Tuesday, November 5, 2013

You Know It’s Bad When People Who Aren’t Even Black Are Stepping In To Help

You Know It’s Bad When People Who Aren’t Even Black Are Stepping In To Help

I must say how impressed I am with Bonilla-Silva’s ability to make honest and straightforward examples, while still remaining unbiased and non-offensive. In his book “Racism Without Racists”, he pretty much explores as many different kinds of racial creeds Whites’ use every day, without really being racists. To call someone racist is a strong word. It is a strong word to use and a strong word to hear. Its such a hard word to swallow because many White people don’t know that the nature of some of the things they may say, or even their ideology about some every day matters are racially implicit. This book is Bonilla-Silva’s attempt at helping them to see that, and helping other non-Whites’ to understand why certain Whites’ think this way. For everyone to have a better understanding of ourselves and of each other, will be a productive and effective attempt at tolerance, I feel. In chapters 6-10 he discusses topics such as interracial relationships, neighborhood segregation, affirmative action, and Obamacare. HE spends one chapter discussing Black perspective on many of these issues and how they affect Blacks. HE does also spend a little time showing statistics on how racial stratification in America affects people other than Black and White; Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, etc. The examples he uses are not just subjective to one particular group being affected by racism or the ‘right now’ aspect of it. He really shows the all-around cause and effect of racism in America. Bonilla-Silva confronts heavily the thought of color-blindness and challenges us to consider if it really does exist. His book has honestly helped me reconsider some of the racial obstacles in my own life. I have thought more about why I think the way I do in regards to certain racial matters. I have an inclination to approach situations with White people from the perspective that they’re probably prejudice. Although I know that that is absurd and surely not the case, I have what I feel to be an innate desire to want to defend not only myself, but my race. I suppose that’s not the problem, but the generalization of every Whit person which probably affects the way I interact with different races. “Racism Without Racists” has helped me grasp a better understanding of why we all think the way they do. This is certainly a book, I feel, should be a part of academic curriculum much prior to University level education. Unfortunately, not everyone will be s receptive to the truth. 
 

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