Racism

[Sunny]

The term "reverse racism" became popular back in the 80's, when affirmative action was affecting many people in college admissions and hiring practices. Many white people, particularly white men, felt that now THEY were being discriminated against.

Applecruncher, Pearl Clutchers? :rofl1:

 

[StarSong]

To dispel any confusion about where most US racism is directed:

 

[Olivia]

It seems to me that when talking about racism, it's only about Black and White. But then I live in a place where actual racists would die of a heart attack because of gee, no escaping from anyone not white like you. LOL Or any other color or culture for that matter.

 

[applecruncher]

@ Sunny

One of many ironies is that the group who benefitted most from Affiry Action was/is WHITE women. Not Black people.

 

[StarSong]

Olivia, Hawaii may well be the least racist state in the US. How blessed you and others there are for figuring out how to flourish with such a diverse population.

 

[StarSong]

@ Sunny

One of many ironies is that the group who benefited most from Affirmative Action was/is WHITE women. Not Black people.

Not ironic because white women (indeed all women) were treated as second class citizens until fairly deep in the 1970s. Affirmative Action improved the lot of all disenfranchised groups, including women of every race.

 

[applecruncher]

Not ironic because white women (indeed all women) were treated as second class citizens until fairly deep in the 1970s. Affirmative Action improved the lot of all disenfranchised groups, including women of every race.

Oh, it's definitely ironic.

You might be surprised at the number of Whites who feel AA only benefitted Black people. Such statements have even been said here on this forum, and it's far from the truth.

While AA helped some Blacks, the fact remains that the group.that AA benefitted most is White women.

That aside, I pretty much said all I wanted to in the other racism thread. Discussions about racial matters don't seem to accomplish much here at SF.

 

[hearlady]

What would you like the thread to accomplish applecruncher? If you had one thing you would like as a takeaway what would it be?

 

[Olivia]

Olivia, Hawaii may well be the least racist state in the US. How blessed you and others there are for figuring out how to flourish with such a diverse population.

The Anthony Bourdain segment in Hawaii really explained what I have such a really difficult time expressing, and Tony was talking to a few young local guys, one of which was of Japanese ancestry, who tried to explain why it is what we think about each other includes our ethnicities as to usually where we come from as geographically, such as someone from Texas being a Texan. As the young guy said, when you live in Hawaii, unless by blood, you cannot say you're Hawaiian; you can only say you are from Hawaii or a citizen of Hawaii. Otherwise you're your ethnicity as part of yourself. My dad's dad came to Hawaii from Japan to work in plantations along with other ethnicities who spoke different languages. They were able to work with each other by creating a language that they all could understand with each other. It's called pidgin.

Defining someone as part of their ethnicity (not nationality) is just natural here. And, also, we don't live in little ethnic villages as happens on the mainland (and, yes, someone from the mainland, we will refer to as being from the mainland--nothing derogatory implied). We live integrated with each other. And to describe each other that way is just natural--nothing racist implied. My next door neighbors are Vietnamese, the other next door neighbor is Korean. Directly across the street is a Filipino family. Across from them is a Japanese family and next door to them is a Caucasian family. Another next door neighbor from us is a Caucasian family as is a Hawaiian family in the back of us (Hawaiian by blood), and as I've said, I'm hapa haole (haole meaning White and hapa meaning half) being both Caucasian and Asian (could also be half Polynesian). My mom was from Europe so I can also be called Eurasian.

Hawaii's population on these islands are the most isolated population on the planet. And maybe that's why we are so different from the rest of the planet.

 

[hearlady]

That's interesting, Olivia.

 

[KingsX]

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When I was in college, my sociology professor told our class that racism is the psychological equivalent of the physical body's biological defense mechanism to reject that which is foreign.

 

[StarSong]

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When I was in college, my sociology professor told our class that racism is the psychological equivalent of the physical body's biological defense mechanism to reject that which is foreign.

An interesting rationalization that I think is mostly malarkey.

 

[Sunny]

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, KingsX!

If it were true, consider this for a moment: White people come with all different colors of eyes and hair. So why wouldn't we automatically reject those who have different colors of those features from ours? Somehow, it's only the skin that is perceived as "foreign?" What nonsense.

 

[KingsX]

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, KingsX!

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What university do you teach ??

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[KingsX]

An interesting rationalization that I think is mostly malarkey.

Did you publically say things like this to your college professors ??

.

 

[StarSong]

Did you publically say things like this to your college professors ??

.

Actually, yes, I did and yes, I would.

 

[C'est Moi]

Did you publically say things like this to your college professors ??

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Just curious, but why do you add those superfluous periods to your posts?

 

[hearlady]

Discussions about racial matters don't seem to accomplish much here at SF.

I see your point.

 

[grahamg]

Mostly

KingsX wrote:

Originally Posted by KingsX .

