Black History Month?
Hanna Guthrie | Feb 22, 2010 | Comments 174
It is irritating how many people today believe that racism will end as long as every American minority has a special day, week, month, club or organization dedicated to them. One such example of a holiday that supposedly helps to eliminate racism is Black History Month, which takes place every February to celebrate the various accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans throughout American history.
Frankly, I don’t even like the term African-American to begin with. First of all, not all blacks are from Africa, and second, “hyphenating” everyone’s racial category in a country that, today, accepts people from all nationalities and backgrounds is a modern-day form of segregation. I wish we could all just be Americans.
This is not to say that I am ignorant of or naïve about racists within our society, but racism no longer characterizes society as a whole. I would argue that focusing on everyone’s ethnic background — American-born or not — in the form of club organizations and holidays is racist because all it seeks to do is give preferential treatment to self-segregating groups whose main purpose is to cry eternal victimhood.
A recent article on this issue, published by Newsweek and written by Raina Kelley, reminds people such as myself of the importance of Black History Month: “[It] is a measure of how fully or accurately our story is being told and a reminder of the work yet to be done.” Kelley argues that “bemoaning” the existence of the month is wasted time that could be spent “[proselytizing]” for issues that need more national attention, such as “failing inner-city public schools, institutionalized poverty, health-care disparities, and job discrimination.”
Kelley does not give concrete modern examples of these ills, nor does she offer a proposal herself on how to fix them. I, for one, do not chalk these issues up to being the fault of the elusive “white man.” I think much of the problem today in the way of racial relations, is with America’s obsession with political correctness. Perhaps these issues are not being addressed because no one feels comfortable enough to say that they are not necessarily the fault of the “white man,” but are also partially the result of personal responsibility — or in this case, a lack thereof. As it is, you probably think I am a racist for delving into this issue to begin with.
To make my point, we have an “African-American” president; other African-Americans in the spotlight are former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, GOP Chairman Michael Steele, Oprah Winfrey, nationally syndicated talk radio show host Larry Elder and many more. This list doesn’t even begin to encompass the slew of African-American actors, actresses, and singers. What was that about job discrimination? Furthermore, it is a known fact that things like affirmative action give preferential treatment to American minorities. I would go so far to say that universities and companies seek minority candidates for the sake of calling themselves “diverse.”
I agree with Kelley in that there are many issues since slavery still extant in the African-American community, but I do not agree that in today’s world it should all be attributed to the “white man.” While slavery is a scar on American history, its legacy has also opened so many opportunities with an equally powerful political force: The Civil Rights Movement. The statement that we live in a “culture over-reliant on stereotype and slow to explore the complexity of racial issues” just doesn’t hold true anymore in post-Civil Rights America.
Still, when that movement radicalizes, it undermines itself and creates a familiar divisive rhetoric. We are all Americans, and we should all be held to an equal standard and judged based on our merit, as opposed to our skin color or ethnic background. While remnants of institutionalized racism have led to our current obsession with diversity and political correctness, Americans must have the freedom to take personal responsibility and to critique others without having the threat of racism hanging over their heads. It is only when this is a real possibility that people of all ethnic backgrounds can engage in a dialogue about solving issues affecting the totality of the American citizenry.
Hanna Guthrie is a second-year English major. She can be reached at hguthrie@uci.edu.
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@ Cho
Your ignorance is stunning. There is something called “Asian Awareness Month”. Google It! As for AA being used against Asians in acceptance at top colleges. Well, I don’t have an answer for that except to say that the issue is obviously, again, not about blacks but about whites. No white American would accept Harvard or any other premier American university being all Asian. AA, quotas, whatever you want to call the policies that universities use to create some semblance of diversity on their campuses is complicated and should not be given over to simple diatribes. Even by Harvard’s own reckoning, most blacks that get in there are not descendants of former American slaves; most of them have parents from Africa or the Caribbean or were born their themselves.
To all the comments, including Cho’s, that bemoan Black bellyaching. Please consider a few points. Unlike Asians, Cho, Blacks can’t just watch programs from their parents country when they don’t their people represented in the American media. Or did u forget that Blacks don’t know where they came from? Perhaps you’ve never learned about the acts of historical erasure that were forced among Black slaves so that they lost all memory of their former language and people. Calling themselves African-American is an attempt, as limited as it may be, to reclaim that lost past and give themselves a connection to a cultural heritage that is not the White, largely Anglo-Saxon culture that was forced upon them. For Blacks, there is no other cultural referent to turn to except what they create here for themselves. You may have China, Taiwan, et. al when America disowns you. What do they have?
And I believe it was also Cho who said this. Social Security was designed to help people IN THE PAST. Are you serious? What planet/country are u living in? Don’t u realize that Social Security is essentially a retirement savings program that helps most of stupid Americans who don’t save (the marginal propensity to spend in this country is 0.98/$1–it may drive the world economy but there are obvious problems here)? It is very easy to get emotional about things in a forum like this but please do your homework next time on the issues u raise.
Cedric D,
See this is where the problem lies. You are assuming my background simply by my name. I’m of Chinese heritage, and parents came to this country to start a better life 30 years ago. We lived in Culver City, in the “Projects,”… Stoner Ave. to be precise. I was neighbors to the early days of Crips and Bloods. I had friends at school dealing with gangs, drugs, etc. Both my parents worked 12 hour days, 7 days a week. I am what you would term.. latch-key kid. My family knew very little English, and myself included. My parents didn’t have money… dad worked as a busboy, and mom as waitress. Yet somehow.. the importance of education was instilled in me. Slowly and surely, my family moved up economically, and I was able to attend UCI… with a Student Loan. Are you saying that I was “lucky” to move out of that situation simply because I was Asian? That getting better grades than most of my classmates meant nothing… heck, I could have gotten C’s and moved up the social ladder because I was “lucky.”
So under your example… just the simple fact that if a person is Asian, we are “Lucky” to have an advantage in America? That we don’t face the same racism like any other minority? Are you that blind to see that the only difference in this example is that my parents at least told me to do well in school, and I can be anything I want… instead of other minorities that don’t value education as high priority, and instead ask that their kids focus on sports, being a superstar celebrity, or simply just “work.”
