Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Slave Mentality- Actual poem
I think of times when my parents use to say
They have to pick cotton in the field each and every day
They would tell me how it made them feel
To know how race in the south back some 40 years
They speak of the injust and to be thought of as slaves
When they would do their best to make it through another day
My mom would say the temps would be in the 90 degrees
And they would take short breaks sometimes just to eat
I wonder to myself how could they go on
To know God's Grace help them with a song
I tried to imagine how things use to be
To be considered less than dirty by the majority
Know I know the feelings they must have endured
To be abused and mistreated and still struggled through
To know their race had to played a huge part
In segregation, racism and hateful things from the start
I faced just those not those so simple things
I thought it can't been happeing till I heard Let Freedom Ring
I think to myself how can this be
No justice, No freedom, No democracy
I see people of my own race
Disgrace me with their participation events that take place
I use to think I'm black and I'm proud
Until I look around and see the crowd
I see people of my own race
Not white, but black participate
Racism was a way to unleash one's fear
Not to let blacks have a say or any tears
I see people of my own race
To engage in injustice and slave mentality in my face
They seem to forget where black slaves had to endure
Lynching, hanging and being abused
I think to myself they choose not to see
What happen to slaves, continues to be
One can look the other way and pretend not to see
Racism, injustice and inhumanity
I see people of my own race
I feel sadness, heartbroken and Disgrace
I know my words may seem not the case
But when you look in Mirror what do you say
I'm not a Racist, that's what I see
But far from the truth for you and for me
Maybe, one day blacks will come to see
Racism didn't start in the black community
It started when slavery took away your name
No fame, No fortune and others were to blame
I think of the feeling I have today
A Black woman against Racism and Slave mentality everyday
Only with time can Racism heal
No matter how hard you fight on the battlefied
It's a word that means fear against one's race
I already know what has taken place
A great man once said 'Let Freedom Ring'
Back when all slaves could do was sing
So I keep in my heart a solemn prayer
Let freedom Ring everywhere
Angel Sent
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/slave-mentality/
They have to pick cotton in the field each and every day
They would tell me how it made them feel
To know how race in the south back some 40 years
They speak of the injust and to be thought of as slaves
When they would do their best to make it through another day
My mom would say the temps would be in the 90 degrees
And they would take short breaks sometimes just to eat
I wonder to myself how could they go on
To know God's Grace help them with a song
I tried to imagine how things use to be
To be considered less than dirty by the majority
Know I know the feelings they must have endured
To be abused and mistreated and still struggled through
To know their race had to played a huge part
In segregation, racism and hateful things from the start
I faced just those not those so simple things
I thought it can't been happeing till I heard Let Freedom Ring
I think to myself how can this be
No justice, No freedom, No democracy
I see people of my own race
Disgrace me with their participation events that take place
I use to think I'm black and I'm proud
Until I look around and see the crowd
I see people of my own race
Not white, but black participate
Racism was a way to unleash one's fear
Not to let blacks have a say or any tears
I see people of my own race
To engage in injustice and slave mentality in my face
They seem to forget where black slaves had to endure
Lynching, hanging and being abused
I think to myself they choose not to see
What happen to slaves, continues to be
One can look the other way and pretend not to see
Racism, injustice and inhumanity
I see people of my own race
I feel sadness, heartbroken and Disgrace
I know my words may seem not the case
But when you look in Mirror what do you say
I'm not a Racist, that's what I see
But far from the truth for you and for me
Maybe, one day blacks will come to see
Racism didn't start in the black community
It started when slavery took away your name
No fame, No fortune and others were to blame
I think of the feeling I have today
A Black woman against Racism and Slave mentality everyday
Only with time can Racism heal
No matter how hard you fight on the battlefied
It's a word that means fear against one's race
I already know what has taken place
A great man once said 'Let Freedom Ring'
Back when all slaves could do was sing
So I keep in my heart a solemn prayer
Let freedom Ring everywhere
Angel Sent
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/slave-mentality/
Slave Mentality
Slave Mentality by Angel Sent is an inspiring poem. It is a poem calling out to God and all others who read this moving piece. This poem has touched me unlike any other readin in our class. I want to share this experience with all of my classmates that is why I choose to post this poem. Angel has written this poem threw her eyes, a young Black woman who is beginning to learn about her past and experience life through a slaves view. Her parents have taught her and told her stories of life as a slave on the plantation. Working and struggling daily to make it another day. How could they withstand 90 degree weather and only one or two breaks a day just to eat small scraps of food? She is growing older and is starting to endure some of the hardships of being black in America today. She sees her people being mistreated and shunned upon in society and she can’t believe her eyes. Slavery still lingers in the hearts and minds of some White non-colored people today. There is only one song that has been passed down from generation to generation that she remembers and thinks about when times are rough. The song, “Let Freedom Ring.”
