I generally have a low tolerance for people who want to make a big deal out of isolated incidents when it comes to racism, sexism, homophobia and what are generally intolerant actions and attitudes. And so with that in mind, I’m a bit reluctant to discuss what appears to be a spike in intolerance among some segments of the U.S. populace as a result of our recent election.
Nonetheless, I’d be remiss for not examining what may be an issue upon which the “everything is better crowd” needs to reflect. None of this is surprising, of course, but it might be happening under the radar of our major media outlets because there is more important news to cover–like the end days of the global capitalist empire. Just a small story that merits a few weeks of saturating coverage.
Check out this article by Andrea Shalal-Esa that was carried by Reuters: “White Community Adapts to Obama Reality”
My first impression of this article was pure disgust. I am not really sure how or why a person would even want these tattoos plastered all over their face. On the other hand, I am sure it was to make the statement that they were openly members of white supremacist groups. He apparently wanted his ideals known to everyone. I feel it would be embarrassing to have those views tattooed all over your face. It is just amazing how far some people will go to spread their views or make a statement. A face covered with tattoos definitely makes me uncomfortable. But because of what the actual tattoos are, it scares me. In relating to the article, this is why some young children are openly racist and say the things that they are saying about the new black president. These children most likely believe it is okay because they grew up in a household that expresses these views. It is hard to handle because there really may not be a solution to stopping these children from learning the ideals of their parents. But teachers may be able to help spread knowledge that can open up minds, like Laura Doolan. She prepared a discussion for the students so they could ask questions and she could clear up misconceptions about the election. I think this was a good idea because hate can be based on ignorance. In the article, Courtney was surprised because many of her friends had racist comments that they shared with her. I really do not think we find out how people really feel until situations, like a new black president being elected, occur. I think that is why it would be good to discuss situations like this is schools. The discussions could help open up children’s minds and allow them to talk about things that they may only talk about to a group of others who feel the same way. If different ideas are heard, maybe it will change some people’s existing ideas. It will definitely be a difficult task to stop racism and change people’s views, but it is worth it to try. I really do think people’s feelings are hidden until a new change occurs. Sometimes we may be very surprised by other people’s views, especially if they are our friends. I could not believe that a few neighbors invited out a white woman, but asked her if she would not tell anyone that she was married to a black man. These people are insulting white people as well as black people. I just do not think the white supremacists really understand that they are attacking all races when they do things like that. It is truly amazing that people still do not understand that people celebrate different holidays. There is such a variety of races everywhere, it is hard not to see the different cultures and traditions. I found it ridiculous that the students put racist comments on their own school building. That is your school too! Would you really want all these sayings painted all over your own school? Again, I think these acts occur because of ignorance and immaturity. I feel that the best way to overcome these things is to spread knowledge and educate our young.
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Both the incident at the rural high school and the tattooing done by this man are horrible. I don’t think it is fair to call them isolated acts either. The election of president Obama has certainly stirred some racist groups back into action, but I think it has bridged a large gap and opened many more minds in a positive way. People should look in the mirror and see where they are compared to Mr. Obama before spreading racist text messages around or talking him down. Like it or not he is our new leader, he is the most powerful man in the world and honestly this tattooed man shouldn’t be taking any attention away from the this monumental moment in our history. It is sad that some people are still so closed minded, but I think it is simply passed down from parents and grandparents, generation to generation. If no one told you from the time you were born that monsters were scary you probably wouldn’t ever think about them, but because we learn at a young age to fear them we do. It is the same thing with racist supremacists, they are taught, from a very young age that one color is better than another. As we have seen, and will continue to see these ideas fade out, they aren’t passed on as strongly or people realize on their own that these ideas are simply wrong. Hopefully this change will continue to occur at a rapid pace and soon enough there won’t be small racist towns or tattooed supremacists. Although some of this has been stirred by Obamas election I believe having his image broadcast around the globe and around the country will make people more accepting of different races and cultures simply because they are exposed to it more often. If young children can see a black man accomplishing things like Obama they will have the ability to challenge their elders comments about such people. The more visible he is, the better. As mentioned in the article soon enough the majority of the people in this country are going to be mixed or of a minority race. People will be forced to accept the fact that America is the worlds greatest melting pot and will only continue to get more and more mixed up. Before most people know it they will have brothers and sisters of mixed race, who knows maybe even our children. It will be another monumental shift in our countries history and will no doubt lead to a more open minded and welcoming country. I think it is something we as Americans should find pride in and not allow the few closed minded folk to interrupt our happiness.
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I don’t think there is an increase in racism on behalf of whites in America since the election. I think the same whites who are being racist after the election of Barack Obama are the same number of people who were racist before the election. It’s just that now people are starting to actually notice the racism more, and it’s being made a bigger deal than it ever was before because the president of the United States is black. That is all. Barack Obama did not cause people to be racist; people who are that prejudiced to dislike black people because of the president’s skin color were racist before he won the race for the White House. People are not only noticing it more since the election, but the degree to which people take their racist views and enact them has probably spiked. So, while I believe there has been a spike in the degree of severity of racist attitudes, I still don’t believe that Barack Obama caused people of the United States to be racist all of a sudden. Last week’s blog entry explained how white supremacist groups experienced increases in membership. These new members were always racist though; they were just less open about it before, and they needed an event like the election of a black president for them to emerge from the “racist closet” and participate in white supremcist activities and behaviors. I also think that articles like the one carried by Reuters are just designed to keep the idea of the victimization of blacks alive because now that our president is black, people are going to start thinking that blacks are no longer victims of racism or that it no longer exists; after all, people could make a great argument that blacks are on a level playing field with whites and other races now that a black man happens to hold the highest office in the country and leads the most powerful nation in the world. I also don’t like how the article tries to paint those who questioned Barack Obama’s religion in the beginning of the election as racists. In a world of radical Islamic terror, questioning Obama’s religion is a legitimate concern. After all, the guy did have a Muslim father and he attended a Muslim school. It’s not like white people across the country were questioning Obama’s religion just because he was black and his father was from Africa. In this case, I think people’s curiousity about Obama’s past was probably misconstrued as racism to paint Obama as a victim of racism. Lastly, can an article talk about racism without mentioning that we have a black president? Every article I see anymore on racism always comes back to the fact that the current president is black. I think everyone knows by now that president is a black man and reminding everyone about it will only keep race an issue in American politics.
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I’m not sure I totally understand this rise in white racism. I am fairly up to date when it comes to current events and what’s in the news today. Perhaps there has been an increase in the numbers of racist whites, and that’s probably because there will always be bigots and those bigots will sometimes reproduce, making more mini bigots. While the number is allegedly increasing, I would be interested in seeing whether the actual percentage of white American racists is increasing, because this I would doubt.