Again – Many of us “Asians” aren’t in major sports teams, many of us aren’t shown in the media except on the local news, many of us never had the chance to become the leader of the free world. Yet you will hear none of us “Asians” will ever complain about it not being fair. We don’t need any advantage… that’s not what our culture told us. Instead we ask that people value our hard work… that our work alone should be the merit of our character. If we aren’t part of the LA Lakers, it’s ok… we understand that in the real world, we can’t have be be accepted in every single sport team. Media… when they talk about Blacks not being focused on television… how do you think it makes us “Asians” feel when there are hospital shows with 1 Asian doctor out of 20? But it’s ok, we understand that this is just television.. this isn’t the real world, we don’t need to force people to accept us just because we’re Asian to be on a TV show or movie.
Cut you a little slack? Just because of your skin color, that makes the rest of us have to give you an advantage in America? What you are telling me is that any Non-Black people are keeping you down, and that you are asking for One short month of the year to celebrate your people, while neglecting every other race that comes to the US? Last time I checked, the United States is a melting pot of different races and cultures. I would love for you to tell that to our President. That the reason he became the President was because society cut him some slack, and not because he was qualified for the job.
Next time please don’t ASSume people’s backgrounds and make rash judgments.
WOW……some of you folks not only have too much time on your hands…..you don’t have a clue. Being a 55 years old BLACK woman…..I know a little something about racism….when I see it or read it!!! Enough said.
OMFG ANOTHER NUT CASE WHO THINKS THE WORLD SHOULD BE LILLY WHITE, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ABOUT WHITE HISTORY RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE STRUGGLE OF THE BLACK RACE.THANK GOD FOR THE 28 DAYS THEY GAVE US, EVEN THOUGH IT’S THE SHORTES MONTH OF THE YEAR.
Hanna,
You claimed “Furthermore, it is a known fact that things like affirmative action give preferential treatment to American minorities. I would go so far to say that universities and companies seek minority candidates for the sake of calling themselves “diverse.”” I assume you have some sort of proof or personal experience to back that claim up? I know you claimed it was a “known fact” but I would like some evidence. Perhaps you have been part of a college admissions committee that rejected a qualified White candidate for an unqualified person of color? Perhaps after losing a job to a minority the person who made the decision called to let you know that you were declined the position because of your skin color? Better yet, maybe they gave you a copy of the other person’s resume so you could compare their qualifications with your’s?
Or maybe, just maybe, even in post-Civil Rights Movement America racism is still very prevalent (albeit more subtle) and you assume that a White person is more likely to be qualified for a job than a minority.
Oh and claim my “main purpose is to cry eternal victimhood,” I’d like you to know I am a White woman.
P.S. As an English major I’m surprised that you weren’t taught then when referring to a race, “Black” is capitalized.
I am surprised that given the recent events on all of the UC campuses that the staff of the New U had the gall to publish this article. All claims to free speech aside, this is another example of racism masquerading as conservative truth revealed. Guess what, articles like this and people like you are why student groups for minorities are necessary. If nothing else, the recent events at UCSD and UCD have shown us that our campuses are not exempt from racism and ignorance. Obviously UCI contributes its own share too.
Hanna,
Let me be one of the few to say that I actually agree 100% with you. Being a “minority” myself, I understand completely that racism is brewed because we think about giving special privledges to various ethnic groups. Its absolutely ridiculous to think that ethnic clubs promote and give support to their counterparts and not have any effect on the overal society. What these clubs do is only segregate themselves and make it more apparent to everyone else that if you aren’t that ethnic group, you really cant be involved (and if you are you need to justify your reason there and have others accept you).
Racism continues because we think of people in collective groups, rather than individuals and im sure Martin Luther King Jr. would agree. The problem with this society is that individualism has died and collective grouping has taken its place. Take for example our governments way of categorizing people when applying to college or filling out the census. Racism cannot be tackled until we stop thinking collectively.
I recently went to Africa where many educated Africans (Kenyas) told me their distaste for the word “african-american.” They dont think they should be called this because they are not african. No where in their attitude or socialized culture do they resemble Africans. So many, from my own experience, would agree with you there.
I am a so-called “minority” myself and I want to thank you Hanna for being so bold and brave to tackle this issue. I think everyone (besides the obvious Black-Americans) would have to agree with you that having a Black History Month is ridiculous and not only segregates and promotes racism to continue but also doesn’t allow for any stereotypes to be shattered.
We are Individuals people, not groups.
Oh and by the way….
Every single race has been a slave and/or oppressed in one point in history, not just Blacks.
Cho,
“We have Black celebrities, athletes, government leaders that have climbed out of their social economic position and did it without Affirmative Action.”
Listing a few individuals who overcame their circumstances does not mean that the entire population can pull it off. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Larry Ellison defied the odds and joined the billionaires’ club – but most who try to follow their footsteps will fail.
Again – many of us never even had a chance at a reasonable education, an intact household, a father in our lives, or even a triple-digit IQ. Things that you (apparently a Korean) most likely take for granted. Then add the fact that new people immediately stereotype YOU to be smart, law-abiding, quiet, and not a troublemaker – you can see the immense advantages you have, owing to PURE LUCK and nothing more.
Our community, our society, and even nature itself all conspire to keep us down. All we ask for is one month out of the year – the shortest month in fact. Cut us a little slack already will ya?
Cedric D
Are middle & upper middle class black kids in need of the same help that black kids from the projects need?
Should it be ONLY about skin color?
Alexandra,
Last time I checked, we live in America. Freedom of speech.
You should know better about Freedom of Speech.
If you don’t like people’s freedom to write an opinion in the Opinion section, maybe you’re living in the wrong country.
Alexandra should know better that if we take people’s freedom to express themselves, then this country would start falling apart, and leading to a bastardized version of communism.
If you are so against freedom of speech, perhaps America isn’t the country for you.
Hannah’s article is an OPINION, that’s why it’s in the opinion section. It does not reflect UCI, the newspaper, any of the editors, any of the supporters, anyone other than Hannah. I hope you take the time to learn what an Opinion section means, and what the First amendment in the Constitution says about this.
CONSERVATIVES: BAWWWWWWWWW
@Cho: Now here’s a model Asian who surely isn’t shaming the rest of their community by outing themselves as a flaming racist. Michelle Malkin would be proud. News flash: Affirmative Action no longer applies in California since we voted it out of existence back in 1996 for Proposition 209. So I don’t understand why all of the conservative nutters on here are still crying about how AA is hurting their livelihood. A more productive thing for them to do would be to go back to jacking off to such admirable idols as Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin so that Fox News can fill their heads with more “forward-thinking” bullsh*t that they can spew back onto here.
