“One of the most incredible things that has arisen through [Barack Obama’s] campaign has been the vision of mass numbers of white people at each of the Obama [rallies] showing great love and support for this credible, intelligent, gifted, strong leader who happens to also be black. It has been incredibly eye-opening and uplifting, and it, for the first time, shows us blacks that we have actually been wrong in our assumption that most whites are prejudiced toward us. Although you do have the exceptions to the rule, the fact is most whites are not racist toward blacks. This is a very important revelation.” – Greg “Peace Song” Jones
At the top of his game, Eddie Murphy was asked if he had ever experienced racism. As an answer he shared an interesting personal observation. Mr. Murphy said he was standing outside of a grocery store or a restaurant or something of that nature looking down at a newspaper article waiting for someone to get the car and pick him up. Some white kids were driving by and yelled a racial slur at him from their car. They didn’t know it was Eddie Murphy. With his head down and dressed casually he appeared like any other black man on the street. Mr. Murphy said that with his popularity being what it was at the time he had little doubt that if the white kids had known it was Eddie Murphy they would have sang a different tune or even stopped and asked for an autograph or something.
No doubt about it. White people would treat well known black stars differently than they would treat a black person from the other side of town. Black people with notoriety are assumed to have earned the respect of the dominant white culture. The black person on the corner with his or her head down looking at a magazine is just a low down subhuman that needs to be reminded of their place in the social structure of America. Barack Obama may enjoy rock star like status and white people may come out in droves to his campaign rallies. But would this automatically translate to white people treating the common black person as well?
The praise that the vast majority of the white community gives to black people is not rare. It happens quite often. It happens when white people go to the Oprah Winfrey show and help make her arguably the most popular talk show host in the history of humanity. It happened with virtually every basketball thrown through a hoop by Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neil, Julius Irving, or Earvin “Magic” Johnson. White people’s admiration of black people was demonstrated with every round of applause for the golf prodigy Tiger Woods and the tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams. We see white peoples applaud the words of Maya Angelou. White people show their support for black people when they support black philosophers and writers like Bill Cosby and Alvin Possaint.
And the plethora of black actors and actresses that enjoy the favor of the white community is a long list indeed. Black actors like Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Morgan “The Organ” Freeman, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Chris Tucker can make box office hits on nothing but their name alone. And the fact that Queen Latifah and Halle Berry have been made the spokesperson for cosmetic conglomerates speaks volumes. We see white people’s admiration for blacks when so many people from the white community supported the appointment of Clarence Thomas. It was also shown when white people made the comment over and over again that Colin Powell speaks so well. It shows every time we watch CNN and see Don Lemon and Tony Harris. White people have a long history of supporting notable black people.
However, it would be rather foolhardy to judge the white community by the way it worships and praises black stars. It’s easy to pay close attention to the famous entertainers, politicians, and socialites. It’s easy to pay respects to the black people that are propped up by the various media outlets as pillars of the black community. Everybody is willing to overlook the fact that black stars just so happen to be black. The public at large wants to be seen with stars, black as well as white, because it helps to show how important we are. We treat them like royalty in order to try and be treated like royalty. But the common black people don’t deserve such consideration. Indeed, common black people should consider themselves fortunate just to be tolerated here in this culture dominated so completely by the white mindset.
An accurate measure of a culture isn’t how well it treats the people who don’t find themselves in need of help. A true measure of a community is how well it goes out of its way to help those who are not in a position to help themselves. The best example of a character of a people isn’t about how well they treat their king. People should be judged by how well they treat the least of their own. To make the assertion that racism is on the wane because white people voted to make Barack Obama their primary choice for the Democratic caucus in Iowa ranks right up there with the notion that racism is dead because white people like to watch Oprah. The idea that this proves that the majority of white people would support their black neighbors is rather imprudent and irresponsible.
afrospear.wordpress.com 
Agree with you Totally!
Same applies here in the UK.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I keep asking the question “Will Black people AUTOMATICALLY be better off in an Obama administration than the administration of any other candidate?” and people just have a fit for asking the questions. Yes. We may be proud. Yes. It is historic and provided “hope,” But just because a President is African American does not mean the condition of ordinary African Americans will see any change.
People also forget that we are not electing a man, we are electing an administration and what kind of administration is it going to be if it is filled with a bunch of folks who think we’ve “transcended” race?
I am not against Obama, but I question the assumption that Black folks are going to be the ones benefiting from an Obama Administration anymore than we would under any other administration.
Racism isn’t going to go away just because we “hope” it will.
Many of us are so programmed to think through, from and with our skin, that we aren’t paying attention to what Obama or anyone else is actually saying. And you are exactly right, black stars transcend race, they are no longer “race-d figures.” That treatment doesn’t extend to us.
