Quote:
Originally Posted by Maryland Girl
I was a teacher of middle school students for many years. In discussing fighting, bullying, etc., race would almost always come up. My students were black, white, Asian, etc. One day, during the discussion, one of the students brought up Michael Jackson and asked why he would want to 'bleach' his skin to make it lighter. I explained that 'bleaching' ones skin was behavior. That no matter how much MJ 'bleached' his skin he would never be racially white. Then I rubbed my skin and explained that no matter how much time I spent in the sun to tan myself, I would never be racially black. I then had the children rub each others arms and asked if they thought it was logical for them to hate that person for their skin color since it was obvious they were born that way and could do nothing to change that. After some time passed, the children in some small way came to see that what they didn't like about someone should be based on that person's behavior, character, etc. That to base it on their race was pointless. We had many an interesting discussion and I hope that at least one child carried this forward so that when they became upset at someone, they could distinguish between disliking that person based on race as opposed to other characteristics. For myself, I have not liked every black person I have met and I surely have not liked every white person I have met. But, I do have black friends and white friends whom I respect because of the people they are-not because of their race.
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I am sure that they did carry it forward. I admire folks like you who attack the issue without all the generalizations. It is a personal thing.
When I was young, all of my friends and most of my neighbors were black. We did not even know the difference until, at least we thought, girls came into play...strange but that is my memory. Anyway, we used to talk about it as it was prevelant in those days (40's and 50's). We, as kids could not figure it out.
I think over the years, as I aged and as a result of growing up as I did, I figured it was LEARNED behavior from others. But as I have been spouting off on here for a few hours, I also learned to beware of those who preach.....because as my black friends would say....do not trust them, until you really understand what is inside. Preaching it is one thing...living it is different.
Learned a lot from those years but not into the preaching....everyone makes their own call and I do know.....you cannot legislate it.....you cannot guilt it....you just have to learn it. I see the Sharptons and the Jacksons and those preaching here and I know how suspicious my buddies would be of them.
Enough..great post...loved it.