3/30/09
My last blog and my last paper left off with me wondering how to have a conversation about racism or race. Well, guess what? I finally did it. I got over my fear and just made it happen. There was a lot of arguing, but I'll write out the run-down of the situation:
I was at dinner one night after practice with the cross country / distance track team. I'm not sure what the conversation had been going on before it all happened, but, one of the guys on the team said, "You can say something racist or a racist joke and not actually be racist." Here was my turn to jump in. I had the option of just sitting there and listening to whatever conversation was about to go on, or I could say something.
Me: "John - did you just say that you can say something racist and not actually be racist?"
John: "Yeah...?"
Me: "Well, isn't saying racist things perpetuating racism? So, by doing this, wouldn't you actually be continuing racism? If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."
That's how it all got started.
Somehow, the topic changed to if black people could be racist. I, of course, used my knowledge that I had gained in this class, to say no, that racism is "a system of advantage based on race." That only the oppressor could be the racist. So I explained that only white people can be racist. But then the question (very similar to what Aaron had proposed in class near the beginning of the semester) of if you're in an all-minority location, can't those people be racist against white people? I explained that that would be prejudice - not racism, because racism ("a system of advantage") exists at a societal level.
So someone tried to argue that in Australia (I think that was the example they used?) that over 50% of the population is Black - so since that country's majority is Black does that make them the domineering race? Would this "system of advantage" assist these people? I explained that I didn't know a lot about the culture and social structure of Australia, so I didn't know the answer to that question.
I tried to explain that the DEFINITION of racism was this system of advantage based on race. Then I got people arguing with me about who made the definition and why is it the definition. Geez. I just explained to them that it was the psychological definition - I didn't know otherwise. But then I tried to use the metaphor of sexism - it's a "system of advantage based on sex." I explained that men can only be sexist, not women. Wow. Did people freak out about that one. Two of my male teammates explained to me that they were not hired by female women for a job because she was sexist. I explained, well, she's not sexist because she's not putting women down, but she very well is prejudiced, and what she did is wrong. But, by the standards of the definition - she is not sexist.
This conversation was ridiculous. I really felt like everyone at the table was attacking me with these arguments that just aren't correct. It makes me think about what I can do for my action plan to help people understand actual definitions and understand what it is that they argue so passionately about. How can you make a valid argument about something if you don't even have the correct definition about what it is. I'd really like to help get rid of some of the ignorance on this campus.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The race issue in Australia is really different, to say the least. First, the country is much newer. It was taken over by the British and we all, I think, know it as the place where prisoners were shipped to. Although there are many Black people there the dominating race is White people. It doesn't matter what the majority and minority are, it matters who is in the position of power. In the case of Australia, the dominating race is White, just like it is in America. I think your friend should ask himself, "Will the Hispanic population in this country take over soon because they are distend to be the majority popluation within the next decade?"
ReplyDeleteThat's just for your information in case the topic comes up again. What you did was reakky good, but you can't be discouraged by that experience. If everyone gave up after a conversation like that there would never be progress. I think that your conversation will make sense to them later, it just might not be soon.
Thanks for the encouragement. And thanks for the info - I had no way to respond to their argument because I didn't have the information.
ReplyDeleteI think that I brought this up in class last week, but I experienced a similar situation where friends around me were making derogatory jokes about the White house becoming the "Black house." Instead of speaking up like you did, I remained silent so as to avoid the awkward and angry dinner that would probably have ensued had I confronted the friend about her comments. I really wish that I could go back in time and ask my friend why she made those statements and why she found it humorous to joke about race. Even though the whole situation might have exploded back in my face as yours did, at least I would have tried to break the silence. So I am sorry that your experience got out of control, but you broke the silence nevertheless, and I am sure that your comments impacted someone in the group.
ReplyDeleteBravo! It seems like you approached the situation in a very calm & well-informed manner. I have to admit, a main worry of mine is that I will explain things I learned in class but people just won't get it. Granted, I don't blame them because when I first heard that "Racism = prejudice + power" I was confused, thinking that there was more to it than just power. I wish I had a little "Racism Emergency" notebook filled with examples, sources, and quotes so I could help explain my point. Of course this is by no means feasible, it would just be helpful I think. I do have a question, do you still talk with these people now? Was the friendship awkward at all or were they still respectful?
ReplyDeleteAmanda -
ReplyDeleteThese people are all still my friends (and teammates) and nothing has been spoken of the incident since (with one exception), but there are no hard feelings at all. Nothing is awkward.
The one exception: I don't know how it got brought up, but my friend who is half Pakistani / half Indian made some comment about how since he is a person of color, he can't be considered a racist... To which he said, "so I could pretty much go around saying the N word - but not like I do that anyway." He didn't get it. But, alas, I tried.