In the recent weeks of our Ethnic studies class we have learned of the hardships blacks have endured and how it all came about, this “racism.” We have been taught about the blacks in the plantation life and the beatings and long days they went through. We have also discussed how slavery still lingers today, actually that is the topic we are currently on right now. The major question of will “racism” ever end? Will there be complete peace amongst all races and people of all colors and backgrounds? There is one thing though that we have not really talked about, and that is life actually threw a black persons mindset, especially a woman. We have talked about how blacks are under privileged and black women are on the bottom of the last, but how does this all contrast through a black woman’s eyes? This is poem from a black woman’s perspective is a great read for our class and another approach to this topic.
I have never read an article coming from this view besides the book Kindred. I have always been taught through a white person’s view. “Oh things were really hard; we did a lot of things we regret now. We started racism and now we can’t stop it. What are we going to do?” Now another perspective comes into play. Like Kindred a book about a young black women trying to figure out ways to stay alive in the years of slavery and racism Angel comes from the same perspective. Angel Sent wrote, “No matter how hard you fight on the battlefield. It's a word that means fear against one's race.” Angel is talking about racism and slavery. She further says, “It started when slavery took away your name, no fame, no fortune and others were to blame.” She is speaking out to other black people trying to enlighten them on the past she has come to understand. Angel and Octavia Butler, the author of Kindred, both represent young black women in the power struggle to stay alive. They are also both her to imform and teach all who read what they have to say about racism. Angel has one hope a hope that as a young white male I share a hope that many Americans believe and pray for. The end of racism and as Angel puts it, “Only with time can Racism heal.” As of now we both come together on the same issue, which is a HUGE progress compared to years before when this situation would never happen. LET FREEDOM RING!
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/slave-mentality/
In the recent weeks of our Ethnic studies class we have learned of the hardships blacks have endured and how it all came about, this “racism.” We have been taught about the blacks in the plantation life and the beatings and long days they went through. We have also discussed how slavery still lingers today, actually that is the topic we are currently on right now. The major question of will “racism” ever end? Will there be complete peace amongst all races and people of all colors and backgrounds? There is one thing though that we have not really talked about, and that is life actually threw a black persons mindset, especially a woman. We have talked about how blacks are under privileged and black women are on the bottom of the last, but how does this all contrast through a black woman’s eyes? This is poem from a black woman’s perspective is a great read for our class and another approach to this topic.
I have never read an article coming from this view besides the book Kindred. I have always been taught through a white person’s view. “Oh things were really hard; we did a lot of things we regret now. We started racism and now we can’t stop it. What are we going to do?” Now another perspective comes into play. Like Kindred a book about a young black women trying to figure out ways to stay alive in the years of slavery and racism Angel comes from the same perspective. Angel Sent wrote, “No matter how hard you fight on the battlefield. It's a word that means fear against one's race.” Angel is talking about racism and slavery. She further says, “It started when slavery took away your name, no fame, no fortune and others were to blame.” She is speaking out to other black people trying to enlighten them on the past she has come to understand. Angel and Octavia Butler, the author of Kindred, both represent young black women in the power struggle to stay alive. They are also both her to imform and teach all who read what they have to say about racism. Angel has one hope a hope that as a young white male I share a hope that many Americans believe and pray for. The end of racism and as Angel puts it, “Only with time can Racism heal.” As of now we both come together on the same issue, which is a HUGE progress compared to years before when this situation would never happen. LET FREEDOM RING!
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/slave-mentality/
Canceling Columbus Day Points Up Ironies of Multiculturalism
The title explains it all. In 1907 Colorado was the first state in the union to declare Columbus Day an official holiday. Now, there is much controversy on the subject. Should we continue to celebrate Columbus Day? Is he a "symbol" of the genocide perpetrated by white Europeans on Native Americans? On the other hand, is he the first discoverer of this newfound beautiful country that we call America today? This article is another controversy on Christopher Columbus that ties to our class when we studied him and his "unknown" facts in the first week of class. That is why I choose this article, it is proof that there is still much debate on this subject.
