When do you feel was the high point of race relations?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

I claim ignorance of this one. I just don't know enough about the subject to make a guess. But the post about the 1980s bringing the notion of "just discrimination" back made me think about it.

[GOPFighter]

1. This is a tough question

In my own little world, my office and my neighborhood in Silver Spring, MD, (suburb of Washington) race relations have never been better. My office is very diverse racially and it is a very close knit band of brothers and sisters. Everyone respects each other and we all pull our weight, and I would trust my life to any one of my co-workers. My neighborhood, too, is very diverse. Not long ago we had four mixed-race(African-American/white) couple in one block! The schools, the neighborhoods, the churches, businesses and offices here are very diverse and I see or hear almost no note or mention of a person's race or heritage.

On the other hand, I think racism and bigotry are more apparent and acceptable today than they were in the 1970s. With the Internet and bigoted talk show hosts these days, bigots have been emboldened. In the 70s they had to keep it to themselves or be labeled a redneck, but the bigotry was there all the same. Overall, though, I think race relations among the young and in bigger cities is getting better every year.

[Brewman_Jax]

2. Hasn't happened...yet

I think that's WAY too early to even consider. Black people didn't get full civil (legal) rights 'til the late 1960's, and aren't even close to being considered socially equal. Don't forget that the racial caste system is very well entrenched in American society and that's not going to change anytime soon.

But all of that is not to say that there hasn't been improvement. Optimism is good! :thumbsup:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

3. Of course I completely agree...

However I don't mean the point where things were perfect, or even acceptable. I mean, the best point of what has happened. I think people are less tolerant now than they were say...30 years ago. That is not to say that things were at an acceptable state 30 years ago, but I believe people were more aware of the inequalities that existed. But again, this is only my gut feeling. I don't know enough about the subject to answer definitively.

[mark414]

4. i think it's because we have short memories

even some of the people old enough to remember it have forgotten things like images of black folks getting set on with dogs and fire hoses, all the riots, etc. etc. and think that because "they got their civil rights" that things just naturally evened out. thankfully i have hope for my generation (i'm 20) as i dont see as much ignorance in my peers as i see in other generations; and i obviously experience a lot more peers than anyone else. i think even little things like white kids embracing hip hop show more tolerance and willingness to cross cultural lines among youth today - that is a good sign. but i also think that ray-gun was the guy that made it ok to be a bigot in public. JESSE JACKSON ran for PRESIDENT in the 80's; who's the most prominent black politician now, condoleezza rice? the fuck?

hopefully once my generation starts filling the ranks of government in 20 or 30 years we'll take a sharp turn in the right direction

[SemiCharmedQuark]

5. I'm 21. I guess I'm just less optimistic.

I see so much snobbery...and worse people take pride in it. I think you're right on the money with the short memories. It's kind of like an ostrich philosophy. People haven't SEEN discrimination (or they don't realize or acknowledge that they have because it hasn't been blatent like in the 60s for example) therefore it must not exist.

[mark414]

6. i'm usually a bit cynical

but with this issue in particular i try to be as optimistic as possible because i think we're never going to get anywhere if we're not more optimistic about it; i guess i just try harder to embrace every little bit of progress.

off subject...you're 21? haven't i seen you mention that you're married? yikes i'm only a year younger than you and i have yet to hold a steady girlfriend let alone even THINK about marriage haha...oh well, congrats

[Brewman_Jax]

7. You're probably asking the wrong question

because you're using a flawed premise. The concept of race is based on a superior-subordinate relationship. There can't be an equal relationship between unequal parties.

A more appropriate question might be, Have race relations improved over 30 years in this category (insert catagory here)?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. But I believe they have improved briefly and then the improvement vanished

I guess I'm asking...when did they show the most improvement in whatever category...or when did they start to decline again, if they have.

[dolo amber]

9. I asked a similar question

here a couple of months ago and got some interesting answers. :hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=258x170

[kwassa]

10. I think the high point of race relations was ....

when I married my wife.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.) %^)