Comments on: “black” history? http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/02/02/black-history/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:23:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Trev http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/02/02/black-history/#comment-661 Trev Mon, 06 Feb 2006 12:24:47 +0000 http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/?p=157#comment-661 Okay people, I have avoided posting a comment, but felt the need to point out something that has not been discussed. Racism, along with all other kinds of prejudice, is of course always going to be a part of a fallen world, and is of course just another tool of the devil. Has bias against non-whites become less a part of "the system", government, etc. Yes, I think so. But the evil one has succeeded also in elevating the level of prejudice of "minorities" against "whites." Which again demonstrates that personal bias against people that are different from you in some way (race, religion, economic status) will always be something that Christians need to battle within themselves, their church, and communities. SO, is Black History Month "necessary?" Well personally, I think that the battle of racism is not going to be won, or even advanced, simply by having a government-sponsored "month." Racism, just like other sin, is a battle for the heart and mind of individuals that need to be won to Christ. We can't expect the secular, non-believing world to eliminate racism from the culture, Black History Month or not. It just won't happen. Okay people, I have avoided posting a comment, but felt the need to point out something that has not been discussed. Racism, along with all other kinds of prejudice, is of course always going to be a part of a fallen world, and is of course just another tool of the devil. Has bias against non-whites become less a part of “the system”, government, etc. Yes, I think so. But the evil one has succeeded also in elevating the level of prejudice of “minorities” against “whites.” Which again demonstrates that personal bias against people that are different from you in some way (race, religion, economic status) will always be something that Christians need to battle within themselves, their church, and communities. SO, is Black History Month “necessary?” Well personally, I think that the battle of racism is not going to be won, or even advanced, simply by having a government-sponsored “month.” Racism, just like other sin, is a battle for the heart and mind of individuals that need to be won to Christ. We can’t expect the secular, non-believing world to eliminate racism from the culture, Black History Month or not. It just won’t happen.

]]> By: Lex http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/02/02/black-history/#comment-657 Lex Sat, 04 Feb 2006 17:23:30 +0000 http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/?p=157#comment-657 Why would a child notice a person's <strong>eye</strong> color, but not a person's <strong>skin</strong> color? Doesn't that strike both of you (Chris & Jeff) as both unlikely and unnatural? Not even adults remember eye color all the time. Skin is extremely noticeable. In fact, a child who doesn't mention skin color is probably either describing a person of his/her own skin color, or, was told it's wrong to ever mention another person's skin color. Kids aren't born racist, but they aren't born blind to melanin, either. To avoid mentioning skin color seems too repressive to be healthy, to me. I'm just not buying this, Chris. It reminds me of people who rail against therapy, saying that we shouldn't dwell on the past. The truth is, the past affects us whether we acknowledge it or not. Racism is still a serious problem, and it's a systemic problem. Yes, our nation is better now than it's ever been, in terms of eliminating racism. How do you think it got that way? I think it was through action and education. Why would a child notice a person’s eye color, but not a person’s skin color? Doesn’t that strike both of you (Chris & Jeff) as both unlikely and unnatural? Not even adults remember eye color all the time. Skin is extremely noticeable. In fact, a child who doesn’t mention skin color is probably either describing a person of his/her own skin color, or, was told it’s wrong to ever mention another person’s skin color. Kids aren’t born racist, but they aren’t born blind to melanin, either. To avoid mentioning skin color seems too repressive to be healthy, to me.

I’m just not buying this, Chris. It reminds me of people who rail against therapy, saying that we shouldn’t dwell on the past. The truth is, the past affects us whether we acknowledge it or not. Racism is still a serious problem, and it’s a systemic problem. Yes, our nation is better now than it’s ever been, in terms of eliminating racism. How do you think it got that way? I think it was through action and education.

