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JustAnotherGen

(38,058 posts)
29. It does
Thu Dec 12, 2013, 03:29 PM
Dec 2013

My race is well - all over the place.

But I know when dealing with certain people in the dominant culture in America - they want to peg me into a specific one. They have no idea what my mother looks like. They have no idea what my husband looks like. And it wouldn't matter anyways to them - because well - they did the pegging.

That said - I've experienced America in a very specific way which well - colors my world view.

Re Last sentence - It's something my mother has impressed on us (a 67 year old caucasian woman) - and well - it's true.

The Dominant Culture in America is that of white descendents of Europeans. Their ancestors (mine TOO ) put the race card in the deck by policy, beliefs, and behavior. Those policies, beliefs, and behaviors are still in existence today - the minority populations merely react to it. Everyone teaches (I hope) their children to be respectful - yet cautious of the authorities. However, I'm certain my nephews had a stern talking to by their father, my father, their mother, grandmother, etc. etc. about how they specifically must interact with the police.

It's not their fault (my nephews). They didn't do it. They didn't make that police man/woman believe what that police man/woman believes. But they must adjust to that reality in order to survive that person working on behalf of the dominant culture's belief system. Yes I wrote, "survive".

That's just one example - but it's one of many. I certainly hope at DU I don't need to give a full dissertation on the state of race in America. I shouldn't have to that at this site.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I dream for the day madokie Dec 2013 #1
Having been searching for employment lately MyNameGoesHere Dec 2013 #7
But I would hope that you realize ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #35
Yeah and employers would know that too gollygee Dec 2013 #37
Only for EEO tracking purposes ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #41
Don't care, I choose not to identify. MyNameGoesHere Dec 2013 #46
Why deliberately handicap yourself? ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #50
It's not a handicap. MyNameGoesHere Dec 2013 #51
Yes it is ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #52
Disclosing may give you a better case if there is actual discrimination going on. rucky Dec 2013 #62
Thanks Nitram Dec 2013 #2
The best answer DamnYankeeInHouston Dec 2013 #3
Disagree to an extent JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #5
I think some whites fear that they will be treated poorly alfredo Dec 2013 #6
Shows you where their hearts are at JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #9
Call it fear of karma. alfredo Dec 2013 #19
In the words of Momma 1SBM ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #36
My daughter, a teacher, was asked the other day if she was prejudiced Frustratedlady Dec 2013 #4
NAACP........keep it or kill it ? curious how you respond. NM_Birder Dec 2013 #8
What do you think? JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #10
I think the NAACP needs to go away. NM_Birder Dec 2013 #14
Do you mind me asking JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #16
By "one of you"...... NM_Birder Dec 2013 #27
It does JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #29
That was a disertation ? NM_Birder Dec 2013 #32
Nope JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #33
The "notion of 'inequality'" continues to be more than a notion. M0rpheus Dec 2013 #17
Then you just answered why the little race bubbles NEED to be filled out as mentioned in the OP. NM_Birder Dec 2013 #31
I hope I am misreading this ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #40
I assume nothing. M0rpheus Dec 2013 #44
Magnificent Number23 Dec 2013 #48
You need to read this post gollygee Dec 2013 #20
Because ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #38
"all help to keep the notion of "inequality" alive and well." because inequality is alive and well. seabeyond Dec 2013 #65
Very interesting you didn't mention the NRA. NCTraveler Dec 2013 #70
What bullshit. They exist because inequality is alive and well. It's not a "notion." marmar Dec 2013 #71
Inequality is more than just a "notion." (nt) Heidi Dec 2013 #72
Wow. That's a cryptic response. gollygee Dec 2013 #11
read above. NM_Birder Dec 2013 #15
This message was self-deleted by its author HangOnKids Dec 2013 #58
Definitely read the poster's response JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #18
It's an argument that literally makes no sense. As if ignoring racism will somehow make it vanish. nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #64
What kind of question is that? curious how you respond. Glassunion Dec 2013 #12
I can't answer that. LWolf Dec 2013 #13
as a subscriber to the Nation and Mother Jones and donor to PFAW hfojvt Dec 2013 #21
Colored people JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #22
my reaction wasn't as nice as your's -- so i refrained. nt xchrom Dec 2013 #23
Hey JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #24
not my normal term hfojvt Dec 2013 #28
You are correct JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #30
That remark takes me back to an episode of ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #42
was he actually robbed hfojvt Dec 2013 #53
I really don't recall ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #63
Lol! JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #60
I suspect ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #34
I didn't actually say it was a raced base decision hfojvt Dec 2013 #54
Maybe it was your sparkling personality, so often on display here for us at DU. nt. Starry Messenger Dec 2013 #45
say what? I am a nice guy, really. hfojvt Dec 2013 #56
So, let me see if I understand you correctly. Glassunion Dec 2013 #47
my personality is not broken hfojvt Dec 2013 #57
Then would you say that the problems was not so much the personality, Glassunion Dec 2013 #66
probably his supervisor had far more hiring authority hfojvt Dec 2013 #67
So a couple of African American men get a job and you don't gollygee Dec 2013 #68
I didn't say anything about the whole hfojvt Dec 2013 #69
"So I declined." Thank God. Number23 Dec 2013 #49
Well I am a patron here hfojvt Dec 2013 #55
When access to opportunity and power is race-neutral, then you might, might haele Dec 2013 #25
+100 JustAnotherGen Dec 2013 #26
Well Put! n/t 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2013 #43
So three out of four of your grandparents were white? pnwmom Dec 2013 #59
Pretending racism doesn't exist does no one any favors. Even white people, ultimately. nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #61
Nicely written and appreciated. I understand completely. kelliekat44 Dec 2013 #39
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