Have race relation at least in the US, REALLY gotten worse?

Lik3 · Jan 26, 2015

Have race relations worsened under the Obama Administration or have they been exposed because a man of color is running the country? It seems to me like the concept of who or what is racist have changed so much that it has almost seem to lost its meaning. The racism is subtle where I am from, so there is some prejudice here. Yet most of the people tend to get along, at least when I was a student 20 years ago. I say this at the risk of showing my age. Needless to say that there has always been racism and will always remain until Jesus comes back.

I believe racism is a sin and a spiritual sin at that. There is so much hatred, prejudice, and bigotry in the church, which is ironic considering that some of the most racist, hate filled bigots are either "persons of color", religious, and other groups who have been "oppressed" or looked down upon by the larger society. I wonder why that is. Now, having said this, my question is, will true racism, bigotry, and prejudice all worsen before Jesus' return?

It seems like it and I believe that things will get even worse in the near future. Is it also a sign of the end times according to Matthew 24? I know at first I wrote about the current US President but I have noticed that people have either become more resentful (and not just about the economy) and divisive, but could it also be that what is going on is just exposing the racism, bigotry, and prejudice that is already alive and well? It also seems to be "talk of a race war" and the exclusion and name calling of others.

Respect of others seem to be lacking in all direction (and just a white on "minority" thing, but a black on white thing, etc). It is a sad state that many people of color blame the white man for the ills or blame blacks for all of the problems and that have made things worse. Also, how come much of the church doesn't preach on that? I guess I am sheltered but there are even churches who preach racial and ethnic supremacy. I have my own beliefs, but I wonder too why is it that within the US Church is there so much hatred among the races. I know of people who go to church and pray to God on Sunday, but they are more prejudiced or openly hate other groups Monday through Saturday. How come they don't seem to care that a religious unrepentant racist or bigot will not end up in Heaven when they die?

I know that I am someone who is concerned about this issue. I can and will not try to save a person as I don't have any power. However, I believe that because we live in world says that we should not judge but love the person, but hate their sin, we forget that even the true believers shall judge the angels. I am not saying that we should hate racists, bigots, or those who are prejudiced.

Many in the US church do not see that while there are historical reasons why this is so, they see no problems with the segregation of races. I believe a pastor who thinks we should love those and that God will judge their hearts. I believe that while it is well-meaning, it is unbiblical because God will judge people, but not in the way that many people will think. I believe that biblically God will judge whether one is truly repentant and obedient and saved, or whether it is the opposite. I don't think that God will just judge a person's heart. Even many unrepentant sinners have good hearts. But that all is my two cents. I know that this is a rather long rant, but this and other issues have me fired up. That is all.

notalone32 · Jan 26, 2015

Am not from US so know little about it. Racism towards certain groups seems to increase at certain times. At the moment the Jews in Europe and the UK are getting it worse than in previous 30 years or so.

There is a lot of hostility in the UK towards certain other racial groups (those from East of Europe and Roma Gypsies) but I'm not sure those issues are actually getting worse or staying the same

Autumnleaf · Jan 26, 2015

I think its mostly made for tv stuff. There are social agitators who make a living from people like George Soros going from place to place causing social mischief. ie the 1% protests. Its the same leaders going from place to play being funded secretly.

keith99 · Jan 27, 2015

Have race relations gotten worse in the U.S?

Not that I can see.

Have relations gotten worse on the internet?

Yup.

selfinflikted · Jan 27, 2015

Everything has gotten worse on the internet

HerCrazierHalf · Jan 27, 2015

It hasn't gotten worse. Instead it is more visible than before.

What has worsened is that people are focusing on it too much. So much so that it is counter productive.

stellalunaCW · Jan 27, 2015

I think it's just been exposed.

HerCrazierHalf · Jan 27, 2015

On a personal level (as a visible minority) I haven't experienced anything significant. Just the usual stuff.

bhsmte · Jan 27, 2015

HerCrazierHalf said:
It hasn't gotten worse. Instead it is more visible than before.

What has worsened is that people are focusing on it too much. So much so that it is counter productive.

I would agree.

I do believe, the US is a more divided country from an ideological standpoint today, than it was 10 years ago.

Shempster · Jan 27, 2015

Less racism than ever if you ask me.

That is, until the media creates yet another firestorm over an unfortunate event. Then once they get you hooked to the story, they reel you in nice and slow.

Strathos · Jan 27, 2015

People are more brazen with their racism when behind the cloak of anonymity.

ViaCrucis · Jan 27, 2015

American racism is as nasty as its ever been. But it's been buried or hidden in a closet. Moreso, I've noticed many people who don't think they are racist but, well, are.

A decade ago if you had asked me if anyone in my family was racist or prejudiced against people of color I would have said no. I can't say that today. Now would anyone in my family use the 'N' word? No. If you asked them if they believe all people regardless of the color of skin are equal and deserve equal and just treatment they would all say yes.

