Color of Fear
This video was extremely interesting, and at times tense and even uncomfortable. I think that those moments especially highlight what a sensative subject race is.
While there were many interesting points and opinions brought up, I think the most interesting thing about to whole film was the white man (the non self proclaimed racisist). He was just absolutly clueless as to what really goes on in the world when it comes to race, and the issues surrounding it. I almost felt bad for him after a while because he just wasn't getting it, as much as all the other men were trying to get it through to him that race really is an issues, and that they really do encounter problems beause of it in their lives. I also thought it was interesting that the white man who did state that he was a racist, was the one that all the other ment turned to and asked him to help the other white guy really understand what was going on in the world concerning race. Which I guess is understandable because at least he knows that there are issues of race still in the world, because he has those issues himself.
I thought that the setting in which the film took place was very unique. It's not often that there is an area where such a diverse group of people are able to sit down and have a converstaion about such a sensative subject. I think that because of this they were all able to put their guard down for at least a while which allowed them all to open up and share exaclty what they were thinking and feeling.
The one isse that I noticed throughout the entire film was how they referred to each other. In the beginning, it was "Black" and "White", and then towards the end they were referring to each other as "coloreds" and using phrases such as "you people." Which is how they probably talked in real life, and after a while they all become comfortable enough with each other to slip back into their usual speech.
Comments
This response highlighted what I also thought was the most pressing issue of that video. “The non self proclaimed racist� is more of a social hurdle than a person who flat out admits prejudice views. It seems to hold true that ignorance is bliss because even in a room full of people attempting to inform him of reality, the man would not change his views. Personally, I think this is proof of how influential white privilege is in society. White/middle class sets the bar and therefore everyone who conforms to that status lives in a bubble of “normal� without having to address the fact that white is a race and middle class is a economic status whereas a white racists at least acknowledges that “white is superior� (even if it is for the wrong reasons). I guess my biggest question is: is a colorblind approach to solving racism more harmful than helpful?
Posted by: Christa Nicols | February 26, 2007 11:29 PM
After watching “The Color of Fear�, I also found it very interesting how completely oblivious the non self-proclaimed racist was to race issues around the world. I sometimes feel that I don’t understand every aspect of racism that occurs; however, I felt much better after watching this film because I witnessed how hard it can be for some people. I was very surprised that the other men were actually trying to help him understand issues of race rather than putting up a barrier against him. If I were a colored person thrown in a room with a racist, I think I would naturally put up a wall against them and not want anything to do with them. However, I realize they feel so strongly about these issues, that they will do anything possible to make others understand the severity of this problem. We need more people to take action, such as these eight men, in working towards defeating the problems of race. After all, the first and most important step in doing this is working towards a universal understanding of race, racism, and all other aspects associated with them.
Posted by: wence003 | March 4, 2007 2:54 PM