In this article, the very first state to start celebrating Columbus Day is now second-guessing their actions. As we have recently learned in Ethnic studies Columbus did discover new land, but he stole, beat, killed, massacred, and burned many Indian villages in the process. Whether Columbus was to blame for all this is up to debate. Even many Indians captured and enslaved other Indians so this practice was not uncommon. Today it is just more significant to us because you are punished for such actions. If Columbus were to blame for this genocide, than he would be assumed to racist right? Well that is where more facts come in to play. There is no evidence in any known journal, document, or paper about Columbus or that Columbus has written him-self that could accuse him of being racist at all.
You read one view about this topic than you read another and your personal views change with the more you get into it and the more information you obtain. After reading Zinn's new spin on Columbus with his "history of conquest, slavery and death"; and with Takaki's further description of the tortures, beatings, and disease spreading colonists, I have concluded one thing. Columbus may have been the fearless leader and the discoverer of the America’s, but overall he was just an adventurous man. He was not an animal or a killing machine. He was simply a man who practiced all the same practices as anyone else in his time. He cannot single handedly be held accountable for the on-slaughter that took place in capturing part of the Americas. I believe he should just been known for discovering Americas with a few capturing on the way. Just because Columbus's men brought along some diseases that the Indians couldn't survive from was not on purpose. They should not cancel a holiday that has been celebrated over 100 years. Even the article points out, “If we can have Martin Luther King Day, and Cinco de Mayo, we ought to be able to have Columbus Day, too. That is true multiculturalism, which is what America has always been about, anyway.” We have learned numerous new facts in the first couple of weeks of Ethnic studies from Takaki's teachings of Indians as canibals that needed to be straightend out to Zinn's knowledge of capturings and burngings that took place. No-one person know the whole and exact truth on what took place. To abolish a holiday that majorities of children have been born, raised, and taught about is absurd.
Abstract (Summary)
The view successfully forwarded by "revisionist" historians of the Americas in recent years is that the statues and tributes to Columbus must be effaced, because he is "symbolic" of the genocide perpetrated by white Europeans on Native Americans.
Racist values and attitudes on the part of whites toward Native Americans reached its apogee in the nineteenth century and was found primarily among Protestant Europeans, who sought to exterminate the "red devils," rather than among Catholics, who intermarried with the local inhabitants and developed a mixed, or "mestizo," culture throughout the Americas. In fact, the Indians of the Southwest invented the expression "white eyes" to distinguish the Anglo-Americans from the Spaniards.
When Italian-Americans pushed for the establishment of Columbus Day at the turn of the century, it was to honor another "forgotten" legacy that had been ignored by the cultural orthodoxy of the day. The "hyphenated Americans" of that day had also been bruised and humiliated. Remember the Ludlow Massacre, when Colorado's Governor sent the National Guard to murder Italian-American (and other) coal miners for the crime of going on strike.
Author(s): Raschke, Carl
Publication title: La Voz. Denver: Oct 5, 1994. Vol. XX, Iss. 340; pg. 6
Document URL: http://0-proquest.umi.com.maurice.bgsu.edu:80/pqdweb?
did=482121131&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=3340&RQT=309&VName=PQD
In this article, the very first state to start celebrating Columbus Day is now second-guessing their actions. As we have recently learned in Ethnic studies Columbus did discover new land, but he stole, beat, killed, massacred, and burned many Indian villages in the process. Whether Columbus was to blame for all this is up to debate. Even many Indians captured and enslaved other Indians so this practice was not uncommon. Today it is just more significant to us because you are punished for such actions. If Columbus were to blame for this genocide, than he would be assumed to racist right? Well that is where more facts come in to play. There is no evidence in any known journal, document, or paper about Columbus or that Columbus has written him-self that could accuse him of being racist at all.
