Lookout Butte, Idaho (outside Kooskia)Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Do racist ideas make one a racist?
Do racist ideas make one a racist?
I suppose it depends on how you define racist.
Before I go into this, let me do something…
[Writer gets down on knees]
My dear black readers, or any black person who has an interest in closing the racial gap in this country, please, PLEASE, take the card with the word RACIST on it and tuck it into your back pocket. You know the one; it has an arrow pointing to whomever you flash it at. Don’t get rid of it just sit on it for a bit.
Why?
The word racist is too singular, too final. It is a brand that many white people see as the end of the conversation. Society has succeeded in making being a racist so bad that once that accusation has been made, you have been excluded from having any further opinions and therefore need no longer participate in the discussion.
Quite honestly, I see the premature and too frequent pulling of this card as one of the singular biggest obstacles to real discussions on race relations, and the progress such discussions can foster.
“Why shouldn’t I call a racist a racist?” you may ask. “How is that hurting progress?”
Because it is possible to just be a little bit racist. It is not like being pregnant; it’s not all or nothing. The word does not allow for gradients and therefore should only be pulled when all doubt has been removed and the racist has completely lifted the bed sheet and been exposed in entirety. Keep in mind that to end racism, or simply make a little progress, white people will have to go along. Smacking around potential allies is not helpful.
[Writer stands back up]
Now that we took care of that, let’s address the question. The answer is maybe.
Many may have heard someone, while defending a charged statement, state that they have a black/white friend, so are therefore not racist. Most black people I know when encountering this argument would hit the B.S. button and immediately assume you aren’t real friends (true story; many, MANY, slave owners were honestly and deeply surprised when slaves abandoned them at the first sign of the northern army. They thought the slaves loved them).
During the early years of our marriage, my wife and I lived in an area where most people had never had the opportunity to get to know a black person. It was very sobering when my wife expressed to me her concern that one day one of these new white friends would say something ridiculous and then refer to their relationship with her in their own defense. This concern caused her to hold back opinions and expression till she not only liked someone but deeply trusted them. It takes a lot of time and effort to trust someone from a group that has historically proven unworthy of trust.
I understand the mindset at the root of this “defense” and wish to address it in my proposition that racist ideas do NOT make one a racist.
In the mind of most white people being a racist means that very simply you do not like black people or see them as bad. You may argue all sorts of societal or systemic issues dealing with power and what racism really is and where it comes from, but still, in the mind of most all whites it really is that simple… racist means you hate black people.
With that definition in mind, white people enter the world of race relations. This white person gets to know, and like, maybe even love, a black person and feels personally liberated and educated. They honestly like a black person and therefore know they are not a racist. They know their own feelings, despite what anyone else argues, and from there begin to build a foundation on the idea that they are not racist, which in their mind and hearts cannot be argued with.
This person may know nothing about history, sociology, culture, whatever. They may hold ideas regarding race and it’s surrounding issues that are on their surface racist. They may be a personality type that loudly expresses themselves with an air of authority… a type I find aggravating at best and autobiographical at worst.
This is the person that can be reached. This is the person worth reaching out too.
This may also be a person who thinks all rap is Gangsta and that backwards ballcaps are a sure sign of criminal intent. This person can be reached, or rather educated.
This person MUST be reached. Progress is possible and to move forward we, both black and white, must take the time to see where the other is coming from. Pointing a finger and slapping the bigot label on someone who is simply inexperienced and uneducated is the fastest way to create a passive bystander at best, and an actual racist a worst.
In closing;
[Writer gets back down on knees, hands folded in pleading submission]
“White people… Shut up for a minute and stop trying to defend yourself. You can be wrong in some areas and still be a good person. Admit you might be wrong, accept you may not be the expert, accept that black people may not trust or even like you, and stop defending yourself long enough to hear what black people are saying.
Guess what, saying black people are more racist than white people is a sweeping generalization and in and of itself a racist comment, so don’t say it.
Please white people, my people, stop thinking it is about you personally and really try to understand the big picture. Be willing to talk about race without assuming you are on trial. You are not.
Let’s just be reasonable.”
I suppose it depends on how you define racist.
