Racism..How do we end it? Can we end it?

MrBrian

We need to come up with a real solution to the problem of racism.

Well maybe the problem of racism will never fully come to an end. But I know that we can change some hearts. That should be our goal.

For one, finding out why an individual would have such views in the first place. I mean what would make someone not like another based just on the color of their skin?

I guess we can address it on an individual level for maximum effect.

Thoughts?

BigDan502

the only thing that is going to end racism is time.
We are simply not enough generations removed from all the bullshit of the pre 1960's (not discounting anything after that) America.
You can't expect it to go away while there is a 106 year old black woman alive (born 1902) that has lived through and seen textbooks worth of pain and progress in a lifetime.

sponger

Statistically, we all harbor some form of racism, usually existing in the form of stereotypes.

The theory of implicit association explains why that is.

Basically, our minds function by drawing conclusions based on less than all the facts. If our minds did not operate this way, we would be so confused by all the different details that we would never get anywhere.

Racism is an extreme example of that effect, and it is enhanced by a lack of intimate details about the self, which makes it easier for the mind to draw quick conclusions about other people based on superficial indicators such as cultural and ethnic background.

If asked to define themselves, most people would instantly refer to cultural or ethnic background, current type of employment, living location.

An example would be, "I am an Irish-American living in Chicago working as an attorney."

Those indicators have absolutely nothing to do with who we really are, yet it is perfectly commonplace for people to define themselves in that manner.

And that's why it is so very easy for racists justify their erroneous conclusions about entire groups of people.

melodious

MrBrian wrote:

We need to come up with a real solution to the problem of racism.

Well maybe the problem of racism will never fully come to an end. But I know that we can change some hearts. That should be our goal.

For one, finding out why an individual would have such views in the first place. I mean what would make someone not like another based just on the color of their skin?

I guess we can address it on an individual level for maximum effect.

Thoughts?

adult~orient

actually the best way to rid any community of racism or division of any sort is to try to reach over cultural lines...

be zero tolerant toward racial undertones and when you hear someone else in your circle choosing to engage in activity which will generate racism try to explain why you feel the way you do...when we tell others why, it always helps to dignify...

it's actually no different than telling someone who has little respect for family or values to watch what is being said around children...

more and more people are having children of mixed blood, so in that respect, racism will eventually be gone but will be replaced with some other caste system...

the best way to make change is to change your self and live from your heart...peace.

Vedderlution_Baby

I do think that some people's racist feelings could be changed with education and enlightenment simply because for some of these people they're carrying on a family tradition and have been told over and over again how they should feel.


But, being completely honest, I have no hope for the ones that take to acts of physical aggression to try to bully and badly frighten the people they look down on. They ones who truly believe that their race is better than everyone else and that they're entitled to ruling over people and that anyone other than that race should be destroyed leaves me with absolutely no mercy or understanding for them.

wolfbear

I don't know that there is a "solution". I believe most racism comes from parenting, location and lack of knowledge/experience. Hopefully with more people traveling/moving to new areas and education, it will eventually fade away except in the most extreme areas. I have definitely seen positive strides in my lifetime, not as quickly as one would hope, but at least I think it is improving.

melodious

Vedderlution_Baby! wrote:

I do think that some people's racist feelings could be changed with education and enlightenment simply because for some of these people they're carrying on a family tradition and have been told over and over again how they should feel.


But, being completely honest, I have no hope for the ones that take to acts of physical aggression to try to bully and badly frighten the people they look down on. They ones who truly believe that their race is better than everyone else and that they're entitled to ruling over people and that anyone other than that race should be destroyed leaves me with absolutely no mercy or understanding for them.

Yes. very true...My family is narrow minded and I heard many racial slurs growing up until I reached my 30's or so, and then I began to go to school and help many people from many backgrounds. One day I noticed a family member talking their ignorance about some people of color (or not) and I thought to myself, well such and such is that descent and I like that person. He/She is kind to me....it goes with everything though...

