By: Taylor
I recently watched the movie “The Help” in theaters and was amazed at how moved I was by it. For those of you that have not had the chance to go see it, the movie is set in Mississippi in the decade of the 1960’s. It does a great job at showing how it was to be a black woman in those times and how many hardships one had to go through. It angered me to see black women be treated as though they were animals. It was as if people did not think that they deserved to have the same rights and luxuries as other races in this era were fortunate enough to have. It really made me think of activism and how important it is to stand up for what you believe is right when you see something that is happening around you that is not just.
After seeing this, it really made me think; does racism still exist today? Unfortunately, the sad reality of it is that it exists in today’s society more than we would like to know. People sweep in under the rug like it is not a big deal, when it is detrimental to us to make it stop. We are fortunate enough to live in a country where the laws allow us to believe in what we want to believe in, wear what we please, and live where we want to live, but is this something that society condemns? When someone does not look like an ‘American’, people immediately belittle them. The truth of the matter is that, to be an American, means that you can be any shape, size, ethnicity or race, but this is not how society looks at it. Take the new show All-American Muslim for example. These people come to America in hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families, but are quickly shown that this may be a lot harder than expected because of all the hateful acts done against them. This happens more than people think in today’s society.
Many people give up on activism, especially when it has to do with race because they feel as though they are not guilty of being racist. When they feel that too many people will disagree with them and their opinions or simply not pay any attention to it, they give up and move on. What we have to realize is that for those the activists that don’t give up, the outcome of their hard work can be very rewarding. While thinking about activism and how it related to racism in the 1960’s, I started to think of racism and where it is today. Yes, I think it is fair to say that laws on racism and racist acts have come a long way in the past few decades, but are we where we should be yet? I, for one, can say that I unfortunately do not think that racism is dead. In fact, we see it everyday. Whether it is obvious or not, things are done subconsciously that prove racism to still be here in full force. Who is to blame for this? Is it the schools? Is it media? Whoever is to blame, this is something that has been an issue for years past and continues to haunt us. I think that it is fair to say that, until we stand up and make it obvious that we will not stand for racial acts, racial slurs, or anything of the kind, we are all to blame in one way or the other for racism still existing in America today. Let’s stand up and do something about this!
W T F ! 
chanel
November 26, 2011
i find it interesting that the existence of systematic oppression has to be questioned. in the sense that there is a chance that it is not existent. what baffles me all the more is how hegemony causes people to function in a constructed norm to filter a constructed mindset. however, one ought to criticize the poor system rather than the poor person. nevertheless, individualization leaves this society itching for the next selfish fix and one can never elevate outside the circumstances unless a boarder pedagogy is utilized.
systemic oppression will continue to exist in the u.s. context until the house is dismantled from the roof to the foundation and reconstructed on new principles. to question is not the problem, although to mindlessly accept the inevitable is insanity. the revolution is a lifestyle, not a movement, where one is constantly having to question thought and action and reject the system that reinforces oppression.
racism evolves like humankind; meanwhile, it functions in the same way: native fashion trends, athletic mascots, t-shirts, television, education, judicial system, prisons. all systems, all drenched in “isms.” activism also has many forms, yet one can still act out of privileges subconsciously. it starts with a change of mind, change of heart, learning more and changing action. continue in dialogue, continue to broaden personal perspective, continue to improve the world.
-c.bradley
minarinko
November 22, 2011
Great topic!! I believe that racism still exists….It is really sad but it is true. I love traveling the world so I have been to more than ten countries in my life, but I can say is I don’t feel that racism in the U.S. that much compared to I did in other countries. I am talking about only the racism against Asian people, but when I went to New Zealand, I had really really bad experience. People were against Asian people screamed and said racism words to me everywhere. Even in Japan, people are so racist, and it just makes me so sad. To me, race is nothing. It just characteristic of each person and identity, but people can’t still figuring it out and it takes time to get rid of it. I believe that we can’t give it up and it will lead to get rid of racism and discrimination. Thank you for sharing your idea!!
Kay
November 22, 2011
I also saw the film “The Help” and couldn’t believe the blunt, straightforward racism that exsisted in the film, but back in that time it was part of the culture. The white people back then clearly did not see how racist all of these actions were. In today’s society none of those actions are tolerated, but what actions are tolerated that people just accept as culture? We look back and think how horrifying that time was and how could people treat other people that way? The bigger question is whether or not generations down the road will look back at us and be horrified by what we said? Will they say that it was just the culture and that we accepted it and didn’t see it as racism? Just like we are saying about the 60’s?
kaleighprahm
November 20, 2011
I like your questions that ask who’s to blame for the level of racism in America. I have learned recently that not everyone starts out as being racist, however, they evolve into it because of perpetuating stereotypes seen around them. For example, a white male who lives in LA might believe that all African-American males are all uneduate thugs because that is what he percieves around him through gang activity, etc. However, no one stops to think about WHY this demographic has a higher crime rate and low level education. The reason they exist is because of the community poverty levels and social inequalities that stem from our own government, and the unfortunate reality that not everyone is treated EQUAL.
Danny
November 18, 2011
the American Muslim is not something new, muslim American’s didn’t just start after all the media coverage on them after 9/11.
seybe001
November 18, 2011
Taylor,
You have made very great points throughout your post. I believe that because society has morphed us into these “believers” of anything that is mainstream, it has now gotten the upper hand on us. Part of oppression is being able to control others by “justifying” belittling them. While I do not believe racists conditions are as prominent as they were in previous decades, I think that there are definitely people who partake in racists acts, whether they do so aware or unaware. If they do so unaware, it is because mainstream culture has “justified” these acts/slurs as being “ok’. Great post!
-Michaella