After a recent event where I spoke about racial identity, a white woman sidled up to me, leaned in close so no one near us could hear, and said, “I’m racist.” http://ideas.time.com/2012/04/19/inside-the-racist-mind/
Very interesting article. I had always assumed that race was some kind of biological separation in that certain features and diseases seemed to be inherent within that biological group; i.e. sickle-cell anemia. Along with that assumption, I accepted that there were different races although I ALWAYS knew that we are all a part of the human race. Admitedly, although I am ashamed to admit this, I just accepted the status quo. I did not know that the separation of races began in the U.S. So, being a curious person, I had to look up the the idea of race as a social contruct beginning in the U.S. What I found really opened my eyes. African bondsmen and European bondsmen started out as equals in colonial America. The powerful land owners (initially in Virginia) then systematically passed laws whereby African descent bondsmen became slaves and lessor beings according to law. White people who befriended or God forbid married African descent bond larborers were tortured and condemned to slavery themselves. Any offspring were also deemed to be slaves. Poor white people or white bondsmen were given privileges over the Africans in order to cement the landowners desires in the poor white peoples minds. Over the decades the idea of race became important in everyone's mind. Another good article: https://www.msu.edu/~hicksmi3/race.html And another one: http://academic.udayton.edu/race/01race/white11.htm All in all, I have been given a lot to think about. Thank you, Buffalo, for posting this article.
The thing is... it shouldn't matter what average skin tone this country ends up having as long as everyone in it is a true blue American..........
It shouldn't, but it does still matter to a lot of people. Unfortunately there are still many racists teaching this hatred to their children. That will be their legacy.
