(no subject)

[aerdran]

I just got through watching an episode of Third Watch on tape, and it was an interesting and pretty thought provoking one. Racism loomed large. It started with the paramedic partners, Doc (black) and Carlos, going to a shooting at a restaurant. Some people died and Doc worked on a young black waitress. Got her to the hospital, yadda yadda, and all the news programs mentioned was a white teacher who died. Everyone else was "the others." This rankled with Doc, which I can understand, and he started seeing the sorts of more subtle racism that faced him, including with police. It was hard for me to understand, which isn't surprising at all. I've never lived it, but it's pretty damn awful. I've heard of many different occasions from Mikel, Doug, and other black friends, and it continues to boggle my mind. How, why, all those questions cross my mind when I think of these things. How can people still think that way and why is it still accepted in certain circles (read: police)? It's not just a thing you hear about on TV, folks. It happens. I've been around when it's happened to friends. I can't understand it. I see these friends of mine who are so great and all, and then I look at people outside of our group, out in the public, and how they look at these people that I love so much. It's not right, it really isn't. When will it change?

I hope so much that things change soon. I have two boys, two African American boys that I've adopted. Well, they're not boys anymore, the youngest is 18 now. He still lives here, and I go out into the big, bad world with him, and I see those looks. Distrust, fear, anger, and yeah, hatred. It pisses me off no end, it really does. Why should he get those looks just by walking down the street and doing nothing? It's sickening, it really is. Nobody asks or even seems to care just how great he is. Nobody wants to know just how good he is with his little brother Jason or how he'll jump in John's face to defend me. Or how he does everything he can for me when I'm tired or not feeling well. Why don't those things matter?

Then there's Doug. Hell of a poet and really a great guy. He's been through Hell and back on more than one occasion. Then Mikel, who I can't begin to say enough about. He's my best friend and has done more for me than I can ever say. I can't say enough good about any of these terrific people. And to think that there are people out there who won't look past the colour of their skin just makes me mad. Of course, those people are the ones missing out, but it doesn't keep me from feeling this way. The world is full enough of hate as it is, why feel it for people who have done absolutely nothing to deserve it? That kind of ignorance is just beyond me. So many stories I've heard from so many minorities and it still surprises me sometimes. When can the world get past these things?

I'd say the human race sucks, but you know what? That generalization just doesn't cut it. I know some of the best people in the world. I guess that saying about one bad apple really does tend to run true, doesn't it? I'm just glad that my overall experiences have been so good. I wish everyone could be so lucky.

Comments

[triplee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it really is an issue that's gone from the obvious to the subtle these days. Admittedly, there are some places where it's still pretty blatant, but for the most part, it's one of those things that gets done quietly, and on both sides of the fence[1].

Hell, to be honest, racism can even happen when people try to be positive about it. How often do we run into the whole "Orientalism" issue, where people seem to think Asians are better somehow for, well, being Asian. No, they're just people like everyone else, folks. Saying anything else is just as bad as setting them apart negatively.

Anyway, while there are days I lose most of my faith in humanity[2], we can't all be horrible. I know too many good people. That said, we still have a very long way to come. I have no clue why people still talk, think, and act like that, despite several years of worldwide communication and history to show we're really all pretty similar. But, well, we do, and the only thing we can do is combat it one step at a time.

~EEE~

[1] When I was dating a mulatto girl, and myself being white, got a lot of crap for it. The irony here is that, well, the crap came not from white people (although I'm sure if my redneck relatives in the Midwest knew, they'd have said something), but from black guys. Yep, they seemed to have this idea that a girl like her should be with someone who has darker skin. Seriously, it blew my mind.

[2] Hearing about child porn on a housemate's computer was definitely one of them.

[aerdran.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I sure know about the racism thing being reversed. When I was working to adopt my two boys, their mother decided to make a reappearance. After having abandoned them at the ages of 11 and 13 after years of emotional abuse and some physical as well as subjecting them to her drug use, she decided to come back into the picture. She'd apparently "straightened out" and gotten engaged to some guy and wanted her kids back. Her reason to the judge for letting her have them instead of me? I'm white. Nevermind that the younger one was really stressed and quite scared about the thought of going back to her. She threw that line in that black kids should be raised by black parents. Such bullshit. Luckily, the judge, the black judge saw past all of that and quickly discounted her claims. It didn't help her case that everyone in her past told of her drug use and abuse. My brother hunted these people down as soon as he heard she was going to jump in, and I really appreciate his efforts. I now have my kids and she doesn't get so much as visitation.

I guess I'll never understand it all. It seems such a damn waste. I'm glad that the good people I know far outnumber the bad, and I think in the end that good really does outweigh the bad. And you can find good in the most unexpected places sometimes.