My Thoughts On Racism In America

[Hoovie]

I guess there is some racism against all races to some extent... I do not treat folks different because of their race myself. It seems contrary to Christian character.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by GodsBabyGirl

Cant help but wonder if Rico's experiences garnered more empathy and positive responses from you all because he wasn't black???

Not minimizing what he went thru. But the extent of what he has been thru has been some fights, some name calling, some discrimination on the job.

I am sure Rico's grandparents or great gp didnt get their foot chopped off or castrated or land stolen from them. As unfair as those actions against him are, they did not have the opportunity to become generational curses to his family. It is just warfare he has had to deal with in his life.

Now imagine if Rico was a black man. Not only does he have to fight the warfare from present demons, but he gotta go back and fight demons that make our men flee our families instead of sticking it out for the long haul because that spirit was set in place by slavemasters centuries ago who tore our families apart. Made our men feel like they couldnt take care of their families anyways. So that is how our men feel today...the system can do a better job than I can of supporting my family. I cant take care of them on $6hr.

Or they sling caine or rocks...only to be incarcerated and still taken from the family.

Or they get killed n the trade or die high on the heroin.

I love my black men! And thank God for them! They go thru so much in this country!!!!!

I can attest, when blacks speak of racism we are not talking about slavery, lynchings, etc. We all know you all cant get away with that nonsense.

No...he is right about that. It is the way the majority controls the minority in our everyday affairs that is racist.

Now I will be real. I dont give a hootenanny about someone racial profiling me, or prejudging me. Someone callin me a n _ _ _ _ wouldn't even faze me. Im bigger than that.

What gets me all in a dustball is how the economic, educational and political structure is set up in this country to the disadvantage of the average black person, avg single mother in particular.

Again, I dont have that kinda time and this forum doesnt have the memory for me to record here what kinda racist junk I have encountered in the workplace, my kids at school, and here in N.O. the government....it is pathetic!

Lets just say I have wisened up lately.

Thanks Rico for sharing your experiences!!!!

Sister, the point isn't about who has suffered more. The point of what I wrote is to properly identify the enemy. White folks aren't the enemy. Black folks aren't the enemy. Latinos aren't the enemy. RACISM IS THE ENEMY!

[Pressing-On]

Enjoyed reading your thoughts, Rico.

I thought you would be interested in this article as it's on the same lines.

(excerpt)

Typical
By Cal Thomas
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

One of the best tools I have seen that could help bridge the racial divide is a PBS documentary series called "African American Lives." Its creator and host is Harvard professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. The program is a rarity in television. It informs without bias.

This four-part series features Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Quincy Jones, Mae Jemison, Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot and Chris Tucker. Using DNA, the program traces their ancestry. Some have firm roots in African tribes, but others are surprising. For instance, Gates, who is African American, found that much of his DNA could be traced back to Ireland.

"African American Lives 2," the sequel to the original program, traced the lineage of comedian Chris Rock, singer Tina Turner, Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman Jr., and magazine publisher Linda Johnson Rice, among others. Using courthouse documents, plantation ledgers and slave ship records, the subjects learn surprising things about their forebears. One of Rock's ancestors was a South Carolina state senator. One of Turner's ancestors founded the school she attended as a child, though she didn't know about the genealogical link until the program revealed it in a touching moment.

I defy anyone but the most ardent racist to watch this series and not be transformed by what it reveals. I have spoken and exchanged e-mail with Dr. Gates and he says the main message in these programs is that slavery was more about economics than race.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/C.../03/25/typical

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Enjoyed reading your thoughts, Rico.

I thought you would be interested in this article as it's on the same lines.

(excerpt)

I think many of our black citizens would be surprised to find out how common it is in this country for there to be white ancestry in the family tree.

[Revelationist]

You find racism in every race.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Rico

I think many of our black citizens would be surprised to find out how common it is in this country for there to be white ancestry in the family tree.

I'd like to see the documentary. Sounds very interesting.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/