If you plan to run for president, it's probably a good strategy to avoid leasing a hunting camp called "Niggerhead." Actually, anyone wanting to live a decent and moral life should consider following the same rule. Texas Gov. Rick Perry seems to be testing that proposition, however, as his campaign, his allies and even some opponents try to explain away the racially charged issue.
The Washington Post's revelation about Perry's hunting camp has, to say the least, stirred some national discussion. But what the talk has demonstrated so far is our general ineptitude when it comes to discussing matters of race.
The dominant folk theory about race in America tells us we are fast transcending racism. We have an African-American president, after all. We passed a Civil Rights Act long ago. Some of our best friends are [fill in the blank].
The folk theory is false, of course. Racism remains a troubling force in American political, social and economic life. Armed white vigilantes ride around in pick-ups hunting Mexicans near the U.S.-Mexico border. Studies show that in 2010, 27.4 percent of blacks and 26.6 percent of Hispanics live in poverty. Almost 10 percent of young black males are imprisoned.
Sadly, some misguided Republicans are engaged in a national effort to suppress the votes of racial minorities. Even a judiciary that approves of tough new Voter ID requirements concedes the point that the restrictions will disenfranchise voters. Dissenting in the federal appeals court ruling approving the Indiana voter ID. law, Judge Terrance D. Evans said, "Let's not beat around the bush: The Indiana voter photo ID law is a not-too-thinly-veiled attempt to discourage election-day turnout by certain folks believed to skew Democratic."
Throughout the country, the GOP is using the congressional and state house redistricting process to dilute the voting strength of minorities. Jose Garza, an attorney for Texas' Mexican American Legislative Caucus, names the GOP ploys "stacking, packing and cracking." Stacking places some minorities in more affluent white districts to minimize their impact on elections. Packing is a kind of political ghetto-izing. To insure more whites are elected, huge numbers of blacks and/or Hispanics are loaded into one district. Cracking is the name for dividing communities to dilute its influence.
Despite the evidence, many white liberals are uncomfortable talking about racism. In the wake of the Post story on Perry, some Democrats in Texas rushed to Perry's defense. But blanket pardons of Perry disguise the undeniably racial consequences of Perry's policies. When it comes to education, health care, economic opportunity and transportation, Texas minorities suffer disproportionately.
It was, after all, this same Rick Perry who complained about Hispanics filing lawsuits. "Every Jose in town wants to come along and sue you for something," Perry said.
We don't have to peer into Perry's soul. To see the consequences of racism, we simply have to open our eyes and see. My guess is that the people of color reading this piece are saying, "Duh. Tell us something new."
In the wake of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act and Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide victory, Democrats (especially Southern Democrats) wanted to escape the politically charged issue of race. They knew they would lose white voters to the Republicans. So they talked about everything but race. Their messages turned beige. A generation of activists wanting a paid role in politics did the same. Talk about racism was an election loser, so they didn't talk about it.
We're living with that legacy now. Yes, as a nation we are doing better on matters of race. But as new attacks on minority voting rights make clear, in many ways we are moving backwards.
Silence is the enemy of justice. And preening sophistication about how to win elections is the enemy of moral courage.
When Perry spoke of the possibility of Texas secession, he was sending a signal to the racists in his audience. Obviously, he thinks their numbers are large enough to deserve special attention. It's not Perry's soul I'm worried about. It's America's.
Follow Glenn W. Smith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/glennwsmith
Rick Perry under more strain after race row - Telegraph
With Rick Perry in the Race, Which Governor Has the Best Record ...
Rick Perry to run for president, spokesman says - CBS News
Rick Perry Might Run for 2012 Presidential Race - The Daily Beast
Hardly. Racial animosity is at an all time high. We hate each other.
Facts like this don't lend credence to your argument that there is a lot of racism in our country.
No surprise, of course, if you've taken a close look at the results of the recent census. The Republicans' attention was surely riveted on two major developments: Black folks moving in waves from Northeastern blue states into Southern red states, and the ever-increasing numbers of Spanish-speaking people in all states.
The Republicans have to figure some way of coming to terms with these population shifts; sadly, too many of them are stuck in the past. They think that these age-old ploys of voter disenfranchisement and pitting groups one against the other is still the way to go. These tactics may still work in some places in the short term. But in the long term, the GOP is doomed if it doesn't come up with better ways of accommodating the developing new demographic realities.
He said there were even Texas Democrat lawmakers defending Perry.
That definitely isn't everybody.
(Sarc off)
Latino, Black, East Asian all are used to separate and hold by political means America.
So here is a real label you can use--Average American. Yep! No color, religion or sex just a regular American doing the best he or she can do and damn proud of that fact.
Along with that label you can also chant VIVA THE REVOLUTION, because that is what 2012 is about; a new America.
It is moral laziness.
..and an accomplice to racism, after the fact.
Its simply a "card" game and its the one that most in denial play often !
Nuff said.
"We didn't have a 'race problem' here before all these troublemakers came down here and started stirring things up."
It's only a "race problem" when minorities no longer accepted being terrorized into second-class citizen status.
Just like it is only a "race card" when minorities no longer accept prejudice, open disrespect, voter suppression, dogwhistles and race-baiting as staples of Republican politics.
Someone who is comfortable with that sort of casual, blantant racism--even if it occurred 20 years ago---isn't likely to see African-Americans as true equals...
...or treat them as such. Either in personal terms...or public policy terms.
No matter how you try to dress it up...or rationalize it away.
But the only way you will finally cut the head off of the beast is by continuing to pressure it wherever you encounter it.
It will not go away as long as white people seek to deny its manifestations, rationalize it away...or try to blame the victim ("playing the race card").
Likewise it will not go away as long as some minorities try to use it as a universal solvent and explanation for ALL of their problems in life.
Minorities need to accept that ridding this nation of racism will be a multi-generational marathon...not a sprint...and we must succeed IN SPITE of the hostility and disrespect of some whites.
Whites need to accept that prejudice is THEIR problem...not ours...and to stop making excuses for it.