Spring Break
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Editor's note: The following letter is in response to "Yes, racism still exists," which appeared in the Sept. 21 issue of the WC.
I thought about your analogy: Racism can sometimes be like that big assignment a teacher hands out at the beginning of the school year that will be due in three months. You stockpile the information somewhere but forget about it until a classmate reminds you by asking, "Have you started on your project yet?"
This was quite interesting that you say that. Because the majority of people just move through their micro-fast life with all their gadgets and gizmos, Quick Pass credit cards, top of line everythings, from their jobs, their classes, their vacations, etc. Yet, those same people seem to forget easily ... where we as a Nation have come from and that there are people out there that still live in the past and are passing negative views and energy's onto their sons and daughter, grandsons and grand daughters.
Yes, racism still exist however it's not just against minority groups or women in one specific way, but, it has transformed itself into several forms. For example, every year at the same time on this campus this cold virus gets the best of many of the students, yet it's not the same cold every year, its a different virus because the virus has transformed itself and has a different germ or what have you, but of course its still a cold!
Just a small list of types of racism: Anti-Arabism, Anti-Semitism and New anti-Semitism, Apartheid, Caste system, Colonialism, Colorism, Cultural genocide, Ethnic cleansing Genocide, Institutionalized Racism, Islam phobia, National Socialism, Racial purity, Racial segregation, Redlining, Reverse discrimination, Scientific racism, State racism, Systemic racism, White flight, White privilege, Yellow peril and many more.
You know why nooses are popping up all over the US now since what happened in Jena, Louisiana, I will tell you. It has been happening, it never stopped, we as Americans, most of the time, only see what is affecting us specifically and don't want to do anything about what effects our neighbor or fellow American.
It's happening! One day something happens and a few people say a thing or two about it and then the next day other people come to the ones who are outraged and say, well its not as bad as you think it is and maybe you are overreacting. You should just let it go. Then what happens? Something else on a larger scale. It's been happening for years in the United States because many people don't think there is racism anymore.
I have heard it over and over on campus by many students that have been consumed in their own little worlds in their towns and cities, Racism doesn't exist, classism does. I laugh at that because Classism is one of many forms of racism today!
In closing, Malcolm X said it best, "If you don't stand for something, You will fall for anything." Stand in the gaps when there is adversity and injustices against people going on! Let's wake up people!
-Lashonna Taylor
I thought about your analogy: Racism can sometimes be like that big assignment a teacher hands out at the beginning of the school year that will be due in three months. You stockpile the information somewhere but forget about it until a classmate reminds you by asking, "Have you started on your project yet?"
This was quite interesting that you say that. Because the majority of people just move through their micro-fast life with all their gadgets and gizmos, Quick Pass credit cards, top of line everythings, from their jobs, their classes, their vacations, etc. Yet, those same people seem to forget easily ... where we as a Nation have come from and that there are people out there that still live in the past and are passing negative views and energy's onto their sons and daughter, grandsons and grand daughters.
Yes, racism still exist however it's not just against minority groups or women in one specific way, but, it has transformed itself into several forms. For example, every year at the same time on this campus this cold virus gets the best of many of the students, yet it's not the same cold every year, its a different virus because the virus has transformed itself and has a different germ or what have you, but of course its still a cold!
Just a small list of types of racism: Anti-Arabism, Anti-Semitism and New anti-Semitism, Apartheid, Caste system, Colonialism, Colorism, Cultural genocide, Ethnic cleansing Genocide, Institutionalized Racism, Islam phobia, National Socialism, Racial purity, Racial segregation, Redlining, Reverse discrimination, Scientific racism, State racism, Systemic racism, White flight, White privilege, Yellow peril and many more.
You know why nooses are popping up all over the US now since what happened in Jena, Louisiana, I will tell you. It has been happening, it never stopped, we as Americans, most of the time, only see what is affecting us specifically and don't want to do anything about what effects our neighbor or fellow American.
It's happening! One day something happens and a few people say a thing or two about it and then the next day other people come to the ones who are outraged and say, well its not as bad as you think it is and maybe you are overreacting. You should just let it go. Then what happens? Something else on a larger scale. It's been happening for years in the United States because many people don't think there is racism anymore.
I have heard it over and over on campus by many students that have been consumed in their own little worlds in their towns and cities, Racism doesn't exist, classism does. I laugh at that because Classism is one of many forms of racism today!
In closing, Malcolm X said it best, "If you don't stand for something, You will fall for anything." Stand in the gaps when there is adversity and injustices against people going on! Let's wake up people!
-Lashonna Taylor
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 13
AngelD
posted 9/24/07 @ 1:41 AM CST
First of all, I agree, there are still racist people out there, some that don't even realize that their attitudes could fall under the definition of racism. (Continued…)
Laura
posted 9/24/07 @ 2:16 AM CST
I have to say that I agree on the fact that racism does exist in today's society. Sadly it gets overlooked or people don't want to point it out for the fear of being called a racist themselves. (Continued…)
El Ojo
posted 9/24/07 @ 4:53 AM CST
I've forgotten who originally said it, but someone once made the brilliant observation that if we all woke up one morning and found all the reasons for prejudice had disappeared, we'd invent new ones by noon. (Continued…)
Josh
posted 9/24/07 @ 10:29 AM CST
The comment above is directed at Lashonna, the quoting system appears to not be working very well.
Post a Comment