Is Racism Dead: Part 2

A follow up to the controversial debate "Is Racism Is Dead?"

In my previous post I began by stating the question: "Is racism dead in America?" Then I answered with: "I believe it is." Now I feel the need to elaborate some more on this issue.

First off let me start by saying the race debate in America is not going to go away anytime soon (and I think we all can agree on that). The racial rhetoric that surrounded Barrack Obama and his former pastor stirred up quite a ruckus didn't it? So I know you're probably asking, do I still stand behind the argument that racism is dead in America? Well, yes I do. And here’s why. Because we Americans are an interracial culture. The point that I’m trying to make is that the underlying current of America is not racial supremacy. Most everyone that I know, including minorities (at least people under thirty-years old), agree that interracial relationships have become the norm (though it’s still not unusual to get a few heads to turn and look at an interracial couple walking by, especially from the older generation.)

So now I ask another question: Will we ever learn to see past the color of our skin? Of course not. And we shouldn’t try to. Instead we should see the beauty in our diversity. We are ALL colored people in a since. We are colored and diverse in many many ways, and yet so very much alike. That’s what makes us unique as human creatures. My argument is simply that Americans--especially the younger generation--agree for the most part that racism is "old school," that separatism and race-superiority is no longer a part of our ideology. However, we also know that old habits die hard. And as long as we’ve got the old farts around who still believe that race matters, and interracial relations are inappropriate somehow, then racial rhetoric will be around for quite some time to come. So in one since, racism in America is dead. Then on the other hand, it is still very much alive. So there you have it, I’ve gone and contradicted myself, so it seems. Let me end with the notorious words of Rodney King, "Can’t we all just get along?"