First, I was angry and confused about why this wasn't taught accurately (if at all) in grade school. Sure, in January, we talked about Martin Luther King and how inspiring he was.. but we didn't talk about the events leading up to his "I had a dream" speech and subsequent murder. The systematic and pervasive oppression and discrimination perpetrated against African Americans was never presented honestly. Secondly, I couldn't believe we as a nation treated African Americans like that *SO* recently in our history. My classmates and I would watch the videos and documentaries in horror and think "Thank God that's over"...
Yes, that's my white privilege showing.
This was around 2008 when Barack Obama was about to win the presidency. It seemed like an overwhelmingly positive time in American history for Black Americans and race relations.
Well.. looks like it's still a work in progress.
I heard someone say just yesterday how disgraceful the Temple/Drexel/Penn student protests were. Students across the nation have been protesting in solidarity with the University of Missouri students. Peaceful demonstrations (which is a Constitutional right, by the way), much like the ones that took place in the 1960's, to take a stand against the overt racism and apathy on and around campus, are causing outrage among conservatives.
I came across this atrocious post this morning, and it feels ridiculous to even acknowledge such an ignorant stance and comment; but I am seeing and hearing people say things like this far too often. Is it possible that we need another Civil Rights upheaval? When did overt racism become acceptable again-- by a presidential candidate, no less?!
Emily, taking a look at the way issues are handled in the society today, it shows we have a long way to go on this march to justice and fairness in the society. It is even more upsetting and depressing when such discriminatory and inconceivable racist statements are coming from a presidential candidate. We watch videos of atrocities that took place in the 20th century and we shudder and call the perpetrators evil, but we are still condoning such behaviors. And to even realize that this is happening in US - the country that engages in wars in other to fight injustice and inequality around the world, makes it more confusing.
ReplyDeleteThere is need to change our current culture of defining how important an issue is based on the victim's race or sexual orientation, until then we will continue to see prominent individuals in the society make such racist statement and get away with it.
It is different to know that there is still prejudice and racism out there and to hear it come from someone who is supposed to be one of our country's leaders. I had always thought that, especially among the people running for office, leaders tried to present themselves in a more positive light. I think that it is often that people choose not to see things like racism because it makes them uncomfortable, even when that racism is blatant. However, I also think this behavior unintentionally condones the behavior. This may be why racism persists in our society.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to change behaviors as ingrained as many prejudices seem to be. So even though we have made progress towards equality and less prejudice, there is still a long way to go.
This man needs his mouth bolted shut. Everything that I've heard him say has been completely absurd. Racial tension in America is still on high and needs to be address but too much we don't address it because we do not want to make others feel uncomfortable. What has been talking place at MizzoU is very sad and disappoint. I also can not believe that someone who is running for president of our nation with those types of views.
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