My SIL has been prejudiced against blacks her entire life.

Black jokes, racist like statements, bigotry...you name it...she seethed with anger at blacks. "They're lazy, they're stupid, they're criminals..." Lately, she's been following the election which is amazing because she usually doesn't go beyond herself for anything.

She calls me last week...crying. She is upset over the treatment Obama is receiving. She tells me about a bar near her where they chanted negative things about Obama. She's been calling me every day to talk about how horrible Fucks news is. She only watches Fucks news. Last night, she called upset about ACORN. She is worried that ACORN will hurt Obama's chances. She watched Michelle on Larry King and was totally impressed with her. She called today in tears because of the horrible racism in this country. She had no idea. She is having nightmares that Obama will not win. She watched Keith Olbermann for the first time last night and started to feel a little better....like there were others who thought like her....like her....my god, how did this happen?

I am stunned. If others like her are affected this way by Barack and Michelle, he will not lose this election. If others, who previously did not give a shit about elections, racism, hatred or anything other than themselves have been moved by Obama, we will not lose this election. My SIL is so ready to vote. She may even volunteer, altho that's a stretch, but the fact that she is thinking about it is impressive.

I have never really gotten along with my SIL. We never had much to say to one another. Suddenly, I am her best friend. Obama is the most important thing in her life right now. Why? I have no idea. I just know that for a single woman living along in Florida, he may be her only chance at feeling any hope.

it gives all of us a little more hope to see someone move past bigotry, even if it took something this extreme to make it happen

In her case it seems akin to a "born again" moment. . .

I was undecided in the Caucases about who I'd support. I had a chance to see Edwards or Obama on the same night but not both because their rallies were at the same time. I went to Obama's rally. I had chills running down my spine as I listened to him speak. I think he's changed a lot of people's mind about race.

She lonely, negative, and angry most of the time. She may even be evil...but something has happened to change her.

Calling you every day to cry (over her beer?) was my best clue.

So is everything else you've said about her.

Untreated.

But thanks for everything you are doing for her. It does sound like she's undergoing a transformation.

The incongruity of many people.

I hope you are right too, that other people are making similar discoveries and will vote accordingly. I think that she too was looking for hope. She was probably more of a stereotyper than a racist and she finally saw someone who proved her wrong, and it created a sense of excitement in her. It's always wonderful to see people wake up like that.

I was having this conversation at the HQ with a guy who worked the 04 election with me in Nevada. When it comes down to their pocketbooks, there are plenty of people who will realize how silly their beliefs are race suddenly are. And when they see how wonderful a leader Obama is, this will change the minds of many people who harbor bigoted feelings in this country. Many people don't even realize how they carry these bigoted feelings, but as they feel warm toward Obama, things will change. This man will do so much for this country.

Very nice post. I feel better just reading about your SIL. Good on her and good on you for being there for her.

For the last 8 years the citizens of this country have been paralyzed by doom and gloom from the Repuglican party and frankly they are tired.

Perhaps seeing Michelle and Obama as human beings and not as "That One, Those Ones"! Humans are capable of growing they just have to be open to it.

Let's hope it is happening many, many times. This shows signs of a newer and greater America and it feels good.

on both sides of the political spectrum. Once you see the possibility its impossible not to confront your own fears - and if your honest with yourself a lot of your own illogical feelings will simply fade away. Obama was masterful in starting his campaign so early in that it gave the base an opportunity to face their own prejudges that exist/existed there.

Your sister sounds like she was finally honest with herself. Good for her :)



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There's going to be little white kids all over America with the name Barack.

I hope they give them the middle name Hussein too! LOL

Yep, as a matter of fact, we do.

and specially the 2nd one, look like N. Rockwell paintings! Gorgeous! :wow:

ready to get over her racism. The situation in this country is so dire it has caused people to change. But with my acquaintance,(not really a friend) she is not there yet. And it's not about Obama, personally, it's more about what blacks will be like to live with if he wins. She thinks they will be cocky, and act "more like their shit don't stink". She also thinks that blacks will get 'passes' for everything. The only thing she did say that had nothing to do with racism was that she was not for socialism, which she thinks Obama is. Oh, and interestingly, she is a single woman in Florida too.

I can't argue with her, because my head would explode, but she has a few weeks to get on board.

There are some people that aren't angry or evil, but if they pass a group of young black men they might get worried for a moment. They might roll their eyes at affirmative action and laugh at a racist joke. But they don't have this real hatred of this other race, or would hurt anyone because of it. They're not Klan memebers. These are the people coming around to Obama.

Then there's the other racist people: the really scary ones. Who blame other races for all their problems and do want to hurt people. They need someone to look down. These are the people showing up at the Mccain rallies. And they're even scaring the people that do have slightly racist attitudes.

The rightwingers who are following mccrap will never get over it though.

i get a little nervous passing by a group of teenagers of any color. boys or girls. i know i have to get over this-but these kids are shooting up schools, taking family members guns, swarming or ganging up on people-they scare the hell out of me. i live in a small town and i try to get to know them. my daughter is in middle school so more kids are getting to know me.

I get weird about passing a group of ANY young men (that are dressed quite casually and look like they're just hanging around).

