Nice to know that racism is still alive and well.

[RedWolf]

It's nice to know that the ugly face of rascism is still alive and well in the southern United States.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/05/02/separate.proms.ap/index.html

This is the high school in which last year the school held it's first desegregated prom ever in it's history. This year the junior class voted and decided to hold a "white only" prom. It's nice to see people excercising their democratic rights in "the land of the free" these days I guess. Althugh I wonder if blacks got to vote in the decision? I suspect that the answer is no however since 232 of the school's 439 students are black.

They interviewed various students on CNN and this dumb looking football player type guy when asked if he thought the prom was racist replied:

"There are going to be black people CATERING the prom so I do't see how someone could say this prom is rascist."



He probably doesn't even have a clue what this implies - that blacks aren't good enough to socialize with but having them SERVE you is quite alright since they are after all below you.

(To be fair there IS a mixed prom as well in which many white students they plan to attend as well - however I don't think this makes a segregated event any more acceptable i the year 2003)

 

[CurtSibling]

Racism has never died.

It takes different forms and hides behind a myriad excuses and political disguises,
but descrimination is very much around today.

 

[RedWolf]

Originally posted by CurtSibling
Racism has never died.

It takes different forms and hides behind a myriad excuses and political disguises,
but descrimination is very much around today.

Yes but usually is IS hidden as you say.

Would this type of event be tolerated anywhere in YOUR country? I know it wouldn't be acceptable in mine.

 

[Thadlerian]

Not in mine at the moment... but things may change. Soon. So-called 'Progress Party' is on the rise. Their ideology is just 'get out the Pakistanis, and everything will be OK.'

Racism appear to have become pretty much accepted, not least in European countries like Denmark, and Italy.

It's extremely sad that history is so easily forgot. It's only 70 years since Hitler began bossing people around. He's long dead now, and that sort of legalizes his ideologies.

 

[tonberry]

Sad... those people should be trow out of the school. They're not ready to live in society.

 

[Switch625]

Racism is nothing more than stupidity by another name. And, alas, there will always be a bumper crop of stupid people in the world.

 

[RedWolf]

Originally posted by Switch625
Racism is nothing more than stupidity by another name. And, alas, there will always be a bumper crop of stupid people in the world.

"Bumber Crop". I like that one.


The problem of course arises when the "bumper crop" becomes the majority - as in this case where white students VOTED and racism/stupidy won.

 

[Perfection]

Lawsuit here we come!

 

[RedWolf]

Originally posted by Perfection
Lawsuit here we come!

I think this is part of the reason why the school disavows all responsibilty for the proms. They are completely run/planned by students.

 

[Thadlerian]

Originally posted by Switch625
Racism is nothing more than stupidity by another name. And, alas, there will always be a bumper crop of stupid people in the world.

I wish it was that easy... it's not.

Racism is a quite natural fear of what's different and unfamiliar. We all have it in us, I think it's scientifically proven that racism is genetical.

We would have to be very perfect humans if we were able to treat all different races completely equally our minds.

Luckily, most of us are able to dismiss this fear as groudless and unfounded. Otherwise, Earth would have been an even worse place to live for those who are not white.

 

[EdwardTking]

Maybe those whites are scared and think they need a separate prom to practice dancing before they can prom wth the blacks.

 

[Greadius]

Woohoo! Only a few hours away. Wonder if I can attend! Yeeeehaw.

This is one of those circumstances of curiosity news story. Now, it takes a certain perspective to say "this is getting publicity because the majority of Americans are surprised and kind of offended this thing is going on"

It takes an entirely different perspective to say "White teenagers represent America, and they're racists so is America!"

Originally posted by RedWolf
The problem of course arises when the "bumper crop" becomes the majority - as in this case where white students VOTED and racism/stupidy won.

Which we have right there.

Here is the fact: teenagers are stupid. They do stupid things. Only because that stupid thing is THIS, doesn't speak to the greater value of society, ect.
Getting drunk on prime night is stupid too, but that doesn't mean everyone is an alcoholic or approves of it.

