This week's readings were powerful for me in many ways, and I felt myself developing a new framework around prejudice and racism. The idea that prejudice is "usually based on limited information" (Adams p. 67), helped me to have compassion. Not only for me in dealing with my recent revelation that I've internalized prejudiced beliefs, but also for the people who helped to socialize me.
It was also powerful for me to learn, that having biased or prejudiced beliefs does not make a person racist. From what I understand in reading Wellmen, is that racism is institutionally implemented prejudice. For example our criminal justice system has higher rates of incarceration of young black men (and is designed to do so) than any other population, therefore our criminal justice system is racist. On the other hand people who operate from limited information (which is most, if not all of us) are simply prejudice based on lack of education. So, I felt optimistic that with time institutional racism will change.
Slavery and segregation were institutions based on race, and the pervasive belief of white (male) privilege lingers still today. But, I feel that the more we rewrite history as it happened by revealing the true history of America. This history included great leaders and thinkers from all walks of life, skin colors, and both genders. Future generations may be able to live in a world free from prejudice and break the bonds of institutional racism that have limited us all. I feel that all Americans have fallen victim to white supremacy, because by limiting the opportunity and progress of a group of people (based on the color of their skin, their gender, age, or ability) limits the progress of all of us as a society.
I believe that American democracy is one of the world's greatest social experiments, and was created from the best of intentions. However, the vision of our nation's forefathers was clouded by prejudice, and it is our job and the job of future generations to expand our knowledge about our shared history in-order to embrace our shared humanity. Then we will become a truly democratic nation.
During my reading/writing I kept thinking of Dr. King, here is a video of his "How long? Not Long!" speech.
Video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAYITODNvlM&feature=player_detailpage
I agree with your comment about learning a new and more honest history. If we had a more honest education then we would have the knowledge we need to see racism in institutions. Not that we don't already see it, but that we would have seen it soon enough to not let happen like it has. There's no better time than now to be the change we want to see!
ReplyDeleteKrystal Hasselmeier