Before I go into this, let me do something…
[Writer gets down on knees]
My dear black readers, or any black person who has an interest in closing the racial gap in this country, please, PLEASE, take the card with the word RACIST on it and tuck it into your back pocket. You know the one; it has an arrow pointing to whomever you flash it at. Don’t get rid of it just sit on it for a bit.
Why?
The word racist is too singular, too final. It is a brand that many white people see as the end of the conversation. Society has succeeded in making being a racist so bad that once that accusation has been made, you have been excluded from having any further opinions and therefore need no longer participate in the discussion.
Quite honestly, I see the premature and too frequent pulling of this card as one of the singular biggest obstacles to real discussions on race relations, and the progress such discussions can foster.
“Why shouldn’t I call a racist a racist?” you may ask. “How is that hurting progress?”
Because it is possible to just be a little bit racist. It is not like being pregnant; it’s not all or nothing. The word does not allow for gradients and therefore should only be pulled when all doubt has been removed and the racist has completely lifted the bed sheet and been exposed in entirety. Keep in mind that to end racism, or simply make a little progress, white people will have to go along. Smacking around potential allies is not helpful.
[Writer stands back up]
Now that we took care of that, let’s address the question. The answer is maybe.
Many may have heard someone, while defending a charged statement, state that they have a black/white friend, so are therefore not racist. Most black people I know when encountering this argument would hit the B.S. button and immediately assume you aren’t real friends (true story; many, MANY, slave owners were honestly and deeply surprised when slaves abandoned them at the first sign of the northern army. They thought the slaves loved them).
During the early years of our marriage, my wife and I lived in an area where most people had never had the opportunity to get to know a black person. It was very sobering when my wife expressed to me her concern that one day one of these new white friends would say something ridiculous and then refer to their relationship with her in their own defense. This concern caused her to hold back opinions and expression till she not only liked someone but deeply trusted them. It takes a lot of time and effort to trust someone from a group that has historically proven unworthy of trust.
I understand the mindset at the root of this “defense” and wish to address it in my proposition that racist ideas do NOT make one a racist.
In the mind of most white people being a racist means that very simply you do not like black people or see them as bad. You may argue all sorts of societal or systemic issues dealing with power and what racism really is and where it comes from, but still, in the mind of most all whites it really is that simple… racist means you hate black people.
With that definition in mind, white people enter the world of race relations. This white person gets to know, and like, maybe even love, a black person and feels personally liberated and educated. They honestly like a black person and therefore know they are not a racist. They know their own feelings, despite what anyone else argues, and from there begin to build a foundation on the idea that they are not racist, which in their mind and hearts cannot be argued with.
This person may know nothing about history, sociology, culture, whatever. They may hold ideas regarding race and it’s surrounding issues that are on their surface racist. They may be a personality type that loudly expresses themselves with an air of authority… a type I find aggravating at best and autobiographical at worst.
This is the person that can be reached. This is the person worth reaching out too.
This may also be a person who thinks all rap is Gangsta and that backwards ballcaps are a sure sign of criminal intent. This person can be reached, or rather educated.
This person MUST be reached. Progress is possible and to move forward we, both black and white, must take the time to see where the other is coming from. Pointing a finger and slapping the bigot label on someone who is simply inexperienced and uneducated is the fastest way to create a passive bystander at best, and an actual racist a worst.
In closing;
[Writer gets back down on knees, hands folded in pleading submission]
“White people… Shut up for a minute and stop trying to defend yourself. You can be wrong in some areas and still be a good person. Admit you might be wrong, accept you may not be the expert, accept that black people may not trust or even like you, and stop defending yourself long enough to hear what black people are saying.
Guess what, saying black people are more racist than white people is a sweeping generalization and in and of itself a racist comment, so don’t say it.
Please white people, my people, stop thinking it is about you personally and really try to understand the big picture. Be willing to talk about race without assuming you are on trial. You are not.
Let’s just be reasonable.”
Being wrong about race does not make you a racist, but if not properly dealt with can create one.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Something else white folk don't know...Kwanzaa
Most white people know very little about Kwanzaa. What they really don’t know is that very few black people know anything about it either… or care.