Cho, if your sorry @ss didn’t get into UCB or UCLA, then that actually is because you are stupider than your superior Asian peers who did get in because they worked and studied harder. NOT because of black people being privileged over you for acceptance. Somebody needs to take responsibility for their own failures in life. I cannot fathom why you are arguing for Hanna (and by proxy conservative America) when as a “fellow Asian” you know just as well as I do that the government can throw our @sses into “internment camps” the next time any Asian country dares to bomb this precious USA because that’s how forward and progressive we are. And I’m sure Hanna will write an article justifying that.
@Hanna: Getting your close-minded conservative friends to post in your defense does not change the fact that you are a racist bigot. It just means that you’re a coward who has burrowed even deeper into the conservative sh*tter from which you came.
It is funny that so many among the commenters are telling you to go take some “ethnic studies” or “race relations” mumbo-jumbo indoctrination class. They (and you too) should take a statistics course, rather.
By the way, as a UCSD graduate student, I am totally embarrassed by how Chancellor Fox has baited the “racial state of emergency” here. Indeed, racism persists.
Hey Hanna,
It’s Ryan (from Vista). I completely agree with you. I know what you are trying to say, everyone else doesn’t understand what you mean, but I always got your back.
P.S. I haven’t seen you in a long time!
Good article.
Apparently, it takes a lot of guts to say the obvious these days:
When you start praising people for their race, you create a fertile ground for racism.
When you start adjusting people’s worth according to the color of their skin, you create injustice.
As long as some minorities are more special than others there will never be true equality.
Yes, I’m one of those unrecognized minorities and I hope to stay as such.
I have long held that the only redeemable section of the New U is the police log that details noise complaints, pot smells, skateboarders loitering in parking structures, and other examples of UCI’s “criminal element.” This mind-numblingly smug, impressively ignorant, and thoroughly tired and boilerplate-tastic collection of race-baiting oldies-but-goodies that would make Newt Gingrich proud (there are famous Black people; ergo, employment discrimination doesn’t exist! Something tells me Hanna Guthrie never took Intro to Inductive Logic) serves as excellent proof of my theory.
Cedric D,
We do not choose our environment, just like we can’t help every single person equally. Yes, with your example, there are Blacks that have a tough life from south central LA, and they go through all the drug dealing in their neighborhoods, etc. I’m sure we’re all aware of the blight kids go through there… but guess what, there are people that succeed upwards and move beyond this. We have Black celebrities, athletes, government leaders that have climbed out of their social economic position and did it without Affirmative Action.
Whatever happened to Personal accountability? Are you telling me that because of the structure in the life of that child, that they cannot get out of their situation without assistance? So you would put this child that got a 2.5 GPA because of the tough life they lived, over a child that got 3.5 GPA because they lived in a better environment? That’s basically Affirmative Action as it is right now, in the REAL world. You know how many Asians are rejected from Ivy League schools because they were Asians? Even for the Asian kids that goes to UCI, most of them know with their 3.8GPA, high honors, etc.. and not at UC Berkley because they already accepted “too” many Asians for that semester. Their place given to another minority with lower qualifications.
People forget that EVERYONE struggles. Whites in Michigan right now are living in poverty, low job rates, high crime, etc… or the Asian immigrant that came to this country, working minimum wage in a restaurant so that their kids could go to a good school, yet you used your example to diminish the hard working people that are Not Black and made it out of poverty.
How about looking at the people that succeeded out of these situations and returned back to their community to help them out? How do you expect Non-Blacks to help the children you just described when the Blacks themselves don’t help their communities? (Not saying all, but think about how many stories you hear about So-and-So athlete growing up in Compton, becoming and NFL superstar, living in a multi-million mansion, and not doing anything for the community where they grew up)… there are a lot of successful Black Americans that don’t go back and help… how do you expect the rest of us to?
sure, she may have the right to express her opinion. but save it for her blog, facebook, etc. a publication such as new U should have some sort of qualifying threshold or something, which this article does not pass. if any hot tempered literate person could throw up some ignorant, inflammatory, irrational, un-researched and poorly formed piece on here, who would want to read it?
for the first time in awhile our country is so split, two parties actually get their news (which ends up being radically polarized) from two different sources: fox vs msnbc, etc. so you now have 2 groups of people, becoming more polarized by the day, arguing with one another while drawing from two sources both claiming to be TRUTH, yet with radically different ways of claiming that truth (fox uses emotion & volume, other sources are more tempered, rational and fact check). oh well, looks like we’re headed for a civil war in less than 2 decades i’d wager
I am “white”. My family is Irish Catholic. We came to the US during the Troubles. As recently as 30 years ago, we weren’t slaves, we were servants. I doubt many people in California would recognize what that might look like. Now I am the oppressor,lol.
Look to the road ahead, your opportunity lies there.
Yes, the author is naive and ignorant, but so is the editorial staff that allowed this article to be printed.
The Opinions Associate Editor should have known better.
The Opinions Editor should have known better.
The Associate Editor in Chief should have known better.
The Editor in Chief should have known better.
The Advertising Manager should have known better.
The Adviser for this group of “journalists” should have known better.
Hanna’s article is a reflection of the group of people who write the New University newspaper. I hope you collectively give a written apology to your readers for poor judgment if you want to regain any credibility.
It is easy for a wealthy, pampered suburbanite to wax eloquent about how Blacks need to “take personal responsibility” for their situation. But Miss Hanna, what exactly would you do if you were born in the projects? What would you do if your ma was a single parent on welfare and you were 1 of 7 children growing up in a chaotic, slovenly, unkempt apartment? What would you do if your classmates at school constantly disrupted class and made it impossible to learn (during the rare times they weren’t selling drugs or knifing each other)? What would you do if you were born with an IQ of 85, one sigma below the typical NASCAR fan? How would you react if employers turned you down for jobs, because “the last time we hired a Black girl she screamed ‘discrimination’ every five minutes?” How would you like it if the Macy’s security guards followed you around because you look like the shoplifter they caught last week?
You need to put yourself in other peoples’ shoes before you write this kind of tripe. Not everybody in America has it as easy as you do.
Peace, love, and everybody get the fuck out of Irvine ASAP!
I can understand and agree with Hanna on some points. But Hanna they way your opinion was structured and express it seem you were more so releasing anger and frustrations and one could even say you are jealous of the fact that it appears that some are giving an advantage over others due to race.
Hanna understand the advantage giving to them is not real an advantage at all but is like giving a glass of water to a group of people who thrist for more. Slavery went on far longer than the holocaust and did way more damage to the victims. Unfortunately it will take more than a few decades before any and all parties involved sincerely awake with peace in their hearts.
Hanna whenever voicing such opinions instead of suggesting serious potential solutions you will anger those who choose at subjects. And if you do think of some serious potential solutions that actually work you might some who you never thought turn their back on you.
