Well a lot has changed and we see that from the old days of slavery, hangings, etc.. But still today even with a new Black President taking this big step into History we still have this Racism or Predudice even to the Point that Many think just because you're a certain Color or Ethnic Group you are to act or think a certain way. I Have a few Questions for my intelligent Bloggers to answer.
To what degree do you believe race and ethnicity determine identity?
Do people allow their race/ethnicity to inform their sense of self?
Should they?
Why or why not?
What good can come of it?
What bad?
Do "we" as a society allow race and ethnicity to inform our perceptions of others and the roles we expect them to play?
Should we?
Why or why not?
What good can come of it?
What bad?
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8 comments:
This topic would be excellent for a twin study, although totally unethical. If we could separate twins and keep one apart from other people while growing up, I’m quite sure we would find that race and ethnicity would have nothing to do with determining the identity or a sense of self of the twin that was kept apart from others. I believe it is only when we enter outside influences into the equation that race and ethnicity becomes a factor in what we as humans use to determine our identity and sense of self. It may also weigh in heavier as a factor for some more than others. For me, gender is more of a defining factor in my life than race, but for others, gender is equal with race, and I’m sure there are others still, where race weighs heavier than gender. I believe we can use whatever we want to form our sense of self and identity, but it I do not believe race and ethnicity should be the sole factor or determining factor. This is when people become singled out or are forced to choose one way or another (I’m thinking bi-racial). This is a problem in our society. Society then forms stereotypes of races and ethnicities that they pass down from generation to generation, the stereotypes evolve here and there, but no good ever comes from stereotyping.
All people are individuals and no two are exactly alike and to assume that people are the same just because of race is wrong. Race may be one thing a group of people have in common, but race no longer says anything about family background, morals, ethics, wealth, status, religion, power, etc of EVERYONE from that race. We shouldn’t have preconceptions about those things based on a person’s ethnicity or race.
If you don't believe in interracial dating does that make you a racist? Many people have different perspectives of what makes a person racist? I don't think of myself as being a racist, but I have been told I have some racists ways.
My color does not defined who I am, but it is a huge part of who I am. Even though slavery is over, people who still think racist are in positions which may affect me. Now I can keep thinking of these situations as being downfalls or I can look at them as situations that have given me strength. Life is not fair or easy, it is what it is and I'm going to do what I have to in order of surviving.
The rest of my answer depends on the answer to the first question.
Is is a question of not believing in (agreeing with) interracial relationships in general or you just don't feel they are right for you?
If someone chooses to be in an interracial relationship, but you do not, does their relationship really affect you at all? Does anyone's personal, intimate, relationship really affect others, who are non-related to the relationship? Race and all other factors aside.
wow "Anonymous" that is a Great Question if you don't believe in interracial dating does that mean you're a racist? hmmmmm that's nice might be in my next blog. anyway I think my Race plays a factor on What I am as a far as Race but not Who I am.. But one should find out who he is and what he Culture is about. We can not blindly walk around like as if our Race has no past but this should not speak on Who I am as a person. This kinda reminds me of how people say All Asian people are smart and All Black can Dance or shoot Hoops that's not right.To what degree do you believe race and ethnicity determine identity?
Do people allow their race/ethnicity to inform their sense of self? yes
Should they? yes and NO
Why or why not? explained above
What good can come of it? knowing your heritage and culture
What bad? Stereotypes
Do "we" as a society allow race and ethnicity to inform our perceptions of others and the roles we expect them to play? yes very much so we shouldn't do that but we do. when you just form a Perception you ASS-ume and we all know what that can do. Just like we as blacks never thought the DC sniper would've been Black because we felt that was a White person Crime. Or we all think Arab serve slurpies and hate Americans (But they do be on the black woman and we can't get at their women) But I think you get my drift.
Knowing your heritage and culture is a great thing, but not many people (at least the ones I've run into)know much past their race. They don't know how their cultures began and the history behind it all. The majority of people are uneducated about their lineage and ethnicity's pasts.
Ok well have you ever thought about the fact that our past is a huge part of our belief systems. Even though we have moved on, we never forget our past (life's lessons). For us who believe our race is too divided based on our past experiences and don't think interracial dating is helpful to our cause, does that mean we don't like other racist?
I don't believe in same sex marriages, but I don't dislike gay people.
Sorry I was trying to say other races. When we refer to our culture, we mean our pasts: the foods we like, the music we listen to, and our perspective on the fairness of life. You never know what a person has been through unless you have walked a mile in his or her shoes. If you are white, you can't get the full grasp of the things we have been and still going thru. Seen the movie aboutt the thin girl who put on a big woman's body? As a thin girl, she had no idea how hard fat people have it. She ASSumed it can't be too much more difficult. We base these decisions based upon our past experiences and not theirs because we have no idea of what they've been thru.
Everyone's past and life lessons help form their beliefs. I believe we all work this way regardless of race.
I believe there are some people that date inter-racially for the wrong reasons. There are people that will date simply for the sake of dating a specific race. Which does not help the fight for interracial couple equality. This is not what dating is about. You should be dating a person, not a race. If you find someone you love, it shouldn't matter what their ethnic background is.
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