word to the wise (1)

After listening to Tim Wise (see photo in margin) speak about many important racial issues that are embedded within both the white & black communities as well as hearing his thoughts and data about the so-called "post-racial America" that we now live in, I left the lecture with a lot of ideas and data to digest.

One of the most alarming statistics that Tim presented, with regards to criminal justice in our country, was the gaping discrepancy in law enforcement that exists between black & brown persons and white folk. Research presented by wise concluded that people who have black or brown-colored skin are two to three times more likely to be physically searched by the police. Wise then shared with the audience that white folks, compared with members of the black and brown communities, are four times more likely to be guilty of possessing illegal items/paraphernalia (despite the fact that they get stopped, searched and arrested less than members of the black and brown communities). If that doesn't allow one to realize that racism and racial inequality are still rampant in our country/society, then I'm not sure what will.

Another solid point that Wise brought forth was this notion of the "privilege of being oblivious" or that the "dominant group hasn't had to understand other's experiences." It is my understanding that what Tim meant by that was that those individuals who cannot sympathize or empathize with another human person due to the fact that their racial/ethnic, gender, educational, employment, and socioeconomic status does not require or necessarily allow for them to be aware of social injustices that are taking place in their world. Tim also pointed out that a survey was taken recently that asked the white Americans whether racism was still a problem in this country to which 11% of respondents (1 out of every 10) claimed that racism was no longer an ongoing problem! Wise certainly made it clear that he doesn't want others (esp. those of privilege) to feel bad about themselves and exhibit self-defeating thoughts & behaviors, but in the same breath, he does want to explain that these underlining cognitions and mental schema are often the cause of such discrimination and "racial fascism."

as Tim wise did for his audience, I will leave my readers with this question to ponder:

Is Barack Obama's victory an advance or a set back in terms of the racial equality of America (and the global community)?