Why deny the presence of racism?

Question

My passion to help those less fortunate than me has absolutely nothing to do with the many things I have already accomplished. No one is going to convince me that there is no problem with society because I see a problem when generations of families live off of wellfare and the only accomplishment they hold is the daughter who graduates from high school. My passion is helping people realize that life is about passing on a legacy. I grew up in the suburbs in a middle classed family and I've lived in the ghetto as a research project to see what the people are like and it never fails...these people are just barely making it...they see having kids as an outlet and I will be general with these statements because I know first hand...ghettos need to be reconstructed and mentalities need to be changed for the sake of the future...I'm tired of people telling me I'm one of the cool black people they know because I speak well and I don't have an attitude. Race is ALWAYS an issue in AMERICA

Answer 1

God bless you because you do not view yourself as being separate from the plight of African Americans. I am also personally successful but I feel that I can not be totally free and successful until all of my people have an honest opportunity.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, you're right. Race is always an issue in America, and it will continue to be for the immediate future. But you will always encounter people like the ones who say to you that you're a "cool black person" -- what's that mean, anyway? I could just as well be called a "cool white person" because I speak well and don't have (too much of) an attitude.

The existence of racism depends on how much people are willing to see in their own environment. When people don't live in ghettos, it's easy to deny the existence of poverty, illegitimacy, and lack of education within them. But the problem goes much deeper than poverty, and you've touched on it; there are people, black and white and every color in the rainbow, in whose best interests it is to keep these ghettos and other social ills operating. Much of the time, the real racists are in the ivory towers, not the shantytowns.

Until we're each willing to live Martin Luther King Junior's stated dream, where we will be judged not by the color of our skins but the content of our character, race will remain an issue because some of the movers and thinkers in our society insist on drawing a distinction between the rich and the poor. Our passion to help those less fortunate than ourselves has to be tempered with compassion to change the conditions that brought about their need for help in the first place. To enable people to rise above where they are in life to where they want to be, to make them aware there is more to life and help them reach for it, is the greatest legacy that we can pass on.

If this hasn't really answered your question, I'm sure than the multitude of answerers here will each give you a different one. You won't be butting your head against a brick wall, though, when you realize it's not just the people oppressed by racist policies who are victims, but the racists themselves as well. It takes EVERYBODY to live in a color-filled (NOT color-blind) America, and by denying that racism exists, I agree, we deny a great deal of ourselves that needs healing and reconciliation.

Answer 3

Race is always an issue in America because individuals such as your self continue to misuse it , pointing an accusing finger at individuals who are not your skin color regardless of their role in other communities difficulties and or situations. When you use the term, take the responsibility that goes along with it. The days of randomly using the term "racism" are truly numbered in our intelligent society. There are many problems in our combined cultures but i can tell you one thing, people I know, myself included, would never address you as a cool "black" person because we've never let that be a deciding factor in our development as people and who you are as an individual. Who cares besides you? There are unfortunate economic disasters on both sides of the fence. I know what you are trying to say. Its good that you want to help. Now try helping without the silent accusation of a particular race. Our situation is every ones fault and no ones fault. Grasp that and do what you can to change your world. Don't instigate based on the past.

Answer 4

Are any of you familiar with the WILLIE LYNCH doctrine which is pretty much where the authorized Lynching of Black Americans was named for -- He was a man who was asked to come and speak to a group of slaveowners to tell them the secret to successfull slave control -- He discussed demoralizing the male, subjecting the females to sex acts, separating families AND he said that the mentality that would be created would last for hundreds of years. This was about 1400 and something so the legacy has prevailed as he predicted, along with the refusal of most people to accept the ingrained racism of our country.
Everyone who wants to help usually wants to help from a distance, such as, yes I'd like the schools to be equal, but just let my kids keep on going to an all white school.
And the Ivy League Universitites receive more than their share of monies from private areas -- do they bother to share with the other schools? NO Education is the key to keeping people poor.
So then, how can one DENY racism exist -- You would really have to be a blind deaf and mute organism living under a rock to believe all is well in these great United States of ours. -- Did not there be a fuss anytime whites around the world are made uncomfortable -- are the oils, gems, etc stolen from South Africa the primary source of so much WHITE riches? -- Do we still allow the deaths of thousands of black / brown babies around the world? Imagine White babies dying at the same rate? impossible.
ENOUGH SAID !!!!

Answer 5

And will be for some time to come.

Change mentalities? That's a good one. If we could do that, this society would be able to solve anything.

Answer 6

racism is a word against the victim
which you supected to put all fault on some one is by genaration's
basic of fact on color, habit's ,or the way they culture live.
is oppisite, for a put down, you no good.

Answer 7

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE, YOU CANT SAVE ANYBODY BUT YOURSELF. GET OVER THE FACT THAT BECAUSE SOMEONE IS DIFFERNT FROM YOU THAT IT IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM.TO ME THAT IS A TYPICAL RESPONSE FROM SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT REALIZE THAT THEY ARE BIASED.IN MY OPINOIN THE FIRST THING YOU NEED 2 DO IS KNOW THAT OUR LIFE ON THIS EARTH IS BASED ON HOW WE LIVE AN HONOR PEOPLE.

Answer 8

I agree that racism is present and it is in every culture and society, i completely agree with your other views aswell

Answer 9

Denying that racism exists actually supports it through ignorance.

Answer 10

just in america?

(slaps forehead)


get out more often if you wish to help people. you must drop that partonizing attitude before you decide to go on your quest.