2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumEver Since the Z. Verdict I Find Myself Noticing Black Men and Boys...
more than I used to. I'm always wondering if they are worried, if they don't feel welcome wherever we are (restaurants, stores, streets). I know that if I ever see anyone hassling one of them, I'll step in somehow. I've always been one to get involved when someone is bullied, but now I actually look for situations. Here in Northern Virginia there is a lot of diversity so nobody really sticks out. So far I haven't seen a problem, but I find myself paying attention to every black male face and offering a silent little blessing just in case.
That slogan "God Bless America" has always bugged me because it's so often used by those who consider America so much more exceptional than the rest of the world. But these days GOD HELP AMERICA often comes to mind.
We are going to have to be "our brothers' keepers" in big political and small daily ways if we are ever going to change our corrupt for-profit prison industry and the irrational hatefulness of racism.
AndyA
(16,993 posts)She knew I was there, we were shopping in the same area, and looking at the same things. I asked her if she'd ever bought a particular product before, and she acted startled and kind of jumped.
I told her I was sorry, I didn't mean to scare her, and she said, "Oh, it's not you, I'm just nervous these days" with a strained smile.
She said that she had bought that before, and I asked her if she liked it. She said it was OK, but that she and her family preferred another brand, which was what she always bought, and told me why. I told her that was good enough for me, put that one in my cart, and thanked her.
I felt bad for her. Later, I passed her in another aisle and thanked her again for being my "professional shopping expert." She laughed, and said sometimes she wished she had one.
I think she was in a better mood after that, she seemed to have a hint of a smile on her face as she went on and shopped. It reminded me that sometimes all it takes is being nice to people to make their day a little better, and being nice takes zero effort.
I wondered if the Trayvon Martin trial had anything to do with her nervousness.
polichick
(37,152 posts)I really don't know how black mothers can ever relax.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)about:
1. How black boys should conduct themselves in public
2. What to do when stopped by police
3. What to do when being followed
4. How to dress and talk when interacting with whites
All these issues serve as evidence that race is still very important.
Everyone jumped down Geraldo's throat for his disgusting comments, but in a way, he's right. It's a sad reality. For all those who claim that they wouldn't have profiled Trayvon Martin, there are a lot more who would.
I think there's been a great deal of dishonesty about race in this country. White people have a very difficult time coming to terms with it because many truly believe that they are not racist. But racial bias is a reality. And until we start being more honest about race and how it impacts us, especially on a *psychological* level, I think we'll make a great deal of progress.
I thank you so much for your post. I thank everyone for this entire thread.
I think that surrounding ourselves constantly with people who are unlike us will help a great deal to combat *psychological* racism or internalized bias. The more we interact, the more we will make progress on race relations in the country.
But sweeping it under the rug; dismissing it; claiming that it doesn't exist or that things have gotten better so black should just stop being sensitive...all these attitudes make it that much harder to achieve progress.
polichick
(37,152 posts)I feel like we're in a living nightmare - as if all the gains of the 60s have vanished.
It makes me so sad to think about the conversations you have to have with your children. My own sons wore their hair down to the middle of their backs in high school and college - they're artists and a little rough around the edges sometimes. They were profiled and pulled over by so many cops who were suspicious of long-haired guys, so I told them to be polite to the police but never offer info without an attorney because it's impossible to tell a good cop from a bad cop. Still, they could have cut their hair any time (they did every once in a while and donated it to Locks of Love) - but the color of skin and racism is a whole other thing.
It's funny - last year for my birthday I bought myself two photographs from an art gallery. The shots were taken at The Alternative Media Conference in Vermont, 1970. ("alternative media" way before the internet!) The photos show some "hippies" at a music event - one is of people joyfully dancing or quietly listening to the music and the other is of two topless girls lying in the grass. I bought them to remind myself of the energy and hopefulness I felt back then growing up - but I had no idea that now, a year later, I'd feel as if we have to start all over again.
Thank you for sharing - if we all stick together we'll get there!
enough
(13,262 posts)other than being friendly. I really do think "our brothers' and sisters' keeper is going to have to come to the fore.
polichick
(37,152 posts)For now we can fight for a new voters' rights bill - and also show up and wait with those who are forced to wait in long lines to vote.
We can press our reps to dismantle the immoral for-profit prison system - and press our president to pardon those who are in jail for non-violent drug offenses, and also to stop the "war on drugs," which is really all about that prison system and obscene pharmaceutical profits.
There will be more and more to do - but little everyday things will count too I think.
Dawgs
(14,755 posts)One was just walking down the street and the other was sitting in front of an office building. Both had the hoodies pulled over their head.
I think the black community was affected by this a lot more than many of us whites realize.
polichick
(37,152 posts)because I'm always cold in restaurants. No matter how out of place that ratty hoodie is, nobody ever looks at me funny for wearing it (except my husband sometimes) - but lately I can't resist putting the hood up.
Bless those young men you saw - we're all Trayvon now.
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)Those of us who give a rip, and I think there are a lot of us, have to step it up.
God Help America, indeed.
polichick
(37,152 posts)I remember thinking these same things as a little girl.
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)to a lot of the crap going on right now and I shake my head "Not this same old crap again"....I cannot believe we are going to be forced to fight these battles all over again. Antiwar, Anti-racism, Anti-misogynism.
polichick
(37,152 posts)were just a dream - and real life is the nightmare!
2Design
(9,099 posts)just very different internally for me
polichick
(37,152 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)I just don't see how anyone can argue that it wasn't manslaughter. I don't want to even deal with what this country is when it comes to hate. It crushes all hope and all fairness and all joy.
polichick
(37,152 posts)"What a fucked up country" this week.
Punkingal
(9,522 posts)I feel the same way you do, but living in Tennessee and hearing racist comments as a matter of course from people, I've always done that. I wish I didn't feel it was necessary, and I hope it isn't seen as somehow being condescending.
People are just people to me, and beyond noticing someone's skin color at first meeting, I forget about it and just interact with them as a human being. I was brought up among racists and at a very early age I thought it was beyond stupid to think skin color matters. I wish more people would do that, instead of just accepting the racism they are taught.
polichick
(37,152 posts)until people bend their beautiful minds and pollute their generous hearts.
I once heard a three year old respond to adults talking about white and black people. The boy looked very confused and said, "But everybody's brown."