Questions for people of color?

InterView Of Monique Harris Teacher of Children who are our future.

1. I think that the state of America towards Black people are the same as the were before Obama was President-Elect. However, I do feel as though people who had preconceived notions about Black people now have to reconsider their ideolgies into a more positive attitude. I mean their are people who believe that Black people are biologically inferior and second class citizens and will also think that way and having a Black President will not change that. But then you have people who are liberal and don't think that way, so it all depends on the ideology of the person.

2. I think people will be people, be who they are, and act they way they act...whether positive or negative. It will not matter who is in office.

3. I think Obama has his work cut out for him as President because he is Black, he is quite young for a President, and he has new ideas that most may not agree with or want to support. But I also believe that he would not pick people to be in his cabinet who would completely rebel against him. So I think his obstacles are his opponents in Congress. But he does not strike be as a man whom backs down and rolls over, so I believe he will fight for what he believes in.

4. Entertainment is not really my expertise. But I do know that there was a time in history were people of color could not perform on telelvision. It was a white man in 'black face" or a white women made up to look like someone who is indigenous. So in that respect I feel we have come along way. But I also think that non people of color get more recognition than people of color. For example, Halle Berry received an Oscar for "Monster's Ball"...but why not "Introducing Dorothy Dandrige". And Denzel Washington received an Oscar for "Training Day"...but why not Malcolm X. Why is that? Why couldn't they have received awards for the more positive roles?

5. I think people of color have been entertaining since way back when. I don't know if we feel that it is easier for us to get into or what. But if that is what someone truly wants to do, I say go for it. But if a person of color wants to be a serious figure in the media (like a talk show host that discusses serious issues) and the industry tells him or her that he or she would do better as a comedian or another image like the "sambo" role so many of us often played in the past which perpetuated stereotypes...I don't feel that is appropriate. Menial jobs are a whole another story. People of color are trapped in menial jobs for so many reasons. I think that answer will take too long and I still have 5 more questions to go. :-) We can talk about it when we meet.

6. No. Blacks will NOT get their 40 acres and a mule. I don't think it will EVER happen.

7. Race relations in the United States has always been complicated. I think race relations vary in different parts of the US. We can always hope and pray that things get better to have racial harmony but until people change their racist, prejudical, and stereotypical ideals we cannot have change. Change starts with the way we think about people. The disturbing thing is that children pick up these ideals and then it is further perpetuated.

8. There are so many issues in the African American community. I don't know if there is one thing that we can do to stop all those subjects you mentioned but I do believe we as a community need to:
-love ourselves (get rid of that internalized racism)
-teach values that instill the value of human life
-learn about our wonderful and rich past
-become serious about education and school
-realize education equals more opportunity
Yet there are some things that I feel influence the other. If we are educated, we cannot get full tim jobs that pay a living wage which offers benefits so that we may get the healthcare we so desperately need. Crime and incarceration are hard because they often go hand and hand. There is just no respect for one another anymore and the value of life is meaningless to some people. Taking a life is like stepping on an ant. It is horrible.

9. I would have world peace, end racism, end cruelty to animals, everyone would have healthcare, we would clean up the environment, not harm the environment, find cures to all illnesses and diseases to help the people already inflicted and then discovered vaccines to protect everyone, make sure everyone has a home or place to stay and enough food to eat...so many other things but I will stop there.

10. I would rather be neither. Instead I would like to be happy, loved, and financially stable because I want to be able to care for myself, my future family when I have one, and my current family.

So teacher, what do you think of my answers?

Reply Of P Trilla

I am not grading you on you answers i just would like to know how people of color and blacks feel about how we have been living and being treated being in this country from one another towards one another and other cultures. I mean i like your answers and i think you could of not answered any better. I am sad because i have tried to ask other people who are not black and other poor people these questions related to there situation in this country and there reply was no answer they dont care adn they wonder why its so hard to live and all this bad stuff is happening to america because they dont care. i mean if people dont care that just shows the instablilty and attiitude and stupidity of the level of people in this country who choose not to educate themself to help each other instead they dont care about all this money being drained and not given back to them they are just fine with getting by and living but they are not fine with changing the issues of suchthis country which will eventually destroy the fabric of america which has been destroyed for a very long time but now mother america can not take care of all the people and all the drama which she was created from and upon. it is time people realize america needs change on all levels or if you ask me there is no reason to even have a country which is for the brave adn so called free when people dont value human life or love or the pursuit of happiness. i am like whats the point forget them these people dont care about anything not blacks who are racist whites or any other culture i mean if the conditions which keep people stuck in crime and poverty dont change baling out wall street or the auto industry wont make things better and if people of color cant take certain roles in entertainment or other jobs in important roles in society which can change america is going to fall through the cracks slowly until money is longer valuable.American need to fall long and hard before people wakeup and stop hating,lying,stealing,killing and being deceitful and evil. People are struggling only because they choose not to change themselves and because they choose not to change there view from the inbred racism which has been brainwashed into them from family friends and society instead of thinking for themselves. The more people keep doing the same things and allowing the same conditions which allow crime poverty which will lead to homeless ness unemployment and the likes of what you see happening in america today i asked you these questions because there are solutions to provide for everyone but people would rather have one person do all the work(i/e/ the president) instead of working for themselves its not going to work people have to want to be educated and want to change and want to help there communities and help there society as a whole and stop trying to get over on someone or be so against someone and destorying the fabric of america becasue if i was president and i see how cruel people are towards one another i would not approve of any of this insanity until all people learn to work with one another and educate themselves and there family and to make america a better safer place to live on all levels for all people of color .