remarks come out of two young girls’ mouths. At one point they were downplaying the Holocaust as "not that bad". By the end of the video though the girls start to turn away from their mother and turn away from all the white supremacist ideology due to backlash from their local community. It is just sad to see kids that were raised in such a hateful environment and who are taught that their race is better than all others. The video shows just how easily influenced young kids can be when they do not know any better. It is difficult for kids to break patterns that they were taught as a young kid as they start to become habits. In order to change, a shift in perception is needed and as discussing in Making peace between our Colors" one must leave their box.The backlash of the community where the white nationalist girls lived was their perception shift as they saw how other people viewed them. I think this is how you get out of the Awakening Stage and begin to see racial inequalities and racism. This is where white guilt comes into play, as we( white people) begin to come to terms with racial inequalities of the past and present. As a history major I have taken a few classes discussing African-American history. It is hard not to feel shameful when you read about the treatment of blacks by whites throughout history on this continent. I know that it is not my fault and I am not responsible for those past actions but it is difficult not feel a growing guilt about my white privilege. How much different would my life be if I was black or brown? I guess it is impossible to know. It is definitely not a comforting feeling for white people to think about. To feel that part of what they have accomplished in life was due to the color of their skin. What makes this stage difficult is not knowing where to go from there, having mixed feelings about racial issues and white guilt. I guess this is where people would move to the next stage of racial identity: reversal. The journal entry that Sam showed in class was really interesting and honest. It is a great example of how complicated these issues really are and its not all black and white. It takes a lot of work from all races to come to terms with racial identity and is not only a challenge for white people, although that is the group we are focusing on right now.
That video was complete insanity. They look like the Americana of what a little sweet white girls should look like. Then they show up with the Hitler smiley faces. I don’t understand why a parent would want to brainwash their children into such a jagged path. I guess though if you are a white supremacist their may not be a lot of understanding and different approaches to things in life. As you said they started to go away from their mothers beliefs, I hope so. And hope they keep making progression to the point were they can completely see all the wrongs it what their mother believes.
I was appalled by the video of the twin girls. It's terrible that parents have the ability to completely isolate their children from diversity and open thinking. I very much believe that children are born open to the idea of anything because they don’t know any better, nor do they do that there are differences between individuals. Parents have the power to transform their child’s opinions and form their ideas about the world. Furthermore, the idea that there are supported white supremist groups is horrible and I think these individuals are completely perpetuating the idea that the white race continues to be racist towards all those not included directly within the white race. It is these extremist groups that are the cause for racism throughout the world to essentially be stalled and incapable to proceed forward.
Lecture 9 June 20
As we learn more about race we become more open and knowledgeable about different people but our progress is slowed because of political correctness and assumptions. People assume since we don’t regularly partake in racial discussions with different race groups that we must hold some racial issue towards them. But in many cases this is not true. It has become increasingly hard not only of white people but also people of different color to openly express their thoughts and views on races making it increasingly hard to go beyond your own current level of understanding. This hinders one’s ability in the reasoning of people not listening to other people’s points of view who may have a first hand experience. It is very hard to have an equal perspective compared to someone who may be black and has lived the experiences and statistics that are being discussed first hand. We see it in politics all the time. Politicians are so politically correct because they don’t want to offend anyone and possible lose votes. Maybe back in the early twentieth century when the Klan had a great deal of power one could elected to office on the basis of being prejudice but our nation mainly does not operate that way. One would possibly acquire votes with playing some racial issue but in general anymore that will lose many more votes than it could gain. The media loves this stuff anymore. Once a slip up is out there they constantly keep running the video or audio. Constantly keeping this playing and talking about it keeps it an issue. If it ends bad for the person, who may have meant nothing bad of his comment, this scares white people. It illustrates that even who you just misspoke or something was taken the wrong way there could be strict and punishing consequences. I believe people need to be more understanding and open about race related issues. People will misspeak, stuff will be interpreted wrong, this will always be around. We should look at the entire person and possible wait a little to judge until we see the whole body of work. With doing this it constantly allows the division and segregation. You are allowed to say this to this person , but this one I know I can’t. This becomes extremely complex and troubling. The constant struggle between the decision of two different personalities who will have possibly two different interpretations makes an individual uncomfortable and he takes a back seat. White people also have to be not so willing to back away constantly. Ask the questions, gain some knowledge that previously you never had or never really thought of. I believe race relations can be greatly improved if we could be able to reasonably differentiate the people who are actually racist between the people who want to gain a first hand experience perception.
