Simple poll on attitudes and age.

[blondeatlast]

Are you old enough to remember at least some of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement? I won't be any more specific than that--"old enough" is by self-definition.

I think anyone who witnessed, either in person or on TV, would be unable to forget it; I can't.

"Coloreds Only?"

I'm barely old enough (mid forties) but oh, yes, I do remember all too well.

Note: in the poll, "we" refers to the citizens of the USA.

[leftofthedial]

1. I'm old enough to have been "aware" during the Civil Rights movement

in the 60's. I believe we have come a L-O-N-G way in the area of race and that we still have a long way to go. But I see amazing signs of hope in my kids' generation, coming of age now.

[blondeatlast]

4. One thing I notice with my 9 year old son (who is mixed race, fwiw)

is that he's entirely comfortable around children of other races.

I think immersion is largely responsible for that. He's constantly surrounded by them in day care, school, sports, etc.

I wasn't by any means (suburban kid) and I remember the first time I saw an African-American in real life. It was a bit of a shock, they didn't look like they did on our black and white 13 inch Zenith.

[porphyrian]

2. My Caveat

I'm not old enough, and I think racism is a major problem. However, I feel the need to add to that.

I believe much of the racism in America is institutionalized, and is often propagated without people even realizing it.

I think classism is at least as much of a problem.

Especially in the South, I believe racism and classism are inextricably intertwined.

[blondeatlast]

5. I absolutely agree--classism is a problem and it exacerbates the

race problem; pitting poor against poor for opportunities to succeed.

It's subtle and possibly even done unconsciously, but it is definitely there.

[leftofthedial]

8. economic classism is far worse of a problem

I don't think we can survive the current regressive trend back toward feudalism.

[porphyrian]

9. It won't be an end, it will be a transition.

We've just got to let it creep into enough peoples' lives, and I'm thinking that won't take another year.

[babylonsister]

3. Racism: it's not just about black people anymore. eom

[bee]

13. youre right. And maybe if more people fessed up to that fact,

we could *do* something about it. At this point, all races must shoulder the blame for racism. period.

[blondeatlast]

6. FWIW, this poll was inspired by the Condoleeza Rice

test question threads.

I found the question (if true, I'm a bit skeptical) appalling, myself.

[0007]

7. Just look at the population of the prisons of American and

know our justice system is enough to office the most ignorant of what's happening.

[TahitiNut]

10. I'm quite 'old enough' and see it neither as "backslide" or "minor."

It's serious and toxic, infecting even DU in closing minds and ears to honest, compassionate, and objective discussion in favor of finger-pointing and blame-mongering. Racism is the most effective Weapon of Mass Destruction employed by the 'ownership class' in creating an ever-widening chasm between the 1% 'haves' and the 99% 'have-nots.'

[Buck Laser]

11. I was there...

insofar as a white elderly male can be. I worked in the civil rights movement in various insignificant ways--I worked the precincts in Dallas for JFK in 1960. I helped in a campaign in Arkansas to pass a model voter registration act after the poll tax was thrown out. As a minor bureaucrat in the War On Poverty, I had to be sure that Community Action Programs complied with Equal Employment Opportunity laws (aka Affirmative Action).

We have come a long way, but we have a long way yet to go. It distresses me to see people actually trying to reverse civil rights laws under the premise that "everybody's already got their rights." It distresses me to realize that I haven't actually been able to leave my youthful racist attitudes behind.

[blondeatlast]

12. Never think of your contributions as insignificant.

I was little more than a toddler at the time, but those marches and JFK had a profound impact to me.

Thank you for your efforts--and welcome to DU! :toast: