"Racism Sucks"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGOk3_P2w8o

I chose this “YouTube” video entitled Racism Sucks because it explains the ignorance some people have to this day that promotes the idea of racism is our everyday lives.

This clip depicts a man holding a sign that says “White Power,” and a dog in front of him questioning why he is supporting racism. The man holding the white power sign immediately tries to defend himself and the reason he is holding the sign. He says that he can “Stop being racist anytime he wants.” However, when the dog asks him, “How about right now,” he responds by saying, “Next week is better.” The dog then declares his disappointment and walks away, after which he pees on a flag displaying a Swastika. This action represents the dog’s disagreement with racism and all forms of discriminations, including that of which the Nazi’s practiced. The man’s actions in this short video depict the thoughts of many in America and of their ignorance of the true meaning of mankind and its rights.

This video relates to class material because it represents the idea that racist people know that they are wrong in their actions and choose to continue them anyways. “Why I Hate Abercrombie & Fitch” by Dwight McBride brings up this point briefly when he states that, “…careful consideration for the harm that it does to our ways of thinking about and imagining our current racial realities in this country.” This goes to show how people like the man in this cartoon choose to be hateful despite them knowing how their actions affect our country. “What it All Has to Do With Us” by Allan G. Johnson also reflects the YouTube video, “Racism Sucks.” The man in the video is practicing individualistic thinking as described in Johnson’s article. Johnson states, “Individualistic thinking, however, assumes that everything has only to do with individuals and nothing to do with social categories,” reflecting the thoughts of the man in the video. He thinks that he can choose to stop being racist at any time without any problems, denying the effect on those he is surrounded with that agree with his racist stances. The social category he is involved in makes it even harder for him to stop being racist.

I think that this video is a great representation of the ideas of many racist people in America and elsewhere. There are people who know that they are racist, aren’t afraid to admit it, and will stand up for it no matter who the audience. They may be aware of the fact that they are able to change their ways, but at the same time, they refuse to do so. This may be because they are just so involved in actions supporting racism or for the mere reason of it being a part of their lives everyday. Either way, it is sad to think that even though a person knows that what he or she believes in is wrong, he or she will still practice these thoughts despite the consequences on others.