I am surprised at this for a few reasons. While there may be a higher number of racists there are not enough to affect Obama’s approval rating, which is the highest since the JFK presidency. I would also question what the rating system is for an ‘increase’ in racist whites. Racist jokes being told? As stated in class, the president will always be made fun of, and because Obama is black, there might be a correlation in racist jokes. Are there more recognized hate groups in existence in America today than there were in the past? And if there has been an increase in recognized hate groups, is the actual percentage of hate groups vs. the population increasing as well or is this diminishing? The media will always report on shock value stories because they are a business, and not so much concerned with report relevant news all of the time, they want ratings.
One reason we could have maybe predicted an increase in racism has nothing to do with the fact that we elected a black president, actually, the fact that we elected a black president reverses the expectations of a country in a recession. Historically, when a country goes into a recession and is facing adverse times, they more into a more nationalistic state, building on racist factors. An example of this would be the rise of the 3rd Reich in post WWI Germany. Germany was facing some shitty times, their country was pretty fucked up, and as a result they took the expected path of high nationalism blaming their problems on the Jews. So as I said, the very fact that we went against historical expectations speaks much louder, in my opinion, about the mindset of this country than the ‘rise’ of white racists, because again, what is the definition of this ‘rise’.
As for the redneck in the picture, he probably grew up in an area where there wasn’t much exposure to other races, and was also brought up in a family with racist values. As I previously stated, there will always be a racist sect existing no matter where you are in the world, which will be virtually impossible to totally eliminate. So, let’s stay positive and not focus on the negative, because again, they’re fucking crazy to begin with.
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Hmm this is sad but the “new” issue f racial tension doesn’t surprise me at all. Any time something big happens in this country, people revert to their so called “old” ways. Why is that? In my opinion, if I hadn’t already clearly hinted at it, is that America is still a very racist country even is it’s not always overt. I hate the fact that people always comment that we have come a long way, which for the most part is true, that doesn’t mean we don’t have more work to do with a very tough road ahead. We should not be satisfied until EVERYTHING is right. Though that day may very well not ever come, certainly not in my lifetime, I will never give up hope or stop fighting. I think when things like what happened in Maryland happens a lot of people who may not even known the seriousness of the prejudice felt in their own town, are genuinely surprised and outraged and hopefully begin to see the signs of what was already there in the daily lives. I would urge those people to not let the legacy of racism continue with them, to say something when they hear racist comments and to stop themselves from pre judging people by what they look like.
When you hear about even isolated incident or when you think about classes like this one, it’s hard to believe that some people actually believe that there is no longer any racism in American and that we have all “overcome”. I am not at all making this up. I actually had a friend when I lived in Canada who truly believed that racism was something in the past, something, as far back as the 60’s. We actually live in a place where there was actually a lot of racial tension due impart to an increase of Middle Eastern immigrants in the area. She, who was from India, did not seem to see the things that were going on right under her nose. She and most of my friends who were also of Middle Eastern descent were CONTSTANTLY being bullied and it only seemed to get worst after 9/11. At that point, we were in 7th grade, and although children do say and do ignorant hateful things, it was all a reflection of what was going on outside and in our homes. There were times I really wished I was as oblivious as my friend, that I could ignore and not be hurt but things that were said about me as a black girl. Ignorance is bliss…sometimes. I can say that it shaped the person I am today and is one of the many reasons why I am in this class trying to understand what makes the culture that breeds the hate and insensitivity of so many.
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In terms of the article about the community in Maryland whose teachers prepared for a negative response from students after the election, I don’t find this surprising at all. I think I most areas of the United States you can go from community to community, and just as you will find different races and socioeconomic statuses, you will find different attitude about race. State College is a great example. While many of us are here to study and educate ourselves, trying our hardest to overcome racial discrimination in the world, many local people in this very town are openly racist, participating in white supremacy rallies and openly making racist statements. In fact, I’d bet that the majority of people at Penn State come from a place where racial slurs and racist attitudes are quite common. And that doesn’t just apply to rich, white kids coming from predominantly conservative small towns like in the article. Many black communities hold racist views of Mexicans and white people as well. And it’s not a shock. Regardless of the race at hand, when you have a community that is predominantly made up of one culture, there is a sort of in-group feeling. Since most of the people there are in the in-group, there is nothing holding them back from openly discriminating against the out-groups. And even in communities that are more integrated in terms of race and culture, it’s my guess that these same racist attitudes still exist. There is just more of a risk when stating them aloud to face some type of conflict from a person with a different view point. Thus, it’s no wonder that in a school like the one in Maryland from the article that the kids would hold openly racist attitudes. Children hear what their parents say and they repeat it. Often, it’s not even that the children agree. It’s simply that it’s all they know. This is why it’s important for schools in these types of areas to have educators who are willing to invest time in the effort to educate these children. If the teacher had not been there to arrange the lecture to clear of misconceptions regarding the president, many of the children would have live well into their school career before realizing that judgment based purely on race is not good. If we can get more people to focus on how to solve the problem, which in my opinion is mostly education, then we can come a long way in these towns that are still largely racist today. Not to mention that the media likes to hype things up, and even though they are making this town look terrible in terms of race relations, the do make the concession that many students helped to clean up the racist drawings that were made last spring. A few bad seeds certainly shouldn’t represent an entire school. I’m sure if you went to the school there would be a good number of students who don’t have racist attitudes as well.
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“Nonetheless, I’d be remiss for not examining what may be an issue upon which the ‘everything is better crowd’ needs to reflect.” By the “everything is better” crowd, I assume he means…people that feel the days of racism and inequality have ended because we have an African American president. All that Obama being president shows is that people were tired of the republican way of doing things. I think, if anything, black people do NOT feel that things are better because they still have to deal with the discrimination that occurs in every day life. If anything, electing a black president just brings more attention to the injustices that most people of minority experience.
Electing a black president has nothing to do with society. It just means they thought he was the right man for the job…certainly doesn’t mean that all of a sudden nobody hates black people anymore. If anything it’s going to increase the bitterness that some people feel. And not everyone voted for him, so that means there is a substantial number of people that didn’t want him in the white house. Case and point: the students of Westminster High School in Maryland’s Carroll County. “’Several teachers came to me astounded by what they were hearing. They just didn’t realize that students would be so openly racist, that students would … say, ‘I don’t want a black president. I don’t trust black people,’” Doolan said.’” If anything I feel that the election has brought out the worst in people; people are now expressing negative feelings they might have otherwise repressed. I’m not saying electing President Obama was a bad thing, I voted for him, I wanted him to be president because I believe in what he says, I have faith in him and I know he can bring about change. I just think that people who believe that “everything is better” need to step off of cloud nine and reevaluate things.
