I was inspired to write this post by recent comments I heard from people close to me (no names here as I don't want to throw anyone 'under the bus'). The comments regarded African Americans, but are in no way limited to that sub-section of the American populace. To set the scene for this monologue, I will venture back in time to the era of my first 'girlfriend', circa 4th or 5th grade. I was 'dating' an African American girl and our relationship was as lovely, unserious, and silly as any 4th/5th grade relationship could be. Looking back through the somewhat foggy lens of past, I never thought her skin color to be odd or different or abnormal or honestly anything to inspire a negative passing thought. She was half-black, half-white and I was (and am) pale and resemble a vampire. A year or so passed, and she moved somewhere north and we stopped talking. I don't remember missing her, though I did call her several years later, but was too shy to talk to her.
I digress, and I'll return to the recent history. I was in College and was attracted to a smart and confident African American individual. I wanted to pursue her, but never really had the chance as I was between relationships. Anyway, I was told by one individual to avoid her. I was taken aback and asked why. This individual responded that white and black relationships don't work, because blacks are so 'different'. I was shocked, saddened and angry. I couldn't believe that people still think that way. I felt as if the victories of the African American equality movement were not as complete as I had hoped. This same individual (typically not a overt racist) recently reiterated that whites and blacks shouldn't be together, because of 'differences' (this argument was also used against Muslims). These differences were never promulgated, but then again, I wasn't listening much at that point.
The other comments to be exposed, are the constant stereotypes I hear of this or that hypothetical African American being a gangster or a marathon runner or a basket ball player. These stereotypes have sickened and saddened me. Have many of us simply internalized and repressed racism and bigotry? The Researchers behind one Harvard/U. of Virginia/U. of Washington project think so:
The 'Implicit Association Test' was designed to monitor implicit associations and biases, such as racial stereotypes, that individuals make in snap judgements. The IAT doesn't measure overt racism or misogyny, etc...it measures the snap associations we make when we read/hear certain words or look at specific pictures representing/depicting particular ethnic groups. The authors suggest that many individuals are implicitly racist, even though most of us will never recognize this. You can take the test here
So, what can we do to combat implicit or explicit racism? Firstly, we can refuse to take part in ethnic stereotypes, e.g. stop spreading unfair and untrue rumors and'observations' about different ethnic groups. Humor is liberating, but some 'jokes' smack of hatred and not humor. Secondly, we can try to root out the implicit stereotypes that we may harbor. We can do this by stopping ourselves when untrue and negative stereotypes enter our mind, albeit briefly, and change those thoughts to better reflect reality. We can also ensure that negative examples of each ethnic group are not the only individuals we think of when we think of that group, e.g. hitler for the Germans, Stalin for the russians, etc etc. Education is not a panacea, but certainly helps to combat racism.
I am heartened by the election of Barack Obama for many reasons, but the fact that he is half- Black is a testament to the fact that we are healing as a nation-albeit slowly. I hope we are healing-it breaks my heart to hear people close to me anathematize an interracial/interethnic relationship.
Love to hear your comments.
Thanks for reading!
Cameron
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I think you come close, but missed a crucial aspect in your race discussion--the aspect of YOUR race and how it affects your 1) perceptions of race, 2) interactions with race, and 3) ability to talk about race.
ReplyDeleteI used to secretly congratulate myself on being 'color blind' only to learn--sadly, quite late in life--that this colorblindness wasn't something about which to congratulate myself. Instead, it was rooted in the very thing I took for granted: MY RACE (Caucasian). My race is one of privilege. My ability to be 'colorblind' was not rooted in my open-mindedness, but instead in my privilege. . .the privilege to BE colorblind. Because, when I was 8, 9, 15, 18, 21, etc I never had to wonder "did she just look at me that way because of the color of my skin?" "did I get in trouble because I'm [insert skin color here]". I was privileged to be oblivious to such things.
Your discussion of race is decent and necessary, but, of yet, incomplete. In my opinion, each of us can only, truly understand what it is to be US in our context in the world. Everything else that we see or understand we must recognize that we are doing so through OUR lens. There's no shame in this, but no truth without it, either.
Also, half-black is technically bi-racial, which-per the bi-racial movement-is an emerging race of itself. . .of which individuals are striving to seek solidarity, a sense of pride in being 'mixed.' Sadly, our nation HASN'T progressed, not because Obama is 'half-black'as you say, but instead because he--for whatever reason--can't, or won't, claim that he is, in fact bi-racial.
Dani,
ReplyDeleteFirstly, thank you for commenting. I appreciate your thoughts and comments. I don't believe myself to be colorblind, but simply do not remember contemplating my then girlfriend's skin color or the color of her family. I do not remember it as a matter deserving a second thought.I never will claim to be colorblind or to be supra-human in general.
I completely agree that perception is a powerful force, but adamantly disagree that we should narrow our intellectual focus to our context and the word as seen through our context. I think such an approach inevitably leads to intellectual laziness and stymies empathy. We can and should realize that our view is one of billions and is surely a narrow and distorted view.
However, empathy in its very nature requires stepping outside our narrow perceptions and redoubling our efforts to see the world from different perspectives, to challenge our beliefs (i am far from this). By doing so, we not only alter our perceptions and filters, but in fact, change our neuronal configuration and thus change our brains. Our perspectives can and will change with contemplation and the re-organization of our brains.
None of this has much to do with my post, however. My intent was simply to establish my being flummoxed at a racism i didn't understand (while journeying down memory lane) and a acknowledgement that implicit racism may be afflicting many, including myself, without one's conscious approval.
I disagree strongly with your assertion that the 'nation HASN'T progressed...' because Obama will not use the more modern, and perhaps, appropriate terminology for his ethnicity. I find it hard to believe that American, a nation scarred by slavery, segregation, and hiring discrimination, has not progressed by electing the son of a Kenyan man and a white mother. This would be unthinkable some 40 years ago (perhaps i am being generous as interracial marriage was finally completely legalized in 1967 and before then Obama (and his parents) would have been ostracized). America's progress is self-evident and should not be determined or constrained entirely by the use or non-use of new terminology-as appropriate as it may be.
Thanks again for commenting!
I've always thought the Implicit Association Test was extremely interesting. I think that implicit racism has probably been wired into our genes somehow. I think this is changeable, but it will probably take a few generations to root it out at the very least. Thanks for the post and your comments Cam-Cam.
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