From: slzm9@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american,misc.education
Subject: Re: What A White Person Learned in College About AfAm Culture
Date: 31 Dec 92 17:38:40 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <1992Dec30.153217.11011@vax.oxford.ac.uk>, mcbean@vax.oxford.ac.uk writes:
> In article <168C91469E.DRPORTER@SUVM.SYR.EDU>, DRPORTER@SUVM.SYR.EDU (Brad Porter) writes:
>> In article <1992Dec18.045728.27773@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
>> ndw2u@curry.edschool.Virginia.EDU (Nicole Danielle Woodard) writes:
>>  
>>>The claim that African-Americans are just like other minorities
>>>that have come to this country is completely erroneous.  From
>>>the moment of our interaction in North America, whites
>>>exploited African-Americans.  Unlike any other minority, the
>>>oppression of African-Americans was legislated by the founders
>>>of this nation since its inception.  The oppression
>>>began with slavery and continued with disfranchisment, Jim Crow
>>>laws, the Black Codes, segregation, and it continues today
>>>through covert forms of oppression.

>> Really?  That's sincere, not sarcastic.  I don't live in the real world,
>> I live in a town in NY with an African-America population of at most 10 out
>> of 3000.  Yet even while I've probably only know 5 or 6 African-Americans
>> personally, I don't think I have a deep-rooted hatred for any minority group.


   You may not but it would be naive of you to assume everyone is like
you. And if you have read anything at all you should have gotten
a clue that outside your picturesque hamlet all is not well. But
unless you are deaf, dumb and blind you must be aware that slavery
was practiced for 400 years. Do you think such institution- and
society-wide acceptance of such a practice leaves no mark on the
ancestors of the slavemasters or the slaves? 


>> At the same time, I'm not qualified to debate what the rest of society
>> believes.  I guess I have a hard time believing there is an underlying
>> prejudice against African-Americans throughout white society.  

   Well it's time to wake up and face reality. In the U.S. there is
a system of thoughts and practices among many races that does
not treat African Americans as full partners in american society
And that is putting it as mildly as I possibly can. Why do you
suppose it is twice as hard for a black person to get a job as
a white person? Why do you suppose a black person makes a small
proportion of a dollar for every dollar (does anyone out there
know the current proportion of the dollar?) a white person makes for
the same job and the same hours?
   I'm not saying other groups don't have these problems. But
it is ridiculous to believe there is no "underlying prejudice
against African-Americans throughout white society."

>> Prejudice is a personal, not societal matter isn't it?  

   No. As far as I know Malcolm X was one of the first African
Americans to state this publicly. In his autobiography he discusses
why individual white people may be moral people exhibiting
little racial bias. But institutions in America and group behavior
seems to elicit racist actions from even upstanding members of the
white community. As I recall he did not delve deply into "why" this
was occurring he merely observed that it did happen.
   Can anyone out there tell me why this happens, or someone  that
has looked into it?


>> My fear however, is that
>> because of AA, I'm going to have an extremely difficult time finding a job -
>> much more difficult than a woman or minority will.  

   The fact of the matter is this just doesn't seem to be true. There
are enough jobs out there that if you are reasonably easy to work with,
get along with other people, do good work and can prove it on your
resume or Curriculum Vitae then being a white male won't stop you
from getting a job. Far from it, it may provide you with an inherent
advantage - that is life today in racist America.

>> Don't get tripped up
>> by this question:  Is is worse for an African-American to be prejudice
>> against a white because his/her ancestors were slave-holders, or is it
>> worse for a white to be prejudiced against an African-American because
>> his/her ancestors were slaves?
   
   Both are, in my opinion, morally incorrect. But ask yourself this question:
If it is true that African Americans have suffered from 100 years of
subtle discrimination in American education, society and politics since 
the end of the civil war - is it wrong to give them an advantage in
getting into universities, getting jobs, or providing economic infra-
structure in their communites? For examply, what if that advantage only makes
up the difference between the current ability of whites to get into
undergraduate institutions and the ability of blacks that are fighting
poorer school systems, biased college entrance exams, and less
income in their families. 
   

> If it is so much more difficult for a white man to get a job why is it that
> unemployment among blacks is on average twice that among whites?  Get a clue.

  Sometimes the personal experience of a person is not the same as yours.
If it is true  that this person has not experienced racial discrimination
then it isn't that amazing that they should worry about getting a job.
That's what all HUMANS are worried about.

> Are you concerned that African-Americans will be refused jobs because of
> discrimination? 
> 
> It amazes me how people act surprised that after generations of continuing
> discrimination that blacks would express a dislike for white people.  It's
> called human nature.  Not everybody subsribes to the dictum "Love those that
> despisefullly use you".

   But not everyone is ready to throw in the towel and claim all white
people are out to get African Americans either. Some, including Martin
Luther King and Malcolm X (later in life), recognized there were sincere
white americans trying to stop discrimination in this country. You don't
have to love those white americans but you do have to respect them -
they have observed a wrong and are working to correct it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peace, but not without justice,

Zip  
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american