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What struck me most about Andrea Shalal-Esa’s article wasn’t how Westminster was coping post election, but rather the various forms of racism that appeared within the article. Shalal-Esa talked about the student’s openly racist comments, including “’I don’t want a black president. I don’t trust black people,’”and mentioned an incident involving racist graffiti painted on the school’s entrance courtyard. There’s no denying these are pretty blunt actions meant to get their message across, but what about what isn’t being said? Maybe racism isn’t dying out after all but merely changing into a more passive form. Open demonstrations of the KKK aren’t accepted today, but never inviting a black coworker into your home might be a more subtle means of tapping into how you really feel. I was extremely alarmed at the teachers who were shocked that their students were “openly” racist, and the chief of staff at Carroll Hospital Center who has many co-workers who still don’t recognize his holidays. He came out and said he hasn’t faced much discrimination during his 13 years in this country, but is his statement truly accurate? How do we really know what’s going on? Such a metamorphosis could hardly be measured or studied because denial of the truth is at the core of the issue. Also, where do we draw the line? Is it really fair to say that some one is racist if they only have friends and acquaintances of their own race? What if they just happen to live in an area lacking diversity like where I grew up? It was my parent’s decision to live where I did. Surely we don’t expect them to actively go out and look for friends of different ethnicities for the sake of having friends who are of different ethnic backgrounds.
I was also surprised at how well this topic fit into our discussion last lecture on free will and determinism. Do people choose to be racist in its various forms or do external factors influence them? I’ve developed friendships with people of different ethnic backgrounds since coming to college, something my friends back home have yet to do. However, our area is almost entirely white, and the people I met here I met because we had similar interests. We didn’t become friends because we had different physical characteristics. Will people who grow up in areas with white supremacist groups fall victim to their influence or still have the option of choosing tolerance of others, ignoring the ignorance of the people around them? Will they only change after moving to a more diverse area, where they are forced to work with others who are different from them or will be surprised to really get to know people beyond their skin color and form friendships? I realize the need for acceptance is a major driving force within our lives, even if that means from the racist people around us. Also, going against the majority might prove to cause a safety issue. There’s no doubt that both free will and determinism play a role, but for this particular subject and morally speaking, I feel people need to make the personal choice and dig deep to realize we really aren’t that different from each other. However, don’t be fooled. I’m definitely still a cynic and feel that a lot of people more times than not don’t make this choice and instead put the blame on others their entire lives. I think our world is changing and probably not for the better. I can’t really decide which is better, a person who is racist in front of my face or one who’s racist behind everyone’s back.
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It does not surprise me that such a backlash of racism was prominent after President Barack Obama’s election in towns that are majority white. It is also not a surprise that racism still exists in our country because not only is it prominent in news stories, it is also prominent in stories that I hear from friends and acquaintances. I think that whenever a huge change comes about in a prominent way, such as the electing of our first “black” president, there is always going to be those groups of people who protest it and how disagree with it. If President Obama were a white man, Republicans would be upset that he was a Democrat; if President Obama were Jewish, everyone who was not of that religion would be up in arms.
Change, the one word that can best describe Obama’s push for his presidency, is something that most people fear. Change means starting over, usually from the beginning, with nothing as basis or backing and this is what scares people. When people hear the word change, they fear it.
I was told a story from a friend that she was with one of her best friends and her best friend’s boyfriend at a bar. Her friend’s boyfriend happens to be in flight school and was visiting for the weekend prior to the election. Someone happened to start talking about Obama and pointed to a picture in a magazine and the guy ripped out the picture, threw it to the ground and stomped on it. To make matters even worse, he screamed terrorist inciting his buddies to do the same. If that is not white supremacy, I do not know what is.
White supremacy is not something that is going to go away anytime soon. The way to change these people’s beliefs is to diversify where they live and whom they interact with. Communities that are entirely white will rarely accept anyone who is different than them, be it African-American, Asian, Muslim or any other race that is different from their own. White supremacy is also inbred through family, community or peer values. Many, if not most of the younger generations of white supremacists have been brainwashed by their society into believing that it is the only way to live and think.
What is most bothersome to me in the article, “White Community Adapts to Obama Reality,” is that the teachers at the high school knew what was coming before the election took place, and yet just said they are bracing for the worst. If you know that white supremacy exists in this school, why not target it and try to get rid of it prior to a major political election involving someone of another race.
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Sometimes I find that the easiest way to think about the most difficult topics is to think about them in the simplest manner possible. When I think of racism the only thing I can think of is how strange it is that people cannot realize that there are just people in this world, not different colored people but just people. In the least-prejudiced way possible, I am somewhat surprised that this kind of racism exists in Maryland and not somewhere towards the south or center of America. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are still people who are truly racist in our country and they are not only in the places that one might normally assume them to be. I think that it is also upsetting that the divide between people who like Obama and people who do not is so large and defined. To some, Obama has become a beacon of hope and change to come about in the United States, while to others he symbolizes the rise of “minority majority” that is thought to be coming about. I feel that it is incredible that we live in a nation that is so diverse and interesting and I get disappointed when I hear about people who do not realize how lucky they are to experience everything that we are privileged do on a daily basis. I find it incredible that there are still people in this country that still think in such a backwards manner.
After reading this I just thought about how I would feel if I went to a school where I felt uncomfortable all the time because I am Jewish. I feel so lucky to live in an area where I do not feel the everyday prejudices that exist towards Jewish people. Growing up in a liberal family, I guess I am very surprised when I hear that things like racism in schools and racial text messaging still exists about two hours away from where I live, an hour from our nation’s capital. It seems completely ridiculous to me that this kind of racism exists in the era that we live in. When you think about it, within a five minute radius, one could find people who are in an inter-racial couple and others who are racist to the core. I find myself truly disappointed with people in the United States when I hear about racism because I fail to understand how people could not realize how incredibly far we have come as a nation in the recent years. I wish that our country could become a place where people do not have to live in fear but, unfortunately, I do not see that happening any time soon with people like those that are talked about in this news article.
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Because of the election, a lot of feelings people have toward certain people have come out, and it has been surprising. I found out one of my friends, who dated me and knows I’m mixed, didn’t want Obama to become president because he’s black. I was a little hurt but I’m still friends with him, I just think of him a little differently. All of a sudden the most “open minded” people have a problem with a black president, and not with his ideas or his party. It is sad that racism is still a factor in people’s lives but I feel bad for them, I don’t hate them. They will never get to experience other cultures or people because of the fact that they can’t get over ideas they have about certain people. The media isn’t really getting into this, probably because right after the election and inauguration day, there were just too many incidents to report and racism isn’t what should be reported, the changes Obama makes should be. I feel bad for people in small towns, they almost get the expectation that everyone is racist and that isn’t so. True, people in a small town in Nebraska probably aren’t as open minded, but that doesn’t mean that everyone hates people of color. Hopefully this election will teach people on both sides of the fence, those who hate, and those who get judged as racist but aren’t, to stop judging others for things they can’t control.
