If you didn't watch the Golden Globes this past Sunday, Tracy Morgan of the TV show 30 Rock, announced that because Barack Obama won the Presidency of the USA, Tracy was going to accept the awards for the 30 Rock show in a "Post-Racial America". It was a great/funny acceptance speech, very fitting of the show in my opinion, but in reality we are not in a "Post-Racial America".
I am not trying to downplay the historic significance of the President Elect Obama, who has 
arguably done the most for positive ethnic relations since Martin Luther King, rather I am being realistic about people's view points across the nation. I watched countless news programs during the election coverage where reporters found people who were willing to come outright and said they didn't trust Barack Obama because he was black. It is unfortunate to know that people still have fears based off someones appearance, but again that's the reality.
arguably done the most for positive ethnic relations since Martin Luther King, rather I am being realistic about people's view points across the nation. I watched countless news programs during the election coverage where reporters found people who were willing to come outright and said they didn't trust Barack Obama because he was black. It is unfortunate to know that people still have fears based off someones appearance, but again that's the reality.In my opinion, part of the solution for positive ethnic relations is to get people to dialogue about the subject matter. Acknowledging your biases and gaining knowledge of the unknown is the only way to deal with this unwanted subject. This is why I would suggest after you celebrate Martin Luther King day and President Obama's historic inauguration day, visit Community Change, Inc., in Boston, who have developed the Yvonne Pappenheim Library on Racism
This collection has been selected to support the development of racial and multicultural awareness and sensitivity and development of skills for communicating across differences of all kinds. The books, and videos they offer may be a great starting point in which to bridge the cultural divide with your friends, coworkers and family.
Please see their website for more information and who knows maybe with your help, we can live in "Post-Racial America".
Related Posts: Yes We Can Make it a Day On, Dialogue Anyone? Culture in the Workplace
Photo Courtesy of: http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/community/racism.htm
5 comments:
Wow what a great collection. I think that there is really only one thing to hate in this world, and that is intolerance of others. At any time in any of the Gold's gyms in Boston you can see how accepting of others they really are.
Well if your definition of "Post-Racial America" involves a land without a single racist person I guess you are right. We may be waiting a while for that day...
Pretty tough to argue that America is, as a whole, a racist country when we just elected an African American president though. Amazing to think how far we have come since we fought a civil war over race (well it was part of the reason for the Civil War at least).
To Anonymous: I wish I had your optimism in that it was a few "individuals" who still judge someone based off the color of their skin and discriminate thusly. My experience has taught me otherwise, throught my travels accross the USA and the various states where I have called home.
Yes we have come far, I just hope people don't think that the work is over. There is still much to be done to improve "race" relations in the USA.
How about a comment on white privilege -- go to http://mmcisaac.faculty.asu.edu/emc598ge/Unpacking.html
We whites take for granted a lot that we don't even realize.
Like Rev. Lowry said, if we're white, do right.
To Gold's Gym - Man, when I go to the gym I rarely talk to anyone else unless it's a friend! And I think that the diversity at the gym depends on where the gym is located. My gym in Brighton, MA is pretty homogeneous.
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