I hate that this topic is such a hush-hush issue. Everyone walks around thinking things about one another and we never discusse it or take the time to learn about each other.
It was last semester at one of the many debate sessions that are held in the Center for Africana Studies, and we got on the topic of race. There were mainly students of the African Diaspora and about 3 Caucasian students.
The black students went on talking about racial tension on campus; I realized that none of the white students said a word. They all looked down to the floor making no eye contact. I started to feel a little bothered by the fact that they had nothing to say. Then I thought well maybe they feel out numbered and uncomfortable, so I decided to put it all out there and ask them why they weren't responding. They had every right to voice their opinions just like everyone else.
I said, "I wish you guys would stop making it such a big deal to talk about it. I'm not going to get mad at anything you have to say no matter how bad your comment will be because this is a learning experience and I am willing to listen to your opinions."
One of the Caucasian men responded, "Honestly the reason why we don't say anything is because sometimes you guys blow things out of proportion! "
When he said that I loved it; Every Caucasian person who had their head down suddenly looked up to see what reaction I would give.
Instead of reacting in a way that would be expected of me, I said, "Ok I can see why you would think that."
He looked at me surprised.
When someone is not in your shoes they obviously can't relate to how you view the world. Sometimes when minorities get upset about the discrimination that we face the reaction is typically expressed in an aggressive and angry manner. I think that it would help everyone if we would stop and listen.
Some minorities might disagree with me, but the more we take that anger (which we have every right to feel) and use it as a fuel to spark up knwoledge in people. then the better it will make us feel. Anger does nothing but kill the soul and keep people away.
If someone knows you're the type to blow up they're not going to be honest around you. They'll wait until they are around people who they relate to and express their opinions and views which isn't always good because then they'll never get to hear what the other side has to say.
It's just like someone asking me, someone who was born in Burkina Faso, West Africa, if people in Africa sleep with lions? My initial would be to tell them how stupid that question is, but you know what maybe all they have been taught about Africa is what the Discovery Channel has to offer, so it's my duty to explain that Africa is a large Continent with many different kinds of people who have different cultures and that what you see on the discovery channel is only a small representation of the millions of people who make up that continent.
There might be people too narrow minded to open up and see other perspectives and you know what? That's their choice, you can't waste you're time trying to get them to see the world in a different light. As the world grows more diverse having the knowledge of all the different perspectives of life is essential.
So with that said people. Lets stop being so up tight about racial issues and lets talk about it in a respectful and open minded manner.
7 comments:
What is there to say?
Race is a tricky issue, sure, but I feel like a lot of people are ready to move beyond race as an issue of character.
That doesn't mean everyone the world over is going to stop saying n*gger or telling racist jokes or using the color of someone's skin as a reason to dislike them.
When I think of a world without racism, in fact, I think of a world where all of these distasteful things still exist. This is America, and last I checked you don't need a good or factually based reason to dislike anyone. Nor do you have the right to impede on someone elses freedom, and that goes both ways. Racism will always exist, and stereotypes will still be funny, but its the degree to which we let words and ignorance affect our lives.
Words like n*gger are offensive because they draw a reaction. The word has no more power than any other string of letters. I use this word as an example because it is the most often cited word of controversy and a word many people would like stricken from the dictionary and outlawed in every state. It is a word that at once can both demean one person and discredit entirely another.
I honestly think racism would peter out in an enlightened society at a much faster rate if only every controversy over skin color wasn't splashed on the television.
Edit* I delete my comment for clarification.
You cannot say that the word n*gger has no more power than any other string of words. Can you really say that Nigger and Apple have the same power? (ugh No!)
On the other hand, today’s issues are more about the economy. The way the world runs effects race, gender, etc... But, that doesn't mean that we can't talk about it and act like it's not important.
You and I are to very opinionated people who are passionate about our stance on particular topics, and everyone isn't like that.
All I'm saying is some people hide their thoughts because they are afraid to have others judge them. The only way for us to learn about one another is to express how we feel instead of suppressing our curiosity and emotions. Through the process we might learn something new.
Hopefully you can learn to understand the impact of the word NIGGER and think twice about how many people you are disrespecting when you say it's just a word.
Racial slurs like n*gger are caught in a Catch 22 I believe; because so much attention is given to the word, the word is artificially inflated with emotional power.
Is there some scale of offensiveness of certain words? Who makes the kind of judgement when a word like n*gger is offensive or not? What about all the other slurs that exist in today's lexicon?
I don't look at racial slurs as offensive. I laugh at them. The whole idea of someone using an ignorant and offensive word to try and bring someone else down is hideously ridiculous. But that doesn't mean I'm ready to concede my right to the English language.
As for people hiding their feelings on race, I absolutely agree. It can be difficult for someone to say what they think because they don't want to be labeled as a racist. Reactionary tones have tamed a lot of people into biting their tongues rather than expressing themselves. Even among educated people, the boundries are ill defined and easily crossed.
Just understand that there is no way you can take a bad word and turn it into a good wrod.
A bad word is a bad word.
It's like a man calling a women a B*tch and saying that it's just a word and that it depends on how someone takes it, and then when someone calls his daughter or wife a B*tch he gets offended.
What I am trying to say is that you feel no connection to the N word, but others do and they would appreciate it if you wouldn't use it around them.
Think of a word that makes you mad and someone around you keeps repeating it. It gets annoying after a while. Out of respect they should not use it at all.
I guess you’re saying forget respect. If I want to say something then I will say it no matter who I may be hurting because this is America?
If so then I have no more comments, but I appreciate that you were open to discuss this topic with me.
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