And about this guy with all the tattoos on his face. I’ve seen him before on a documentary I watched. His face stuck with me because you can’t really forget it. I just got my first tattoo this past weekend, it hurt a lot, but it means a lot to me and I love it. Mine was on my spine, a painful place to get tattooed, but can’t compare to getting your face tattooed. All of the tattoos have meaning and I can understand why he got them. I also know why he got them on his face, to make a statement which he does without even trying and it’s a racist statement. I want to believe that he will change and one day be ashamed that his face and body look the way they do, probably because there’s plenty more hateful tattoos on his body. He probably won’t, but will still manage to send a message to anyone he’s around. I’m actually surprised someone would tattoo all of that on his face, but it was probably someone who shares his views. While I think this man is an idiot, looks like an idiot, and has views of an idiot, he does have the right to freely express himself, no matter how stupid it looks.
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There seems to be a lot more discrimination in this town then mine but I definitely can compare to the racism. First, they talk about racist text messages that people received during the election. I received so many of those same text messages, and they were also from my friends who I never thought were like that. I actually lost a lot of respect for my one friend who I thought was like the best person I ever meant. She has a very strong faith and such good morals, but she is one of the most racist people I have ever met. So this really made me kind of rethink all the nice things about her. It is disappointing to have to readjust my feelings towards her.
Also in this article it mentions the woman who was married to the black man with biracial children. If I would ever be invited to a social gathering and be asked not to mention that my husband was black, it would not be pretty. I would tell those people exactly where to go. It is so bold for them to say that to her in the first place. I just can’t believe people have the ignorance to do that. I think it would have even been better if they just didn’t even invite the family at all, but to blatantly admit to being so racist is ridiculous. Also you have to feel bad for the children who were referred to as “zebras”. Again I can go back to my cousins that are biracial, and I can’t imagine anyone in my neighborhood calling them that, and I come from a racist neighborhood. It is nothing compared to the ones talked about in this article. I am in disbelief at the stupidity of some people.
I was shocked to read about the graffiti that was done after Obama was voted in president of the United States. First of all I can’t believe that anyone could get away with that. I was really happy to read that some of the students were quick to get rid of it, but I still just can’t believe someone would do that in the first place.
I have to wonder if our world is always going to have racism in some way or another, and I think there always will be. Some people will always think they are better than others because this even occurs in the same races. It is really disheartens me to think that I am going to raise my children in a society that will never be equal no matter what, but I know I will raise my children to treat everyone as equals. Nobody is better than anyone else!
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The occurrences in the Westminster, Maryland school district and many similar areas of how they reacted to the election of Barak Obama are quite appalling. It is strange to me to see how people have still managed to remain so unevolved and stubborn in their beliefs and have grown to still be intolerant of others just because of their race. I come from a white dominant public school, but I think some people their have some common decency and good hearts. I would be embarrassed if my town showed up on the news for exhibiting racist behavior and I would be almost ashamed to have to put where I lived on an application. These students and schools that made the news, one would have to think what kind of area are they really growing up in? Is it considered a safe and loving environment if you are taught by your family and peers to not be accepting and open-minded to the ever-changing society? I would have liked to see some quotes from the parents of these students. Sadly, I am sure many of the kids shape their ideals from what they hear at home, and it would most likely lead to a more shocking explanation to why students lashed out with such bigotry. On the positive side, it was great to see that the teachers were willing to take a day off from their regularly scheduled lesson plan to address some of the concerns and help educate their students on today’s politics and the new President. Sometimes even I as a college student, with all of the resources in the world at my finger tips, I find it hard to keep up with all of the politics and would like if there was one day out of the year while in class I could have someone who was knowledgeable in the area explain to me the basics of what is going on in the political world and what we can expect to see change in the future. I think a large reason for why the students in these schools acted the way they did is because they do not know any better. It is ignorance, and I don’t think it is completely their fault, but more it lies upon their parents and an education system that often does not keep a student in a secluded community, like the white dominated school district of Westminster, open to other points of views that they may not encounter everyday. I think it would be best if teachers would remind their students to keep an open mind and be respectful of others opinions at all times, even if they do not agree. Our country is founded on freedom, and rights to believe what you want and say what you want should not be infringed upon by small-minded people.
Furthermore, the conclusion of the article “White community reacts to Obama reality” lists a number of instances where people experienced some kind of racial discrimination. While I think it is unacceptable, society cannot change overnight. I think there have definitely been major leaps in how people treat one another and that one day we will all be able to live harmoniously among one another. Until then, we will have to put up with people’s ignorance, and the best way to deal with it is to rally together and show that moving backwards in the civil rights movement is not an option. Moments like the one highlighted in the article when the students and janitorial staff came together to clean up the walls almost immediately after slanderous graffiti appeared on them at their school can give people hope that as time goes on, younger generations will have bigger hearts and greater tolerance and acceptance of everyone, despite their nationality or the color of their skin.
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I was really not that surprised by the attitudes of some of the residents in Carroll County after reading the article posted along with this blog. Many people like to think that this country is truly moving forward and everyone is a lot more tolerant of people in this country. With the election of Obama, people like to believe that racism is starting to become a thing of the past. When in reality, there are more places similar to Carroll County in this country than most would believe. I have no idea how people such as Larry Brumfield are able to live in an area and have to face as much segregation as he and his family have had to gone through. It really is a shame that people hate others just because of how someone else looks. However, it is a surprise to me to see the statistic that states that within the next couple of decades, groups that have long been in the minority will soon become in the majority of the population in areas such as the one discussed in the article. I am a little apprehensive when I see that statistic because I am just very apprehensive on how this country would react having the “lesser” groups raise above and become the main cultures of America. In urban and suburban areas, I feel that the shift would be accepted in a positive way, but for rural areas such as Carroll County and Central Pennsylvania, I feel that many whites would have a tough time adjusting and violence may and probably will erupt between the races.
The Curtis Allgier photo posted in this blog was very interesting to me. Up until this point, I did not know that skinheads had so many different symbols and words to represent their strong beliefs towards anyone who is not like them. It really is upsetting to me when I think about how hateful the Aryan brotherhood can be. I saw this segment on some talk show about an Aryan family who told their kids to not talk or get near anyone of a different race and then continued to tell the host-who was black-that she should be the one who leads all the Blacks back to Africa. I understand that everyone has their own beliefs which I do not have a problem with, but I just don’t understand how someone could hate another person just because that person does not look the same as them.
This county in Maryland is great example of how not all of America is tolerable of new races. Luckily, with the election of Barack Obama, those people have no choice but to accept that the rest of the country may not agree with them.
