The Hidden Racisim

A week ago today my Regional Director about the assassination of MLK and how things have and haven't changed in the last 40 years.

Sometimes our opinions flow along the same line and for most of this conversation it did. But what never ceases to amaze me is how some white people really don't have a huge grip on the real reality. Especially when it comes to institutional racism, which is where our opinions separated... not because he didn't agree, but because he didn't realize.We both agreed that yes we have come quite a long way but there is still a long way to go.

To drive home my point... I attempted to give him a few examples of institutional racism:

1. Have you ever noticed when it comes to the traffic report on the news, that they only focus on predominantly affluent or white traffic patterns and neighborhoods. The only time DC news stations even mention Prince George's County is if there is a major accident... even when 270 from Gaithersburg is free and clear.

2. The tying of school funding to their neighborhood property values instead of set rate per student across the board.

3. Or because the terrorist that are believed to have brought down the Trade Center... now never can an Arab American fly on a commercial flight without stares and eyes of wonder.

4. To bring the point home a little closer, I brought up a situation that happened last week when an existing client was reassigned to me because the organization delt with African American athletes. I was told, "I am sure you can get these guys to produce more than what they have in the past." However I don't think there was a malicious intent behind this and let him know that.

I think we have come a long way from April 4, 1968 but I often wonder will we ever live in a colorless society?

3 comments:

Darius T. Williams said...

You know what...we probably never will live in a colorless society. You should check out my old pastor's blog - www.clarencestowers.com. He blogged yesterday about something similar and I commented there...we still have a long way to go.

Chet said...

No we will never ever live in a colorless society. It would be nice, but it just can't be not now or ever at least in our lifetime.

They are as hateful today as they were forty years ago, sad, but true.

BPS 4.0 : Soul Exposure said...

Even if we were colorless we would still find a reason to segregate ourselves whether it be women/men, gay/straight, rich/poor, religious preference, etc.

So no we will never be a colorless society just as we will never stop discriminating against each other for all other categories.

It's what comes with being America, a closed minded, "free" society and that is what irks other countries about us. So I choose to just do me and fight the good fight.