Let's Pretend That Racism No Longer Exists....

C'mon, let's do that....let's just pretend that racism no longer exists. Isn't that what society is doing right now?

We have a black President, so there's no way we can still complain about racism.

Are you kidding me? Are we on the same planet?

Incidents such as the Santa Monica noose incident demonstrate clearly that racism is still very prevalent in society today. Now, we just want to cover it up and pretend that people don't have hatred in their hearts for others. Is this not worse than the actual offense itself?

I seem to experience racism on a fairly regular basis. It is subtle and comes from plain ignorance, but it is clear that we are not THAT  far from the shackles of slavery.

In talking to other white professionals, I often get, "Oh, I don't even think of you as black."
Do these people think this is a compliment to me? No......the heck it isn't, because I AM black and don't want it any other way. I don't want them to pretend I am any thing else, just so that they can feel comfortable. Just because I don't fit their negative stereotypes of blacks, this does not make me less black!

When I first arrived in the USA, I moved to New York City. Fresh from the U.K, my accent was very thick. I was a teacher by trade and so I called many, many schools in Manhattan to enquire about teaching positions. There was one particularly elite school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that showed a great deal of interest in me. I was given a lengthy phone interview and then called in for an "in-person" interview. Upon arriving at the school, the receptionist went to get the person who would be interviewing me. She came down the stairs and looked at me with total disdain. "Are you sure, you are Angela Sandford?" she asked me.
Urrr....actually, no. My real name is Halle Berry but I'm just posing as Angela Sandford today! I didn't say that, but a similar thought crossed my mind.
She then proceeded to say, "Well, it's just that I didn't think you would look like that?"   WHAT?
She then proceeded to show me a classroom and then thanked me for coming. She didn't even bother to interview me. It was clear that she assumed I was white on the phone because I had an English accent.

The reality is how we as blacks are viewed by white society has changed very little. We are still viewed as "loud," "savages," "uncivilized" and worthy of nothing. If we don't fit this mold it makes others uncomfortable. It even makes our fellow blacks uncomfortable as they are quick to tell us that we have "sold-out."

The incident that arose in Santa Monica shows that there are people out there today who would still like to have blacks enslaved, whipped and hung from trees. This may not be the way of the world but this desire has clearly not died in some poeple's hearts.

There is NO SUCH thing as post-racial America! There is just a cover-up of racism that many want to pretend just isn't there.......BUT IT IS!