0015

Classyass

by Caleen Sinnette Jennings

*** I'm pretty sure this won't offend anyone, I'd feel odd warning anyone about an observation to this play.

The title is referring to, at least literally, to Ama's attitude to BigB when he faxed a reply back to her suggestion of an error on his part. However, as the play ended, "classyass" can refer to the situation of certain blacks being raised more well off and educated families and surroundings, and how they are viewed by those who weren't raised in a well off environment w/ education. Also, more importantly, to how subtle those very "classyass" blacks view those whom are economically below them, thus bringing in the age-old conflict of economic class.

It was interesting to see BigB reveal herself to be the daughter of the Dean, whom works at the shelter, and how Ama viewed BigB because of the fact she worked at the shelter. BigB confronts Ama's subtle prejudice by way of subtle disguise and slight deception, and Ama's confrontation with his own prejudice, i thought, reflected a greater problem with society nowadays. I believe a term for it would be liberally racism, although that would be too strong in this example, so liberal prejudice would be a better terms. Borrowing from a possible *definition* of liberal racism:

"Liberal racism...assumes that racial differences are so profound that they are almost primordial..." that "the fascination with racial differences that prevents many liberals from treating any person with a nonwhite racial physiognomy as someone much like themselves only begets policies and programs that reinforce nineteenth-century assumptions about race that are patently racist."

This is reflected when Ama has difficulty trying to explain his actions, how he didn't mean for it to sound offensive to BigB. Taken in greater perspective, it is fascinating that this problem occurs, as in the 1960's, racism was in the open, it was largely black vs. whites, a them and us type of thing. 30 years later; Black vs. Black, Whites vs. White, Latino vs.Latino, Asian vs. Asian, and then remaining past members of each race still vs. against other races. What the story reflects is that nowadays, it is mostly about economical divides. For example, some white people can't stand white people from a certain region because they are poor and un-educated ("white trash"), even when there the mentioned group exists in their family as their aunt or uncle. The same can be said of the supposed "white trash", although, I actually ignore another important factor by saying "supposed", and that factor is majority. If a majority of society says "these people are this", it is largely accepted and very little argue about the label, except of course, the minority, which are the label. This provides a social comfort level in dealing with a certain people, and it even starts at such a small scale as simply "that one family down the street who :insert an observation that goes against what is deemed "normal":.

In fact, my either exception of a similar explanation with blacks, or a postponing of a similar observation with blacks, or any other race for that matter, can reflect the very thing that drives liberal prejudice, or, the more extreme racism. The acceptance of certain things being particular to that race, or this race, seems like a cop-out; a waving of the white flag, giving up a chance to simply try to ignore social stigmas surrounding race. I cannot say the same for everyone, but I myself, when not blind to the everyday happenings of the liberal prejudice attitude, that, I for one, think affects anyone in modern day America, have a moment of clarity. I am no racist, not at all, but the social stigma and influence of this liberal attitude may influence me to: look a certain way, act a certain way, say things in a sentence a certain way, talk a certain way; essentially run a program accordingly to whatever situation presents itself, concerning race. Admittedly, I've inferred a lot from the text, but that reminds of what is so great in a text, a writing: the fact that it's a writing. If someone els, say, of a different race of me, were to infer a similar (most likely not the same, no two observations are entirely same between different human beings) conclusion, an opening for discussion can take place, which can bridge certain social stigmas found in society today.

All in all, if I were to conclude my inference to this text, I'd say it would be that reading "Classyass" reminded me of something important, something gravely important: it isn't over, the struggle for civil rights isn't over. While key victories, milestones in fact, were made during the 60's, they were victories for battles, not for the war. For the war involves every single human being, not just human beings of race but human beings as organisms within a system that is both evolving and becoming stale. While society has made leaps and bounds, parts of society still remain stale, and those leaps and bounds have obviously only went so far, but that's not to say no one is thankful they occurred. For now, it'll be hard to face, because the "them vs. us" are both the same, and in terms of race, it is largely sub-divided with races. However, it is not to say that the old racism is entirely gone either, the old racism is much more of a minority, where a prevailing majority disdains).

I kind of went off into a few tangents, hopefully it makes sense lol.

*** For a definition, I quoted this site: http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/article.php?id_article=608, from which the quote is Jim Sleeper's.