Raised white

The generation that "witnessed" the civil rights movement is still alive and well (that's me, 50). Many of their older brothers and sisters, and even some of their parents (who marched, protested, were arrested for participating, were discriminated against) are still alive. That means people on both sides of the issue.

We are only about 40 years into this "new territory" of the civil rights movement. I agree that Obama was seen as the better alternative first to Hilary Clinton, and then to what was considered more of the same. 40 years isn't that long a time when weighed against the previous centuries of slavery/institutionalized racism.

That our conversation can still easily reference who's considered White or Black means that "while we have left the dock, we can still see the shore."

Raised White or Black? I was raised in New York and chose my own cultural associations regardless of their "color."

Interesting thread.

 

Most blacks don't even know this, or prehaps many would not have voted for him, thay assume he has the same heritage they do, a hertiage of slavery.

 

I took part in te Civil Rights Movement. In 1960, our job was just to get the Blacks to register for the vote. What I witnessed was beyond imagine. We saw a youngster drowned in a lavatory by three White lads because he dared to use the wrong washroom. They were never charged. The Sheriff simply sent the brother home to have his daddy come and get his brother.

I asked a Black truck driver in Georgia what the difference is now..that was n 70's..He said, "I no longer have to hold a door open for a White lady...I can do it by choice."

A humouress story comes from the Bible CLub Movement in Pennsylvania in early 60's. The camps were divided between White and Black. At the Black camp, I sat on a bed staring at Lonnie. He was sitting on an upper bunk. I don't know what was on my mind, but I was staring. He was so Black and his eyes were so bright, and as a Canadian who didn't see many Blacks at home, I was a little set back. Lonnie just looked back at me and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Jim. Before the summer is out you will be just like me." Worst part is, he even told his parents what he had said when they came to pick him up.

When I came home and returned to seminary, my roomate was a Black from Jamaica! We had a wonderful year together and I was colourblind.

I think there are some changes to-day. I also think there are still pockets pf prejudice that will always be there. What we must do is accept what is but ever working on the change within ourselves.

Remember that kiddies song we used to used to sing years ago?

Red and yellow, black or white,
They're ALL precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Cheers,

Jim

 

This thread made me wonder just what is the definition of white man.
Is there really such a thing. I can't swear to my white purity can you? My brother has been looking up our family tree. There doesn't seem to be any colored race in it but what if you discoverd there was in your family tree. Would it change anything?

Maybe I'm wrong but it seems to me that we all will have to pay for our racial indifferences. Our predjudice towards others sometimes for less than color. Most of the time for our place on the social ladder.
MB

 

He cannot. In fact he cannot relate to the average American regardless of skin color. When he was a young boy he also attended the best schools.