The author and racism
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Re: The author and racism
- Melissa Breen
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I agree. He knew that he doesn't deserve the hate and that drove him to become better instead of becoming entirely bitter.cvetelina_yovcheva87 wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 03:54 The character does not let the racists he encounters disappoint him. Just the opposite, he becomes even more determined to prove that he is a decent human who deserves respect.
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I can't help but hope that it will end. But how can it if people in power tend to be racist as well? It's really hard but all we can do is hope for a better world for future generations.
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I know! I worry about what my grandchildren will face!briellejee wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 08:43I can't help but hope that it will end. But how can it if people in power tend to be racist as well? It's really hard but all we can do is hope for a better world for future generations.
"Like beauty in the eyes, the divinity of the rose may be in the nose that smells it, and the lover that beholds it." Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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With the kind of progress that's been made so far, the only hope is that it will soon be a thing of the past.B Creech wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 09:27I know! I worry about what my grandchildren will face!briellejee wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 08:43I can't help but hope that it will end. But how can it if people in power tend to be racist as well? It's really hard but all we can do is hope for a better world for future generations.
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I agree and admire Frank's strength and determination.briellejee wrote: ↑08 Jul 2019, 21:57 It broke my heart when his professor said that to him. Racism is ugly back then and still is now. Frank, however, faces this with determination to prove them wrong. I guess it is courageous and at the same time took a lot of mental strength to overcome those.
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He showed amazing strength by reacting to racism and discrimination peacefully and never losing his head, which is more than inspiring.Cecilia_L wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 12:53I agree and admire Frank's strength and determination.briellejee wrote: ↑08 Jul 2019, 21:57 It broke my heart when his professor said that to him. Racism is ugly back then and still is now. Frank, however, faces this with determination to prove them wrong. I guess it is courageous and at the same time took a lot of mental strength to overcome those.
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I pray that it will! It is better than it has been. I grew up in the 1960's and those were rough times!Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 11:07With the kind of progress that's been made so far, the only hope is that it will soon be a thing of the past.B Creech wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 09:27I know! I worry about what my grandchildren will face!briellejee wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 08:43
I can't help but hope that it will end. But how can it if people in power tend to be racist as well? It's really hard but all we can do is hope for a better world for future generations.
"Like beauty in the eyes, the divinity of the rose may be in the nose that smells it, and the lover that beholds it." Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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It is sad that racism is still all too alive all over the world... Unfortunately, Europe is no better, contrary to modern beliefs. I live in France, and some of our neighbors had made some nasty statements about immigrants (especially from Africa and Asia) on more occasions than one... It's great that the author continued through life with his head up high. He is an inspiration to others, in my opinion.Nisha Ward wrote: ↑09 Jul 2019, 06:11Yeah. Not to mention, a lot of people think Europe is less racist than the US but there are still a lot of traces of it. I think it also depends on the culture of the organisation involved, because even though he had more pushback at Hoescht, it was due to his being from the U.S. branch, as opposed to Ciba Geigy, which was definitely about his ethnicity.
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I also believed that Europe was one of the racist countries, no offense though. I mean, historical accounts show that Europe had a human zoo wherein people from Africa and Asia tribes were put on display as if they were a kind of animal or fascination. It saddens and angers me that somehow, even today it still exists. I admire the author's resilience towards it as well.lucia_kizas wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 05:05It is sad that racism is still all too alive all over the world... Unfortunately, Europe is no better, contrary to modern beliefs. I live in France, and some of our neighbors had made some nasty statements about immigrants (especially from Africa and Asia) on more occasions than one... It's great that the author continued through life with his head up high. He is an inspiration to others, in my opinion.Nisha Ward wrote: ↑09 Jul 2019, 06:11Yeah. Not to mention, a lot of people think Europe is less racist than the US but there are still a lot of traces of it. I think it also depends on the culture of the organisation involved, because even though he had more pushback at Hoescht, it was due to his being from the U.S. branch, as opposed to Ciba Geigy, which was definitely about his ethnicity.
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It really is. I keep seeing people wonder how he didn't face racism in Guyana, but the truth is that when your population is majority non-white, the face of racism is quite different. There's also colourism to factor in, which he did mention.OliviaLouise wrote: ↑02 Aug 2019, 07:24 I think the intensity of overt racism varies geographically today. Back then, however, it was everywhere. I imagine it must have been surprising to Frank to have to deal with this issue since it was so different back in Guyana. It’s terrible. I think he handled it l really gracefully.
I believe this is why he was surprised when he encountered it in the US because it's a different kind of racism to what we in the Caribbean deal with.