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This article does not surprise me in the slightest. I have grown up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, but more importantly between a small urban city and a rural backwater town. The city, Coatesville, was once a prosperous blue collar town with a thriving small steel plant, Lukens Steel. The company has since changed hands many times, downsizing every time, and thus the city is foundering. There are high levels of racism among the police force, which isn’t helped by the high crime rates and prevalence of its black population – I am not claiming that there is a correlation, but a racist would certainly jump at the chance to do so. The town is Honeybrook, a small community of friendly people, but also a community in which white supremacist groups are still active. I remember hearing, when I was a child, that a black family moved into this white community – there was a cross burning in their yard the following morning. These two communities certainly demonstrate different demographics than the suburbs close by, such as West Chester (heard of Jackass?). It doesn’t surprise me that there could be so much of a difference between areas such a short drive away, and it doesn’t surprise me that there are white supremacist groups still active nationwide- that’s America isn’t it.
During the Obama campaign my mother worked for his campaign at their office in Coatesville. The area they were responsible for canvassing included Honeybrook, risky territory to be promoting a black man for president. Many of the people they encountered did not want to hear about supporting a black person for president, and not politely. They were specifically told to avoid houses with McCain signs, as a safety precaution. The town has come a long way toward racial equality, but there are still active sectors of white supremacist groups. I imagine that there are countless similar places in small town America – and I don’t anticipate them to easily adapt to the monumental change of having a black leader. With that said, they have four years to get over themselves – it’s not like their racist beliefs are going to magically allow for a “un-election election.” I can’t see anything their hate and anger will accomplish other than allowing them to identify with other angry racist Americans – but then again, I’m not a racist.
Even the racism present in the city and town I live between didn’t stop Obama from winning the vote in my county, and the racism present across the country didn’t stop him from winning the election. I don’t expect the people who truly believe it is wrong for a black man to lead our country to change their ideas within the next four years – but hopefully the people who follow these beliefs halfheartedly will have a moment of clarity. I imagine it will be much harder to spread racist beliefs, especially to children, when a black man has obviously accomplished more than any of these racists have.
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There is no question that there is still racism and racial intolerances as the article has shown in today’s society. We may not always hear about it on the news or in the paper, but we know it happens. It’s all around us, in our neighboring towns, sometimes even in our own towns. There are still many hate groups aimed towards minority groups, including those who are against certain religions. There are protesting religious groups, neo-Nazi groups, and new Ku Klux Klan groups. Of course, with the election of an African American President, I know that I was a little worried about the consequences, about what some people would do or think. Personally, I have no problem with an African American President; I think it’s great. Stories like the one told in this article show us that the rest of the country may not be ready for a change like this. There are still those hanging onto the old thoughts and stereotypes about African Americans, and they believe that it isn’t right for a person of colored skin to run our country. I feel that our generation, however, has gotten to a point where we are a little more accepting of people with other racial or religious backgrounds, much more than our parents or grandparents might have been.
An example of this is shown by the article, where the students assisted the janitors in cleaning up the racial graffiti on the walls of the school. It shows that there is a bit of decency in our generation, that some people think it’s wrong to think that people of other races or religions are not worth getting a chance. I know that there are definitely some older generations that felt the past election was interesting, and that they most likely voted for Senator McCain. Why? Well, maybe it was because he was what many of the older generations had been used to. I think that some people may have been afraid to make that big step towards racial liberation, just because it was different than the norm. From the time when older generations like our parents were growing up, there was still racial discrimination, and possibly even segregation. African Americans were considered a completely different group of people, with different freedoms than white people. You would not have seen an African American holding a political position, or another position of power. There were separate drinking fountains and seating for African Americans and whites. I think it is sad to see that some of the same discriminating acts or prejudices are still held today but people as described above. Although I don’t particularly care about people who tattoo their entire bodies or faces with whatever they feel that would best express themselves, I’d like to pose a question regarding the picture of the man with the tattooed face on the blog. Do you think that people may begin to discriminate against those who are neo-Nazi or proud to be a white supremacist in the future? Would having those tattoos make that man a particular target because of his clear and obvious views?
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When I first read the article about Westminster High School in Carroll County, MD, I was appalled by the words the student had to say about Barack Obama. I understand that where everyone lives plays an important role on the way people perceive other races. Since the area is approximately ninety seven percent white, people are going to have a partially skewed outlook on race. However, even though the area lacks diversity between races, there is still no reason for one to bash other races simply because they look different. In the end, a person is a person and everyone has feelings regardless of their color.
I feel as though I can really relate to the students at Westminster High School because my high school was predominantly white. I graduated in a class of nearly eight hundred people and there were only three black people in my entire class. Although my high school was less than one percent black, there were never any racist remarks or racial slurs being said around the school to my knowledge. Maybe this was because the presidential situation was not as intense as it was this year, or we just did not put any thought into it. People are also entitled to believing what they want to, so although there is technically no ‘wrong’ in their thinking, they need to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and see how they would react if they heard these harsh things. We are supposed to be working towards a more fair and equal America aren’t we? America is the land of opportunity and happiness, so why do so many heartless people base their beliefs off looks rather than what is on the inside. It is communities like the one in Carroll County that make white people look like racists. The majority of communities are respecting and are open to change. It is amazing that we have our first black president in office, and hopefully this will allow the people of the United States to work towards a more equal America.
Furthermore, the guy with the tattoos on his face is a lunatic. Every day the nation in which we live is growing closer and closer together with regards to race. This guys is just crazy. Something like this may have been acceptable in the past if it were on other parts of the body. Why would someone want to expose themselves that much to everyone else so that they know his views on other races. People are stuck in the past and refuse to accept that we live in a rapidly changing society. The first step towards a more equal nation is having President Obama in office, and we will continue to see change from here on out. It’s about time that a person of color takes charge and leads us in this battle with racism.
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This article was interesting to read because the events and happenings of the article are not things I considered with the election of Obama. I am surprised that the article would state that the area Westminster in Maryland, as a whole, was worried about racial tension from the recent election. The article states the teachers “braced for the worse”, but what are they expecting the students to do even if they are outraged with the election? Especially since the community is mainly white, kids would not have many black students in their school to start a fight with. The only problems would arise between white kids, between some who supported Obama and others who are against him. The high school I attended was not very diverse and neither was the community. However the county voted primarily for Obama so therefore I cannot imagine any outrage occurring with the election in my hometown. I also cannot imagine any of my prior classmates getting into anything more than a political disagreement. Fights would not have occurred because of new president. I think it’s sad that this community was worried about what would happen in the school because of the election of a black man (but luckily nothing bad happened in their school).
I think it’s a good idea that the teachers talked about Obama and clarified facts. However, I’m surprised the students didn’t know more; the way the article is written it appears they did not have much presidential education in the school. During major elections, social studies teachers usually discuss the election, politics, and more, but maybe this school just stuck to the curriculum. I was also surprised about the statement of how teachers were shocked at how openly racist some students were. If I were a teacher, whether I was racist or not myself, I would be equally shocked as well to hear racist comments in school about the president and other topics. I also am surprised that the one student was not aware of some of her friend’s beliefs and began to wonder if I have any friends that were really against Obama’s election.