We have seen a sense of division even in our politics...Because we cannot confine people who vote a certain way by the criminal acts of an entire administration...

That's why I say it's no different than teaching children to be kind....

Problem is though, you can lead a horse to water, but can you make him/her drink????

ajedigecko

will be tough. my daughter is in kindergarten and the only person she is scared of is the "brown" girl, due to the fact, the "brown" girl is mean.

also, there is only one "brown" girl in the class....so now my daughter is associating "brown" with mean kids.

sucks....but all i can do is explain to her that not all "brown" kids are mean. the "brown" kids in our neighborhood are nice and play well together.

i am proud of her because she does not use the term "black".....so i know it is nothing we as parents have instilled. she sees my ronnie lott,derrick thomas, michael jordan, charles barkley, and larry bird posters everyday in the garage.

LikeAnOcean

Declare our independence from the south and then nuke 'em..




What?

DriftingByTheStorm

why did the other thread get locked.
was a post deleted?
cause i don't understand what is offensive in there.
i'm confused.

sponger

ajedigecko wrote:

i am proud of her because she does not use the term "black".....so i know it is nothing we as parents have instilled. she sees my ronnie lott,derrick thomas, michael jordan, charles barkley, and larry bird posters everyday in the garage.

I don't think African-Americans mind being called "black."

Vedderlution_Baby

DriftingByTheStorm wrote:

why did the other thread get locked.
was a post deleted?
cause i don't understand what is offensive in there.
i'm confused.

No. It's all there.

Dirtie_Frank

What needs to remember is that racism is a two way street. We all need to treat each other better. Anyone using derogatory terms no matter who needs to stop. It is no different that a black man uses the n word then a white guy. It is wrong no matter who uses is. Same with terms about all races and religons. If we can teach that then maybe the future has hope.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

LikeAnOcean wrote:

Declare our independence from the south and then nuke 'em..




What?

a lot of minorities live in the south, genius. or should i say, racist?

my answer is to fuck until we all look alike...but then there would be no redheads...hmmm i may need to rethink this.

sponger

MrSmith wrote:

a lot of minorities live in the south, genius. or should i say, racist?

my answer is to fuck until we all look alike...but then there would be no redheads...hmmm i may need to rethink this.

...which is why a slogan of neo-nazis is "because the beauty of the White Aryan Woman must not perish from the Earth."

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

sponger wrote:

...which is why a slogan of neo-nazis is "because the beauty of the White Aryan Woman must not perish from the Earth."

i've heard that. silly bastards.


but...but i really like redheads. and not the fake ones either. i can tell. we may need to do some genetic manipulating... perhaps gene splicing, whatever that is.

Maicojames

LikeAnOcean wrote:

Declare our independence from the south and then nuke 'em..




What?

That sounds like Hitler's final solution too, congratulations!!Would you spare non-white southerners, and perhaps gays?....only killing white families like mine?
Very interesting, could you perhaps answer how I ( 40yrs old now) witnessed more racism and intolerance while living 80 miles or so southwest if your beloved Chicago than I ever did or have in N Texas? I am tempted to tell you to fuckoff, but but clearly your statement reinforces that you, like any continue to make sterotypes..and you need help...I suppose it is allowable now to make discriminatory statements , but only based on geography. Did you know that Dr King was not as frightened of marching in any southern cities as he was in Chicago? ..... man you are some piece of work.

BTW my wife is a redhead, and she is awesome!!! I actually look forward to seeing more and more mixed race children to alleviate some of this, but it starts at home-and the one thing we can not tolerate is intolerance!!!!

sponger

Over the years I have met many tourists here in California, and I have heard many times how strange it is them to see how "integrated" things are here.

These tourists were from all parts of the US, not just the south. I remember I was talking to a guy from Boston one day and he was telling me that you just don't see different races hanging out together in the same bars in Boston.

know1

MrBrian wrote:

We need to come up with a real solution to the problem of racism.

