Widespread Racism in US

Introduction

by Housewife4Palestine

It is very well document that the African-American’s have always been subject to Racism, which I for one do not agree with this.

Racism towards any immigrant to America is as old as America and the no wave of violence and Racism is being pitted against Muslims and as some African-Americans have expressed, that the Racism against Muslims has given them a little breather and they feel for the Muslims plight in America.


“Racism is still here. Nothing has changed. It’s just become sneakier, quieter. I face it almost daily. We may be liberated, but we are second-class citizens.”

Jacqueline, a 47-year-old black woman

Sameen Tahir-Khan, Arab News

COLUMBUS, Ohio, 12 December 2006 — “Shut up! Fifty years ago, we’d have you upside down. He’s a nigger, he’s a nigger!” That is what Caucasian actor Michael Richards said on Nov. 17 at a Los Angeles comedy club. He vomited this racial slur, not as part of his comic performance but against two black men who allegedly heckled him.

In another incident on Nov. 25, shots were fired at Sean Bell, a 23-year-old African-American and his friends. Bell had left a nightclub after a party when he was stopped by New York police officers who thought the young black man was going to pull a gun on them. Bell died afterward. Is racism in the US spiraling out of control? African-Americans got their civil rights in 1964 when segregation was outlawed. Every now and then, however, there is an indication that racism is thriving in the United States.

How do African-Americans feel about Michael Richards’ racial slur? Have they accepted his public apology? Do they face racism themselves and if so, how do they cope with it? Arab News spoke to a few to find out.

“What is in the heart of Americans has come from the lips of Michael Richards,” Jacqueline, a 47-year-old black woman, said bitterly. “Racism is still here. Nothing has changed. It’s just become sneakier, quieter. I face it almost daily. We may be liberated, but we are second-class citizens.”

Natasha is studying medicine and at the same time doing her Ph.D. She said there is so much stereotyping for the blacks. “Everyone thinks we are nothing, just losers. One day I went to my research center but forgot to wear my white lab coat. Some guys sitting there saw me come in and said, ‘The toilet is clogged, please take care of it.’ They thought I was a janitor! It was just because I wasn’t wearing a white coat and I’m a black woman.”

Twenty-two-year-old Jennifer Fleet believes Michael Richards’ comments were indicative of “the cloaked racism, practiced by so many Americans. It saddens me that many people feel this way.” However, Fleet did not believe the Richards’ incident was an isolated one, “nor do I believe that America’s majority harbor those feelings. In my opinion, racism is slowly fading away as we see inter-racial relationships growing.” Fleet feels she can forgive Richards because hating another person is only taxing oneself. “His apologies are meaningless. He’ll never be able to take back his words.”

Deanna Van Cleaf said Richards’ comments were inappropriate. “I personally would not forgive Richards. His apology doesn’t change my reaction to his remarks. I think his comments are symptomatic of a larger, nationwide problem.” She said that she had had an affair with a Caucasian man. His parents told him he shouldn’t get seriously involved with an African-American because they didn’t want any black people in the family.

If they could change one thing to improve the situation in America, what would it be?

Jacqueline said she’d make all whites and blacks equal. Van Cleaf said she would like to make America classless. Fleet said, “I would remove the fear from the hearts of the Americans. It is this fear of the unknown that breeds racism and other stereotypes.”

African-American men seemed less concerned about racism. Twenty-year-old Ryan sympathized with the death of Sean Bell. But he is not worried about the police stopping him after a night out. “It also depends on the clothes you wear. If you dress up ghetto style, you will be stereotyped. Even I stereotype those people. Racism exists, but is well hidden. I’ve never faced it. I think racial discrimination was more in the 1960s. Things have improved greatly.” He dismissed Richards’ comments by saying, “He needs help,” (Implying, Richards was “nuts.”) Twenty-year-old Joshua, dressed more in ghetto style, said he faced racism because he looked and dressed more black. “But I don’t get scared easily, so I’m not worried about anyone, anything.”

What do the whites have to say about racism?

One person who wished to remain unidentified, said, “Michael Richards went too far, but it was a comedy club scene so that was expected. Also, I don’t know why blacks get offended when we call them niggers; they themselves address each other as ‘niggers’. Their songs are full of the N-word.” (However, Van Cleaf retorted that they use the word nigger among themselves as a term of endearment; “the whites use it to degrade us.”)

A white woman said, “The older generation was more racist because they were not used to having blacks as equals, but we are.”

Hundreds of years of wrong will not be set right in a single generation, but there is always the hope that as the world becomes a true global village, a melting pot, people will not look at what divides but what unites, not the color of skin, but that of the rainbow, flowers and other natural things.