How bad is the Racism in Oklahoma? (Oklahoma City: rated, location)

[bateman]

Originally Posted by chasingclouds

after hearing people flap their mouths about obama I would say Oklahoma is very racist. very very. STAY AWAY if you do not like racism or are not white, never ever move here. I have known some people my whole life, and they HID they were racist to me, until it comes to voting for Obama or not, people that would have voted for Hilary, just come right and say ..I aint votin for no n word.. needless to say I wont be talking to those people EVER again!!!

I never realized it before because I am white, and I looked over this thread after not being on the site for awhile.. and I had posted that racism goes both way here. well now I understand why some black people, or any other color would not like white people here... look at how they act and think!! shameful!

I'd like to echo your opinion.

Here's what I know on the subject. I am a white, college educated (B.A.), white male, married with one child. I had no idea how ignorant and racist my fellow Oklahomans were (well I had an idea) until the campaigns heated up recently. I've deleted more forwarded, right-wing propaganda emails than I can remember. I've heard the n-word more than ever, I hear peope constantly recycling stories and accusastions that were thoroughly debunked months ago. I can hardly even talk to some people because they're brainwashed beyond the point of reach. Tom Tomorrow's "Stupid or Lying?" comes to mind and quite frankly, I've had enough.

Even my workplace is mired in ignorance. My boss, in his 50's, is a bona fide civic leader, involved with several "rotarian" and "arts" type groups and is even an "elder" in his church. I find this all amusing since he is an unapolagetic racist, habitual liar and barely knows the meaning of the word leadership.

In my opinion, if Obama is elected, this state won't change. It will grow a deeper shade of red. Instead of embracing the message of change, the prevailing culture in OK will probably grow more and more defiant.

If I were a person of color, I would avoid this area, unless you are committed to being an agent of change, are "saved" or are just incredibly thick-skinned.

I am working on a short list of relocation states, not just because we are doing so poorly in education, but because I don't want my son growing up amongst such hateful and ignorant attitudes. Like it or not, this is how I view my community. I do not see it as a happy place where people are kind to one another, and that's what I seek.

So in answer to the original question, "How bad is Racism in Oklahoma?" It's bad.
But you might not notice it because it's below the surface, it's hidden. You might only know about it if you are white and privy to those attitudes the closet racists don't have the courage to express openly. I find it all very bizarre and disappointing.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by bateman

I am working on a short list of relocation states, not just because we are doing so poorly in education, but because I don't want my son growing up amongst such hateful and ignorant attitudes. Like it or not, this is how I view my community. I do not see it as a happy place where people are kind to one another, and that's what I seek.

So in answer to the original question, "How bad is Racism in Oklahoma?" It's bad.
But you might not notice it because it's below the surface, it's hidden. You might only know about it if you are white and privy to those attitudes the closet racists don't have the courage to express openly. I find it all very bizarre and disappointing.

Every area in the world has or has had similar groups spouting hatred for one reason or another. What is important for your kids, in not that they are exposed to such things, but how you react to such things. You are setting the model for them. They look to you to show them how to respond to the world in general. If they see you running away, that is what they learn. If they see you being tolerant, friendly, and accepting, that is what they are learning. Confronting racism in the street is teaching them confrontation. Standing up for your beliefs teaches them character. By standing up, I don't mean being confrontational. It is quietly saying "I don't approve" when someone tells a racist joke.

Let me share something I have always believed......American is not a race. American is an attitude. It is grounded in the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence. I do NOT believe we are the freest, the smartest, the best educated, most trouble free nation in the world. What we are, is a nation founded on a principle.....that all men are endowed with certain inalienable rights. To my knowledge, we re the only nation in the world founded on principles as opposed to simply geography or tribal or racial affiliations. That makes us unique, special, and we have an awesome responsibility. One of the tragedies of the last 8 years is that our administration felt they could "export democracy" when democracy must be deisred and earned by the people. And we cannot export the principles that this country was founded on. It is like ethics. You can have them, you can talk about them, you can share the principles of ethics, but you cannot make someone ethical.....that is something they have to decide to be for themselves. We are Americans by CHOICE. Because we have common principles. For the sake of society in this country we have to share those principles with those who think racism is acceptable and demand that they adhere to the Preamble in their everyday lives.

In your situation, consider yourself a missionary for the rights of man. There are a lot of people around you who, without thinking, would deny those rights to people because of skin color, sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, among just a few things. Taken to the extreme you find yourself in Hitlers Germany where if you were blond and blue eyed you were endowed with greater rights.

The Bible tells us of "salt that has lost it's savor" as being worthless and should be thrown away. If you remove men and women of character from the society around them, like the salt without savor, the society itself is worthless...........

Leave for job opportunities, leave for climate, leave for any reason EXCEPT because others around deny the rights of others. YOU have a moral obligation to see to it that the rights of man extend to those who are currently being discriminated against. Your children will admire and respect you for it......moreover, they will learn how to be adults in a challenging society.

[chasingclouds]

Originally Posted by bateman

I'd like to echo your opinion.

Here's what I know on the subject. I am a white, college educated (B.A.), white male, married with one child. I had no idea how ignorant and racist my fellow Oklahomans were (well I had an idea) until the campaigns heated up recently. I've deleted more forwarded, right-wing propaganda emails than I can remember. I've heard the n-word more than ever, I hear peope constantly recycling stories and accusastions that were thoroughly debunked months ago. I can hardly even talk to some people because they're brainwashed beyond the point of reach. Tom Tomorrow's "Stupid or Lying?" comes to mind and quite frankly, I've had enough.

