Comments on: That’s Just How Things are . . .

By: angharad

angharad — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:23:13 +0000

I wish that people could talk more openly about these things. The bad things get said, unoppossed, in private spaces. In public, people mouth the platitudes, but send their kids to the white prom. I live in a place with a high school population that’s african-american and white, with other minorities not well represented. The white kids don’t go to the school dances. The white parents don’t encourage it. They don’t like the music, they don’t like the behavior, they don’t like the way people dance. If you go to the lunchroom, you’ll see black and white people sitting together. If you go to Sport Night, you see people who group themselves naturally by team, not by race. But when they dance? Segregation.

What should you do about it? Tell the white kids to go to the dances? But the white kids want to listen to ColdPlay. What happens when a significant population of white people show up at the dances and want to hear “their” music? You could say, “Yay!Compromise!” but . . . I am really uncomfortable with white people showing up at a venue and trying to change stuff to suit them, even when it’s called “Compromise.” On the other hand, why go to a dance if they don’t play music you like? So you get a few people who cross lines to be with their friends, but most of the white people stay home. Because it is not their scene. And nobody talks about it.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:36:19 +0000

Yeah, this article was in my Seventeen Magazine. I think that part of it was that some of the schools this happens at don’t have a school prom, the ‘proms’ are parties thrown privately and that contributes to the segregation, although by no means does this excuse the fact. Like someone above said, on year Morgan Freeman stepped in and gave a prom to one of the schools in Mississippi, which was actually a documentary that will be on HBO June 29.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:41:34 +0000

Wow, I actually thought you were talking about research you were doing for the 1930s book for a minute. I just can’t believe that people still think like that in 2009! Maybe I’m naive coming from Australia, but I just didn’t think things like that still happened.

Not, of course, that Australia is racism-free, but I get the impression that Australian racism is a different kind of racism. Not less-severe or any “better”, it’s just the motivation and reasoning behind the racism is slightly different. Or so I gather. I’m not a racism expert or anything like that, so anyone with more knowledge should feel free to correct me.

By: Katie

Katie — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:30:56 +0000

duh. The article you read is about that school.

By: Katie

Katie — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:24:52 +0000

Well, I have brown skin, I’m from Canada, and the only racism I’ve suffered is from other brown/black people.

But I can understand why those kids wouldn’t stand up to their parents. It’s their family. They might think their parents will utterly reject them if they do what they think is right. That’s a pretty tough decision when you’re 18, to choose between some friends at school and the people who raised you and who do love you no matter how racist they are.

Also, I think there is a documentary out there about one of the towns with two proms. I think Morgan Freeman offered to pay for a prom that everyone was welcome at. They rejected it at first, but a few years later a filmmaker got interested and asked M.F. if the offer was still on the table. And this time the town didn’t refuse. Can’t remember what year, but maybe 2006 or -7 or -8…

By: Icy Roses

Icy Roses — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:58:22 +0000

True Story: Never living south of the Mason-Dixon Line in my life. Decided this a long time ago, pretty much right after we learned the Civil War in fifth grade.

That article was in Seventeen Magazine, I believe? I’m glad they’re calling attention to it. Karen is right. They did try to change it a few years ago, and the parents freaked out. Wow, I wonder how they feel about having a black man as president? I bet they just walk around in a state of denial every day.

By: Nisha

Nisha — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:37:58 +0000

Wow, that’s a disgrace to post-segregation US. Thanks for bringing it to our attention though.

Nisha
http://www.nisha-sharma.com/blog

By: cbjames

cbjames — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:03:43 +0000

Why don’t the white students get jobs and buy their own prom clothes? They basically lost my sympathy and my respect right there.

I’ve a seventh grade student whose family cannot afford to buy her the things the rest of her peers have. She has found two weekly babysitting gigs and now pays for it all herself. Surely 11th and 12th graders have more job opportunities than a 7th grader does.

Take a stand against racism. Drive your own car to the prom.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:45:00 +0000

I’m from Atlanta and a few years ago when there was a lot of attention from the press and they tried to have one prom, but the white parents put up such a fuss that they went back to having two proms again. Sigh. Totally crazy.

@Reverie: Mont. County is located in the southwest portion in Mount Vernon. A world away from Atlanta.

But Justine is right. Until someone really tries to change this situation, it will continue. Still can’t believe they’re still doing this in 2009.

By: Justine

Justine — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:22:47 +0000

Reverie: It’s not just Georgia. The meeting I referred to at the beginning of this post took place far from Georgia and the completely naked racism and sexism in that room has much wider ramifications for US society at large.

By: Reverie Books Reviews

Reverie Books Reviews — Sun, 24 May 2009 05:34:29 +0000

OH MY GOD!!! this is ridiculous. so much for moving ahead. and I am SO ashamed to admit that I am from GA.. where the hell in GA is this… *goes to investigate further*