Is your baby racist?!?!
September 9, 2009
Photo Credit: Matt Braunger
It’s Newsweek so no hard science here, but someone found out that children actually perceive society’s racial differences on their own, from media and mostly from their parents attitude. Nothing new here, but here’s an interesting note on white liberalism “don’t ask, don’t tell” de facto policy:
The last third were also given the checklist of topics, but no videos. These parents were to discuss racial equality on their own, every night for five nights.
At this point, something interesting happened. Five families in the last group abruptly quit the study. Two directly told Vittrup, “We don’t want to have these conversations with our child. We don’t want to point out skin color.”
Vittrup was taken aback—these families volunteered knowing full well it was a study of children’s racial attitudes. Yet once they were aware that the study required talking openly about race, they started dropping out.
Race is not an equal topic
June 4, 2009
Recent years have seen a depressing pattern in which notable “ethnic” political figures— from President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on down—end up having to extricate themselves from the tangles of racial politics, defending themselves from charges of “reverse racism,” “identity politics,” or the like. This may have much to do with the fact that, unlike their “nonethnic” counterparts, such “minority role models” are regularly asked to put on the public record—at lunches, award ceremonies, community events—lengthy statements of their views on America’s most explosive topic: race.
Monica Youn is of course talking about the charges of “reverse racism” lobbed at Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayer, and that often, people of color are asked to talk about race and represent “their” race especially when achieving high office or appointments.
The charges of racism, because Sotomayer suggested that because she is a woman and a Latina, that she might have a better perspective than a white male judge, only really works if talking about race and racism was equal in this country. The sad truth of it is: it is not.
Whites do not have to talk about race. Whites do not have to defend themselves daily and especially when achieving high positions. Youn makes this point at the end of her article:
Frank talk about racial identity is neither racism nor its reverse and should be invited from “ethnic” and “nonethnic” figures alike. It’s hardly fair for minority candidates to be attacked for accepting invitations to talk about race when members of the silent majority are allowed to remain silent.
And that’s just it. While various ethnic groups strive to find individuality, acceptance and recognition of unique circumstances, mainstream America really only sees two “races”: white and not-white. Yet, whites often assume that since liberal teachings tell us that we are all equal, then the balance of these two races is just as equal. It is this myopic view where conservative pendants lash out when a person of color talks about race. They do not see, or they refuse to acknowledge the very real history and present reality of race in America.
Or maybe, just maybe, they are all too aware that with a black president, a powerful symbol of racial change, whites really will be seen as just another ethnic group.
No Racial Gap Seen in ’08 Vote Turnout
May 1, 2009
Mr. Obama scored upsets in several Southern states. Those victories were attributed to the growing number of migrants from other parts of the country, younger voters and a surge in turnout among blacks.
In other words: populations change, deal with it.
“With him as president, people seem to be working together toward the same goals and that has helped race relations,” she said. “Before there was more of a separation, blacks working for black goals and whites for white goals. Obama has helped change the perception of blacks in a positive way, but it’s also the times. ‘’
via Poll Suggests Obama’s Term Is Altering Views on Race – NYTimes.com.
What’s in skin color?
February 24, 2009
“Our original estimates were that [skin color changes] occurred perhaps at a more stately pace,” Jablonski says. But now they’re finding that a population can be one color light or dark and 100 generations later — with no intermarriage — be a very different color.
—npr
Italy bans kebabs and foreign food from cities
February 5, 2009
Apparently, Italy wants to ban “foreign” foods from its cities. Even though:
The San Marzano tomato, a staple ingredient of Italian pasta sauces, was a gift from Peru to the Kingdom of Naples in the 18th century. Even spaghetti, it is thought, was brought back from China by Marco Polo, and oranges and lemons came from the Arab world.
While race, culture, nationalism and immigration are certainly complex and hard to quantify and legislate. The only thing, perhaps more complex and even harder to quantify is cuisine! Italian food, as we know it today, has more imported products in it that without them it would resemble perhaps more Greek food than any other.
I mean, no tomato sauce, no pasta, no peppers?! What are you left with? Bread, cheese and olives. That’s it.
But more importantly, this is obviously an affront to immigrants in Italy and the growing European back-lash against non-European immigration. Of course, they deny this, but if you hate a culture’s food to the point of banning it, how much of a logical leap does one have to make to hate the people who produce that culture and food?
Massimo Di Grazia, the city spokesman, said that the ban was intended to improve the image of the city and to protect Tuscan products. “It targets McDonald’s as much as kebab restaurants,” he added.
There is confusion, however, over what is meant by ethnic. Mr Di Grazia said that French restaurants would be allowed. He was unsure, though, about Sicilian cuisine. It is influenced by Arab cooking.
Also, kebabs are good.
‘Suntanned’ Barack Obama jibe
November 10, 2008
The Italian-born Ms Bruni, who became a French national following her marriage to President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this year, said: "When I hear Silvio Berlusconi making light of the event Obama's election and joking about the fact that Obama is "always tanned", it feels strange to me.
"Some people will no doubt put it down to humour, but often I find that I am pleased to have become French."
Italy's left-wing opposition parties have accused Mr Berlusconi of embarrassing the nation with the quip.
He responded by calling them "imbeciles" with no sense of humour.
via Carla Bruni angry at Silvio Berlusconi’s ’suntanned’ Barack Obama jibe – Telegraph
Nooses alive and well
October 30, 2007
Racism alive and well indeed. Recently, since mid 2006, there have been a rash of nooses springing up all over the nation. Not lynchings per se, but the a noose hanging ready in an area frequented by the supposed black targets is a very powerful symbol of hate and oppression.
Frankly, I only read about these nooses recently and it boggles my mind that in the 21st century, this is still a problem. DiversityInc has a good noose wrap-up article and “Noose Watch,” complete with an interactive map of recent reports.
James Watson, DNA decoder, is an idiot
October 22, 2007
James Watson, of the Watson-Crick fame, the folks known for discovery the double-helix structure of DNA, must have just joined a country club where the requirements dictate you must be white, old as dirt and racist.
I can’t believe I’m reading this, but he is quoted in the Sunday Times of London as saying Africans are genetically less intelligent than others. Watson’s apparent lack of interest in the genetic research that followed his receipt of the Nobel Prize in 1962 has cost him a lecture spot to promote his new book at the Science Museum of London.
Way to go James.
Hat-tip to RaceWire.
