[billethkid]

See the article then offer an experience you may have had:

The Obamas: How We Deal with Our Own Racist Experiences - Ferguson, politics, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama : People.com

When I was working I used to fly a lot; like a million miler frequent flier!!! For comfort I always wore slacks or even jeans and always a sport jacket...mostly a navy blue blazer like everybody has. I also has a red blazer that I wore on ocassion for a change of pace. ALMOST everytime I wore that red blazer AND if I happened to be in an American Airlines terminal or concourse I would be stopped and asked a question as the person AUTOMATICALLY assumed I was an AA employee....that also wore red sport jackets.

So with that in mind I say so what to the article above that in my opinion is in poor taste (I don't care WHO they are) it does nothing but keep the race card highly visible and active.

How about your experience?

[redwitch]

I still vividly remember driving with a friend in Orinda, California. Orinda is a small very monied town in the East Bay. Scotty had recently purchased a home there. Scotty was very dark skinned. He was driving his Porsche. He was not speeding, had not run a red light, was doing nothing illegal. Regardless, he was pulled over, called "boy". Throughout the entire experience, he was polite and extremely civil. The same could not be said for me. I was angry, yelled at the officers, demanded an apology as Scotty tried to calm and quiet me down. That incident stuck with me even though it occurred forty years ago. That a black man could be stopped for no reason other than being black was and is so wrong to me. That someone would automatically assume that someone of color is in a subservient position today is just as wrong to me. Until we can judge people by their behavior and not by their color, we need these type of discussions. If you can't see the difference between someone thinking you worked for AA while wearing a red blazer and someone thinking you are a valet because your skin happens to be darker, then maybe you need to try to be a little more understanding of others' humiliations.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I still vividly remember driving with a friend in Orinda, California. Orinda is a small very monied town in the East Bay. Scotty had recently purchased a home there. Scotty was very dark skinned. He was driving his Porsche. He was not speeding, had not run a red light, was doing nothing illegal. Regardless, he was pulled over, called "boy". Throughout the entire experience, he was polite and extremely civil. The same could not be said for me. I was angry, yelled at the officers, demanded an apology as Scotty tried to calm and quiet me down. That incident stuck with me even though it occurred forty years ago. That a black man could be stopped for no reason other than being black was and is so wrong to me. That someone would automatically assume that someone of color is in a subservient position today is just as wrong to me. Until we can judge people by their behavior and not by their color, we need these type of discussions. If you can't see the difference between someone thinking you worked for AA while wearing a red blazer and someone thinking you are a valet because your skin happens to be darker, then maybe you need to try to be a little more understanding of others' humiliations.

I am white. I have not ever witnessed anyone speaking "down" to a person of color. I once assumed a person from Asia celebrated the festival of lights as some of my neighbors did and when I asked, that person seemed offended. I think I said something wrong or assumed something wrong. I had never met an Asian person until I was in my thirties.

If someone wants to help the group they belong to, be a good example of the group. If many older, white haired woman of German extraction were involved in criminal activity and shooting each other and dealing drugs and were being thought badly of, I would be really discouraged. If many of these old white haired ladies wore their trousers so it showed their underpants, I would not. I would dress and act like a law abiding old white lady of German heritage

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I still vividly remember driving with a friend in Orinda, California. Orinda is a small very monied town in the East Bay. Scotty had recently purchased a home there. Scotty was very dark skinned. He was driving his Porsche. He was not speeding, had not run a red light, was doing nothing illegal. Regardless, he was pulled over, called "boy". Throughout the entire experience, he was polite and extremely civil. The same could not be said for me. I was angry, yelled at the officers, demanded an apology as Scotty tried to calm and quiet me down. That incident stuck with me even though it occurred forty years ago. That a black man could be stopped for no reason other than being black was and is so wrong to me. That someone would automatically assume that someone of color is in a subservient position today is just as wrong to me. Until we can judge people by their behavior and not by their color, we need these type of discussions. If you can't see the difference between someone thinking you worked for AA while wearing a red blazer and someone thinking you are a valet because your skin happens to be darker, then maybe you need to try to be a little more understanding of others' humiliations.

Redwitch - excellent reply. "Walk a mile in my shoes"!

We had a black Governor of Massachusetts - anyone remember Edward William Brooke III an American Republican politician the first African American popularly elected to the United States Senate? My other half worked with his very good friend, a very good engineer, very affluent and very educated, and he was always being stopped in Boston due to the color of his skin!

[CFrance]

Redwitch, very well put, as is your talent. I went to college in the south. I had many opportunities to witness people speaking down to, and about, African Americans. I've witnessed it as lately as the last place we lived, in Michigan.

Even Obama has said he was followed through malls on more than one occasion--when he was a senator, no less.

People who think racism does not exist in this country and therefore should not be discussed are kidding themselves. There is always the next generation to educate.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Redwitch, very well put, as is your talent. I went to college in the south. I had many opportunities to witness people speaking down to, and about, African Americans. I've witnessed it as lately as the last place we lived, in Michigan.

Even Obama has said he was followed through malls on more than one occasion--when he was a senator, no less.

People who think racism does not exist in this country and therefore should not be discussed are kidding themselves. There is always the next generation to educate.

Why do you think some people have bad opinions of some people who are black? Why do you think that some people have opinions of anyone in any group? What do you think can be done to help improve acceptance of people of all races? Should we change our behavior, we, older white people?