What every need to realize is that the system is what it is and if you really seek change, improving the situation, and justice for all, dont jus prey to GOD but keep him in you : think before you speak (if you cant think of what to say to someone without offending them how can they sincerely hear you), help before you judge (we all have problems it is called living when we help each other we are helping are selves), push forward with piece even if no one else want to who can stop you in the eyes of GOD.
Hanna you are passionate and will be very successfull if you choose to rise to a Higher Education
take care loved one may GOD bless
“Ho ho ho Hooooooooooooo! Fiction can be fun, but I find the reference section a little more enlightening.”
Hanna,
Your essay is excellent and scratches the surface of the deeply irrational arguments by the diversicrats and pro-affirmative discrimination crowd.
ACF
Our recent blog post, “A Note to the Privileged at UCSD”, seems to fit here too. The sheer (LOUD) ignorance from some people here is astounding. I’m amazed to see people demonstrate a total lack of understanding of what even basic words like “liberal” or “racist” or “victim” mean. UCI and UCSD are both in a sad state.
First off Hanna, I want to respond to your piece in the most respectful way possible and say that I offer my stance on this issue out of love for our struggle with a collective understanding of one another.
First off, the creation of different clubs and organizations on college campuses come out of a response and need of the creators of these groups. Groups are formed out of a need to support people that can relate with one another in order to persist in the institution or raise political concerns and social issues. Just for your knowledge Hanna, Black History Month is not a holiday, it is one month (out of the 12 months) that celebrates black culture and pays critical attention to the ongoing black struggle.
From a country that accepts people from all nationalities and backgrounds? Last time I checked, there are over 65,000 undocumented students that graduate from high school in one year. We do not live in a country that accepts people from all nationalities and backgrounds. What this country does accept is the exploitation of undocumented and people of color. If there is something that gets on my nerves is when people say that people of color self-segregate. Have you ever thought that the people that “self-segregate” do it in resistant to assimilating to the white normative? That is an example of the white dominance that we suffer from in this country.
Have you looked up the definition and history of the term and process of racism? Racism, in short is a tool of domination that has constructed a system of division based on physical characteristics. When you utilize racism as a tool, you are attempting to over power a group based on an idea of superiority over another racial group. I could be wrong (which I doubt) but I don’t know of any club and organization on UCI’s campus that is racist because they celebrate their culture and raise critical issues in order to move towards positive change. These groups that you talk of, if they do raise their concerns for social change, they do it because they are trying to improve a collective understanding of our differences in an effort to be able to live with one another. Don’t think that is racist….
Raina Kelley is a columnist, she is not a policy expert or reformer, therefore we can hold her responsible or fault her for not having a proposal on how to fix things. I think that mentality is the problem, we think that there is one answer or formula that we can use to move into a post-racial society. We can not water down this issue, it is going to take a collective effort to move into a post-racial society. It will have to come from the rich, the people in the margins, people of different colors, ethnicities, backgrounds etc. More importantly, it will take a reduction of peoples privileges to move on to a more just society.
The problem lies beyond just blaming the white man. It starts with the system that is designed to benefit some over others. It is problematic to say that people need to take personal responsibility for their issues. That is the easy way out to explaining issues of poverty, misrepresentation of students of color in higher education, etc. We need to look at how the system is working against some and for others. Good example, the UC tuition increase has major implications. Institutions of higher education are tuition driven institutions, which means they rely on the hard cash that students pay from their own pockets. Therefore, with a tuition increase, the UC system is going to recruit out of state students who can afford to pay out of state fees, international students who can afford to come to this country and pay tuition. All at the same time excluding california students who have the grades but not the money to afford the tuition increase. Therefore, the UC system is catering to the students from high socioeconomic backgrounds and not the students from California which the California Master Plan of Higher Education first sought out to serve.
Hanna, I wouldn’t say your racist from bringing up this issue, I would just say that you come from a high class background and that your privileges have blinded you from seeing another perspective on this issue. Most of the stuff you talk about reminds me of the dangers of thinking we should live in a merit based society. Meritocracy, the illusion that if you work hard enough you can achieve the american dream is the biggest lie that I have ever heard.
We have a black president, big deal, this does not mean we live in a post-racial society just yet. Don’t get me wrong, its great to finally see a president of color because of the symbolic battle that we have overcome. But, as Cornel West reminds, there is still a great deal of work and change that needs to occur so that our nation moves to a more just society. Hanna, you give great examples of black politicians and artists that we see on TV everyday, but how about the people of color that we don’t see on TV? Affirmative action is necessary in this world because people of color are still being denied access to employment, higher education, and their social rights. I would not say its preferential treatment, I would say affirmative action was designed in resistance and in response to the racism, discrimination, and exclusion of people of color.
Let me tell you what the post-civil rights era means to me. We have come along way since the 60s and the struggles that our brothers and sisters went through to improve our situation today were necessary. Although we have come along way from that, there is a problem with being content with that progress alone. Yes we don’t have separate bathrooms, buses, water fountains, and schools, but we do have over crowded schools, poor health care, inequity in higher education, etc. Therefore, post-civil rights era to me means a conditioning of peoples minds to be content with this progress and be grateful for where we are. To that I say no, I refuse to take a small piece of the pie and be content with false generosity.
Your last paragraph has assimilation and meritocracy written all over it. To say that we should all be judged based on merit just does not happen in our world. I refer back to the example of undocumented students, they go to our nations high schools and do better academically than others, yet are denied state and federal financial support, in-state tuition (there are only a few states that grants undocumented students in-state tuition today), and the right to work legally. If we did base things on merit, shouldn’t students that fit this description go to college and be given the right to work legally? Lastly, we cannot live in a melting pot society, we all come from different backgrounds and have different experiences. We can not judge people equally if one comes from a wealthy background versus one that comes from a working class background. This country functions to benefit the wealthier one obviously. To move towards an assimilationist society is to disregard the plurality of our country. What we need to do is embrace our differences and work towards being able to live with each other and understand one another. Not until people can come to terms with recognizing their privileges that blind them from seeing how their power is being used to oppress others, can we move into a dialogue of how we can move towards a just society.
WOW, I can’t believe the Huffington Post is linking to this awful article. I don’t feel the need to reiterate most everybody’s arguments, just to say that your argument exemplifies why we need Black History Month so badly. We don’t have a “White History Month” or a “White History Day” because we have WHITE HISTORY ALL THE TIME, EVERY DAY, EVERY MONTH, EVERY YEAR. Please pick up a real history book, one of the ones that actually suggests Africans might have emigrated to the Americas before Europeans (who would, of course, have you believe that they “discovered” this place), or actually identifies Woodrow Wilson as the white supremacist that he was.
