When Dumb Tshirt Slogans Go Wrong

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

The term is certainly an exaggeration, but it's not entirely inaccurate in a broader sense. People are still enslaved in the United States, but more indirectly and covertly than before.

I'd also be hesitant to say that whites don't tie blacks to slavery today, even if it subconscious. They may view the continued effects of slavery differently, but I'd venture to say that the thought is in there somewhere. Slavery is so humiliating to some whites that they don't want to talk about it and they shy away from discussions of race.

very on point and that is why right now, I am not ready to get on that line of debate....

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

very on point and that is why right now, I am not ready to get on that line of debate....

Okay. Fair enough. I can understand not wanting to get into that debate right now.

I'd just like to clarify that I wasn't disregarding the fact that the effects of slavery still exist and that minorities continue to be treated like second class citizens. The broader sense of the word "slave" is certainly still valid.

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Slavery is so humiliating to some whites that they don't want to talk about it and they shy away from discussions of race.

Exactly! That's why I do not believe that the word "slave" easily comes to mind. I'm not talking about obvious racists like the Klan here. I'm talking about the far more insidious racism that pervaids our society. It's a part of average, everyday people who wouldn't necessarily believe that they are racist at all. But they harbor negative beliefs and act on them regardless. They don't want to hire minorities. They don't want to rent to minorities.

Yet, this type of person is very likely to be humiliated by the slavery of our past. That's exactly why I don't believe that the word "slave" comes to mind for them. Why would someone who doesn't believe they're part of the problem want to remind themselves of our shameful past? They don't. And, unfortunately, I think this includes a great majority of white Americans today.