The other thing I found really interesting was the fact about the changing demographics of the United States. I heard the fact about how minorities will be the majority races in the future in my education policies class. I think that it’s crazy and neat how the nation will be so racially diverse. We were told that most classes we will be teaching in will be very diverse. I think it will be important to learn about other cultures in order to fully understand and respect students when I’m teaching. I think learning about other cultures is important for anyone no matter what their occupation is because it is important for living in a diverse society.
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First, I would like to comment on the photo posted on this particular blog. What did this guy do to himself? Seriously, talk about wearing your “emotions” on your face. I do not know which one bothers me more. Probably the tattoo on his chin that says “FUN” with the swastikas in between the letters. I feel like our country has moved forward in so many ways and then I see pictures like this and people like him. I think people in these white supremacist groups need to get over it already. We live in the United States of America where everyone is welcome, for the most part.
Now, onto the article, I really commend this teacher for doing what she is doing. I think students need to talk about race relations in high school, or even earlier. It will only help people in the end to be able to talk openly about their feelings about race and different cultures. When I read this article, I thought about my town and the surrounding towns in northeast Pennsylvania. I have never seen a KKK member, nor do I even think it exists up there, but the racists comments do for sure. My town is predominantly occupied by white people. The only people “of color” are the really dark skinned Italians. So, when a black person is walking down the street, people do react differently because it is “out of the norm” for them. I have always been comfortable with people of different cultures because, outside of school, I was around them more than other people because of my dance or karate classes. I feel like we can learn from other cultures, and that all of these racist comments and acts are so stupid.
As odd as it sounds, I was happy when I read that the one girl was bothered by the comments people were making and the graffiti. It is refreshing to hear that younger people are finally stepping up and becoming comfortable in our society. I know I am. We all should be. I was also glad to read that the staff and students both banned together to clean up the graffiti on the school’s entranceway. The same thing happened to my high school when I was going into seventh grade. My orientation was pushed back a week due to graffiti like that. It was definitely hurtful to everyone, but as a school community, we got past it. Before taking this class I was already pretty comfortable with discussing race and culture with my friends. The more blogs I read, and the more lectures I attend, I want to be able to discuss race with different people as well.
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Racism was one of the fundamental principles upon which our country was founded. Had it not been for racism, and consequently slavery, life in America, as we know it would not exist as it does. It is for this reason that I believe that racism is something in our country that will never be abolished. I personally believe it will always be part of our country. Freedom of speech may easily be the most powerful of our fundamental rights that we as Americans have, and many feel the need take this freedom to extreme. Curtis Allgier is a perfect example of someone who has taken their freedom of speech to the extreme. It just baffles me that in today’s society there are still people so fundamentally entrenched by racism that they would mutate their body with tattoos of swastikas with other symbols as a testament to the supremacy of the white race over all other races. It’s actually quite confusing that someone could feel so passionate about something that is completely wrong in all aspects. I’m not sure if I’m living in a box or something but I’ve been completely ignorant to the ideas that such people and organizations have. I mean I’ve heard of these supremacy groups, but I’ve never really seen them in action so I never really took it serious. It may have been because I grew up in a very urban neighborhood and I couldn’t count the number of white people on my hand because there were none, at least not in my neighborhood. I did go to very diverse schools while growing up but everyone that I came across were extremely tolerant of all people, at least on the surface. I had personally come to the conclusion that equality was something that had been established in this country and the days of ignorance were pretty much behind us, but I guess I was wrong. I realize now that there is actually a large number of people who still believe in this lifestyle of supremacy over other races. I’m not sure how much I agree with the actuations about how people are now coming out of the woodwork against black people because we now have a black president.
I believe that we have always had individuals who believe in the purposes of the Ku Klux Klan, but can we honestly say that our president did something to trigger that which has been suppressed for many years. Can change really be that overwhelming for some people? The article stated that now that we have a black president “they’re back. These supremesist groups known as: “The skinheads, the neo-Nazis, and the Bruders Scheweigen, they’re all back and they have some things to say to everyone who is not a convert” This is just crazy to me and it shows just how much things haven’t changed equally as much as they have.
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Spike in White Racism?
Personally I have not seen a spike in outward racism since the President Barack Obama was elected, but I have heard people be more open with discussing it and their “racial beliefs.” Leading up to the election, I heard a lot of banter about Obama’s race and religion, people mainly jabbering on not realizing Obama is not Muslim, before the election. People saying they did not trust him because he was black or because he was Muslim. Ninety percent of the time those people were white.
I have faced racism since I was a kid. I was an Indian kid growing up in a white town. My family and I were one of three brown families in the town and we all knew each other, ironically. It’s a huge town, very spread out, but has a small town mentality. I know what kids are up against not being white in a white town, and it’s not as fun as it sounds. We used to get Klu Klux Klan paraphernalia every now and then, but that died down. I am not sure why it suddenly stopped, maybe they got tired. Maybe they were the laziest KKK group out there, who knows. When I was little I never really noticed I was different and many of the kids didn’t either, but the parents did. As I got older, I started to realize some of the things that had happened to me as a kid were because I was a different colour. As time went on, people in my town became much more accepting of people of colour. I changed schools at middle school and went to a school with much more “minorities” where I really came in contact with people like me for the first time. That is where my eyes opened up and I really became who I am today.
I have not really been back home in a while, so I cannot comment about whether the election caused some stir ups there, but I could see it happening. There is still a very small minority population in my home town, but it has grown.
I really liked the ending of the article, “White Community Adapts to Obama Reality.” When the girl was talking about how after the racial graffiti was plastered on her school, students and faculty covered it up with pro-unity messages. I think that that is really cool, shows how far we have come. Not only did the faculty do it, because it’s their job, but the kids said they were not going to put up with it. There is one thing I did not like about the article. Why did the make it seem like a Hindu temple is something of an oddity. They wrote, “and even a Hindu Temple.” It seemed like they feel so advanced because they get to have a Hindu Temple. Like a Hindu Temple is like when Six Flags builds a new amusement park, “we get one of those!” It just scratches me the wrong way.
I realize I kind of went off on a tangent, but that’s where this article brought my mind.
Marlon Chopra
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As a white male I have no issue with having a “half black” president. As we discussed in class earlier this semester, Barack Obama is as just as much white as he is black so I think it is dumb for people to act in racist ways. I think have a president who is half-black will actually do our country some good. I feel that since our country is largely made up of white citizens and a half-black president was elected shows that our country has taken some giant steps toward throwing the issue of race out of the window. I think with the election of Obama, different races will finally be able to co-exist more in this great country of ours.
