MLK Weekend

[organicmama]

What I intended to convey (but failed to do) is that it's ironic that in our town, MLK day isn't a commemoration -- it's a skiing holiday for affluent white people. Like I said, you can count on one hand the number of affluent blacks in our town. They turn down job opportunities here because (according to employers I know) blacks say there are no well-educated blacks for them to socialize with. That's sad.

Where are you? Alpharetta? Or the surrounding Roswell/Cumming areas? Just wondering b/c we are just moved from that area down here and we are a multiracial family, who definitely stood out around there. Many of the African American families did talk about not having enough multi-culturalism there, but that they also wanted the pluses of living in that area.

Sadly, race still does come up today. Talking about it freely makes it lose its hold over people, though. It is part of what makes a person who he/she is, but it should not be a determinating factor in being friends, hiring or falling in love with another person. You can't take away the color of one's skin, although it means very little, as in I look "white," but I have African, Native American, European, etc. in me.

We talk with our children about it continuously because we want them to know it's a safe subject and it takes away the taboo of it all.

Ironically, while typing this message, my 3 year old wanted me to comb her hair straight. She has the corkscrew curls but knows that it makes her different from others, including her older sister. It is something that I felt would happen with at least one of our children, as their are sociological studies that show "white" features are preferred over "black" features, even in small African American children. There was a video taken of a study where small children were asked to choose which doll they liked better, a white or a black doll. All of the African American children chose the white doll, because they said it was "prettier" than the black doll. No matter how many times I saw that film, I cried.

My oldest daughter and I were talking about MLK Jr and Rosa Parks today. She said, he was trying to help the world and someone killed him. But even in his death, MLK has done so much to help this world. Being able to talk about his life and his achievements with each other still keeps his dream alive.

My wish is that one day, we will all be able to celebrate the rainbow of colors of everyone's skin and not have to pretend that there are not differences in shades and hues. Everyone is beautiful in their own right. That is what we need to focus on. Colorblindness will keep us blind.

 

[Beach Runner]

My wish is that one day, we will all be able to celebrate the rainbow of colors of everyone's skin and not have to pretend that there are not differences in shades and hues. Everyone is beautiful in their own right. That is what we need to focus on. Colorblindness will keep us blind.

Interesting point of view.

I'm south of Atlanta, but my daughter's boyfriend lives in Alpharetta, and I've heard how lily white and homogeneous it is. Where I live, not only is there black/white segregation, but many people born here don't socialize with those who were brought here by their jobs, much of the MD crowd only socializes with other MD's, women who don't work don't socialize with women who work, parents whose kids go to one particular high school don't socialize with parents of kids who don't, etc. Very cliquish.

 

[ktmeadows]

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My wish is that one day, we will all be able to celebrate the rainbow of colors of everyone's skin and not have to pretend that there are not differences in shades and hues. Everyone is beautiful in their own right. That is what we need to focus on. Colorblindness will keep us blind.

Well said organicmama:clap_1:

I saw your little daughter's photograph with the corkscrew curls...she's adorable!

 

[ktmeadows]

Interesting point of view.

Where I live, not only is there black/white segregation, but many people born here don't socialize with those who were brought here by their jobs, much of the MD crowd only socializes with other MD's, women who don't work don't socialize with women who work, parents whose kids go to one particular high school don't socialize with parents of kids who don't, etc. Very cliquish.

How sad, BR. Doesn't sound like a very happy place to live

 

[Miss Kitty]

How sad, BR. Doesn't sound like a very happy place to live

We have been telling her that for a long itme.

 

[kathydwells]

How sad, BR. Doesn't sound like a very happy place to live

I would not like to live there.

 

[Allifunn]

I enjoyed your post, organicmama! Thank you for your comments! :clap_1:

Interesting point of view.

I'm south of Atlanta, but my daughter's boyfriend lives in Alpharetta, and I've heard how lily white and homogeneous it is. Where I live, not only is there black/white segregation, but many people born here don't socialize with those who were brought here by their jobs, much of the MD crowd only socializes with other MD's, women who don't work don't socialize with women who work, parents whose kids go to one particular high school don't socialize with parents of kids who don't, etc. Very cliquish.

BR..I beg to differ with you....I lived in the Duluth/Alpharetta area for 8 1/2 years and while almost everyone who lived in this area was in the same economic bubble...it was by no means lilly white! My neighbors ran the range of diversity! All countries, all nationalities and all skin tones, and I never, in the whole time I lived there, heard one word that even bordered on racisim!!!! It is MUCH worse here in SC...it is disgusing on all sides!

 

[Beach Runner]

I enjoyed your post, organicmama! Thank you for your comments! :clap_1:


BR..I beg to differ with you....I lived in the Duluth/Alpharetta area for 8 1/2 years and while almost everyone who lived in this area was in the same economic bubble...it was by no means lilly white! My neighbors ran the range of diversity! All countries, all nationalities and all skin tones, and I never, in the whole time I lived there, heard one word that even bordered on racisim!!!! It is MUCH worse here in SC...it is disgusing on all sides!

OOPS! My bad. That's just what I hear from people I know who live there. The only place I've ever been in Alpharetta is Peachtree Women's Clinic when they were booked up at the Peachtree-Dunwoody office.

We have been telling her that for a long time.

I know. But Mr. BR loves his job and wouldn't want to leave. Note: I didn't say I love mine -- I'm tired of teaching, but there are health insurance issues. We just try to get to the beach and Atlanta as often as possible to escape.

 

[Rudyjohn]

I enjoyed your post, organicmama! Thank you for your comments! :clap_1:


BR..I beg to differ with you....I lived in the Duluth/Alpharetta area for 8 1/2 years and while almost everyone who lived in this area was in the same economic bubble...it was by no means lilly white! My neighbors ran the range of diversity! All countries, all nationalities and all skin tones, and I never, in the whole time I lived there, heard one word that even bordered on racisim!!!! It is MUCH worse here in SC...it is disgusing on all sides!

Well, it's here in Chicagoland. I am appalled at the amount of racism I hear and see regularly in this area, and this is not a low-income, uneducated area. It seems that I might be a little more sensitive to it since I am from the south. I thought when I moved away from Ala., it would end. I was so wrong. Sadly, it's everywhere.

 

[Beach Runner]

How sad, BR. Doesn't sound like a very happy place to live

Here's an example. Heard at the next table at the country club, "Can you imagine having to WORK for money? I pity those people. It is just so gauche. Inherited money is the best! I can't imagine being like THEM." What's worse is they knew they were heard and knew that most of those at surrounding tables do have to work for what they have.

BTW the person saying most of this stuff will be my next-door neighbor as soon as her mother-in-law dies and she and her husband inherit the house.