Racism, love, discrimination, and acceptance.

[Skarekrow]

I know there are some folks here who are older and perhaps set in their ways a bit about certain subjects.

I wanted to start a thread to highlights the good and beautiful things that people of all colors, sexual orientations, religions, and disabilities do to make this world a better place.

This country is racist. Not all of it, but a good portion of it…I mean, look at the Ferguson, Missouri police investigation that was just completed.
It found the police were indeed acting in a racist manner.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/03/ferguson-justice-report/24320987/

I believe that as the generations move forward that this will become lesser and lesser, although we have a disproportionate amount of young black men incarcerated with sentences a white guy wouldn’t get.
http://www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justice-fact-sheet

One in three black males born today can expect to spend time in prison. This is a societal issue, but the issue that also needs to be addressed is the Private Prison Complex that makes money off of the incarcerated.

Did you know that the US represents 4.4% or the world population but yet we have the MOST incarcerated population in the WORLD.
It’s nearly a quarter of our population.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_incarceration_rate

Do you think racism will “burn out” so to speak after some years? Do you feel the police racially profile people in spite of their claims?
What can we do to promote more harmony amongst the masses?

This includes discrimination from sexual orientation as well…this is still happening on almost a daily basis in the news.

[video=youtube;PnDgZuGIhHs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PnDgZuGIhHs[/video]


Love one another.​

 

[Erlian]

Yeah, stop putting people in prison so easily. It costs tons of money isn't going to make them behave any better.

But I agree with your note that it's getting better and better with every generation. Let's help it go faster

 

[ZcM4xzkjgzCjytBc]

Prison: backhanded slavery of today

 

[Skarekrow]

I hope people take some time to read the links and watch the video.
Most people don’t know the true situation.

 

[Skarekrow]

Of course, I”ll be called “biased”….well, so are you.

 

[Skarekrow]

Do we have anyone here on the forum that is hardcore against gays?

 

[Yva]

Regarding racism, color will always be an issue. People are so shallow and dependent on what they see. It's disgusting to see how stereotypical the majority is.

 

[bionic]

Do you think racism will “burn out” so to speak after some years? Do you feel the police racially profile people in spite of their claims?
What can we do to promote more harmony amongst the masses?

Time to get real:


No, I don't think racism will "burn out". I think there will be another social/cultural/whatever forms of oppression that will evolve as a means to keep certain groups down. (Hell, we already have a new one... socioeconomic class.) Whether these groups are blacks, latinos, women, older adults, gays, lesbians, asians, poor, whatever. It's a sick mentality of the human race. It's a social construct ingrained into our history that is consistently repeated in some other way. There are so many oppressions depending on where you come from. The divider is that you are being oppressed, in some way or another. If you feel like the macrocosm is taking Your right to be who you are AND they are unjustly trying to control your group, you are being oppressed.

It pains me when people say "racism" is no longer. Fuck you to those who seriously think that way. Just because you have not been treated unfairly because of your skin color doesn't give you ANY right to invalidate others who have. I have, plenty of times. Because I am multi-racial, I have felt oppressed, victimized, and invalidated on many fronts. I've been included in some ethnic groups because of my skin color and also excluded because of it. People LOVE to ask me "What are you?" and ASSUME that I'm "insert ethnicity here", instead of ASKing me my background.... and then they discriminate against me accordingly.

Racism is not just "white" vs. "insert group here". We have discrimination between groups and minorities against minorities. In the Puerto Rican/Latino culture, you have an outdated class system created by the Spainards that is still used today. It's based on your skin color. That is where you get terms like "mulatto (black parent/white parent)" or "pardos ("mixed race"), etc. In the Dominican Republic, Trujillo used it to segregate dark Dominicans from light skinned Dominicans. Being light skin was better because you could blend in with the white, rich, Spanish elite. This mentality is still around with plenty of DR, Haitian, and PRican immigrants. I've even seen black-on-black hate as well. I'm not just pointing fingers at my Latino community because of these racists beliefs. I'm also shining light on the fact that a lot of this discrimination within minority groups dates back to white European imperialistic thought.

And yeah, The popo racially profile all the time. Again, I live in NYC so its VERY common here. I touched upon it my Eric Garner case post. I don't think it will stop either. The stereotype of a black or latino man walking through a neighborhood is ingrained in many people. You know damn well that you would get anxious or feel more cautious if you saw a black man with a hood on in your neighborhood. This stereotype has been ingrained into your mind for a reason -- to make you unconsciously discriminate against others.