Even though it looks as if the country has taken big steps, there still is going to be certain people and also certain parts of the country that have a problem with our country be run by someone who is not white. For example, this can be seen in the article that talks about Maryland. As an elementary education major I was surprised after I finished reading the article. I think it is crazy to have to worry about what is going to happen in your school as a result of Obama being elected as president.
I think it’s sad to see that this long after slavery, there are still tons of people who are racist. I was even more shocked to realize that the majority of teenagers at this high school were racist too. I do not know if it does not happen now, when our country is ever going to get over the issue of racism. Even having a half-black president seems to bring out more racism. I think if Obama is able to keep his promises and help fix our country’s economies that, as stated in the article, white people will be able to trust black people again. I was shocked to see that a community of all white people said they did not trust black people. Now what exactly makes them not trust black people if their community is almost entirely all whites?
The article says that Obama’s campaign was not based on racial issues but being able to bridge divides of all kinds. Since the country is constantly seeing a growth in diversity throughout the country, people like the citizens in Westminster are going to have to bridge together all the races and find away to destroy their issues towards racism and make them more positive. If they are not able to do tht now that we have a half-black president, then our country is in serious trouble and will continue to be for a very long time.
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I went to high school with an extremely low minority rate however I never experience the racism that was displayed at Westminister High. After reading the article “White Community Adapts to Obama Reality” I was quite disgusted with what I learned. I graduated with a class of 350 and only 5 of the students were African American but there were never any displays of racism towards them. It upsets me that this type of discrimination still exists within small communities in America. What really discourages me is that this may be a larger problem then I ever thought it was because my environment caused me to think that equality was very real. I was fortunate to grow up in a very privileged, understanding environment that always gave equal opportunities to all races. I know it’s unreasonable to assume that all communities were as tolerant as mine however I thought there was more progress being made then what I have come to understand. My community is full of primarily republicans however with the current election many of them were swayed to vote for Obama because he was clearly the better candidate. The citizens did not let race determine how they wanted their country to be run. It seems in this town in Maryland this was not the case. In a perfect world all students would have the opportunity to be educated in race relations but in the world we live in most students receive their perception of race through their parents, who may not be the best educators. The bright side of things is that there seems to be a change in generation’s beliefs towards minority races. As generation X grows older and retires and generation Y takes their place I believe there will be a large change in tolerance within the workplace, which will lead to a large change in tolerance in all aspects of life. Generation Y has been better educated to understand common human emotions and what equality really means. Obama being sworn into office is a clear example of how the times are changing for the better and how equality is becoming greater. Another example includes the reaction to the discriminatory incident at the Westminister High School in Maryland. The derogatory statements written onto the school were immediately taken down and replaced with signs underscoring the unity of the school. This shows that it isn’t commonplace anymore to degrade a certain race because it isn’t widely accepted at all. Fortunately the administrators of the school did not let the ugly remarks stay on the wall. It is also encouraging to see that the students themselves were not happy with the vandalism that took place at their own school. Despite minor setbacks such as the incident at Westminister High, I would like to believe that as a whole our society is making strides towards understanding equality.
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I must say I’m really shocked. I can’t believe that people still feel that way when it comes to black and white people. I thought they got over that point.I watched lots of movies that have issues that deal with the KKK and black people. Racism just scared me so much. Every time I’d watch one of the movies id get really mad and it just pisses me off. When Obama became black president I thought that people might still people against black people and the other way around but would some kind of respect to not bring it up or at least just keep it to them. They would treat them equally just because they are respectful people. Some things are not meant to be said. It’s a fact that people are opinionated and have thoughts but some things should be kept to yourself. Have you ever told yourself that I shouldn’t be having these thoughts? Or view the world in that way? I should be a better a person look within instead of what’s outside. I’m sure there’s lots of history that can’t be ignored between black and white people. But why do they have to make it hard on themselves? It’s a new world where everyone is equal that’s how it should’ve been a long time ago. People make mistakes but isn’t life all about forgiving and loving. We are human; we hate living in a world that’s full of hate. Just imagine you’re one of the black people who went through hell to get to where they are today. A black person whose ancestors were enslaved and abused. Everyone should put himself or herself in the other person’s shoe. Only then would you understand the issues and the problems. A person being ethnocentric does not mean being patriotic. Being patriotic is fighting for your country any second you are asked to. But what if your nation is making a big mistake? For example, the war in Iraq, enslaving Africans. That’s all wrong, I thought that the United States is all for freedom of speech, how come none of the truth comes out. All we hear is hate and our country is the best. What about the truth that’s the only thing that’s right. Only then, can we solve our problems and look at the better side. Racism between black and white people has to end. At the end we are all human with hearts and different personalities. WE might go through argument when it comes to talking about the issues but that’s the only way for people to feel what the other’s feelings or understand. That’s how it should be. Talking about racism in Maryland is right because people will realize things they never did before.
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In response to this blog entry, I feel that racism is still a huge issue that will always be around at least for the rest of my life. I don’t see how racism would ever decrease or eventually disappear because so many people in this world have so many different opinions and views on certain things and people and I think I will continue to see racism almost every day. Now that we have a black president, this will only make things worse. I’ve come across so many people who hate president Obama for the simple reason that he’s half African American, that it just makes me so angry. When I went on a fundraising trip for Penn State’s Dance Marathon (aka THON) outside of Pittsburgh, I experienced something that I am def. not used to back at my hometown in New Jersey. The night that we first arrived in Pittsburgh, the 21s and over decided to go to a local bar near the person’s house who we were staying at. It was a huge culture shock for me because everyone in the bar were pretty much red necks and there was a farm right next to the bar. So I was sitting at the bar waiting for my drink, when I saw President Obama come up on television. The guy next to me saw Obama on tv, was very disturbed, and said “Oh come on, get this nigger off tv! I thought we were done with him!”. I did not feel comfortable at all because I voted for Obama and most of my friends and other people besides my parents back at home voted for Obama. I wanted to say something back so bad to that guy but I just figured it wouldn’t even be worth my time, so after I heard that comment, I just sat there and shook my head. I am just so sick and tired of hearing and seeing people who won’t open their minds to new things and are so shallow, that they would actually hate and be so against a person, ONLY because of their skin color. More people should give Obama a chance. I mean come on, he just came into office and people already hate him. Give me a break!! To me, I think it is so immature, and these people need to GROW UP. The picture of the tattooed man at the top of the blog is ridiculous and I just think he wants attention. I just don’t understand how someone can have so much hate for someone and endure so much pain, that he has to express it permanently all over his face. Now, I’m not saying that I’m against tattoos, because I think getting a tattoo is fine if it means something to you, and if it is fairly hidden. These types of tattoos that this man got are in my opinion, totally unacceptable, and it should not be so visible to the public. All in all, as much as I would love for these racist people to start growing up and just deal with what life throws at you, this issue of racism will never come to an end.