I’m only too sorry to see people giving you comments of support. Your sentiments are not the least bit strange, and have been said only too often.
Ms. Guthrie, you certainly have a right to your opinion, but, as I’m sure you are aware, you do not have a right not to be criticized for it. Perhaps you are young and inexperienced. No doubt you will grow and learn.
I sympathize with your criticisms of political correctness and the sometimes silly gestures, rituals, and rhetoric of our time. But you seem not to see the very real and serious problems underneath the blather. Your piece is insensitive and poorly argued. It is always offensive to pretend to inform the burdened of the “real” magnitude of their burdens. And that we recognize and celebrate “Black History Month” is hardly tantamount to our “blaming” someone of difficulties! And our racial and ethnic problems are obviously an outgrowth or continuation of much older problems that can hardly be explained as arising from the relatively recent phenomenon of “political correctness”!
I do hope that your critics will resist the temptation to go beyond pointing out the flaws in your thinking. You have expressed an opinion, and they rightly respond to it with arguments, not with hostility or dismissal.
Good luck to you. I’m sure you have much to offer.
Bravo to you Hannah for having the guts to write this!! I could not agree with you more. Having a month that glorifies one race just perpetuates racism. I don’t understand this attachment that certain minorities have to being a victim. Weren’t the Native Americans treated just as poorly as the blacks were over 100 years ago? Not that I think any minority should have its own month, but for the sake of argument, where is the Native American History Month? What about the Chinese History Month? Mexican History Month? Using the line of reasoning that persons who think Black History Month is a good idea, to be fair, we should have a history month for any minority that lives in this country.
Affirmative action is another institution made to negate racism, but in reality it also merely perpetuates it. If minorities are equal, what makes them unable to obtain the same job based off of their own merits? Why does it have to be based on the color of their skin? This is not 1930 anymore, why must racism still be such a big part of our country? You can’t have it both ways – either we all are equal, or we are not. The fact that affirmative action exists suggests we are not all equal.
The president is black, that fact alone should show how far we have come as a nation, and despite the fact that racism may still exist on an individual level, as a country we have come so far to overcome racism, why must we be reminded every February of atrocities that were prevalent long ago in our past? Why drudge up those memories for an entire month every single year? And yeah yeah, I know, Black History Month is to celebrate the accomplishments of a particular race, not remind us of atrocities that happened so long ago. But those days are long gone, why must we, as a country, devote an entire month to this every year? It is really beyond me. The white race has accomplished quite a bit, can we have a White History Month? No, because anyone to suggest that would be tagged as a giant racist.
I am a graduate of UCI, and had a student teacher once tell her class that minorities can’t be racist because they don’t have power. Well, a minority is the president now, can blacks finally be labeled as racists when they make blatantly racist remarks? Or are we still going to laugh when a black comedian says the N word and cause an uproar when a white comedian says it? Yeah, probably. It’s sad.
And to everyone so utterly offended by this article…it’s an opinion article. If you can’t handle opinions that differ from your own, maybe you shouldn’t bother coming here. We are all entitled to our own opinions, you may politely disagree but calling the author ignorant and a racist (like she knew would happen) is ignorant in itself.
” We are all Americans, and we should all be held to an equal standard and judged based on our merit, as opposed to our skin color or ethnic background”- doesn’t sound very racist to me…. call me crazy. I guess we’ve come to a point that if you don’t support reverse discrimination, you’re a “racist”.
Excellent article.
To reiterate… this is the writer’s Opinions. She should have the freedom, and right to write something if given the chance to do so. To all of you that tells her to keep quiet, and not say anything, you must not appreciate the freedom we are offered in this country. Whether you agree with her or not, she should still have the right to say these things.
Is it so wrong/outrageous of what she wrote? She didn’t say anything “ignorant” or racist about a particular race. She is stating her belief that maybe it’s time to move forward and not have racial separations at all, and perhaps we can all move towards a more unified America.
I’m really surprised that any of the UCI, Asian students would…
1) Piss on the freedom of speech on this topic, considering they must be educated to attend UCI… and forget the 1st Amendment rights we have in the US. Let the writer say her piece, and you can say your’s… no need for name calling, and no need to prohibit her words.
2) It’s ‘ignorant’ that the Asians that are upset with this article are blinded by the fact that Affirmative Action is working AGAINST Asians. Ivy league schools are still using Affirmative Action to prevent “too” many Asians to go to their schools… Apparently there are too many of us that are qualified, but they can’t let all of us in. How would it make you feel to know that even with a 3.9GPA, because you’re on the bottom of the Asian scale, you wont be accepted, and instead, another minority with 3.0 GPA will take your place? So the next time you want to use Affirmative Action to defend your argument, please use your REAL world logic and understand that AA has gone far too long, and it’s time to stop it. I doubt I could use AA and force and NBA team to allow me to join their team, even though I’m 5′ tall, and can’t shoot worth crap only because I’m Asian.
3) Tell me, what month is Asian History month? Oh… there is no Asian History month?… How about a Week? There must be a week somewhere right? No. But why is that the case? I’m pretty sure Asians had a significant role in expanding the railroads across the US, I’m sure Asians have made an impact in elevating the educational systems across the US, etc… but there is nothing there. How about Native American History month? Shouldn’t their race be just as important? Guess what, there isn’t even a Native American Day to celebrate their race. If we had any of these, it would look to be a “racist” thing to do… otherwise why not have any other multi-ethnic race in America focused for a month. Every year when Black History month comes around, it reminds me that no other minority group has a month to celebrate their race.
I’m white. I have ‘white privelege’. I /don’t/ understand what minorities go through on a daily basis. I understand that my ancestors (3/8 English) probably oppressed many of today’s minorities.
I’m also 1/4 Irish. My people were oppressed for almost 1,000 years by the English, and in the cases where they made it out of Ireland to America, were also then oppressed by Americans. They faced much the same discrimination that African American’s faced AFTER the Civil War and slavery was abolished. But the Irish don’t seem to be oppressed today. They became upstanding members of society by their own hard work, in a society that was very much against them succeeding.
I’m going to be honest with you folks: I don’t get it. I mean it, I don’t. I’ve been pulled over for no other reason than my car (in horrible condition at the time) was suspicious in an upscale Orange County neighborhood. They ran my plates, found out I had no outstanding warrants, and sent me on my way. This is the same event that, for people in minorities that I’ve talked to, is racist.
