The short answer to this question is
very, very easy... NO!
But, should we end racism? YES!
However, let me suggest that if we are
going to attempt to end racism, then we should end all of the
inequality that currently exists in America, which is:
- Racism
- Sex
- Age
- Origin
- Religion
- Education
- Wealth
- Political Affiliation
- Height
- Weight
- Intelligence
- Mental Health
Still, let's not abandon our real
intent to discuss the potential ending of racism here in American and
the fact that it is going to be a lot more difficult that gaining our
independence from Great Britain, abolishing slavery, controlling
Legionnaires Disease, AIDS, and even Ebola; yet, it is something that
a “civilized” nation should never let happen.
Let me also state that I am a liberal
minded individual which does not necessarily make me a Democrat in my
political beliefs; although, more Democrats share my opinions than do
Republicans... I'm just saying...
There is a Center for African American
studies that is located on the grounds and sponsored by an Ivy League
school, and a graduate from that school became very wealthy and made
a huge donation to that charitable organization to the tune of
several millions of dollars. And, each year when this Center honors
African Americans for their accomplishments against the TYRANNY of
the White Man, this wealthy white man is invited and introduces one
of the award recipients.
And, if you were to ask this wealthy
white man which I did, if he thought racism was improving in America
since the death of Martin Luther King Jr., he would tell you which he
told me that it was improving... at least among the well-to-do
African Americans.
And, I agree that we now have more
African Americans, both male and females, who are:
- Lawyers
- Doctors
- Dentists
- CPAs
- Engineers
- Scientists
- Professors
- Athletes
than ever before... but do they have
both white and black patients/clients or just black?
And, I also wonder if these African
Americans are simply using this wealthy white man for his money or
because they truly want to end racism on both sides of the fence?
Obviously, this is a rhetorical question and concern because it can
never be resolved to any type of real satisfaction outside of a
belief.
During my first marriage (right or
wrong), I had an affair with an African American poet for about 10
years and no matter where we went whether it was a predominately
white place or predominately black place we were ostracized and I
recall being asked to leave once we were inside this black
restaurant. These events took place during the 1980's and 1990's so
one might think that race relations is better but from what I have
seen, heard, and read about they are getting worse.
Interracial marriages are more accepted
these days than they were 20 years ago but their children are still
not that accepted in public school by other whites or African
Americans. And when interracial couples attend church services at a
Southern Baptist Church they are treated with polite
dis-courteousness.
But, what is really interesting to me
is the fact that inside the overall African American Communities
there is another type of racism going on which pertains to whether
your color is light, medium, or dark and it appears that there is
more discrimination in a negative way towards African Americans who
are dark or darker than other around them.
“No one is born
hating another person because of the color of his skin or his
background or his religion. People must learn to hate and if they
can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love for love comes more
naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Nelson Mandela
Who is it that teaches us and them this
hate? And, I do agree that if it can be taught and learned then it
can be taught and unlearned... but, that also requires taking
responsibility for our actions and no one wants to admit that they
are doing anything wrong... and, the easiest way to see that
concept played out is to observe your own marriage or the marriage of
someone else.
Additionally, just about all African
Americans treat Hispanics like whites have been treating them and
neither side wants to improve relationships as is the case with
African Americans and white and this may come as quite a shock to
both African Americans and whites but by 2050 there will be more
Asians and Hispanics in America that African Americans and white...
so, who might you think will take control one day?
Sometimes, I think that neither side
wants to improve racism and both sides seem to be feeding off of
their animosities towards each other. Another reason why I do not
think that we will ever end racism is because we are building African
American Centers all across the country to honor and perpetuate the
fact that blacks and white are different.
For instance, my ancestry traces back
to Scot/Irish and I am sure there are many more like me around but we
are not wanting to build a Scot/Irish American Center to celebrate
our difference. It may sound a little silly when you think about it
but it is more similar than not.
If African Americans wanted to end
racism in America, I would think that a great place to start would be
to stop wanting to be called African Americans and be satisfied and
content with the fact that black or white or in between, we are all
Americans.
But are we really... just all
Americans?
More than 500 years after Christopher
Columbus' encounter with the natives of the Americas, any enduring
uneasiness between Indians and mainstream society is exemplified by
the controversy over the Washington Redskins name, which took a new
turn last week when President Obama spoke of "legitimate
concerns" that the mascot is racist, some Indian leaders say.
But many Native Americans contend it's incredulous that a major sports team in the nation's capital fails to see the word's offensiveness, especially in a game Sunday whose rival mascots conjure up the bygone real bloodshed between cowboys and Indians. Some news outlets and sports writers agree and aren't printing "Redskin" in their stories about the NFL team.
"After 500 years, it's pretty unbelievable that this issue is at the forefront right now," said Jason Begay, a Navajo who's an assistant professor and director of the Native American Journalism Project at the University of Montana. "Even in the last 50 years (of the civil rights movement), we learned so much. It's just ridiculous that this is an issue."
When will it ever end?
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