Race has been one of the biggest road blocks in intercultural communication. As people have developed so have our ideals and ability to open up to different ideas. When people think of culture one of the biggest things that comes to mind is race. This article “Color Line” talks about the fear that whites have for blacks as well as the fear that blacks have for whites. It tries to help us explain the differences and how to overcome this large obstacle in communication.
One of the main ideas they talk about to help us look past race to communicate with people with out prejudice is true empathy. The define empathy as the ability to understand another’s “inner world of private personal meanings as if it were your own, but without ever losing the ‘as if’ quality” of the experience. It is basically telling us not to judge with your pre-conceived stereotypes and to try to understand them as a person and who they truly are. I believe this is useful in every type of communication with whomever it may be. This is the only way around prejudice. Everybody comes from different cultures but they should be seen for who they truly are rather than their culture. They talk about how Bill volunteered how he did because he truly empathized with the children and enjoyed it. He didn’t do it for the publicity or to look good he did it because he enjoyed it. Also, McCall speaks how Danny asked many questions that most whites wouldn’t but didn’t fear being labeled a racist and McCall concluded that it was because Danny was secure in his mind that he wasn’t a racist and had nothing to hide. He was simply just curious.
People need to not be afraid of one another and see past the stereotypes. They must empathize with others and recognize who they are rather than make communication a battle. They must use empathy to acknowledge the psychological and implicature to acknowledge the physical. Everyone is different and we must see that in our communication.
1. Are race issues simply built solely out of fear?
2. Once labeled a racist by one of the opposite race is it possible to overcome the label that is already built inside themselves even with empathy?
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI really relate to your comment. I think the same way you do, especially when you say people need to look past the stereotype. I feel like our generation is coming around and young people in general are more willing to talk and try to understand people from another background than their own. To answer your first question I don’t think that race issues are solely built out of fear, it also has to do with the way your family views others, and also that people don’t necessarily want to step out of their comfort zone. In other words, if something doesn’t concern them, then it doesn’t matter to them.
I do believe that fear is a major reason why we do not try to form stronger relationships with people of different races.
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ReplyDeleteIn regards to question 1, I think there is definitely a case to be made for it. I would define this "fear" more specifically as fear of the unknown. In general people seem to be cautious and less eager to jump into things they don't understand or haven't experienced before. We (people) seek and find comfort in the familiar including people.
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