Last night, CNN had an excellent look at “Racism in America.” Paula Zahn was the host along with several distinguished guest that took an in-depth look at racism in America has changed and has not changed. Today, there are no signs that say “Whites Only,” rather as was evident in the broadcast, racism has taken a new form. Linguistic discrimination which can be used in numerous ways is now common in determining such things as housing and employment for many minorities.
I was truly saddened to hear the stories of discrimination that were presented in last night’s broadcast. Whoopi Goldberg was a special guest and she had a story in which she told of her and her mother shopping at a mall. She said “My mom and I, years ago, were on Madison Avenue. And this is just after everything had happened and we were like kids in the
candy store. We went in and out of all these stores, blah, blah, blah. We had the greatest time. We split up. And she went into a clothing store where she was followed around by this woman. Now, there were several patrons in the store and my mother said, can you come over here? There’s just something I’m interested in. And so the lady proceeded to tell her why she couldn’t afford it. Now, I came and said, mom, what’s going on? Oh, oh, is this your mother? Oh. And my mother says, you know what? I can’t afford anything in this store.”
CNN conducted an Opinion Research poll in which 88 percent of blacks, 86 percent of whites, don’t consider themselves racially biased. Well, I can say a lot of those people asked are in a state of denial. A perfect example of this is Peggy Fruge (Caucasian) of Vidor, Texas. She was interviewed last night in which she said “I don’t mind being friends with them (African Americans), you know, talking and stuff like that. But, as far as mingling and eating with them and all that kind of stuff, I mean, that’s where I draw the line.” This woman has so many problems with her life, it’s not even funny. She can’t even eat with an African American that is where she draws the line. Well, I didn’t know how to feel on that statement. It seemed like something I would have expected to hear in the 1920’s or something. This is why I said, people are in a state of denial.
Paula S. Rothenberg author of “White Privilege: Essential Readings on the other Side of Racism” gave two very true and wonderful analogies. She said:
White privilege is everywhere in this society. It’s the other side of racism. And it is pervasive. People can’t see it, because it’s invisible, because it is everywhere.
What, after all, doesn’t the fish know? That it’s all wet. White people are the fish. And white privilege is the water. And we are immersed in it and submerged in it. The best definition I ever heard of privilege came from Molly Ivins, where she said, George Bush was born on third base, and he thinks he hit a triple. Well, white people were born on second base, and they think they bought a double.
Part two comes on tonight at 8.00 EST on CNN.
What are your thoughts on Racism in America? Please comment!
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