Comments on: A Long, Long Way Indeed http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/ "A tiny act can have profound effects." Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:09:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: axg5068 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-25493 axg5068 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:12:02 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-25493 I think you bring up a really interesting concept that I had not really thought about before. That is the fact, that when you look at society since essentially the times of our founding, have we really progressed? And I think that both as a people and a country, this is a question that we should continue to ask ourselves to make sure we are moving in the right direction. To answer your question, I think if slaveowners from the earliest days of our country were to watch MTV now, they would be surprised to see how much influence and fame that some of the most popular black music artists have on our society today. From Lil Wayne to T.I. to Akon, there are numerous black artists that have really shaped and advanced much of the music that adolescents and adults alike enjoy. I think you bring up a really interesting concept that I had not really thought about before. That is the fact, that when you look at society since essentially the times of our founding, have we really progressed? And I think that both as a people and a country, this is a question that we should continue to ask ourselves to make sure we are moving in the right direction. To answer your question, I think if slaveowners from the earliest days of our country were to watch MTV now, they would be surprised to see how much influence and fame that some of the most popular black music artists have on our society today. From Lil Wayne to T.I. to Akon, there are numerous black artists that have really shaped and advanced much of the music that adolescents and adults alike enjoy.

]]> By: Lia_1031 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-25100 Lia_1031 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:34:20 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-25100 I think you are trying to say that race relations has improved, but when you think about it, it has not improved that much. Race relations have improved in some cities in the North, but when you look at the United States as a whole there are still many racist towns and racists’ acts. For example, at a small college in Ohio a student wrote “kill all niggers Feb 2”, to me that does not sound like race relations has improved too much. For people to think that it has is just really sad to me. Why should we settle for little improvement? I think that we should keep trying to I prove the world of race relations because if we learned about other people and their cultures, the world would be a much better place. In my English class a boy wrote an essay about the racism African American, Jewish Americans, and Middle Eastern experience, and for people to experience these types of things in this day and age is ridiculous. I think you are trying to say that race relations has improved, but when you think about it, it has not improved that much. Race relations have improved in some cities in the North, but when you look at the United States as a whole there are still many racist towns and racists’ acts. For example, at a small college in Ohio a student wrote “kill all niggers Feb 2”, to me that does not sound like race relations has improved too much. For people to think that it has is just really sad to me. Why should we settle for little improvement? I think that we should keep trying to I prove the world of race relations because if we learned about other people and their cultures, the world would be a much better place. In my English class a boy wrote an essay about the racism African American, Jewish Americans, and Middle Eastern experience, and for people to experience these types of things in this day and age is ridiculous.

]]> By: raa5073 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-24121 raa5073 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:52:50 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-24121 If a slave owner somehow traveled through time and saw the diversity in culture today, his head would probably and literally explode. His point of view of society would be so misdirected it would be sickening. Whites back in those times thought that any person of color or different from whites were like animals. It would be like any regular human going into the future and seeing cats and dogs as an active part of society (in a figurative sense of course). I feel that white people back then, not only did they have a true hate for people of color but they thought of us and a lesser kind of people. As if we were only meant to cater to them in ways of labor. The real question would be how different it would be for anyone in today’s society who is non-racist no matter what color they are to go back to those times and see how they would be treated. It would be a cruel and rude awakening for anyone to experience. We think that we know and have seen racism. The honest truth is no one of this generation has seen anything close to the degree of racism that was endured upon people of color in those times. People used to get hung and lynched for no reason at all but just because of the color of their skin or where they came from or even religion. Being killed as if they were animals and not people and it was normal. People I feel would just turn their cheeks to this kind of behavior because not only was it accepted but god forbid if you spoke out against something like this. You’d probably be treated just as bad or maybe even worse because you’d be looked at like a traitor to your own kind. The fact of it is disgusting, and it is something that I hope no one would ever have to see or witness. But back to the main subject, we as a people have come a long way. Racism still does exist in this world and this nation but the fact that it is so different and that it is more of a mental sociological thing opposed to how things used to be is taking baby steps towards a better way of life and progress that Dr. King’s dream is finally yet slowly coming true. If a slave owner somehow traveled through time and saw the diversity in culture today, his head would probably and literally explode. His point of view of society would be so misdirected it would be sickening. Whites back in those times thought that any person of color or different from whites were like animals. It would be like any regular human going into the future and seeing cats and dogs as an active part of society (in a figurative sense of course). I feel that white people back then, not only did they have a true hate for people of color but they thought of us and a lesser kind of people. As if we were only meant to cater to them in ways of labor. The real question would be how different it would be for anyone in today’s society who is non-racist no matter what color they are to go back to those times and see how they would be treated. It would be a cruel and rude awakening for anyone to experience. We think that we know and have seen racism. The honest truth is no one of this generation has seen anything close to the degree of racism that was endured upon people of color in those times. People used to get hung and lynched for no reason at all but just because of the color of their skin or where they came from or even religion. Being killed as if they were animals and not people and it was normal. People I feel would just turn their cheeks to this kind of behavior because not only was it accepted but god forbid if you spoke out against something like this. You’d probably be treated just as bad or maybe even worse because you’d be looked at like a traitor to your own kind. The fact of it is disgusting, and it is something that I hope no one would ever have to see or witness. But back to the main subject, we as a people have come a long way. Racism still does exist in this world and this nation but the fact that it is so different and that it is more of a mental sociological thing opposed to how things used to be is taking baby steps towards a better way of life and progress that Dr. King’s dream is finally yet slowly coming true.