6/20
I really enjoyed this lecture and learning about the stages I have gone through (as a white woman) and the stresses I have felt regarding when and when not to acknowledge race. When Dr. Richards said that thing about his student asking to speak to the T.A. and if the student just said the black T.A. it would make everything much easier, it reminded me of the numerous times that I have been in a store and been helped by a black woman and I always would think “can I say it… can I not…?” Not knowing if it’s rude or ignorant but now, I know it’s just my innate political correctness kicking in.
What stuck out to me the most was that freaky video clip of “Prusian Blue”, those twin sisters’s who sung about the beauty of being white and how the holocaust was an exaderation. I looked them up on the Internet to see how successful they were, and shockingly they were fairly successful. But luckily, people did act out against them and they definitely received much more negative feedback than positive. I had no idea such “white supremacist” organizations still existed… I can’t even imagine how pissed they are that our President is half black. I did find that the bands’ website and MySpace page were shut down as of 2009 which is relieving that some action has been taken because after watching that video, I would assume it wasn’t these eager young haters that took it down.
It’s really shocking to me that the government doesn’t have some type of law to get rid of these public declarations of hate. If there were a law, it would probably help the situation by given white supremacists less resources to encourage and spread their views.
In conclusion to my post, I would like to acknowledge that I have feel immense guilt after listening to the lectures for this class. I am really surprised not more white people in the audience felt that way, or even black people. What I do feel most guilty about is the current neglect of the poverty within Native American tribes. I feel very guilty about this because both my family and me have helped people from other countries that suffer from poverty; I even donate money every month to the SPCA! I am helping dogs and cats before people, specifically people who have endured such horrible things and live in our own country and were the first people to live here! It’s so sad that nothing is ever talked about regarding the Native Americans and just looking at all the care America had to help the people of Haiti, if people got together like that to help the Native American’s such great things could be accomplished!
I hope this made sense… for some reason I’m having difficulty articulating my thoughts right now/writing clearly.
I agree with you about how shocking the twin girls video was. Its appalling that people like this are supported by communities and political officials in our country. But what is even more shocking is how young they are and their parents have led them to believe these ideas about the world. After saying this I don't believe that the government has any right under our constitution to do anything about these people. I am in no way defending them but they are stating their beliefs in a peaceful manner. Our constitution says we have the freedom of speech and they don't have the right to do anything to stop them if it is peaceful.
June 20
I think what captured my attention the most in this lesson was watching those white nationalist girl singers. That broke my heart watching them sing about hatred, ignorance, and bitterness. Not knowing that they are being raised as heartless individuals, I feel bad for them. I don’t think they are being ignorant, those little girls are just doing what their parents raised them to do: HATE everyone but white people. I think a lot of white people get slammed for that, but in reality, there are racists people full of hate all over the world, that are not white. I personally know an individual that is racist against white people, after suffering a racial episode with someone who hated her because of her race.
She had gotten into a fight with a white girl at her school, because she asked her, “why do you have to be so ghetto all of the time?” That was the last straw for her, as she smacked the girl across her face and asked, “why do you have to be so racist and white all of the time?” It was a horrible situation that ended with the girl pretty much hating all white people and thinking that they were the same no matter what. How horrible is that? I do not think that anyone should feel guilty for being whatever race they are, no matter what the situation is.
We are who we are and cannot change the past, where our ancestors came from, and where we have come from. We make our own decisions and either chose to be or not to be racists. They are young now, but when they get older, those little girls that sang about hate, could chose to overcome their obstacles and realize that they were brainwashed. They could one morning wake up and realize that hating everyone but whites is ridiculous and selfish. But it is their choice.
