My first RN job has lead me to a more rural part of the country. As a person of color, I have never experienced racism to this degree.
Some instances are subtle at work, but some are pretty blatant.
My first experience occurred when my preceptor mentioned repeatedly that I have a "black card" so I must be golden at my new position. (I never questioned her on what she meant.) My preceptor also mentioned things like "since you are black things will get stolen from you." Phrases like 'slave driver' have also repeatedly been mentioned in passing with my preceptor. Since I was on orientation, I let a lot of comments go and ignored them, due to fear of being let go or retaliation.
Now, the worst thing is that I have noted on several occasions, confederate flags waving from behind pick up trucks.
I'm not sure if I can stick it out for over a year in this place. What would you do?
Far, you are the one who wants the KKK violenced, not I. YOU let ME know how it turns out when you try to reason with them.
I personally don't know of any KKK to go talk to or otherwise interact with. I have interacted successfully and peacefully with Neo Nazis, skinheads, rednecks. I lived to tell about it and to pray for all of us.
The reason those stories are in Time, Newsweek, ect are because they are exceptions to the norm. If it was common, it would not be newsworthy. Same reason that we read feel-good stories about dads taking braiding classes but not about moms coaching football. Both are outside the gender stereotype, but only one is praised as going beyond basic parenting.
How do you show a poor child (regardless of race) the benefits of education when the parent(s) are poor and working multiple jobs to get by? If the parent does not stress the importance of education, the child will not see it. Children of poor parents are more likely to be living in areas with heavy gang activities and see the fast money that theft or selling drugs can make. How do we tell that child it's a better idea to put themselves neck deep in student loan debt? Or to get a GED and work for minimum wage?
The problems are multilayered and not solvable on allnurses. The after shocks (and ongoing) systemic racism and Jim Crow laws spill into today. Not so simple as telling kids the opportunity is there.
If you have some time, please listen to the "This American Life" podcast called "The problem we all live with" and another titled "House rules". Quite eye-opening information.
The problems are very hard, as you said. Not impossible, though. And parents, teachers, coaches, guides and mentors among grandparents and other relatives and clergy or older friends wherever a child can find them - the gas station clerk, the bodega worker, the policeman/woman, the clubs I mentioned earlier- all are sources of guidance to go the right way. Can these lure the young person away from drugs, gangs? Yes, sometimes.
I will listen to House Rules and This American Life. Youtube? Netflix?
As an older person, I see how far we have come. Maybe you are considerably younger and see how far we have to go. Maybe that is the reason for our different perspectives.
I see that TAL and House Rules are quite long, have lots of episodes. Is there a chance you could recommend a few of each that highlight your point in recommending that I view them? I won't be able to listen to all of them any time soon, but want to see in them what made them meaningful to you and why you think I should hear/see them.
As for only a few minorities at Ivies, I don't know how many are there or why exactly the articles about them were written. If you have statistics or inside info, please share. Those on scholarship will not be in student loan debt.
The reason those stories are in Time, Newsweek, etc. are because they are exceptions to the norm. If it was common, it would not be newsworthy. Same reason that we read feel-good stories about dads taking braiding classes but not about moms coaching football. Both are outside the gender stereotype, but only one is praised as going beyond basic parenting.
How do you show a poor child (regardless of race) the benefits of education when the parent(s) are poor and working multiple jobs to get by? If the parent does not stress the importance of education, the child will not see it. Children of poor parents are more likely to be living in areas with heavy gang activities and see the fast money that theft or selling drugs can make. How do we tell that child it's a better idea to put themselves neck deep in student loan debt? Or to get a GED and work for minimum wage?
The problems are multilayered and not solvable on allnurses. The after shocks (and ongoing) systemic racism and Jim Crow laws spill into today. Not so simple as telling kids the opportunity is there.
If you have some time, please listen to the "This American Life" podcast called "The problem we all live with" and another titled "House rules". Quite eye-opening information.