]]> By: goldenboybrodie http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-1/#comment-24027 goldenboybrodie Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:48:10 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-24027 Sad to say but yes I think war would occur like this would not be accepted by them in any way possible that why this will only be a dream to pull them in to our future. As I look at what you said I look to the future and think will things get better and better or would we go downhill for years to come and to really think on how quick things got better will it get worse because we as the people right now cant predict a 100s years from now we can only pray Sad to say but yes I think war would occur like this would not be accepted by them in any way possible that why this will only be a dream to pull them in to our future. As I look at what you said I look to the future and think will things get better and better or would we go downhill for years to come and to really think on how quick things got better will it get worse because we as the people right now cant predict a 100s years from now we can only pray

]]> By: goldenboybrodie http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-24023 goldenboybrodie Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:43:23 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-24023 Man if I can see this happen I would really pay to see this. Slave owners turning on the TV and seeing blacks making millions it would really be something to see with me being and African American I would love to show them how far we have really came up in the world because not so long ago we didn’t have the same opportunities as we all know to me a slave owner would say what the hell is this like really I can see actually them choking or passing out on the spot like it very sad to say but they would probably die on the spot because know that a black man or female are doing better than them and making 10 X more than what they are would really just kill them like really throw a slave owner from the 100s if years ago to a TV and see this wow like to me no words can express on what that slave owner will feel which with me I would tell that slave owner look closely of how far we blacks have made it then tell him to sit down and take this all in very slow. It some kind of way this have really touch me because if the people back those many years can see that we can really come together and prosper together without violence would really show them how stupid and how so many years was thrown away off of hate which I think on again how far we came and I so proud of my country for doing that even thought race still play a matter but its way more hope than those 100s of years ago and I can say this us being on mtv and espn does make a difference in allot of ways. Man if I can see this happen I would really pay to see this. Slave owners turning on the TV and seeing blacks making millions it would really be something to see with me being and African American I would love to show them how far we have really came up in the world because not so long ago we didn’t have the same opportunities as we all know to me a slave owner would say what the hell is this like really I can see actually them choking or passing out on the spot like it very sad to say but they would probably die on the spot because know that a black man or female are doing better than them and making 10 X more than what they are would really just kill them like really throw a slave owner from the 100s if years ago to a TV and see this wow like to me no words can express on what that slave owner will feel which with me I would tell that slave owner look closely of how far we blacks have made it then tell him to sit down and take this all in very slow. It some kind of way this have really touch me because if the people back those many years can see that we can really come together and prosper together without violence would really show them how stupid and how so many years was thrown away off of hate which I think on again how far we came and I so proud of my country for doing that even thought race still play a matter but its way more hope than those 100s of years ago and I can say this us being on mtv and espn does make a difference in allot of ways.

]]> By: swimmer87 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-23902 swimmer87 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:24:33 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-23902 Wow, this is a really interesting question that was posted. This is something that I have never thought about, but it’s something that everyone really should think about. I think that slaveowners should definitely be humbled if they turned on MTV and saw all of the accomplishments that black artists and celebrities have had. They have won Grammys, Oscars, so many different awards while touching their fans with their music and songs that they have written. Most of their music reaches out to us every single day on our ipods, and I don’t think many of us have thought about what it would have been like if the slaveowners indeed heard what all of these individuals had to offer. Wow, this is a really interesting question that was posted. This is something that I have never thought about, but it’s something that everyone really should think about. I think that slaveowners should definitely be humbled if they turned on MTV and saw all of the accomplishments that black artists and celebrities have had. They have won Grammys, Oscars, so many different awards while touching their fans with their music and songs that they have written. Most of their music reaches out to us every single day on our ipods, and I don’t think many of us have thought about what it would have been like if the slaveowners indeed heard what all of these individuals had to offer.

