Yes

by Jacqueline A. Johnson

Created on: November 10, 2007

Of course Duane is a racist. The use of the word "Nigger" to describe the boy Lisa has not yet met is the proof. Anyone white in America or Europe that generalizes an entire ethnic group by pre-judging people is racist. Any Black or person of color that generalizes an entire ethnic group is prejudice or is a bigot. The difference is power.

In the United States and Europe the economic power is currently in the hands of the white established governments. These governments allow systematic disenfranchisement of their minority populations through the implementation or ignorance of unfair policies and practices throughout their societies. An example of this is media representation of minorities in the United States. Since the media is the most common tool of socialization for children here, they will learn what they see. White children and Black children see minorities represented in very narrow and damaging scopes. Blacks are portrayed as poor, violent, hyper sexual, materialistic,athlet ic, or as benevolent entertainers. Black women are almost always fat, and angry at Black men. While some of this is true in the Black community (as it is in the white community) there are not enough Blacks playing characters that would be considered "normal." You can count on one hand how many smart, productive, well adjusted Blacks one might find consistently on network television.

The faulty message of Black inferiority is pumped daily into trusting children and adults all over the world. What does this do to a white child who has no Black people in his life to dispute these messages? What does it do to the development of the hopes and dreams of the Black child? It creates racism and self-loathing. What does it do to this country? Or to the world?

Media representation is just one example of racism built into the fabric of our nation. The concept of "a jury of our peers" as guaranteed in the constitution is another example of how this government continues to facilitate racist ideology. For me, a jury of my peers would consist of twelve single black working mothers of children with absent fathers. I'd like to see such a jury convict me of bouncing checks at the end of the month. Instead, minority defendants are judged by a jury of adults socialized to view their presence with fear and hostility. Endless statistics show Black men going to jail for years for crimes their white peers consistently get probation for.

Another example of systemic inequities is Red Lining. This is when a Black person goes to a Realtor to look at properties for purchase and then to the bank. According to the Forbes Media Company, Investopedia:

"The unethical practice whereby financial institutions make it extremely difficult or impossible for residents of poor inner-city neighborhoods to borrow money, gain approval for a mortgage, take out insurance or gain access to other financial services because of high default rates. In this case, the rejection does not take the individual's qualifications and creditworthiness into account. In some cases of redlining, financial institutions would literally draw a red line on a map around the neighborhoods in which they did not want to offer financial services, giving the term its name."

The saddest thing about this is that race does not even exist. It has been scientifically proved that only one race exists within the human species. While race is a man made concept developed to separate and exploit, racism and it's effects are real. Many, in response to this new episode of Mr. Chapman's, tell Blacks to "just get over it," but we can never get over it until you do - because you surround us. And we will know you are over it when you stop calling us "Nigger."

Works cited:
10 November 2007 .

Learn more about this author, Jacqueline A. Johnson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.