Race and Racism in The United States

[The Cobalt Sky]

It depends on the school.

Some schools omit the material and some schools do not, other just teach the necessary in their curriculums.

African American history and literature among other subjects are taught at least nominally and never in enough depth for kids to make any sort of meaning out of it. We still have the common whitewashed version of history in our schools.

I had a feeling that was the case. Maybe change starts there...

[Scomagia]

I work at a school with kids, and there's a bunch of kids with different ethnic backgrounds and they all get along (well, generally ) and they appreciate each other's differences. I think America's doing pretty good.

America is not doing well at all.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Third ... Louis.html
This was really not that long ago and East St. Louis is still a complete shit hole. Institutional racism at it's finest. Your kids might get along, but the country as a whole is absolute shit with regards to race relations.

[The Cobalt Sky]

http://mediamatters.org/mobile/blog/2014/08/17/inflammatory-meet-the-press-guest-uses-michael/200457
http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/stat ... arrest.JPG

Length in sentencing which is the nail in the coffin for this:
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ ... han_whites
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/0 ... ame-crime/
https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/217 ... NeMAcZwNb1

I fully believe these things are meant to destroy the black community and make sure we stay hindered. The more I think about it, the more I'm sure things need changing as soon as possible and as fast as possible.

[Italios]

We are the 'Land of the free and the Home of the Brave', right?
Okay good.

[The Cobalt Sky]

We are the 'Land of the free and the Home of the Brave', right?
Okay good.

No. Read the OP.

[Farnhamia]

http://mediamatters.org/mobile/blog/2014/08/17/inflammatory-meet-the-press-guest-uses-michael/200457
http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/stat ... arrest.JPG

Length in sentencing which is the nail in the coffin for this:
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ ... han_whites
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/0 ... ame-crime/
https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/217 ... NeMAcZwNb1

I fully believe these things are meant to destroy the black community and make sure we stay hindered. The more I think about it, the more I'm sure things need changing as soon as possible and as fast as possible.

Alright, well, suggest some changes.

[Pope Joan]

Why were 100 times more arrests made for crack than for powder cocaine?

http://www.drugpolicy.org/race-and-drug-war

Simple; powder cocaine is a drug mostly used by whites.

[The Cobalt Sky]

I fully believe these things are meant to destroy the black community and make sure we stay hindered. The more I think about it, the more I'm sure things need changing as soon as possible and as fast as possible.

Alright, well, suggest some changes.

I want to say more programs, but I want to work out what 'programs' will entail. I think we need to figure out a way to really convince people it's a problem, and probably shorter sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. I'd say maybe causing people to realize that bias is there, but I'm not sure how we do that either without them going into complete denial, since no one likes a racist except ultra-blatant racists who just don't care. Maybe this could be expanded upon by in depth explanations as to why certain things are racist or inappropriate (micro aggressions like touching hair) and bringing up the subject more often and being as tenacious as those anti smoking commercials. Even if people grow tired of it, the issue should continue to be pressed because the problem will only grow worse if nothing is done. We need to somehow shatter the notion that America is post-racial, making clear who is being oppressed, and I'm still trying to figure out just how. My first idea is more of activities that schools must undertake to address racism, but I don't know who will direct them.

[Farnhamia]

Alright, well, suggest some changes.

I want to say more programs, but I want to work out what 'programs' will entail. I think we need to figure out a way to really convince people it's a problem, and probably shorter sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. I'd say maybe causing people to realize that bias is there, but I'm not sure how we do that either without them going into complete denial, since no one likes a racist except ultra-blatant racists who just don't care. Maybe this could be expanded upon by in depth explanations as to why certain things are racist or inappropriate (micro aggressions like touching hair) and bringing up the subject more often and being as tenacious as those anti smoking commercials. Even if people grow tired of it, the issue should continue to be pressed because the problem will only grow worse if nothing is done. We need to somehow shatter the notion that America is post-racial, making clear who is being oppressed, and I'm still trying to figure out just how. My first idea is more of activities that schools must undertake to address racism, but I don't know who will direct them.

Seems like you're thinking about it. That's more than I hear from other people who declare we have to "change things."

[Scomagia]

Why were 100 times more arrests made for crack than for powder cocaine?

http://www.drugpolicy.org/race-and-drug-war

Simple; powder cocaine is a drug mostly used by whites.

That's the same reason that powder cocaine had lighter sentences, as well.

[The Cobalt Sky]

I want to say more programs, but I want to work out what 'programs' will entail. I think we need to figure out a way to really convince people it's a problem, and probably shorter sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. I'd say maybe causing people to realize that bias is there, but I'm not sure how we do that either without them going into complete denial, since no one likes a racist except ultra-blatant racists who just don't care. Maybe this could be expanded upon by in depth explanations as to why certain things are racist or inappropriate (micro aggressions like touching hair) and bringing up the subject more often and being as tenacious as those anti smoking commercials. Even if people grow tired of it, the issue should continue to be pressed because the problem will only grow worse if nothing is done. We need to somehow shatter the notion that America is post-racial, making clear who is being oppressed, and I'm still trying to figure out just how. My first idea is more of activities that schools must undertake to address racism, but I don't know who will direct them.

Seems like you're thinking about it. That's more than I hear from other people who declare we have to "change things."

Thank you. My first thought was REVOLUTION! But I'm not willing to eat rats to survive and I'm scared to die. I think this is a problem that requires changing a mindset that millions of people have. The things is, if one were to start a regime of loving kindness, chances are it's going to be stained in the blood of a lot of people, so violence won't work for that and for obvious moral reasons. I Feel like the thing I need to do is create an ism, like a whole written down ideology and way of looking at the world based on the collective beliefs of me and a bunch of likeminded individuals in order to better explain to the world what we see as "right." The problem is, we might be wrong, and our ideals might be corrupted or labeled as extremist.

[Atlanticatia]

Race and racism will never be considered fully extinguished until there is complete social, economic, and political equality between whites and blacks: blacks and whites should have equal incomes and assets and there should be no economic gap; blacks and whites should have equal unemployment rates; blacks are not underrepresented in political institutions; blacks are not underrepresented in positions of power (i.e. fortune 500 boards for example); etc etc.

Racism isn't just about civil equality under the law, or people getting along with eachother -- it's about true socioeconomic and political equality -- where your race does not define your social/economic/political standing.

[New Werpland]

Race and racism will never be considered fully extinguished until there is complete social, economic, and political equality between whites and blacks: blacks and whites should have equal incomes and assets and there should be no economic gap; blacks and whites should have equal unemployment rates; blacks are not underrepresented in political institutions; blacks are not underrepresented in positions of power (i.e. fortune 500 boards for example); etc etc.

Racism isn't just about civil equality under the law, or people getting along with eachother -- it's about true socioeconomic and political equality -- where your race does not define your social/economic/political standing.

I think you meant racial equality