You read one view about this topic than you read another and your personal views change with the more you get into it and the more information you obtain. After reading Zinn's new spin on Columbus with his "history of conquest, slavery and death"; and with Takaki's further description of the tortures, beatings, and disease spreading colonists, I have concluded one thing. Columbus may have been the fearless leader and the discoverer of the America’s, but overall he was just an adventurous man. He was not an animal or a killing machine. He was simply a man who practiced all the same practices as anyone else in his time. He cannot single handedly be held accountable for the on-slaughter that took place in capturing part of the Americas. I believe he should just been known for discovering Americas with a few capturing on the way. Just because Columbus's men brought along some diseases that the Indians couldn't survive from was not on purpose. They should not cancel a holiday that has been celebrated over 100 years. Even the article points out, “If we can have Martin Luther King Day, and Cinco de Mayo, we ought to be able to have Columbus Day, too. That is true multiculturalism, which is what America has always been about, anyway.” We have learned numerous new facts in the first couple of weeks of Ethnic studies from Takaki's teachings of Indians as canibals that needed to be straightend out to Zinn's knowledge of capturings and burngings that took place. No-one person know the whole and exact truth on what took place. To abolish a holiday that majorities of children have been born, raised, and taught about is absurd.
Abstract (Summary)
The view successfully forwarded by "revisionist" historians of the Americas in recent years is that the statues and tributes to Columbus must be effaced, because he is "symbolic" of the genocide perpetrated by white Europeans on Native Americans.
Racist values and attitudes on the part of whites toward Native Americans reached its apogee in the nineteenth century and was found primarily among Protestant Europeans, who sought to exterminate the "red devils," rather than among Catholics, who intermarried with the local inhabitants and developed a mixed, or "mestizo," culture throughout the Americas. In fact, the Indians of the Southwest invented the expression "white eyes" to distinguish the Anglo-Americans from the Spaniards.
When Italian-Americans pushed for the establishment of Columbus Day at the turn of the century, it was to honor another "forgotten" legacy that had been ignored by the cultural orthodoxy of the day. The "hyphenated Americans" of that day had also been bruised and humiliated. Remember the Ludlow Massacre, when Colorado's Governor sent the National Guard to murder Italian-American (and other) coal miners for the crime of going on strike.
Author(s): Raschke, Carl
Publication title: La Voz. Denver: Oct 5, 1994. Vol. XX, Iss. 340; pg. 6
Document URL: http://0-proquest.umi.com.maurice.bgsu.edu:80/pqdweb?
did=482121131&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=3340&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Bid Em In
Oscar Brown jr. is the creator of this flick. He is a poet, playwright, singer, actor and humorist who traveled the United States, telling stories of African-American history. Over the decades, he has worked with many famous people including Miles Davis, and some of his songs have become classics. His video Bid Em In is meant to promote awareness, self-appreciation and knowledge of black history. He plays the role of an auctioneer who tries to sell a young black woman for slavery. He points out all her great qualities such as: being young and ripe, smart, attractive, healthy, strong, good worker, and can cook and sew. All of these qualities make for a much desired servant in the old days and many white men would pay top dollar for a woman such as her. I choose this flick because it is very powerful and well intertwined with the past and all its downfalls. This video also has a catchy tune that you will probably hear yourself singing over and over. This means this video sticks in your mind very easily, and at the same time paints you a great picture of the past.
The title is great because it describes the speed and efficiency when auctioning black slaves. They just pick healthy slaves; point out their best physical qualities, so that they can be sold at maximum price. They want this process to be fast so as you can tell it only takes the auctioneer a max of two minutes to pick, describe, and sell this slave woman. There is no need for more time to figure out her name, where she’s from, or if she has any kids. There is only time for her description of her attributes so she can be sold quickly. We talked class many a times about how the slaves poured into the Americas by an increasing number every year. We also talked about how they were treated on the plantations. That is why I choose this video because we get a detailed scene of how the slaves got from the ships to the plantation something we didn’t cover specifically in class.
There are many lines in this short segment but one that caught my attention was the line, “makes a fine ladies maid when properly whipped.” These auctioneers didn’t shed one single tear or hesitate to say anything about a slave to get them sold fast. I guarantee you this girl doesn’t want to be whipped into being a maid, but the thought of the possibility in the white elite man’s mind could persuade him spend that little extra money for a young and healthy slave such as the girl being auctioned in the video. I think all of this is sick and wrong. There is no way that kind of thing would happen today. This video reminds us of our dreaded pas; and to me is an influential piece that helps present and future Americans make this world into a freer, slave-less, environment. We are without a doubt still a segregated America and with more influence like this video and more support we can help mold this country into a place of equality and hope.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wnR8WDD2aoQ
The title is great because it describes the speed and efficiency when auctioning black slaves. They just pick healthy slaves; point out their best physical qualities, so that they can be sold at maximum price. They want this process to be fast so as you can tell it only takes the auctioneer a max of two minutes to pick, describe, and sell this slave woman. There is no need for more time to figure out her name, where she’s from, or if she has any kids. There is only time for her description of her attributes so she can be sold quickly. We talked class many a times about how the slaves poured into the Americas by an increasing number every year. We also talked about how they were treated on the plantations. That is why I choose this video because we get a detailed scene of how the slaves got from the ships to the plantation something we didn’t cover specifically in class.