And by adopting a knee-grow like Obama, they can eliminate the need to ferret out the racism that leaks out of every pore in their body. “I like/love Oprah/Obama!!!” That is the answer to any charge of racism, invalidates any query or indictment. “See, we’ve elected a black President. Racism no longer exists.”
Uh, no.
Hey, it’d be very unique and interesting to have a black President; but if he’s beholden to white money, if he’s owned by white money, he may look and sound as black as he wants to, but his policies won’t be. We only look like him; we do not have papers on him.
I once heard Oprah lament that she’s often received as a black woman with the words, “You’re not like the others.”
So when I consider the meaning of “others…” my mind drifts to definitions like:
“those with less TV experience.”
“those who aren’t as articulate.”
“those who don’t have your sense of style.”
Then I come back to reality and realize that “others” probably translates to “the poor ones.”
Socioeconomics. Period.
Great post!
It’s simply not the case that every white person in the United States is a closet racist. I will be the first to say that African-Americans are up against powerful and entrenched institutions that perpetuate a racist system. I don’t think there can be any doubt about that.
That’s not the same as saying that every white person has it out for black people. If you seriously believe that, then there’s no way you can have success in the struggle against racial oppression.
MLK realized correctly that meaningful change can only occur when everyone has a stake in the change. A provincial “black only” approach may make you feel better, but it won’t work in the long term.
And note, my reference to “everyone” is not coded support for Obama, it’s a reference to the very real fact that creating resentment doesn’t help anyone.
Wow Jamelle,very well said! There is indeed not a white racist behind desk, tree, and dollar. If Obama wins, that creates a quandary for all the people who think that way and hate all whites. BECAUSE, Obama will not be elected without an enormous white vote. What will the white hating race hustlers do then? If they continue to preach the hating of whites as an institution, white voters will flee and this country will never see another black president for most likely another century. I think its obvious that Obama or any president is not going to change things for the everyday person…thats not his/her Other than tax strategy and a few other items, it’s up to YOU, to change your life if its not the way you want it to be.
I’m white, and I really enjoy listening to Obama, he seems like the real deal for change. Inexperienced, but that can be overcome by surrounding himself with good people, black AND white. I am amazed daily at the number of black americans who think that a black president in office equates to a black political agenda, thats not the way the office works. But think of this, a new president, born of a black man and a white woman, elected by blacks AND whites. I’d say that is a damn fine result.
Jamelle and Michael,
First for Michael, I don’t know one black person who hates white people not even Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. They may want to call attention to the hypocrisy of the white community which does not equate to hate. I am not saying that they are without flaw because they definitely are harboring some big ones.
Jamelle,
No not every white person in America is a closet racist. Yet, it is safe to say that most if not the majority of white America is fine with the white privilege they receive and are not doing much in the way of acknowledging it and/or hardly trying to stop it. So by acquiescence that makes them party to racial bias as well as racial disparities.
I just wanted to get that out and to say that I totally agree with BrotherP. This is in no way indicative of the way blacks are treated in our everyday lives. I can’t say that I am hopeful that if he did become president that this would somehow change our lives with regards to racial disparities.
Because if Barack becomes president he will do his best to maintain the status quo. I understand that he “says” he is about change, but how much change can he affect in a society riddled with ingrained racial disparities?
Don’t get my shit twisted, there are plenty of whites who hate blacks. But I don’t think that all whites are racist, and I don’t think that all whites will desperately want to hold on to their privilege.
It is self-evident to black people that white privilege is a bad thing, but it isn’t self-evident to white people. White privilege does have negative effects for white people, and I think it’s up to us to both fight white privilege and argue that it is a detriment to whites themselves. Only when they have a stake in the battle will we ever gain their support, and we need their support.
But I do agree that electing Obama won’t “end racism,” but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Jamelle,
I don’t believe that every white person is, by nature, racist. But I believe that the primary educational and informational institutions – schools and the media – are racist to the core. We are bathed in racism, either subtle or not so subtle 24/7. So, racism is inescapable for them and us, its pumped into us, its cellular.
Certainly, many whites are able to fight those images, or grow up in liberal minded homes and/or integrated neighborhoods where they can learn from experience. But the racist rap game is strong, and it is global. (That’s why people who emigrate here from other countries often already have their racist game face on. Why? Because racism is projected around the globe through MTV, TV shows, films.)
We are all taught that white people are superior, that black people are minorities, that we have no history worthy of truly integrating it into the twelve months of the year.
As my man the Sentinel said, I don’t see too many white folks renouncing privilege. They may sympathize, but they hold tightly to what they perceive is their right.
And by the way, I hate NO ONE.