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Racism is not to be taken lightly. If not taken care of people can do crazy and unthinkable things. Those many people might not seem to be racists at first but someone always has reservations about one thing or the other. Many of them are in denial of racism. Denial is probably the worst kind of racism. When we deny the existence of something that’s when we escalate the problem even further. Denying that the south didn’t lose the civil war is in some way or form racism. They hate the people from the rest of the states. History has been written but they just don’t want to accept the truth.
The fact that children are openly saying that they don’t trust black people or they don’t want a black president is shocking. Is this what the kids are being taught in school these days? That they should only go with what the media has portrayed of these people. Believe it or not the media has a great effect on young minds. Though this might not be a good time to quote Hitler but I shall, he said that who ever controls the youth controls the country.
Because their minds have not been shaped yet and if brainwashed enough one can make them go in any direction one wants it to go in. The world by the end of the day is a cruel place with people who will always want to take the law in their own hands in situations where faced with racism. If it’s a person who is a victim of it or a person who is a racist regardless they will always say they are right. Ever since Obama became president the situation still seems to be the same. A black man as president and the south goes crazy. The KKK plans to assassinate the president on his skin color. How crazy is that. There is more to him then just his skin. He is a capable man who can make decisions to lead a whole country. He is the most powerful man on the face of this earth and the only reason these people hate him is because he is black. Though we are in the 21st century we are still centuries behind in this metamorphosis of race and religion.
The world has its way of paving everyone’s path and though Obama’s was one of the greatest but still people deny him the respect he deserves due to his color. I think this is unfair. People not appreciating the accomplishments of a determined person is unfair. If it were a white person in his place they would put him up high on a pedestal and praise every move he makes. But this is not the case, unfortunate.
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Although I wrote about a similar topic in last week’s journal, I feel it is necessary to further the discussion because I am still incredibly shocked and appalled at what I am reading about the recent spread in white racism.
Like I previously wrote, I am not naive to the fact that so many racial and white supremacy groups do exist, but I still cannot understand why. I have always believed that an individual has the right to think anything that they want, but on the other hand, I am completely baffled about the views of some people. Groups such as the Nazis, KKK, and even single individuals that are against certain groups, take their beliefs to such horrible extremes, not only confuse me, but also make me sad.
The article in Reuters upset me for similar reasons to why I found the article in last week’s blog so disturbing. The first of these is unsettling how young children feel such strong hatred toward Obama. I find it horrifying that teens can openly say things such as “I don’t want a black president” and “I don’t trust black people.” Part of this is because of the way I feel about our new president.
I am a big Obama supporter and voted for him regardless of his race. I wanted him to be president because of what he stood for and what he believed in. I would have voted for Obama if he were white, Asian, gay, or any other type of person; when picking a president, those thing do not matter to me. I can’t honestly say that I didn’t notice he was black, or that he was different than our other presidents, but I can say that his race had absolutely no impact on my voting.
I realize that this spike in white racism is a phenomenon in a relatively small percentage of the population, but I feel that it has been growing and could continue to spread throughout the country, especially with all the recent media attention it has been getting.
As discussed last week, the fact that groups such as Stormfront and the Council of Conservative Citizens experienced such a rise in membership is incredibly disturbing and disheartening. It really makes me feel like everything that the country has achieved as a unified nation has been undone.
I realize that it is nearly impossible to eliminate all hate groups in the United States, but I feel that it is each individual’s right and responsibility to do what they can to lessen these groups power and to try to teach them and change their minds.
There is a famous quote that says “Never underestimate the ability of a small group of people to change the world. Indeed, they are the only ones who ever have.” This can pertain to doing both good and bad. It only takes a small group to convince people to be hateful and think racist things, but on the same note, only a small group is needed to help change people for the better.
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First and foremost, although this article does not completely focus on our new president, I would just like to say that Barak Obama is just as much white as he is black. The fact that he and our media identifies himself as our “first black” president is really starting to get to me. He is indeed half white and half black although he rarely identifies himself as being white. Of course being the first black president in a country where blacks have had to fight and overcome many hardships is an accomplishment but, so is being the first “mixed” president. Being a white individual it offends me a little that he doesn’t identify with his white heritage and that the main focus on Obama is his “blackness”. I think that for him to identify with everything that he is would make him a lot more relatable to everyone in our nation and not just glorify that he is the first black president because in fact he is the first mixed president. With that said, of course some people of our nation feel a little reluctant in embracing our new president. As with any type of change people are going to be a bit skeptical at first, our nation has dealt with many new changes in the past and most of these changes took citizens of America a little while to get used to, and having a black president is no different. In a community that is build of mostly white Americans it is normal for some members to feel a little discomfort upon being exposed to a drastic change.
Laura Doolan, a teacher in Maryland, dedicated an entire lesson to our new president and some of the misconceptions that surrounded Obama. I feel that what Doolan did was extremely beneficial for her students. She gave them a forum in which she revealed reliable information on our new president and allowed students to think and discuses their feelings on the subject. Educating our young students on the importance of being open and speaking about different races and ethnicities is crucial in my opinion. I don’t think that our nations will be able to truly move forward until our citizens are comfortable discussing their differences with students of other backgrounds. Doolan wanted to educated her students and prevent any false negative feelings that her students might be feeling upon the election this year.
In our lifetime the white class is no longer going to be the majority and many of us have seen and felt this with a large number of minorities moving into what used to be “white” communities. As this shift takes place I feel that it is imperative to educate our nation on different minority groups. I feel that education will help ease any tensions that some people of older generations might feel as their once “perfect white communities” become more ethnically and racially diverse. The article mentions a incident where racist graffiti was printed on the schools entrance. Students and faculty came together to remove the hurtful words and replace them with symbols that celebrated the unity of the school. This just goes to show that there are always going to be ignorant people who are unwilling to accept change but that there are also a great deal of people who are willing and even support the changes that are to come in our nation.
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I feel that GOP activists were completely inconsiderate, ignorant, and obnoxious by his statements regarding Michelle Obama. I mean how a person can think that they are so perfect of an individual that they would publicly make some derogatory comments that way. I think that’s a big problem with the world today, people put too much time and effort worry about others and instead of taking care of their own issues. I mean sure everyone pokes fun at others one time or another, but to put it out publicly is just wrong. If the activist has a negative opinion about Michelle there are plenty of other ways to express their feelings besides talking down on the first lady. In addition, I never think race should be made fun of especially by people of a different race there are plenty of other things to find to talk about people besides race. The activist should definitely have to apologize for the remarks that he made which are probably extremely degrading and embarrassing towards Michelle Obama. You have to wonder what the activist would feel like if the roles were reversed and he was made fun of on a national level “food for thought”. Anyway the end of the story is don’t make fun of others because you never know when it will come around to bite you in the @##.
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