Originally posted by smokenmirrors
Face it, the message here is, that if you want to claim to be "African American" you HAVE TO BE BLACK.
How racist is that?
Actually the message is "to win that particular award, you must be black."
From the Article:
Ironically, the first two recipients of the student award were white.
"It was not intended at the beginning to be one race only," Clidie Cook, who helps organize the annual event, told the World-Herald.
But Westside officials pushed to change that, feeling the spirit of the honor meant giving it to a black student, and by 2001, the ministerial
alliance in charge specified it was for blacks only.
In reality, it just shows that some people think that equal rights should be special rights. This desire for special rights creates a self imposed
separation in society. The very thing people seek to eliminate is nurtured and given life. It creates reverse discrimination while maintaining the
original discrimination. Hypocracy at its best.
Martin Luther King Jr would likely be appalled that an award given on a day to honor him was for "blacks only".
The spirit of an award given on Martin Luther King Jr day, should be awarded in the same spirit contained in
this speech.
He spoke of equality. He spoke about the elimination of segregation. He spoke of opportunity to all of God's children. He spoke of a nation where
people are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
The way this award is awarded is against everything he spoke.
"Whites need not apply." is equally as appalling as "Blacks need not apply."
In the late 80's I attended a meeting of the "black heritage club" that was sponsored by the high school I attended. The conversation with the
person in charge went something like:
"What are you doing here?"
"I want to learn about black heritage."
"But you're not black."
On my way out the door I said "I guess this drinking fountain is only for blacks."
My parting words apparently had some effect as I later received an apology and an invitation to return. However, by then the damage had been done.
See, my motivation for attending the meeting was not purely for educational purposes. I wanted to spend more time with a girl that was a member of
the club. That I could learn about her heritage, something I freely admit was lacking, was more of a secondary consideration. My treatment created a
conflict in my relationship. She didn't understand why I was so upset. The relationship didn't survive.
But my encounter did leave me with a clear understanding of what "Equal rights" should be. Equal rights should be rights available to all equally.
Division only creates prejudice. Prejudice can only be overcome by education.
People are people.
Americans are Americans.