Just like it is anyone’s decision to like someone based on the color of their skin. You can either hate it or love it. That example that Dr. Richards used on his friend’s daughter being ridiculed in school because of the color of her skin was horrible. No child, especially at the age of 4, should have to go through that. No child should be taught to fear the police. They should be taught to feel all bad people in general. But once again, this goes back to the idea that we make our own decisions, no matter how we were raised. Many just need to stop making excuses for themselves, and take responsibility of their own actions.
Lesson 9 was an eye opener for me. I feel that not only white people are in awkward situations, however so are other races. If you are African American in a predominately white event, you feel funny yourself. Mainly because your wondering, what is everyone thinking about you. I think if all races would just be their individual self there would be no awkward feelings. Your personality has no color, to some degree. What I am trying to say is, if your an outgoing bubbly person, than be that same person when you find your self in this type of situation. If we are who we are, instead of thinking color, I don't feel awkward situations would happen as much.
6/20/10 part 3
I also agree with shame being paralyzing, that’s the entire point of shame. It’s why the Abrahamic religions have these deeply embedded feeling of guilt, shame, “original sin”. The whole reason these rules were established was to control people, to paralyze them. People weren’t going to speak out or commit crimes if they believed God would strike them down with a bolt of lightning or let something bad happen to them. It’s like trying to walk on the eggshells
Therefore, white people grow up almost oblivious to the hardships that black and brown people face in their daily lives. For this reason, most white people refrain from saying much at the race table so as not to offend anyone or to be called a racist like Sam was. However, it is at this time, when white people begin to acknowledge their wrongs and change their beliefs, that they move into the third stage of whiteness. Unfortunately, they are usually met with contempt from black and brown people here. Instead of them seeing how hard it is for these white people to have come this far, they show no acceptance or thankfulness. It is this lack of gratitude that propels many white people into the fourth stage. This is where they digress into resenting the fact that they ever tried to change their beliefs in the first place; the people they thought they were trying to help didn’t seem to care.
The truth is that these white people are actually helping themselves see the world through someone else’s eyes. One thing about the wash cloths. I do not think the reason for why white people do not use them has to do with them thinking that their skin is clean. I know my skin is dirty. When my parents originally taught me how to wash myself, they never showed me by using a wash cloth, since they don’t use one either. I just let the soap and the water do its magic while occasionally using my hands to help the process. I think its just an ancient behavior passed down by two different groups of people having different ways of washing themselves. I never even knew people used washed cloths like that until this lecture, let alone that it had something to do with race.
White people really are not comfortable talking about race and it really is funny. I never noticed it until I actually had these two lectures. I find it very interesting to learn about my own color for two lectures and force my thinking about the white race. The lecture was very interesting and quite remarkable. I found it so interesting when Mr. Richards said that white never speak of race because they are afraid of being called a racist because that statement described me to a Tee. Sadly I never want to talk about race because I am nervous someone is going to call me something I am not. I definitely agree with the fact that when white people are called racist the first thing they say is my best friend is not white but I still love them because that’s what I do or at least did. I actually just spoke about it in my last blog posting which is comical in a way. From now on I am going to take Mr. Richards advice and just stay quiet because there is nothing I can say that will change someone’s mind.
The clip with the twins was ridiculous. It is so sad how ignorant they are but I honestly think it is their parents faults because they is how they are raise and they can’t help where they come from. I mean sure they are old enough now to reason the difference but who knows maybe in the future they will come to terms that everyone is equal and should be treated the same.
I found the wash cloths segment so interesting yet so true. I am white and do not use a wash cloth rather a sponge or even sometimes if I am in a rush my hands. I always just thought that wash cloths were annoying but my grandmother swears by them. My close friends who are not white are always using a wash cloth and when I asked my one friend why and she responded with, “Because there is nothing else that will get you as clean as a wash cloth.” I never took into consideration that black or brown people use wash cloths because they feel as though there skin is dirtier than white people. As a white person it’s not that I don’t use a wash cloth because I think my skin is clean I just don’t like the feeling of the wash cloth on my skin.
I enjoy the concept of racial identifiers presented in the lecture. The BRO concept really stood out because I realized Sam did that a lot throughout the first couple lectures and actually thought someone would be offended. I mean I guess I figured that was just the way he was but I definitely just figured someone would get offended one way or another.