Well maybe the problem of racism will never fully come to an end. But I know that we can change some hearts. That should be our goal.

For one, finding out why an individual would have such views in the first place. I mean what would make someone not like another based just on the color of their skin?

I guess we can address it on an individual level for maximum effect.

Thoughts?

I think it's slowly taking care of itself. The races are becoming more and more mixed and the racial lines are getting so blurred that you really can't classify anyone anymore except mixed.

OffHeGoes29

Racism will never go away, and its all over the world. The only thing people can do to stop it is not voice their racism. You will never see a time where its completely gone, no level of enlightenment will do that. As long as there will be people different then you, racism will continue to be here.

ajedigecko

sponger wrote:

I don't think African-Americans mind being called "black."

one lady i attended college with and work with.....corrected me during class once, with regards to the term "black". she swiftly informed me that she is "african american" not "black".
as class continued....a thought occured to me. so i asked her, which tribe or country do you trace your ancestors back to? she had no idea.
that is when i informed her, you are american then. obviously where you live people may not be offended by being called black by another black person. but where i live.....if a white person calls someone black, it is viewed as racist.
it is a great time in my classroom....we all just call each other some type of cracker; wheat cracker, whole grain cracker...so on.

ajedigecko

know1 wrote:

I think it's slowly taking care of itself. The races are becoming more and more mixed and the racial lines are getting so blurred that you really can't classify anyone anymore except mixed.

i would like to believe your statement. the only discourse i see is, that it has been brought to my attention that if an individual has "one drop" of african blood in their genetics then they are considered "black".

this "one drop" theory being brought to me by my "black" collegues.

ajedigecko

the final solution to ending racism will be to end jackassism.....and we all know that will never happen, since blanket statements are continually thrown down.
crap....just look at how much annimosity there is among the people on this website and how many blanket statements are spewed around here. funny!

OffHeGoes29

Oh heres another one.....


When people realize that the White American Male isn't the only one thats racist. I've seen Europeans be just as bad as Americans, they don't show it as much as we do.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

is this guy african-american? http://i1.tinypic.com/8eg2ago.jpg

it can't be a term for race, considering most african descendants arent American. many africans arent even black! the terminology is all screwed up. I find all the "insert race here - american" shit to be uninclusive. its all american to me.

sadly, though, racism is still alive and well. i went home over halloween and the election, and had to deal the a few black assholes being racist, and several white racists at my favorite bar were pissed off and spewing ignorant bullshit that Obama won. it was really pretty sickening. I just have to realize that most people arent like that, even in New Orleans and Mississippi.

Collin

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

Oh heres another one.....


When people realize that the White American Male isn't the only one thats racist. I've seen Europeans be just as bad as Americans, they don't show it as much as we do.

I think most people realize that, I don't see how it would end racism, though.

Want to end it? Mix it, baby

lalalalaaaaaaaa

Ending racism is not that complicated. We just can't take part in it, or make light of it when anyone else does. Most people don't have trouble doing the first thing, but not the second. Many people don't consider themselves racist, yet they'll laugh at racist jokes, or show no protest when someone tells one.

sponger

"When will racism end? When people stop talking about it." - Morgan Freeman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO214IFRW1M

fuggen badash...

Cuntified C

We can't end it completely. We can go some way towards making sure that it isn't as much of a problem for the next generation to come than it is for this one. We can educate, expose racist attitudes and try to dispel any ignorances towards other races through integration. We also need to keep a tab on institutionalised racism and where is can breed, such as the legal profession where more black people are put on death row, and in the police force and maybe in Government as well...

MrBrian

sponger wrote:

"When will racism end? When people stop talking about it." - Morgan Freeman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO214IFRW1M

fuggen badash...

I dont understand when people say that, 'stop talking about it'..It's like taking trash and sweeping it under a rug. Is that really cleaning?

MrBrian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-iRLmaZf4A

Interesting Video,