Keep some perspective, please.

 

[allhailIndia]

Although we can ignore the problem right now and say, it is just a bunch of stupid teenagers, how many stupid teenagers is it going to take before something is doen about it??

 

[Perfection]

Originally posted by RedWolf
I think this is part of the reason why the school disavows all responsibilty for the proms. They are completely run/planned by students.

If the staff put up signs then they could be allowing racism into the schools, that can result in a lawsuit

 

[allhailIndia]

It's sad that there is no active movement to ban racism in schools

 

[RedWolf]

Originally posted by Greadius

It takes an entirely different perspective to say "White teenagers represent America, and they're racists so is America!"

Which we have right there.

Here is the fact: teenagers are stupid. They do stupid things. Only because that stupid thing is THIS, doesn't speak to the greater value of society, ect.
Getting drunk on prime night is stupid too, but that doesn't mean everyone is an alcoholic or approves of it.

Keep some perspective, please.

I wasn't trying to sy that the majority of American society is made up of racists... When i said "majority" I was referring specifically to the majority of white teenagers in that school - and hence the vote.

That being said teenagers get their racist beliefs from somewhere - mainly parents and the society in which they live.
Teenagers do stupid things the world over yet the majority of teenagers in MY high school (when i was in high school) would never have voted for a "whites only prom".

The fact that this whole segregation concept is condoned and allowed speaks volumes about the society that THEY live in.

 

[Perfection]

At my school racist or sexist remarks are not tolerated by either teacher or student

 

[Greadius]

Originally posted by allhailIndia
Although we can ignore the problem right now and say, it is just a bunch of stupid teenagers, how many stupid teenagers is it going to take before something is doen about it??

See, its the other way around... something HAS been done about it for a while and this is seen as a throwback to a worse time. That is what makes it newsworthy.

Its not a growing problem, because in the same region 30 years ago there were no blacks at that school, and they sure as heck didn't get a prom where none of that mixin' was going on. The region has changed, and when old habits die hard they have a tendancy of manifesting in weird ways. Like confederate flag decals on pick-up trucks & a 'whites only' prom.

Originally posted by RedWolf
That being said teenagers get their racist beliefs from somewhere - mainly parents and the society in which they live.

Teenagers also rebel against their parents. How do you know this isn't the equivalent to a middle-class teenager buying a Che Guevera t-shirt?

Originally posted by RedWolf
Teenagers do stupid things the world over yet the majority of teenagers in MY high school (when i was in high school) would never have voted for a "whites only prom".

Well, to be fair, all proms in your school are whites only by default

I'm sure you'd have your own stupid things kids in your school would have voted for.

Originally posted by RedWolf
The fact that this whole segregation concept is condoned and allowed speaks volumes about the society that THEY live in.

Yeah, children should only be allowed to chart their own course if they do it in the right direction.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

It is their right to have a private party and choose who to associate with. If they do not want to socialize with people, then they should be able to socialize with who they want to; there is still the mixed event for those who want to go to that.
Quite frankly, though, if they all wear hats like the one's shown in the picture, I'd have them all clapped in irons and put away.

 

[Furry Spatula]

Yes it is racism. However i kind of have to agree with Simon. But i dunno. I agree with him in terms of it is a private party. However if that is the case there shouldn't be anything held at the school what so ever, the school isn't in any way a part of this "party" and thus it shouldn't hold it in the gym etc.

Now for the other part. Racism is always alive. Making rules against racism simply hides it and buries it under the surface for certain people. I grew up in a tolerant home and I have no problem with people of other races. I don't pay attention to the race of a person if i decide if they are a person I wish to see again or i want to forget i ever knew.

That said, If I was there i would not attend that white only party. But i can definatly see why people are upset. This is a clear sign of the idiocy of certain people. I am realy glad that this doesn't happen everywhere. However, just remember that racism isn't a white only thing. The Japanese were very racist durring the second WW. But still Racism will always be alive and well around the entire world regardless of race. Sad but true.