Black. White.

There's a new show on FX called Black. White. Basically, a black family of three is put together with a white family of three. A mom, dad and teenage child. The black family is made white and the the white family is made black to see what it's like to be the other race out in public. Then they live together without makeup. The makeup makes them look pretty creepy, but that's beside the point.

It's pretty clear that producers chose families who would clash anyway, despite race, and it's heavily edited to show the most extreme events (like any reality show), but it at least inspires some self-examination and thought.

The second episode was on last night and Oh. My. God. Half the time I was so uncomfortable watching it that I couldn't even look. I had to look the other way a few times.

Where did they find the white family?! The daughter, Rose, is fine, but those parents?! They're apparently affluent in Santa Monica, but so weird! And clueless! The mom is worse than the dad. I get so embarrased both for the black family and for all white people, who are being represented by this nut job. You probably haven't seen the show, but at one point the white mom is "inspired" by the slam poetry group that meets at their house, so she goes in to this hippy-like tyrade of her own brand of poetry, addressing each of the kids there and saying things like, "you beautiful black creature..." It's so creepy. I wanted to crawl out of my own skin and felt so embarrased for everyone in the room. The black mom was like, "what the hell...??" Then the white mom and dad went to church in black makeup (they originally wanted to wear traditional African garb, thinking other people would be too, you know, since they're African American - DUHHHHH!!!) and they were totally dancing around and clapping, raising their arms, etc. I wanted to puke. The real black mom and dad just kept looking at each other like, "who are these dumbasses...??"

I do have to say, though, that I'm surprised at the black family's opinion that most white people are basically racist. For instance, the black dad said he thinks most whites are looking for the opportunity to say the N word. Also, he thought it was racist for a white person, while walking down the sidewalk, to alter her path so he and the white dad (in black makeup) could more easily pass. The white dad was like, "She's just moving so we can get by...that happens all the time." Also, the black dad does kinda seem like he's just expecting to be treated poorly or receive bad service b/c he's black. Sales clerks came up to help him in a store just like they would to anyone and he felt they were sizing him up instead of wanting to assist him...I don't know. I just don't agree with the thought that most white people are racist. It would be foolish to say that racism doesn't exist, but I don't think "most" white people are racist.

I mean, anyone can get treated poorly by a cashier, server, customer service rep, etc. I wonder if black people think that a rude waitress or cashier is being racist instead of just plain rude? Never thought about it before now...

Another part of the show that made my skin crawl were two different guys (on two different nights) in the white bar where the black dad works (when he's in white makeup). The guys said things like, "This community is pretty much the only all white bastion left in the area. The surrounding communities have had lots of blacks move in..." The other guy said things like, "Around here, blacks think it's uncool for each other to do 'good' in school. They feel it makes them less white to be dumb." ....Ummm....what???

What do you think? Are most whites subtly racist?

Possibly in older generations. But I think our generation learned about racism, the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc., in school and most of us, I hope, were brought up to believe everyone is equal (but with cultural difference) and that racism is wrong. Am I incorrect in assuming that?


Racism can go both ways, though. Take the microcasm of a city bus, for instance. The other night, there was a seat open next to a black guy at the back of the bus where I was sitting. TWO different white guys sat next to the black guy, then moved as soon as a seat next to a white person opened up. I'm not kidding. Then, a white lady got on who had a bunch of bags to hold and there was no room up front to sit. A black guy just watched her. As soon as a black lady got on (who wasn't much older), he got up from his seat to let her sit down. But he wouldn't get up for the white lady. Also, this white guy was taking a while to get his money in the thing and this black girl behind me yelled, "Sit your ass down!!" I don't think she would have said that to a black person...I've also noticed that a few black cashiers I've encountered were all, "Hey, how you doin?" to a black customer in front of me, then not a word when I get to the register....what's that about??

Anyway - Who knows - that show just had me thinking about that kinda stuff this morning. Watch it if you can - interesting. It's on Wednesdays at 9 CST.