Thoughts on life, love and faith by Plasticmind.

9 April 20061. ms mimi:

Sometimes we view the world where we are; this woman, who obviously was dealing with the drama of having three kids looked at you and projected a perception, that may or may not have been true based on her expereince wuth people in a different income bracket, mos of whom happen not to look like her.

Nothing wrong with a little self reflection; it is always good for the soul. For me as a black person, I know I'm not immune to my own bias and prejudice. I also recognize that I am more cognizant of racism than someone who is non-black, because unless you live in an environment where you're reminded of your race, you won't notice racism.

I related to that scene in Something New, where Sanaa Lathan's character tells her white love interest that being Black means you don't get a night off. I think that is true. I have dated interracially, but not a white man for that reason. I feel that I spend so much time being told I am being over sensitive and paranoid about racism that if I heard it from my mate I'd flip. I often wonder if that is fair.

I don't think that all white people are predisposed to being rabid racists. I think more often than not that many are unaware of my expereince, or put off by it so I don't bother to share honestly. Maybe that is the problem. If we had more honest conversation, I think, at least at the human level we could deal with the institutional issues.

9 April 20063. jsottkill:

The more I see your site, the more I like it.

10 April 20064. jscottkill:

RYC: By the way, there are only 5 chinese brothers

11 April 20065. Haley Killian:

I think stereo-typing is unavoidable. People just think certain ways about other people. Some of the time, they are true. I wish we could wipe the black vs. white slate clean and start over. I'm sick of feeling like there's unresolved issues with people I don't even know. But since people are not perfect, we'll have to do the best we can. I think you did well in answering that lady. (I can't believe she said that to you.) You tried to show her God's love--love that doesn't see color--what more can you do? But I know how you feel. Paranoid that you're a racist when you know you're not. It's crazy.

11 April 20066. Haley E. Killian:

sorry that printed 3 times. I couldn't get my comment to post. Apparently, it was.

19 April 20067. Yellowhead:

I think one possible step that can be made is frequent exposure. Become more vulnerable. Avail yourself to more difficult testing. But don't think words will always change people.

28 April 20068. make money online:

Great article, that was interesting

4 May 20069. Jesse...:

I am a black Trinidadian.. and in my country, it is not just about black versus white.. It is Indian versus Negro... and the both groups envy the whites. Just about everyone in Trinidad associates white people with wealth, power and prestige.

I was appalled when one day I went into a store in one of the big malls here, and a store-clerk, a complete stranger, suddenly began to relate how much she despised being dark-skinned because guys never really paid her much attention and how much she wished she could be white. She believed that fair skin was far more beautiful than what she was born with.

All I could feel is pity.. I could not immediately understand the extent of her feelings in regard to blackness nor could I could fully comprehend why she would drive herself to depression but I could relate.... because sometimes I too, feel disadvantaged and intimidated by white people.
This is the result of neo-colonialism in the Caribbean and everywhere slavery existed. It is something that persists in each new generation and is embedded our minds that we are less beautiful, less worthy, less human because we are black. It will take a verrry long time before this kind of thinking is eradicated.

I will leave you with Bob Marley's words: Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds