I'm pretty sure that I'm 99.9 percent older than everyone that posts on this blog. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and I was born in 1966, so I could be considered part of the first generation of children raised in a "post-racial" America. Most of the responses I received from Facebook reflect the attitudes that we were taught during this era.
After passage of the Civil Rights Act, broadcasters (with the help of politicians, activists and celebrities) were anxious to spread the message of equality. I grew up watching Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers and listening to "Free to Be, You and Me" on my record player. I still heard stories from the preceding generation about racial discrimination, but never really experienced it myself growing up in suburban Oregon.
At first I was a little disappointed in the responses I got from my friends. Most used the word "biased" instead of "racist." My first thought was, "What a cop-out." Biased is not the same thing as racist. But after thinking about it for a few days, I realize that they weren't just substituting a politically correct word for a hateful one. They expressed that they didn't dislike a person because of their race, but because of their stupidity, laziness or general bad character. Maybe the pro-racial equality campaign I experienced growing up was successful. Maybe Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of people being judged on their content of character instead of their skin color is closer than we think.
5 comments:
I feel so great about this! Martin Luther King Jr. was not talking about stopping judging people all together and accepting everyone for anything they do. We do not need to put up with violence, laziness, crime, or anything else that someone does. We do however need to get to know someone before we just assume they are into this kind of thing. Just get to know before we make judgments. We can not like someone of another race if we get to know them first, and the judgment is just- that is not racist.
I think it is interesting to compare the comments that were left on your facebook with those on mine. No one on my wall mentioned anything in regards to the history of America and how previous leaders may have helped shape the views we hold today. It is definitely important to at least recognize the impact of the civil rights movement in our country.
i agree in saying that stereotypes and opinions of skin color/race is due to those we have interacted with individuals and then associate our experience and view of their personality and behavior with their race. if our only interaction, or more so exposure, is through media, then that is how we will view certain races and cultures.
It is interesting to compare the differences in age of those posting as most of mine were in their late teens or early twenties. For this reason I do like how history and Martin Luther King Jr. was mentioned in your comments and also the comments were probably a little more thought out.
I think you have a very good point and agree. I think we are finally getting to a generation where race isn't a big deal.
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