Yesterday in class we had an interesting debate about what happened to the Williams sisters at Indian Wells and if it was racism and if people thought they were right for boycotting the event. I think it was racism and like the other Scott said they stood up for what they believed in. I was surprised that some classmates said it wasn't a big deal and the Williams sisters should play there. For over 200 years my ancestors were enslaved. They were called inferior and whites considered themselves superior. Even after slavery ended blacks were still considered inferior to whites. There was segregation and blacks didn't get the same opportunites as white people. In the last 50 to 60 years things have come a long way. There is no longer segregation and it is against the law to discriminate based on race. So when I see Tiger Woods dominating in golf or even a black general manager it makes me happy, because I know society has come a long way. I cried when Obama got elected, because if you would have asked anyone seventy or eighty years ago if a black man could be president people would have said no, because their not smart enough.
So when you fast forward to Indian Wells and racial slurs are being thrown at Serena it made me sad. The girl in class that said it isn't a big deal and people said people talked about her fathers job can't compare that to how the Williams family was treated. People in class don't realize that for 300 years African Americans were looked down upon and thought less of than whites just because of the color of their skin. They were forced to work for free, beaten, raped, and thought of as property. So when someone that is not black says the N word it is very disrespectful and I am ready to fight them on the spot. When any black person is attacked I feel like they are attacking me too.
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Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about our discussion in class, Scott. I totally appreciate your perspectives even though my ancestors did not have the same experiences that yours did. I felt really sad when I read Serena's chapter about what she felt at Indian Wells. There is no doubt in my mind that she and Venus are doing the right thing by not returning to Indian Wells. I still think others should join them in the boycott.
ReplyDeleteScott,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that what the Williams sisters went through at Indian Wells was an awful experience and by no way did I mean that it was not a big deal. I apologize if I offended you or anyone else in the class because that is not what I meant. I understand what happened during that tournament and feel that the girls had every right to be upset. I just think that her father could have showed more support to his daughter and encourage her to prove that she belonged there.
When I mentioned about my family circumstances, I was not relating it to that instance at all. I was stating that I and other white people understand what it feels like to be mistreated. Just because we did not endure that same hardships as your ancestors does not mean that we can't feel the same emotions. It is just very frustrating to hear that white people don't understand and never will when there are many people who are used for sex, are trafficated to other contries, and beaten. I do not want you to think that what I said was being racist by any means, I just wanted people to understand that we do feel the same emotions.
Like I said, what happend to the Williams family was a tragic thing, but I just felt that they should have gone back to prove they belonged there and had every right to be there. Once again, I am truly sorry for the way my comment came across and I hope you understand. If you would like to discuss this furthur, please let me know I will be more than happy to speak with you about it.
It's cool, you or anyone else in the class didn't offend me. I was just kind of surprised that most people in class thought that it wasn't a big deal. I was just saying that most of the people in the class didn't understand how the Williams sisters felt, because they were not black and didn't have the history of slavery. Just like I don't know how it feels to be a woman or gay. I couldn't understand how they feel when they are discriminated against.
ReplyDeleteAgain, you have expressed very good insights. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Scott and Ashley.
ReplyDelete