Is Colorado racist? Research was done at the Othering & Belonging Institute in Berkeley, University of California.
It was determined after years of research that racial residential segregation in the United States has increased since 1990 despite the country’s increasing racial diversity.
In Colorado, two cities take the spotlight. Denver is “extremely segregated,” whereas Colorado Springs is “integrated,” according to the study.
The research employed many equations and factors and was unclear on the difference between a segregated and integrated community.
The research did not investigate the factors contributing to the increasing segregation throughout the nation or the differential division levels by region. Let’s learn more.
Is Colorado Racist?
As in every other state, racism is a significant and complex issue in Colorado and throughout the United States. Racism and inequality are every day in Colorado, like the other states.
There have been several efforts to confront and combat systemic racism, which is a national issue that impacts the entire nation. Colorado engages in dialogues and takes actions that promote diversity, equality, and inclusiveness.
A Racist Video Went Viral in West Middle School in Greenwood Village
A trending video circulated at West Middle School in Greenwood Village, prompting parents to demand action.
Rocky Mountain NAACP asserts that it endangers children and requests that the Cherry Creek School District take further action.
On September 25, some students peeked at the video while riding the school bus. In the video, a West Middle School pupil yells in 26 seconds of hate speech. “I hate black n******. Black n**** are cotton pickers. They shouldn’t be alive. I hate their skin color. I hate how they talk.”
In response to the video depicting a student in the Cherry Creek School District employing racial slurs, equality advocates in Colorado have demanded increased protection, awareness, and understanding.
A student’s parent who was riding the bus spoke with CBS News Colorado. They requested that their identity remain confidential, as they had already received threats for coming out.
“One of the children laughing forwarded the video to my child. It was a discriminatory ideology. Immediately after viewing the video, I assumed I was about to witness a mass slaughter,” the parent explained. It appeared that there was a buildup to a mass murder at a school.
NAACP Rocky Mountain President Portia Prescott delivered a news conference in front of the middle school in November of the previous year.
Prescott asserted that the video illustrates a more significant issue that children are comfortable using racial language.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Prescott stated. “The state is responsible.”
The Cherry Creek School District stated on September 30 that they became aware of the video via group text.
We were worried that this video might influence the students, even though the incident transpired off-campus.
The school district officials stated, “Administration and law enforcement moved swiftly to investigate the incident.”
Officials from Cherry Creek stated that the responsible pupils were to face “serious consequences.”
According to the district, student privacy rights prohibit the disclosure of disciplinary action details.
What is the Best Course of Action for Such?
Parents informed CBS Colorado that the student in question was suspended. They believe that punishment conveys an inappropriate message.
The parent stated, “These children do not comprehend how severe it is because he just got a two-week break.”
“In our institutions, the Cherry Creek School District strictly prohibits all forms of hatred. Our awareness extends to the anguish and hardship our children and their families endure due to these circumstances.
We take this matter seriously and are assisting the affected families and children,” district officials said in a statement.
“We will continue collaborating with neighborhood organizations to combat hatred and ensure every child feels supported and secure at school.”
Prescott reported that several parents have contacted her regarding the school district’s handling of the situation. Parents were concerned that the video could cause more significant issues.
Prescott stated, “We intend to collaborate with the educational system to guarantee the safety of every child, irrespective of their skin color—be it orange, pink, purple, or white.
We are here to assist the superintendent and schools in developing innovative measures to ensure the safety of every child.”
Prescott asserts that racism and sexism are not novel to schools in the Denver metropolitan area; she, her mother, and her daughter have all encountered them as students, too. Nevertheless, these are issues that need to be addressed.
Vern Howard, the director of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission, concurred with the other news conference attendees that the video was “terrifying.”
“The circumstances surrounding the events that transpired over two months after September 26 remain unknown. We should help solve this together,” He said, “Let’s construct a neighborhood filled with affection where we can all flourish, adore, and reside together.”
Many others believe that the school’s overall response upon discovering the video was ambiguous. “Recently, there have been instances of racist talk at our school and in the surrounding area, and we’ve dealt with it,” the school informed parents in a September email.
Parents believe the school district ought to have been more explicit with its message after viewing the video.
“They weren’t teaching the parents how to keep their children secure and have a real conversation truly,” said one parent. “You get more information when you have a death threat.”
