 |
|
|
|
Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here, so check back regularly.
4/5/06
Meya
I thought that was an amazing documentary. One thing that was common was how every race in
the world has been persecuted by one race. Its sad how a small group pf people have
displaced, exploited everyone and continue to do so without no apology.
1/31/06
chasity douglas
Detroit, Michigan
I am a 14 year African/Native young woman and i think that even though you might do things
diffrently dosen't make you diffrent. Alot of people might say"i'm not racist" but if you
make a racist committ it makes you racist.Alot of young people my age say things racist
every single day, just because there skin color is diffrentor there from a diffrent
religon dose not make it right for people to discriminate. I go to a mix school in
Michigan and there is alot of discrimination going on.I once saw a girl walk down the
hallway and get dumped by a white boy,and she automaticlly thinks he's racist.The hallway
in our skool is very small and it's hard for people to get by.One day there will come a
time where we all will be judged and when that time comes most of us will make it to the
promise land......but until then shouldn't we respect each other?
1/9/06
Rigby Biddle
Seattle, WA
I saw MOST of Race Is The Place last night and was riveted by the performances. The
material was somewhat similar in context and style to a project I've worked with over the
past couple years entitled "The Conciliation Project" which is a series of stylized
theatrical pieces aimed at starting dialogue that might help us "concile"
deepseated/long-lasting issues of race is this country.
In response to the video as well as comments below, here is MY piece on the matter. I'm
white and racism is MY problem. WHY? Because racism in its deepest sense is PREJUDICE
coupled with POWER. The power in this country (meaning the USA) resides in institutions
(educational, religious, political, economical, social, judicial) and those institutions
are clearly and overwhelming run and controlled by white people.
When PREJUDICE--an unpleasantry, a shortsight, an ignorance is coupled with POWER it
becomes a WEAPON, and thats RACISM. This WEAPON is used to degrade or destroy the quality
of life through emotional, physical, spiritual and socio-economical means. The only way to
end RACISM is for those with the POWER to end it.
I don't ask white people to spend all their time sitting around feeling bad for what
someone else did 100--200--300 years ago. I'm talking about seeing our institutions for
what they are today, and truly empowering our own nation by creating a place where the
instrinsict value of every life is recognized and received. We will ALL benefit big and
we'll be able to stop wasting time on FEAR/HATE/DOUBT/SHAME/GUILT!
1/9/06
Maggie Hotchkiss
Bainbridge Island WA
Hello! I watched this with my family. Being adopted from Thailand, it struck in such an
amazing way, perhaps too complicated to explain. My parents are caucasian, so in my family
there is a huge culture clash. Its great. This film gave a tremedous dose of reality.
1/9/06
Olympia, WA
I just finished watching 'Race Is The Place'. You had some powerful things to say in this
documentary, and I took so much away from it.
In response to the topic at hand, the idea of the 'melting pot' is still mending, and
heating up, if anything. You have to discuss these types of things openly, and let voices
be heard.
For me, just watching this show, really paralled a lot of things I had questions about in
Race, and things like the importance heritage in Hawaii. I had no idea there was tension
in that part of the US.
Very informative, and very entertaining. Well done!
1/6/06
Jeremiah Jenkins
Boston, MA
i got a copy of the dvd and watched it a few nights ago. well done. thank you for modeling
not only the power of art/performance, but the power of naming reality. we'll take the
torch. thank you.
11/30/05
Evelyn
Pennsauken, NJ
Firstly, I applaud PBS for airing Race is the Place. Particularly, since I did not see the
entire film...I am hoping it will air again and very soon.
That being said, here's my response to your second question: It is my opinion, that so
called "minority" artist have no more responsibility to "their people" than the artist in
the so called "dominant" group. I believe all artist are to do their best to create and
represent some aspect of Truth.
Question to you: Would a so called 'minority' produced program use those terms to ask
that question? Particularly, in light of the fact that people of color are the majority on
this planet.
