I had a very heated debate with my mom and aunt when they were visiting over racism in the US. They are both in their 50s and have not been exposed to many other cultures. They believe that racism is still rampant in the US. Neither believe that Barack Obama can become president. That the color of his skin will prevent this from happening. I don’t necessarily believe this will be his downfall (though I’m unsure if he can really win). I think racism is becoming less prevalent.
My argument? That there are a lot of racist, especially in the Boomer Generation. That our parents were raised to “pretend” that race doesn’t matter, but they still believed in their hearts it does. What was the difference between them and their parents? The knowledge that judging people based on race is wrong. They know what they feel is wrong, and as such have raised their children Generation X and Y to be different.
I believe it’s worked. If you look at the exit polls Barack Obama is winning the younger generation of voters. It appears that color is not the deciding factor of voting for him. That race is not preventing him from winning. But rather a new class of voters is emerging.
The elite. Now instead of division according to race, I think we’re heading to a society of the Haves and the Have Nots. That we are moving towards associating with people of every race as long as they are educationally and financially similar to us. That we are moving into very distinct strata of middle class, poor, and elite. And the gap between the classes are becoming pronounced.
I’m not typically a writer of politics, but did strike me as interesting. That though I feel we are moving away from racism, we’re moving towards “classism”. That now prejudices are being exposed for judging people what sort of job they have and income they are perceived to make. We are now judged by what we can afford rather than how we look.
We seem to associate with those of any race if they are in our “social strata.” This classism is becoming evident in the voting. Splits in the Democratic party between “blue” collar and “white” collar workers have become quite evident in this primary election.
So is this the new change? Are we becoming a society based on economic status?
But can we really reverse this new trend? Or do we even want to? Is it wrong to have different classes of people or is it the natural progression of capitalism?
I think unlike racism, there is no easy answer. Everyone will say they are striving for the “American Dream” and we should hold no one back. And that it’s only natural we’re all trying to be “Rich”. So maybe “classism” is here to stay.
13 responses so far ↓
1 cinzea // Jun 10, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I don’t fault my parents for their racism. I just chuck it up to ill-informed and uneducated. You can’t fault people for their stupidity. Each generation must vow to be better than the next. It was up to me to teach and show my children that ‘all are created equal’ and that everyone was welcome at our home. As for the baby boomers, I went to a mostly black college (I was the only white girl) and I loved it! It was great. I learned so much! During the 60-70’s it was very acceptable for blacks and whites to co-exist. There were no color lines. I don’t know when or why it had to change.
As for the rich today-that’s all changing also. It’s ‘in’ today to be green, i.e driving fuel efficient cars, protecting the environment, recycling, not being wasteful. The days of excessive behavior are numbered. Think about it. If you see someone driving an 8 mpg hummer would you be impressed? or someone throwing out food (either at a party or at a restaurant) what would you feel? Would you say anything?
America is changing right in front of our eyes. Don’t blink because you will miss it. The American Dream is no longer bordered by people who own their own home. It is being redefined. We will have to wait and see what develops.
What is becoming more and more visible however, at least to me, is that there is a sort of anger and hatred between those who can and can not pay their bills. Those who can not seem to be looking for those who can. It’s disturbing.
2 chris // Jun 11, 2008 at 12:18 am
I’m in that 50’s age group.
From my perspective. I don’t think it’s stupidity. It’s that we were at the beginning of the changes. I was coming of age during the riots and the signing of a very bitter fight over the civil rights act. I was overall raised that were all people. No, it wasn’t politically correct to marry out of race and probably for the same reason many do not marry out of their faith. It simply made something that is sometimes difficult (marriage) even harder when you’re fighting against the odds.
But for a time my parents attitudes did change, especially with the dawn of preferences for certain classes of people. They believed in the civil rights movement. They didn’t believe in affirmative action and other set asides. And again, that was a period of time when I was coming of age.
I’ve noticed that the age of 40 seems to be the dividing line between how race is viewed. There are many things in our culture that 40 seems to be the dividing line.
I received a bulletin for a religious conference. Some of the people speaking were pastors. Although in the photos, they didn’t look like pastors. They looked like they were on their way to a club for a night on the town.
I’m not saying that’s bad. I simply pointing out that it is different.
There are many good things happening in the generation under the age of 40. And some things that I believe need a little course direction. If those tweaks are indeed necessary and are heeded, that generation will have made a huge impact in the US with regard to race and other cultural institutions.
3 Jamillah // Jun 11, 2008 at 2:03 am
I can tell you majority of people don’t want change. They look at Barack Obama as some one who doesn’t have experience. But that is what makes him appealing. He gets that! In the years that John McCain has been a Senator, he has impacted anything in my life to say “Yeah, I want him for my President!” Especially since he voted against the King Holiday in Arizona, I wouldn’t vote for him. As a President, you have to embody the people, not just white but all people. America is a diverse nation and our President should reflect that.
4 LivingAlmostLarge // Jun 11, 2008 at 3:05 pm
It’s not an easy thing. Yes Cinzea most boomer taught their children differently. But it doesn’t change how they themselves feel. I have quite a few friends who married out of race and their parents were VERY unhappy.
The color of ones skin doesn’t seem to matter perhaps Chris is right, below 40, but many of my friends are intermarrying and their parents will come around, hopefully.
But without change there is no progress.
