Is racism still a problem?

Fun is a subjective thing, I guess. Sick, demented sense of humor, perhaps?

I'm told I have a demented sense of humor, but still..I wouldn't hang a noose in a public place and let peope wonder who did it. "OMG there's a rascist on campus" That's not funny to me. I might put a noose in my bedroom, maybe even paint a little cartoon head to go in the center of it...'cause that would be funny. But I don't think this is very funny. I dunno. Most people who hang the nooses aren't apologizing for the distress that occurred. If you did it only as a joke, and people get upset...you apologize, saying you didn't mean what they thought you meant and give a good reason why you did it. Lots of people know what a noose means. So sayin' one didn't know, that doesn't always seem like a good excuse to me. I know not all kids were taught respect and tolerance, but still. Even if you have a sick sense of humor (like I'm told I do), you at least should have some manners. I love pranks and jokes...and people really do need to lighten up sometimes. But this doesn't seem that funny to me. I, personally think it's being too hopeful to think that maybe it was just joke. I'd be more inclined to believe it, if it only happened one or twice this year...but it hasn't so.. But you know..that's my opinion.

I'd like to add, that it hasn't only been teenagers doing this. Adults have too, and a few known rascists. And I'm not much of a believer in coincidences...but as I said, that's just me.

You make some very good points. And the fact that we still have problems arising like the Jena 6 problem is disgusting. I feel that alot of the problem is that the African Americans that pull the "race card" ruin it for the others. At least once a week I hear a policyhoklder tell me their rates are high because they are black. Skin color has nothing to do with it, the underwriters don't know what color you are, my company doesn't ask that question. I work a call center job at night from home. I get a lot of people that apply for instant credit, I can't tell you how many times I hear a "cause I'm black" remark after giving a denial. The phone and computer can't tell what race you are! My hubby and my best friends are a black couple. And he finds it discouraging when people of his own race are "pulling the card". But that being said it is also discouraging when we go out to eat and the server treats us different than they would if it were just my hubby and I. THe ignorance is rampant. I guess what I was trying to say, that although this is a far fetched idea, the only way we will move on is if EVERYBODY moves past skin color. As far as the remarks you made about housing, you have a point too. However I can tell you that in the city where I live they are tearing down housing projects to build brand new houses, and you have to be a low income minority to be able to buy one. This is turning into the premier area of our town, which is wonderful, but also discriminatory for those who are not African American that want to live there. Discrimination works both ways. Our school district just went back to neighborhood schools instead of a school choice program, and although we live in a "white" neighborhood, my daughter goes to a school that is predominately "black". SHe comes home in tears somedays becasue she gets picked on for being white. Is that fair? No, it's not. But I believe that these problems begin in the household, and maybe it's time grown ups start acting like grown ups and eventually nip this in the bud.

"Why can't I just be a dumb b***h?"- LMAO. I feel you on that one though. Prejudice and discrimination can go both ways- you are absolutely right! But racism really does exist and not all African Americans are trying to hold on to this "ghost" from our past and looking for excuses and handouts. However, we cannot pretend like we don't live what we live. I have four little brothers and once they get to be about twelve you find yourself worried about whether they are coming home or not everyday. Not just because of black on black violence but because you know how the justice system works and all it takes is them to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and there goes the rest of their lives. I have very intelligent little brothers. My 14 year old brother wants to be a doctor- he took the entrance exams and scored very high and was accepted to three private Catholic schools. In the end he was denied access to a quality education because he has locks in his hair. My other little brother has been repeatedly stopped and frisked and layed out on the ground by police. Not because he actually did anything but because he fit a description. Whether it's education for your kids, shopping for a mortgage for your house or watching the city officials let the city go to watse so they can rebuild once all the residents they don't want here leave... we cannot afford to pretend racism doesn't exist. There are three types of African Americans. 1.) Plays the card on the regular basis and uses it as an excuse for not moving forward in life. They never go anywhere. Progress is not in their vocabulary. Clothes, Jewelry, cars, and other "Keeping up with the Jone's" items are all that really matter. 2.) Uncle Tom, who plays the token negro in white boardrooms across America and doesn't really like himself or people that look like him. He tries very hard to be white and usually is very disconnected from family and old friends. He never comes back to lend a hand and help pull up another brother or sister up from the "hood". He will even go so far to say that racism is not a modern day problem. 3.) Realizes the problem of racism and spends a great deal of time gathering the knowlegde to raise himself above the obstacles that he knows he is going to face because of the color of his skin. Realizes that he has to be twice as good as his counterparts. Makes no excuses. He will suceed in what he sets his mind to and even if he only reaches back to pull one person up... he will. He knows the value of his journey. But he will not deny that racism shapes the lives of many of us. I wish that we had more #3's though. However, the argument of systematic racism is still valid but it is up to us as African Americans to develop our own solutions to better our situation. Unfortunately, it is alot easier to say "move on" when it it is not your kid being discriminated against, when it is not your life that is being affected by it. Believe me, I'd love for us to move on, even if it just allows me to get the same interest rates on a loan and a equal education for my daughter without having to figure out how to pay expensive private school tuitions. I'd love to turn on the tv and not have to hear about another Jena 6 or find out that they burned another cross at Fredonia State (they kept that one hushed many years back). I would love to pretend that there is not a very active KKK chapter in the next town over. But that is just not our reality. To answer the question though, not only is hanging the nooses racist... it's cowardly. I have no respect for men or women that hide behind sheets and in the shadows. You want me to know how you feel about me being black- say it to my face. Anyone not big enough to do that is not worth my time in protest.