Whether they will or not depends on the INDIVIDUAL black person in question. As for the morons who yelled at Eddie Murphy..gasp..you mean there are mean spirited narrow minded people in the world?..that’s terrible..I didn’t know that. Look, no one will EVER give you a world without bullies, a##holes, and creeps. They can however empower you to handle or fight back if someone tries to screw with you.
“that the primary educational and informational institutions – schools and the media – are racist to the core. We are bathed in racism, either subtle or not so subtle 24/7. So, racism is inescapable for them and us, its pumped into us, its cellular.”
They are also the educational system and institutions that bring you enlightenment humanism and the ethos of social equality. You forgot to mention that.
Electing Obama will certainly not end racism in this country. It is engrained into the fabric of our culture. I do believe that electing Obama will give white Americans an excuse to not to ackowledge tat racism still exists. No one really transcends race. It is only an illusion in their minds. As soon as he does something that they don’t like, he will quickly be reminded of his place. I’d bet my life on it.
http://www.thesowingcircle.blogspot.com
Wonderfully written post. But I’m not quite sure I get the point of the Eddie Murphy anecdote. Are you suggesting that no matter how high some blacks rise, they are still subject to racism by some whites? In that case, I agree. But I ask…so what? So some group of idiots screamed the n-word at Eddie Murphy as he stood outside a restaurant? Was he then unable to perform, or draw an audience as a result of the incident? Did he have to retire and go into hiding to recover from the trauma? Was he honestly not aware that some white folks think he’s a n*****? Really? There are some white folks who, after a formal introduction, would be more than happy to call Eddie a n***** to his face. So while we can’t judge the “white community” by how it treats black stars, I’m not sure that we can judge the “white community” on such incidents as these either. In fact, I’m not sure there is a singular “white community” mindset to judge. Case in point, even though I was absent almost exactly half the time and my grades sucked, my white, male high school guidance counselor drug me in his office (practically by my ear) and made me fill out new scholarship applications (it felt like weekly) because he thought I had promise and he refused to let me throw it away. I don’t think he and the idiots that yelled at Eddie are on the same continent, let alone within the same community.
My point is that there will always, ALWAYS be some racist idiots out there who think we’re one step up from apes. I don’t care about them. What I care about is whether or not the “system” is racist – whether my skin color can prohibit me from obtaining the education and career opportunities I need to succeed. I also care about whether or not that racism rises to the level of persistent physical threat to me or my family. Obama’s rise suggests that in both cases, just maybe, racism isn’t the impediment we’ve been led to think it is. I’m NOT saying the system isn’t racist or that white privilege doesn’t exist; I am suggesting it’s maybe not as racist, or that it is at least navigable. Perhaps it will be more so if ALL people can witness a strong, charismatic, educated man, who happens to be black, as leader of the free world.
First, thanks for this post! It was very insightful. Next, a while back a close relative who had just recently got hired as the 2nd token brother in a white architectural firm informed me of words of wisdom that I will forever remember, and now share… “Not every black man is for you, and not every white man is against you!” He found it just as difficult to interact with the other black brother, who prided himself with being the first and only black man in this architectural firm, as he did with the whites who questioned whether he was “qualified enough” to be there.
I share this story just to put it out there…What about the internal racism that plagues black society? An is also evident in discussions regarding Obama’s campaign. That is an issue that needs to be addressed as well when discussing the Obama administration.
Obama’s administration may not mean an all black platform, but it is another victory for another black man, and that is something our society could use.
Our people have become so pessimistic towards the U.S. government system, and I do not blame us. Yet, it is my personal belief that if we as a people lose hope we are lost.
Because with reference to that same Murphy synopsis, at the end of the day Obama is still another black brother married to a black sister. He is a positive, charismatic, intelligent, qualified black man, and our community could use many more.
pecolaseyes,
Just because ONE person succeeds does not negate the fact that a condition could be rampant. Just look at the reply by myversion. I am not talking about what her uncle said about black men but the fact that the company he went to work for is ALL white save for one other token. How do you get these all white firms and not have a system rampant with racism?
Also, just because one person has unprotected sex and without getting aids does not negate the fact that aids is an epidemic. We could go on all day with these scenario’s. What BrotherP is saying is that his (Obama) story is NOT indicative of your everyday brother or sister.
Sure we all can play the game go with the flow and rise to some sort of position of power within the white world. But, the problem after this is who and what are you now working for? It is clear that in order to get this rise you white America will need to see that you will work hard to play within the status quo.
How many blacks who are unwilling to do that do you see at the top? NONE. It is assimilate or fall behind. I am sure that a lot of people will say that assimilation is not the worse thing that could happen. Yet my problem is that I don’t feel anyone should have to. Why can’t I keep my racial identity AND rise to power? Because I will be seen as threatening.
