The racism that exists in people's heads and racist practices (segregation) are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Efforts to change one should therefore not be counterposed to efforts to change the other.
Below I'll address 4 specific points made in the first post in this thread. Sorry for the length. In a message dated 12/5/2003 10:28:26 AM CST Eric Oines writes: > I would argue that desegregation is not the issue. The issue in Minneapolis > is (and has long been) racism. In the 70's, Minneapolis came up with a > desegregation plan for the schools. What happened? White flight. What > causes white flight? Racism. > Desegregation plans for the schools did not cause "white flight," in my opinion. White flight was happening before the 1970s, when the public schools were pretty segregated and there were no large scale school desegregation programs anywhere in Minnesota. Blacks were allowed to live in certain neighborhoods and not in others. Blacks were allowed to hold certain types of jobs and not others. Blacks who were coming here from the South and other Northern Cities had no where else to go. Discrimination in the job and housing markets was and remains a big piece of the puzzle. Keeping blacks out of the better jobs, the better neighborhoods, and the better schools are examples of segregation which nourishes and reinforces racism. "Racism" was invented and has been consciously fostered by some to serve definite economic interests. Here I am using the term "racism" as it is generally defined in dictionaries: 1) The idea that one "race" is, by nature, superior to another and 2) discrimination based on that belief. > The Minneapolis Fire Dept. was given lots of time to comply with a federal > desegregation order, but they resisted until the last minute. Why? Racism. > > The various Phillips and Near North communities are among the most > integrated in the city. These neighborhoods are very, very diverse and only > recently became majority non-white. So why the continued concentration of > poverty? Racism. > I think the fundamental problem is a political establishment that lacks the will to enforce fair housing and employment laws. It is possible to enforce fair housing and employment laws. It's just not done. > It is not enough to strive to empower people of color, though that is a most > worthy goal. White folks must *relinquish* power to those who have > traditionally been marginalized. This struggle virtually destroyed the > Central Neighborhood NRP group several years ago and it is a serious issue > in many organizations today. > When you are talking about political power and leadership positions, the focus should generally be on how the power is used, in my opinion: For example: Take steps to enforce fair employment and housing laws, change the public school system so that the general student population gets the kind of education now reserved for those currently designated "gifted and talented." > Anti-racism supposes that white folks ought to give up their privilege, > accept the perceptions and experiences of people of color as valid and real, > and work to improve those experiences for all. This is not something that > City Hall or agencies can do. This is something that individuals do, > individually. This involves personal change - and that is why it is so > difficult. > > ...But the key > aspect is that it all depends on individual change in action and attitude of > the majority culture - that is - white folks. Racism is our problem, not > the problem of those who suffer because of its affects. > Here you are talking about a particular "anti-racism," philosophy. In my opinion: 1) It is unrealistic to expect most rich people to give up their wealth and the system that supports them without a fight. 2) Racism is a very real problem to people who are victimized by racist practices. 3) The perception and experiences of all people are real and valid, including people who are classified as white. 4) Racism is reinforced by a political and social system based on economic exploitation. Ignoring the system won't make it go away. 5) There are people of all races and colors who are for the status quo and who are trying to change or overturn the system. Some people who are not victimized and are favored by racial discrimination may think that it is in their interests to have effective enforcement of laws against racial discrimination. -Doug Mann, King Field Author of "Flight from Equality: School reform in the US since 1983" http://educationright.tripod.com - - REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
