'Prom Night In Mississippi' & The Myth Of Post-Racial America
Posted by anastasia on 07-23-2009
This week I watched the HBO documentary "Prom Night In Mississippi" — and was struck by the contrast between what happened in Charleston, Mississippi, in 2008, and this notion that we are living in some sort of post-racial society. When I tweeted this while watching, I got a couple of responses along the lines of "what do you expect? It's Mississippi."
I grew up in the South – Nashville, TN – granted, it's not the deep South, but drive about 15 miles outside of the city and you will definitely find some deep Southern flavor. I definitely heard stories when I was in high school and even when my younger sister was in high school of white racist parents threatening to disown their teens for having African American friends or heaven forbid, a boyfriend or girlfriend. But that was [ugh] over 20 years ago.
Having lived mostly in major cities for the majority of my adult life, reading various research for Ypulse about how this generation is much more comfortable with interracial dating and having friends from different backgrounds, discussing the power of the internet to bridge across racial lines and of course, witnessing the mass youth movement around Obama's election, I may have bought into the post-racial vibe somewhat as well. Watching the teens in the documentary who came together to attend this high school's first integrated prom spoke to changes around racial attitudes that are happening within this generation — even in the deep South. Still, despite Morgan Freeman paying for ONE integrated prom (he is a resident of the town), there were enough white parents against the idea (along with their teenage children, some pressured, some sharing mom and dad's views) to go ahead and hold a separate "white prom."
I also watched a bit of CNN's Black in America 2 last night, which profiled an African American student (one of around 90) at a small liberal arts college who spoke about the subtle and occasionally not so subtle racism he still experiences from his peers on campus. I recommend watching both "Prom Night In Mississippi" and "Black in America 2″ – if only as a reminder that in spite of our hope for change and desire to overcome racism, race relations, even among teenagers, are still complex and not quite "post racial" yet. I'm confident though that some of today's teenagers, like the brave teens who attended that first integrated prom, will be catalysts for bringing about social change when it comes to race relations in America.
For more coverage of urban/multicultural youth culture, check out the new Ypulse Urban Channel.
Categorized under: Urban
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I watched Prom Night In Mississippi too, and I was not surprised. I live in NYC and I still know that racism is alive and well. It is just hidden better. I also watched Black in America 2 and I was not shocked by either program. One thing I want to know, since that Prom took place in 2008, was there one Prom for the school this year (2009)?
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hey Patricia. According to a Reuters article from July of this year:
Freeman paid about $17,000 for the 2008 Charleston High mixed prom and contributed again to a second integrated prom this year.
But just months after Obama became president, a separate white prom for Charleston High was still held.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:16 am
"But just months after Obama became president, a separate white prom for Charleston High was still held."
And I wonder why whites get annoyed when blacks ask for a separate black cultural center and say that blacks should assimilate? Perhaps assimilation has its limits? Sounds like white hypocrisy to me!
July 25th, 2009 at 4:39 am
If we did a Japanese prom in NY, would that be racist? If the Italians did an Italian prom would that be bad? If someone wanted to organize a Gay and Lesbian prom would that be bad? If Blacks in Mississippi wanted to organize a Black pride prom would that be racist? In society we be members of many communities and not be accused of racism except white people community? I think this is mysterious.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:26 am
[...] I mentioned in my post about "Prom Night In Mississippi," and as long-time Ypulse readers know, I grew up in Nashville, TN. My family is Jewish, and [...]
July 27th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
"If we did a Japanese prom in NY, would that be racist? If the Italians did an Italian prom would that be bad? If someone wanted to organize a Gay and Lesbian prom would that be bad? If Blacks in Mississippi wanted to organize a Black pride prom would that be racist? In society we be members of many communities and not be accused of racism except white people community? I think this is mysterious."
The difference is that the separating the proms was not done to celebrate a specific culture or people, but to exclude a culture or people. If the Japanese attending the prom were able to bring date of another enthnicity, or if other ethnicities were able to attend on some basis, then it wouldn't be an issue. Until 2008 the white prom was (an likely still is) exculsionary of blacks, while the black prom was not exclusionary. Most whites did not go to the black prom because of social pressures from their families and other whites.