Chris Lee said regarding the education system and media: “They are also the educational system and institutions that bring you enlightenment humanism and the ethos of social equality. You forgot to mention that.”
I learned those things on my own, through self examination and looking at the world around me and through the counsel of wise elders – not in any classroom. That’s why I didn’t mention that.
Myversion: I feel you on the internalized racism. We can’t sleep on identifying and dealing with ANY of it!
I don’t think anyone can say a whole race of people hates another. Yes, I am sure if you look for examples you will find examples. I think the Obama factor is interesting not to White folks–I care less about the overarching White thought. However I am most interested in Black people and what we gonna do. So here is the rub for me as a Black woman. A well educated, used-to-be high earning, living in a middle class neighborhood that is equally divided by affluent Black and Jews, going to do. Do I get to be Black first or do I get to be a woman. Do I get to vote the race card or the gender card? And do I piss folks off just by virtue of living in an age where I can make this distinction. Did I mention I am a felon too. I am not so sure this racism thing is easily explained, nor do I believe it can be pushed aside and forgotten. So does racism trump sexism? If nothing else, it is interesting and exciting to be in this time with all this happening.
Well said, blacksentinel. As I said, I recognize that institutionalized racism exists as surely as white privilege. What I’m suggesting is that Obama’s rise indicates that there are cracks in the walls of exclusion, that racism isn’t, perhaps, the monolithic agent of rejection we assumed it was. Of course assimilation is required. This is America after all – we’re all about erasing sub-cultures, languages, customs, and then “celebrating” them by commercializing them as much as possible. Personally, I am on my way to becoming a black English professor, which allows me to retain a great deal of blackness for professional purposes, as long as I don’t show up with a dashiki or something.
Good points all. There are a few themes that stick out to me in this thread and several people have hit on them. #1- whites are discussed as if they all think and act as a monolithic group, this is invalid. #2 the underlying indictment of ” white” businesses and “token” blacks? Come on. Do we readily assume that any business that employs more of one color than another is automattically racist and that the talented black architects are relegated to “token” status? What an insult to thos black men, and how insulting to the person (apparently white) who took the personal risk to start that business that created that job for that talented black architect. These assumptions of white “intent” are really reaching. We all know people that are openly hateful of other races, howver that is not the mainstream. So tell me this, white people are largly doing the same things as blacks; taking care of families, trying to carve out a life, etc. SO what exactly would you have this supposedly massive white racist network do? What precisely, and I mean precisely would need to change, for it not to be a “priveledged” system? I asking honestly. What does this other system look like since assimilation seems to not be an option.
No, Obama in office will not make it all ok. As many (definitly not all) blacks have issues with whites, I have issues with black leaders and some of the things I hear coming out of thier mouths. So true, I am considering my choices carefully. But as I said, iObama is a damn fine start. It seems the issues from many about supporting Obama is that somehow he’s not “black” enough….what the ^#$^&.? What the hell does that mean? Talk about booby trapping a candidacy!! Oy!
There was an excellent article in Time that I was reading on the plane headed to Birmingham and it talked about Obama;s wide appeal is due to him NOT pandering to a certain race. Well done Obama, a prez should represent us all! I’m not toally bought in on Obama, still need to sort through the actual issues and his positions, not his personality or race….let’s all do the same.
I am asking everyone around me am I supposed to give my vote to Obama because he is black and so am I? I am unhappy with the Pundits and even Mrs. Obama saying blacks will come now that the white people in Iowa have granted their approval to Obama. I keep asking should’t I make sure I even agree with the platform he is running on? I used to dig Obama but I have to say the things that made him different have been washed away. The only difference between him and others for me is his skin color.
Agree….we have to dig into his positions. Could care less about his color at this point. This should not be a popularity contest. His populist rhetoric is definitly bringing people to the poles. Queen, I do think in the beginning people were supporting him simply because he is black, or at least partially black. Let’s understand his politics right down to the smallest detail. One thing we have to remember is that Hillary (Billary) has not unleashed the Clinton hit machine yet. So he’ll take some hits…and its still really early in this race!
One interesting thing I learned today is that history is on Obama’s side; every candidate, except one, throughtout history that has won NH, went on to win the general election….interesting………….
Pingback: links for 2008-01-09 at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture
Thank you so much for writing this!!
agreed. reminds me of a chris rock line:
“Ain’t one of y’all that would trade places with me, and I’m rich. There’s probably a white peg-legged busboy walkin’ around sayin’, ‘Nu-uh! I’m gonna ride this white thing out and see where it takes me.'”
p.s. trackbacks are wack, and should at least be put in their own section.
