Those roots come from a very real and dynamic history.
Egypt built the Pyramids partly with slave labor. Rome brought slaves from India, North Africa, and even FROM Europe. Arabia, too, did much the same.
It’s just an elevated power structure from the idea of “Haves vs. Have-nots.”
So we, as the totality of human nature,must fight against our own upbringing. In effect, we were raised by abusive parents over the millennia. Perhaps the current angst will lead to a similar catharsis, needed to redirect us away from our barbaric history…..
The sad reality is that no matter the size of national populations we are tribal by nature, our ties, since our ancestors first stood upright on the African savanna, have been to small groups of others like ourselves. As a result it is an internalized part of what we are to be suspicious and fearful of anything and anyone different than ourselves, even though intellectually we have grown to know that differences like skin color, religion, or lifestyle should be embraced and learned from rather than feared and hated. Overcoming that is the part of our cultural ice berg we must overcome and the hardest thing to do.
A black high-school teacher explained this mess to his students – including yours truly.
Why are people afraid of blacks? When you open the basement door, it’s dark down there, and dark is scary. People are afraid of the dark, and I’ll tell you, it’s pretty much a natural thing. I can sneak up on you at night a lot better than most of you can sneak up on me. Now that we know what the problem is, we should be able to make some progress.
That was in 1959 or ‘60. We have not made much progress, but we need to take a look around us and see why we’re so frightened.
Daeder about 4 years ago
Still a lot of work to do.
Packratjohn Premium Member about 4 years ago
Those roots do run deep
Màiri about 4 years ago
Heng’s version is better
Spun_G about 4 years ago
Those roots come from a very real and dynamic history.
Egypt built the Pyramids partly with slave labor. Rome brought slaves from India, North Africa, and even FROM Europe. Arabia, too, did much the same.
It’s just an elevated power structure from the idea of “Haves vs. Have-nots.”
So we, as the totality of human nature,must fight against our own upbringing. In effect, we were raised by abusive parents over the millennia. Perhaps the current angst will lead to a similar catharsis, needed to redirect us away from our barbaric history…..
superposition about 4 years ago
Our political system never seems to excel at getting to the root of problems … always short term fixes and “kick the can” ’til next session or so.
jal333 about 4 years ago
Thus the term “systemic” before racism.
A# 466 about 4 years ago
The fault is not in our stars (or our laws), the fault is in ourselves. (Sorry, Bill.)
Michael G. about 4 years ago
Very well put.
ferddo about 4 years ago
And like a weed, you can’t get all of the roots so it will be back…
ndblackirish97 about 4 years ago
Yep. Deep seeded roots considering the unfortunate historical events the country was founded on.
everett_r0 about 4 years ago
The sad reality is that no matter the size of national populations we are tribal by nature, our ties, since our ancestors first stood upright on the African savanna, have been to small groups of others like ourselves. As a result it is an internalized part of what we are to be suspicious and fearful of anything and anyone different than ourselves, even though intellectually we have grown to know that differences like skin color, religion, or lifestyle should be embraced and learned from rather than feared and hated. Overcoming that is the part of our cultural ice berg we must overcome and the hardest thing to do.
Dani Rice about 4 years ago
A black high-school teacher explained this mess to his students – including yours truly.
Why are people afraid of blacks? When you open the basement door, it’s dark down there, and dark is scary. People are afraid of the dark, and I’ll tell you, it’s pretty much a natural thing. I can sneak up on you at night a lot better than most of you can sneak up on me. Now that we know what the problem is, we should be able to make some progress.
That was in 1959 or ‘60. We have not made much progress, but we need to take a look around us and see why we’re so frightened.