Discussion: Kindred -- Oppression

[madam_sosostris]

 "The ease. Us, the children . . . I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery." This is said by Dana to Kevin when they have returned to the present and are discussing their experience in the antebellum South. To what extent, if any, do you believe racial oppression exists today?

Comments

[ladyslipper73]

Not sure if "oppression" is the term I would use. I believe there still exist strong stereotypes and prejudices. A lot of the stereotypes are based on the high volume of crimes committed in certain geographic areas. For example, I avoid the Parramore area in Orlando...not because I don't like black people but because I don't feel safe. I think there are enough laws on the books to prevent the reoccurence of past oppressions but stereotypes and prejudiced thoughts can only be cured by education -- in the families and in the schools.

[melkor72]

I agree, at least concerning the United States. Taking a world view, obviously racial oppression is still rampant. What you have today in our country, as you said are "stereotypes and prejudices". We also have the perpetuation of "white guilt" and the perception of racial oppression from people who would be out of a job if people actually discovered racial oppression is not as wide-spread as they preach (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton). Don't get me wrong, there still needs to be voices that point out injustices and give minorities a voice, (NAACP, Feminist Majority Foundation, PETA are good examples) but not talking heads and bureaucrats whose shrill cry of oppression is actually a paean to the almighty dollar.

[copperbird]

There may not be legally sanctioned oppression in Europe and the US these days, but there's still a lot of prejudice and that's really not just invented by politicians. I can't really comment about what white racial guilt is like in the US since I don't live there ;)