11/29/05
Erica Millner
Lancaster, PA
The Show was one of the best I've seen on PBS. The artists were inspiring and amazing.
They have the ability to challenge stereotypes and change the way the US sees
race.
11/28/05
Sergio
Hey Kate great job with the rap I think your a pretty cool person that I have ever meet.
Well later
11/28/05
Alicia Nicole Carthon
Lewiston, ID
Sorry to say... comics don't create stereotypes, the stereotypes were already present. In
my opinion comics take the stereotypes and turn them into something "we" can laugh at
instead of getting upset with. I rather laugh about a stereotype than let it make me feel
bad about myself. Mirrors... well yes they are mirrors that reflect it; however, to me
they are like the mirrors from an amusement park, ya know the ones that alter what is
really in front of them. Instead of the comics spreading racism or "stereotypes" they
alter it so that "we" can stomach them a bit better. I loved how the performers had no
fear, they spoke from the heart and soul. THANK YOU ! to all the performers for being so
REAL, thank you for saying out loud what so many are afraid to say.
11/28/05
Kelly
Nyack, NY
Since watching this film a few nights ago, I cannot help but continue to think about and
talk about it with friends. These filmmakers, performers and PBS have done a wonderful job
of conveying the importance of the histories of the people who comprise this country.
Talking about the past is the only way we have a chance of changing the future of society.
As a white person, I was not offended by these forms of expression, I was engaged!
Without the open education of the struggles of various populations (women, blacks,
hispanics, asians, jews, gays & lesbians, etc.), we cannot move forward as a whole.
11/28/05
Stephen Blair
Madison, WI
I, as a white male in the midwest, see individuals of my own race acting in a manner that
is sometimes rosy, sometimes crimson with hatred.
Mayda del Valle's vigorous poetic masterpiece will be with me forever.
Thank you for one of the most powerful pieces of film I've ever seen, and thank you PBS
and Independent Lens for bringing this message to us in a form that is both terribly
offensive to the closed minded, and simply inspiring to the open minded.
11/23/05
Phillip
Melbourne, FL
What a great film. A subject that most people find hard to talk about.
I want comment on some of the postings I've read on this "talkback" section. First, thank
God I live in America were there is free speech and everyone has the right to their
opinion. However, I feel some folks didn't get or understand the message that was
conveyed.
I read were a 51 year old white female says she feels like she's the one everyone in the
film hates. I did not see one bit a message of hate from these artists. They were simply
expressing their perception of the stereotypes that was bestowed on them through out there
lives. So no need to feel ashamed unless you have something to feel ashamed for.
And Bob M. from Minot,ND; unfortunately you didn't see the entire film because again the
film was not blaming you as a rasist but allowing these artist to express themselves.
Everyone has a stereo-type, even whites. Look at the white suburban soccer mom. Thats a
stereo-type.
11/23/05
Debra N
Dallas, Tx
Great program, fabulous performances!
Please show again in an earlier timeslot (before 10pm). Agree with Bumatai, comics help
us to see ourselves, to acknowledge the elephant in room, and hopefully to open minds and
hearts. Thank you.
11/23/05
Stefanie Belanger
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
After reading through the other viewers' comments, I think it's safe to state that quite
the bundle of people who caught this program missed out on many of the intended messages
delivered by the various performers. Instead of making some kind of effort to open our
minds and take a look around from a different angle, we play the victim card and brush it
off with the usual "Hey, I haven't had it easy either, you know...". The ones who don't
realise that we all need a swift slap in the face once in a while to snap us out of our
self-important dream worlds are the ones who need it the most.
I truly enjoyed the film on all levels. Thank you to all the performers for the passion,
and for skipping on the sugar coating.
Peace.
11/23/05
Lee
charlotte, NC
as usual, pbs brings out the liberal rants.... i flip on pbs and have a man rapping about
n###r this and n$$$r that. move to pics of "whites only" stores.
enough... of the racism shows! holy crap. i get the picture! the agenda is in place....
white people...BAD.