When I was in college, my sociology professor told our class that racism is the psychological equivalent of the physical body's biological defense mechanism to reject that which is foreign.


StarSong wrote:

An interesting rationalization that I think is mostly malarkey.

I note you say "mostly malarkey", so not "complete malarkey" is my inference (?).

I think maybe human beings can think anything "different" could be something we might fear, so maybe we are psychologically designed to think like this, whilst at the same time a "good Samaritan" or foreigner might save our bacon at times (how many of us would refuse life saving surgery from an overseas doctor who was the best in his or her field?).

"Racism" being malarkey, or wrong is something I'd agree with, whilst having been brought up in days when it was commonplace here in the UK, and had to realise later in life how foolish or wrong it was.

 

[StarSong]

I note you say "mostly malarkey", so not "complete malarkey" is my inference (?).

I think maybe human beings can think anything "different" could be something we might fear, so maybe we are psychologically designed to think like this, whilst at the same time a "good Samaritan" or foreigner might save our bacon at times (how many of us would refuse life saving surgery from an overseas doctor who was the best in his or her field?).

"Racism" being malarkey, or wrong is something I'd agree with, whilst having been brought up in days when it was commonplace here in the UK, and had to realise later in life how foolish or wrong it was.

I used the modifier "mostly" because humans tend to be tentative and suspicious about all strangers, regardless of whether their physical traits are familiar. Further , it seems reasonable that the incredibly rare person whose entire exposure has been to people of their own race, language, body type, height range, hair color, or eye color, might notice and perhaps reject, feel uncomfortable or be intrigued by someone whose appearance is different.

On the other hand, since virtually every American alive today has had plenty of exposure to people of different races, whether by direct contact or through the media, I believe this professor's statement is his/her BS cover story for bigotry, hatred and resentment that is taught, not instinctive.

 

[Shalimar]

I used the modifier "mostly" because humans tend to be tentative and suspicious about all strangers, regardless of whether their physical traits are familiar. Further , it seems reasonable that the incredibly rare person whose entire exposure has been to people of their own race, language, body type, height range, hair color, or eye color, might notice and perhaps reject, feel uncomfortable or be intrigued by someone whose appearance is different.

On the other hand, since virtually every American alive today has had plenty of exposure to people of different races, whether by direct contact or through the media, I believe this professor's statement is his/her BS cover story for bigotry, hatred and resentment that is taught, not instinctive.

Qft.

 

[C'est Moi]

... I believe this professor's statement is his/her BS cover story for bigotry, hatred and resentment that is taught, not instinctive.

Of course, considering that KingsX is on a senior's forum and the professor in question may have been speaking ~50 years ago, mindsets have certainly changed. I have no idea of the timing of the professor's comment but just "assuming" that time frame puts it in a slightly different light. Still malarky, though. (But I do think people are generally more comfortable when around others that are like themselves...whether in appearance, like-mindedness, age, etc.)

 

[Sunny]

(But I do think people are generally more comfortable when around others that are like themselves...whether in appearance, like-mindedness, age, etc.)

Probably true. But with most people in the modern world, as exposed as we are to people of all shapes, sizes, colors, etc. in person, on TV, or whatever, I think the similarities that mean anything in this
context are the similarities of like-mindedness, period. I couldn't care less what color anyone is, or the color of their hair or anything else... but I do care a lot about what their beliefs and values are.

 

[grahamg]

C'est Moi wrote:

(But I do think people are generally more comfortable when around others that are like themselves...whether in appearance, like-mindedness, age, etc.)

Sunny wrote:
"Probably true. But with most people in the modern world, as exposed as we are to people of all shapes, sizes, colors, etc. in person, on TV, or whatever, I think the similarities that mean anything in this
context are the similarities of like-mindedness, period. I couldn't care less what color anyone is, or the color of their hair or anything else... but I do care a lot about what their beliefs and values are."

I'm put off people for all kinds of reasons these days (probably based upon unfair snap conclusions or assumptions as to what they may be like).

An organisation in the UK called Round Table states in its "aims and objects" that it is for likeminded young men (its spread worldwide since humble beginnings in the 1930s, except the USA where there is apparently "The buffalos" instead).

I can probably still remember all six of the items always used to focus people's minds at each meeting if I try hard enough, but anyway the existence of that wonderful social and charity fund raising organisation is a testament to the soundness of your argument above .

 

[AprilT]

Of course, considering that KingsX is on a senior's forum and the professor in question may have been speaking ~50 years ago, mindsets have certainly changed. I have no idea of the timing of the professor's comment but just "assuming" that time frame puts it in a slightly different light. Still malarky, though. (But I do think people are generally more comfortable when around others that are like themselves...whether in appearance, like-mindedness, age, etc.)

Quite right and it isn't rare for some professors to bring their own prejudices into their teachings past and present as well as some entire learning institutions who have a particular leaning one way or another.