I think people need to stop, take a seat, and think about a lot of the biases that they hold. They need to be aware that they are detrimental in some way. We need to talk about stereotypes --- the good, bad, and ugly sides of them and how they lead to discrimination and racism. We need to talk to our kids about covert and overt racism. We need to think before we speak... think about the stereotypes that we perpetrate in casual conversation. Think about the implications of your biases. I'm guilty of it. Your guilty of it. Your mama is guilty of it. Instead of feeling uncomfortable or guilty about racism, let's continue to Talk about it at the dinner table and come to an understanding. If you continue to act blindsided by it, you are another sheep. Think critically of the world around you and try to foster solutions. I'm not sure how to tackle this issue as a whole but I think it ultimately starts with the individual.

 

[Elegant Winter]

"Do you think racism will “burn out” so to speak after some years?"

No. People see differences much more clearly than similarities and categorizing people into groups of superior and inferior is a very small step from that. It's the way the human brain works - regardless of race.

"Do you feel the police racially profile people in spite of their claims?"

Some do, some don't. It isn't as systematic as many would have you believe, but I'm sure it exists.

What can we do to promote more harmony amongst the masses?

Fascism. More seriously, in a country as diverse as this I can't imagine harmony is even a remote possibility. The best we can do is understand differences and even that is asking a lot.

 

[Scientia]

^ pretty much what [MENTION=12656]Elegant Winter[/MENTION] said. People have done this since the beginning of time in one way or another.

 

[Skarekrow]

Regarding racism, color will always be an issue. People are so shallow and dependent on what they see. It's disgusting to see how stereotypical the majority is.

People are indeed shallow, but I have hope that things will eventually change for the better….but it will take some very honest discussion and possible reparations.

Time to get real:


No, I don't think racism will "burn out". I think there will be another social/cultural/whatever forms of oppression that will evolve as a means to keep certain groups down. (Hell, we already have a new one... socioeconomic class.) Whether these groups are blacks, latinos, women, older adults, gays, lesbians, asians, poor, whatever. It's a sick mentality of the human race. It's a social construct ingrained into our history that is consistently repeated in some other way. There are so many oppressions depending on where you come from. The divider is that you are being oppressed, in some way or another. If you feel like the macrocosm is taking Your right to be who you are AND they are unjustly trying to control your group, you are being oppressed.

It pains me when people say "racism" is no longer. Fuck you to those who seriously think that way. Just because you have not been treated unfairly because of your skin color doesn't give you ANY right to invalidate others who have. I have, plenty of times. Because I am multi-racial, I have felt oppressed, victimized, and invalidated on many fronts. I've been included in some ethnic groups because of my skin color and also excluded because of it. People LOVE to ask me "What are you?" and ASSUME that I'm "insert ethnicity here", instead of ASKing me my background.... and then they discriminate against me accordingly.

Racism is not just "white" vs. "insert group here". We have discrimination between groups and minorities against minorities. In the Puerto Rican/Latino culture, you have an outdated class system created by the Spainards that is still used today. It's based on your skin color. That is where you get terms like "mulatto (black parent/white parent)" or "pardos ("mixed race"), etc. In the Dominican Republic, Trujillo used it to segregate dark Dominicans from light skinned Dominicans. Being light skin was better because you could blend in with the white, rich, Spanish elite. This mentality is still around with plenty of DR, Haitian, and PRican immigrants. I've even seen black-on-black hate as well. I'm not just pointing fingers at my Latino community because of these racists beliefs. I'm also shining light on the fact that a lot of this discrimination within minority groups dates back to white European imperialistic thought.

And yeah, The popo racially profile all the time. Again, I live in NYC so its VERY common here. I touched upon it my Eric Garner case post. I don't think it will stop either. The stereotype of a black or latino man walking through a neighborhood is ingrained in many people. You know damn well that you would get anxious or feel more cautious if you saw a black man with a hood on in your neighborhood. This stereotype has been ingrained into your mind for a reason -- to make you unconsciously discriminate against others.

I think people need to stop, take a seat, and think about a lot of the biases that they hold. They need to be aware that they are detrimental in some way. We need to talk about stereotypes --- the good, bad, and ugly sides of them and how they lead to discrimination and racism. We need to talk to our kids about covert and overt racism. We need to think before we speak... think about the stereotypes that we perpetrate in casual conversation. Think about the implications of your biases. I'm guilty of it. Your guilty of it. Your mama is guilty of it. Instead of feeling uncomfortable or guilty about racism, let's continue to Talk about it at the dinner table and come to an understanding. If you continue to act blindsided by it, you are another sheep. Think critically of the world around you and try to foster solutions. I'm not sure how to tackle this issue as a whole but I think it ultimately starts with the individual.