5 Barb1954 // Jun 11, 2008 at 4:40 pm
“What is becoming more and more visible however, at least to me, is that there is a sort of anger and hatred between those who can and can not pay their bills. Those who can not seem to be looking for those who can. ”
I think we need to make a distinction between those who seem to find themselves in financial trouble because of stupid decisions made themselves and those who never had anything. Similar to your recent blog about Ed McMahon, I don’t feel sorry for those who lived beyond their means, had to buy all the toys, and never saved or thought about a “rainy day.” Why should my husband and I help to bail out someone who’s being foreclosed on because they can not afford the new payment on the adjustable rate, zero down, or interest only mortgage they agreed to so they could buy an oversized house they otherwise couldn’t afford? Do I feel sorry for people with boats and new cars who never saved? No. We lived within our means and have saved money in case we lost our jobs as well as invested over $500k for retirement so far. That means that my Civic is a 1996 not a 2006. It means that we don’t borrow to make home improvements but save until we can afford them.
I also don’t feel sorry for those who blew off school and didn’t take advantage of taxpayer-supported education and now complain that they can’t find a job. The days of manufacturing jobs that paid a middle-class wage that anyone could get without a college education are gone. The government made it too easy for U.S. companies to do business elsewhere and to ship those jobs or outsource jobs overseas. But if one doesn’t even have a high school education, how can they expect to even get started finding a job in our service-oriented, high tech economy?
6 cinzea // Jun 11, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Barb-1954, you’ve made my point exactly. There is not going to be any distinction when it comes time for the taxpayers and the responsible ones (like you and me) to bail out the fools who got zero interest loans from the folks who really need the government assisted aid. From your comment, I can feel your anger and that is exactly what I was talking about. There is going to be more and more anger and disparity among the classes as our economy falters. It may just get downright ugly.
People will come to the realization that they no longer have control over how their tax dollars are spent. Their solution: earn less, thus pay less in taxes. The rich will flee also. So will corporations (who the new government is eying for future tax revenues) as well as investors in the stock market. The proposed rise in the capital gains tax will keep investor dollars on another continent.
Lastly, the new government’s grubby little fingers are looking to hike the taxes on inheritance. Result: spend all the money now otherwise Uncle Sam will.
There will always be the infirmed or people who can not work for whatever reason. Those are the people who need to be helped. As to the others, they should be left to their own accords.
7 LivingAlmostLarge // Jun 12, 2008 at 2:02 am
Maybe, but Taxes were higher in the 1990s and even the 1980s, and yet people were doing somewhat better than now. I wonder if our jobs are secure, raises are to be had, will people really complain about higher taxes?
8 Barb1954 // Jun 12, 2008 at 3:31 am
Cinzea, I’ve always been a somewhat liberal Democrat (we call it “progressive” here in Wisconsin). However, I just said to my husband tonight that I’m becoming very anti-tax and am going to start going to our village board meetings and school board meetings. Our property taxes increased $600 last year and the premium for our home owners insurance went up, too. So besides having to pay the $800 shortfall in our escrow account for last year, we also have to pay the new amount for this year, resulting in an increase of about $150 more per month in our mortgage payment. Thankfully we’ll have the house paid for in six years (when I turn 60). Meanwhile, this April, village residents voted 2-to-1 to approve borrowing $10 million to pay for a bunch of improvements in the two grade schools and the high school. (We voted against the referendum and were so disappointed it passed). Some of it was completely unnecessary — relandscaping the grounds of the grade schools, new layouts for the high school locker rooms, for example. Based on the value of our home, it should “only” cost us another $150/year. This is on top of the $600 increase!! It’s getting to the point that our escrow portion of our payment is more than the principal/interest. It’s just crazy!! When we bought our house 18.5 years ago, our real estate taxes were $2,900/year. They’re now $6,400. Enough is enough.
So any thoughts about bailing out those who were living the high life and are now crying in their beers just has me steaming. So you’re right — I am angry with our screwed up governments (federal, state, and local), the economy, etc. etc.
Phew! Rant over.
9 Todd the Bod // Jun 12, 2008 at 4:25 am
Most racists will vote Republican anyway so I don’t think it’ll hurt him much.
10 cinzea // Jun 12, 2008 at 11:15 pm
LAL-back in the 1980’s, 1990’s how much credit and debt did people have? Do you think the huge amounts of debt people carry now crimps into their spending? It isn’t how much money people earn. It’s how much they have left for discretionary spending.
Barb-I sympathize with you regarding school taxes. But good schools equal good resale values on home ownership. My kids only went to public grammar school. Everything else was private. So, I really don’t like nor want to pay higher taxes regarding public schools. But, I do. I have never once voted on any school budget. I leave that decision to the parents who have their children in the public school. I pay each and every tax increase because, as I have stated, good schools equal good home prices and good resale value.
Surely, however, if I thought my tax money was being wasted, then of course, I would attend all the meetings and voice my opinion. So far, so good. Our town is responsible.
If the $750 total increase you have to pay in school taxes nets you an extra few thousand on your home’s value, it’s a good deal.
Just my 2 cents.
11 Barb1954 // Jun 13, 2008 at 12:50 am
Cinzea, it’s just too much of an increase for one year. If only our incomes were going up 13%, too! One does reach a limit.
12 Livingalmostlarge // Jun 13, 2008 at 2:39 am
I think that in the 1980s we had as much debt. Difference? Now people don’t have pensions, so they have save more responsibly and spend more responsible. There is less bailout by companies.
Also think about how much more health insurance and medical costs more in general.
13 cinzea // Jun 13, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Barb-that’s very true. I hear you. I am getting close to my limit also.
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