Shopping, while black

For the court case, Brown v. Board of Education, an experiment named The Doll Experiment, was used as strong evidence to prove why schools should be integrated. Now, in the pre-civil right era, new social experiments are being done to try to figure out where society stands. The test are used to answer to the burning question," Is America finally colorblind?" The newer social experiments have one main difference in comparison to the doll experiment: people aren't aware they are being tested, therefore, they show their true colors: Reacting how they would normally would in the given situation  In the video below, people are reacting to a situation when obvious racism is present.

The video illustrates a term that physiologist came up with; "Shopping while black".  Three different responses were given to the women subjected to racism  Ignoring, reacting, or praising the racism. The people who ignored the situation simply said " I wouldn't have gotten involved, because it has nothing to do with me", when confronted afterwards. Despite the fact they felt bad for her, saying nothing to oppose it is just as bad as praising it. By not taking action, they are accepting what is happening in society, because it doesn't affect them, being white in America. The man who praised racism  and said "She was trying to pull the black card" (whatever the hell that means) in the store but, once interviewed took it back and then said "I felt bad for her ", represents the people who are aware that it is no longer socially acceptable to be racist, but are racist anyways. This group of people are torn between, societies standards and the unspoken standards in America. The people who stood up for the shopper represent what America should strive for. Actively fighting against racism, no matter what race you are. The sooner racism is ended, the better.

 

                

In the video above, is a real example of "shopping while black" that was featured on the news. The cashier added a very racist remark on the return receipt. So, why can't we as Americans move forward? There are no laws against blacks anymore. Now, instead of government oppressing blacks, its the people! America needs to change it's views or the upcoming generations will have to deal with all the racism in America.

In The Bluest Eye by Toni  Morrison,  even though it takes place in the pre civil rights era; the teachings of racism still hold true to today, as seen in the videos above. On pages 48 and 49, when Pecola goes to the candy store she is "shopping while black".

She looks up at him and sees the vacuum where curiosity ought to lodge. And something more. The total absence of human recognition--the glazed separateness. She does not know what keeps his glance suspended. Perhaps because he is grown, or a man, and she a little girl. But she has seen interest, disgust, even anger in grown male eyes. Yet this vacuum is not new to her. It has an edge; somewhere in the bottom lid is the distaste. She has seen it lurking in the eyes of all white people. So. The distaste must be for her, her blackness. All things in her are flux and anticipation. But her blackness is static and dread. And it is the blackness that accounts for, that creates, the vacuum edged with distaste in white eyes.(48)

 The way Mr. Yacobowski treats Pecola is terrible. The racism is more unspoken here. Just the way he looks at her in the passage suggests racism. Pecola is not a stranger to this look. She sees it in the eyes of all white people. There is nothing she can do about her race. The thing that needs to change is society. When she gives him the money, "He hesitates, not wanting to touch her hand"( 49). Pecola, only a little girl, can not speak up for herself like the women did in the video. Also, the laws against blacks did not help either. After her trip to the store, her innocence is taken away.: Letting society ruin her self-esteem concerning her race.