This has been a very interesting couple of weeks when it comes to the issue of racism in our country. Herman Cain, the much talked about semi-front runner in the race for the Republican nomination, has garnered a great deal of attention. It is hard to deny that some of the reason he gets so much attention is that he is prone to say some very provocative things. Add to that the fact that he is the only black running for the Republican ticket, ironically for the chance to run against our nations's first half-black president, and you can see why the media loves him.
But one of the most surprising and controversial statements Cain has made, in the last week at least, is his comment that racism does not play a significant role anymore in holding blacks or "anybody" back in this country. Not surprisingly many on the Left and many within the black community railed against this statement and attacked Cain for pandering.
Now I don't know if Cain was saying that to curry favor with conservative voters, though I suspect he knows statements like that certainly endear him even more to those on the Right who already believe such a thing to be absolutely true.
But here's the thing. At the risk of alienating some of my progressive friends, I have to say I think Cain was not completely wrong in what he said. While Cain oversimplifies what is a very complex issue, and while he would be completely wrong if he was implying that racism no longer exists and plays no part in the lives of Americans, I don't think that's what he was saying. And I think it is important that we not get caught up in denying anything someone says on the Right, anymore than it is right when those on the other side of the aisle want to argue against everything Obama or anyone on the Left might say.
What I do agree with about what Cain said, was the general point that despite the fact that discrimination and racism clearly still exists, we as Blacks and other minorities must not keep pretending that sometimes lots of other factors do come into play when it comes to why some make it and some don't. Skin color is not always the most important. And we cannot pretend that far too many Blacks, and other minorities, have proven that skin color and ethnicity does not prevent them from succeeding at the highest levels. In other words racism is not the biggest thing in their lives and it does not stop them from succeeding. That doesn't mean they don't deal with it, simply that it does not stop them.
Racism exists. But so does our first brown-skinned President. Racism exists. But Oprah Winfrey is one of the richest women in America. Racism exists. But in Forbes most recent rankings of the "Highest Paid Men in Entertainment" a black man, Tyler Perry, was at the top of the heap. Not Steven Spielberg. Tyler Perry. Racism exists. But we have some of the biggest and richest athletes, performers and business leaders in America. Racism exists. Sexism exists. Homophobia exists. Islamophobia exists. Anti-semitism exists. All of it is real and all of it impacts people everyday unfortunately. And some are impacted more than others, for various reasons.
Does their existence mean institutional and individual racism does not still impact the lives of many minorities? It would be silly to say people aren't impacted in often terrible ways. But it is important, for all of us, to also acknowledge that we need to get beyond the notion that racism is the biggest thing and that because of it, blacks, and others, simply have no chance.
Personally, I simply refuse to let the existence of racism be an excuse for what I don't accomplish. Of course it impacts me in ways subtle and not so subtle. And I am not naive enough to think there are not people and situations that are closed to me due to my skin color. But as I said before, I don't think Cain was denying it's existence, so I agree with his main point, as I understand it, which is that racism is simply not the biggest barrier to what I can do. I recognize that for some, with less education, a worse economic start, and possessing other major hurdles to success, the power of racism can be and is a great factor, as it is a factor for me. And people cannot simply will their way to success. Which again is another place I disagree with one of Cain's inciting statements, that anybody not rich only has themselves to blame, as he said referring to the Occupy Wall Street protesters.
Racism, it's roots, complexities, and impact, is a very complicated issue. But it doesn't help move our society further in the discussion or actual matter, if we have a knee-jerk response to comments or opinions on the subject. Cain was making an important point, an undeniable point in a way. He oversimplified, but let's be honest and be willing to see that though it bothers some to see it, his general point that racism is not the biggest factor holding many blacks back, has merit and is worthy of real discussion.
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Robert Pozen: Herman Cain's Retirement Proposal
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Herman Cain's racial offense - chicagotribune.com
Herman Cain Proves Minorities Can Be Racist Too - Yahoo! News
simplifies the point.But likewise,I think to characterize the rejection many black people had
as being a "kneejerk" reaction is another over-simplification. Both are underwhelming,counter-productive assessments of what's really at the heart of this issue, IMO.
I believe what's at the heart of this issue, and likewise,what's at the heart of the strong
resentment and sometimes outright hostility to the criticism Tavis Smiley and Prof. West
level at Obama is the perception of the dis-ingeniousness of the messengers.
When Black people hear Cain dismiss standing on the sidelines of the Civil Rights Movement
while many of his peers stepped up,followed by his over-simplified pronouncements of the
impact of racism,the reaction isn't a kneejerk " WTH does he think he is?",but rather a feeling
of being betrayed by an ungrateful,opportunistic SELLOUT.
I think the same sentiment applies to the resentment many Blacks have for Smiley and West, who,inspite of their good intentions,didn't mount a poverty bus tour until the first Black POTUS served the ceremonial task of proving to them how dedicated and objective they are in pursuit
of their cause.
I think the legacy of racism,such that it imposes no requirement or hesitancy to be fair in one's motives,conclusions and offers of advice,leaves many Black people perhaps even more infuriated when one of their own comes across as looking high and judging low when dealing with his own kind.
fail
One thing though, your assumption that I ignore "ALLLLLLLL of this" is erroneous. We just come to a different conclusion on how all of that factors into the question at hand. Disagreeing is not the same as ignoring.
and binary thinking is counter-productive to your self-proclaimed engagement... it enables obstructionists that insist there are no qualifiers to quantify
Two: I agree that racism is often conflated with a bunch of other issues that black people do have control over. Unplanned pregnancy, poor spending habits and improper use of English are examples of issues that can keep individuals trapped in poverty. Taking the gloves off and honestly confronting those issues will go a long way.
Our communities have traditionally been the first to lose health, housing and educational resources. They close schools before attempting to fix them.
It is a two way street. Let's stop pretending that these problems are exclusive to Black communities, and address it as the national malaise that it is. The one thing that may be unique in Black communities is that no one is in denial that there are issues. A lot of people may be at a loss for solutions, but they are absolutely clear about the need for solutions. We need to be tired of waiting for those in denial to catch up.
Until more of us are willing to look at these social factors without automatically shifting the focus to institutional racism, expect things to remain as they are.
your conformity is dangerous to your own interests... the accommodation that harris is a proponent of bolster only your confidence in such conformity