Filed under: 2006 Elections, AL, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, AL, Cities, Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Commentary, My Birmingham, people, prejudice, Race and Prejudice, racism, Social commentary, The Rambles
I haven’t written a true Ramble in a long time and I’m somewhat hesitant to post this one. Hearing about the latest book from Juan Williams, I felt compelled to add my voice to the discussion that is undoubtedly taking place.
Reading the latest in the District 54 debacle (courtesy of Birmingham Blues) and following several news stories throughout the city and region right now, I wonder if we will ever truly live in an area where race, religious belief or sexual orientation is not the only or major label that defines you. Race was not the first thing that came to mind when I first visited Birmingham, though it guided my exploration of the city, including trips to the Civil Rights Institute and Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Race did not enter my mind when I applied for my current job and decided to make the Magic City my home though I was told by many that it should have been. It has become increasingly obvious that race is viewed as the deciding factor in most things here in the nearly two years since my arrival in the Magic City.
I’ve been involved in several conversations where the issue will eventually lead to race. If we truly believe that we can be a New South city, our mindset has to change to one that has been getting adopted by those that we compare ourselves to. We need to stop acting like there is an invisible wall up that separates Over the Mountain from the rest of the city and even some Black and Latino neighborhoods from white neighborhoods (and each other). The glass wall has got to go as well that appears to set up along I-65 and I-20/59. People need to feel as comfortable in West End and Ensley as they are in Southside or Crestline Village. Efforts have been made to force diversity whenever possible, and that is great. I hope we don’t try to push diversity so much that it results in the opposite occurring; people becoming more and more fragmented.
There are many times where it is Blacks now looking down at other minorities even though there are still major issues in race relations between Blacks and whites. Black residents in this town are also quick to immediately try to shoot down any person that does not act like the majority. That being said, I’m not blind and stupid, not realizing that hatred still exists in ways that are unimaginable. I am still aware of things done that are definitely related to and based on race. These efforts need to be identified and actions taken to stop them as soon as possible.
I’ve written that communication is the key and that young people with their idealistic view of the world provide an excellent opportunity to lead our city through the 21st century. I believe that unless we change the fact that race does more to divide the city of Birmingham than anything else that, we will never move forward as a city or a metropolitan area. Recent events have made me wonder if we’re ready to move past that. It is still an “us versus them” mentality here. It does exist elsewhere, but it feels as though it’s become an art form in Birmingham, a city that is held up as having changed the world in this regard. Those that “act white” are ostracized though I’m not exactly sure that “acting black” doesn’t cause a similar unfair reaction. Those waiting for a leader to take up the banner and wave it, look in the mirror and realize that you must be willing to do so yourself.
I love most everything about this city, and I get up every morning with a goal of working to make it everything that it can be. Otherwise, I’d “take my ball and go home.” I want to know what it is going to take to get what I believe is the last barrier keeping us from truly moving forward.
Let me know what you think and maybe I’ll see you out tonight,
Cheers.
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I think you are absolutely right. I also beleive that discussing race,gender, religion, or sexual orientation in an open way has been severely limited by over-politicizing language to the point that no one really knows what is acceptable to say anymore. Therefore, any truly honest discussion is killed before anyone attempts to speak it. Thank you for trying to change that, Andre. I think we could all stand to do a little more.
Comment by Jennifer August 17, 2006 @ 8:03 amAs long as there is difference, there will be ignorance and prejudice. In my mind, the best hope is to make it less and less feasible for people to form ideas in ignorance. One tactic is to make the exceptions overshadow the “rules”, by encouraging people to act as individuals, unfettered by expectations that people assign to skin color. The more black opera tenors and white gospel wailers we have, the better. The more mexican lawyers and asian rappers and white bus riders we have, the better. The second tactic is to combat ignorance. Stop bringing people across the color divide just to gawk at how “different” people are over there – bring people together to accomplish things as a group. Let people learn about each other as individuals and celebrate individual differences along with cultural history. Culture and history should be a resource, not a prison.
