How The Conversations About Race On Real World: New York Are Still Commonplace -- Nearly 30 Years Later

The year was 1992, and seven diverse strangers were having their "lives taped" in the real world while living in New York. The MTV trailblazers -- Becky Blasband, Andre Comeau, Heather B. Gardner, Julie Gentry, Norman Korpi, Eric Nies and Kevin Powell -- didn't know it back in the '90s, although nearly 30 years later, their raw conversations surrounding race would still be prevalent.


Throughout these truly historic times as America demonstrates against racial inequality, stands up to police brutality and requires justice for the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and numerous victims of racism, the hope objective is to look back and analyse why these MTV incidents featuring five white cast members and two black cast members still hold weight.


First, these interactions -- mainly between Julie, Kevin and Heather -- unfolded on the very show that paved the way for reality television and capturing everyday moments on tape. Real young citizens, real stories, real topics. They put themselves in uncharted territory and approached sometimes-uncomfortable subjects with vulnerability and courage. It's tough enough to expose yourself -- try doing it with a camera in front of your face.


Second, the four girls and three males probably didn't understand it as they were living it, however shortly right after -- and in the years to come -- they have wise viewers, and the footage would be used in classrooms even now. Personalized anecdote: I watched the series for the initial time in 1996 as a 11-year-old growing up in San Francisco. I had never saw white person and also a black person communicating like this on these types of topics ever before. I saw the horrifying Rodney King video and the subsequent 1992 Los Angeles riots nevertheless didn't quite comprehend what was happening. This was different, and I was doing my best to pay attention.


Now, a retrospective on what actually occurred on Real World: New York. The key seeds were sowed early, mere moments right following the roommates met: Alabama native Julie, who was only 19 at the time, was on a mission "to learn a lot" about herself throughout the Big Apple (a place she had never been before). It was exceptionally apparent that this was her first experience co-existing with people who'd different ethnic backgrounds.


"Do you sell illegal narcotics? How come you have a beeper?" She innocently, nevertheless almost jokingly, asked as Heather B's beeper (remember those?) Beeped.


Julie was immediately on the defensive, in between her anxious laughter, and mentioned each person was going to be against her because she was the "only Southerner."


"I don't imagine myself racist in any way," she confessed privately in her first interview. "I do not actually know how it ended up like that."


Kevin, on the other hand, was a little concerned that he would face stereotypical questioning -- as an example, if he played basketball.


Although rather than sweep this comment under the rug, each person started discussing their backgrounds. While Heather went to an all-black high school, Becky asserted hers was "as white as would be with one culture."


because the categorize started to share characteristic of their lives pre-Real World in the early days, Kevin, Julie and Heather B went out for dinner. Julie asked Kevin straight away if he thought she was prejudiced and claimed he was "against white people." She also added he was "very bitter," something he denied. Although as he reflected, privately, he did admit a change of heart.


"When I picture it right now, I think I have a right to be very irritated. And also you know, I'm not apologetic about that," he mentioned. "I don't know what sort of encounters that Julie's had in the south, although she did mention to me that her father doesn't really like black people. I don't know how much that's shaped her advice of black people. I don't think it's shaped it in a negative way because she doesn't seem close-minded. She's very open to myself and Heather."


The connection between Kevin and Julie eventually grew -- like joking about their sexual experiences or lack thereof on Julie's part and also a prank where she pretended to lose her virginity (the other castmates pranked Kevin with different personas). Julie also accompanied Heather to the studio and witnessed her original raps.


But then Kevin and Julie had a unforgettable argument that did not play out on camera -- and so they were the only two in the loft. It started any time Julie picked up the phone, which Kevin was using at the time. He was furious and from then on, it "escalated," and "f*ck yous" were exchanged (according to her). They both had differing versions of events connected with a candlestick (it was not used), and once they tried to clear the air, he wanted do so away from each person else by going outside.


"You come from a particular place; I come from a particular background. You come from a particular background," he mentioned, whenever she asked, "Why do you get so close?"


"Black folks are emotional -- that's my explanation," he explained, to which she responded, "White folks are just -- oh my God."


"It's not a black and white thing," she stated, while raising her voice. "Why do you need to get so close?"


He defended that it's his "culture," to which she mentioned it had "nothing" to do with his culture.


"Get off the black/white thing -- I'm sick of it," she demanded, before asking, "What are you going to do? Hit me?"


His reaction: "Why do you assume because I'm a black man, I'm gonna hit you? That's what you assume. Racism is everywhere. What happened in Alabama?"


"Because of people like you, Kevin. Because of people like you -- not people like me," she said.


"Black people cannot be racist," he stated. "We don't have the power to control..."


And before he might finish his thought, she yelled, "Get out of my f*cking face. I'm so sick of this."


They exchanged remarks about how he calls himself "a teacher," and she is a 19-year-old white girl from Alabama who "just doesn't understand."


Eventually, they realized they were not getting anywhere meaningful by yelling at each other, so they moved inside, exchanged mutual "I'm sorry"'s and shook hands.


"We've been here for two-and-a-half months, and we've been the perfect of companions Kevin reflected in an interview. "We can agree to disagree on the nature of the argument, what happened while in the course of the argument. We can at least try and live and respect each other for the duration of our reside in the loft."


"I really like Kevin -- I may never deny that," Julie stressed. "I respect him a lot. I think he's really intelligent and has a lot of really crucial things to say."


Julie and Kevin illustrate the significance of mobile listening. They also remind us that right now, more than ever, it's imperative to have tough conversations with your companions about racism.


Please share your take reliving these retro MTV moments and why they impact you today. If you're looking for ways to support the Black community, here are a couple of advice. In case you aspire to take action, join Color of Change and text involves to 55156. In case you desire to learn more about being an ally, click here for some anti-racism resources.