IN THE NEWS: Poll Suggests Blacks Get Hit With Racism From All Sides!
A new national poll of over 1,100 African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians shows that almost half of the Hispanics and Asians said they are “generally afraid of Blacks because they [Black people] are responsible for most of the crime.” Forty-four percent of Hispanics and 47% of Asians agreed with that statement!
That’s not really shocking. We know that Blacks have historically been played as the villains and criminals of American society. This includes historic stereotyping through a variety of media formats, as well as through word-of-mouth stereotyping and racism that is passed on through many American families—including recent immigrant families. It is commonplace for Blacks to be portrayed as criminals. We’ve even seen Black criminals used in presidential campaigns (Willie Horton anyone?).
With this poll we see proof (through admission) that historic racism against Blacks has crossed over to other minority groups. What’s troubling is that we're talking about groups of people who made their way to America after Africans were brought here and enslaved on plantations. So, these new-jack Americans--who’ve ridden the coattails of Blacks in getting all sorts of human and civil rights—have positioned themselves in a way that would keep Blacks as the low-man on the minority totem poll. And, seemingly, have convinced themselves of some sort of superiority over Blacks. The belief that Blacks commit most crime pretty much says it all!
Here’s something else that wasn’t shocking about the study…all three ethnic groups said they “trusted Whites more than each other.” This response shows how all three groups are really trying to put their best assimilation foot forward by aligning themselves with Whites.
With Blacks, it’s the least shocking. Breaking in slaves/“making slaves” through a process called “seasoning” and the history of slavery, as a whole, provide the background that would make many Blacks say they trust Whites more than each other. The idea that many Blacks are militant is baseless. The slave mentality has been passed on for many generations. The concept that Whites are superior and that Blacks are inferior and can’t be trusted has been passed down through many African-American families. That is the ultimate point of seasoning—the slaves will unwittingly assist in their own enslavement by perpetuating what they’ve been taught to believe about themselves, their “masters,” and their role as slaves in society. So, there’s no surprise there.
Furthermore, it makes perfect sense for other minorities (struggling for acceptance and success in American society) to identify with, aspire to be like, and to trust those who are perceived as the power-holders and decision-makers within their society--Whites. Members of some non-Black minority groups think they should take on what they see as White perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs. This sometimes includes taking on White racist attitudes towards Blacks. Think about it...what group of people would choose to align themselves with those they perceive to be the dregs of American society, instead of those who hold the power?
All of this background noise of stereotyping influences people and often dictates how they perceive other groups and how they will treat members of other groups. This is important to keep in mind as we discuss workplace racism, as well as racism in other venues. Whites are not the only workers or supervisors, who may engage in discriminatory actions against Blacks in the workplace. Let’s be fair. Workplace racism perpetuated against Blacks can just as easily be committed by a Hispanic/Latino, a South Asian, etc.
The Black Factor may often call out Whites, but that’s just to save some typing. Any Black worker can tell you what this poll suggests, racism against Blacks comes from all sides!
The poll was sponsored by New America Media (NAM), which is an association of ethnic-media organizations. The Executive Director of NAM, Sandy Close, said that “The best way to move forward is by identifying the problems and initiating a dialogue that can bring ethnic groups closer in their fight for equality and against discrimination.”
Source: NY Post, Ethnic Strains Reign, by Hasani Gittens, www.nypost.com
That’s not really shocking. We know that Blacks have historically been played as the villains and criminals of American society. This includes historic stereotyping through a variety of media formats, as well as through word-of-mouth stereotyping and racism that is passed on through many American families—including recent immigrant families. It is commonplace for Blacks to be portrayed as criminals. We’ve even seen Black criminals used in presidential campaigns (Willie Horton anyone?).
With this poll we see proof (through admission) that historic racism against Blacks has crossed over to other minority groups. What’s troubling is that we're talking about groups of people who made their way to America after Africans were brought here and enslaved on plantations. So, these new-jack Americans--who’ve ridden the coattails of Blacks in getting all sorts of human and civil rights—have positioned themselves in a way that would keep Blacks as the low-man on the minority totem poll. And, seemingly, have convinced themselves of some sort of superiority over Blacks. The belief that Blacks commit most crime pretty much says it all!
