In class last week, we watched a documentary called "The Color of Fear" (1994). It captures a dialogue between two African American, two Latino, two Asian American, and two Caucasian men regarding race and racism in the United States. I thought it was particularly interesting because I was presented with multiple perspectives of the same topic. If you have 90 minutes to spare, this documentary is worth watching 10/10, regardless of your race and current understanding on racism.
Here is short moment that I related to because I have also previously tried to explain racism to people who believe that it no longer exists in the United States. The video quality isn't too great, but what Victor Lewis says about the experience of racism definitely makes up for it:
For those that cannot watch the documentary, one of the most important points that it makes is that racism is real. It has existed in the past, and it still exists today. Every day, people of color are consciously and unconsciously discriminated against by White people–or even other people of color–because of their race. And, this discrimination is physically and psychologically harmful to every single person of color: African American, Asian American, Native American, Latino. Racism is real. It's a problem. And, we all need to understand that.
It's not just racism, however. Sexism, classism, heterosexism are also detrimental and heavily debated in today's society. All of these "-isms" derive from the idea that one group is inherently superior over another. But, aren't we all humans? Then, what makes one human better than another? Better enough that society can be controlled by them?
On that note, I'll leave you to chew this post for a little while. If you have any thoughts about "The Color of Fear" or just the general topic of race, racism, or any other -ism, please feel free to comment below!
Thank you so much for that video.
ReplyDeleteAnd after I watched it and read your post you got me thinking about the fact that I am Arab. I'm Lebanese.
But I don't look Arab. I mean the Middle East is considered "White" to begin with, when I'm filling out surveys and they ask for ethnicity (even though it's part of Asia), but I have light skin. I benefit from the privilege that's afforded me based on fair skin. People think I'm French half the time.
I don't identify with "white people," though. When I'm with my parents out and about, I speak Arabic with them. My parents both have accents. I eat "weird food," oftentimes with my hands (I used to get bullied for it in elementary school). And those little things have an effect on people's perception of us. As the person in the video said, you do have to give up your ethnicity, your culture, to fit in, to be "American," to not get those glances and that condescension. You have to dress a certain way and eat certain things and talk with a certain accent and have certain mannerisms.
And then of course there's the discrimination that affects every single person with feminine features or mannerisms out there...
Not looking Arab and not having an accent when I speak English (at least I don't think I do...?) makes me privileged. Having feminine features and sticking to many aspects of the culture I come from does not.
I'm not sure what my point was with all this introspection.
But it all makes me very frustrated and angry.
Julie, I'm so glad you're doing this SRP.
Hyeji,
ReplyDeleteThis is Tanner from Lutheran High School in Parker Colorado. I am very interested in your project. with our school being very cultural, many feel as though some racism exists because people in our school do not understand the Asian culture in which many of our foreign exchange students come from. Now I am not saying we have racist, be we just have people who do not understand customs of other nations or races. But at your school do you think people are racist today? How do you feel this can be changed? Does technology and media affect the way people view certain cultures?
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ReplyDeleteI just finished watching the Color of Fear
ReplyDeleteIt was...I guess the best word is honest. I feel at times I can forget how much emotion and personal experience is involved in these issues (and rightfully so), and so if I want compassion to guide me, then I really can't forget the fears of people of color. David always said that their fears were "unfounded". In response, what I used to tell myself, but now understand in a bit better of a light is that, fear is irrational, but it's there. And I, as a white man, get the privilege of leaving a conversation, closing a computer, going to bed, white. That no matter how much progress, or unprogress is made in a conversation, or the state of a social system, it really won't affect me in a negative way. I don't want to be one of those watches-a-video-and-is-now-100%-different kinds of people. But I think the documentary really reminded me that I can't marginalize or minimize the experiences of others. Or I, as a different and white person, have the privilege to do so. And like one of the persons said in the video, it's not an overnight thing, it's a process and can often uproot a lot of prior forms of thinking. College is approaching for all of us, and these issues stand at the center of discussions nationally and on campus, and so I look forward to learning more about them. I guess it just sucks though that there are people of color who have to grow skeptical and untrusting of white people, because that's how they feel they've been treated. And there is probably something to be said, as Gordon (not sure if that's the right name, but the white dude who was more compassionate and understanding), that after all this crap, that people of color just want to be treated equally and fairly and with justice.