There are many lines in this short segment but one that caught my attention was the line, “makes a fine ladies maid when properly whipped.” These auctioneers didn’t shed one single tear or hesitate to say anything about a slave to get them sold fast. I guarantee you this girl doesn’t want to be whipped into being a maid, but the thought of the possibility in the white elite man’s mind could persuade him spend that little extra money for a young and healthy slave such as the girl being auctioned in the video. I think all of this is sick and wrong. There is no way that kind of thing would happen today. This video reminds us of our dreaded pas; and to me is an influential piece that helps present and future Americans make this world into a freer, slave-less, environment. We are without a doubt still a segregated America and with more influence like this video and more support we can help mold this country into a place of equality and hope.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wnR8WDD2aoQ
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Definition of Racism - The Poem
He is a victim of racism and all forms of discrimination
When blacks and the police meet at the same time
To the racist you have committed a crime
Right now the racism is in its prime
Right now the discrimination is in its prime
It appears it’s wrong for him to earn his dime
It appears it’s wrong for him to be in the lime-light.
Racism does not start
When you worship the racist
It is when you cease to
He or she will strike you with an open fist.
Racism does not start
If you are perceived as a dullard
Or have a regular simple job then turn drunkard.
Racism does not start
When you are aiming low
It only starts when you want to grow
Grow in a high-flying career
Then it becomes quite clear;
The racist thinks you should never be there
It starts when you want to grow in wisdom
It starts when you mix with others in their kingdom
Does it mean he has no right to aspire?
Or look up and aim higher
Or have any form of ambitious white desires
Does it mean he can’t have white friends?
Or mix and mingle with the white elites?
At work puppets are used as tools for mobbing
Everything around him happens so fast
He is the only one to hear about it or last
In manipulated isolation he becomes the lone outcast
The techniques are modern vast and will continually last
Till he makes his exit and becomes a thing of the past
What they are actually doing is robbing
Robbing him of his dignity
Callously without any pity
Robbing him gradually of all his credibility
Publicly, disguising them in actions of witty
Creating an atmosphere of hate
There is no need to debate
Been black and a man is his fate
Constant discrimination is forever on his plate
Racism is not always obvious
Discrimination to those who do not care is oblivious
Discrimination to those who have never been there is oblivious
They will say he is imagining
Making things up and fabricating
Many will never understand how he feels
Until it is too late for the wounds to heal
Just because he is black and not a pretty white woman
They look down disrespectfully at him like a felon
In their hearts they consider it reality
They are all over-superior to black
Zaheed Patel
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/definition-of-racism/
When blacks and the police meet at the same time
To the racist you have committed a crime
Right now the racism is in its prime
Right now the discrimination is in its prime
It appears it’s wrong for him to earn his dime
It appears it’s wrong for him to be in the lime-light.
Racism does not start
When you worship the racist
It is when you cease to
He or she will strike you with an open fist.
Racism does not start
If you are perceived as a dullard
Or have a regular simple job then turn drunkard.
Racism does not start
When you are aiming low
It only starts when you want to grow
Grow in a high-flying career
Then it becomes quite clear;
The racist thinks you should never be there
It starts when you want to grow in wisdom
It starts when you mix with others in their kingdom
Does it mean he has no right to aspire?
Or look up and aim higher
Or have any form of ambitious white desires
Does it mean he can’t have white friends?
Or mix and mingle with the white elites?