]]> By: Jeff http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/02/02/black-history/#comment-656 Jeff Sat, 04 Feb 2006 01:48:03 +0000 http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/?p=157#comment-656 I would like to respond to a few issues that have been brought out in comments that followed mine. First, with regards to Nicole's comment about my "weird argument". I simply intended the remark about racial-related school clubs to have been the catalyst for my thinking about the issue. It is not an argument. It just got me thinking about why we voluntarily make racial distinctions today when it is racial distinction that is so troublesome to some people. Furthermore, Nicole's subsequent "pleasantville" comment is a misinterpretation. If you will notice, I said that culture is great (something everyone seems to be agreed upon) thus debunking any idea that we should all become culturally homogeneous. I think there is (or can be) a balance of celebrating your uniqueness and ancestoral heritage without being divisive. Second, Lex's comment about the sampling used by Chris. His claim is that he has seen plenty of racist kids. While I tend to agree with Chris that most children don't think about race like children did in generations past, I think that Lex's point just illustrates one of the ideas that Chris and I have been advocating -- that race is focused on to the point where it is still an issue for people. I think that children's racist attitudes should probably be attributed to nurture (not nature) and so we have their family, friends, and society to thank for the manifestation of racial attitudes in them. Also, Lex remarked that ignoring race won't make racism go away. I don't know if it will automatically solve the problem, but maybe focusing less on our skin color differences will help us get to the point were people don't think about others as white, black, or brown...but as people. Obviously the best solution to racism would be to eliminate hate from the human mind and spirit. Unfotunately, that is a difficult task. I just was thinking that pointing out our racial differences so often may perpetuate the problem. I would like to respond to a few issues that have been brought out in comments that followed mine. First, with regards to Nicole’s comment about my “weird argument”. I simply intended the remark about racial-related school clubs to have been the catalyst for my thinking about the issue. It is not an argument. It just got me thinking about why we voluntarily make racial distinctions today when it is racial distinction that is so troublesome to some people. Furthermore, Nicole’s subsequent “pleasantville” comment is a misinterpretation. If you will notice, I said that culture is great (something everyone seems to be agreed upon) thus debunking any idea that we should all become culturally homogeneous. I think there is (or can be) a balance of celebrating your uniqueness and ancestoral heritage without being divisive. Second, Lex’s comment about the sampling used by Chris. His claim is that he has seen plenty of racist kids. While I tend to agree with Chris that most children don’t think about race like children did in generations past, I think that Lex’s point just illustrates one of the ideas that Chris and I have been advocating — that race is focused on to the point where it is still an issue for people. I think that children’s racist attitudes should probably be attributed to nurture (not nature) and so we have their family, friends, and society to thank for the manifestation of racial attitudes in them. Also, Lex remarked that ignoring race won’t make racism go away. I don’t know if it will automatically solve the problem, but maybe focusing less on our skin color differences will help us get to the point were people don’t think about others as white, black, or brown…but as people. Obviously the best solution to racism would be to eliminate hate from the human mind and spirit. Unfotunately, that is a difficult task. I just was thinking that pointing out our racial differences so often may perpetuate the problem.

