Test question racist?

[helenabear]

One more thing... Please, people, don't tell an AA person or any minority how they should feel. You don't know what it's like to be a victim of racism.

You might want to take that back. You don't have to be a "minority" to feel it. You just have to be the one IN the minority at the time. Racism isn't just white against others. It's found in ALL groups... trust me on this one.

Honestly I am under 30 and hadn't heard the correlation between watermelon and blacks. I seriously just think 4th of July when I hear it or see it. As for the lawn jockeys, I didn't realize they all had to be black... I swear I've never seen one. Maybe I'm sheltered, or maybe my generation just doesn't even think about these stereotypes since in my suburban town, they just don't exist!

I seriously wonder if the teacher knew. I sure wouldn't have known! Not trying to say that the teacher was right or not, just it wasn't something I had a clue on.

If she knew, though, she really should have thought twice before using it. If she didn't know, hopefully training will teach her other things she might want to avoid.

This is sad to me though... I really had no idea about those stereotypes of minorites. Never once have I heard any of them before today.

 

[dis ms.]

My argument may sound real stupid

"Sound"?

The reason we as a society can't move on is because we make an issues out of everything.

Yes, that's the reason. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that in 2006 some people still think it's acceptable to make derogatory comments (and test questions, no less) based on historically racist stereotypes.

I wonder if we should keep a list near by so we don't say anything that may sound offensive. Chicken,ribs,watermelon. These could be fighting words??

Before I read this, I didn't know how far back my eyes could roll. I know you're just trying to make some kind of point, but surely you can see that it's often the context not the word that makes it offensive. If not, well, wow.

 

[Robinrs]

I normally wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole but am again amazed by this board.

I guess you keep living and keep learning.

 

[CarolG]

.... I just answered your question. I have no idea why people put things in their yard. The people I know with lawn jockeys either are/were associated with horse racing and their jockey is white or others were inherited with their house and never took them down and others probably collect them for whatever reason. Like I mentioned before the exaggerated ones are not found here. I've never in my life seen one.


Hey - I'd be willing to bet a large percentage of people have no idea why they existed or the positive aspects of their past.

I've lived in Georgia all my life, and my impression of lawn jockeys always had a negative connotation, so I've learned something about their history and use in the Underground Railroad today. However, I'd bet real money that the majority of people in my town that have them in their yards (not a lot, really), don't know their origins, either.

And I thought the math teacher's wording of the problem was at the very least stupid and insensitive, if not racist.

 

[Free4Life11]

I had to pull out the UrbanDictionary.com to look up lawn jockey. I'm still confused -- all I've ever seen are gnomes or pink flamingos!

 

[va32h]

Racism isn't just white against others.

No, it isn't. But the history of white racism is soooo long, and soooo heavy, that it would take a complete upheaval of society for whites to comprehend what complete personal, political, and social disenfranchisment really means.

 

[Becky2005]

I also had never heard of a lawn jockey until this thread. When I read the first post that mentioned that, I thought "What in the heck is a lawn jockey?"

Me too! I'm still not sure I know what it is since the only thing I can think of is the person that rides atop of a horse during horse racing! That's the only kind of jockey statues I've seen of people and I have absolutely no idea if it was black or white. From the descriptions I've read so far, apparently I have never even seen a lawn jockey so I wouldn't have had a clue it was offensive to anyone.

 

[brerrabbit]

Let me clear something up from a previous post. I said I read an article that explained the evolution of the question from Gallagher to Condi Rice. I did not intend to make it sound like the question was not racist. It was pure and simple.

Also the fact that so many people do not know that certain things used in certain contexts are racist is just a lack of knowledge about the struggles of minorities over the years. For someone who is younger and not from the South, not connecting certain uses of watermelon and fried chicken to racist comments can be understandable. However to come out and say someone is overreacting to certain statements about racisim is wrong. Hurtful words to certain people can mean nothing to others. This exact same discussion came up the other day when we were talking about a vacationer in Orlando mistaking another vacationer as being a housekeeper at a hotel. It bothered the poster because she was black and I for one completely understand her feelings. Even though I am white I can understand the pain it would cause. I am 47 years old and can remember that even with the Civil Rights movement of the 60's that up until 1969 my hometown of Houston still had seperate divisions for Black and White high schools to compete in athletically. We are not that far removed from open, blatent racism in America. My Mother who is 83 years old still talks about her childhood growing up on the farm and the "N****** family that lived down the road" She thinks nothing of it and says it even after me yelling at her for the last 40 years of my life and refusing to let her see my children often because of her attitudes. Oh yes my friends racism is still very much alive and thriving in our world dispite how easily some of us may ignore or dismiss it.

