Is Unconscious Collective Prejudice Among White People a Reality?

[Wardw]

Personally, I'd prefer to go walkabout.

A trip worth making, agreed, you, me and David. BTW, ever see, "Walkabout" with John Mellion??
Fine film, he went to the other world only a few years ago I think.

 

[Astronuc]

BTW, ever see, "Walkabout" with John Mellion??

I haven't seen the movie. Looks interesting.

A trip worth making, agreed, you, me and David.

Definitely worthwhile. I'll have to ask nge-ni-wiin-ya (willa, yungara). I'll bring me karli (kyli), but I'll need to pick up some ka-ma and jek-kor-a (or kaiya to some). I used Bengarang. I come from southern Koori.

Every now and then I have to get away from 'civilization'.

 

[Wardw]

Definitely worthwhile. I'll have to ask nge-ni-wiin-ya (willa, yungara). I'll bring me karli (kyli), but I'll need to pick up some ka-ma and jek-kor-a (or kaiya to some). I used Bengarang. I come from southern Koori.

Careful, some will think we have a private language thing going.
The movie is a true Australian classic 1971 re the purpose of a walkabout. Surreal scenery. It was the movie that launched the career of David Gulpilil. (he had a cameo walk on role in the first Croc Dundee movie). On DVD or available on teh web I believe.

 

[Astronuc]

I'd love to meet David. He's done some great work. And it would be cool to go walkabout with him. I've always wanted to get up to Darwin.

 

[Christophe]

My uncle got a Japanese wife about 50 years ago and from what I can remember of her she was amazingly racist. Couldn't stand seeing anyone in a mixed race relationship. Ironic that she never realized she was in one herself.

Tribdog, you are very correct,
I have to also say that Japanese people are racist.
But I guess because their country is developed and
young people are taught more about theorems, morality
and plus, they are also mostly influenced by religious thoughts, especially Buddhism's (I really like this point..),
That I think is why Japanese people in particular,
and Asian people here in general think of different things
and other people in a much "softer" way when compared to those in America/Europe, and that there would not be traggedies like someone gets stopped in the street on his way home by a group of bastards with long iron sticks, sharp knifves in hand...which I guess people in North America (especially in most states of the US, or in big cities of Russia and England)

The problem in Japan I think is NATIONALISM, the same as the US; "creative" are unable to survive; "Japanese people are the better than others", this point is mostly approved by most of foreign students/people who now live in Japan..


Admittedly I love threads like this...

Christophe

 

[plus]

In whichever ethnic group you look, you will see that there are a few individuals who have racial hatred to other ethnic groups. To say that only the ethnic europeans have this phenomenon is ridiculous.

 

[Artman]

I worked as one of only a few white males in a minority owned engineering firm for three years. During that time I grew to notice color difference less and less.

One time one of the guys was trying to test me and he asked me if I liked working with black people more, or less, than working with white people. I told him, "I want to live in a world where color doesn't matter."

He said, "I like that answer."

I said, "It's true." And it was. I found that I had to make myself notice the color of the person, rather than that being the first thing I noticed.

I have since left that job (he was a bad business owner, bounced checks, etc.) and have helped three of the guys from that office find work where I work now. That was once an all white office, where prejudicical terms were fairly common. Now those comments are gone. I think working with other races help to bridge some of the gaps.

 

[tdunc]

I think there are different levels of racism. I am going to take a different viewpoint and say that a persons level of racism has more to do with awareness and perception that the people around them are 'different' rather than being taught. Racism can be taught hence taken to a new level, but I feel that everyone no matter what race you are has some degree of racism no matter how innocent or even ignorant of it they may be. If you feel bad because you might be somewhat racist, don't because it is completely natural. Take the animal world for instance, full of 'racism', if you don't look like the others you are look apon differently and treated differently, those are instinctive behaviors - to be curious and at the same time wary. A white rabbit will accept the company of another white rabbit without hesitation, along comes a black rabbit and he keeps his distance... Is that rabbit then racist? By definition yes, but that is what racism boils down to - willingness to accept or not accept.

 

[Evo]

A white rabbit will accept the company of another white rabbit without hesitation, along comes a black rabbit and he keeps his distance... Is that rabbit then racist? By definition yes, but that is what racism boils down to - willingness to accept or not accept.

I have never seen that type of behavior in animals.

 

[Chi Meson]

I worked as one of only a few white males in a minority owned engineering firm for three years. During that time I grew to notice color difference less and less.

One time one of the guys was trying to test me and he asked me if I liked working with black people more, or less, than working with white people. I told him, "I want to live in a world where color doesn't matter."

He said, "I like that answer."

I said, "It's true." And it was. I found that I had to make myself notice the color of the person, rather than that being the first thing I noticed.

I have since left that job (he was a bad business owner, bounced checks, etc.) and have helped three of the guys from that office find work where I work now. That was once an all white office, where prejudicical terms were fairly common. Now those comments are gone. I think working with other races help to bridge some of the gaps.

This is an example of what is referred to as a "colorblind society." It always seemed to me to be the most mature, human way to progress. But the "colorblind society" mindset has itself come under attack from some corners as being a way for "white people to shrug off the injustices of the past." (I forgot whose quote I paraphrased there).

This leaves me, personally, in a bind: how does one simultaneously treat everyone of every race equally without prejudice while acknowleging the fact that some people have a harder go of it simply becuase they are not white?

As a teacher I must recognize that some kids go home to a stuctureless household where homework is never done and the parents are abusive, while others (in the same classroom) go to their private bedrooms in a quiet neighborhood. If those two kids get the same score on a test, who really deserves a higher grade? I know I'm talking social class here, not color, but it's the same thing. Sometimes equality is not fair.

 

[Artman]

But the "colorblind society" mindset has itself come under attack from some corners as being a way for "white people to shrug off the injustices of the past." (I forgot whose quote I paraphrased there).

I think this can lead to reverse discrimination, which is discrimination as well, and only creates resentment.

I think we should deal with people as individuals because to deal with them as a race instead, is to be prejudiced. I hope to not add to anyones troubles, whether they be black or white.