Throughout the novel Copper Sun, there are hundreds of slaves that are victims of rape. Amari, the main character, "...was beaten, branded, and dragged into a slave ship. She was forced to witness horrors worse than any nightmare and endure humiliations never thought possible." Is this only in a book? No, it's still happening today. Many people around the world are still being forced into slavery. Some people think that slavery should not have been accepted or allowed by the law in the first place.
In cases of rape its has been noticed that African American's are disadvantaged because of their skin tone. This unfortunatly has been passed down from their history as slaves. However, not all agree with that, but it had definitely been noticed that throughout histrory, slavery has greatly contributed to the discrimination of African Americans. Back in the time of slavery, an African American woman being taken, against her will, was not uncommon--nor was it perceived as a crime because slaves were seen as property, and at the time the law didn't protect the property from sexual assault. When enslaved women were raped, it was a way for the white man to keep the plantation population growing, because children would inherit their mother's status. So if their mother was a slave, then they were a slave, even if their father was a free man.
Today, African American women are less likely to report a rape or even tell anyone about it. Some think that the unwillingness to report a rape could be because some African American women have accepted the "rape myths" passed down through generations.
For more of a history on African Americans and how they have coped, please read the following article: http://www.brandeis.edu/projects/fse/Pages/victimraceandrape.html
Our question to you is: Why have we let this stereotype continue on for as long as it has? Has the media affected the way we percieve African American's, and why should their human rights be valued less than say a caucasians?
In cases of rape its has been noticed that African American's are disadvantaged because of their skin tone. This unfortunatly has been passed down from their history as slaves. However, not all agree with that, but it had definitely been noticed that throughout histrory, slavery has greatly contributed to the discrimination of African Americans. Back in the time of slavery, an African American woman being taken, against her will, was not uncommon--nor was it perceived as a crime because slaves were seen as property, and at the time the law didn't protect the property from sexual assault. When enslaved women were raped, it was a way for the white man to keep the plantation population growing, because children would inherit their mother's status. So if their mother was a slave, then they were a slave, even if their father was a free man.
Today, African American women are less likely to report a rape or even tell anyone about it. Some think that the unwillingness to report a rape could be because some African American women have accepted the "rape myths" passed down through generations.
For more of a history on African Americans and how they have coped, please read the following article: http://www.brandeis.edu/projects/fse/Pages/victimraceandrape.html
Our question to you is: Why have we let this stereotype continue on for as long as it has? Has the media affected the way we percieve African American's, and why should their human rights be valued less than say a caucasians?
19 comments:
First of all, I am definitely not racist. But I am starting to get sick of everyone saying everyone is racist. For example, the article states that,"it has been noticed that African American's are disadvantaged because of their skin tone." This is not true at all. They receive the same amount of attention as everyone else. But when they don't, they say we're racist? No. This is unfair. A lot of times I feel like they should be treated the best and should be rewarded because of what happened a long time ago with slavery. Yeah, there still are people out there who are racist, but they probably only believe in racism because it has been passed down for generations.
What about WHITE racism? One problem that really irritates me is when African Americans believe everything we (Caucasian white) say is a racist comment. However, according to this website http://www.racismeantiblanc.bizland.com/005/06.htm
they say there are more racist efforts towards whites. White people! That seems so hard to believe. This site shows that "whites are the second most targeted group for racism". If this is actually true, then why do people believe African Americans are the only ones who are being assaulted?
to be honest, this isnt as touchy of a subject as everyone makes it out to be. I think people are seriously overthinking this topic if they can decide that more blacks than whites are raped because of reasons that took place before the election of lincoln. people are racists, thats just how it is. I know a lot of white people racist against black people, but none of them want to go take sex from them against their will because of it. you dont rape people(anymore at least) because they have different colored skin. modern day racism is just a watered down version of what our parents passed down to us, or that we've developed by growing up in a certain area. We don't harbor harsh enough feelings to want to cause that level of physical pain against a person for that reason alone. the only places that i would dare say have more black rapes than white would be areas with a higher black population. those with a higher white population will have more white rapes. its as simple as that.
The first thing I have to say is that every woman no matter the race should report a rape. I understand there are stereotypes but, unless you report a rape what's going stop that person that raped you from doing it again.
Now on the issue of discrimination, there IS a disadvantage with skin color. My reason for this is because African Americans are not always given the recognition they deserve or they might be accused of something. This discrimination leads back to slavery because the article said the slaves where treated as property. Therefore, they were not properly recognized as people. And this was passed down through generations and is now here today. For example in a case of rape, the article says that evidence could be overlooked or thrown out for whatever reason just because the female is African American.
Unfortunately, B.Brown racism will probably never go away whether it is white, black, Hispanic, or Asian. Although I really don't think everything Caucasian people say is a racist comment unless I think they have a REAL intension of putting it that way. Even though I don't speak for the whole black population, I'm pretty sure they don't all take everything Caucasian people say as a racist comment.