Damn, you got fucking real girl…hahaha. I love it. I couldn’t agree more, but I do still have hope that things can eventually change. When I was in HS the kids that were gay were called names, spit on, assaulted, no one did anything about it…not even the staff.
That would be totally intolerant now…it has taken two decades but attitudes do change.
The sad thing with Obama being elected is there has been a missed opportunity to have that discussion about race…instead we get vitriol from the GOP and the southern states…not to mention the racial profiling by the police…that’s utter bullshit IMO…there are “white” people (normal) “white” people…not some Black Panther militant white chick with dreadlocks…haha….there are a lot of us that are not tolerant of racism and aren’t afraid to speak out against it.
I’m sorry that you have been racial profiled…I think that is terrible.
Did you know that certain police departments are using a predictive program to find potential criminals? There was a 17 year old kid who had a visits from the police who basically harassed and threatened him saying things like “We are watching you, you had better not fuck up.” this was a kid with no record whatsoever…never been in trouble….got good grades…but because he lived here…and was this color…and had friends who were friends with some bad dudes…he gets unduly harassed.
This is what the future of police racism holds.

"Do you think racism will “burn out” so to speak after some years?"

No. People see differences much more clearly than similarities and categorizing people into groups of superior and inferior is a very small step from that. It's the way the human brain works - regardless of race.

"Do you feel the police racially profile people in spite of their claims?"

Some do, some don't. It isn't as systematic as many would have you believe, but I'm sure it exists.

What can we do to promote more harmony amongst the masses?

Fascism. More seriously, in a country as diverse as this I can't imagine harmony is even a remote possibility. The best we can do is understand differences and even that is asking a lot.

I think this country could easily be more harmonious, especially when people start to realize that there is indeed “class warfare” being done, but it’s being done to them…not the other way around.

^ pretty much what @Elegant Winter said. People have done this since the beginning of time in one way or another.

Can’t we as rational humans rise above this?

 

[Erlian]

The new (upcoming & already largest) divide in my country is based on educational level. People socialise, organise and marry with people with similar education levels. They have the same hobbies and go to the same places.

I think this divide is a lot better than one based on appearance, race, origin or gender. Education level isn't as predetermined as any of the others. Students from all wealth-levels can study here. I know plenty other students at uni that have almost uneducated parents. Obviously this divide will cause problems in understanding between the two sides, but I guess it's better than any previous ones we've had.

 

[bionic]

The new (upcoming & already largest) divide in my country is based on educational level. People socialise, organise and marry with people with similar education levels. They have the same hobbies and go to the same places.

I think this divide is a lot better than one based on appearance, race, origin or gender. Education level isn't as predetermined as any of the others. Students from all wealth-levels can study here. I know plenty other students at uni that have almost uneducated parents. Obviously this divide will cause problems in understanding between the two sides, but I guess it's better than any previous ones we've had.

What country are you from?

 

[Skarekrow]

The new (upcoming & already largest) divide in my country is based on educational level. People socialise, organise and marry with people with similar education levels. They have the same hobbies and go to the same places.

I think this divide is a lot better than one based on appearance, race, origin or gender. Education level isn't as predetermined as any of the others. Students from all wealth-levels can study here. I know plenty other students at uni that have almost uneducated parents. Obviously this divide will cause problems in understanding between the two sides, but I guess it's better than any previous ones we've had.

What country are you from?

That is part of the problem here in the US though.
Our higher education system has been hijacked by privately run universities and colleges who’s tuition is insane.
Throughout the 50’s, 60’s, and into the 70’s what you wrote was probably more true than it is now.
Now we have people stuck in poverty cycles…they can’t afford college, so they take a minimum wage job, that doesn’t pay enough to live on….so the government subsidizes them with help (although it’s fucking hard to get…and it runs out fast).
(all this mind you while the IRS predicts $21 trillion dollars are in offshore accounts to we cannot tax them…meaning the middle/working class pays more for infrastructure and education)
So if they can’t afford to hardly live….how can they go get student loans (usually over $20,000.00…that’s the starting price) to become educated and find a better paying job? The answer is they don’t. They are trapped by their circumstances.

 

[bionic]

Damn, you got fucking real girl…hahaha. I love it. I couldn’t agree more, but I do still have hope that things can eventually change. When I was in HS the kids that were gay were called names, spit on, assaulted, no one did anything about it…not even the staff. That would be totally intolerant now…it has taken two decades but attitudes do change.

