Topic : 01/12 Racism Experiment

Charlie Doctor Phil. Charlie I think Doctor Phil is correct and as for black peoples aswell it is ok aswel. Doctor Phil I think you convince Charlie to except black peoples aswell and maybe I kn-- 

ew it all along aswell. Charlie Doctor Phil you did a great job aswell. See you tomorrow Aftern--- 

oon. Well I had better close now. Sincerley Your. Russell 

      I could have been Charlie's sister and raised in the same household. I was a teenager in the 70's in the south and was taught racial hate in my home growing up. My daughter born in 1977 had a biracial daughter in 1999. I had to come to terms with this fact while being put between my Dad whom I love and my daughter that I love also. The minute Alexis was born she stole my heart and from that moment on I have loved her more than life itself. She is a beautiful sweet 6 year old and all I want to do is be the BEST grandma ever to her. I learned a lot the hard way and could have benefited from a show like today.  I say to anyone out there that is in the same situation and having trouble accepting a biracial baby, please consider that this is an innocent child coming into the world that deserves nothing less than the best family and love.  It does not matter what color the mere skin of the parents happen to be.  Maybe when a couple generations of biracial people are born, just maybe, people will realize that racism is such a waste of time and brain cells. It sounds strange to me  to speak of my granddaughter as biracial because I only see her as my sweet Alexis!!!!! 

As a 29-year-old African-American female I have had a problem with racism.  Unfortunately most of it has come from my own race. I don't speak Ebonics, do not listen to rap music, or dress "ghetto fabulous" yet I'm discriminated by my own race because they feel I act too "white". First let me say that I was not brought up in a suburban or ethnically diverse neighborhood. I grew up in "the hood" all of my neighbors are African-American as well.  I feel very fortunate and lucky to have parents that taught me that there is more to life then my neighborhood. Music was my first taste of that. My father was a guitar player and while we listened to R&B favorites like Earth, Wind and Fire, James Brown and Parliament I was also exposed to Rock like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and Pink Floyd. My parents believed that you need to know how to communicate and interact with EVERYONE regardless of color or race and to be proud of my heritage. 

One of the most important things that my parents especially my mother has taught me is that people DO see color and ethnicity and some people believe that some ethnic groups are inferior to others. That is unfortunate. I don't believe that people should be color blind because that creates a sense of a "we are all the same" ideology that don't believe is correct. Everyone no mater what ethnicity or color should be proud of your heritage. I don't believe that dating outside your race or having friends of another race makes you hate your own race. Some people I think believe that about me. I for one I'm very proud to be African-American and believe that everyone else should be proud of who they are too. But, being proud of one's race shouldn't go to the point of thinking that someone else's race is inferior and not worthy of respect  which I believe is the true problem of racism. Once you believe that someone is inferior it leads the way to stereotypes and abuses. I think that you should be proud of who you are and RESPECT other races for who they are too. I like to think of the world more like a beautiful array of colors than just colorblind. 

I want to say that Charlie has been a great inspiration. I used to believe that someone who has grown up around racism and been racist all their life would be incapable of understanding tolerance. Charlie certainley proved me wrong! He not only learned to tolerate African Americans, he learned to love them. What really moved me is when he became so overwhelmed by all the love and happieness he was feeling and being surrounded with that he was brought to tears. Charlie, your joy brings me joy.