]]> By: qwerty0220 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-23873 qwerty0220 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:59:06 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-23873 I believe that this individual brought up a very good point. I watch ESPN and MTV and such all the time and I don’t even notice these things anymore. I turn on ESPN or MTV and I see things about black athletes or rappers and I’m just like, whatever, because I’m used to it. If I were a slave-owner from the past I would be shocked by how far we’ve come. If I was a slave-owner I wouldn’t even be able to comprehend what is happening. Things have changed so much since we had slaves that they wouldn’t be able to understand anything that is going on but I believe that they would be upset and angry that so much attention is being focused on minorities instead of on white people. Secondly, you have to consider how far African Americans and other minorities have come in a political sense. No one would have believed that there could be an African American president five years ago and now we have one and everyone seems to be okay with it. The progression in race relations that has occurred in the political spectrum just in the past five to ten years is incredible and it is something that I’ve overlooked and have barely noticed. Ten years ago I don’t think anyone could imagine their being a minority president, much like not very many people can imagine a women being president now but I bet that there will be a female president within five to ten more years, and at that point in time it would be considered nothing special. We talk in class a lot about how far we still have to come in race and ethnic relations. The comment made by this guy in our Soc class shows us a little of how far we’ve come. I believe that it is just as important to look back as it is to look forward. Maybe by looking at how much progress we have made in race relations will help us in the future because it proves that it’s possible. When people only look at how much further we have to go sometimes it burns them out so they can’t do anymore work because they only see the negative. Every now and then it is a good thing to look behind and see how far we’ve come, making this a good thing to bring up. Before listening to what this kid said, I went and watched ESPN and didn’t notice anything unusual about watching minorities on it. After listening to his comments, I realized that it is truly a miracle that the United States has progressed this far in race and ethnic relations and it’s a shame that more people don’t look at how far we’ve progressed but only how far we have to come. I believe that this individual brought up a very good point. I watch ESPN and MTV and such all the time and I don’t even notice these things anymore. I turn on ESPN or MTV and I see things about black athletes or rappers and I’m just like, whatever, because I’m used to it. If I were a slave-owner from the past I would be shocked by how far we’ve come. If I was a slave-owner I wouldn’t even be able to comprehend what is happening. Things have changed so much since we had slaves that they wouldn’t be able to understand anything that is going on but I believe that they would be upset and angry that so much attention is being focused on minorities instead of on white people.
Secondly, you have to consider how far African Americans and other minorities have come in a political sense. No one would have believed that there could be an African American president five years ago and now we have one and everyone seems to be okay with it. The progression in race relations that has occurred in the political spectrum just in the past five to ten years is incredible and it is something that I’ve overlooked and have barely noticed. Ten years ago I don’t think anyone could imagine their being a minority president, much like not very many people can imagine a women being president now but I bet that there will be a female president within five to ten more years, and at that point in time it would be considered nothing special.
We talk in class a lot about how far we still have to come in race and ethnic relations. The comment made by this guy in our Soc class shows us a little of how far we’ve come. I believe that it is just as important to look back as it is to look forward. Maybe by looking at how much progress we have made in race relations will help us in the future because it proves that it’s possible. When people only look at how much further we have to go sometimes it burns them out so they can’t do anymore work because they only see the negative. Every now and then it is a good thing to look behind and see how far we’ve come, making this a good thing to bring up.
Before listening to what this kid said, I went and watched ESPN and didn’t notice anything unusual about watching minorities on it. After listening to his comments, I realized that it is truly a miracle that the United States has progressed this far in race and ethnic relations and it’s a shame that more people don’t look at how far we’ve progressed but only how far we have to come.

]]> By: keg5174 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-23869 keg5174 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:49:29 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-23869 its hard to tell what slave owners would think. im sure that they would most definelty be shocked. it is amazing that we have created such a gap in our society, but its still not perfect. we have a long way untill we have completely closed the gap, and im not sure that it ever will be closed, its an unfortunate quality in human beings. i am extremely proud of how far we've gotten, i just know that it could be so much further. It is going to take huge steps in peoples regards towards difference, but with each and each generation we get closer to extinguishing the differences. its hard to tell what slave owners would think. im sure that they would most definelty be shocked. it is amazing that we have created such a gap in our society, but its still not perfect. we have a long way untill we have completely closed the gap, and im not sure that it ever will be closed, its an unfortunate quality in human beings. i am extremely proud of how far we've gotten, i just know that it could be so much further. It is going to take huge steps in peoples regards towards difference, but with each and each generation we get closer to extinguishing the differences.

