Race and emotional baggage

In My Humble Opinion
61

[QUOTE=monstro]
Sometimes I share the same worry that HazelNutCoffee expressed. I don’t mind if we all meld into one, but I don’t want that “one” to be homogenous. I want it to be alright to say, “I belong to __ group” without people taking offense or feeling excluded. Perhaps one day we will find group labels to be useless, but I think this should come naturally, not because someone decides that they are politically incorrect.
[/QUOTE]
Sure, but I prefer group names that are something a person can choose - punk, goth, emo, kicker/cowboy, basketball player, Steelers fan, whatever… not height, race, or things a person has no choice in. (let the record show that dress or tat’s would belie a persons affiliation with SOME degree of frequency.)

We NEED groups. We need something smaller to get that sense of belonging and well… we need diversity for a culture to be resilient. I’d just like it to be a matter of CHOICE.

62

[QUOTE=monstro]
I think the reason so many whites express discomfort in the idea of racial pride is because rarely has been white been stigmatized, at least in the same way as being black is.
[/QUOTE]
I tend to agree. At the same time, by creating identity around the color of one’s skin - it can help to reinforce the boundaries of white-black-whatever race.

I do, however, see a need for there to be positive role models for anyone - and that strong, positive, black role models are very important. And given the sometimes racial climate - essential to some black children.

I’m not a radical degregationist, I just want… a more porous racial line - with a trend towards none. But I AM a dreamer.