But there are the little things. The off-handed comment that "the only people who bring up race are blacks", or that racism wouldn't exist if "black people didn't keep making it an issue". Maybe others wouldn't classify this as racist, but it sounds that way to these two ears. At the very least it seems deeply ignorant of current and enduring issues in American society. An unwillingness or an inability to perceive that, yes, white privilege exists, that there remains a systemic problem of racism.

To make it even more personal I've had to open up to my own problems and acknowledge it. If I saw a light-skinned African American man I probably wouldn't even blink an eye, but if I'm honest if I saw a really dark-skinned African American man I would, for a split second, react--at least internally. What sort of reaction? If I had to define it my reaction is not fear really, but a jolt of awareness. And then I feel guilty for having even cared, and then in my head I am suddenly terrified of doing or saying something offensive. "Did I look? If I looked did it look like a racist look? Does he think I'm a racist?". Then there's about a ten or fifteen minute period of shame for ever having all of that play in my head at all.

That's how things happen in my own headspace.

-CryptoLutheran

Euler · Jan 28, 2015

ViaCrucis said:
American racism is as nasty as its ever been. But it's been buried or hidden in a closet. Moreso, I've noticed many people who don't think they are racist but, well, are.

A decade ago if you had asked me if anyone in my family was racist or prejudiced against people of color I would have said no. I can't say that today. Now would anyone in my family use the 'N' word? No. If you asked them if they believe all people regardless of the color of skin are equal and deserve equal and just treatment they would all say yes.

But there are the little things. The off-handed comment that "the only people who bring up race are blacks", or that racism wouldn't exist if "black people didn't keep making it an issue". Maybe others wouldn't classify this as racist, but it sounds that way to these two ears. At the very least it seems deeply ignorant of current and enduring issues in American society. An unwillingness or an inability to perceive that, yes, white privilege exists, that there remains a systemic problem of racism.

To make it even more personal I've had to open up to my own problems and acknowledge it. If I saw a light-skinned African American man I probably wouldn't even blink an eye, but if I'm honest if I saw a really dark-skinned African American man I would, for a split second, react--at least internally. What sort of reaction? If I had to define it my reaction is not fear really, but a jolt of awareness. And then I feel guilty for having even cared, and then in my head I am suddenly terrified of doing or saying something offensive. "Did I look? If I looked did it look like a racist look? Does he think I'm a racist?". Then there's about a ten or fifteen minute period of shame for ever having all of that play in my head at all.

That's how things happen in my own headspace.

-CryptoLutheran

And a very sensible space it is.

parsley · Jan 28, 2015

What has worsened is that people are focusing on it too much. So much so that it is counter productive.

It's definitely getting stirred up in the media. But I don't see any change on the social level.

bhsmte · Jan 28, 2015

Strathos said:
People are more brazen with their racism when behind the cloak of anonymity.

People are more brazen about anything, on the internet.

ForJesusChrist · Jan 28, 2015

I'm not sure if its gotten worse, being that I'm still young. However, I do feel that it is very unnecessary when people use race as an excuse or something of that nature. I believe race should never determine what jobs you get or who your friends are or what sport you play.

notalone32 · Jan 29, 2015

ViaCrucis said:
American racism is as nasty as its ever been. But it's been buried or hidden in a closet. Moreso, I've noticed many people who don't think they are racist but, well, are.

A decade ago if you had asked me if anyone in my family was racist or prejudiced against people of color I would have said no. I can't say that today. Now would anyone in my family use the 'N' word? No. If you asked them if they believe all people regardless of the color of skin are equal and deserve equal and just treatment they would all say yes.

But there are the little things. The off-handed comment that "the only people who bring up race are blacks", or that racism wouldn't exist if "black people didn't keep making it an issue". Maybe others wouldn't classify this as racist, but it sounds that way to these two ears. At the very least it seems deeply ignorant of current and enduring issues in American society. An unwillingness or an inability to perceive that, yes, white privilege exists, that there remains a systemic problem of racism.

To make it even more personal I've had to open up to my own problems and acknowledge it. If I saw a light-skinned African American man I probably wouldn't even blink an eye, but if I'm honest if I saw a really dark-skinned African American man I would, for a split second, react--at least internally. What sort of reaction? If I had to define it my reaction is not fear really, but a jolt of awareness. And then I feel guilty for having even cared, and then in my head I am suddenly terrified of doing or saying something offensive. "Did I look? If I looked did it look like a racist look? Does he think I'm a racist?". Then there's about a ten or fifteen minute period of shame for ever having all of that play in my head at all.

That's how things happen in my own headspace.

-CryptoLutheran

I get that shame cycle thing too. Maybe its white guilt. Yeah I'm part Jewish and part Roma but I can pass as pure WASP. So yeah I have a lot of privelege. And possibly I do have a lot of deep down prejudices.
I think we all may be a little bit racist. But most of us are horrified at this monster that lurks within us.
A few people think they are jutified in actually being unkind to other races. I was shocked when I went on YouTube and read some comments and so many of them were ethnic slurs. Even if the video had nothing to do with race! Absurd.
Having said that I think some people like to shock. Some of these people might just be pretending to be racists to troll

Have race relation at least in the US, REALLY gotten worse?

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