Posts Tagged segregation
Little Rock Nine Remembered
Posted by admin in Hatred, History, Racism/Discrimination, Videos, segregation on July 7th, 2010
Sorry if this is hard to watch but sometimes I want to revisit this part of our history. I watched in horror, sad, afraid, disappointed, but in the end I feel overwhelmingly thankful for where we are today. I don’t want to remember to illicit bitterness. I want to remember to stay grateful.
What emotions did this evoke in you? Big question – is forced integration a good thing in all circumstances? Let’s talk…
White Kids Only
Posted by admin in Current Events, Hatred, Interracial relationships, Racism/Discrimination, What's our excuse?, You've Got to Be Kidding, segregation on July 9th, 2009
I came across a blog asking for funding for a White Christian School. The writer, a wife and mother, planned to buy a school that would educate K-12 White Christians only.
The writer says, “In order to take back what is ours, we need to educate our children…We as responsible White parents, need to take back control. We need to get our kids out of the quagmire of mental pollution that they are currently enduring. We need to educate them to the correct agenda. And if being a separatist is the answer for now, so be it.”
I’m wondering what type of Black History courses this K-12 school would offer. What will these children learn about Native Americans and the Holocaust?
Another news feed highlighted a North Philadelphia private swim club. The club originally accepted a summer membership for a group of camp kids to swim in their pool. When the more than sixty kids, primarily minority, showed up that first day, they experienced discomfort.
One camper’s parent wrote, “When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool. The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately.”
One of the children heard someone say she was afraid the black kids would hurt her kids. The next day the club director cancelled the camp’s membership. The club president made this statement, “There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.”
At a minimum both the “Christian” mother and pool club president had a poor choice of words. The bigger question, what do we adults teach our children with our words and actions?
School-aged children are vulnerable and suggestible. They still consider their parents the authority on everything. And, most important, they don’t get a vote regarding their education or entertainment locations. They don’t get a vote on who their parents are either.
I’m upset by these stories, but I’m not writing so you’ll be equally enraged. I’m sharing for two other reasons. One, I want you to know people who feel this way are out there. Intelligent young mothers from middle class America, club counselors in Philadelphia, neighbors down the street and maybe even friends from church hold these beliefs.
Secondly, I want to do something. What are you teaching your children about different races? How are you exposing them to various cultures? This is not just a post for white people. People of color – how are you educating your children about whites and other races? We have to step up on this, folks. Today, tell (or better yet show) your children the beautiful variety of people God created. Go experience a different culture – visit a museum, a restaurant, a pool or a church that represents a diverse group.
One more thing, I want to know your thoughts. Does this woman have the right to segregate her children? Should a “White Christian” school exist? Would you fear sixty five minority children suddenly joining your community or club pool? You church? Your neighborhood? What will you do today to show your children diversity? Let’s talk…
The Experiment
Posted by admin in Current Events, Racism/Discrimination, segregation on January 13th, 2009
What if I were to tell you that a white family committed to only “Buy White” for the entire year? What if I said they created a website to document their progress? And on that site was this quote about the process, “They will live their lives as they normally do, except that each time they make an expenditure – from consumer goods to professional services to real estate and travel – they will make an exhaustive attempt to utilize [White] businesses and [White] professionals. In addition to actual new purchases, the Andersons will endeavor to convert any standing contracts (e.g. loans, bills, subscriptions, etc.) to adhere to these parameters.”
What is your initial reaction to this? How do you feel about a family committing to only buy from their own race? What do you think of a family that would deliberately exclude every other race from all of their purchasing decisions?
Actually, the above excerpt is from http://www.ebonyexperiment.com/pledge.html. The only thing I altered in the quote was I put the word “White” where the word “Black” was. The family in question does not plan to buy white for a year, they plan to buy black for the year. Does that change your opinion?
I must admit when I first found out about the Ebony Experiment, I was incredulous. I wondered if this was even legal. Then when I found out they had a team in place, media backing, and national support, I wondered how we might react if a white family decided to do the same thing.
As a black business owner you would think I’d be fine with this. But I’m not. Something about it smells of segregation, racism and exclusion. Something about it sounds hauntingly familiar to an unflattering time in our history. Something about it and the support of it makes me uncomfortable.
Is this okay for a black family to do? What do you think? Let’s Talk…
