Comments on: ‘Prom Night In Mississippi’ & The Myth Of Post-Racial America

By: Lou

Lou — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:07:31 +0000

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 …

By: Latoya Thomas

Latoya Thomas — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:25:22 +0000

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.

By: rheaann

rheaann — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:02:48 +0000

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

By: Craig Griesemer

Craig Griesemer — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:20:57 +0000

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..

By: J. D.

J. D. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:57:40 +0000

“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.

By: J. D.

J. D. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:52:24 +0000

“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.

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.

By: Outing Jon Stewart [Leibowitz] | Ypulse

Outing Jon Stewart [Leibowitz] | Ypulse — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:26:04 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Kenji

Kenji — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:39:39 +0000

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.

By: George

George — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:16:55 +0000

“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!

By: anastasia

anastasia — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:20:10 +0000

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.