]]> By: Rachel http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/02/02/black-history/#comment-655 Rachel Fri, 03 Feb 2006 22:54:50 +0000 http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/?p=157#comment-655 Chris, I also read your site from time to time but have never commented. So, I apologize that the first time I do is in opposition to what you've written. I am so thankful that Nicole and Lex have spoken up. I agree with what both of them have had to say, but feel very compelled to add my own thoughts. Like Nicole said, please read this in the tone that it is written--one of concern, not condemnation. And, for some reason, I can't open and listen to the interview with Morgan Freeman, so my response does not include any reaction to whatever he may have said. (Maybe I should listen to it before I write so as to understand better the context of your arguments. Sorry.) Anyway... Just yesterday, I was visiting with three colleagues of mine. I am white. They are all black. We are all educated, and we all work in higher education. They were talking about the kinds of reactions they get when they visit with clients--overt surprise, maybe even shock--about their positions in the business world. Basically, each of them had instances where clients have questioned where they went to school, where they grew up, where they live now, what their parents do (?!), etc. Each of my colleagues has very recent instances of being made to feel "less than" because of their race, even in the world of higher education and business, even in metropolitan areas, even in 2006. So, to say that racism ended with the '60's is wrong and it perpetuates the very ignorance that "Black History Month" attempts to dispell. I also disagree with your comment that there is an effort to make racism an issue again, but maybe you can clarify that. You mention political tactics--can you elaborate? Personally, I can't think of a time when its ever been a non-issue. Can you? I also question that we should even make race a non-issue. Though we never want to qualify a person because of their race (or gender, or religious preference, or even sexual preference) it doesn't change the fact that those realities still exist for that person. Race is not who or what a person is, but I believe it is a part of person's identity and it informs their view of the world. Thus, diversity. I believe the purpose of Black History month is to educate ourselves (and our parents and our children) about a time of oppression and degradation so that we are aware of what it looks like and sounds like and feels like--so that maybe we won't allow it to happen again. And the other purpose is to recognize and remember those agents of change--the Martin Luther King, Jr's and the Rosa Parks'--so that we might learn from their boldness and their foresight and their courage. They are heroes and they should be celebrated as such. Chris,

I also read your site from time to time but have never commented. So, I apologize that the first time I do is in opposition to what you’ve written.

I am so thankful that Nicole and Lex have spoken up. I agree with what both of them have had to say, but feel very compelled to add my own thoughts. Like Nicole said, please read this in the tone that it is written–one of concern, not condemnation. And, for some reason, I can’t open and listen to the interview with Morgan Freeman, so my response does not include any reaction to whatever he may have said. (Maybe I should listen to it before I write so as to understand better the context of your arguments. Sorry.) Anyway…

Just yesterday, I was visiting with three colleagues of mine. I am white. They are all black. We are all educated, and we all work in higher education. They were talking about the kinds of reactions they get when they visit with clients–overt surprise, maybe even shock–about their positions in the business world. Basically, each of them had instances where clients have questioned where they went to school, where they grew up, where they live now, what their parents do (?!), etc. Each of my colleagues has very recent instances of being made to feel “less than” because of their race, even in the world of higher education and business, even in metropolitan areas, even in 2006. So, to say that racism ended with the ’60’s is wrong and it perpetuates the very ignorance that “Black History Month” attempts to dispell.

I also disagree with your comment that there is an effort to make racism an issue again, but maybe you can clarify that. You mention political tactics–can you elaborate? Personally, I can’t think of a time when its ever been a non-issue. Can you?

I also question that we should even make race a non-issue. Though we never want to qualify a person because of their race (or gender, or religious preference, or even sexual preference) it doesn’t change the fact that those realities still exist for that person. Race is not who or what a person is, but I believe it is a part of person’s identity and it informs their view of the world. Thus, diversity.

I believe the purpose of Black History month is to educate ourselves (and our parents and our children) about a time of oppression and degradation so that we are aware of what it looks like and sounds like and feels like–so that maybe we won’t allow it to happen again. And the other purpose is to recognize and remember those agents of change–the Martin Luther King, Jr’s and the Rosa Parks’–so that we might learn from their boldness and their foresight and their courage. They are heroes and they should be celebrated as such.

]]> By: Lex http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/02/02/black-history/#comment-654 Lex Fri, 03 Feb 2006 21:23:38 +0000 http://brewingthoughts.com/blog/?p=157#comment-654 Chris, I'm not sure kids which you've talked to, but I'd question your sample size. I've seen racism in very young kids (and I wouldn't blame Black History Month for that, by the way). Racism didn't just end in the sixties, and ignoring it won't make it go away. Chris, I’m not sure kids which you’ve talked to, but I’d question your sample size. I’ve seen racism in very young kids (and I wouldn’t blame Black History Month for that, by the way). Racism didn’t just end in the sixties, and ignoring it won’t make it go away.

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