The Carter Statement

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man -- that he's African American." --Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, America's 39th president, made this statement publicly, and his comments have been subject to much criticism ever since.

This simple quote caused a firestorm, particularly among the Republican media. The statement did not come from the traditional spokesman for the civil rights movement. It came from an 85 year-old statesmen -- a Southern gentleman, if you will.

He comes from the ranks of those who have helped racism be what it is today.

The former president's statement isn't a flippant one to be ignored, but rather should bear weight because it comes from one who knows the signs of the attitude of racism when he sees it, because he is intimately aware of the white man's culture, values and habits.

He knows the practice.

Jimmy Carter is right.

A white reporter, Andrew Manis, who is also an associate professor of history at Macon State College in Georgia, wrote an editorial for the Macon Telegraph, a Georgia newspaper, asking "When Are WE Going to Get Over It?" In part, this is what he said:

For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it?

Now I want to ask: "When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?"

Further, he recalls his white classmates and their parents wanting to do harm to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. He recalls the "reprehensible" conversations from his boyhood.

The article is worth reading. It is an honest account from a white male Southerner.

When Bill Clinton was president he attempted to open an honest racial dialogue among Americans by naming the late black scholar, John Hope Franklin, to a special commission. Clinton even went so far as to consider making an apology to the American public about slavery. Though the apology never came, it was an attempt -- the first ever made by a president about the country's wrongdoing.

America is a racist society. Period. End of discussion. Post-racial is a Disneyland concept. The racial cause has advanced and improved. After all, we do have a black president now. And as he acknowledged himself on David Letterman's show, "I was actually black before the election."

We frown and become skittish at an honest racial discussion.

We twist and we turn; we reject the notion, but we cannot accept the candor of the discussion. We should get over it. The only way America will ever solve its racial hang-ups is through admission. The end of racism will not happen without white men. I think this is the real Carter assessment.

In this day and age, as we still seek "equality," we are seeing America change right before our very eyes. The stuff that America is made of is in question. Power, money and position. The very thing racism feared has come true. If the schools are integrated, then we will be equal. If they vote, they might out-vote us and put their own in. If they get good jobs, or if they have businesses, they might become successful. The dream happened. The change came. Now what? How do we get it back? How do we turn the clock? How do we get our country back?

The answer is: Let's do what we do best. Let's attack. Let's attack the health bill and make it seems anti-American and dangerous to the American public.

Let's create an atmosphere of hatred.

Let's use the symbols of Adolph Hitler's Germany.

Let's make the first black man in the highest office a socialist or a communist. Let's stir up the fear factor. Let's develop a negative atmosphere.

Let's confuse the American public on health care with an underlining theme of racism. This is what Carter rightfully identified, and called out racism.

And now the Republican talk show host says any negative or critical comment against the president is racial or that Carter is an old fool. Neither is true. Carter is right. Then the president goes into a denial mode when asked to comment on Carter's comment. He will not touch the no-win conversation because it is too hot and will take him off his health bill course.

The answer is not in the attack or the denial. There is no comfortable time to discuss America's racial issues. There is no right time. There will always be something else more pressing. America needs to look its racism in the mirror. It is not for black folks to do. It is for white folks to do.

So maybe, just maybe, Pres. Obama can do what Pres. Clinton did. And that is, name a special commission to examine racism from a white point of view and Carter could be the head of it.

Maybe, just maybe, we can get concrete recommendations to end America's longest sin so that we can all move forward toward a post-racial society ... or what Nelson Mandela calls a race-free society.

Comments

[neoprimordial]

Recently I had said President Obama was being diplomatic about it, but I believe you're closer to the truth to say it's a political two-edged sword if he were to have taken on the race issue in the opposition to his policies. Perhaps there is some aspect of diplomacy as well, but for the most part I think you're more accurate.

