Today in my class, the Psychology of Stigma and Victimization, I found out something interesting when the question was posed: What was your reaction when you saw people on the news talking about racism and discrimination related to the hurricane and the aftermath thereof?
And here is a summary of my peers' reactions:
-They're just primed for that. If they're always thinking about racism, of course they'll see racism and discrimination when a disaster strikes.
-Who are they kidding? The mayor's black! Do they think he's allowing discrimination against them?
-This obviously has nothing to do with discrimination and racism. This is about a natural disaster that struck everyone with equal force. It doesn't matter if you're black or poor or whatever. Did they expect it to not be a disaster?
Well, then. Glad we cleared that up.
No. friggin'. way.
Wow. On the other hand, I went to Mount Union. Would students have said that at Mount? Yup. Even in a Psych course on "Stigma and Victimization" - heheheh, yup, probably.
Cause, you know, they should just stop thinking about racism - like me - the middle class white kid. Drrr.
I remember my sociology course on American Society. One of my fellow students - sorority hat atop her head - said, "what's wrong with a minimum wage job? I have a minimum wage job and I'm doing fine." Oh, I'm sorry missy, some people out there have to pay for more than their sorority dues! Who's paying for your college tuition? Room? Board? Car? Insurance? Somehow, I'm thinking that's not your minimum wage job . . . !
[for those in sororities, I am not stating there is something inherently wrong with them, as long as you don't deny that there are dues, and if a young woman was going to live completely on a minimum wage job, she could not afford most sorority dues]
re: the other victims of disasters:
Mark's mom has been without power in Florida since Sunday (today is Friday). She is on a fixed income, and stayed in her appt. building with lots of other retired folks also on fixed incomes. She doesn't want to leave beause "the power will come back anytime now."
The disaster only strikes those that are left in it's path. duh