Comment by Dystopos August 17, 2006 @ 8:40 amIts a tough battle, especially in the younger generations. It is human nature to boast pride in one’s race, gender, religion, and/or orientation. One problem is the instead of focusing on our positives, we focus on others negatives to make ourselves feel better. It even breaks down to communities within race, gender, religion, and orientation.
We have to figure away to promote pride in oneself without focusing on the negatives (perceived negatives) of others. Once that happens, then we can focusing on being more diverse within our community, then city, then country, and finally world.
Once the predjudices are broke within a person, we need to fight to keep others who won’t change from influencing. This may be all over the place, i had been interrupted a couple of times while writing it.
Comment by Adrian August 17, 2006 @ 9:54 am[…] Andre also took his gloves off in his first post this morning, a thing he does not do nearly often enough in my opinion (although I understand why he doesn’t). In the 60’s Black leaders in this city and state quickly brought about drastic changes for the civil rights of minorities for this entire country. It seems that ever since that victory, Black “leaders” have been shooting themselves in the foot. The district 54 “race” is just the latest in a long history of Birmingham area Black “leaders” and [politicians] attempting to bolster their race’s position in society, politics, power or whatever, but instead end up dividing the community and continuing the long running stagnation of ideas and action in our region. […]
Pingback by EchoBooming in Birmingham » D-54 Round 3 August 17, 2006 @ 9:59 am[…] (Thanks to 3cho, Dre, and Kathy for bringing this to my attention, albeit indirectly) | Permalink […]
Pingback by Dairy of a Madman » This is why I hate politics August 17, 2006 @ 12:05 pmThanks for tackling this, Andre. One of the struggles experienced by those of us who lived through the ’60s is discerning how to celebrate the heroes of the past and learn from our history, without thereby continuing the sense of separatism. Other cities obviously have figured this out much better than we have. One of the enigmas is that our younger friends, both white and black, find it hard even to imagine that segregation ever existed and so find stories of the struggle to be rather boring. When this lack of interest collides with the deep feelings of older folks whose very identify is deeply wrapped up with their participation in that era, a common reaction is to retell the stories in ways that simply keep the divisiveness alive.
Our public representatives certainly do seem too often to be more engrossed in reminding us of the past than in envisioning a different future. I guess I’m just saying that I think there are deep reasons why we do this, and we certainly do need to figure out a better way to honor and respect the past as we move into tomorrow.
Comment by Anne August 18, 2006 @ 11:16 amWell said, Andre. Open dialogue without the trappings of political correctness helps. Finding commonality is crucial for two groups to get along. Since the beginning of man we have separated ourselves by some obvious trait whether it is skin color, religion, language, or geography. I don’t think that is going to change, necessarily. The reason we group together is because we find commonality in those groups. The blacks that “act white” find acceptance in the white community and the blacks that “act black” don’t. The reverse seems to be true to some extent in the black community. As more whites become accustomed to black neighbors and co-workers, and vis-a-versa, we should start to assimilate more and find those commonalities. The way blacks and whites have acted throughout time has shifted with outward influences and there is no reason to believe that we won’t shift together with time. Some things can’t be forced but they can be hastened with more dialogue like this.
Comment by John August 19, 2006 @ 2:53 pmAfter reading your post, I reserved a copy of Juan Williams’ book. I just finished and know that I am better off for it. It’s refreshing to hear a voice that speaks with logic and compassion, rather than allow themselves to be blinded by anger and emotion. Not that I blame those who are angry. I’m just saying highly charged emotional arguments very rarely add to progress.
Dre, thanks for mentioning the book. Whether one agrees with Williams or not, it is a thought provoking and worthhile read.
Comment by trav September 29, 2006 @ 7:17 am[…] Juan Williams’ Enough. I picked up this book after a great post by one of Birmingham’s more prominant bloggers. […]
Pingback by {head}:sub/head » Just finished… September 29, 2006 @ 8:56 am