That's horrible. I'm not surprised, unfortunately. In HS, I saw other kids wanting to knife others because they were transgender, gay, light skinned Latino, light skinned black, ghetto, Albanian, whatever. Hatred and insecurity ran rampant in my school (I went to public NYC high school). It was pathetic. At that age, you need to feel secure in your environment because you're going through so many identity crises. I feel like it creates more of a hurdle for kids who face discrimination. What pisses me off is that school officials turn a blind eye because they're scared to talk about it. When really, you're agreeing and standing by those kids who discriminate and deserve a punch in the face.

The sad thing with Obama being elected is there has been a missed opportunity to have that discussion about race…instead we get vitriol from the GOP and the southern states…not to mention the racial profiling by the police…that’s utter bullshit IMO…there are “white” people (normal) “white” people…not some Black Panther militant white chick with dreadlocks…haha….there are a lot of us that are not tolerant of racism and aren’t afraid to speak out against it.

I totally agree. There are all kinds of people who are not tolerant. That's the thing though. I feel like racism is becoming less toleratedwhen racism is overt. Unfortunately, I don't think we havetackled "covert" racism where it is implied and the intentionis to demean and make people feel victimized. You don't know or recognizecovert racism until you feel it. So the core of racism isn't really being dealt with.

And I don't think Obama is gonna talk about it on the real since he can't rock the boat because of self-preservation and all that shit you "have to" learn as an adult. Blah blah blah, bi-partisan cooperation, lol. Blah blah blah, diplomacy.

I’m sorry that you have been racial profiled…I think that is terrible.
Did you know that certain police departments are using a predictive program to find potential criminals? There was a 17 year old kid who had a visits from the police who basically harassed and threatened him saying things like “We are watching you, you had better not fuck up.” this was a kid with no record whatsoever…never been in trouble….got good grades…but because he lived here…and was this color…and had friends who were friends with some bad dudes…he gets unduly harassed. This is what the future of police racism holds.

Thanks, I appreciate that. Yeah, its fucked up norm here. Ugh, yeah... I've had some friends who dealt with this. I don't think they ever went to their homes but that is still super extreme. The irony is when I see colored officers doing this. Where is your conscious?

Can’t we as rational humans rise above this?

I hope we can rise above it. I hold onto that hope. I think what upsets me is that whoever I choose to have babies with -- whether it will be a white, black, or asian man... *I* feel obligated to talk to my children about race and how it hurts others. *I* feel obligated to teach them about all the cultures that I am as well as my partners because they need to know where they came from... the good, bad, ugly. I don't want to have the conversation. I don't want to put these thoughts in their minds and teach them that they have to be critical of hateful people. I don't ever want them to feel less or excluded because of their skin colors. I truly wish this issue did not exist but it's reality. I cannot shield them from it, I could only hope that my future kin understands hate and oppression. And that they stick up for others who don't have that support.

 

[Skarekrow]

That's horrible. I'm not surprised, unfortunately. In HS, I saw other kids wanting to knife others because they were transgender, gay, light skinned Latino, light skinned black, ghetto, Albanian, whatever. Hatred and insecurity ran rampant in my school (I went to public NYC high school). It was pathetic. At that age, you need to feel secure in your environment because you're going through so many identity crises. I feel like it creates more of a hurdle for kids who face discrimination. What pisses me off is that school officials turn a blind eye because they're scared to talk about it. When really, you're agreeing and standing by those kids who discriminate and deserve a punch in the face.



I totally agree. There are all kinds of people who are not tolerant. That's the thing though. I feel like racism is becoming less toleratedwhen racism is overt. Unfortunately, I don't think we havetackled "covert" racism where it is implied and the intentionis to demean and make people feel victimized. You don't know or recognizecovert racism until you feel it. So the core of racism isn't really being dealt with.

And I don't think Obama is gonna talk about it on the real since he can't rock the boat because of self-preservation and all that shit you "have to" learn as an adult. Blah blah blah, bi-partisan cooperation, lol. Blah blah blah, diplomacy.



Thanks, I appreciate that. Yeah, its fucked up norm here. Ugh, yeah... I've had some friends who dealt with this. I don't think they ever went to their homes but that is still super extreme. The irony is when I see colored officers doing this. Where is your conscious?



