Racism: Conditioned or Intentional?

WHAT: Perspective. Positionality. Interpretation. To deem those who are racist or have even slightly racist thoughts as bad people, is everyone considered as ‘bad’? That is not fair to those who have grown up being taught a way of thinking without knowing that it is inconsiderate or that there is a different way of thinking.

“We collectively define’ racism’ as any act that, even unwittingly tolerates, accepts, or reinforces racially unequal opportunities for children to learn and thrive, allows racial inequities in opportunity as if they are normal and acceptable, or treats people of color as less worthy or complex than ‘white’ people” (Pollock xvii).

There are plenty of situations that people do not mean harmful things when they tolerate racism or make a light hearted joke. This is not comparable to the individuals who hate others due to their race or those who are disgusted in the presence of a person of color. Though this does not make being ‘almost racist’ okay in today’s society. To refrain from making racial remarks or sitting back while a person or group of people is being discriminated against requires everyone to learn more about what is socially acceptable to talk about regarding race. We even have to consider the different perspectives on racial topics due to someone’s background. For some, race plays a large role in how they were raised, but it does not mean they are biologically different from any other group of people. “Two individuals who identify as ‘white’ may be well far more genetically different from one another than from someone identified as ‘black’” (Goodman 6). We must understand that race does not separate us, racism does. In some cases, people are conditioned to have certain opinions and feelings toward different racial groups. For example, when the very young black children were told to choose between a white and a black doll and decide which was the beautiful doll, majority of the children chose a white doll. We would never say that those children were being racist, but if a teenager or adult were to do that they would be awful people. Recognizing the difference between intentional racism and conditioned racism will go a long way. Intentional racism is hard to correct because it is a mindset. Conditioned racism has the chance to be corrected by giving the individual a different perspective on race and allowing them to have a more positive outlook on race.

SO WHAT: Teaching students in a colorblind perspective has its good and bad results and takeaways. The benefit of this method, the students have a greater sense of unity with each other. There will be no one continuously telling them that they are different and the teacher can focus on their similarities to one another. It will allow them to feel no less and no better than their peers due to something that they cannot control, which is their race. “Ultimately, our students will have to learn to be more discerning about culture and its role in education so that they will not contribute to either the culture of poverty or the poverty of culture” (Ladson-Billings 109). Some students feel like they do not have a culture to begin with, so colorblindness essentially blocks this barrier between students. The disadvantages of this method is that the students might lose a sense of their identities because they are not being acknowledged. This does not allow them to learn from each other’s differences and share how it has shaped the students to who they currently are. To celebrate diversity is to tell students that they are important because of who they are and how they live their lives. “At times, because of the pervasive silence that cloaks or smothers racial discourse in schools, participants do not actually know what they feel about racial issues” (Singleton & Hays 21). We need to talk about race in school, so students have the knowledge they need to make intelligent decisions regarding race in their lives. The most we can do to help students is educating them on all of the downfalls of various social issues, so they will not make the same mistakes as made in the past.

NOW WHAT: At the Ritter Center, they provide service to everyone that is in need, regardless of race, gender, religious or political beliefs. I think this is more of a colorblindness practiced at the Ritter Center because they are focused on including absolutely everyone, making them feel like part of a community without discrimination or segregation. This is obvious the second that you walk into the Ritter Center because the staff is quite diverse itself. This brings a sense of unity and comfort to the recipients to know that they do not have to worry about being judged or turned away because the color of their skin. They already have to face being discriminated against due to their living condition and appearance, the Ritter Center does everything in its power to make everyone feel like they belong. “Really, everyday antiracism requires both addressing people’s experiences in the world as a racial group members and refusing to distort people’s experiences, thoughts, or abilities by seeing them only or falsely through a racial lens” (Pollock xix). I do not think that the Ritter Center necessarily is an example of an antiracist act because they do not address the differences between people, they look passed them. After the readings this week, I will be more likely to respond to a racial comment in a way that the other person can learn from it. I am confident in my ability to talk about race and hopefully I would be able to help the perspective of others on race as well.