"And I wonder why whites get annoyed when blacks ask for a separate black cultural center and say that blacks should assimilate? Perhaps assimilation has its limits? Sounds like white hypocrisy to me!"
To an extent. Personally, while I enjoy the fruits of cultural diversity, I abhor the divisions it can lead to between the different cultures. The problem arises when people lose the ability to appreciate cultures other than their own. When you can see the value in another's way of life, then you can live together in peace.
JD
"And I wonder why whites get annoyed when blacks ask for a separate black cultural center and say that blacks should assimilate? Perhaps assimilation has its limits? Sounds like white hypocrisy to me!"
To an extent, but the people holding separate proms do not want blacks to assimilate. They want blacks to go away, or be subjugated. Of course, I suppose you might call subjugation a "very special" and degrading form of assimilation.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
"But just months after Obama became president, a separate white prom for Charleston High was still held."
This is an example of the local whites in Charleston trying to hold onto their culture of racism, segregation and degradation of other races. That is not white culture per se, but it is their local culture. As a nation, and locally in Charleston, I hope we will realize that there is no value in that culture.
JD
July 29th, 2009 at 10:20 am
I watched the documentary and could believe how some people still live. Not necessarily the kids but the parents. How backwards. I'm white and my wife is black and we are pretty much accepted by everyone in upstate NY. Not NYC but upstate (Albany). Anyways Anastasia you are absolutely beautiful..
July 30th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
wow I am really shock'd about this specific documentary… You know I understand where everyone is coming from (that is including blacks & whites) it's crazy but let me cover one point @ a time… 1st I believe personaly that yes their should have been a intergrated prom a long time ago and I'm suprised that it took this long for it to really happen!! But I do not believe this is just the white parents fault… Their is just as closed minded African Americans out there also… If they had truely want intergration they should had started it themselves!! But of course no action was tooken until somebody big comes in the picture( Morgan freeman) !! Now on too my 2nd point… I can understand why the white people would want a different prom beside intergrated!! When I watch this show I notice in that so called intergrated prom… Their was no so call white music nothing that would say hey I want to make this a comfortable experience for these close minded white folks… Also how can you intergrate when you voted for both a blk king and queen for prom!! I mean I just don't believe this is about the white people being a beggit!! At my senior prom their was a blk kind and a Hispanic queen!! I mean don't make it harder then it already is!! I personal have been born and raised in Texas!! I have never ever seen that kind of crazyness in all my years… And you would think Texas was worse off… Lol!! But what I said above pls do not feel let down by this… I am not a beggit what so ever I have a wonderful blk husband with 2 of the most beautiful children and I would have it any other way!! I hope all turns out well with thewhole seperate prom thing… Best wishes
October 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I have to clarify a couple of points for those who have commented on this piece. First, knowing someone who is different from you (e.g. race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation) does not relieve you of prejudice or bigotry. You are equally as likely to have bigoted or prejudiced feelings towards another regardless of who your friends are or who you are married too. Secondly, one should never have to make concessions for ignorant or close minded people. People like that base their opinions and actions out of fear, and until they deal with that fear on a personal level they will continue to act irrationally on that fear. The history of the segregated proms are proof of that. One group of society was purposefully and unjustly excluded from an event that should have been open to anyone, but was not. The issue here is not having a prom or event that celebrates a particular group's culture. The issue here is the blatant denial of admittance to an event/prom based on one's race, ethnic group, sexual orientation, or gender.
May 22nd, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Blacks, whites reds whathever … Just another way to hide the class struggle between the have and the have not …
Of course the church plays its role behind the richs to maintain race division, as one white mother said if god wanted the white and blacks to mingle he would have done one race …
" Divide to reign " one old principle that the 1% in america who owns 40% of the wealth use every day in the médias, and too many of the 85% who owns 15% of the remaining wealth still believe in race division …
Where the bottom line for me is that god doesn't exist and that the financial elite of the US is at war against the middle class and the poors of this country …
How long can the americans accept that theirs state representatives are mostly millionnaires and that the government is at the orders of the big corporations ?
Démocracy in the world ? Nah a plutocracy it's more like it …