Racism

(Originally posted on 06-10-10)  Ok, so I watched this documentary this morning called "Prom in Mississippi". I actually cried watching it. It made me so sad. It was about a high school in Mississippi that wanted to have 2 proms, a white prom and a mixed prom. Several of the students there wanted to have at least 1 prom that the black students couldn't attend. The black students and their parents were told that if they attended this prom the police would be called, not that any of the black kids wanted to attend anyway.


So, if you're like me you would think that this documentary was filmed back in the 70's or maybe even the early 80's. But, no, it was actually filmed in 2008. 2008! To me this is a time when the views of a minority actually affected the majority. And, to add fuel to fire, it was mainly the parents that wanted the segregation. First of all, what type of high school administration would allow this to happen? I was really appalled at the level of accepted racism in that town. It was like every one knew that the whites were racist, and that's just the way it was. One girl even talked about not being able to get a job at a few places in town because she had black friends. Maybe the administration didn't allow it and the parents just paid for a separate building and separate prom. Maybe, hopefully, I have this part wrong. Parents and students both gave interviews talking about the racism they were taught as a kid. Sad. Racism is just allowed to perpetuate from generation to generation. But, I thought it was strange that none of the parents who put on the "White Prom" would do a camera interview. They had a parent meeting that they wouldn't allow cameras to show and then they threatened to call the police if any cameras showed up at their "White Prom". Seems to me that if you're bold enough to exclude an entire group of people based solely on their race, then you should be bold enough to let those people know who you are. How cowardly of you to be a racist behind closed doors!

The bright spot in the movie was the 1 interracial couple of the whole high school. They were really worried about going to prom together and being seen together. They talked about the fact that they have to be very careful if they're ever seen out in public. They don't hold hands or hug in public or around their own school. Then just when you, the viewer, starts to think, Why don't they just let this relationship go? you really get it. You really get that they're in love and to them being with that person is worth the stares, the dirty looks, and the threats. Instead of those parents focusing on who's going to what prom, perhaps they would benefit from focusing on a couple who could teach a thing or two about love.