Looking Beyond Skin Color
By Felicia (Fee) Benamon (03/27/06)
In today's society, in the year 2006, the issue of race is still a sensitive subject at times. Either we are dividing each other through political correctness (African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, etc.), or some of us still have hang-ups over races mingling together, or we use race for political gain and to push controversy. Aren't we all supposed to be American?!
I don't agree with the ethnicity-hyphen-American connotation we attach to each other. We will never be united if we separate each other into groups. I am fully American. When we split people into categories, like African-American, it is another form of racism. It is simply fine with me if I were called a black lady. When we have the African-Americans over here, and the Asian-Americans over there, it doesn't make any sense. It should be simply said, he/she is an AMERICAN, first and foremost. I believe that is how we are going to heal our nation, when we recognize that we are all one.
I believe racism is starting to rear its ugly head again, not as severe as in the past, but it's coming back in another form. We are better off as a nation than we were in the turbulent 1960's, but there are still pockets of racism that manages to surface. In the Reagan era, to me, there was a feeling of family. Americans were more united. We were more patriotic. One could feel it. The "ethnic-american" phrase didn't come about until the 1990's, and it separated Americans into groups. At an attempt to "not offend," and to label groups of people living in America, that phrase was born. To me, it did no good. Our mentality is warped now.
Regardless of one's ethnic background, I will still treat that person as if they are my brother or sister. That is what is so unique about America. I am free to welcome anyone from anywhere in the world with love, so long as they do not harbor ill will towards me.
The words of Former Congressman, J.C. Watts still echo in my ear from the recent Republican Conference in Memphis:
"Diversity of color is a good thing. Don't be afraid of it. If there is anyone who had a say in how they were born, speak to me afterwards."
"God is the artist of a person's skin color. God likes diversity of color," said Mr. Watts.
I am also reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character..."
Shouldn't we, as a nation, judge people on their character instead of immediately by skin color? It worries me because there is racism on both sides. Lately it seems that race has been brought up in the political arena too much...used as a rant against the majority race in America. Case in point, I read an article by Michelle Malkin recently about a young girl, Autum Ashante', who spews hate with no remorse or second thought. This young girl blames "white nationalism" for her ills. I found Autum Ashante's rant disturbing:
White Nationalism Put U In Bondage
White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirate and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
Drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel, tricks and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look in our streets
The mis-education of she and Hegro -- leaves you on your knee2grow
Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse
They took the gold, the wisdom and all of the storytellers
They took the black women, with the black man weak
Made to watch as they changed the paradigm
Of our village
They killed the blind, they killed the lazy, they went
So far as to kill the unborn baby...
(see article: "I pledge allegiance to my black people" below)
Ugh, I couldn't bring myself to put all of her rant in this article, it's just simply disgusting! Ashante also mentions a "pledge of allegiance" to her black people. Why is this young girl so angry? Excuse me? Pledge allegiance to my black people?! Are you not thankful for what America has been able to offer you? Why don't you pledge allegiance to the flag, like the rest of us?! Why would someone be so discontent and angry with white society?! What has happened to America that there are those who harbor such bitterness for our nation?! No country is squeaky clean when one looks at its history, at its inception. Many hardships were endured, and many mistakes were made to make America the country it is now. I am grateful for it. We are a very blessed nation, America is strong and compassionate.
I will explain part of the problem why some young people are bitter. Recently, angry educators have taken it upon themselves to indoctrinate our young people, spreading hatred for our country that's given them so much, and against people of a different race than they...mainly whites.
It shocks me that Universities allow this hate-filled speech!:
From Worldnetdaily:
A visiting professor at North Carolina State University says the solution to the problems faced by many blacks is the extermination of "white people off the face of the planet."
Kamau Kambon, who taught Africana Studies at the Raleigh school last spring, told a panel at Howard University Law School Oct. 14 this action must be taken "because white people want to kill us," the Carolina Journal reported.
The article goes on to say that the class in which Kambon teaches..." Africana Studies 241, is described by the university as, 'Second in a two semester sequence in the interdisciplinary study of sub-Saharan Africa, its arts, culture, and people, and the African-American experience.' "
This "educator" cunningly wrapped anti-Americanism and racism in a class that is supposed to be geared toward the study of Africa and its culture. It's pure negative, evil propaganda!! Under the blanket of an African studies class, he's getting away with pushing this hatred for others! It disgusts me, and it should outrage anyone reading this.
Tell me how this is any different than terrorism. Educators, or anyone who speaks this way should be deported! They shouldn't have the right to influence young people in such a disgusting way! People like Kambon are poisoning our society!
Last week, I watched a report on ABC's NIGHTLINE on the growing popularity of TV's hit medical drama Grey's Anatomy. The show focused on race dynamics, on the interracial relationships represented in the show, and how well the actors got along with each other regardless of their different backgrounds. The actors were interviewed and the impression was given that they do not look at someone based on race. That is in part of what makes the show so interesting...not to mention the draw of female audiences to lead hunk Patrick Dempsey.
I say, if Grey's Anatomy is a contributing factor in helping people understand that the race of a person shouldn't matter, that we are to look beyond that, then I am certainly grateful for this show. Because that is how we are to view each other in the real world.
The world is filled with people from all backgrounds, and it's a normal thing. When racism ceases to be an issue, it would be because people stop talking about it, and start looking at each other as equals, human beings.
As we move forward as a society, we should not repeat mistakes from the past, or harbor negative feelings towards another person because of their race, because of what happened years ago. Neither should we hold negative feelings towards a certain group of people because of a perceived notion that they are "keeping a minority group from success" in some way. It's foolishness. Your life is what you make of it, and putting blame on others will not solve a thing.
America is not perfect, but if we all work together in love, America can become that "shining light on a hill" again. That is in part, what true strength, peace, and happiness, is about.
Related Reading:
"I pledge allegiance to my black people" by Michelle Malkin:
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/michellemalkin/2006/03/15/189894.html
Professor: Exterminate white people:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46973
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