Inexperienced white folk, which is most all of us, don’t know how to act at Christmas if we happen to cross paths with a black person. Heaven forbid a black person works with you and you have no idea if you should include something Kwanzaa or not.
I would say follow this rule: if the black person in question does in fact celebrate Kwanzaa you will probably already know it.
If the person is African, they don’t (most likely) celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is not African, it was created in the USA in 1966.
Maybe later we can get into what being “Afrocentric” means, but for now, realize most American black people are Christian and celebrate Christmas just like you. Well maybe not JUST like you, but then again not all white people celebrate it the same either, so relax. You would be better served wondering if the person is Muslim, or perhaps Jehovah’s Witness.
That being said, Kwanzaa has its roots in African-American culture and you, as a white person have no right to clown it. If you chance upon some black people in the act of mocking the lighting of candles and home made gifts… shut up. You are more than welcome to inquire, even participate with someone who does celebrate it, but to verbalize negativity about it would be akin to a black person saying St. Patrick was a Klan member and shamrocks are good for nothing else than supporting alcoholism.
On that note, I am Christian and wish you all a Merry Christmas.
.
Inexperienced white folk, which is most all of us, don’t know how to act at Christmas if we happen to cross paths with a black person. Heaven forbid a black person works with you and you have no idea if you should include something Kwanzaa or not.
I would say follow this rule: if the black person in question does in fact celebrate Kwanzaa you will probably already know it.
If the person is African, they don’t (most likely) celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is not African, it was created in the USA in 1966.
Maybe later we can get into what being “Afrocentric” means, but for now, realize most American black people are Christian and celebrate Christmas just like you. Well maybe not JUST like you, but then again not all white people celebrate it the same either, so relax. You would be better served wondering if the person is Muslim, or perhaps Jehovah’s Witness.
That being said, Kwanzaa has its roots in African-American culture and you, as a white person have no right to clown it. If you chance upon some black people in the act of mocking the lighting of candles and home made gifts… shut up. You are more than welcome to inquire, even participate with someone who does celebrate it, but to verbalize negativity about it would be akin to a black person saying St. Patrick was a Klan member and shamrocks are good for nothing else than supporting alcoholism.
On that note, I am Christian and wish you all a Merry Christmas.
.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Not Save the Last Dance
“There were black people all up and through that movie… and for no reason too!”
My wife shouted those words on our way back to the babysitters after seeing 7 Pounds last night. It was Will Smith, so of course you expect to see a black main character and consequentially a black love interest but what about all those other folks?
I’m not here to spoil any plot lines and I’m not the top movie critic around, but I have to comment on this. The cast of this movie isn’t huge, no epic crowds or masses. Race isn’t an issue to the plot. They could have been Asian or African and it would change nothing. To my recollection race was never mentioned. I didn’t see any drug dealers, no one got shot, no prostitutes, no cops, no aliens, and no explosions.
I did see a rocket scientist, an artist, a tax collector, doctors, telemarketer, musician, sleazy motel owner, golf, and an aquarium. Spike Lee had nothing to do with the movie and there was no big hip-hop sound track. There was even an interracial couple where the man was the white one… and it was never acknowledged.
Still there they were. Black people, for no reason at all.
We loved it.
We gave the movie a B, but it gets an A for not living up to Hollywood stereotypes.
My wife shouted those words on our way back to the babysitters after seeing 7 Pounds last night. It was Will Smith, so of course you expect to see a black main character and consequentially a black love interest but what about all those other folks?
I’m not here to spoil any plot lines and I’m not the top movie critic around, but I have to comment on this. The cast of this movie isn’t huge, no epic crowds or masses. Race isn’t an issue to the plot. They could have been Asian or African and it would change nothing. To my recollection race was never mentioned. I didn’t see any drug dealers, no one got shot, no prostitutes, no cops, no aliens, and no explosions.
I did see a rocket scientist, an artist, a tax collector, doctors, telemarketer, musician, sleazy motel owner, golf, and an aquarium. Spike Lee had nothing to do with the movie and there was no big hip-hop sound track. There was even an interracial couple where the man was the white one… and it was never acknowledged.
