Facing the Facts About Race Relations CNN Correspondent Alina Cho, who is Asian-American, recently reported on her experience working on a story about racial tension in Ohio. The most powerful Klansman in the state, only 23 years old, told her to get out of America. But he also shared some eye-opening information. Alina learned that the white supremacist movement is on the rise, and that the KKK, being no exception, has steadily grown larger since 9/11. She also learned that much of this growth is among the younger population, who stumble across the organization via the internet - which happens to be the Klan's number one method of recruitment. In addition, she learned that this growth is not just here in America, but around the globe. Alina was able to verify the information she gained with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate group and extremist activities and publishes findings in an award-winning Intelligence Report. (See also: Are There Hate Groups in Your Neighborhood) No, Racism is Not Dead I find some irony in the awareness that a growing number of supposedly educated voices claiming racism no longer exists is set against a backdrop of a rekindled white supremacy movement. I also find some irony in a national war on terror that is waged abroad, while homegrown terrororist groups are allowed to thrive. I refer here to groups that advocate hatred and intolerance, and by doing so, promote violence. And yet I recognize that many Americans are fatigued by discussions about race and inequality. There is, for many, I believe, a deep seated desire to believe that the civil rights movement of the 60s and the resulting legal actions from that time have solved the many problems we inherited from our troubled history. But clearly, as Alina Cho discovered, and as many Americans - regardless of origin - experience every day, we haven't. I also recognize that others continue to cling tightly to the debilitating anger and resentment they feel as a result of history's wrongdoings, waiting for others to right the wrongs of a sad past. But doing so prevents progress often blinds us to the opportunities for healing that often come in unexpected forms, and from unexpected allies. Conquering a Seemingly Unconquerable Problem For better or for worse, cultures do evolve over time. I am concerned that our global culture, and likewise our national culture, is trending toward a period of greater intolerance and hate. Whether fueled by fear, arrogance, or simple misunderstanding, we are losing our grip on our shared human experience and allowing ourselves to once again, become divided on trivial factors such as skin color and ethnicity. I believe that no one race or ethnic group is to blame. Neither do I believe that one race or ethnic group holds responsbility for reversing this trend. Instead, if all of us, every individual, only assumed responsibility for his or her own interactions with others, for grabbing the reins within his or her own circle of influence, perhaps we as a nation, as a global village, could realize the cliche that says "change can and does often start with one person." I stumbled onto this article from a blog. What are you thoughts on this rise in hatred? And do you think it will be necessary for more people to arm themeselves against racist attacks?
i have been a member of SPLC for many years and I have said here many times that racism not only still exists but growing in number. What Miss Chu unearth is not news at all, just news to her and other liberal minded folk who state that "If we ignore them,, they will go away". this is a big big mistake, the russian nationalists and neo nazi groups are growing as are scandanavian groups, along with the islamists and the neo nazis here in our own country. We are just sitting on a powder keg and the internet is just another tool in their arsenal. I urge all to check out www.splc.org today and get involved in spreading the word against racism, racist groups and organizations and not bury our heads in the sand. the white liberals hope that they will go away because they are afraid of these bigots. they dont want to get their hands dirty, just like they have dropped the ball on this such as Integration, tolerance, freedom of speech, and have started to appease the racist elements in our society by doing and saying NOTHING.
In agreement with tuck, I look at that article and think to myself, wow, history really does repeat itself, and the evidence of that couldn't be more clear in current events, though ONLY modernized because of the times.
Tucker, I do agree with you about the building up of racists. Nobody wants to acknowledge that. But its just not white liberals that choose to ignore this fact. The conservatives,liberals,etc all have ignored this fact. Many people are concentrating on this war and muslims. Unfortunately these facts won't be realized until there is another Oklahoma city bombing or another crime by these racists. For some reason the USA only takes action after the shit hits the fan.
WEll if you go to SPLC as I have said you will see that we have been monitoring this for a long time and This build up of racism started long before 9/11 and the internet has been the tool since the late 90s. I dont think many conservatives even think about it much. It is the white liberals who say they are fighting against racism and for equality and civil rights, but they are also the ones who turn a blind eye to issues of White flight from the cities to the suburbs(a big reason for alot of the growth of the angry white male movement now in the suburban youth); turned a blind eye to the fall of integration(they dont even use it any longer);the democratic party patronizing and taking for granted the black community in the last 35 years. So it is the white liberals who are the ones most apt to say ignore them and they will go away, just as they have about terrorism as a whole.
You're right about liberals doing alot of that. But that doesn't change that conservatives and other groups have neglected this issue also.Nobody wants to pay attention to this or any other issues until they can use it for their own agenda.
perhaps, i am talking about something different I guess. I was addressing the issue of those who are looking the other way, but talking about the issue.
because of what the topic is, Ms Cho is just now reporting on this issue in 2006, when this has been a topic since at least 97. so i was talking about the old news and what anti racist coalitions have been working on and what has been a stumbling block for us going forward
You know what the funny thing is? Bill Oreilly reported about a year ago that hate groups were on the decline. It seems the media for the most part has been pretty bad at reporting about hate groups.
Another thing I will never understand is why people think that they don't have any individual responsibility as a citizen, assume the role of bystanders and do nothing but waiting for the government to find a solution. Racism will be hard to eradicate, everyone has the duty and the responsibility to take action and to help to reduce its impact on society and on others. The article is very focused on the relationship between blacks and whites, and that is certainly the main issue in the US, but there are also race issues between Asians, Latinos, Arabs, etc. There's also the anti-semitism angle as well as anti-white bias and reverse racism. How many actually accept prejudiced talk or racist action and don't speak up when they hear disparaging jokes or comments because they are more concerned about preserving their free speech rights than about human dignity? How many join the "all Arabs/muslims are terrorists" chorus? How many accept derogatory statements about undocumented immigrants? How many actually speak up when their "own" people talk trash about the "other people"? The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
