- NEW!
by Arisztid on October 29th, 2009
Edit: now I know what you are talking about. Link to an article about the program you are mentioning in your comments:
http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/last-night%E2%80%99s-tv-%E2%80%93-the-event-how-racist-are-you/
This is a comment on a website describing this special:
"In the event, two of the brown-eyed group decide they are not prepared to take part in the humiliation of the blue-eyed group and are therefore told to leave. Elliott tells me it's "really difficult to get people of colour to play the role of the oppressor during the exercise. It takes a long time and a lot of work to get them to act white"."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/oct/18/racism-psychology-jane-elliott-4
"White people, she added, "invented racism.""
http://archive.nlpc.org/view.asp?action=viewArticle&aid=1851
Yikes!
I cannot tell if she believes that whites are inherently racist or are raised racist. Most of the first article I linked says that it is nurture but one bit makes me wonder if she means nature (genetics). However, even if she is saying that they are raised racist rather than a genetic trait, this is still a racist statement.
Not all whites are raised racist.
Another thing: she is focusing on whites. Yes, I see some validity to her EFFORT to bring awareness about race to people but why only whites? No way, no how, not a chance can it be said that there are no minority racists and that no minority parents raise their children to be racist.
Also, I would be at the school system raising unholy cain if I learned that she did her "experiment" on my child (if I had one). It is MY job to teach MY child about racism and I do NOT approve of her methods.
I would have to say "yes" to your question.
I have been reading the comments and would very much like to see the broadcast they are discussing. It sounds like mismanagement in the extreme.
Would you have a link to that broadcast?
by AnonymousGirl on November 3rd, 2009
I asked a question about this recently, too. It appears that you asked your question first, though. In my opinion, Jane Elliott IS racist against white people.
by Holmeboy on October 30th, 2009
I've just looked her up, as i was unfamiliar with her, sounds like an interesting experiment she does there.
We (white people) do get stereoptyped as do all other groups, and are often labelled 'white' as though we are some homogenous block with no independent minds, agendas, opinions etc. When the opposite is true, and if anything we are probably divided into more splinter groups then any other ethnic block. By stereotyping us as a uniform block of 'whites' she is on dangerous ground and close to racism.
by hanky on October 29th, 2009
anytime you steriotype a group of people based on race, origin, or anything else that is racism so yes, she is racist
Liberals: Do you realize that in third world contries that racisim is something that is expected and not feared?
by Master Of Kings on June 29th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
What is worse...a blatant racist/bigot or one who has no idea what a racist/bigot he/she is? Does being clueless make it less awful?
by RosieGHM Jetpacker on July 3rd, 2011
| 4 people like this
How is it like having to deal with racism? I have never dealt with it but grew up in a racist family,
I want to change my thoughts
by ❤Crith Angew Mindfweak❤ on October 14th, 2011
| 4 people like this
Is it racist to hate blacks that further stereotypes?
I'm black btw.
by eagles0009 on September 13th, 2011
| 6 people like this
Do people really think they can eliminate racism with technical jargon?
by Have A Nice Day on August 24th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
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Comments
Last night (when I asked this question) she'd just conducted a 'workshop' on UK TV and was interviewed afterwards. Even if the workshop / experiment didn't clearly reveal her position she was unequivocal in the interview that she feels all whites are virtually born racist. Even the coloured interviewer didn't seem to buy it.
by Who Is She on October 30th, 2009
I found an article on her latest escapades. I have completely rewritten my answer.
by Arisztid on October 30th, 2009
Channel 4 broadcast it and this link goes to their site and comment on the program inc. clips, but I am not sure where you can see the whole program - Must be out there though and maybe it's even on the Channel 4 site somewhere but I'm pushed for time right now so can't look further into it for now.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-event-how-racist-are-you/video/series-1/episode-1/jane-elliots-mission
by Who Is She on October 31st, 2009
Good answer, Arisztid. I had to watch something of hers for school and am disgusted by her. I can understand certain points she is making, but to act like whites are the only racists is completely wrong. Also, did she actually say that white people invented racism? To say something like that as though it is a fact shows where her heart truly is -- ripping white people apart. That's strange to me considering she is white herself, or at least appears white.
by AnonymousGirl on November 3rd, 2009
I think that what she teaches would be good for adults but NOT for children.