Still there they were. Black people, for no reason at all.
We loved it.
We gave the movie a B, but it gets an A for not living up to Hollywood stereotypes.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Lies, @#$& Lies, and email forwards
I get these kinds of comments and I usually delete them.
I’ve gotten this particular info in quite a few emails as well.
Jack has left a new comment on your post "Being afraid isn't racist":
I’ve gotten this particular info in quite a few emails as well.
Jack has left a new comment on your post "Being afraid isn't racist":
There are an estimated 1.5 million Black men in prison and another 3.5 million on probation. Black males make up more than 70 percent of the total prison population, even though they make up only 6 percent of the U.S. population. Although blacks are 12% of the population in reality it is just 2% of the blacks that commit 50% of the murders and a greater percentage of other crimes. Consider: black females - 6%. Blacks from zero yrs. to 12 yrs. and black males from 50-100 years commit an infinitesimal percentage of the crimes. Therefore we are left with two percent. If we eliminate crimes committed by this two percent from the U.S. statistics our country compares very favorably with all Western countries. Fact -- blacks kill 7 times more than whites kill. Fact -- blacks kill whites 20 times more than whites kill blacks. Fact -- blacks mug or commit group crime against whites 50 times more than whites commit against blacks. Fact -- blacks rape white women 2000 (yes 2000) times more than whites rape black women. In New York City, about 300 white women are raped by blacks every year BUT there has not been a black woman raped by a white male in anybody¢s memory (going back over 20 yrs.) Consider: Al Sharpton had to go upstate New York to find a hoax and that was almost 20 years ago. (Source NYT 4/22/05) According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2004 report (released May 2006), blacks commit 54 percent of the homicides in America even though they constitute only 12 percent of the population.An individual black male is seven times more likely to commit murder than an individual white male. It so happens that black felons commit 43 percent of aggravated assaults, 66 percent of armed robberies, 27 percent of rapes and 85 percent of interracial crimes of violence, mainly against whites (this last figure from a Justice Department report 2003). However, it's not just in the United States. The greatest dicators in recent years have emerged in Africa. People like Idi Amin of Uganda, Hastings Kamuzu Banda in Malawi, Mobutu Sese Seko, in Zaire, self-anointed Emperor Bokassa of the Central African Republic, Mohammed Saidi Barre in Somalia, Sani Abacha of Nigeria, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe -- the list is endless.
Publish this comment.
Reject this comment.
Moderate comments for this blog.
I’m going to entertain this one to
A) confront this info if you have seen it yourself, and
B) illustrate what happens when you open a dialogue on race… you get this stuff.
I’m going to entertain this one to
A) confront this info if you have seen it yourself, and
B) illustrate what happens when you open a dialogue on race… you get this stuff.
(just in case you are wondering, I have NEVER recieved an email or comment about how dangerous or evil white people are)
Dear “Jack”
What is the source of your info and how long did your research take?
I admit I usually just sit down and write but this time I actually did research. My research took 3 minutes. It took about 20 seconds to get these numbers and then I spent another 2 minutes and 40 seconds triple checking the sources to ensure they were legitimate.
blacks that commit 50% of the murders
According to the FBI and U.S.Dept of Justice in 2005 (most recent published year), blacks committed 52.2% of homicides compared to white’s 45.8%.
in reality it is just 2% of the blacks
If we were to assume the same for whites, and why not, yours was an assumption and your logic on this is not race specific, than it is only 2% of whites who commit all their/our crimes right? That would sort of balance things out wouldn’t it?
I would be still be a little nervous because that would mean there are 11.9 million really bad white people compared to only 1.9 million really bad black people. Whom should I fear?
Fact -- blacks kill 7 times more than whites kill
In 2005 45.8% of all murders were committed by white people.
52% of all murders were committed by black people
That’s a pretty even split especially if you consider, as you stated, that all these crimes are really only being committed by a miniscule number of people when compared with the population as a whole.
Help me out with the math, how does this come out to 7 times more likely? I would like the equation please.
Fact -- blacks kill whites 20 times more than whites kill blacks.
In 2005 black on white murders were 8.8%
White on black murders were 3.2%
86% of white victims were killed by another white while 94% of blacks were killed by another black person.