Lastly, while watching The Red House clip, I was thinking to myself why did they have to say there white, black or whatever color someone is because it doesn’t matter. There is no couch that is specifically for white or black people. I found it annoying that they had to keep saying there race when it was obvious what color they were, I understand it suppose to be comical but honestly I found it disturbing that race was such a big part of the commercial.
So about this stage of “reversal” in white’s racial identity. Supposedly, a general discomfort leads white people to digress away from healthy race relations and begin experiencing anger towards people of color. I find it interesting that this stage comes following revisioning instead of prior to it. Where revisioning involves an awareness of inequality, white privilege, and anger directed at whites (by whites) reversal seems to be just the opposite. In our racial identity, it seems as though we experience more constructive thoughts and ideologies earlier on, and then fall backwards as we continue to progress? One would assume that these negative feelings towards people of color by whites would come earlier on. I think I’ll be able to understand it better once we discuss all six stages in class as opposed to only the first four.
This “guilt” that I feel is not attributed to something I’ve done. When we think about guilt in conventional manners, the definition that would most often come to mind would result from responsibility. If I do something “wrong,” I feel bad or guilty as a result of my actions’ negative impact (be it on a person or otherwise). However, I can still feel guilt simply from witnessing something that I myself have no involvement or responsibility with. Sam discussed the idea in lecture that “guilt” was just a single step away from feeling bad about something. Surely I can feel bad about plenty that I did not cause myself, and as a result of this “guilt” move towards making it better.
White guilt does not need to be white people accepting responsibility for the wrongs their ancestors committed. Instead, I view white guilt as an acknowledgement by whites of the fact that wrongs were committed. This acknowledgement is productive! It allows us to move constructively forward towards eliminating some of said wrongs which still exist today either concretely or abstractly. By concrete wrongs, I mean something along the line of discriminatory laws (of which there are nearly none). By abstract wrongs, I mean something along the lines of discriminatory thought. (Which undoubtedly exists pervasively in present day society) Every defeated prejudice is a step in the right direction.
Well, first of all I am not white, and I completely agree with you on what you said about the “white guilt.” It is not your fault that some whites back then had slaves, and you were born into a white family, nor it is the black person’s fault that s/he was born to a black family. So this is why I think it is essential that blacks and whites should start from that point, and understand that if everyone will try to settle something that their ancestors did, like the two men who beat a 16-year old boy in Seattle, it will be impossible to move on, and blacks and whites will maintain the status quo, or maybe go back a little, instead of progressing
6-20-2010
A couple of things from the lecture this week point out to me. One of the issues is the white nationalist movement. The video with the twin girls was pretty shocking to me. When the twins were being interviewed, they did not see Hitler as the one responsible for the killing of the Jews and the Holocaust. They’re response was that the number of Jews killed was an exaggeration and that there were not many Jews alive back then. I find this video to be disturbing because there were millions of Jewish people that were killed yet the two twins did not believe it and promoted white supremacy. I feel that at a young age, the two twin girls did not fully understand what they were promoting. It also caught my attention because when their mother was interviewed, it seemed like she did not really care and that her attitude was whatever she taught her daughters was the norm. I feel as though the daughter’s mother was promoting racism and especially in their music.
…..
…Also in this lecture, Sam said to treat everyone equally means to not see color. In this day and age, I think that this is a very difficult concept. Behavior of a person of any race or color is usually interpreted as the behavior of the group as whole. An example of this would be that if in a situation, one black person was loud, you would think that all black people are loud in any circumstance. I think that in any situation everyone identifies strangers, people that they do not know by their specific race or color. I think that even though it is crazy to think of it, but white people really do have a bigger privilege that people of color because white people are more seen as an individual rather than a group. I also think that anger and guilt can also play a big role in racism. There are a lot of people who are white have a very big advantage but I don’t really see how white people can be guilty. I feel that white people are just more careful to be politically correct. Most people I find are not really guilty because they rarely ever think about white race or culture.