I have a friend who is black, she was my neighbor in Cincinnati. She posted a picture on Facebook of the recent gathering in Washington, protesting police violence. She said "Isn't that beautiful?" It was a picture of thousands and thousands of people protesting police violence. I didn't know how I felt about that, I very much support the police, but I like her and respect her very much. I am confused. Obviously I am doing or thinking something wrong.

[billethkid]

I was hopeful in posting this thread that there would be more examples, like my red jacket experience, that do no more than suggest being "profiled" happens to folks other than those of color.....because whether we like it or not if one fits the recognized description of what or who is being sought we are subject to being mistaken and hence appraoched.

We all know racism exists.
We all know there has been improvement over the years.
We all know racism is exploited where there is a gain for the exploiters......whether there is a real racist situation OR NOT.

I do not believe it is racist to be mistaken for what one is not....especially when one fits the discription. And yes we also all know this can be exploited by some as well.....on both sides of the incidents!

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Why do you think some people have bad opinions of some people who are black? Why do you think that some people have opinions of anyone in any group? What do you think can be done to help improve acceptance of people of all races? Should we change our behavior, we, older white people?

I have a friend who is black, she was my neighbor in Cincinnati. She posted a picture on Facebook of the recent gathering in Washington, protesting police violence. She said "Isn't that beautiful?" It was a picture of thousands and thousands of people protesting police violence. I didn't know how I felt about that, I very much support the police, but I like her and respect her very much.

I have no idea how to change things, but I think people are taught to hate and probably to be frightened of anyone who is different. If you go way back, the bogey man was always black. The good guy is always white. I really have no clue, but I have to admit it has probably been easier to get through life being Caucasian.

[redwitch]

Gracie, we are not talking about the thugs and criminals here. This is about the indignities suffered because of skin color. We can change our jackets but we can't change our skin color. That a black man would be followed in a store to make sure he didn't shoplift is wrong. To assume the man standing next to you is a valet because he happens to be black is wrong. To think the Hispanic walking down the street is a day laborer or illegal is not right. As I said, people should be judged for their actions, not their appearance.

Racism comes in many forms. Some of the worst, the most demeaning is the subtle racism. Blatant actions can be fought. The subtle ones just cause little nicks that become scars on the soul.

[tomwed]

Help us understand what the purpose doing this article is

The Obama's believe that by sharing their experiences of racism, other Americans will realize we still have along way to go when it comes to equality.

Do you think it worked? I don't.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by tomwed

Help us understand what the purpose doing this article is

The Obama's believe that by sharing their experiences of racism, other Americans will realize we still have along way to go when it comes to equality.

Do you think it worked? I don't.

I was hoping that as the first black American president that he would start a dialogue...something that would lead more to a positive outcome than just sympathy. If you give sympathy to some people, they become more outraged and indignant sometimes. Children do anyway...and some people.

We all share responsibility to do right. No one asked to be born any particular color. I know that after Furgeson, when we were traveling Thanksgiving week... and stopping at restaurants that my smiles toward all were not returned by too many black people. That was a first for me. It didn't feel good. It hurt me and scared me and made me think and think and think.

[redwitch]

Originally Posted by tomwed

Help us understand what the purpose doing this article is

The Obama's believe that by sharing their experiences of racism, other Americans will realize we still have along way to go when it comes to equality.

Do you think it worked? I don't.

Well, it started a dialogue here and I'm sure in other venues and homes, so maybe it is a step in the right direction,

[DeanFL]

If I had a buck for every time, when wearing a suit and looking around as a customer in a department store - or even a car dealer - and being asked "Do you work here?"... I would have enough to pay 3 months on amenity fees. Yes, maybe I look as if I'm a sales rep when actually a shopper. Did I consider those questions racist? nope. And sometimes I joked back about my commission if I helped them.

Personally I am completely tired of these divisive tactics the last 6 years especially. If there's an issue, of course tackle it. But to continually divide us = banks vs us, white vs black, rich vs not, male vs female, dem vs rep, big biz vs us, etc etc.

[JRichm369]

I am also aware of the divisive tactics, it would appear to me that the person that is doing the attacking has the problem, as they are the ones that are making an issue out of it. I think it takes a bigger person to let it go and pray that the accuser finds some peace in their life.

[tedquick]

First off I do not believe that the incidents related actually happened. Having said that, there are racists in this country. There will always be racists. There is nothing that we “good people” can do that will eliminate all racism. The biggest racist I ever ran into was a black man in a major city in the Midwest. To him, nearly everything was about racism.

I worked on many committees over the years with many black people. Some were excellent workers while others were not. It had nothing whatsoever to do with color. It had to do with their level of ambition. It was exactly the same with white members of the same committees. Some were very ambitious while others expected everyone else to carry the load. Some of my greatest working partners were black. I rarely noticed skin color, but I did notice the character of all with whom I worked.

I also have met many black people who are much more accomplished than I. Everyone has heard of Dr. Ben Carson. He didn’t let color stand in his way nor did he make excuses. He worked hard and succeeded. But then so did Condoleezza Rice, and many many others.

One thing I’ve learned in my decades of living is that when *any* group is separated out from everybody else there are going to be problems. You cannot divide people and expect smooth relationships to develop. You cannot legislate behavior, morality or ethics. Every time you single out someone or some group you divide and create another avenue for dissent and disagreement. Just look at Travon Martin and the Ferguson ordeal.

The WH is our nation’s greatest promoter and aggravator of racism today followed closely by the likes of Al Sharpton. In the past we have had Presidents who were uniters. Today we have a divider. Both knew/know exactly what they were/are doing. Both extremes had/have their reasons.

I end with this thought: one’s character is exposed, not by one’s words, but by one’s deeds.