I hope we can rise above it. I hold onto that hope. I think what upsets me is that whoever I choose to have babies with -- whether it will be a white, black, or asian man... *I* feel obligated to talk to my children about race and how it hurts others. *I* feel obligated to teach them about all the cultures that I am as well as my partners because they need to know where they came from... the good, bad, ugly. I don't want to have the conversation. I don't want to put these thoughts in their minds and teach them that they have to be critical of hateful people. I don't ever want them to feel less or excluded because of their skin colors. I truly wish this issue did not exist but it's reality. I cannot shield them from it, I could only hope that my future kin understands hate and oppression. And that they stick up for others who don't have that support.

I agree with everything you wrote.
It isn’t my place to apologize, but fuck, I’m sorry.
My older brother is Gay…I have seen him assaulted…people have threatened his life.
He is the most generous, compassionate person you could meet.
It makes me so sad that this is still happening…that kids are killing themselves over it.

 

[Skarekrow]

Here something to think about.
Someone in another thread doesn’t think our prison system is a money making scheme.
Think again.
It’s racist and wrong.

[video=youtube_share;SonJYh4yl2M]http://youtu.be/SonJYh4yl2M[/video]

Countless lives of undocumented immigrants are being taken and sold for billions of dollars.
Watch the disturbing details unfold and listen to the first-hand accounts of the real cost of private prisons.
SUBSCRIBE http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
WATCH MORE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6vuY...

2:12 Private prisons such as the CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) own over 200 facilities in the nation and makes a profit close to 5 billion dollars per year on inmates.
They rely on anti-immigrant laws like Arizona's SB1070 and copycat laws across the nation for fresh inmates and continual profit.

5:58 Mother and son, Emily and Logan, suffer the repercussions of private prison greed as they commute to her husband's final court date in Georgia, the victim of anti-immigration laws.

8:47 "El Refugio" offers free food and overnight housing for families visiting loved ones in the detention centers.
The CCA tries to prevent this service by escorting anyone handing out fliers off the premises.
Family members share testimonials about how these prisons do not accommodate inmates who have health conditions such as diabetes.

11:22 Public Health Services denied urgent medical attention to detainee, Roberto Marinez-Medina, who was arrested for not having a valid drivers license.
He died a month later.

14:31 American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, pours millions of dollars into creating anti-immigration laws like SB1070 for their own benefit. ALEC "persuades" town officials.
They claim that private prisons cut public budgets, but the reality is different.

17:12 The detention center of Littlefield, TX sucked the town dry.
The city invested a large amount of money into a facility and did not get much in return.
Many businesses closed down and the hospital nearly did as well.

18:40 A former detainee recalls the numerous injustices she lived through in prison.

23:58 The GEO Group, Inc is heavily invested in providing immigration detention services for the federal government.
A mother of a mentally ill man who was detained because of his immigration status shares her story of frustration.
He was beaten by officials and sent to the hospital while in custody.

27:53 An ex-CCA Florida Correctional Officer shares what she has witnessed and why she was terminated.
CCA has made it very difficult for her to find a job.

31:30 Pembroke Pines residents talk about how CCA prisons are affecting their communities.
98% are opposed to the new detention center.

WATCH MORE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6vuY...​

 

[bionic]

I agree with everything you wrote.
It isn’t my place to apologize, but fuck, I’m sorry.
My older brother is Gay…I have seen him assaulted…people have threatened his life.
He is the most generous, compassionate person you could meet.
It makes me so sad that this is still happening…that kids are killing themselves over it.

Aw, thank you. It doesn't destroy me anymore. It just made me aware, more critical, and more opened to SEEING issues in this world. I am honestly happy that I've been through so much because I feel like I've learned more about life than what any education has given me. That shit is priceless.

It kills me too. I think NYC has the highest rate of homeless LGBTs in the country. Its gross that parents and guardians want to demean their kids for being different because they can't handle it. Where is the love? This topic is depressing. :/

 

[Skarekrow]

Aw, thank you. It doesn't destroy me anymore. It just made me aware, more critical, and more opened to SEEING issues in this world. I am honestly happy that I've been through so much because I feel like I've learned more about life than what any education has given me. That shit is priceless.

It kills me too. I think NYC has the highest rate of homeless LGBTs in the country. Its gross that parents and guardians want to demean their kids for being different because they can't handle it. Where is the love? This topic is depressing. :/

I was raised Mormon until I was 16 and my brother came out to my parents.
Do you know how anti-gay the Mormon church is?

My Parents chose my Brother over the religion, because they knew he was a good, kind, beautiful person…and no just God would send him to Hell for a choice he didn’t make.

I will always be grateful they made such a strong decision.

 

[Scientia]

Can’t we as rational humans rise above this?

We haven't yet. There will always be that other, less open mindset. It has been thousands of years and we are still trying to destroy what we don't understand.