I’ve never seen somebody turned down for a job based on their race. I’m also not the guy looking at job applications. I’ve never seen someone pulled over just because of their race, but I don’t tail police cars all day long.
Personally, I think of myself as fair. I don’t discriminate in my words or my actions. But I’ve never felt oppressed, so I don’t really understand where all this vitriol is coming from.
That’s just how I feel about it.
“I see no changes all I see is racist faces misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this one better place, let’s erase the wasted ” –Tupac Shakur
Educated thought:
any illustration or political feat (personal opinion or not) distinctively taking aim at any race that has been hindered past, present, or future not only shows narcistic views, a cold hearted root, inhumane motivation, and a microscopic mental capacity, but also is a insult to the ethnic background who birth the author as well as add fuel to the fire. Hey everyone has a right to voice their opinion and freedom of speech so……
Let the fire burn ( Educated the ignorant):
“Perhaps these issues are not being addressed because no one feels comfortable enough to say that they are not necessarily the fault of the “white man,” but are also partially the result of personal responsibility — or in this case, a lack thereof” — Hanna Guthrie
“Lack thereof…….lack thereof………lack thereof………what we talking ‘bout lack of unity or lack of knowledge….lets talk ‘bout lack or reparations…..that cant be replaced with affirmative action hire some or letting a few into college……..personal responsibility………….yeah there is a lack of………….clean out America’s closet……the treasury department couldn’t cover the cost it would take to purify the bad blood…….” so Hanna Guthrie what u talking ‘bout?
Just be lucky the good hearted are willing to educate themselves and handle the situation and deal with growth diplomatically I mean a noose in a gym (an incident that took place on the campus of UC San Diego Feb. 26,2010 how ignorant) get real we all remember the watts riots, the Rodney king riots and I quote “We might fight with each other, but I promise you this: We’ll burn this bitch down, get us pissed!” –Tupac Shakur. Why play with fire and get burned when you can educate yourself and get right.
May GOD bless us all
Thank you for writing this article. Although many people are reacting negatively, know that many of my friends and family feel the same.
This ecology of victim-hood needs to change. The practice of celebrating previous injustices on perpetuates the belief that they are still victims. This creates a mentality of entitlement that can be seen in the calls for reparations, affirmative action. In the end it hurts the community its meant to help.
I have witnessed far too many under qualified students, who barely struggle through classes, be admitted to top colleges based on their race. Everyone knows that it’s much easier to get into top schools if you have an African American or Hispanic background, even though the schools profess race has no impact on admission. No one wins in this situation; the minority student struggles in an overwhelming academic environment, other students more qualified get past-up due to their race, and minority students with good academic backgrounds are viewed as under-qualified.
Thank you again for having the courage to write what we are all thinking.
Thank you for the article. Correctly labeled as Opinion, you have laid bare the abandonment of academic freedom, freedom of thought and expression that prevent us from resolving the issues that divide us.
1. The idea that “only someone who has lived the live of a ________” on its face disqualifies anyone but the member of ______ from communicating or understanding the issues. The arguement is inherently divisive…or as you put it self-segregating…and isolating.
2. The irrational idea that one’s ethnicity can ONLY be understood by someone with that ethnicity also says, in a representative democracy, ONLY someone who shares my ethnicity can represent me. In any city, district or school this says that there are always going to be people who will be unrepresented…because it is ethnicity not values that define us.
3. Historical revisionism…saying it was not freedom that was the basis of our culture…is simply untrue. It is anti-capitalism and marxism re-interpreting history to demonize the “oppressors”, even when they succeeded without slavery (as in the North) but fact does not matter…the point is to claim a moral superiority from which to demand redress.
4. Using statistics to conclude that because of “unequal, statistical outcome” there must be some inherent inequality in opportunity is simply junk logic. It does not prove that racism or oppression are the cause of such difference.
5. The desire to suppress such a point of view, dismissively calling it “ignorant” is to substitute ad hominem for arguement.
6. Lack of responsibility for one’s own choices in the arguement that “unemployment for college graduates who are _____ is higher than others” ignores the obvious question: if they chose ______-American studies as their major, then is it possible that the marketplace does not recognize that as an employable skill…say instead of engineering…and that the choice of major has a correlation to employment apart from ethnicity?
7. Circular arguement that “there has been no recruitment/retention center…for underrepresented…communities” points to a ‘lack of advocacy’ as evidence of racism.
8. To the point that the “Civil Rights” movement does not make up for slavery, I would agree. But the Civil War did deal with the issue head-on. Shouldn’t there be some credit for the elimination of slavery through a war and thousands of lives, and the amendment of the Constitution to right the great wrong? That we continue to work on perfecting it is something to be proud of, not a justification for victimhood eternal.
You have tapped into the well spring of hubris: arrogance that one’s own view is right and that anyone who disagrees is ignorant. We will only make progress if we have the exchange of ideas, if we give the respect that we claim to deserve, and if we educate rather than supress ideas we disagree with.
Judging from the comments you have receive, we have a long ways to go.
You wrote,
“I would argue that focusing on everyone’s ethnic background — American-born or not — in the form of club organizations and holidays is racist because all it seeks to do is give preferential treatment to self-segregating groups whose main purpose is to cry eternal victimhood.”
I think you main point (if that was it) is correct.
Here’s why;
What you you fear controls you.
What you focus on defines you.
So long as people focus on color there will be division and racism.
Only when people of color see themselves as people and not people of color will racism end.
So long as people of color focus on their difference they will be feared; racism is promoted not abolished.
Stop the focus; stop the fear; stop racism.
Discussion of color deserve no place among our leaders, our educators or churches in a meritocracy.
Why does it continue then? Why does any business endure; money and power.
So long as there is money and power to be derived from the business of color it will endure.
Stop the conversation; stop the flow of money and power; stop racism.
I ask you, “What is the point of discussing color, who cares, what does it matter?”
it matters nothing to the color blind, not a whit.
It only maters to:
Those who derive power from color
Those who derive control from color
Those who enslave themselves to the power and money mongers.
Heal thyself.
When minority leaders spend all their time focusing on education, hard work, ethics and unity and none of their time on questions of color will those groups assimilate.
The ONLY thing stopping them is them.
If your neighborhood is bad, make it better or move.
If your school is bad, make it better or leave.
If your job is bad, improve it or move on.
Hard word, education and morals are like tax cuts and celibacy; they work every time they are tried.
What I see is way too much focus and fear of “can’t” and not nearly enough focus on “CAN!”
Pay attention in school.
Work hard.