Many things that you hear about all of this mess probably has to do with the media, not telling the full story.
i agree with you that there is a difference with skin color, however, this works both ways. Depending upon where you live, or the population ratios of where you happen to be, the underdog, whether white or black or purple or whatever, will be mistreated. I really hate that everyone believes that slavery has a connection with modern day racism. I don't carry, nor do i understand how anyone else could carry feelings of hate without having a firsthand reason for doing so. I don't hate people because ive been told to, I hate people because they've shown hatred towards me.
Each generation racisim is 'watered down" a little bit more. The reason that our generation thinks that it will never go away is that we don't see the continuing trend. In the 1800's there was so much discrimination but nowadays, all races intermingle. Our generation also can't see the end of many problems like this because there are so many other problems clouding our perception. Inflation in prices, this, wars, third world countries. If we would completely turn our focus to one problem and forget the rest for just a moment, not forever but just long enough to see, we could see the end is closer than we thought. Each generation gets better, whether it is seen or not.
I believe what Mark said to an extent; everyone is racist. This is because ideas are passed down from generation after generation. Then your ancestor's ideas start to become your own and you believe what they believe. What I still do not understand is the misleading of certain words. For example, back when slavery was used it was cruel, rude, and hurtful to call an African American the n-word. But now it's alright for African Americans to call each other that and joke around about it? I mean for everything they fought for in the Civil War it's almost like nowadays people take things for granted; like their own freedom. I'm not saying they should still be slaves, because they shouldn't be. They are entitled to everything we have because we are all the same, except for skin colors. It's just really sad when people can't look past that and see the person for who they really are.
However, what still bothers me is how disgrading our society is. For instance, I happened to be searching online about different colleges when I noticed certain colleges were for certain ethnic groups. Is that really fair? That's how racism starts. Catholics go to one school, then Jewish go to another, African Americans...you get my point. I realize that colleges are not supposed to be select like this, yet they are because some people say "it's a place to find themselves". Why can't they do this at any college, though? What is it that some colleges have that others don't? Let's say a Caucasian white person enrolls in an African American school, for example, wouldn't they be looked down upon or seen as different? You may say they wouldn't but let's be honest with ourselves. Here's another situation: you're walking on the streets all alone at night. It's pitch black outside and you can't see anything except the shimmer from the moon, illuminating a small portion of the sidewalk. You're almost home when you see two African American guys walking your way. What are you going to do? Probably walk a different way because of what you learned from the media or even from other people. But what you don't know is that they are the nicest people you would have ever met. However, because you are greatly influenced by your opinions you never meet them.
I agree with the previous comment that everyone is racist. Just like women belittle themselves before men. Everyone does it, even if they don't know it.
I'd like to expand on this topic before readers begin calling me "a racist". Everyone has racist tendencies. Whites, blacks, asians, hispanics, whatever, we're all guilty of it. It's easier for people to immediately relate to those who look like them or look like the people they were raised by or grew up with. The media is not responsible for this. We all have personal responsibility. Which brings me back to my point. Everyone is racist, some people just embrace it more than others. As many things in this world, it's not right, it's just true. We all have personal responsibility. No one should be deprecated because of their race or gender or anything else. But more than I believe that, I believe no one should be EXALTED because of it.
Is there really a “rape myth” passed down through generation? A woman who is raped doesn’t think to herself since my ancestors got raped it is ok because it runs in my family. A person doesn’t report the rape if they know the person and they don’t want to testify against them, they are too humiliated to tell anyone, they don’t wish to relive the moment, or they were doing something illegal so they don’t want to get themselves in trouble. This is not an issue about racism at all.
Racial discrimination has been around for a long time. Even when slavery was abolished racism still atayed around. Just because slavery and racial discrimination is against the law, that doesnt mean that this law will not be broken. I think the media influences the way we see others a great deal. Like when ever you here about a shooting you automaticaly think of an african american man. You say your not racists, but still your thought is. People always say they are not racists, but then the turn around and say something that might offend people racialy. Everyone can be racsist.
First of all, i have to disagree with b.brown and ashley h, everyone is not rascist.Yeah the media has changed the way that people view other people and races but that doesnt make them a racist person. I dont think that anyone can blame just the media for the way that they view people. Some people just choose to look at people differently. Secondly B. Brown said that african americans are not disadvantaged because of their skin tone and that "They receive the same amount of attention as everyone else."I have to completely disagree because as and african american, i have experienced discrimation from other races. Just a few weeks ago i was in the store and a white employee was following me around like i was going to steal something. Why? I'm not going to beat around the bush, it's simply because i was black.
B.Brown, the fact that you said, "One problem that really irritates me is when African Americans believe everything we (Caucasian white) say is a racist comment. " really seems to be incorrect. I dont take everything that white people say as a rascist comment. I do think that some times alot of white people say things ignorantly(lack of knowledge), therefore it may be taken the wrong way.
I have to agree that black people shouldnt use the n word after our ancestors have fought so hard to get people to not say it.
About the college thing, colleges arent made just for specific races, and they arent trying to segregate the american people. They dont reject people because they arent the race of the college. They allow them in too. Many of the Historically black colleges(HBC) have white people attending. They are just trying to give people the same opportunities as white people.
People arn't really racist just more prejudiced. We see people and instantly make assumptions. (If you say you don't you're basically a liar or a cyborg because everyone does it.)I'm not denying the excistence of racism/racists either. I know they exsist.
