Remember Segregation

January 16, 2006 12:37 AM

Remember Segregation - Founded in the core belief that segregation is, was and has always been wrong, this campaign is intended to make people stop, think and perhaps get a little uncomfortable in the process of realizing the modern day importance of Dr. King's life.
posted by bluedaniel (28 comments total)

Does that beg the question?
posted by uncanny hengeman at 12:52 AM on January 16, 2006

Uhm, what?
posted by bluedaniel at 1:08 AM on January 16, 2006

Ridiculous. Insulting.
posted by kjh at 1:11 AM on January 16, 2006

Thanks bluedaniel.
posted by gunthersghost at 1:43 AM on January 16, 2006

I won't clutter the blue with a single link to a widely reported news story, but while we're on the subject, I found this interesting, if somewhat painful to read.
posted by Simon! at 2:19 AM on January 16, 2006

Founded in the core belief that segregation is, was and has always been wrong,

The "core belief" bluedaniel is that racism is wrong. The belief that one human race is superior to, and has the god given right to reign over, another race is what the struggle over civil rights was all about. Segregation, apartheid, zionism, etc. are simply outward manifestations of this inhuman belief.
posted by three blind mice at 2:44 AM on January 16, 2006

Is it me or is this post being grossly misunderstood?
posted by bluedaniel at 2:56 AM on January 16, 2006

bluedaniel, thanks for the link, it's a rather striking website.

(and no it's not just you, I have no idea what the "begs the question" and "ridiculous, insulting" comments are about)
posted by funambulist at 3:14 AM on January 16, 2006

This is a great site, thanks.

While we have made great strides in this country by attacking overt racism such as forced segregation, we still have a very long way to go. Most of our schools and neighborhoods remain segregated, there are still sundown towns where people of color are not welcome after dark, people are still stopped while driving black, treated differently in restaurants and denied jobs and housing based upon the color of their skin. Let us not be too complacent based upon the successes of the 60's. Laws were passed, now attitudes need to be changed.
posted by caddis at 4:26 AM on January 16, 2006

Good site.
Those first few "White Only" screens really creeped me out. The site builders aim to highlight how far we've come from an acceptance of "white only" and "coloureds only" signs was forcefully and well made. (And obviously - how unhumanising it is) I won't be forgetting that in a hurry.
posted by seanyboy at 4:52 AM on January 16, 2006

(I think it begs the question because it assumes that segregation is wrong. I'm pretty sure that was a joke, but it's hard to tell sometimes in the blue.)
posted by EarBucket at 4:53 AM on January 16, 2006

Cool site. The flash intro is a bit too long for me, tho. I'm actually old enough to remember some of this. Being in it is very different than remembering it. BTW: There are some memoirs of segregation (and de-segregation) you might be interested in at MemoryWiki.
posted by MarshallPoe at 5:03 AM on January 16, 2006

I think it begs the question because it assumes that segregation is wrong. I'm pretty sure that was a joke.

We have a winner. I hope I'm not being too much of a pain in the ass. Shouldn't joke about that kinda stuff, I s'pose.


Most of our schools and neighborhoods remain segregated, there are still sundown towns where people of color are not welcome after dark, people are still stopped while driving black, treated differently in restaurants and denied jobs and housing based upon the color of their skin.

When I worked in America, one of the first things I got told at induction day was, "OK all you white folk: You are really not welcome [points to map] here, here, here, here, here, and... here. Oh yeah, and here, and here, and here. And here. And if you go to those places after dark then you are asking to be physically assaulted, or worse.

Just sayin'.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 5:25 AM on January 16, 2006

What goes around comes around.
posted by anthill at 5:32 AM on January 16, 2006

Yeah, I heard white people have it real rough in America. Poor sons of bitches.
posted by chunking express at 6:34 AM on January 16, 2006

Before this thread gets completely derailed, let me just say thanks, bluedaniel. That was an awesome link, and great way to start my MLK Day. As a matter of fact, I'm now inspired to go spend the rest of the day at the National Civil Right Museum (whose site seems to be down this morning).
posted by JeffK at 6:50 AM on January 16, 2006

Yeah, I heard white people have it real rough in America. Poor sons of bitches.

I only mentioned it because of the parochial "people of color are not welcome after dark" comment.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 7:16 AM on January 16, 2006

uncanny: I'm willing to bet that colored people who live and visit in those neighborhoods unwelcoming of white folks don't feel that safe either.
posted by Mercaptan at 7:26 AM on January 16, 2006

uncanny hengeman, I was just being a jerk, no worries. And I would agree, this link was excellent.
posted by chunking express at 7:38 AM on January 16, 2006

I know plenty of 'white' neighborhoods I'm not very comfortable in.....just sayin'.

Funny, I noticed there is nothing about about Affirmative Action on the site that claims that segregation is, was and has always been wrong.
posted by j.p. Hung at 7:38 AM on January 16, 2006

Unrelated question: Why are white people called white, and black people called black? Whites aren't white, they're kind of a beige and blacks are more dark browns. These kind of things keep me up at night.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:28 AM on January 16, 2006

Y'know, the Whites Only signs and legal manifestations of racism have been for the most part removed thanks to the efforts of King and his comrades and that's a wonderful thing. But it's only half the battle. We still live in an atmosphere of racial distrust and wrongheaded thinking about eachother. And all of us need to work on that in our everyday lives, even if it's simply by listening to eachother. That's what King would've wanted, I believe.
posted by jonmc at 9:29 AM on January 16, 2006

Whites aren't white, they're kind of a beige

I'm actually the invigorating hue of bad mayonaisse, but I don't want to take away any more of your sack time, so don't sweat it. ;>
posted by jonmc at 9:30 AM on January 16, 2006

"We still live in an atmosphere of racial distrust and wrongheaded thinking about each other."
And fear jonmc.

Happy MLK day.
posted by Smedleyman at 10:35 AM on January 16, 2006

Great link. And I agree that this was a good way to start the day. Thanks!
posted by mmahaffie at 2:27 PM on January 16, 2006

j.p. Hung: Funny, I noticed there is nothing about about Affirmative Action on the site that claims that segregation is, was and has always been wrong.

Classy! Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, are we?
posted by hincandenza at 3:44 PM on January 16, 2006

King was smart, he was eloquent, he persevered and most importantly, he was incredibly brave. The world needs more like him. He pretty much defines the word hero for me.
posted by caddis at 3:46 PM on January 16, 2006

In order to learn about this holiday [I'm a new immigrant, non white] I read this today about the "meaning of the holiday" by Mrs King,

"The King Holiday celebrates Dr. King's global vision of the world house, a world whose people and nations had triumphed over poverty, racism, war and violence. The holiday celebrates his vision of ecumenical solidarity, his insistence that all faiths had something meaningful to contribute to building the beloved community.

The Holiday commemorates America's pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence --- the man who taught by his example that nonviolent action is the most powerful, revolutionary force for social change available to oppressed people in their struggles for liberation. "

Where are these lessons today, globally?
posted by infini at 6:32 PM on January 16, 2006