The prejudice is caused by ignorance mostly on their own part but also often handed down from generations that have gone before. We are all prejudice somewhat against something. I had a professor tell me that I was very prejudice against prejudice people. (LOL) I didn't argue the point, but came to realize that I have sub-conscience prejudices against some other people also, and I fight those every time they arise. You do not grow up in the area that I did without having sub-conscience thoughts pop up that you don't like having, and my controlling those type of thoughts and not letting them survive in my conscienceness is what allows me to not hate myself completely.

Racist are not only ignorant and prejudice but they act on those prejudices to hurt those they ignorantly hate. Racism is based on the actions of prejudice people. These are the ones you don't want to be around at all. These are the name callers, the cross burners, the opportunity deniers, and the hate crime doers. These are the people at the mccain/palin rallies with their racist shouts and their hateful demeanor. These are the people made ugly by their hate and prejudice which is out of control.

It sounds like graywarrorior's SIL simply didn't know any better and simply parroted what she learned as a kid. Thank God she was open to being corrected on her assumptions.

It also shows why its important not to hate people back. Sometimes, their eyes are opened by events they cannot control.

This election cycle may have already changed things beyond what anyone can reverse.

I keep thinking there are Americans who've been claiming they couldn't ever vote for a black guy, but are doing some soul searching and wondering WTF is wrong with themselves.

Don't know if your sister in law fits that pattern, but then, people are complicated...

obvious that he is. Although he will tell you that he's met some black people that he likes, he generally characterizes them all as lazy, lacking intelligence and having poor work ethics. He has been reprimanded for using the "n" word on the job site in the presence of other, black workers.

I knew that he was registered as an Independent, but I was quite surprised to learn that he is voting for Obama. He just doesn't see any future for this country with another Republican President in charge. Will wonders never cease?

It probably made people curious about the "horrible" person and prompted them to learn more.

This is a moment in history that the youth of America needed to witness. We ALL needed to witness this moment.

I still can't believe it. Less than 2 weeks to go... We can do this!

:hi:

it's nice to know that some people are changing.

...I'm glad your SIL has, too.

Even if she's a person that thinks blacks are lazy, stupid, criminials etc....

Obviously Obama is none of those.

So the racist people who think that should actually be IMPRESSED with Obama.

In their minds a normal intelligent hard working black is a one in a million thing.

So Obama should get extra credit.

It is so nice to know that she has come around. :pals:

My mom was always a nice person, but she harbored racist feelings too. After my divorce, I dated a very nice, professional, respectful man who happened to be black... if he were white, my mom would have been thrilled. We broke up (for unrelated reasons), so she didn't get the chance to know him well enough that maybe he could have changed her mind. The funny thing is that a few months later, my brother started dating a black woman and married her very quickly. Mom got used to the idea, but I don't think she really embraced her at that point. Just a couple months after the wedding, mom's health quickly declined. During her last week on earth, which was spent in the hospital, my SIL spent many many hours at the bedside when my brother couldn't be there. My mom began bragging to the nurses about her terrific daughter in law. She told her she loved her and she was happy that her son found her.

Even people who have been set in their ways all their lives can change. It just takes a little opening in the mind, and enough exposure to make the "different" familiar.

I hope your sister will find that she not only respects Barack Obama, but that he has helped open her eyes to everyday people around her as well.

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."
Heraclitus of Ephesus

headed friends....Of which one wrote me tonight (I have not exchanged emails for over 1 year)..and we were against each other openly 4 years ago.

I just wrote a note back, saying, "I cannot believe you would really vote Repugs again, I guess you want to go thru 4 more years."
I was proud to send it because she sent me 3 hate Obama emails and I deleted the other two.

I usually try not to ruffle feathers...but I'm sick of that....
Time to ruffle some more.

I hope there are alot of other open minded people like your SIL.

Oops, forgot, I have a friend who tells some of her friends to vote for the white half.

There will be many that have to remind themselves that he is half white in order to vote for him. Perhaps even some here on the DU who resented him when they thought he didn't talk about his white half enough.

I met Barack in 2004 after I went to volunteer for him and at first I saw him as a man who happened to be African American. I knew nothing about him other than his name, his appearance and his policies. After talking with him and listening to him speak, I learned more about him and his background. I related to his background because of my own children, but I never discussed his bi-racial status except when I talked about how it related to my children, their lives and their hopes. But over time I found it helped when I spoke about him with family and friends to discuss the fact that he was half white, because they had the fears that he would only identify with and be for African Americans. I felt dirty, but I did it because that election and this one is that important.

My kids volunteered for him also in 2003, and my daughter still is trying to do some work for him. My son, a member of the press, is not allowed to. Does him being bi-racial and his sharing some of their experiences growing up and forming his own identity make them more for him? No, but it does make them relate with him more and gives them hope that things will change in this old crazy world.
:shrug:

He's voting for McCain, but he has been saying Obama is inevitable for six months now. He's pretty calm about it - the meds help.

the consciousness of this country will break a ceiling - in our lifetime.
Hearts and minds are being transformed.

She was a Clinton supporter, but loved Obama's race speech, she enthusiastically joined Team Obama when he was chosen as the nominee. And she really is THE most overtly racist person I know, though her father was much worse when he was alive.

curious.

:dem: