Reader responses from my Another Way article in February on "Racism and
Backlash" were numerous, upsetting, heartening, and instructional. So here are
opinions, insights and personal experiences with racism that we can all learn
from.
A 40-year-old woman wrote about herself when she was a child, and about her
daughter who is now 18. "When I was in the fifth grade, there was a test given
for Gifted and Talented Language Arts. I took the test and passed with flying
colors. I was so excited because I would be in a class where my intelligence
would be challenged. There were only 10 slots. On the day of the test, a white
girl was absent. Upon her return to school they realized they had too many kids
for the number of available slots. I was told that unfortunately there weren't
enough slots and that I would not be able to attend this English class. To say I
was disappointed is an understatement... Fast forward to this past December. My
18-year-old daughter works part time at an ice cream shop. One night as she and
her co-workers were closing, one said, 'Look at your skin and look at mine. You
should be my slave; I'm not yours.' My daughter was devastated that someone
could look at her and see only a 'slave' in the year 2002. The difference in the
two episodes is that I was accustomed to being treated that way. I grew up in an
era where I couldn't try on shoes in the shoe store. My mother had to draw the
outline of my foot, cut it out, and take it to the shoe store to get the right
size for me."
Other writers wished I would have placed more emphasis on the fact that we are
all the same, underneath. Someone pointed out that efforts at affirmative action
can have the effect of actually limiting the number of qualified minorities who
are hired. If 50 percent of applicants are qualified, and the quota only calls
for 40 percent, then that's all that are hired.
One woman wrote, "I truly understand all that you wrote. I am an
African-American woman, and I have experienced both sides of the racial issue. I
have, at times, received favor from the powers that be in American society,
because of the 'kill two birds with one stone' mentality that has existed [when
hiring both a woman and a person of color]. I have also been doubly
discriminated against because I have 'two strikes' against me. Neither of these
stances is good. I am a very intelligent, hard-working person. Period."
A man with Native American, African, and European heritage said that growing up
in southern Louisiana was very difficult as he was neither "white" nor "black."
He was subjected to hatred from people of various colors. He pointed out that to
be racist, "One must not only have prejudice - a prejudgment and belief
concerning another race; more importantly that race must have the [legal] power
or means to enforce it. While I agree that African-American people in this
country have exhibited and acted with great prejudice and hatred toward other
races, they do not have the institutional power to enforce their will as the
majority race does."
One woman shared a story of hope, from when she was living in the 1970's in a
hostel in London. There she made friends with a "black girl called Esther and a
white South African called Ruth. I asked Mum if I could bring Ruth and Esther
home. My grandmother lived next door; Mum was delighted to have them but warned
me that Granny was racist, because of the way she had been brought up. I warned
Esther of this and asked her how she felt; she just said, 'Leave your
grandmother to me.' Granny met Esther, invited her into her home (I think
because she trusted my judgment) and within 10 minutes, Esther had Granny eating
out of her hand. It was wonderful to see. Granny talked about her quite a lot
afterwards too, and how her prejudice died with that meeting."
Used by permission of Melodie Davis
Melodie@mennomedia.org , Another Way, 1252 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA
22802, www.thirdway.com/aw
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.