I'm not being entirely serious, of course. But I have been doing a lot of thinking about preconceptions and stereotypes lately. The big issue I've been thinking about is something I'll discuss later. I've discussed it with some friends on the phone and in person, but I'm not quite ready to talk about it on a blog. Soon, maybe. For now, I'll just say that I find it ironic that often those who complain most about stereotypes actually hold a few of their own. That includes myself.
Anyway, I'd like to challenge the idea that racism is a problem of the past. At least in America.1 You'll hear people make this argument on occasion, usually in discussions about affirmative action.
Anyone who actually spends time around real people knows that that's a bunch of horsecrap.
For example: My sister's cube is near some vending machines. She's told me that she often hears people complain about how the machine “jewed” them out of their money. And you should hear the ease with which some people (Minnesota suburbanites) use the n-word. I have a hard time using that stupid word in any context besides an etymological or artistic one (for example, quoting lyrics).
Keep in mind that this is in that supposedly ultra-crazy liberal state of Minnesota. I had a co-worker at my old part-time job tell me about how he avoided taking his family into a restaurant because he noticed a group of black kids going in.
What I'm trying to figure out is whether the Twin City Metro area is relatively unique. I know that in very small and isolated (geographically and/or ethnically) places racism can easily run rampant, but this area is pretty diverse. Or at least more diverse than I thought it'd be. I don't remember racism being so prevalent in Las Cruces, though I may just be selectively remembering things.
Anyone have any insight here?
1. Just to clarify, I'm not implying that racism is a problem in America but not in other countries; I'm saying that some people believe that America is ahead of the pack in terms of being less racist.|||111462508474638749|||Stereotypes & Racism
Scooter|||I remember the good old days when my (adopted from Korea) sister was in high school and got called "Chink" on the bus all the time. That's the real problem with being eight years older than your youngest sibling, you can't just beat the crap out of her classmates (it might be argued you can't even if you're in the same grade, but based on personal experience, I'd disagree).Had an office manager that disliked blacks and Jews. Have a coworker not particularly fond of black people (to put it lightly). Have a friend whose family gatherings (all of them Minnesotans) sound like a course in how to be un-pc, involving Vietnamese, blacks, Native Americans, browns, et al. Got accosted by a drunk Native American downtown who lectured me for twenty minutes (while waiting for the bus) about the damn Hmong (add mental quotes). And, of course, if you're talking general discrimination instead of racism, I can throw a ball from my cube and hit three or four anti-gay coworkers.
And of course, you can listen to KQRS if you need your daily dose of borderline, undercurrent anti-anyone not Minnesotan that just barely taps the edge of what seems to be a prevalent attitude in Minnesota.
But we're Minnesota Nice - don't forget that, Joe.
Miss Maya|||Well I can say that I have noticed a lot of racisim against blacks here in N.County San Diego. There really are very few blacks up here and the people are nervous of them. Come to think of it I live in a very very white area. San Diego itself is pretty diverse but ethnic groups do have their own territories for sure. I think racisim is alive and well, albeit a bit more quiet or sneaky than in the past. IT would be very passe to don on a white hood and go burning crosses and such but to not get voting stations working in black and hispanic neighborhoods, or to deny jobs or grant jobs based on ethnicity, or lock your car doors at the sight of a black man on the side walk...well that is fine and dandy. I am living in a little bubble here, gated communities and 24 hour police patrols add to the "safety" I am sure. M
cczernia|||Also realize that there is a huge difference between racism and prejedice. So saying something "jewed" you out of your money isn't racist, it's prejedice or just ignorance. Same thing can be said when people call something "gay." They aren't exactly homophobes by doing so.Racism is basically acting on your prejedice. What you feel and everyone feels is prejedice or preconceived notions of a person or race. Everyone, and I mean everyone has those and the hardest part of overcoming that is recognizing your prejedice.
Something strange I noticed about myself was that I though I was prejedice against African Americans because I would get nervous when I saw them on the street. This was not true because I would walk past ones in business suits and not have a problem. I'm prejedice against gangsta clothing.
I also walk past a number of tatoo parlors everyday and wierd out on some the freaks out there assuming the worst of them. I could of course overcome my prejedice of them by talking to them, but they are just too wierd.
Joe|||Actually, I would argue that "jewed", when used in the way I discussed, is more than prejudicial.The implication is that the Coke machine, in stealing their money, is behaving like a Jew. So the person using that term ostensibly believes that Jews are inclined to rip them off.
I do agree that it is ignorant and prejudicial. But what, if anything, distinguishes it from racism?
Isn't the act of saying "the machine jewed me" in fact acting out on ignorance and prejudice? Racism need not be violent or confrontational.
|||Saying "the machine jewed me out of money" in my mind is more ignorance than racism. Jew is probably a stretch, but for the longest time I had no idea where the term "gypped" came from. I didn't know it was an epithet. So I think people sometimes use those terms and don't really think about what it truly means.I mean, they may not necessarily be anti-Jew. (Of course they might be, but I wouldn't necessarily assume that.)
Joe|||I can agree that the use of racist terms doesn't necessarily make one a racist.However, I can't imagine anyone going 20-30 years without ever being told that using "jewed" like that is racist, or at least extremely rude.
So I don't think people can claim ignorance to its meaning. In fact, I'm pretty sure that most people who use it know exactly what it means.
I also didn't realize until relatively recently what "gypped" means. It is a little more obscure, though. And I don't think I've even used the word since I was a kid. I imagine someone told me not to say it.
cczernia|||However, I can't imagine anyone going 20-30 years without ever being told that using "jewed" like that is racist, or at least extremely rude.I can. You can say a racist comment that is used in common parlance and not even realize the implications it has. Like I said, I was using the word "gay" or even more regular would be "retarded" in the same way that I would use "dumb" or "silly."
These does not mean I am prejedice against homosexuals or retards. However, as a better example of hate speech becoming more popular I point you to this blog
Joe|||Chris - the problem is that "jew" is not an obscure word. Not at all. As far as I'm concerned, people have no excuse for being ignorant of its meaning.Now, on as to a more interesting strain - you mention "retarded", "dumb", etc. "Retarded" was actually once a euphamism for "idiot". "Idiot" became offensive, and words like "retarded", then "handicapped", "differently-abled" etc. took each others' place. The word "idiot" is no longer offensive in the sense that "retarded" still is. Though I think "retarded" may be on its way to being more neutral as well.
The difference between "retarded" and "jew" is obvious, I think. "Retarded" is an impolite euphamism. "Jew", in the usage we've been discussing, carries a moral stereotype - that Jews are usurious and/or dishonest.
cczernia|||I see where you are coming from and I'm not saying the people who say "jewed" aren't being racist but I'm not necessarily saying they are.Look more at the word "gay" and its popularity. Everyone know what "gay" means as it has more usage than "homosexual."
Now, after hearing the word "gay" used over and over again as "dumb" or "stupid" I started to use it in the same way. It wasn't until someone pointed it out to me that it was extremely hateful term and I stopped using it.
And I think it is obvious that both "gay" and "jew" carry moral stereotypes of equal level.