]]> By: krf1234 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-23797 krf1234 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:14:12 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-23797 As many of the other people who have responded to this post have said, this is not something I have really thought of in the past. This student poses a very interesting question. It makes me realize that even though I always think we have such a far way to go, we really have come a long long way. I think that slave owners would be "appalled" as a previous student stated. We do have a lot of talented blacks, Asians, Native Americans, Hispanics and other people of color who are making an incredible difference in our world. People of all races and colors are changing this world and succeeding. We should have a sense of accomplishment as to how far we have come in our society. As many of the other people who have responded to this post have said, this is not something I have really thought of in the past. This student poses a very interesting question. It makes me realize that even though I always think we have such a far way to go, we really have come a long long way. I think that slave owners would be "appalled" as a previous student stated. We do have a lot of talented blacks, Asians, Native Americans, Hispanics and other people of color who are making an incredible difference in our world. People of all races and colors are changing this world and succeeding. We should have a sense of accomplishment as to how far we have come in our society.

]]> By: cityofchamps http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/comment-page-2/#comment-23771 cityofchamps Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:07:11 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1904#comment-23771 So what would happen if a slave owner were to watch MTV, ESPN, or VH1? I’m not sure but I think the result would actually be pretty funny. I would expect the slave owner to be quite stunned at what he was seeing on the television (assuming he understands the concept of tv). He would probably be even more surprised to see something like football or baseball where blacks, whites and other races intermingle and all get along as a cohesive team. The slave owner, who would undoubtedly be a male, would be quite surprised to see a woman like Erin Andrews working along the sidelines of a sporting event. Someone like Marion Jones would probably be mind boggling to the slave owner. Also, it would be pretty interesting to see the reaction of a slave especially given the mindset of the era. I think that even a slave would be quite stunned at what they were seeing since the culture in the days of American slavery was so different. I also wonder what the slave owner would think of the many white guys who dress like black celebrities like Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, just to name a few. It’s a really crazy concept today that many white college kids dress to be another gender, where as a couple hundred years ago, a slave wasn’t permitted to dress like a white slave owner. Crazy how our culture has evolved, huh? In today’s culture, it isn’t uncommon for a white guy like myself to “idolize” so many different races. For instance, some of my favorite athletes are Tiger Woods (pre-transgressions), who is Asian and black, James Harrison, black, Hines Ward, Korean and white, and Evgeni Malkin, a white Russian, and Kobe Bryant. I would consider the afformentioned players my favorite athletes across the sports I care most about. Obviously I have a wide variety of taste and skin color makes no difference in how much I follow these athletes. I only listed athletes because sports are probably the things my friends and I discuss the most and follow the closest. But I also have similar music tastes as my friends which range from Lil Wayne and T.I. to Guns N’ Roses and The Offspring. My point is that today’s culture is so much more accepting of a wide variety of races that I think anyone who live 200-300 years ago would be quite surprised at how we are living today. Obviously American culture isn’t perfect yet, but it is really interesting to see society evolve. It’ll be even more interesting to see how our society and culture functions when we as college students are in our 70’s and our grandchildren are entering their college years. So what would happen if a slave owner were to watch MTV, ESPN, or VH1?

I’m not sure but I think the result would actually be pretty funny. I would expect the slave owner to be quite stunned at what he was seeing on the television (assuming he understands the concept of tv). He would probably be even more surprised to see something like football or baseball where blacks, whites and other races intermingle and all get along as a cohesive team. The slave owner, who would undoubtedly be a male, would be quite surprised to see a woman like Erin Andrews working along the sidelines of a sporting event. Someone like Marion Jones would probably be mind boggling to the slave owner.

Also, it would be pretty interesting to see the reaction of a slave especially given the mindset of the era. I think that even a slave would be quite stunned at what they were seeing since the culture in the days of American slavery was so different.

I also wonder what the slave owner would think of the many white guys who dress like black celebrities like Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, just to name a few. It’s a really crazy concept today that many white college kids dress to be another gender, where as a couple hundred years ago, a slave wasn’t permitted to dress like a white slave owner. Crazy how our culture has evolved, huh?

In today’s culture, it isn’t uncommon for a white guy like myself to “idolize” so many different races. For instance, some of my favorite athletes are Tiger Woods (pre-transgressions), who is Asian and black, James Harrison, black, Hines Ward, Korean and white, and Evgeni Malkin, a white Russian, and Kobe Bryant. I would consider the afformentioned players my favorite athletes across the sports I care most about. Obviously I have a wide variety of taste and skin color makes no difference in how much I follow these athletes.

I only listed athletes because sports are probably the things my friends and I discuss the most and follow the closest. But I also have similar music tastes as my friends which range from Lil Wayne and T.I. to Guns N’ Roses and The Offspring.

My point is that today’s culture is so much more accepting of a wide variety of races that I think anyone who live 200-300 years ago would be quite surprised at how we are living today. Obviously American culture isn’t perfect yet, but it is really interesting to see society evolve. It’ll be even more interesting to see how our society and culture functions when we as college students are in our 70’s and our grandchildren are entering their college years.

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