At work puppets are used as tools for mobbing
Everything around him happens so fast
He is the only one to hear about it or last
In manipulated isolation he becomes the lone outcast
The techniques are modern vast and will continually last
Till he makes his exit and becomes a thing of the past
What they are actually doing is robbing
Robbing him of his dignity
Callously without any pity
Robbing him gradually of all his credibility
Publicly, disguising them in actions of witty
Creating an atmosphere of hate
There is no need to debate
Been black and a man is his fate
Constant discrimination is forever on his plate
Racism is not always obvious
Discrimination to those who do not care is oblivious
Discrimination to those who have never been there is oblivious
They will say he is imagining
Making things up and fabricating
Many will never understand how he feels
Until it is too late for the wounds to heal
Just because he is black and not a pretty white woman
They look down disrespectfully at him like a felon
In their hearts they consider it reality
They are all over-superior to black
Zaheed Patel
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/definition-of-racism/
Definition of Racism
This poem is unique and one of a kind. Zaheed Patel shows the many situations in which racism comes about. Discrimination doesn’t just come about for any reason; someone has to initiate this view/thought, this why I choose this poem. It mainly starts when colored men or women strive in life to be something. Something more than eternal slaves on a white mans premises. In this poem, essentially anyone who is not black would agree that colored people are not to gain wisdom and congregate with others than their own kind; when they do they are discriminated against. There is thought to be no place for a colored man making decisions in a white mans world. The last paragraph in the poem says that:
Just because he is black and not a pretty white woman
They look down disrespectfully at him like a felon
In their hearts they consider it reality
They are all over-superior to black
Over history woman have become more of an importance in the white mans life, therefore, becoming more accepted. Unfortunately, for the black people this is not true. Some white people would say that they don’t’ see this discrimination happening. There privilege of denial has overcome their thought that racism is a dead thought.
The whole poem relates to our class, but this obliviousness is what I am going to focus on. In our class we have discussed the basics of how racism became and how it spread all over the world, but that’s not all we’ve learned. We have focused on many side facts about race. Like in this poem how racism still continues today with no end in site. One of the main factors to this is the absolute obliviousness of white folks to discrimination. The poem quotes:
Racism is not always obvious
Discrimination to those who do not care is oblivious
Discrimination to those who have never been there is oblivious
What this section is saying is that people who don’t care about racism may have this belief because they either don’t witness it, or because they have the “privilege” to not care. As we discussed in Getting Off the Hook: Denial and Resistance if you are a white male or female you posses some privileges over black men and women. Choosing to ignore discrimination because you can is a privilege, but some whites are just fortunate to not even witness racism at all. Many white’s who have this belief tend to live in the north where there was/is less slavery and more segregation of blacks and whites. If a white child was born with blacks in his neighborhood as his friends then he would have no reason to discriminate.
Either of these ways tries to constitute the fact that discrimination is oblivious. From denial to straight-up ignorance people can try to put this topic off as long as they want. But, after sitting down and taking the time to look around, and as I discovered through this ethnic studies class, racism has been here for a while and will tend to linger around for a long time to come.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/definition-of-racism/
Just because he is black and not a pretty white woman
They look down disrespectfully at him like a felon
In their hearts they consider it reality
They are all over-superior to black
Over history woman have become more of an importance in the white mans life, therefore, becoming more accepted. Unfortunately, for the black people this is not true. Some white people would say that they don’t’ see this discrimination happening. There privilege of denial has overcome their thought that racism is a dead thought.
The whole poem relates to our class, but this obliviousness is what I am going to focus on. In our class we have discussed the basics of how racism became and how it spread all over the world, but that’s not all we’ve learned. We have focused on many side facts about race. Like in this poem how racism still continues today with no end in site. One of the main factors to this is the absolute obliviousness of white folks to discrimination. The poem quotes:
Racism is not always obvious
Discrimination to those who do not care is oblivious
Discrimination to those who have never been there is oblivious
What this section is saying is that people who don’t care about racism may have this belief because they either don’t witness it, or because they have the “privilege” to not care. As we discussed in Getting Off the Hook: Denial and Resistance if you are a white male or female you posses some privileges over black men and women. Choosing to ignore discrimination because you can is a privilege, but some whites are just fortunate to not even witness racism at all. Many white’s who have this belief tend to live in the north where there was/is less slavery and more segregation of blacks and whites. If a white child was born with blacks in his neighborhood as his friends then he would have no reason to discriminate.
Either of these ways tries to constitute the fact that discrimination is oblivious. From denial to straight-up ignorance people can try to put this topic off as long as they want. But, after sitting down and taking the time to look around, and as I discovered through this ethnic studies class, racism has been here for a while and will tend to linger around for a long time to come.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/definition-of-racism/
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