What is this thing we call race?

“Is Race Real?”

-Race and freedom were born together

The idea that our country was founded on the principle that “All men are created equal,” simply did not apply.  With the economy in the new world based largely on black slavery, this new idea of race explained why some people were denied the rights and freedoms (based solely on the color of their skin) others took for granted.

-Race justified social inequalities as natural

Classifying people doesn’t have to be good or bad.  Unfortunately, as a result of the naturalist tradition of the 18th and 19th centuries, the assumption was made that by classifying human beings according to their skin color, cranial capacity, hair texture, and average height, that a hierarchical order could be established with whites being the most developed.  This was only the beginning of what has become years of social and political classification.  We know now that this sort of naturalist classification of human beings is not accurate.  Even so, more often than not, classifying is used negatively and, as a result, people are still being discriminated against, do not share certain privileges afforded others, and will lack certain opportunities.

-Skin color is only skin deep

Appearance does not always tell us about a person’s ancestry.  As we have seen from the sorting exercise, it is difficult to make an accurate prediction based on appearance (race) alone.

Five privileges I can count on:

-I am never asked to speak on behalf of all “white” people.

-Growing up, I could attend a school in my neighborhood (and not one that I had to ride a bus to across town).

-The history books I studied growing up portrayed people of my color as the national heroes of my country.

-I can turn on the TV or open a magazine and see people of my race widely represented and products for my race readily available.

-I can comfortably (without EVER giving it another thought) walk into a store and never be viewed as “suspicious.”

As with McIntosh, until recently I was simply not aware that I have been a “participant in a damaged culture.”  (McIntosh, 2005).  As a result of this new awareness, I have become increasingly aware of the “privileges” afforded me. 

Below is a link to the World In Conversation Project website.  This site has a good article and CBS News clip that discusses the racial wealth gap in America.

http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/16/the-racial-wealth-gap-and-progress/

A New Civil Rights Movement - It's Complex to Say the Least

When I read articles such as the one written by Bob Herbert, I am often surprised and disturbed. The statistics are alarming and I can't help but wonder why. How could we have come so far and gone nowhere at the same time? In his article, Herbert provides much room for debate on this issue. However, where he does land is in stating that more organized action must be taken and that it will require a very concerted effort to make the change. He states that this responsibility lies with the black community as well as continued pressure on the broader society to meet both its ethical and legal obligations.

I believe that society in general views African Americans much differently than Newt Gingrich. That may be wishful thinking on my part, but growing up in middle class America and in a racially diverse neighborhood, my thought is that us "real folks" have a better understanding of the reality that welfare is not a choice, but a necessity for those in need. And by the way Newt, it's not defined by the color of someone's skin.

African American Families: African Heritage and History

As I begin a second semester blogging I find myself excited at what lies ahead!  This time last semester was my maiden voyage into blogging and I'll have to admit that I was quite nervous.  Now, as I sit at my computer to begin blogging for our African American Families class I look forward to the mutual sharing and community building that is part of this experience!