One Woman's View of Historically Minority Based Organizations in Today's Modern World

It seems to me, a middle class wife and mother of two, that many people feel the historically significant minority based organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) or the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) are no longer necessary in today's society. These same people believe that if the word "white" were put into a title it would be considered racist. These people fail to see the history behind such organizations. These things were put into place because the entire country was by default, white. Nothing needed to say white, it was implied. These organizations, specified television channels, what have you, were put out there for and by those who were not allowed to participate along with the mainstream.

Today, the NAACP helps more white women than anyone in America. Black Entertainment Television (BET) has been the subject of many confused and ignorant rants. BET is owned by white people; the same folks who own MTV and Nickelodeon.
Not every black American receives a free scholarship to an all black college, and absolutely no organization bans white people from participating.

It's only a name, folks, a name with historical significance. A reminder of a time when there were separate water fountains, separate toilets and separate schools. It is true, being black does give you a different perspective and a different experience in America. The repercussions of slavery and of Jim Crow still affect many black Americans today. Racial prejudice still occurs in the workforce. Maybe not on the level it did 40 years ago, but it's still here and it's still painful and detrimental. We still have institutional racism invading our judicial system. Sometimes we may not see it or understand it, but it is there.

I do not disregard the fact that some people use the ever infamous excuse, "the white man is holding me down". The white man is not the common Caucasian American. It is this system. In some situations, I do not doubt there are people who will blame their everyday problems on racism or prejudice, whether it be the cause or not but those people are the exception not the rule.

Until our country truly has equality across the board we need to attempt to be more sympathetic, empathetic and open minded about one another. This runs in all directions to and from each and every one of us. We the parents, the educators, we are grooming the next generation. Let us try to make it better than any generation before us by teaching acceptance rather than tolerance.