But until you understand the issues faced by the Black Man (and Woman) EVERY DAY, you can never truly understand the Black mans side...
Blacks are not "fighting" for supremacy, Windy. Neither are we fighting for equality in SOME respects...We want equality in ALL respects.
Not some token schools or Job opportunities to balance the "quota" and produce the appearance of equality. And I want to get a job because of my skills... not because I am a woman and they need to hire more of those.
Blacks want the right to drive down the road and NOT be pulled over because of the color of their skin. And I want the right to drive down the road or go to the mall or movies with my black boyfriend and not be sneered at by blacks and whites alike.
To NOT be followed through a department store simply because you ARE Black. See above answer.
To not ALWAYS use our color when describing us on the 6 O'Clock news.." ..And in other news, A Black man was arrested today after..." They use the same description for a white man... and in other news... a convicted child molester has moved in to such and such neighborhood... he is a WHITE man, 6ft 180lbs... they use that as a description of an assailant... not to point out a people????
Blacks want to be accpeted as another human being with the same rights and privileges as ANY OTHER color. They are... and I want the same thing.
If we are naturally better at a particular sport, then reward us accordingly. If we aren't, then so be it. but dont accept or reject us based on our color. I hate it when people bring that up... to me that is the worst form of racism... "he is good at sports because he is black"... please... it is because he worked harder or has a natural given talent... not because of the color of his skin.
Ironically, as bad as racism is, it has served to empower the Black man to be the best that he can be; and has such has become the catalyst which propelled many of us to prove our superiority in many areas of society. Agreed... but why do you have to prove something you already know?
Do that mean that we WANT or is fighting FOR superiority? Absolutely not! In some ways I agree and disagree with this statement. I believe some do fight for superiority... but not the majority... but I think those few are the ones that make it so hard on the rest. But if one is suppressed and made to feel inferior, certainly his reaction will propel him to strive to prove his superiority. Again, why prove something you already know?
Though many Non-Whites sympathise with the Blackman's plight, it is extremly difficult or near impossible to truly understand.
Well baby its maybe not realistic thinking but it is optomistic thinking on my part...I beleive as a a teacher I am somewhat of a role model for my students, and if they grow up and have me for a teacher racism will not be all they ever know, they will at least at some point in their likkle lives be exposed to something different, and if it changes noone, one child, or many at least I know I have been true to what i believe....I also have seen children who know that their parents racist ways are not right because of their own experiences and I try to let them know that its ok to think for themselves.....its one of the most important things a child can learn.
It depends on their age.
While its is often good to encourage and teach the concept of independent thoughts this can sometimes lead to independent behavaiors. which is not always the best thing to impart to young minds; especially it it deviates from "good" family principles..
It is hard to suppress one and release the other.
__________________ "In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)
While its is often good to encourage and teach the concept of independent thoughts this can sometimes lead to independent behavaiors. which is not always the best thing to impart to young minds; especially it it deviates from "good" family principles..
It is hard to suppress one and release the other.
Well I teach adolescents...and this is a whole other topic but I teach them independant thought to battle the influence mostly of peer pressure.....
but out of curiosity Johnny......what would you suggest I say to a little white child who comes to me and says "My father told me to stay away from black kids cause they are stupid and they will steal my lunch money, but I really like Jalin and I want to play with him at recess.......and I know he would never steal my money cause he is my friend"
This actually happened to me......so tell me is it wrong to teach this child to go against his "Family values"?
Well I teach adolescents...and this is a whole other topic but I teach them independant thought to battle the influence mostly of peer pressure.....
but out of curiosity Johnny......what would you suggest I say to a little white child who comes to me and says "My father told me to stay away from black kids cause they are stupid and they will steal my lunch money, but I really like Jalin and I want to play with him at recess.......and I know he would never steal my money cause he is my friend"
This actually happened to me......so tell me is it wrong to teach this child to go against his "Family values"?
see it there... people are just so ignorant...
his daddy needs to be knocked up side his head...
how can we get past all of this if we keep teaching our kids to hate and fear someone just because of color...
ridiculous
No... I'd have probably told him his daddy was stupid and that nobody should be judged because of the color of their skin...
and probably gotten fired over it...
but that is me... ... big mouth... and no reserves on saying what is on my mind regardless of the consequences.