But I'm really glad I watched the documentary, because everyone was very well-spoken, passionate, and articulated their responses to common arguments white people will bring up. Arguments like it's an unfounded fear, or you really just have to try. And the responses were direct and honest, saying they do have these fears, and they do fight against them, but you can't always beat up a brick wall. And that sucks and is a problem. But I guess another problem is that, very rarely will you be able to sit down and talk about these issues for hours with a lot of people of color. Many people find these conversations very uncomfortable (which in itself you could bring up good points), or there just isn't enough time in casual conversation. These people spent like a weekend at a (farm?). Another thing is that not every person of a certain race will be able to discuss all the nuances and frustrations about these issues, and not every person of a minority can represent them perfectly. I guess it's similar to the model minority myth. We're also very young, and as you asked us earlier in this blog "Who do You Think I am?", We're still forming ideas about who we are and what our place in society is. And for people of color, they face a lot more opinions and stereotypes when developing a sense of identity. But these people have had decades to learn about themselves, and their place in society, and talk about it. And in a country where white is the majority color of people, white people rarely deal with people of color, while people of color always deal with white people, similar to what Victor said.
Another thing I think I want to mention is the idea of being an ally. I think I've always tried to respect personal experience and emotion, but perhaps recently was a bit too willing to write it off. But I was always conflicted on the idea of being an ally. I think I understood that I can't fully understand the experience of others (but to what extent I understood that could be questioned), but I guess I thought of ally as first meaning that I couldn't really have even the slightest say in these issues. But over time I think I've come to understand the idea in a better sense, meaning more that I should do my best to understand their problems and fears and do whatever I can to help them. I can still have a voice, but I should defer it more to people with direct experience. Being an ally means giving more respect and understanding to the problems and desires and fears of people of color, but also people in the LGBTQ+ community and women. This documentary was woefully lacking of women, but I guess if they included women in the documentary, it would become a mix of issues of racism and sexism. Which implies that men is, in a way, the default gender, which I can't imagine how that would feel for women. Or just imply that women face this crazy thing called "sexism". I guess this idea of a "default" gender or race or orientation is similar to how Victor thought white and human had become so closely used by white people. And so when white people say, why can't we just treat people as humans, Victor feels it's more white people saying, why can we all just treat each other like we're white. Which we really can't, cause genetics.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I guess there's still a lot more to be said, a lot more to say, and a lot more to learn. But I'm really glad I watched this video. Because at its core, it reminded me that I cannot write off the emotions and experiences of others, because it's not really a good way to live.
So I didn't want this comment to be huge, but it looks like it's going to be. :D :( :D.
Best of luck as you finish off the survey and I hoped the food poisoning wasn't too poisoning (I need to make jokes now to lighten my mood. :D :( :D).
So apparently I hit the character limit and this is now 2 comments. :D :( :D.
Quick question: I can see from your description that you identify as White, but has anyone discriminated against/treated you differently because of your name? Because "Khan" is not a typical "White" last name.
DeleteMy name’s Daniel Saline, I’m at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado, and I’ve been part of these same type of projects, so I know what you’re all going through. To me, it baffles me that there are people out there that deny the existence of racism. Sure, times have changed, but racial profiling is still present. Even if it’s to a lesser extent.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Cayley and I go to Lutheran High School, we also are doing similar projects like this so it makes it interesting seeing other people’s great ideas. The topic you chose to research is very interesting and I think that racism is still a very prominent issue in today’s society. Like Daniel said above I was quite shocked that people said racial profiling didn’t exist because it definitely still does. The blog looks great and I liked the video.
ReplyDelete