Now this is admittedly lop-sided, but you forgot a few things, like how 60.7% of murders are committed by family members.
Are you an interracial family?
25% of interracial murders are committed by perfect strangers. If you were a murderer, looking for a stranger to kill, would it be easier to find a black person (38.3 million) or a white person (239.9 million)?
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2004 report (released May 2006), blacks commit 54 percent of the homicides in America even though they constitute only 12 percent of the population.
In 2005 blacks only committed 52%... we’ll catch up to them if we just keep trying!
But don’t worry “Jack” because they are mostly killing each other… O wait, but so are we (remember that family statistic?).
Jack, I would love to talk to you or anyone else about all this but first, please answer a few questions:
How many murders go unsolved? Who committed those? If on trial for murder, whom is more likely to have a good lawyer, the 16 year old black kid, or the middle aged white guy?
How much do these stats reflect policing rather than what “really happened”?
Have you looked into acquittal rates for black vs. whites, as well as arrest rates for black v. white?
Which is more likely to be rigorously investigated; a white kid getting shot or a black kid?
A rich kid or a poor kid?
Why did you send me this information and what conclusions should I draw from them?
Are black people just worse people than whites?
Even if these numbers were accurate portrayals of reality, you make no offering as to why.
If you think it is this bad, how did it get this way?
What is the cause of the disparity?
What is the cause of your mind set?
Dear “Jack”
What is the source of your info and how long did your research take?
I admit I usually just sit down and write but this time I actually did research. My research took 3 minutes. It took about 20 seconds to get these numbers and then I spent another 2 minutes and 40 seconds triple checking the sources to ensure they were legitimate.
blacks that commit 50% of the murders
According to the FBI and U.S.Dept of Justice in 2005 (most recent published year), blacks committed 52.2% of homicides compared to white’s 45.8%.
in reality it is just 2% of the blacks
If we were to assume the same for whites, and why not, yours was an assumption and your logic on this is not race specific, than it is only 2% of whites who commit all their/our crimes right? That would sort of balance things out wouldn’t it?
I would be still be a little nervous because that would mean there are 11.9 million really bad white people compared to only 1.9 million really bad black people. Whom should I fear?
Fact -- blacks kill 7 times more than whites kill
In 2005 45.8% of all murders were committed by white people.
52% of all murders were committed by black people
That’s a pretty even split especially if you consider, as you stated, that all these crimes are really only being committed by a miniscule number of people when compared with the population as a whole.
Help me out with the math, how does this come out to 7 times more likely? I would like the equation please.
Fact -- blacks kill whites 20 times more than whites kill blacks.
In 2005 black on white murders were 8.8%
White on black murders were 3.2%
86% of white victims were killed by another white while 94% of blacks were killed by another black person.
Now this is admittedly lop-sided, but you forgot a few things, like how 60.7% of murders are committed by family members.
Are you an interracial family?
25% of interracial murders are committed by perfect strangers. If you were a murderer, looking for a stranger to kill, would it be easier to find a black person (38.3 million) or a white person (239.9 million)?
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2004 report (released May 2006), blacks commit 54 percent of the homicides in America even though they constitute only 12 percent of the population.
In 2005 blacks only committed 52%... we’ll catch up to them if we just keep trying!
But don’t worry “Jack” because they are mostly killing each other… O wait, but so are we (remember that family statistic?).
Jack, I would love to talk to you or anyone else about all this but first, please answer a few questions:
How many murders go unsolved? Who committed those? If on trial for murder, whom is more likely to have a good lawyer, the 16 year old black kid, or the middle aged white guy?
How much do these stats reflect policing rather than what “really happened”?
Have you looked into acquittal rates for black vs. whites, as well as arrest rates for black v. white?
Which is more likely to be rigorously investigated; a white kid getting shot or a black kid?
A rich kid or a poor kid?
Why did you send me this information and what conclusions should I draw from them?
Are black people just worse people than whites?
Even if these numbers were accurate portrayals of reality, you make no offering as to why.
If you think it is this bad, how did it get this way?
What is the cause of the disparity?
What is the cause of your mind set?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
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