In this chapter, Yamato explains racism in terms of how regular people, both white and color, see it and approach it. She believes racism is something that cannot be dissolved in one workshop session, or in one day; it is something that will take a lot of time and effort. People take the following actions in dealing with racism: ‘aware/ blatant racism, aware/convert racism, unaware/ unintentional racism, and unaware/ self righteous racism’. (OPR 2004, pg 65) The first step in dissolving racism is to acknowledge
that it exists. Yamato goes on to explain how racism is best handled on two levels: ‘personal and societal and emotional and institutional’. (OPR 2004, pg 67)
My thoughts: I was in full fledge agreement about the first step in attacking racism, is to acknowledge that it exists. Many Americans today believe that racism is something of the past. Yes, we might not have lynching and other blunt forms of racism like ‘white only’ signs, but it still exists in places like schools and the media.
I also agree on Yamato’s analogy of how different people deal with racism. When I hear ignorant comments regarding race or culture, I wonder: is that person really that shallow or do they not know better? I understand that some people are not exposed to different races or cultures, so I try to be patient.
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3 comments:
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for your insights. Did you like the Yamato article? Was it useful for you?
I found this analysis very helpful:
"is that person really that shallow or do they not know better? I understand that some people are not exposed to different races or cultures, so I try to be patient."
I'm grateful for your honesty!
I'm curious: how are people in the United States not exposed to different races and cultures? Is that possible? Can people select not to be exposed, at varying degrees? If so, how? Are there some people who cannot avoid being exposed to diverse communities, ethnicities, cultures, ? If so, who? Where? Why?
thanks,
Margo Tamez
I agree with your acknowledgement of the first important step is saying that racism exists. And I also like that people need to be accepting and patient with other cultures.
-Ross
In response to Margo's questions below about people's exposure to diversity in race and culture, particularly about exposure at varying degrees, it would seem that people can actually shelter themselves or be sheltered from these things.
Through the hierarchies that have been constructed in the work place and through limiting opportunities for professional advancement for certain racial groups, the social traditions of the American work place have separated wealth groups. The white people in power in corporate America control who has large incomes, in turn, affecting who can afford to live in certain communities.
Thus, some people are able to live in a wealthy, gated community with little to no racial diversity, cutting them off from the experiences that integration has to offer. They are left with an image of other races that has been provided by the media, and not from their own personal experiences.
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