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Time and generations 'the cure' for America's racism

(16 Posts)
Butternut Sat 06-Oct-12 12:56:02

I do admire Toni Morrison and her writings. In this (political) interview, she shows a remarkable understanding, patience and gentle humour.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-radio-and-tv-19834043

Greatnan Sat 06-Oct-12 14:45:55

I don't think I could show such dignity in the face of covert and overt racism - it makes me so angry and I have never suffered from it. Thanks for the link, Butter.

whenim64 Sat 06-Oct-12 15:22:20

What a great woman she is. I have fears that a resurgence of racism might surface if the likes of Mitt Romney become any more popular. You can feel it during political rallies, when Obama is criticised. There's that sinister undercurrent implying that the economy has collapsed because they voted a black man into the White House. The recent televised debate reviews were quick to claim that Obama is less intelligent, playing to the redneck belief about white superiority. Toni Morrison is a voice of reason. There are others who could whip up anger about racism. It takes wisdom and dignity to be like her.

Butternut Sat 06-Oct-12 17:46:19

Wisdom and dignity indeed. A superb role-model.

absentgrana Sat 06-Oct-12 18:39:44

whenim64 No doubt rednecks feel angry that a "black man" was voted into the White House, but the rest of us should remember that President Obama is just as white as he is black, if we are going to pay attention to ancestry.

whenim64 Sat 06-Oct-12 19:08:29

It's progress that he is mixed race and represents the achievements of black Americans absent. I hope he gets another term smile

AlieOxon Sat 06-Oct-12 19:40:50

I dread him not getting another term.

PRINTMISS Sun 07-Oct-12 08:54:46

I remember quite a long time ago saying to my mother that there would come a time when we were all 'coffee' coloured, and so the colour of our skin would not matter, as it should not. She was absolutely shocked at this statement, and said it would never happen, but we have only to look at television programmes to see the number of 'black' people taking part in so may things they were once banned from, and indeed excelling and becoming successful in spheres they were once never even considered for. Good luck to them although perhaps the 'white' people in future generations will have the back-lash from the oppression the black people have suffered.

petra Sun 21-Oct-12 14:04:08

Why, please share.

annodomini Sun 21-Oct-12 14:14:15

If your premise is right, though, Printmiss, there won't be any truly white people left anyway.

absentgrana Sun 21-Oct-12 14:34:07

How truly white are truly white people? I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the author who, as a child, emigrated from the Caribbean to the UK and was bitterly disappointed when she saw so-called white people here. She described us as being "pinko-grey".

Jodi Sun 21-Oct-12 15:09:09

It always comes as a shock when someone I know, and have always seen as a kind and caring person, suddenly expresses racist views. These views are usually proceeded by the words 'I'm not a racist but....'. But Toni Morrison is right, nice though these people are they are usually 'uneducated' in the finer sense of the word and usually of our generation.

annodomini Sun 21-Oct-12 19:29:18

Was that Andrea Levy in 'Small Island', absent? It sounds familiar.

bookdreamer Sun 21-Oct-12 20:41:11

My son lives in Texas. I copied the text from whenim to him and this was his reply:

"It's racism when it's white to black but never when black to white. Black universities here. Cant have white ones though can we? Because that's wrong. 

Abd black people say I'm voting for Obama just because he's black on Facebook. Could I say the same comment with Romney being white? Nope."

What do you think?

whenim64 Sun 21-Oct-12 21:42:43

I don't agree with what he describes as happening, and two wrongs don't make a right. It undermines the great strides made for equality. Likewise, sexism from women as an act of revenge for thousands of years of oppression is no answer.

Jodi Sun 21-Oct-12 22:22:32

Wasn't George Bush junior Texan too? grin