I thought this lecture was very interesting. I found the video of the twin girls absolutely shocking. I know that there are crazy white supremacists out there but to hear these girls who were only teenagers speak about preserving the race was appalling. I think what struck me the most were their views on the holocaust. When asked about the 6 million Jews that were killed by Hitler’s Germany, the one twin responded by saying I doubt there were even that many Jews back then. Wow, just wow! What is even more shocking is the support that their parents, community members and political officials were giving them. I seriously doubt that their views on race will ever change.
I also got a good laugh out of the black people love us website. It was hilarious how they made fun of white people by using Sally and Johnny. I think that white people do try to do “black” things to fit because they don’t want to offend black people. However it does go back to the example Dr. Richards uses all the time about speaking Spanish at a Spanish restaurant and the waitress gets offended. Black people probably get offended when white people try to act like them saying brother or other things like that.
I don’t think it very hard to understand why white people don’t call black people “black.” There are so many times that white people just don’t understand what to say where and when to say it. Many times we are so caught up and not offending people we are stuck. I really liked the example that Dr. Richards used in class about white students not being able to designate between the TA’s by saying the black guy and the non-black guy.
I find that there are two things that need to happen in order for race relations to continue moving forward. First, people need to stop being afraid to talk about race. Mainly the people that need to stop being afraid are white people. There are times that you are going to offend someone, that is a given; however there will be more times that you wont offend someone than you will. Second, people need to stop being offended all the time. I don’t see any problem in calling someone black. It’s not racist. I’m referring to the color of your skin. Stuff like that drives me crazy. I also hate the fact that people get offended when we do something such as calling someone “bro” or speaking Spanish at a restaurant. The word “bro” is not a racist word. Its not written in stone that only certain people can call other people “bro.” So people need to stop being offended over stupid things so people can move on in the race discussion.
6/20/10
As a white person, I learned growing up not to talk about race. I wasn’t taught by my parents or family members, I just kind of learned it growing up. I learned that you don’t want to say the wrong thing, so to avoid that say nothing at all. When Dr. Richards talked about white people talking about race we are accused of only seeing the person’s skin color; I have to say I agree. I was raised to treat everyone as you want to be treated. I guess this could translate into treat everyone equally. My parents never specifically said treat everyone who is white, brown, and black all the same color, but I guess they were trying to avoid the race talk.
At the beginning of lecture we were shown a video about two young white girls who sang about white power. I have seen them before, but even watching it now I am still shocked that they are making albums and playing events. I can’t believe that people listen to their music and would pay money to hear them. I agree that you always have some part of you that will remain the way your parents raised you, as their mother said. I really think that their parents have a large influence over their life. I wonder that if and when the girls move out on to their own, will they still believe what they do now? I’m sure they will because they are making a living off of it and it has been imbedded into their brains. I’m sure if they have children they will influence their views as well. Will the cycle ever end?
I thought the part of the lecture about racial identifiers was really interesting. The commercial for the furniture store was really funny. I really never thought that anyone would ever consider using race as the theme of a furniture commercial but I guess it could work. I travel to North Carolina a lot (where the commercial was made) and there is so much more diversity than where I live. When I travel to Wal-Mart I hear English and Spanish being spoken. I love being there.
(cont'd) Another thing that is interesting is when someone is accused of being a racist and then they offer defenses as to why allegations of them being racist are false. Have you ever heard someone claim that they are not racist because they have Black friends or because they date White or Asian girls? Does one really have anything to do with the other? Can’t someone have Black friends and still be racist? Can’t a manager or supervisor within an organization have Hispanic subordinates who he or she gets along with yet still be considered a racist? On the flip side, isn’t it possible for someone to not be racist yet not have any friends who are minorities? The other thing that comes to mind is why are people concerned about others’ views of them, or why do people feel the need to defend themselves against personal allegations. If someone knows that he or she is not a racist or that he or she does not fit into a particular category or label that someone affixes to that individual, who cares what other people say?
While discussing the awakening stage the issue of thinking about or talking about race in situations when you shouldn’t be thinking or talking about it. I believe that this happens a lot. Just like the example of a car crash. “This black guy pulled out in front of me!” This type of situation occurs quite frequently. I really don’t think that in most situations this statement is racially motivated, but is an interesting issue to look at. It is almost “natural” for some people to identify someone’s race, when the race of the individual isn’t or shouldn’t be a factor.