I am regularly called a Redneck or Cracker by people because I hunt, fish, chew tobacco and drink beer. I also have two graduate degrees,a professional job, sing in a Church Choir, teach Sunday School, and volenteer in numerous non profit groups. When certain people call me that I can laugh it off because they know me and are my friends. But others, including a least one on this very board has used the term about "my kind of people" and it was not at all appreciated by me. Why do I mention any of this? Because, hurtful words hurt certain people and many others see no meaning in them at all.

 

[grlpwrd]

Racism isn't just white against others. It's found in ALL groups... trust me on this one.

True. I have experienced racism personally where I am from (Hawaii), unfortunately.

In this case we're talking about institutionalized racism. Racism by a teacher/prof at Bellevue Community College which is a public school.

Obviously, reverse racism happens. We're not talking about that here, though. Bellevue is a very affluent community with the majority being Caucasian.

 

[helenabear]

Just wanted to clarify, I wanted to state that racism isn't just white on black. I also had said before I was clueless on those types of stereotypes. Honestly, that makes me happy. If you think of it, racism isn't so big among my "circle" that I had a clue about those two. To me that's a sign of progress in the country... when people do NOT make bad associations with a group like that.

Of course I am far more familiar with wera and gringa, but that's just what I am used to hearing

I could see how the teacher would not know though. However, I think if she was aware, then she really needs help with her race issues.

That was the only part of my point.

Obviously, reverse racism happens. We're not talking about that here, though. Bellevue is a very affluent community with the majority being Caucasian.

Sorry, I thought you were talking about generalities (as a few others were) not just this specific case. I will disagree with you... both my husband and I are of different "races" (I use that in quotes since we are all of the human race) and neither of us believes in something called "reverse racism" Anyone who looks down on someone of another "race" is a racist... plain and simple. To call it anything else is degrading of the term or in *OUR* opinion lessening the feelings/thoughts behind the racist actions.

I've also found that racism isn't just a "skin color" issue. It can also be found w/in minorities. Strict Germany families have been known to cut out family members who marry anyone who is not "of their community". Those of Mexican decent in America often have issues with those who are of Cuban (and vice versa). People who are of Japanese decent are shunned when they marry someone who is not Japanese. Black groups will welcome a Puerto Rican, but not a white person with open arms. These are all ones *I* have personally seen w/in my friends & family or even dealt with myself.

So I was speaking generalities, not just this case specific when I was quoting you earlier. All you have to do is be the "minority" and walk into that room full of closed minded fools, and realize how much racism and hate hurts.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I'm astonished at how many people on this thread profess ignorance of this ugly stereotype, or try to make it something other than what it is.

Me too...although I am familiar with some of the posters' opinions on other topics who are feigning ignorance on this one on and to tell you the truth...it really doesn't surprise me one bit.

 

[WIcruizer]

Well, I give people the benefot of the doubt. I thought the whole watermelon and fried chicken stereotype was common knowledge, but I believe some of the posters genuinely never heard of the reference.

 

[Poohgirl]

Good heavens, how hard is it to figure out a lawn jockey? A figure painted in blackface waiting to be handed the reins of a horse-drawn carriage assumes that he will then lead the horse to the barn and take care of it, which in turn implies that he is a slave.

Where have you people been??????

Im sorry I ASSUMED he was a jockey as in a horse racer, a person dressed like they are about to ride a horse, to me is a person about to ride a horse. I don't automatically think "oh, black man- slave"

 

[jgmklmhem]

Well, I give people the benefot of the doubt. I thought the whole watermelon and fried chicken stereotype was common knowledge, but I believe some of the posters genuinely never heard of the reference.

I though it was too especially after the Tiger/Fuzzy incident. It was in most of the papers and on the news and not just in the sports section of either. People made a big stink which also received coverage. I knew prior to that incident but thought that might have made the knowledge more prevelant in society at large.

 

[helenabear]

I though it was too especially after the Tiger/Fuzzy incident. It was in most of the papers and on the news and not just in the sports section of either. People made a big stink which also received coverage. I knew prior to that incident but thought that might have made the knowledge more prevelant in society at large.

Would you honestly believe that was one I missed as well? I watch mostly local news and weather. I will hear about major issues with the war in Iraq and obviously heard about Al Qaeda, but the Tiger comment didn't even get to my ears. I used to be at work at 7 am, so my mornings were never leisurely and I almost never made it up to the 11 o'clock news. We haven't had the paper delivered to us in years!!! No one even brought it up at work... though with my group I am not surprised

I'm not feigning anything here. Being blunt honest. I am in my 20s though, so I wonder if some of these things are way over my head. I could hear them, but not totally understand the significance or even get that they were trying to make a racial joke.

But please, do not think I am being stupid or ignorant. I honestly just plain didn't know (and fwiw, I am a college educated chick from Ohio)

 

[Sleepy]

Obviously, reverse racism happens.

Why is it necessary for people to use the word "reverse" to describe racism?

ETA: Helenabear, I see you beat me to it. I got pulled away from the computer before I pressed the send button.