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I have the feeling that back in the 60s she had not formed her opinion of whites. However, by now, she has.
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Everything I quoted is linked. Either she said it or someone ascribed it to her. Since I found repeated racist comments, I tend to believe she did.
by Arisztid on November 3rd, 2009
The TV program in the UK recently was an all adult 'workshop' and she was then interviewed afterwards (by a coloured guy), and even he seemed a little frustrated at her zealotry. I think she means well deep down but just can't see the wood for the trees sometimes. The Brits she tackled in her workshop took over in the end and started to talk the issues through with each other (which was more useful), but in the interview with Jane at the end she said that all whites are programmed with white supremacist notions from birth. No editing, no cutting; she said it. She seems full of anger and sadness. I feel sorry for her because she'll never see how the world has moved on since her youth.
by Who Is She on November 4th, 2009
I still cannot tell if she refers to whites being racist by nature or nurture. Most of what I have seen looks like nurture, however, I saw a few things that make me wonder.
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"Programming" would be nurture.
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She is a very angry person. I also suspect that she believes that all whites have kept minorities "down" so has some self hate in there. As Loving Life knows, I am of a small, rather disliked minority. I would tell her to lighten up a bit.
by Arisztid on November 4th, 2009
I think she feels a cultural guilt of sorts but, as you say, she needs to lighten up a bit for the good of getting a more balanced message out if nothing else. Re. nature 'vs' nurture she straddles a very fine line it seems as she seems to say that a 1 day old kid is already a little racist. Anyway, I think we're all agreed. Interesting stuff.
by Who Is She on November 4th, 2009
From what I saw of her in the 60's she was not AS racist as she is now. However, she has escalated.
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I suspect that she prides herself on not being racist since "all" whites are racist. However, I am sure she has the cultural guilt going on there too. I have spoken with mostly whites who feel guilt at what their "people" have done. I just do not get this cultural guilt thing. They are no more responsible for racist whites than I am for Gypsies who steal. I understand the reason for this guilt but just do not "feel" it.
by Arisztid on November 4th, 2009
I know what you mean. I feel sorry for young Germans I sometimes meet who seem weighed down by feelings of misplaced guilt by proxy over events that took place in a war that ended before they were even born. We're all individuals.
by Who Is She on November 4th, 2009
I have known some Germans who feel that. It saddens me too. I get apologized to every now and then because my people were slaughtered in the Holocaust (I am not a Jew).
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I have also seen them called "Nazis."
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I have studied the Holocaust for decades and am somewhat of a lay expert on it. I can keep up in discussion with actual scholars. I am passable in a discussion/debate about WWII itself but no expert.
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Calling a German a Nazi is the best way to have me at you. I have the arsenal of historical fact to back it. I am also big on not visiting the sins of the fathers upon the sons. Even if someone is the child or grandchild of an SS officer (the actual organization that implemented the Holocaust) there is no reason to hold guilt.
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I have seen children and grandchildren of Wehrmacht who hold guilt because their ancestor served in the German army. Wehrmacht were just plain soldiers... most were not even in the Nazi party. Then I could go into what the German citizens went through. I only hold the SS and Hitler to blame.
by Arisztid on November 4th, 2009
Totally agree. If I was the grandchild of a brownshirt, or even Hitler himself, I wouldn't hold myself in any way accountable for their actions.
by Who Is She on November 4th, 2009
Ditto. :)
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If I met the descendant of an SS officer, SS mover or shaker, or Hitler himself, I would, if they are up to it, pick their brains in an effort to further my education on the Holocaust and general WWII. Of course, they might be so sick of it that they would not want to have their brains picked. In that case I would not, of course.
by Arisztid on November 4th, 2009
Oh I name the SS as the implementers of the Holocaust but usually leave out the SA ("brownshirts"). I do not hold as strong of a dislike of the SA as the SS because the SA, while the soldiers of the Nazi party and using horrid methods, did not implement the Holocaust itself.
by Arisztid on November 4th, 2009
Knowledge is everything.
by Who Is She on November 4th, 2009
Indeed.
by Arisztid on November 4th, 2009