Did We Really Think Things Were Going To Change? by Rambling Raven
By Raven • Jul 23rd, 2009 • Category: Rambling Raven •
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Did We Really Think Things Were Going To Change? by Rambling Raven
Well, once again America’s racist bias rears its ugly head. Recently, we have been reminded by several high profile stories that nothing much has changed in the hearts and minds of many Americans. There are several incidents I would like to point out. I am referring to the incident of the Philadelphia summer camp that paid for membership at a private swim club only to be turned away once white members of the club saw that the camp children were black and Hispanic. I am also referring to the story regarding the vicious rhetoric aimed at 11 year old Malia Obama for wearing a t-shirt with a peace sign on it. The hateful rant was posted on a conservative website. The comments left by some vile human being were so extreme that even some conservative leaders felt compelled to speak out against it. All the heat caused the website to take the post down and issue a quasi statement of apology. The owners of the site stated that they did not condone or encourage racist ideology. Yet, most of the posts left on the sight are routinely full of racial bias. And if that wasn’t enough, just within the last few days, esteemed Harvard professor Henry Gates was a victim of racial profiling by police within his own home.
I am sure that these incidents are just a few of many. Hatred is alive and well in America. Hate filled rants have become so bad and common, that it is difficult for me to read comments left on message boards on the net. Every time there is a news or entertainment item involving anyone black the comments left by posters are so vile that they make my insides churn. It is so bad on AOL that I don’t even look at the bottom of the page once I am done with the story. And no matter how much you complain and flag comments as inappropriate nothing is done about it. I suppose that is the duplicity of having freedom of speech, you have to take the good with the bad and ugly.
I keep hoping that the small minded people we keep hearing about are in the minority. I keep hoping that since millions of people of various races and faiths came out and actually voted for a black man for president, there is still hope. I want to believe that there are more people with common sense than not. However, every time I hear about these racially motivated incidents, they remind me that the more things change the more they stay the same.
I think these incidents and many others like them cautions African Americans not to let our guards down. Just because there is an African American holding the highest office in this country doesn’t mean our fight is over. We are still judged by the color of our skin and not the content of our character. Post Obama America isn’t a whole lot different from pre-Obama America. The struggle isn’t over.
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Raven is an educator with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in Education. She has been an avid reader since childhood. Her favorite genres are mystery, suspense, and horror, although she will give any genre a try. She is a life long resident of Chicago. Her love of books opened her mind to people, places and events far beyond her Chicago home. Reading helped to shape her world and her opinion of the events that took place within it. No matter what demands her career requires of her, she has always found time to read and write in a journal. Along with reading and journaling, she loves to watch the sunset, and discuss hot topics with family and friends. She loves baseball, horror movies, mysteries, listening to music from every corner of the world and expressing her view of the latest books with the women of APOOO.
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AMEN AMEN and AMEN…until folks stop teaching their kids to dislike others because of the color of their skin…we will ALWAYS have racism and that’s a sad state of affairs.
What they said !
Raven
There was no victory during the movement. Things just moved ahead a bit. All of the old heads know racism is alive and well. Many Blacks that have benefited from the bitter battle that was fought think because they have made it partially up the ladder that racism does not exist until it bites them in the butt.
Many blacks have lost their cultural paranoia, or it is developemently delayed.. They go into shock when the face of racism is exposed and affects them. Many of us whose paranoia is intact have been accused of being “too sensitive”. Yeah right.
@ Rosa can I name two who forgot from whence they came…Clarence Thomas and the head of the National Rethuglican Committee…oh and Condolessa Rice to some extend…according to her she didn’t grow up with racism or never felt its impact…how I don’t know esp. since she lived in the South.
Re: Condi Rice
And especially since one of her little friends was murdered in the Alabama church bombing. So, how has she never seen or felt racism and hatred? Amazing.
.-= Bonnie Glover´s last blog ..Skillet =-.
We shouldn’t stop being vigilant, but these old ways are dying. Even President Obama said they wouldn’t give up the power without a fight. I’m hoping these are the last gasps of dying dinosaurs.
.-= carleen´s last blog ..Girlfriends Cyber Circuit =-.
@ Bonnie…EXACTLY…I’m like what roots/voodoo were put on her for selective amnesia.
@ Carleen…I’ll believe it when I see it…I don’t think they will dye fast enough…even tho’ I have biracial kinfolks…I doubt I will the eradication of racism doing my life time…unless everyone is Godlike…race will be a divisive issue…sigh.
I just can’t believe that people still see color in this country. It makes me crazy mad! I’m white. My daughter and I watch So You Think You Can Dance and there is this dancer on there named Ade (he’s African-American). He wears his hair natural, but well-kept “afro” style (is that what it’s even called? not sure). Any way, he wears a pick in it. It’s his signature thing. My daughter (very straight and blondish hair) says… I love his hair. I wish I had that hair! I love how a white girl can wish for an “afro.” Very cool!
Sheri
.-= Sheri´s last blog ..The Score: Glen Campbell =-.
Yes, Sheri that was very cool for your daughter to say. Usually the young have a better grasp on human relations than we do.
There is still a long way to go. You see it in these little small backwards towns; I just came from a family reunion from one where the confederate flag was waving over the yard. But, it is better. There are pockets of folks that won’t give it up. We must be ever vigilant and aware.
.-= Dera´s last blog ..Memory Monday– The Way We Were =-.