Removing the hyphen from African-American

I hope we can open up our hearts in regards to the things that Will Smith has said. Do we have racist people among us? Absolutely. I am not saying we don’t have problems, but we have come a really, really, really long way. Even just in my life time.

Will Smith wrote an editorial for USA Today. In his commentary to what had transpired with the inauguration of President Barack Obama, he said how this event has untied us as a country that is not longer racial. Smith told how racism and prejudice is no longer institutionalized. We can all take pride in where we came from, but Smith said no longer have hyphens in describing out ancestors: African-American, Irish-American, or Asian-American. We are Americans of African decent or Americans of Irish decent or Americans of Asian decent.

When we describe someone, we tend to pick something unique or distinctive whether it is by hair color, face shape, body shape. When it comes to describing ourselves, the American needs to come first.

Are we still an institutionalized nation in regards to racism?

Joe called in to remind us that the Native Americans were technically the first people here. Doug referred back to the indigenous people. Where they came from is debatable. The point that Joe brought up is so valid though, that WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS. Even the American Indians came from somewhere that was not the North American continent.

Max called in to comment that there is still racism in the justice system. In terms of capital punishment there are twice as many African Americans sentenced to death than any other nationality. Doug sarcastically offered the solutions to this as the guys with the better lawyer wins, and the person with the deep pockets can afford the good lawyer. Even though we have put out the big fire of racism in the nation, there are still hot spots that are smoldering and the justice system is one of the big ones.

Doug played a clip from The Duke. The hyphen means that we are a divided America. A simple little line is a device as one can get. It can be a bridge and span all the differences of man. If you use the hyphen as a wall it will make your life small.