Well I teach adolescents...and this is a whole other topic but I teach them independant thought to battle the influence mostly of peer pressure.....
but out of curiosity Johnny......what would you suggest I say to a little white child who comes to me and says "My father told me to stay away from black kids cause they are stupid and they will steal my lunch money, but I really like Jalin and I want to play with him at recess.......and I know he would never steal my money cause he is my friend"
This actually happened to me......so tell me is it wrong to teach this child to go against his "Family values"?
I would tell the child that maybe her father has reasons for believing that. That I dont agree with her fathers opinion because i think that people of all color are the same; but if that is a direct instruction from her father then she should have her father explain his reason to her. I would then ask to see the father in school. When he shows up I would have a discussion with him (and possibly the principal) letting him be awawre that my class is aan integrated class and as such it is necessary for kids of all color to interact. I would then tell him that if my students are allowed to foster such perspective then it seriously impinges on my ability to teach m class in the way I see fit.
I believe in "Honoring thy Father" and as such I dont think that its my place to teach my (in class) kids to foster any thoughts/principle that is independent of what is being taugh at home.
But never mind me...I am not a teacher of adolescents so I dont know.
__________________ "In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)
Well what I said to him was this....."You should not disrespect your fathers wishes. But if you feel strongly about this and you know in your heart you bvelieve something different than your father, you should sit down with him like a man and talk about it. As a child you have to follow the rules that your parents set out for you, but when you grow and become an adult, you can make your own decisions based on your experiences and what you believe in your own heart. Its likely that what your Father beleives is based on his own life experiences and you may have completely different ones than him. This is a difficult issue and even I don't see it the same way as my own father. I love and respect him for being my father, but I don't agree with him. Now that i am an adult I make my own choices, someday you will do that too."
But the reason why I say those things is because I believe that everything shouldn't be about black and white...
Just as there shouldn't be ANY all white schools... there also shouldn't be ANY all black schools...
I feel EVERYTHING should be equal and for everyone...
Which I know that would be a perfect world and will never happen in your lifetime or mine... or even my daughters...
I think that a lot of racism towards blacks is brought on by their very determination to feel like they deserve their own everything yet... when white people have something that is "all white" then black people get in an uproar...
It is like the pot calling the kettle black...
You can't have it both ways to me...
either everything is for everyone... or everything is separate and we are back to square one on a battle that should have never started...
Yes, white people started it... but... that was many many years ago... and now... we should have all evolved past it... that is all I am saying.
And truth be said... especially in the south... how many families can claim to not have black ancestry... i can't... I have black in me... my family just tried to stamp it out of themselves... which is sad... I think everyone should embrace their heritage...
Nice sentiment Windy but we are not on a level playing field and I dont know if that will happen in this life time....things can't just be equal for everyone when the starting point for many is decades of disadvantage.
... I roll my eyes and say... Mom... they are us... we are them... there is no difference... and to me... there really isn't...
No we are not!.... and you are not!......there is difference and until we can accept, celebrate and actually value the additionality that difference brings to all our lives Racism will prevail.
Well... I'm a heinz 57... I have black, french, spanish, probably even a little indian in me... etc etc... I've read up on all the history that has to do with each area of my culture...
I look white... well with a nice olive complexion...
That is why I always get so frustrated with my mother... we have black in our history... how can she be racist of her own people?????
She and the rest of my family choose to forget about that... and were angry with me for researching our family tree back that far... they say some things are best forgotten...
and I say... know who and what you are and be proud of it... but definitely don't look down on others because of their differences...
I still say it begins with us... and what we teach our children.
I believe in "Honoring thy Father" and as such I dont think that its my place to teach my (in class) kids to foster any thoughts/principle that is independent of what is being taugh at home.
But never mind me...I am not a teacher of adolescents so I dont know.
