Just When I Thought We Were Progressing As A Society...
My friend called me as I was getting ready for work, and told me to look at a post that was made in our Yahoo group. Now usually I don't pay any attention to posts, because most of them are not pertaining to me. However, this one could not be ignored. Below is a copy of the exact post. Warning: ignorance is abundant in this post, and may not be
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I was referring to some old notes from my Pschyology 310 Class: Race, Stereotypes, Prejudices and my Sociology 313 Class: The World of A Minority.
The professors talked in great length about the characteristics of racism. They also gave the distinction between being "racially prejudice" and "committing act of racial discrimination or racism". According to UN International Conventions, "the term "racial discrimination" or "racism" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life." According to this, a person calling someone a name, or telling them that they are inferior, is being "racially prejudice". However when that person excludes them from opportunities based of their belief of that person's racial inferiority, that is "racism". Usually, in order to commit racial discrimination of a group or person, you have to be in a position of power over that group or person. Otherwise, racial discrimination can't occur with two entities of equal standing. That is why I used that definition. Now of course, I agree that a minority can commit acts of racism against the majority. (ex. if a white person wants to work at a black radio station and is denied that right because the radio station thinks he or she cannot effectively connect to its target audience.) That is racism, plain and simple. However, generally speaking since whites are the majority in America and hold the majority of the dominant positions of power, minorities usually are forced into the subordinate role of society.
This is why racism is so debatable. There is so much more than just calling someone a name. And different people have their different versions of what racism really is.
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Minority sub role in society:
Well in a multiracial/multi-ethnic society, there is a dominant culture and there are subordinate cultures. The dominant culture sets the framework of how society is perceived and what kind of values are set. For instance, America's dominant religion is mainly some form of Christianity. Therefore most people's values, their beliefs, etc. are based on Christian principles and values. It manifests in our legal system, our trade and services, our government, etc. Though there are other religions practiced here, they are in a subordinate position to the dominant one. Because of Christianity's ubiquitous manifestation in society, other people following different faiths are forced to work within the framework of what people following the Christian faith have set. It is why you see presidential candidates always mentioning the fact that they are Christian, mainly because most Americans are Christians, and gathering the votes needed to win the election, they have to factor in what Christians want; therefore, the Christian block influences the national culture. Now the subordinate religion can had an effect of society as well, however their effect is far less minimal than the majority religion.
The black girl calling you the N word is like a whole other subject entirely. :) Depending on the context, she probably considered you cool, and let her guard down, bringing you into the colloquialisms of black society. So keep on pimpin' the game, n**ga!!
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