Respect yourself and your neighbor (that means NEVER have sex outside marriage)
Ah, but this will never happen.
Why?
“Because you will always have the poor among you.”
There will always be those who seek to garner power, control and profit from the weak, the undereducated, the lazy, the greedy, the immoral, the ill informed.
There is big money in “black power” and plenty who willing play the game.
Are you in or out?
That is the one thing you control.
Are you in or out of the race game?
Forget everyone, are you part of the game?
Personally I cannot imagine having this conversation with any friend or at work and yet here it is.
I have focused on it so hopefully at least one of you out there will decide to never again allow race to be any part of your life, your conversation, your curriculum, your motive, your heart.
No color.
Only shades of one.
We are after all 99.99% the same.
What kind of devil would focus on the difference?
The one you empower with your focused attention enabling them.
Stop the conversation; stop racism.
Let’s talk solutions for all.
Am I optimistic we will see this new world. No.
But you can change your world today. Turn it off, move one, focus on what you can do.
Am I optimistic for some. Yes we can.
If I were to stand on my own soapbox and proclaim that we MUST have a “White history Month”, what would the vast majority of the respondents to this article say? What else would they call me but a racist pig, etc, etc. So, if a person of ‘White” ancestry, suggests a month to celebrate “White” history, is called a racist, than what is a person or group of people who promote the same for any other race? No one will negate the accomplishment of black people throughout history. At least I won’t. Then why do they get “special” recognition? A black man was the first to do open heart surgery. His accomplishments have saved countless lives. Why then are his accomplishments only pointed out during “Black History Month”? Many people celebrate his work every day of their life. It’s why they are still alive. Why is it that some people have to continually segregate peoples work or accomplishments by race? If we as Americans are going to get into the 21st century with a color blind eye, then we all must get over our self’s. I grew up in a military family. My father told me: “there is no such thing as a “Black Marine”, Mexican Marine or any other except for Green Marines”. “We are all the same”. That is they way I was raised and for too many years I have watch the so called leaders of the black communities purposely segregate “their people” into their “own” communities so as to concentrate “their” power base using “their people” to prop themselves up. That’s right, I said ‘USE’. Mr. King was a great man. My white father told me that if I must judge another person, I have to judge them by their character rather than their skin color. That was long before the “Dream Speech”. So long as we legislate a separation of the races, we bread racism. So long as Mr. Jackson continues to use racism to extort people and groups, will never accomplish the goals of Mr. King. I urge all of you to go back and really read that speech. Maybe it will help to set you free from the hate you have instilled in you. I can work with, get along with, be friends with any one of any race, religion, ethnic background or even sexual orientation. I don’t care. They are people that, until they prove they don’t deserve it, will be treated by me as an equal. I have learned many, many “things” from people that are “different” from me and my heritage. My “White” heritage goes back to the early years of this country. A country where “All men are created equal by their creator”. Stop the petty BS bickering. All you are doing is guaranteeing that racism and race conflicts will continue to fester through YOU and your children.
As a side note: I find it interesting that Nathan Tumazi says:” The New U wasn’t always like this.” Just how long has this person been at this University? As I hope most of you can probably tell, I am what you would call an old person. This person I “assume” to be a young man, seems full of hate. While some would say it keeps you warm inside, it just perpetuates the same kind of racism you are against. You are creating this hatred in the current generation of children of all races. Children are born very open to the world. It is their parents and peers that teach them to hate. How many of the children that grow up in the “Black” communities grow up hating the “White Man” that never comes to their communities. Who teaches them this hate? It isn’t safe for “White” people to come into these communities. They will be assaulted and some murdered just because they are white. I don’t care where your family originally came from. It’s not a point of contention for most people. It’s when you start screaming that the world isn’t fair then people start finding you to be a nuisance. I have told my son that the world is not fair. He is a white, blond haired, blue eyed male. It is perfectly LEGAL for people to discriminate against him and no one will listen to him because of what happened 150 years ‘or so” ago. That his family fought with the North in the civil war means absolutely NOTHING. And it shouldn’t. He also shouldn’t be in a position where it is LEGAL for people to discriminate against him because he is white. My son will have to stand up for himself and excel for himself because no one will do it for him. Whereas it is ILLEGAL for Nathan to be discriminated against. Each person has to be “judged” by their character. I have spent many years teaching this to teenage boys involved in a youth group. I really hope this generation of young people in the Collages and Universities can start spending some productive time getting past the self imposed race issues and start looking past the past and start looking towards a real future without the racist problems of past generations. It starts with the children and goes from there. It may be too late for most of you, but try with your own children and don’t instill racist tendencies in them. This goes for people of ALL races. Please don’t use the example of the French. They hate everyone who is not French and white. This is a personal observation. May the God of your choice grant you the happiness and prosperity you feel you deserve. (How’s that for a Politically Correct statement?)
Why is everyone who says something an “African-American” is offended by or disagrees with a racist?”
Dear Ms. Guthrie,
“Even a fool APPEARS WISE, when he REMAINS SILENT.” Perhaps in the future, when it comes to matters that are beyond the scope of your curiosity, you should consider adhering to the latter.
To assume that white people all live the same cultural existence and don’t understand racism is stereotyping, isn’t it? It is also pretty naive.
What would the reaction be to the formation of a white student union or celebrating white history month?
Everyone feels connected to their heritage. When does that cross the line and become ethnocentricity? Focusing on our differences rather than emphasizing our common experience is what causes these tensions.
The replies are shocking. To state that the content of this article breeds is the reason racism exists counters the intent of the statement. Over the years, public censorship in the form of potlitcal correctness, has silenced articles of this nature; few are published because of the nature of the responses to this article. Yet, as many have stated in their, replies, racism is evident. In turn if, as many stated, racism exists, and it’s understodd that few articles expressing a counter opinion are published, then how is it possible to attribute racism to an article such as this? It seems that the status quo, “let’s not talk about it” practiced over the years, has failed, so its time to try something different. This article does that – it expresses the opinon of the author and likely, the opinion of many other Americans, who celebrate their culture when and how they choose, without the need to present it pointedly to other Americans.
I have to agree with this article 100%. What has Black History month done to help the issue of racism in todays society, if not enforce it a little bit more and more.
Let me ask you all a question
1. When you were in High School or Jr. High what ALL WHITE CLUBS did you see on campus? If not any, what would happen if a group of ALL white students wanted to start a ALL WHITE club? what ended up happening?