Here’s something else that wasn’t shocking about the study…all three ethnic groups said they “trusted Whites more than each other.” This response shows how all three groups are really trying to put their best assimilation foot forward by aligning themselves with Whites.
With Blacks, it’s the least shocking. Breaking in slaves/“making slaves” through a process called “seasoning” and the history of slavery, as a whole, provide the background that would make many Blacks say they trust Whites more than each other. The idea that many Blacks are militant is baseless. The slave mentality has been passed on for many generations. The concept that Whites are superior and that Blacks are inferior and can’t be trusted has been passed down through many African-American families. That is the ultimate point of seasoning—the slaves will unwittingly assist in their own enslavement by perpetuating what they’ve been taught to believe about themselves, their “masters,” and their role as slaves in society. So, there’s no surprise there.
Furthermore, it makes perfect sense for other minorities (struggling for acceptance and success in American society) to identify with, aspire to be like, and to trust those who are perceived as the power-holders and decision-makers within their society--Whites. Members of some non-Black minority groups think they should take on what they see as White perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs. This sometimes includes taking on White racist attitudes towards Blacks. Think about it...what group of people would choose to align themselves with those they perceive to be the dregs of American society, instead of those who hold the power?
All of this background noise of stereotyping influences people and often dictates how they perceive other groups and how they will treat members of other groups. This is important to keep in mind as we discuss workplace racism, as well as racism in other venues. Whites are not the only workers or supervisors, who may engage in discriminatory actions against Blacks in the workplace. Let’s be fair. Workplace racism perpetuated against Blacks can just as easily be committed by a Hispanic/Latino, a South Asian, etc.
The Black Factor may often call out Whites, but that’s just to save some typing. Any Black worker can tell you what this poll suggests, racism against Blacks comes from all sides!
The poll was sponsored by New America Media (NAM), which is an association of ethnic-media organizations. The Executive Director of NAM, Sandy Close, said that “The best way to move forward is by identifying the problems and initiating a dialogue that can bring ethnic groups closer in their fight for equality and against discrimination.”
Source: NY Post, Ethnic Strains Reign, by Hasani Gittens, www.nypost.com
Labels: in the news
posted by S. Mary Wills at 11:06 AM
3 Comments:
These people (Hispanic, Asian) want to align themselves with whites who reject them. Have they no self respect?
This is but a, mere, affirmation of what many of us, already, knew. In ethnographic social proximity studies, where people are asked to indicate their preferences for other groups (ie. if you kid couldn't marry a person of your race, which race would you most/least want them to marry; if a new neighbour moved in who could not be of your race, which race would you most/least like to have move in, etc.). Every study of this kind, that I have seen, all list Black N.Americans as the least preferred group, IN EVERY AREA. The consistency of findings boggles the mind. Every racial and ethnic group put us at the bottom. This is, precisely, why "diversity" efforts do little to assist us. Tolerance, awareness, education and the celebration of diversity miss the mark, when we are still battling racism and white privilege. Other groups have piggy-backed on our efforts and have pushed us further to the back of the bus. We can "celebrate" when racism has been expunged, but for now, there is still too much work to be done dealing with racism. Many immigrants, who come to N.America, come from countries that don't have EEOC's, Human Rts Commissions or sensitivity training. Many of these countries are stuck in 19th century thinking about Blacks. As a world-traveler, I have been struck by how often people in other countries saw me as less than human...a monkey! Many of these people want to be white - whether its Asians dying their hair blond and have plastic surgery to make their eyes less almond-shaped and less round, to South Americans, who clearly look Hispanic calling the dark-skinned South Americans Black, but themselves white. Unfortunately, for many groups, the old adage still holds true: "White is right, but if you're Black, get back!"
BlueCrush:
Good post, I am first Genderation Nigerian American. Grew up in the white burbs.
I noticted this condensention when I went to the university. I was taken aback at the minorities I could see scrambling for white acceptance adn at the same time looking down on Blacks. I am annoyed and want to laugh at the same time.
It is sad the this prevailing trend that gives these masses such low esteem in their race.
What makes me laugh is their condensention for blacks who even gave them the opprotunity to have rights in America.
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