I think what we get twisted about this issue of white privilege is something MyVersion was close to touching upon.
It is, to crib George Lipsitz, THE POSSESSIVE INVESTMENT in whiteness/white privilege that effs it all up. Those who are pawns to propping up and perpetuating white supremacy, knowingly or unknowingly are of many colors.
Poor and working class people can be the most possessively invested in their whiteness because they’ve been so thoroughly convinced into believing that white privilege is the only currency available to them. Meanwhile, they continue to to prop up a system that in the face of a dollar will roll over them along with the rest of us.
It’s a scrambling for crumbs scenario for all of us without a pot or a window and when people like MLK and Malcolm started to hip poor white people to the game and really put together a coalition of Americans based on a common political goal- pop-pop-pop was all she wrote.
To the many people that comment, and are seemingly still unsure about where Barack Obama stands on issues I suggest a website…
http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm#Families_+_Children
We have to make it our duty to research and find out a candidates position on issues. The best way to truly assess that is researching how they vote on legislation they are presented with. We must take an active role in the process by becoming knowlegable through researching the candidates. So, here is a website informing you of his voting patterns and his stand on the issues, I hope everyone finds it to be informative.
First off, I am a white Canadian who lives in Toronto, Canada. I lived in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma for a combined 3.5yrs. I pay close attention to US politics as truely it effects us all. Perhaps you will disregard my thoughts based on those facts, perhaps not.
That being said, I truely appreciate what has been said in this piece. I also find it sad that this is still a subject that even deserves lip service. However, i know from experience that it is. Sometimes, those of us living in more inclusive societies find it difficult to appreciate that which others in opposing situtations may be facing.
Based on my limited (and I’m sure many will assume, one sided) experience this wrongly catagorizes the greater percentage of the white, american populace. Truely i feel that the absurd ideologies of a few get more attention to the realities of the masses. Perhaps by giving these extremist views…. do we not give them credibility? By marketing fear, the US government has funnelled billions of dollars into the pockets of private corporations (ie Haliburton), and caused it populace to look at every person of arab decent with suspicion. The reality is…. the guy down the street with the last name “Singh” or “Hussein” is no more a terrorist then is the guy named “Lee” who owns the variety store is a communist. Just cause someone is white please don’t start with the assumption that “deep down” they must be racist. Is that mindset in it’s self racist?
We ALL need to focus on seeing people as people. The US spend billions fighting a “cold war” only to learn it was all for not because the reality is…. the USSR could barely feed it’s self let alone sustain a war.
Just my thoughts, takem, leavem, do what you like.
Geoff,
The way I see it is not that ALL white people are racist deep down and I don’t think that BrotherP sees it that way either (just my guess). Yet the problem is this: the majority of whites are probably NOT racist but they are getting perks and kickbacks from the actions of the minority of their group. This puts them in cahoots with the racists. Since if by the action of the racists white supremacy/privilege continues to flourish and they don’t stand up against it then they are with it.
A lot of white people believe that blacks seemingly acceptance of drug dealers in our inner city neighborhoods somehow we should all be ashamed of their actions and do something about it. Yet, those drug dealers are spending money in the community maybe giving money to other families and so they look the other way. So are they not now in cahoots with the drug dealers, of course.
So it is the same in both cases. Whites should be willing to forgo the privilege to end the power of racists and blacks should be willing to forgo drug related money in order to rid the community of criminal elements.
Obama’s affiliation with the, very racist, Trinity Church of Christ will become his ultimate demise, as once the word spreads and more people of European Heritage in this country become aware of the Church’s doctrine, it will be tantamount to electing David Duke.
After visiting the “church’s” website and having read extensively about the comments made by it’s minister, my vote for Obama will now likely go to Hillary.
Why is it that the black community can direct so much hatred toward European-Americans and think that it doesn’t in fact lead to a reciprocal hatred?
I urge anyone who is even considering voting for Obama to vist the website of the church he attends.
Also, remember, by no means do white people corner the market on racism.
Let’s keep this real simple and straight-forward about how far whites in America have come! Any electorate that is predominately white, has no black representation – except in one case! How many black governors are there? None (50 to 0) due to the state wide majority electorate! How many black senators are there? One, Obama (99 to 1), due to the same reason just stated, and the only reason why he is a senator is because he ran against another african-american! That shows how smart white republicans in that state are! They could of have had run a white 6 grade drop out against Obama, and the senate today would be 100 -0! Whitness will override a black Harvard education in the white American electorate any day of the week! These are the facts! Please continue with your conjectures!
