Madeline
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I grew up in the 60's and 70's. My parents are the WWII generation. Pearl Harbor happened when they were youths and it affected them for their whole life. They hate Japs but would never be unkind to them if they met them. They use the term ****** (infrequently but still . . .) only in the house or amongst themselves but would never be unkind to a black person. They can't describe a Jewish lawyer without saying 'Jew lawyer' but would never be unkind to a Jewish person. They definitely stereoptype people. Yeah, to me they are racists . . . and they are also some of the kindest people I've ever known. My dad used to call my mom a St. Bernard dog (no not cause she looks like one lol) because she was always helping people however she could. My aunts (my mother's sisters) are the same way when it comes to race . . .my one aunt (and her late husband) really worse because they weren't as discreet about their racial slurs. I'll give you three guesses how they feel about Obama and being a leftist Dem isn't one of the choices.
When my oldest was about two my parents were over one time and we were all watching Seasame Street. Julie only ever liked the parts where real kids were on, the rest was boring to her. So they had a snip on with kids singing and playing with a dog or something. I'm enthralled to be watching Julie's big blue eyes pop wide open as she watches the kids on the screen. While my parents were also enjoying this their first comment was 'Oh look a politically correct show. You have a black kid, a Jew, an Indian and a white kid'. Damn it, why'd they have to go and ruin it for me? The last thing I ever would have done is notice the 'mix' of kids.
I don't know what makes people racist or think that one race is better or worse than another race. I don't pay much attention to skin color I pay attention to behavior and attitude. If someone treats me with disrespect, gives me attitude, or treats me like an asshole then they will get the same from me, regardless of their race. If they treat me as a human beings should treat each other they will get treated likewise from me.
I hear you Zoom-boing. My folks were not around long -- I lost them when I was 5 -- but my Dad was a WW II vet as well. I don't remember ever seeing anyone who wasn't "just like me" until I was around 8 and the orphanage admitted an Italian girl. Hardly anyone recalls this, but back in the day, Irish vs. Italian was a Very Big Deal. But hey, it was tolerated...because at least everyone was Catholic. Ugh. Even then, this made me ill.
My folks were unusual people. They spent a year in Hawaii back in 1950 or so, teaching Hawaiian kids and living in grass huts. Literally. I have the photos, and I treasure them. Diamond Head beach, without a building in sight. I remember them politicking for Adali Stephenson like it was our second job. I just assumed everyone's folks did this. The famly rumor is they were members of the American Communist Party, but circa 1947-1958, that seems unlikely. Most likely they were sympathizers though.
After they were gone and my surroundings were, to put it mildly, less than desirable race was not important to me at all. Not much was, apart from getting older, getting out, getting away. I used to watch Dr, King on tv and I'd think, he looks like my Dad. (They were both big guys built like heavyweight boxers.) He stands up for what's right. Maybe he'll find out about me and help me. When he died, a part of the light in this world went out for me too.
I can't say race was an issue in raising my kid. We had a rather priviledged life, and most folks with some education and wealth did not say unseemly things in front of kids by the 1980's. She knew my friends of other races, and was close with some of them, but she never had playmates who were not white. There just weren't any such kids in her neighborhood or school. I do sort of regret that, but I am not sure what I could have done about it. She has pretty much the same everyone-is-human-but-some-are-more-likable attitude that you do. I do too. I don't cultivate anyone as a friend for their race, and I don't avoid anyone for that reason either.
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