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July 13, 2009

YOUNG VOICES

Will Racism Ever Die?
by Tamika Thompson


 

It's summer 2009. On the one hand, the United States has its first African American president and confirmation hearings are underway for a woman who will likely be the Supreme Court's first Latina justice.

On the other hand, racism (and the perception of racism) is alive and busy as ever. For example:

1) A young Ghanaian man and former college soccer star sits in a California state prison serving a six-year sentence for raping a white schoolmate in a racially charged case with seemingly weak evidence against him.

2) A private suburban Pennsylvania swim club has asked a local day camp that serves minority children to return to its facility after the club was accused of racism for canceling the day camp's contract.

3) And, the NAACP is unveiling a new Rapid Report System today that will allow people “to send instant texts, e-mails or video reports of police abuse to the association via cell phone.”  Way to use 21st-century technology, NAACP! But it'd be nice if we didn't need it.

What do you think? Do you ever feel that, on the racism front, our nation simultaneously takes one step forward and two steps back? What gives? Will racism ever die?

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