Struggling with Reality; Part two "Race"

Throughout this semester I have been reading numerous articles and a book about racism, and they have enlightened my knowledge of racial structure, and racialism. Now I could sit here and write out a whole argument on how I feel about racist people and their comments. But alas this is not a blog for argument, it is a series of opinionated/educated information.

*Caution; if you feel the need to argue with my points please before commenting make sure you have the evidence to back up your claims. 

Just the other day for my sociology class (race and ethnic minorities) we were assigned to read The World Is A Ghetto by Howard Winant. Winant is an author of many articles regarding the structure of race and the racial inequality. At first glance I thought this book would be about the "ghetto's" of the United States, but after reading up to Part two of this book I have found that to be untrue. Winant talks about everywhere, he mainly focuses on South Africa, Brazil and a touch of the United States. After reading what I have, I have found out that there is a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to the abolition of slavery. Yes we have had a bout with slavery here in the United States, we all learn about it in school (some schools choose to ignore a lot of the aspects, that is depending on your location in the United States; Particularly those that are surrounded by Arian Nation.) and we come to find that it was a big deal. Now I want to stop you all before you come to the conclusion that slavery is in fact over. It has not. Maybe it has in the United States - at least to a point- but it has not in other countries. Take South Africa for instance. Many people assume that South Africa doesn't really have slavery problems because that is where "they" come from, but to the contrary slavery is a massive issue in South Africa. It has become a massive issue even though the term "slavery" is out dated, and outlawed from being used as an adjective for a person working for you. Now in South Africa - as Winant states in Chapter 5 -  they have moved to means of Peonage (the working of one person to pay off a debt to another),  and coercion to work. The thought that if your production level doesn't make the top your family is killed, and you are too. Now off of my small tangent about slavery, back to the means of Race. What is the idea of race, and why is it even a social category?

Race (noun); A class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, and characteristics. (Websters Dictionary.)

Just for the sake of my time lets look at the meaning of Racism to compare. 

Racism (noun); A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. (Websters Dictionary.)

Now that we know the meaning of race and racism lets look at the differences. Race is identifying that person with another based on their shared interests, habits and characteristics. Sadly due to our racialized structure of the world this also means we are placing people in stereotypes as well as making everything about race. The idea of just because you are say Italian and you have black hair and are interest is cooking you are going to be an Italian chef, unfortunately this person would fall under the category of "white", and people of other nationalities would fall under the "other" (this concept is taken from the Eduardo Bonilla-Silva 1997 and 1999 articles). Now look at the definition of racism. Basically with racism we are saying that (excuse the cliche but it fits best) just because that person is black they must be great at football. This is saying that because of the color of their skin they must be good at that, or they must be a thief or a murderer.  This is not true! Just because of the color of someones skin doesn't mean they have some problem or are better at something than someone else of another skin color. Just because President Barrack Obama is black doesn't mean he cannot be a President like many white men before him. Yeah he hasn't done the greatest, but there are many other WHITE male presidents who have done the same if not worse... Hello The Great Depression, and not helping the people. 

Okay I am done with that tangent. Presidency is not what I am arguing it was just a  good example. You cannot assume someones traits because of their color, or their abilities. That is being racist. But we all do it, I do it and I am not proud, and I am trying to get better at it but sometimes it is just want we as American's have been taught in schools. 

This brings me to the ideology of "Color-Blindness". I don't mean the genetic trait of being unable to see colors, but the Color-Blind Ideology. 

Color-Blind (Adj); not influences by differences of race. (Websters Dictionary.)

This my friends is another issue. Many of us have heard Steven Colbert's comment that he isn't racist, he doesn't see color. This is a hot button topic with a lot of sociologist and social work people. The color blind ideology is the thought of ignoring all color, all ethnicity, and all physical traces of race. Some of us think this is a good way of thinking about the racial problems, and I will admit that I thought this way too until I was taking my Sociology 230 class last spring. Admitting that you follow the colorblind ideology in the manner of ignoring race's and seeing people as people is also another form of racism. It isn't necessarily the discriminatory or prejudicial type of racism, but it is offensive to those of color, and those with different ethnicities because you are still ignoring their culture, their life, their person themselves. It is rather ironic that a person can try so hard to not be racist and see no color but in fact they are becoming racist against that persons, or group of people's characteristics, the part that makes them human, and the part that makes them who they are. 

It is better to understand race, and racism and that our country was rooted in racism and embrace that it was part of our history and know that we can change for the better, than it is to ignore that it ever happened. Racism to me is unacceptable, I know that I am a white lower class female and I have more privelages than a black man or woman that may even have a higher class status that I do just because of my skin color, and I find it sickening. It makes me mad when people stand there and say that "they" are taking all of our opportunities, but in fact the people who say that are not taking advantage of those opportunities leaving the spot open for someone else, it shouldn't matter what the color of your skin is, everyone should be able to get a good education, and the chance at getting a good job and owning a home. The idea of old money and new money is that blacks and native american's have new money. And their money isn't rooted into the country where they know they have clout. It is just another way to keep them down. 

Ok although I have kept my ranting about racism and racial comments to a minimum - I think - and more educational than opinionated. I must make the point. If you are going to sit there and say things like "I have nothing against blacks but I hate how they do this.", or "one day I want to own a plantation house, it has to have lots of trees and greenery so I know that no one saw the slave owners beating their slaves, I'll just know.", or "the black guy has the ball he will surely make a touch down." YOU ARE RACIST!!! When you say things like that you are flat out racist. The worst part about it is that you are the one that is proud enough to say it and have people hear it and you are okay with it. I may have gone to high school in an area that was extremely engulfed in white supremacy but I will never tolerate that kind of behavior, not around me. If you want to bash the color of ones skin bash your own. If you are white and make comments like that and feel the need to be racist be racists against the whites who took over Africa and took their resources and trafficed their people, be racist against whites who are all for taking care of themselves and taking things from others, be racist against the white people who still believe it is okay to call someone stupid because of the color of their skin. Do not be racist against those who have no control over what they have been through, and their families, and ancestors before them. Our country has a problem with race, and you are not helping. 

Keep in mind that one of the reasons Hitler killed the Jews was because he was a fan of how we treated the people in our country. 

If you are racist go ahead and be racist, I have a lot of family that is racist and I still love them, and I don't think differently about them, I just will not entertain an argument of race by agreeing with them. But I will not tolerate someone arguing with me about race that hasn't taken the time to look at articles written by sociologists who study people. Sorry about my tangent and if you feel differently towards me now that I have expressed my feelings on race and my knowledge of the history behind it then I am sorry for that too. But keep in mind that this series piece was not to attack anyone, but to merely cover a topic that I have been learning about, and show that I am getting an education.

Tip of the Day: Brush up on some inspiring poetry or listen to an inspiring song before work or homework, or any task during your day, it might make your day a little bit easier. 

Quote of the Day: "The thing I hate about an argument is that is always interrupts a discussion." - G.K. Chesteron

Until Tomorrow,

Tschuss.