Geoff,
Fist I suggest you log on to a biz website and understand a little more about U.S. business. Halliburton (correct spelling) by the way, is a PUBLIC company, with shareholders of many different colors, political parties, and nationalities. If is not a private corp in the hands of some evil far right party. I appreciate your “we are the world” attidude, however turning a blind eye to a segment of the population with a certain nationality, gender, and religious affilation is quite simply irresponsible and naive. Again I appreciate your innocence in the matters of business and national security.
Now on other commentors…
A few other comments. Its my opinion, and I would imagine many other’s as well, that the issue of race and the attempts to overintellectualize it, bend and twist and jump through vocabulary twists to somehow assign all whites a “guilt by association” label is almost comical, if it wasn’t so pervasive and insulting to me. How dare you associate me with racists? I don’t associate you with crack whore’s and drug dealers by default. However in the same posts you do not wish whites assign that “guilt by association” to the crime in the black community because you’ve got some ideal of justification of it (feeding thier families). Certianly racism exists, we all know that, but saying that whites are all racist simply because they don’t do something you determined they should do. I think what I am reacting to is the theme of no personal responsibility regarding the issue from your post. It seems its all whites fault, and because they won’t stop working, taking care of thier families, living life, etc, they are racist. That approach is a losing cause, I will bet, my life savings, that we will be having this same over-intellectualized tap dance of 25, 50 years from now. Of course whites have come along way, you say that because most blacks are surprised to find out that most whites are not, and never have been racist and often question why they are labeled. I am not surprised at all that so many whites support Obama. Not sure why some blacks are. Good discussion, glad thier’s tolerance of comments and views! But the “guilt by association” tap dance is a losing proposition.
I am just finding myself struggling with how I feel about Obama as President. I was a fan of his long before any of my friends could pronounce his name. Now day in and day out I am being beat over the head with Obama being the greastest thing since the wheel was invented. It also troubles me that each time one of us is dubbed as great and don’t bite my head off I am being open and honest but it is always someone who is biracial or so light they are almost white I love all o my people from one end of the chocolate rainbow to the other but gosh it would be nice to see the browner part o the rainbow up there. I do not dislike Obama or anyone of any race my family is one big mix of it all. I think I don’t like people trying to force feed me anything I dont like hearing that SC is sewed up for Obama because all of the blacks will vote for him but that is never followed with because he will do this or that for the country only because he is black and can give a moving speech and the residents are black. Maybe I am just untrusting of the entire process I just cant shake the feeling something is being dressed up and sold to me
To my white brother, Michael:
Personally, I don’t care if Halliburton is a corner package store; they profit from selling death, servicing death and largely through cronyism. Their former HNIC, Richard Cheney has profited royally from his service to them and in return, has steered contracts that if I’m not mistaken have been no-bid. All to make more money hand over fist – and “accidentally” kill off an innocent, brown populace.
In terms of racism being endemic to white folks in the States; the fact is that the US for several centuries was a practicing racist/white supremacist country – and they made no bones about it. Racism was the law of the land; it was spoonfed the populace through every organ, instrument and orifice available: word of mouth, newspapers, books, scholarly research. Later, film, radio and television spread the virus not only to every hill and molehill, here, but abroad.
Freedom for people of color here has been purchased with blood; while a few white folks helped, non-whites played the overwhelmingly pivotal role in getting the vote – which should have been there to begin with – etc, etc. The kicker is that the victories that were won were entirely phyrric. The condition of black folks and other people of color is testament to that. White people opposed freedom and equality in far greater numbers than showed up marching in Selma and Birmingham. And the majority sat on their hands.
And what a lot of folks don’t like to admit is black people burning shit up in riots throughout the ’60’s was a huge motivator, probably more important than all the marches put together, in the government’s granting “concessions” to us. We didn’t get our rights because Congress saw the light. They saw a race war in the offing.
While we got the Voting Rights Act, et al, what we didn’t get was therapy for the white masses to counteract the three hundreds years of white superiority indoctrination that warped their minds and that continues to this day. The reason some of us believe that whites en masses carry this racist gene so to speak, is that they are still being pumped full of it through their schools, churches, TV’s and movie screens. They may think they’ve avoided the disease, but they can’t if they live, breath and work on planet earth.
Your hubris, as if you know what’s really going on, is straight from the playbook. Yes, you tell us ignorant kneegrows and use your superior intellect and vision to do it.
Whites are racist because you are bred that way; if you aren’t actively confronting it in your white selves, attempting to understand it from the perspective of people of color – which means being humble and teachable and assuming you don’t know much about racism – and actively trying to expose its many permutations within you and without you, then you’re a part of its maintenance.
