I watched the video. I don't understand what the big deal is about Pres. Obama discussing racism against Blacks. I grew up in the 1970's in Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the race riots. Most of my friends were either Jewish or Black (I'm White Protestant) and I witnessed racism all the time. When the riots would flare up, it was dangerous for me to be seen just walking down the street with my friends. I was called all kinds of derogatory names because I associated with my Black friends.
Presently I have many Black friends and I still see the humiliating way some White people treat them. I am embarrassed when I witness White folks either placating or demeaning Blacks. I'm humiliated because I don't want to be lumped in with racists. I don't want people of other races to assume I think I have White privilege. My guts churn now just thinking about that.
Seriously, I honest to goodness don't even recognize skin color until someone makes an issue of it. Neither do my children. All through school when filling out forms asking for race, my daughter wrote: Human.
I'm not denying that some Black folks are racist against White folks. Can you blame them? Many times they need to take a defensive stance as there's still blatant hate against them that was there during the race riots of the 70's. It's just that political correctness keeps it quietly under wraps.
When you are in the presence of a Black man or woman, do you go out of your way to avoid them? Does it take a conscious effort for you to treat that person courteously? Do you patronize him or her in an effort to prove you're not racist? Do you feel you have to watch your words more carefully around Black people?
I know there will always be racism against everyone. We all have our unique stereotyping of folks. But to lash out against Pres. Obama because he has an issue with racism against Blacks is just unfair. Politics aside, the man has a valid point. I can totally respect that.