I know that when i went to High School if I saw a student with a WHITE POWER badge on their back pack, they were taken to the office, suspended or ask to remove the badge. NOW take same situation but with a african-american student or hispanic that had black power or a badge that said brown power. I would see that student basicly passed over because NO ONE wanted the threat of being sued or accused of being racist. If you want equal rights for EVERYONE then it goes BOTH WAYS!!!! NO MATTER WHAT
The author is ignorant!
For those that are bashing this writer…
If you think that Black History month is fine, where is the Asian History month? Where is the Native American History month? Etc… Shouldn’t the other race’s accomplishments be celebrated as well? (Before you jump the gun, I’m pointing this out to emphasize that if we did have all these singular history months, this would start sounding even MORE racist… )
Yes, Affirmative Action helped Women, Blacks, other minorities… etc.. in the PAST. Just like Social Security, to help the people in the PAST. Isn’t it time to move beyond this? We already have a black President… people can’t say there’s a ceiling to social mobility if the most powerful person on this planet is a black person can they? Every immigrant that comes to this country to make a better life for their families, still struggle… this struggle has not cease. I’m sure with the large Asian student body at UCI, you can understand the sacrifices that our Asian parents had to endure to come to this country… to make a better life for us. Yet we worked hard, moved forward, we looked at AA and said… we can do better, we don’t need it. Yet why do we still need it for other minorities? I would be offended if I was a minority that NEEDS affirmative action to get me that top job. If my hard work does not merit a promotion, and they gave it to a lesser qualified person because of their race, I would be upset, I would sue… the American way. But that’s basically what AA has become, excuses to move up in society… so don’t use AA as a history lesson towards Hannah.. I’m sure she knows the history of it.. as do most of us UCI Alumni/student bodies. She’s saying, when are we going to move beyond all this? Isn’t it about time we should not have Affirmative Action? Or at least move towards that?
I think people are mistaking this article by thinking it’s racist, instead they should read it as a progressive movement… that we should ALL start moving beyond focusing on a particular race. Why not just have “American History” month and focus on ALL the races that made this country great?
For those people that think Racism is as bad as ever, tell me… when do you think Racism towards anyone will end? What century do you think it will stop? Because as I see it, America has come a long way… we have a nation full of opportunities for any race… and if we focus just on one race, you are neglecting the others. That’s not how I see America.
It’s ignorant to attack someone for having the courage to think forward… instead of backwards. Maybe some of her words weren’t as eloquently put, but she has the right idea. As an American who is of Chinese heritage that went to UCI… I would be offended if someone used Affirmative Action to get me into a school, get me that top job over someone that was more qualified. I would be offended if they had an Asian History Month, but no other American’s history was focused… aren’t we all Americans? I would be offended if every time someone said to me that I’m “Chinese American,” and not simply “American.” I really believe that Black people who have African heritage would feel the say way… Why not just call them “Americans?”
By the way, you know who I would call African Americans? Someone who was BORN in Africa and is now an AMERICAN citizen. If you were born in America, you’re an American like the rest of us, sorry. You’re as much an African American as I am a European American, and no one calls me that.
Please correct the article to mention that Affirmative Action only helps the so called disadvantaged minorities (Latino, Blacks, American Indian). It actually is a way to reduce the number of over represented minorites (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian) and increase enrollment for the under represented minorities. AA has a neutral affect on whites.
Also why is it wrong to have conservative thought in universities, when every single professor it seems brainwashes our students with their liberal left wing lectures.
As the writer of this missive, your opinion is so naive and uninformed. You want to argue that self-aggregation by minority groups leads to victimhood, all the while bemoaning the victimization of the “white man”. As a second year English student, where did you get such attitudes……your “John Birch Society” parents or the most recent CPAC newsletter? The statements that we have achieved a post-racial society are negated by the very tone of your article and the call-out of a few “token” successful minorities as evidence that no racism exists in our society. You just don’t see it because it doesn’t affect you. Get a clue, get some experience and next time, maybe, you will be able to articulate an informed opinion.
Come on people, give it a rest. Yes, by the way, I’m white, whatever. I graduated from UCI and am in graduate school for social work and criminal justice right now. Yes, fine, there is racism out there. But the more comments I hear about what a hard time black people have in society, the more I ask, “well, what do you want ME to do about it?” People will separate themselves into groups, it’s their nature. People will be attracted to those who are the most like them, particularly in physical appearance. That’s the way it is. Generally, GENERALLY there isn’t that much racism out there. Please don’t forget there are “black” people who are racist too, it’s not just “white” people, and by the way, what the hell is wrong with calling people black if their skin is very dark? Caucasians are called white without a problem, so get off your high horse of political correctness and calm down. I don’t treat people differently because of their skin color, I treat them certain ways based on their actions. The black criminal is the same in my eyes as the white criminal, and ne’er will the two be different.
Call me ignorant all you want, dissenters. I don’t care. I vote for individual responsibility. In certain parts of the country yes, there is rampant racism. But again, WTF do you want me to do about that? Some members of minority groups choose to lump all white people together and choose to be accusatory which I find to be incredibly hypocritical. As far as affirmative action is concerned, if I had been applying to UCI and had the same grades as a black girl and the same SAT scores, I would be pissed if she got in based on her race. Is that not racism? For the good and the bad, separating people based on certain characteristics will always be out there. But I agree with Hanna wholeheartedly on one thing: slavery is over, as far as today’s generations are concerned, nothing is owed to you. You don’t know what it was like either, so don’t pretend you do and that someone else’s slavery who you have never met has followed you today. Black people are not the only people who have been enslaved throughout our world’s history, so you are not entitled to any more than anyone else.
The more you bring it up, the fresher it is in someone’s mind. Think about it. It makes sense. If no one makes a big deal about it, it won’t be one. Barack Obama specifically avoided questions about his race, why? Because he didn’t want it to be a factor in the voter’s decision, and that was the right thing to do. I voted for him because he was the only candidate to reach out to my generation.
Yes, I’ve taken Intro to social problems. Yes, I’ve taken classes on the total crime ratio when it comes to race. But you know what? Crime is crime is crime. Give it a rest. And while you’re at it, call me racist all you want. I’m not, I’m just a person who is sick of the trouble stirred up by people who are still so angry about the past; still angry about something I can’t control; still unwilling to actually solve what they believe is a problem. There is no solution. Not as long as you perpetuate the problem.
Hanna, well made arguments, despite the views of the commenters. Slavery is a scar on American history. And, scars only heal when left alone, not when exacerbated. Black History month only serves to remind us of the atrocities of the slavery. How can you heal your community if you cannot move on?
Keep on Hanna. Maybe you can be foster the first step in healing with this candid, real article.