I also feel you're absolutely spot on in saying there is no "right time" to discuss racism in America, but as for how we begin to remedy it, I think we already know, for the most part, what to do. I think racism persists in large part because we don't have "exposure to other." So to speak, people are not sufficiently exposed to how other cultures function, to the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful in cultures / subcultures other than their own. People often have much more realistic impressions of "others" as a result of such exposure [Ahmadinejad take note].

I think that with sufficient interactivity, Black Americans and White Americans and Native Americans and naturalized Americans all begin to recognize each others humanity--our strengths, talents, and nobility, and our foibles, habits, and errors. Eventually we see ourselves in them, but this can't happen if we're not around them enough to know them. No doubt there will always be people who disapprove of others unlike themselves, but those folk become a dwindling minority [GOP take note] in a truly interactive world.

[Hermene]

Thank you for a beautiful comment.

[user168]

Carter is right, and he knows he is the one who could say it and he did. That is true courage!

All those who help create confusion, hatred, and destruction for personal satisfaction and gain are confused selfish cowards, and racism is the product of foolishness, selfishness, and cowardice.

[Hermene]

Amen.

[mattie wallace]

Thank you, but, if you were to look closely you will see that the President will speak without saying a word, why would he not give an interview to FOX NEW'S Sunday? now, he may not Scream it from the roof top but, he will send out message's to the RACIST! case in point, a statement given by the President after the Tea Party in Washington, his word's were( I plan on being President for a while) let 's break that down, in other word's he was saying " I shall Not be moved, so you Racist can have all the Tea Party's you want, I am Not going anywhere!!!!!

Now we want the President to do the White man's job, no, he is not the one holding up Demonic sign's, and yes, I said Demonic! for what is going on is far beyond just Racism!!! for what I have heard and witnessed is the worst of the Worst!

Jimmy Carter came forth to make AMEND'S in behalf of his people, in other word's he was apologizing to the President for his people's behavior! and why not? for when one White man hold's a sign with the President dressed as a Witch Doctor, that White man seem's to be speaking for their entire Race, and it matter's not if the people are Republican or Democrat! this is a Stigma on a entire Race of people!

[Hermene]

I so agree with you the President spoke volumes by not appearing on FOX NEWS. Brilliant on his part. Carter spoke for many. I am gald he spoke up.

[larce1948]

Carter finds himself in the unfortunate position of stating the obvious. This is not something that is well received by corporate media, political operatives nor commentators. No rational mind can believe that there is no racial aspect to the opposition against Obama. Equally, no honest person can deny that the Israeli treatment of Palestinians is as bad as the racist polices of South Africa not that long ago. Carter is an old man now and with age comes a certain freedom to say what you really believe and not contort to the policy of the day.

[Hermene]

WEll said. Thanks for your comment

[anachoret]

I loved your article, and I think you are absolutely correct. Though I can't imagine Carter heading anything like a special commission to examine racism from a white point of view (especially if Obama is interested in currying favor with the Clintons), without Carter becoming a larger focus than what the commission is set up to study. In fact, I would bet that this is something that Bill Clinton would say he is better qualified to do than Carter... And can you just imagine how that scenario could develop behind the scenes?

"The former president's statement isn't a flippant one to be ignored, but rather should bear weight because it comes from one who knows the signs of the attitude of racism when he sees it, because he is intimately aware of the white man's culture, values and habits."

I think this is best portion, and I think that the discussion could get better traction by tackling the issue as an element of culture. I think many people miss how the "Culture War" has been waged by embracing several traits openly, and others with a sort of "Luntzian Dog whistle," which may not register to some, but rings in the ears of certain target demographics.

Thanks again, for a wonderfully thoughtful piece.

[Hermene]

Thanks for writing. Perhaps Clinton and CArter and Bill Cosby should be on the special commission. The issue needs to be addressed seriously. They are the best ones to do it.

[dawnec1957]

President Carter is right. Your article is well written and right too.

Thank you for saying what I have been saying and thinking for 50 plus years..

Dawn
Missouri

[Hermene]

Thanks for your comment.

[jhNY]

Carter is right, and you were right for pointing it out. Thanks for writing in!

[Hermene]

Thanks for your comment