April 8, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
Are you racist or post-racial?
I recently went to a lecture on race relations. As one of 3 people of color in the room, It was hard not feeling like a fly in the buttermilk. On the other hand, I reminded myself that these required diversity lectures and race awareness stuff isn’t necessarily for me. There for the 30+ white people who may or may not have very much experience dealing with people who do not look like them.
I spent most of the lecture bouncing between unease, nonchalance, and boredom until nearly the end of the lecture. As she wrapped up her speech, the lecturer asked the audience to talk among ourselves about the myriad policy implications of American race relations. At first, I resigned myself to sit back and listen to what the white people had to say. (I find that I can often learn more by listening than speaking).
However, I love my classmates and I don’t want them going out into the world thinking and saying stupid stuff because one of the few examples of diversity in the classroom refused to get involved and speak up. So I joined the conversation and asked them to look around the auditorium and see the 3 black students in the room.
Be aware of white privilege: I reminded them that our building is full of pictures of old white men; that the university was built on racism and slavery; that we have only one professor of color on staff at MPA School. I asked them to think about how it might feel to constantly be a minority in an environment that (based on the previous description) doesn’t seem to value people that look like you. I want them to go out in the world appreciating and seeking out diversity.
I told them what it was like to be me. In both academic and workplace settings, I am often the only black person in the room. I get a little excited that Old Navy commercials have black and white mannequins. And I smile when I see the same Pantene commercial with a white and black girl. I’ve walked into interviews and seen the slightly shocked faces of interviewers. I can fairly assume that they weren’t expecting a black girl. I told my classmates that sometimes I feel like the defender of all Black people, everywhere and that I sometimes feel that I should be careful of what I say because someone may attribute my attitude to all Black people.
The virtue of white privilege is never having to think about race. Every day something happens to remind me of my race. Not in big overly racist ways. It’s subtle. Like in class when someone says something about “gentrification” or “low-income neighborhoods”, and everyone turns and looks back at me. Or when a class presenter shows a powerpoint presentation full of little poor black and brown kids, and smiling happy white kids. Couldn’t find ONE happy brown kid, could ya?
That sh*t pisses me off.
Race is still an issue. It’s not something that we should or can ignore.
In the lecture, someone asked, Since Barack Obama was elected president, aren’t we now living in a post-racial world?
*my thought bubble: Uhm, no.
The lecturer rightly asked what does post-racial mean. The student said something about being colorblind.
Colorblind? Really? Is there something wrong with noticing someone’s race? I don’t think so.
Should we strive to be colorblind? I think not. We should acknowledge race and move on! Not seeing race is like not seeing the booger that someone has in their nose or the pimple in the middle of your forehead. The more you try not to notice, the bigger and nastier it gets.
Being colorblind suggests that we should overlook our differences. I disagree. I think we should embrace our differences.
When I enter a new situation, I like to look around and find the person that is the least like me and befriend them. (I often find myself sitting and cutting up with the old white men or little Asian ladies).
I love cities like Boston or Miami or San Francisco, where there are SO MANY different kinds of people. I’m not just talking about racial diversity. I love it when I walk down the street and I can’t understand all the languages that are being spoken, or none of the restaurants that I see serve hamburgers and french fries, or when I people-watch and the fashion styles of the people that I see are “weird”. Weird and different indicate that I’m going to learn something new. Someone is going to broaden my horizons. And that makes me happy.
Should we be colorblind? Hell NO! We shouldn’t fear or overlook the ways that we are all different. We should appreciate and nurture those differences. If we are to create something fresh and new and different, we should not ignore the ways our differences come together.
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Posted by Tami
April 9, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
Funny that you posted this. Today my client took me out to lunch and felt compelled to tell me how his parents make stupid comments about blacks because they basically grew up in an all-white enviroment.
I mean I know that’s true. I think overall there will always be ignorance of people you don’t know, especially if you make no effort to have a higher understanding. At the same time, I am like ok…why even bring this up? I guess because I am black! LOL. Okay… Like why do folks always want to talk about black pple and basically saying what a long way we’ve came in race relations around me? I smiled and nodded…he mean’t well…he just didn’t know any better.
I think that blacks have to put up with a lot more sheer ignorance than whites. We have to access if a person means harm or if they are just plain ignorant and address the issue accordingly.
I totally agree with you about looking around and seeing white everywhere and maybe a few specks of brown. White folks don’t know what that’s like. But funny if white folks see a crowd of black people, they pay attention, where as if it were white people they wouldn’t think twice.
Why do people think Barack as POTUS eradicates any color line? I agree that it is certaintly a step in the right direction. But look how long it took and blacks are still being oppressed in parts of America because they are black. Also, Barack is relatively light skinned. The media was and is much harsher on his African-American wife.