I do disagree with this Alex....School is supposed to prepare young people for life and I personaly think a teacher would be irresponsible if they did not challenge behaviour that is oppressive......a child needs to have options and the chance to make informed choices about right and wrong...If a child grows up in a violent household where he witneses his Father abusing his mother due to his Fathers disrespect of his mother (as does happen)....what happens when that child chooses then to resolve conflict at school with violence, as learnt at home, should a teacher not challenge his behaviour for fear of him not "Honouring" his father
Nice sentiment Windy but we are not on a level playing field and I dont know if that will happen in this life time....things can't just be equal for everyone when the starting point for many is decades of disadvantage.
I think white people should admit that the majority (but of course not all) of white people are racist, to geater an lesser degrees (if that's possible). I hear all the time racist comments, that they think it's ok to say in front of me, because I'm white. These comments really hurt me.
One of the reasons for this is that I know that it could have been possible for me to have had, or in the future have a child who is mixed race. Now these racists comments, to my mind would be directed at me and my child! This is one of the ways I put my feelings of repulsion into personal perspective.
I can never know what it feels like to be disadvantaged because of the colour of my skin, I can never know how it feels to have fire put through my letter box because of the colour of my skin.
I feel Windy's idealism, but I think white people collectively have to acknowledge the centuries of hurt that "we" have caused.
Well... I'm a heinz 57... I have black, french, spanish, probably even a little indian in me... etc etc... I've read up on all the history that has to do with each area of my culture...
I look white... well with a nice olive complexion...
Evidence that we are all different Windy and I dont want to pretend to be the same as anyone to be more acceptable. I want to be valued for who I am....I dont have to merge into anyone else because I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" to be me ......Black by Nature....Proud by Choice
Why prove something you already know? That what?... a black man is better at this or that than the Whites? I dont believe that applies to all cases.
When a Black man proves something he already know, he is not proving it to himself. He is showing the world that what the White man has been saying for years are all lies.
When they say that a Black man can not fly a fighter aircraft (Tuskegee Airman) becuase the design of his brain and blood vessels wont allow him to exhibit the skill and finesse of a fighter, he doesn't prove that they are wrong, to himself...he proves it to the world.
Wendy, Your hearts in the right place but you dont truly understand....
BTW, the example of defining a "Black man on teh 6 O'clock news was misunderstood. Of course, one's race must be included IF they are being described...Obviously. I was referring to the fact that IN GENERAL, when no description is necessary, the color is still often mentioned.
Peace, Hon
__________________ "In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)
Evidence that we are all different Windy and I dont want to pretend to be the same as anyone to be more acceptable. I want to be valued for who I am....I dont have to merge into anyone else because I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" to be me ......Black by Nature....Proud by Choice
Ok... well then I am a Mut by nature... and Proud by Choice...
I do disagree with this Alex....School is supposed to prepare young people for life and I personaly think a teacher would be irresponsible if they did not challenge behaviour that is oppressive......a child needs to have options and the chance to make informed choices about right and wrong...If a child grows up in a violent household where he witneses his Father abusing his mother due to his Fathers disrespect of his mother (as does happen)....what happens when that child chooses then to resolve conflict at school with violence, as learnt at home, should a teacher not challenge his behaviour for fear of him not "Honouring" his father
Yes 1P, But in a manner as I described above. If you start creating conflicts in the minds of a child without getting the parent involved you will in effect create a counter-culture in the mainstream family environment.
How do you (as a teacher) tell a child to obey the laws of his school and his country but to disobey his parents?
Yes, WE may all agree that teaching racism is WRONG, by our standards. But it is not illegal. Neither should it be likened to mental abuse.
Honoring your parents is not the same as "OBEYING EVER SINGLE WORD THAT YOUR FATHER SAYS."
To me, it means that you place high value and due respect on their advice and respond accordingly based on your own concepts. And when the two conflicts, you find a respectful way to resolve it, without threatening the fabric of that bond.
By handling the situation in the manner I described (getting the parents involved) will not only serve to resolve the issue peacably but will be a valuable lesson to that same child, not only in handling other morally diverse issues but also on how to resolve the many controversal issues in society on a whole.
Racism is not a crime and it is not the teachers place to tell a student that their parent is wrong.
__________________ "In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)
"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)
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