Even my workplace is mired in ignorance. My boss, in his 50's, is a bona fide civic leader, involved with several "rotarian" and "arts" type groups and is even an "elder" in his church. I find this all amusing since he is an unapologetic racist, habitual liar and barely knows the meaning of the word leadership.

In my opinion, if Obama is elected, this state won't change. It will grow a deeper shade of red. Instead of embracing the message of change, the prevailing culture in OK will probably grow more and more defiant.

If I were a person of color, I would avoid this area, unless you are committed to being an agent of change, are "saved" or are just incredibly thick-skinned.

I am working on a short list of relocation states, not just because we are doing so poorly in education, but because I don't want my son growing up amongst such hateful and ignorant attitudes. Like it or not, this is how I view my community. I do not see it as a happy place where people are kind to one another, and that's what I seek.

So in answer to the original question, "How bad is Racism in Oklahoma?" It's bad.
But you might not notice it because it's below the surface, it's hidden. You might only know about it if you are white and privy to those attitudes the closet racists don't have the courage to express openly. I find it all very bizarre and disappointing.

Thank you for sharing your story. I am shocked and saddened. I have also noticed that they do not care to hear the truths and indeed are becoming hardened to even reality. Good luck in finding a better place to raise your child. I am also looking into that same thing for our family.

[colleeng47]

I wish the both of you the best of luck in your contemplated relocation. You obviously are not happy here, and I firmly believe one should live where they are happy, comfortable and secure.

[rocketcamp]

I also agree that Oklahoma is a pretty racist state. I would also say that it is hidden since people don't openly say racist remarks in front of minorities. The signs of racism I have traced was when I would be treated as incompetent, such as the time I went to a department store in OKC and was explained what taxes were, how rediculous... I've taken college level accounting. At the same time I know as a matter of fact that blacks have it far worse, i've had white and hispanic friends openly say racial slurs, well not my friends anymore. At the same time not everyone in Oklahoma is racist, but that is an another story.

[LadyRobyn]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

Since this is not the political discussion forum, I'm not going to comment on this, except to say you sure have a lot of time on your hands.

Colleen is quite right (as always ) This is NOT the Political section, we can discuss LOCAL Politics to a certain degree but discussions about the Presidential election will inevitably draw in posters who are only here for the political arguments and this IS the Oklahoma section.


Also...Please do NOT copy/paste things that you have posted elsewhere in the forum. That is considered cross-posting and will be removed.

Have a fun weekend!

[chippeebobippee]

I've not been on here in a while and looking at the various posts, I don't see much difference in OK than in MD in light of what people are noticing and stating regarding the racial divide in the election. There are people of color in my state registering to vote for the first time just because a man with brown skin is running for President. An equally repulsive fact is that quite a few people of all races have been shocked to hear that I am not voting for Obama just because I have brown skin. Persoanlly, when I look at the positions of all candidates on issues that are relevant to this country and compare them to what I believe in light of my understanding of the Bible, I am not enthralled about voting for anyone. A friend and I have joked that we'll vote for each other but since that it a waste of a vote, then we will vote for the lesser of several evils. While most of what I saw since my last post is "political" in nature, I find it to still be germaine to seeing hat people think and how they feel about a person of color being on the ticket for Pres of USA.

What is more telling for me about racism in OK has been my experiences with realtors, a bank loan manager, speaking by phone to people about employment and folks selling their house on their own. Because I was born and raised in the deep south and in light of experiences that I have had when travelling throughout this country, what is most influential for me in deciding whether to relocate to OK is how I am treated and responded to when my voice is heard versus communication via email when one has no idea with whom they are speaking. I may pass through OK but I doubt that I would stay and lay down roots unless I felt very welcome in whatever town I visited. I learned a long time ago there is a difference between being welcome or tolerated for a week or two, being welcome when you say a while and finding acceptance when you buy a house to settle down.

[colleeng47]

I feel the need to comment on this whole racism discussion. I have no reason to believe that those who wrote on here about racism they've encountered is not true. No one seems like a troll. The whole thing breaks my heart. It truly bothers me that someone could be made to feel unwanted, unliked, and uncomfortable for any reason, let alone the color of their skin. My much loved daughter is brown skinned (Middle Eastern Indian) , as is my much loved nephew (Marshall Islandese), and my soon to be African American niece or nephew. All these children come to my Irish, Italian, Polish, Phillipino, Scotch, English, German family through adoption.

I moved to OK from a 50/50 black/white town in NJ. Our neighborhoods for the most part were not "black" or "white". Just about every neighborhood was interracial. Interracial dating was extremely popular at the high school. No one (at least not in my presence) ever commented on it. Now I live in mostly white Mustang. I've questioned my daughter about racism, and she tells me she's seen a little of it, but actually no more than she saw in NJ. It would infuriate me to think someone would dislike her merely because she's brown skinned. It will probably happen, but my daughter can take care of herself, and she may be brown skinned, but that brown skin is pretty thick.

I'm sorry if I came across as not believing those who have encountered racism in OK. I guess since my entire family is so color blind, it never occurred to me that there are still morons out there who are racist.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

......... It would infuriate me to think someone would dislike her merely because she's brown skinned.........

as cute, sexy, and charming as she is? If someone doesn't like cause of her skin color, kick their a$$, kick them out of your house, then kick them again for being blind.........You are lucky I'm not her age................

[knittie]

We travel quite a bit. I think rob is absolutely correct.