Violent crimes against women is a human injustice, but so is the systematic and institutionalized racism in America (and many countries') justice system. So allow me this brief moment to rant a little.
Did you know that in Ghana, Africa, many of the advertisements, dirty magazines, and billboards were of white women?
Reinforcing the idea of impossibly unachievable "white beauty".
Reinforcing the idea of impossibly unachievable "white beauty".
Racism is a business and white men are the CEOs.
I'm not saying that every white man or woman is consciously at fault or that certain "nonwhites" do not live up to stereotypes but YOU are a part of the problem.
We all are.
We are maintainers of the system.
We all are.
We are maintainers of the system.
For example:
When we see a black man dealing drugs, rioting, looting, raping a woman or stealing a purse, many of us attribute it to their skin color.
We use this isolated situation to reinforce the stereotype of the ENTIRE race.
But when we see a well dressed, behaved, and educated black man we see this as an exception and disregard that as unique and not the norm, therefore perpetuating the institutionalized racism in society.
Or even by attributing his intelligence, character, kindness, and tact to behaving like a white man.
IE. "That is the whitest black guy I've ever met" or "This guy is an Oreo, black on the outside, white on the inside".
Yes this happens ALL the time.
Let me set something straight, you cannot act WHITE.
You are attributing positive characteristics with a color or skin and reinforcing the idea that white is good and nonwhite is bad.
When we see a black man dealing drugs, rioting, looting, raping a woman or stealing a purse, many of us attribute it to their skin color.
We use this isolated situation to reinforce the stereotype of the ENTIRE race.
But when we see a well dressed, behaved, and educated black man we see this as an exception and disregard that as unique and not the norm, therefore perpetuating the institutionalized racism in society.
Or even by attributing his intelligence, character, kindness, and tact to behaving like a white man.
IE. "That is the whitest black guy I've ever met" or "This guy is an Oreo, black on the outside, white on the inside".
Yes this happens ALL the time.
Let me set something straight, you cannot act WHITE.
You are attributing positive characteristics with a color or skin and reinforcing the idea that white is good and nonwhite is bad.
When will this stop?
We need to stop dodging the topic of race just like we dodge the topic of gender and sexism.
We need to understand that race matters and RACISM EXISTS.
If you say that you don't see color, you are not being honest with yourself.
We need to understand that race matters and RACISM EXISTS.
If you say that you don't see color, you are not being honest with yourself.
I cannot speak for all white people or for any entire race but I can speak from what I see, hear and experience as a individual white woman knowing that I was born on the shoulders of giants, but actively seeking solutions to these problems of human injustice.
All I'm asking you to do is be honest with yourself.
Are you reinforcing stereotypes or perpetuating racism by attributing isolated actions to an entire 'race' of people?
Are you reinforcing stereotypes or perpetuating racism by attributing isolated actions to an entire 'race' of people?
Stop yourself in these situations and think,
"Is this a 'black people' thing or are people just rioting and most of them are black? *Oh wait, there are some black men in suits, attempting to stop the violence.* Who is the rule here, and who is the exception? Or are they individuals, not a representation of their entire 'race'? What am I basing my judgment on?"
"Is this a 'black people' thing or are people just rioting and most of them are black? *Oh wait, there are some black men in suits, attempting to stop the violence.* Who is the rule here, and who is the exception? Or are they individuals, not a representation of their entire 'race'? What am I basing my judgment on?"
Many, many people will not agree with me but I have never been one afraid of voicing my opinion when I believe that human dignity and justice is at stake.
If you are offended, well then, that seems like a personal problem to me.
And I want to end it here; however, I believe that this leaves little room for discussion. As I mentioned before, I am not able to represent an entire race or gender or anything, for I am only an individual with opinions and experiences.
Every perspective is entitled to their opinion but oppression is not an opinion and acts of oppression and human injustice have no place within a just society.
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