Racism

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On post-intential racism – ‘More Beautiful and More Terrible’: Imani Perry

 

“For a nation that often optimistically claims to be post-racial, we are still mired in the practices of racial inequality that plays out in law, policy, and in our local communities.

 

One of two explanations is often given for this persistent phenomenon: On the one hand, we might be hypocritical saying one thing, and doing or believing another; on the other, it might have little to do with us individually but rather be inherent to the structure of American society.

 

More Beautiful and More Terrible compels us to think beyond this insufficient dichotomy in order to see how racial inequality is perpetuated. Imani Perry asserts that the U.S. is in a new and distinct phase of racism that is post-intentional neither based on the intentional discrimination of the past, nor drawing upon biological concepts of race.

 

Drawing upon the insights and tools of critical race theory social policy, law, sociology and cultural studies, she demonstrates how post intentional racism works and maintains that it cannot be addressed solely through the kinds of structural solutions of the Left or the values arguments of the Right. Rather, the author identifies a place in the middle space of righteous hope and articulates a notion of ethics and human agency that will allow us to expand and amplify that hope.

 

To paraphrase James Baldwin, when talking about race, it is both more terrible than most think, but also more beautiful than most can imagine, with limitless and open-ended possibility. Perry leads readers down the path of imagining the possible and points to the way forward.”

 

 

Community Village‘s insight:

 

Tim Wise worked with this author (Professor Imani Perry Ph.D.,J.D.) in his movie ‘White Like Me‘

 

‘More Beautiful and More Terrible’ has 5 out of 5 stars and glowing reviews.

I’m looking forward to this breakdown of “post-intentional’ racism.

 

It seems like the idea goes in conjunction with Michelle Alexander’s book ‘The New Jim Crow’. Where Alexander explains that even though the laws behind the war on drugs do not mention race, the effects are that with limited budgets and resources (and subconscious racism?), police forces primarily focus their war on Black and Brown communities, even through white people use illegal drugs as much or more than Black and Brown communities.

 

And because you can’t have a war on an inanimate object, the war is waged on Black and Brown people and on Black and Brown communities.

 

@getgln

See on www.amazon.com

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Hate Crime charges for 3 white San Jose State students

Prosecutors allege the white students harassed a black roommate with insulting nicknames and behavior including securing a bicycle lock around his neck.

 

Community Village‘s insight:

 

Notice the media often doesn’t show the photo’s of the white faces who commit crimes.

 

Click through to see the video report. However the article goes into more detail on how f’d up the taunting and abuse was.

 

@getgln

See on www.mercurynews.com

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AMERICAN INDIAN GROUP RELEASES GRAPHIC TO SHOW RACISM IN SPORTS LOGOS

The National Congress of American Indians has produced a graphic putting the racially-charged stereotypes of sports organizations into a pretty simple context.

See on gamedayr.com

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“But You Speak So Well”: How Latinos Experience Subtle Racism

“By Silvia L. Mazzula, PhD (Asst. Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY). Dr. Mazzula is also the President-Elect of the Latino Psychological Association of New Jersey.

 

What kinds of microaggressions do Latinas/os experience?

If you are Latina or Latino, you may have heard comments such as, “Wow, you speak so well… You are not like them… You are really smart… OR You are different and they will really like you.” You might even be asked repeatedly where you are from if your first answer is a city or state in the U.S.

…

How I personally check against microaggressions

I  am conscious to not laugh or participate in racial or ethnic jokes that demean, stereotype, or “other” groups that are different than me (even like me).  When I’m feeling a little bold, I even point out to the “jokester” that they are being microaggressive.  This also includes ending racist and microaggressive jokes at my own dinner table. It may not be much, but it’s one simple thing that I can actively do.

 

What you can do to address microaggressions

Addressing microaggressive acts can be difficult and taxing to your emotional well being, especially with your loved ones and in your professional lives.  Sometimes, it’s helpful to first process the experience with someone who understands.  Speaking to someone who understands will not only help you think through what happened, but also help validate that what you experienced was real and that there is nothing wrong with you.

 

Community Village‘s insight:

 

In California I don’t see many people saying “you speak so well” to Latinos.

 

However, I do see microaggressions frequently. Usually around comments about “those” people, or “those” neighborhoods, or mentioning someone’s skin color when it has nothing to do with the conversation (skin color was mentioned at my work if you can believe it – not just mentioned – it was like – “oh you got really brown”). They didnt’ say it as a compliment. Someone elese piped up and said “She’s golden brown.”.

 

A co-worker told a racist joke at a previous company I worked for. Both my wife and I experienced racist customers when we worked at Orchard Supply Hardware. A customer told my wife that he would run her over if he saw her in the parking lot.

 

People really have been run over and killed from racists.

 

I’m ashamed to say that, to this day, not once have I called these people out for their inappropriate words while I was at work.

 

The time I did call someone out was a family member – and that confrontation escalated so far so fast, we no longer talk to that family – even though it was only one member of that family who had the issue with “Latinos”.

 

@getgln

See on psychologybenefits.org