As I said before, even if parents aren't available, someone is bound to be - teachers, extended family, clergy, police, Boys and Girls Clubs, Scouts - someone is available to help just about every child, I'd guess - if the child has any drive at all, any luck of being in the right path at all. I know some fall through the cracks. Even these, though, the ones who get locked up have opportunity in lock-up to start to learn new ways, ways to start to turn their lives around.
As long as government criminalizes drugs, there will be a fortune to be made in it. And why would any child, from however great a home, ever choose to avoid drugs and get an HS diploma or GED or higher? Values have to be instilled in a child. Values, respect for self, respect for the family name, respect for God, for life, for strangers, for animals, for one's hometown, and so on.
Where do you see systemic racism? Jim Crow? Aftershocks?
We show the benefits of getting an education by letting the child know that being able to read and do basic math are vitally important. For example, being able to read the news, the bills, the library books, the rent or purchase contract, the ballot, and being able to add up the grocery bill or the many other math situations we encounter daily - the paycheck, the checking account balance, etc. - these are vitally, vitally important. And knowing the basics helps us move on to higher learning, writing books to sell, writing our memoirs for our grandkids, becoming a construction contractor, a salesperson or whatever, and so on.
I know lots of people who started out poor but who have worked very hard and have achieved a working class or middle class living. Some had loving homes, others dealt with parental drinking, parents beating them (not correcting them in love but beating them in anger), parents being unfaithful to their mates, parents setting poor examples in several ways. At least 2 of my childhood friends had parents who were in prison. Two had deceased fathers, moms worked 2 or 3 jobs. All of these, though, were blessed enough to have grandparents, older siblings, and/or aunties who stepped up and saw to it that there was always plenty of guidance, supervision, food, clean clothing, study time, parties and other good times. There is a real blessing in living in a four-family building with family in each apartment. Plenty of babysitters, lots of good family times. Food stamps, hand-me-down clothes, Medicaid health care - yes, all of these. But being a strong family more than made up for any lack. We learned manners and were made to feel proud of being part of our family. I know it isn't like that for everyone.
Wow. I am a black pn nursing student and cannot believe that this blatant racism is still in the workplace. My heart goes out to you. If you are a Christian, I would first pray because it does change things. I would ask God what HE wants you to do. I can't imagine what you are going through, but Jesus does. I will keep you in prayer.God bless.
As an older person, I see how far we have come. Maybe you are considerably younger and see how far we have to go. Maybe that is the reason for our different perspectives.
Anyway, I appreciate your reply. God bless.
I am 35 with elementary school aged children. I grew up in a middle class family in an area that could never be described as diverse.
I see that TAL and House Rules are quite long, have lots of episodes. Is there a chance you could recommend a few of each that highlight your point in recommending that I view them? I won't be able to listen to all of them any time soon, but want to see in them what made them meaningful to you and why you think I should hear/see them.
The two I mentioned are hour long episodes of the series called "This American Life". Here are the links:
Blacks (and minorities in general) are more likely to be stopped by police and more likely to be searched when they are. They serve longer prison sentences for the same crimes and receive the death penalty at twice the rate of whites. Even moreso if the victim is white and the perpetrator is black.
Far, you are the one who wants the KKK violenced, not I. YOU let ME know how it turns out when you try to reason with them.
I personally don't know of any KKK to go talk to or otherwise interact with. I have interacted successfully and peacefully with Neo Nazis, skinheads, rednecks. I lived to tell about it and to pray for all of us.
I never said would try to reason with a racist. I don't believe miracles can happen with such people and I will not extend an olive branch.
Blacks (and minorities in general) are more likely to be stopped by police and more likely to be searched when they are. They serve longer prison sentences for the same crimes and receive the death penalty at twice the rate of whites. Even moreso if the victim is white and the perpetrator is black.
Kooky Korky, BSN, RN
5,216 Posts
Far, you are the one who wants the KKK violenced, not I. YOU let ME know how it turns out when you try to reason with them.
I personally don't know of any KKK to go talk to or otherwise interact with. I have interacted successfully and peacefully with Neo Nazis, skinheads, rednecks. I lived to tell about it and to pray for all of us.