While working...scratch that, observing at my new job, an Indian guy comes in for service. The guy is older and eye's the seat next to me, his nephew tells him to have a seat, he shoots me the side eye and decides to stand. I'm just like whatever, I know he didn't!!! So he leaves out and then the mofu comes back in to ask for directions, I give him directions and of course he doesn't acknowledge me. By this time he's waiting for directions from a guy without a clue and decides to have a seat, but before doing so, he slides the chair away from me.
Maybe its just me...I know racism is alive and well, but the South isn't even like this. It could be the lack of diversity in Southwest Ga., where everything is pretty much black and white. You know... the Old school plantation-move to the back of the bus-white fountain, black fountain type. The racism I've experienced here is the new school racism, racism
from other minorities towards African Americans/Blacks. With all of the diversity in the area you would think the color of my skin would not dictate racism, especially from another minority...that just irks the hell out of me!!! We were brought here unwillingly, while other minorities decide to move here for a better life, or live illegally, and still have the audacity to be racist as if there is one pure race. Racism has definitely evolved, now White people joke freely with Black people about other ethnicities...WTF? I know Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is rolling over in his grave, considering, his life was taken while fighting for all forms of equality.
Should I be looking at this in a different angle? Maybe the incident was gender based, but would that really make you slide your chair away from a person? At my previous job I worked with a great deal of Indian males. I won't generalize and say that they all would try to make me feel inferior as a woman, yet alone a black woman, but there was one who did. I'm still not sure if it was driven by my race or the fact that I was an educated, independent, single, black female in the workplace. I know there are several different cultural practices, but please don't impose them on me, especially when I'm in no way a part of the said culture. I know some of my friends will read this and jokingly say I think that everyone who isn't Black, White, Mexican, or Korean has to be Indian, LOL!!! Seriously, some parts of the South are not as culturally infused, and may be viewed as Black or White, with an occasional Mexican or Korean, not at all as diverse as the North.
To any of you who lives in the South and visited the North or vice versa, does racism differ in different areas? Are their characteristics or levels of racism? Are we handling racist incidents the correct way or just dealing/ignoring it? I know most of us claim not to be racist, but we all know what goes on behind closed doors. I think the reality show Black and White, was a great portrayal of how different races view others. There are sooo many misconceptions and stereotypes that have been feed to us through the years,
Examples:
*White people will always look out for each other
*Black people are lazy and won't work
*Jamaican and African men are aggressive and abusive
*Korean and Asians are cheap and are 'pimpin' the black community
AND EXCEDERA, EXCEDERA (in the voice and tune of Arra Kelly)
So will we ever be able to fully embrace the race portion of the famous I Have Dream speech?
3 comments:
"AND EXCEDERA, EXCEDERA (in the voice and tune of Arra Kelly)"
LOL!
Racism definitely is still alive and well here in Memphis. I think it's everywhere, but there's just different levels of it. For instance, the ignorance that's going on with the Democratic party right now (Obama vs Hillary) shows that America still has deeply rooted race issues.
I'm not sure people's viewpoints will change unless we start being real about things and stop tip-toeing around real issues.
I feel that some white Americans are uncomfortable with the race issue and feel that it should just 'go away' since many things were based on their ancestors. I think the issues that Blacks, Whites and others have with race are deeply rooted, have affected all our lives and viewpoints and will always be there until we WORK to honestly address them. (sorry so long!)
I've known racism exists, but it wasn't until I relocated to SW Georgia (Americus/Albany) did it come slapping me in the face. I feel Georgia is so racially divided and behind it's pathetic.
Prejudice will always exist. Especially in America because to address the issue is to hard and painful for most. Not to mention we've become so politically correct, we will never have an HONEST discussion on the issue. Add that to hypersensitivity my minorities, the questions and answers will neve be forthcoming.
I agree so much w/Dorna. I think that racism is blatant in the South and subtle in the North. I can assure you that it is easier to relocate from the South to the North than the other way around. I found that people knew I was not a Southenrer and I can bet my life that it had nothing to do with the fact that I didn't speak w/a country accent but more to do with my very upfront personality.
We will never come to terms with the racial divide in America. Whites want us to accept that they are apologetic of their ancestors inappropriate behavior and sweep it under the rug so they can feel comfortable today. Successful African Americans(Oprah is a good example) are the ones who make them feel safe and as if their misgivings have been forgiven. Shelby Steele has written an okay book where he addresses this very issue in the last two chapters. I am not in agreement with everything he says but he breaks it down well. The book is really addressing Barak as a Presidential candidate and why he can't win.
I could go on but the hard conversations are much too much for America to handle and Whites to admit to. The effects of racism are still being felt today. Take note, immigration has become a popular issue today. That subject is touchy but it has much to do with where America is with the acceptance of others. We have a long way to go and we do not have the leadershio to deal with and address the real HARD issues effectively.
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