Family members believe that parents ought to be more accountable and proactive. In the opinion of the Rocky Mountain NAACP, local and federal authorities should conduct investigations into what transpired. A statement by the group reads as follows:
“This is an urgent matter that requires immediate attention to avert another mass shooting at a prominent educational institution.
This was about the one that occurred at Columbine, among the numerous others that have occurred nationwide in a world where such incidents are common.”
Families have expressed concern to Rocky Mountain NAACP President Portia Prescott that the situation will deteriorate further.
Prescott stated, “The parents who have approached me are terrified that there may be firearms in the residence. This is a public safety issue.”
The Cherry Creek School District recognizes how upsetting and shocking this is for children and their families and has declared that it will not tolerate hatred in its institutions.
Community organizations will continue collaborating with the CCSD to combat hate and ensure all students feel secure and supported at school.
Colorado Councilman Depicts Racial Stereotypes in Videos
A white city councilman declined to resign subsequently after using racial stereotypes for his sports bar. He depicted Muslim, Latino, Black, and Asian individuals on videos he intended to use for promotion.
Before his selection in 2021, Sundberg had made over a dozen film credits. One depicts him seated on a prayer mat, donning traditional Muslim garb and a turban, and aloud reading restaurant reviews in a Middle Eastern dialect.
In 2020, Steve Sundberg uploaded the recordings to the Facebook page Legends of Aurora Sports Grill. However, it got the attention of leaders and advocacy groups in December of last year.
Sundberg appears in another film as Victor. Victor is a Spanish speaker donning a cape and converses in poor Spanish and English. He talks of the daily special, which consists of beef or poultry enchiladas stuffed with cheese and onions.
Sundberg defended the films when questioned by stating that he had portrayed numerous characters on his restaurant’s website over the years. This included a French chef and a crocodile hunter, which were no different.
Sundberg stated that the recordings did not elicit any individual concern upon their initial online release. He claimed that the media’s subsequent coverage of the protests was excessive.
Throughout the dark Covid closure, businesses were struggling, and people experienced fear, mental health issues, uncertainty, suicide, substance abuse, and domestic violence.
We only meant to provide several humorous and upbeat videos to generate business and make people smile,” the councilman later wrote in a text message.
Subsequently, Sundberg issued a formal apology and removed the recordings, claiming they were intended to be lighthearted during the most critical days of the pandemic.
Nevertheless, he continues to face censure from the general public, fellow council members, and political figures throughout the state, all of whom are urging for his resignation.
The issue is comparable to the racism controversy that erupted in Los Angeles the previous year. This issue involved a recording of three Latino council members and a Latino labor leader rudely insulting Black people.
A few dozen individuals sat in Legends, eating food and beer and enjoying sports. Some individuals regarded Sundberg as a communal figure of significance who consistently assisted those in need.
A client named Don Blosser remarked, “This aspect of him is absurd. No one in this room, I believe, would label him racist.”
According to Michele Long, the Latina manager, the purpose of the promotional films was to maintain relevance amidst the pandemic.
Although she did not intend for them to be objectionable, she can understand why some individuals might find them so.
A Latino chef at the sports grill named Victor Marquez defended Sundberg at a meeting of the City Council last month. According to him, the restaurant was experiencing financial difficulties and was on the verge of closure. They started the idea to perform the sketches to attract more customers.
Conversely, other state legislators condemned Sundberg’s actions. Several community members demanded Sundberg’s resignation at the City Council meeting that month. Aurora city councilwoman Alison Coombs concurred with them.
“He had the opportunity to rectify the situation, but his scheme failed,” she continued, adding that she believes Sundberg refuses to accept responsibility for the suffering he caused because he insists it was all a jest.
Coombs stated, “It has been detrimental to the municipality, and his response has been incorrect.”
Conclusion
Is Colorado racist? Racism happens among individuals, institutions, and at the state level. Being unjust to a person based on their appearance constitutes an instance of individual racism.
Institutional racism includes procedures or laws that benefit some individuals at the expense of others. Systemic racism has a pervasive impact on numerous social groups.
The US is diverse as some of its citizens were born overseas or one of the parents was. As a result, the country is now home to various cultures. Race relations affect all members of society, including neighbors, acquaintances, coworkers, and fellow Americans.
