Do you contend that racism in America is slowly becoming a thing of

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   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   
   the past or has racism is worse now than it has been in 3 decades?  There are those who strongly assert that we Americans live in a postracial, post Black society where racial boundaries are increasingly disappearing and there are unparalleled opportunities for Blacks in untold numbers.  They even cite the increase of Blacks in the affluent classes.  However, there are others who vehemently insist that the racism is worse than ever with the further socioeconomic disenfranchisement of Blacks including a very high unemployment rate and increasing poverty.  They further cite the increasing numbers of Blacks incarcerated in prisons.  They would even go as far to state that Blacks are being targeted for eventual annihilation by the dominant society.  Discuss.

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      Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      We need stats from specific areas. We need charts and graphs.

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         psycheskinnerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         About two years ago TIME magazine looked nationwide at the role of race on many facets of life across the recorded history of the USA.  It was equal parts encouraging (because of the improvement) and discouraging (because of the gaps that remains).

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      realtalk247posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Racism is at an all time high right now. Just because you don't say derogatory  terms to people's face does not mean you view minorities as equals.  Choosing not to hire Qualified candidates for jobs, giving second class service while witnessing others provided with excellent service, and watching preferential treatment from management guiding "their own"to be successful in the workplace. Nothing has changed. Anyone believing differently is  misguided.
      While there are more consequences for "frowned upon" behavior, the attitudes and beliefs have not changed when it comes to racism.

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   psycheskinnerposted 8 years ago

   Many of the tangible aspects of racism are indeed better than they have ever been in history (looking at education, wealth and incarceration gaps), but I think sometimes it takes causing a fuss to deal with the last stubborn institutionalized remnants. Perhaps partly because these are often perpetuated unconsciously by people who have no deliberate evil in their hearts.  So it takes a bit of a push for people who do not think of themselves as racist to dig up those conditioned biases and confront them.
   
   We still have some heavy lifting to do when it comes to unconscious bias and the consequences of long-term segregated neighborhoods and institutionalized racism, and the remaining self-perpetuating ghettos.  These things have deep roots in the past that cut of some families from acquiring inter-generational inherited wealth and thus access to the highest reaches of education, land ownership, and political influence.
   
   The meritocracy is not quite yet here and some people are still born into unjust disadvantages be it geographically, racially or otherwise.  But things are, overall, so much better and generally continuing to improve so long as we as communities continue to care and strive for a just world.
   
   [Getting off my soap box here].

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   danicoleposted 8 years ago

   I don't know if its slowly becoming a thing of the past anymore. Before I did used to think that, but coming on here and various other places online, watching the news (with their own agenda in mind) reading comments about topics of race; I realize we have a LONG way to go.
   
   I feel racism is definitely more internalized and not as outward/obvious now then it probably was back then. Its been ingrained and indoctrinated into the American society, and most Americans don't want to talk about it, address it and pretend it doesn't exist.  Racism shaped this world, I would say its build/programmed into our psyche.  I don't think that in my lifetime, my kids, their kids, their kid's kids would see a successful eradication of racism. Maybe in a couple of centuries when we know more about our human origins.
   
   I would say it is getting better and we have more exposure to other cultures. Understanding and being honest will help us get closer to where we should all be.

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      gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      ++++++, excellently said!

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         I am not racist and have never been. I know NO young people who are. The older generation…yes.
         
         I think we as we mature as a society and evolve through the development and evolution of brotherly love, this issue will be come a total non-issue.
         And WAY sooner than one might know.
         Who here on HP forums is racist?
         I would guess not one of us!
         Are children naturally racist?
         NO!
           As adults preserve the natural trust and acceptance that children have toward one another, no matter what ancestral heritage, thats the future.
         And, of course, I am preaching to the choir.
         Who would disagree??
         WHO!

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   Zeph1posted 8 years ago

   It's not as bad of a problem as it once was but the media, politicians and some organized groups have certainly become better at pushing an image that it has gotten worse. For their own benefit, of course.

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      Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      +1

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      janesixposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, they push the image that there is racism going on, in order to make excuses for the problems of increasing crime and poverty in the black community. Why not blame it on whites? That's the easy way out, instead of trying to solve thier problems in a productive manner.

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