You might consider this a losing proposition: your inability to conceive of the possibility that you and other whites have to actually deconstruct the racism in yourselves on a daily basis, rather than assume that you are Clorox clean. That unless you wear a sheet in your spare time, you ain’t got no dirty laundry. Some of the most racist people I know wear hemp, smoke pot and listen to Bob Marley. And when you confront them, they can be as dismissive, condescending and surly as Bull Connor. Look in the mirror.
You might want to come to the AfroSpear with an openmind instead of a lectern.
Beautifully written thefreeslave! I could never have said it any better.
Peace
FreeSlave,
Thank you very, very much for putting it out there like that. Right on the mark in every way.
Yes, beautifully written and still full of flowerly emotional over-ntellectualizations of what is really a simple issue. The “its all there fault” message is a marker. We all agree that this country has embarassing ignorance in its history. Many people acted very stupid. We all know racism is alive and well in some people today…thats obvious. However, the “racist gene” theory is a bit over the top. Racism is
unfortunately a learned behavior. In an age where most young black children are told from an early age to be suspiscious of white people and then see that blossom into full scale bigotry pains me. To see ingorant white people do the same to blacks is disgusting as well. But this is a product of parenting and education and value system, not biological ancestry.
I respect your opinion, clearly you have thought it through. However I question how many white people you actually know. And I mean KNOW to a depth where you can actually gauge the value of them as a person. I think you should take time and learn how the average white person looks at this issue. That would be extremely enlightening, It seems your assertions get great compliments from fawning “like minders” (as above). Onward…..
To expect a group of people (to date 78% of the population) to magically, all of a sudden be ashamed of the “system” that you alone have decided is the cause of all your ills is illogical. And then to get angry at them when they don’t snap into action is bordering on…well no word comes to mind. All black issues cannot depend on whites doing something, not doing someting, changing this, changing that. It almost seems that you’ve decided there is nothing you need to do…its everyone else. And when those people dont do what you’ve decided they should do, you get angry and say “it’s their fault, racism is in thier blood” Well, for lack of a better inflection: BS!
At the end of the day, I treat people complete indifferently…that is…with respect, kindness and honor. I don’t owe anything more than to treat everyone that way. I don’t live my live worrying about color, in the friends i have, the people I hire and work with or the people I go to chruch with….and that is the way to handle it…thats the way to teach others.
Its great to be able to have differing opinions and it not create a huge battle, but sentinel, it’s reaching to expect people to believe that all whites are racist when everyday life is full of examples to the contrary.
Peace, love the discussion
When Bush and his cronies talk about the evildoers, they are really talking about themselves. Your comments above are no different. You should start worrying about color and deal with the racism in you.
You remind me of the white missionary, here to convince the Negroes that they should discard their tribal voodoo and get on board with your white God idea. You think you have a monopoly on thought and its your duty to spread the gospel. Sorry, but we already had a religion before you got here.
You are not listening and you are not thinking. Your chatter is meaningless, except to illuminate racism in real time. Your distortion of what I and others have said is a joke.
Nobody here is asking for whites to do anything but wake the fuck up and that’s asking too much in your case clearly. So sad.
I too am a member of UCC Church is that some sort of problem? What gets me is all the scrutiny around Obama as if we have to prove to ourselves that he is worthy. Did the same sort of scrutiny and record digging occur with Bill Clinton or Hillary Clinto for that matter. I am so tired of Black people whinning about Obama and echoing mainstream media’s spin. He has more elected public office service than Hillary Clinton. But somehow his skin color changes the rules and now we have to attack him before White folks do. Is the fear so great, so terrifying that we are willing to kill our winner even before they get out of the barn?
All this talk about race is a real waste of time until Black people can come to terms with our own issus of skin color. Within our own community we discriminate based on color…light-vs-dark. Our institutions of higher education are steeped in the traditon of color lineage. Wanting White folks to atone for racism when we ourselves are not willing to deal with it, is a waste of time. They aren’t going to get it until we first get it and it can’t just be the Black intellectually elites who can talk the talk on race. It has to be talked about in the “Hood” as well as our Churches and corporate boardrooms–but in a way that illuminates and heals as oppossed to hurting and blaming and shaming. Meanwhile our inattention and deep rooted predjudices may just continue to hold us from fully achieving success across America for all us.
Freeslave….not sure how we got on the subject of Bush. We all know what a disaster that has been. But Bush and his cronies are hardly representative of whites and thier behavior. I’m sure you don’t want to play that game and let this conversation go waaaay downhill once I counter with a black “representative”. Not constructive. It is interesting though that my common sense words anger you so much that you call them meaningless. There is no need to insult.
Instead, perhaps you should reread his post so you can understand exactly what he is expecting others to do. Apparently whites are the only one that need to “wake the fuck up” and give you what you need. Whatever that as-yet-undefined” thing is. You act like whites are proud of what happened in history. Me thinks you need to look in the mirror and give yourself a nice cold aqua velva slap in the face! Nobody was proud of that.