11/23/05
Hi, I am happy to know you have a place to inject my feelings. I am a 51 year old (white)
woman. I am from many different blood lines, and I am still concidered caucasion. I feel
like I am the one all these people hate, when I have never been prejudice in my life. I
grew up in the country just north of Ann Arbor and I have had many friends of one color or
the other. I had a licienced home for babysitting and took care of at least 4 different
ethnic background children. I am highly offended to think that all of these cultural
groups lump all the white people together. There is no question here that all other races
can say, think and do things that are lude and crude and highly offensive to me, Where are
my rights! I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth! I have worked very hard never
taught the way to get a proper education, everything I have I have worked for. I am a long
way from having a glorified life! My point is I'm not alone in this feeling. There are
many many regular white folks who feel as I do. We weren't responsible for all the BS that
has been dished out to all the diffrent races and The truth is we don't have any more say
about what you see on TV than all of them do. As a matter of fact when researching the BIG
Guys in TV land most of them are NOT WHITE GUYS. I have never been given any special
favors for a College education or job offers. I live on credit cards just like many other
people, because I don't make enough money to get by any other way. Another thing is every
time I see one of the documentaries on TV they are still dwelling on the 30's
through the 60's That's a long time ago. Why can't we get on with the program and start
getting along with one another! In other words let the past rest and lets make a brighter
future. Lets spend more time on showing people getting along and then the hurt they will
start melting .
11/23/05
Bob M
Minot, ND
Thanks, I hadn't been beaten up over racial prejudice all day and was starting to feel
like no one cared. Was this supposed to help solve the problem or just stoke the fire?
Although I didn't see the entire show, I noticed that one ethnic group was conspicously
absent, the European Caucasion ethnic group. you don't think they've been persecuted?
Check your history...
11/23/05
Imani Afryka
Hyattsville, Maryland
Thanks for the fantastic show. The presentation of Race is always beneficial if also
painful. It is common to hear that we are all one race , so terminology becomes an issue.
Power and access determines the quality of the discussion. I look forward to more programs
of this caliber.
11/23/05
peter williams
Wilmington, DE
This film is a powerful reminder of the complexity of the american soul and spirit.
I just moved from Detroit to Delaware or Del Unaware - but then sometimes it was
Destroyit back in Michigan. Somedays the truth is a slippery thing.
The film reminded me of how often I get it right and how often I get it wrong! And how
American I/We all are.
P.S. Great Art too! Rice Rice Baby
11/23/05
john fearn
chicago, illinois
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. All of the performers were absolutely wonderful
especially Mayda de Valle. Im going to by this performance and watch it over and over
again.
11/23/05
Terry Booth
Chicago, Illinois
Oh God, we are so blind! We in America have allowed the Autocracy to ascribe labels to us
that succinctly embed us into two color categories that fit no one on this planet. There
are no black people. There are no white people. There is simply Homo Sapien-Sapien. The
United States Corporate Military Industrial Biomedical Agricultural Chemical Complex...,
is selling symbiotic franchises to immigrants who'll place their cultures in storage and
replace it with one more homoginized. A culture that's "one fits all size" if white is
what your categorized.
11/23/05
Los Angeles, CA
We all have the responsibilty to seek harmony with all of the world's people. The most
effective way to do that is to consistently strive to love your neighbor as yourself -
regardless of your neighbor's ethnicity and accept people with their quirkiness. We're all
quirky, uniquely and individually created - which makes life really interesting.
Numerous everyday people throughout America have historically behaved this way but are
usually ignored by mass media. Those of us who understand and practice this lifestyle are
baffled by those who just don't get it.
11/21/05
David McRae
Reston, Virginia
There is only one race... the human race. Politics makes race an issue as a technique to
divide the people.
Race as a cultural phenomenon is a perceptual error and, often a form of mental
illness.
The reality is that we are all African descendants. Some of us just left the old
neighborhood sooner than others.
|
|
|