Also, I'm fairly sure too that sadly the media plays a large role in the way we percive people.
And rape isn't about looking for some specific person to go after. It's about power and dominance. It's not like rapists have a preference.
http://www.calcasa.org/34.0.html
I agree with sabrina, to an extent. There are few, today, that are really racist. Comments that are deemed 'racist' are usually taken offesively when no harm was meant at all. But most of these behaviors are predjudiced because of personal experiences and, of course, the media. The media is not some horrible monster, though. We are actually making it right now. The media is where you get information. Sometimes this is twisted, and sometimes it is so factual that it hurts, especially in this era. There are wars and problems everywhere. The problem with the media is that it keeps feeding us horrible stories of death tolls and injuries and accidents. These are more intreguing than cheerful stories. The media finds this out and just keeps giving us what we'll look at, to sell itself. We get depressed and want good stories, but we can't tear our eyes away from the television screen that shows a criminal in court that committed a heinous crime.
A previous commentor stated "People aren't really racist just more prejudiced". I like the way she put it.
Rape is a horrible thing. It will stick with that person forever. You may call me hard-hearted for saying my next statement, but I think you would find yourself ignorant in doing so. Rape is an event in a person's life; it is not a lifestyle. Some may choose to dwell on it, use it as an excuse for other problems in their life, but it's something that can be kept in the past. Just as I believe that, I also believe that if someone's ancestors were slaves, it's horrible, but it's in the past. And it needs to be kept there. I'm sorry, but they are not slaves. They probably don't even know of any actual accounts of slavery in their family. So why is it used as an excuse?
To say that rapists have a tendancy to choose black victims is something that cannot be proven. You don't know what that rapist was thinking. Maybe they find african-american women to be more appealing that caucasion women. Maybe they ARE racist against african-americans. But why is a man who rapes a young boy not called prejudice against young boys?
First off, I think women in general don't like to report rape. There is the whole "I must have done something wrong" guilt factor that rape victims usually deal with. So let's try thinking about slavery in general rather than racism. (The topic is "Victims of Slavery and Rape", right?) In Ancient Rome, the Romans would enslave each other!
http://abacus.bates.edu/~mimber/Rciv/slavery.htm
(Info on ancient Roman slavery)
You could also try watching "Gladiator" (2000), where a Roman general is forced into slavery.
As for the media affecting the way Caucasians view other races, just rent "The Killer Shrews" (1959). This movie is a perfect example of the "black guy always dies first" stereotype.
Stereotypes are a serious problem in our society. But how do we change what people think? How do we change what they've grown up knowing? I don't think we can change past generations prejudists but we do control the future. We should raise awareness and stop media from making stereotypes look "cool". Will people do it though? I would hope that we could get to a future where no one is judged based on race, gender, ect., but honestly, I'm not sure we will. At least not the way we're headed.
Also, in the orginal post it mentions that "African American are less likely to report a rape..." I think that all women are less likely to report rape because A)Reputation B)Fear of being attacked again and C)Not being believed. If we're focusing on preventing rapes from being swept under the rug, we should look at all women.
I definitely don't think Africa-American human rights should be valued less than a Caucasians. However, if a rape victim doesn't tell someone or report it herself, there is nothing we can do in the justice system to make it right.
I don't think that women aren't reporting rape because of their skin color or because it happened to their past generations. I think it is usually because they are embarrassed or they just want to forget about it, and don't want to have to keep reliving it.
I have to agree with Sam. I do agree that most women will not report a rape case, because it is embarassing. I think they feel like they have messed up somehow, or telling someone about it would be like admitting defeat. Some might have the mentality that if they tell someone then the person who raped them would almost be justified because they would be getting thier 15 minutes of fame, shortly followed by a jail sentence, but still they would get their chance in the spotlight.
I fully believe that rapists should get a longer sentence. They are not doing full time as say someone who was charged with manslaughter. They get half the sentence. Which is not right because in a way they are killing the person. It makes that person less trusting, and completly alters their life. So in a way they are killing the person on the inside a little bit each time they have to think about it.
Shouldn't they be charged with some form of murder as well?
Racism confuses me. Maybe its because I live in a suburb, sheltered from the real world, and its happenings. But most prominent, is that I don't understand why it's called Racism. There is no Caucasian race, or African Race, or even Asian race. Aren't we all the Human race? Don't we all deserve the same freedoms and living conditions? I am an idealist, but the problem is that most people are not. They just want to live, and find ways to make their lives easier, even though it may damage others. This careless, selfish society we have created will be our downfall. Just as imperialist countries damage Third-World societies, for their own gain, and just like certain ethnic groups are persecuted, this is the twisted society we have created. As much as we want to fix it, we may only be patching one of many scars. It is no longer a matter of Black or White, German or Jew, and Islamic or Christian, it is matter of Live or Die. Until the public realizes this, then obviously, we will continue to see persecution, and what follows, like Racism, and Rape. Eventually, it will be our own human ignorance to equality, for our own selfish gains, that will continue to kill millions of people. That is, until we are GONE.
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