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I once read an article that young children did not understand the difference between ‘white’ and ‘black’ until they were told that they belonged to different races. Whether or not this is true, it brings me to my main point.

We are not ‘black’, ‘white’, ‘indian’, or anything else. We are humans, all of us. Skin color is just that, the color of our skins. Organizations like these only separate us from each other, instead of bringing us together.

We should stop classifying people based upon what they look like entirely. We don’t have the ‘Origination of people with middle toes longer than their big toes’ so why do we have ‘Black Entertainment Television’.

True racism still exists, I am not disputing that. But imagine for a second that we don’t teach our children about race. Every child being taught that there are no ‘races’, just people who look different. The only way to eliminate racism is to get rid of the concept of race itself. These groups hurt the battle against racism by only deepening the gorge between the artificial lines of ‘race’.

you got it man….we can only do our part, and, like I said, it can be taken to the extreme on both sides….so, it’s not one sided at all. As long as we strive to do our part as you said, then that’s all we can really do. I like that you are even wiling to touch on something like this…shows your personality and I’m very glad we have crossed paths

JK Swopess last blog post..IMwithJoe this week 6-29-08

You speak from the heart, Joe, and I appreciate that. Clearly, racism does exist today. I simply wish that we were at a point to where we didn’t have to know how to deal with it because, ideally, we shouldn’t have to because it wouldn’t exist. But until that day occurs, we just have to keep leading by example.

I understand your questioning, and I do think that some can take it too far. But you have to understand, that for so long, everything has catered to the mainstream, white america. Like it or not, there are still many things that are built specifically for that demographic even though it’s not stated in the name.

I don’t think everything needs to have a minority organizations, but you have to realize that very often minorities are still denied acceptance into many organizations, still based on their ethnicity or skin color, religious preference, economic background and other things.

For example, BET, when it was first created, was needed, it was the only channel that showed the other side of black america. Now, it’s nothing more than a common day menstral show, which feeds into and creates even more stereotypes of african americans. Yeah, I am NOT a fan of BET, it’s nothing like it used to be years ago.

Sometimes people can take it too far, but a lot of it stems from individual experiences and not being treated equally. I know some like to think that still doesn’t happen, but trust me, it does. You just have to know how to deal with it.

These types of things also provide a way for people to group together around something that they all share in common. Now, if an Asian doctor wouldn’t belong to anything but an Asian Doctors of America type of thing that’s different.

Or if an African American only participated in groups that were specifically for African Americans, then that tends to present a problem. However, and I am speaking from experience….sometimes minorities or those with different beliefs, are simply not welcomed into the more “mainstream” groups, which, cater more towards middle to upper class white america.

I could go on and on, but like I said, I do see your points, and have had many discussions with people about things like this, racism can go both ways, but I don’t see anything wrong with grouping together with people who share the same religion, race, ethnicity or whatever, as long as you’re not segregating yourself from everyone else.

JK Swopess last blog post..IMwithJoe this week 6-29-08

Btw, thanks for commenting and welcome to MeAndMyDrum.

I ‘m not saying oh poor me please give better than average treatment because of my skin colour.
The discussion was you wanted the debate of why racial groups had support groups and that you thought hey,… maybe it’s horrible to have a support group with definitive labels.

If you are a recent immigrant who is now offically an american but have not made enough friends or comfortable with assimilating, you find out if there is a group or start a support group.

This is where the AA group comment came in, (not as needing just a medical issue)
eg: Let’s say I’m a Spanish person who would like to meet people in a group who had similar interests in jazz music but could not speak English fluently. I would not expect somebody to join this group who likes hip hop but speaks only Farsi. ( it could happen though)

I’m just saying to be more Empathic Listener.
Rather than painting everybody with the same brush and saying well I’m not this type of person so therefore I think Everybody has to be like me.

We are global world with different views and histories. Not everybody has the same experience or have the same value system.

But it would be nice to meet people with similar interests