Race is still an issue for America
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/CRIME/01/08/BART.shooting/art.bart.meeting.signs.cnn.jpg caption="A woman holds a sign demanding justice for victim Oscar Grant at a BART board of directors meeting Thursday."]
Susan Glisson
Special to CNN
As the inauguration of the first African American president approaches, the national news is full of race-related stories.
Rioters have been arrested in Oakland, California, in protest of an police officer allegedly killing an unarmed black man; the Centers for Disease Control report that Mississippi has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the country, predominantly among black and Hispanic teens; and the journal Science reports that "many people unconsciously harbor racist attitudes."
Combine these issues with continuing demonstrated disparities in health care, education, housing and criminal justice, and it would be productive to admit the obvious: the election of Barack Obama did not end the America's problems with race.
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Filed under: Race Gender & Politics • Race in America |
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i think the main problem with the racial issue in this country is everyone thinks it is EVERYONE ELSE that is feeling this way.
It's each of us individually. IT'S ME AND I ADMIT IT. But I would never ever act on my irrational feelings. It's here, It's not going away. How could it, when on every form we fill out asks our race, every online survey asks our race... when so much of statistical information varies by race, when financial aid for college depends on our race, food stamps, .... how do we get over racial divides?
When I open the "society" page of my local newspaper... it is either all blacks or all whites at an event. I wonder why it isn't mixed?
For every job I have ever had, there are two sets of rules. Frankly, I wish I were on the other "side" as they get away with more, they do less work, they are excused for inferior work, and get paid the same as I do.
Don't ask me NOT to see what I see. It's simply not fair.
I admit I do harbor racism since my move out here to Los Angeles. The illegal "immigration" of Latinos has cost California taxpayers a whopping $10 billion dollars a year, increased traffic congestion, caused our public schools to be predominantly Latino with non-English speakers thus forcing English speakers to have to pay for private school since these public schools become ESL- the list goes on and on as to how American citizens are footing the bill for non-citizens and yes it angers me when I see Latinos now.
Same goes with the black population – 70% of mothers are unwed creating children who end up becoming thugs since they have no direction in life. I'm tired of reading/hearing about gang shootings – usually black on black or brown on brown crime. The city tried to move Section 8 people into wealthier neighborhoods in the hopes that the people would strive to be better – it didn't work – crime went up 19% in those areas. Yes I am a racist because I'm tired of all this. Now what?
Our educational system can stem the negative influence at home. Educators and other childcare personnel can influence the young ... it is possible , then, that racism will no longer exist.
Race will always be an issue for some people no matter what. They will always pass their racist views down to their children so it will continue on and on. We need to try to get these kids when they are young to try to eradicate that behavior. Hopefully though we can get to a point one day where it is not that prevalent. We are headed in that direction but we haven't gotten there yet. There is a lot of racism still going from all sides.
Cindy..Ga.