I totally feel like I have uphold a certain standard for all black people. Like, my actions aren’t just reflective of me but of all blacks. What white person has that burden? White people for the most part are oblivious to the daily struggles and challenges blacks face. They really are clueless.
In college, a prof. in my Poli Sci class asked if the world is safer more peaceful place. All the white kids said yes. I commented that since we don’t have scud missles flying over our heads or daily suicide bombings its easy to say that looking just from their perspective. I reminded them that there are people in other parts of the world who would have a very different answer.
Great post! Sorry for the long comment…I just got carried away! lol
Tami’s last blog post..My First Lesbian Love Part 4
Posted by Nisha
April 9, 2009 @ 8:58 pm
I don’t have the energy to write a long response but I think this was a great post… you always hit on important topics that not enough people are talking about.
Nisha’s last blog post..Quick Hit: The Afghan Rape Law
Posted by Melissa Capitano
May 11, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
Hey Monica,
Great insights here. I apologize if this is not well though out, but I wanted to respond now while I had the chance because I know you like to be stimulated and hear all sides of an argument. I thought it was very interesting that you said the diversity lecture was not for you, that is was only for the white people. Are white people the only ones who need to be aware of cultural differences? I understand your point about most white people being used to being in the majority. That is a fact in our country, but that doesn’t mean that just because people LOOK like you that they ARE like you. Just like you don’t want to represent all blacks, I don’t want to represent all whites. I have lived all over the country and have seen many different people, some the same color and some different. People of all different heritage: Indian, Chinese-American, Mexican, Mexican-American, African-American, Italian-American, German-American, Southerners, Midwesterners, East Coasters, West Coasters of all sorts. I have had more in common with some of the brown people than with some of those with “peach faces” (Gia’s term) and I’m sure you can say the same. I really like what you said about NOT being colorblind. I personally find someone’s cultural background to be fascinating. I want to know more about who they are by knowing how they identify themselves. That doesn’t mean I judge or stereotype. That part of them is just one part.
Okay, I am really starting to ramble now. Your blog is great for the brain!
Posted by admin
May 11, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
@Prof. Capitano (I just can’t bring myself to call you Melissa)
I love Gia’s term “peach faces”! She’s such a smart girl.
No, white people aren’t the only people who need to be aware of cultural differences. I’ve had the misfortune of coming in contact with lots of folks (of difference races and ethnicities) who need to be schooled on the importance of diversity.
I totally agree with your points, we (all humans) have much more in common than we have in different. I love our differences, I love to meet and learn from difference kinds of people.
I’m so glad you read and commented on this post. I look forward to reading more of your comments!
Posted by Robert
October 13, 2009 @ 5:40 am
“When I enter a new situation, I like to look around and find the person that is the least like me and befriend them.”
That’s a great habit to develop. I’m going to steal that from you, at least I let you know beforehand.
As a black man, I can relate to the feeling of having to “defend” or represent for our people. Almost everywhere and second of the day I feel this way.We carry this burden, but it is also a choice. We don’t have to.I moved into this new apartment recently and the neighbor makes it a point to impose her high expectations on me:
Her:”Oh, you look like a fine young man. I know you are not going to be as loud and obnoxious as those other neighbors we had. Oh my GOSH, they would party and drive in with their loud music playing…”
Me:”Yeah,(trying to filter and interpret everything she is saying) right.
In high school I had to make it a point to not become another statistic, as the other 3 only black males in my senior class didn’t graduate and the only other one that did, didn’t regard himself as black. I felt like all eyes were on me.
Racism is on an institutional level, or institutional racism. On an individual level, sure there are still some racist people still out there. Some habits and people are hard to break, and it’s harder to open your mind as you grow older.
Earlier this year I was doing my laundry when this guy stepped inside the place and saw me reading a book. He made this comment at me: “I’ve never seen a brother read a book before. Must be about Barack Obama.”
I didn’t get mad or upset, I just let it pass right through me. He couldn’t have been talking to me with such ignorance, or at least I don’t respond to that mess.
I don’t get offended, it’s just ignorance. My sister told me how she overheard some people at a restaurant talking about “black diseases”. One women at the table was talking to one of the other guests who had diabetes or high blood pressure and the women goes ” how did you get that, I thought that was a black disease?”
A black disease?! Really!
In regards to being colorblind, I think the idea to pretend colors don’t exist is stupid. Of course they exist, and it’s one of the differences that bring about more beauty in life. With all these different beautiful colors who would want to be colorblind. As you’ve stated, we need to celebrate and embrace our differences. We need to sit next to that person and bask in their uniqueness. Great post