I listen, I think, I see, and I know… and have been awake for many years and I know that blaming someone else is never the answer.
Anyway onward….. agree, why the Obama scrutiny, Obama is a good man on his own without having to have people assign him to carrying the baggage of an entire history. That’s what I’m afraid is going to do him in. All this crap about “is he black enough”, or does he talk enough about some “urban agenda”. Anyway peace, gotta catch a plane over to my old hometown..Atlanta baby!! No more blogging for me. Peace
I beg you pardon? I never said anything about white people waking up. Although I would agree with the sentiment.
The post was actually addressed to a black commentator who says that Barack Obama winning in Iowa was proof that racism is dead. All I was saying was that the fact that white people support black superstars is no indication that white people would treat common black people with the same respect and value. The message was to the black commentator to wake up and realize that it’s not as simple as what he or she thinks it is. I strongly suggest you go back and read the post and then read it again.
People run the gamut, black and white. A lot of black people, like the author of the original comment, want to believe that racism is dead because white people like a handful of blacks. I get the impression that these black people are so desperate to gain white favor that they will look for the slimmest glimmer of reconciliation so that we can put the past behind us. But it is no where near that simple. There are other black people who are able to see the reality that the majority of the black population is still being subjected to discrimination. There are black people who want to help white people keep black people right where they are. Black people run the gamut.
There are white people who are very proud of their history as subjugators of black people. These Nazis, Aryans, militias, and Confederate flag waving wannabes are blatantly proud of their history. Then again there are white people who are proud of their history but at least have the sense to keep their despicable pride under wraps while they subject black to the lower class of society. And I do know there are white people who are able to put any racism they may harbor aside to make sure they actually get the best person for whatever that needs to be done.
Regardless, a lot of people, on both sides of the racial fence need to wake up if the black community is every going to be considered an equally appreciated participant in the American community.
Peace
Mr. Charlies World
It is my belief that no-one can be President without having the approval of the people who really run this country and the world. If that is the case why is Obama looking like a possible nominee of the Democratic Party?
My Answer: I believe that Obama is a face that this country and its ruling elite are being forced to offer to the world. For the past 7 years African Americans have been the Secretary of State which is the Office of America’s premier Diplomat. So we already are representing America to the rest of the nations of the world.
But now a provocative addition to this theory: what if we are looking at the return of the beings called the annunaka, who according to the bible and other books must be the same color as the original Africans created by them. Their headquarters were in the middle East exactly where we have set up shop in Iraq. All of the available information says that they will return sometimes between now and 2012, and even NASA has said that they have found a planetary body lurking just outside of our solar system, and its obviously coming this way.
Lets face it, and I am speaking as a African American, the best friends white America have are the descendants of their former slaves. We have a 400 year old relationship that should mean more than it does. white America must realize that we are the only friends they have the world in spite of our history. It’s time we took this relationship seriously, especially between now and 2012.
Obama may be the final link that makes this relationship clear because he is bi-racial and both races can see some of themselves in him. But this relationship must go beyond just Obama and I have told every African American that will listen, that we are responsible for this relationship.
It’s obvious that European Americans are not sure how to proceed beyond where they are so we must be their guide. The message is simple: We are the team that originally built this country and our relationship with each other will continue to define this country’s present and future.
I ask you: What is the information that every African American should give their European American friends so that we can create the relationship we really need to make America and even greater nation?
I also encourage every African American to read Zacharia Sitchin books ‘ The Earth Chronicles” and get a new view of who we were and who we are.
Finally: it’s clear that the original human tree created by anthropologist are wrong and racist because the Pygmy groups are intentionally left out. These charts were created during the 30’s and 40’s when whites did not want to indicate that they were descended from African people and have been left unchanged.
Their is no physical difference between Homo Erectus and the various pygmy groups. The ancient Egyptians were clear that they came from the Mountain of the moon and point directly to the pygmies who live at the base of the mountain. They have been here since the Annunaka came down and created man out of them, and this needs to be acknowledged.
Obama represents a new planetary reality and all of this will become more obvios in the years to come.
In the meantime change from your current calendar to the 13 moon calendar left by the African Olmecs in South America. it was the calendar men were intended to use and not the one created by the empire builders that needed a calendar designed to track how productive we are every day.
Obama as president would certainly be a giant step in the right direction…but I think the major point is the difference in how the ‘uncommon black person’ is often treated and perceived vs. how “the common black person” is often treated and perceived. It seems to be that familiar “you’re different” mentality… An Obama win does not magically erase racism…but it will certainly be interesting to see how things change across the board 🙂
I’m hopeful.