I am white and I am a racist.
It's not on an academic level. On that level I would challenge any white person I know to be more aware and outraged by both the history of racial injustice in our nation and it's current manifestations.
It's on a gut level. As profound as if I were George Wallace standing in the doorway at the University of Alabama.
I don't know if any of my white friends feel any of the feelings that I do. As much as race is a third rail of American politics, openly admitting to gut level racism, if it is there, is not a something I've ever heard discussed among them. I hesitate, greatly, to admit it on this wonderful day of Barack Obama's wonderful speech. I am not sure if discussing what is ugly is on the path towards accomplishing what can be beautiful.
I did not grow up in a family where racial epitaphs were heard, not ever. I did not grow up in a family where my father's career was stymied by affirmative action. I accompanied my parents when they went to marches for fair housing and to support civil rights. My parents named my brother Paul Robert, in honor of Paul Robeson.
As a man, I have worked for many social, progressive and political causes, some strongly linked to racial injustice -- death penalty abolition, repeal of the "3 strikes law" criminal justice for juveniles.
And yet, examples of my racism are many. When the cable stations champion the cause of a white girl murdered in a "safe neighborhood" and ignore the fate of an African American girl who has died on the same day in the Inglewood, I am furious. But there is a disconnect. I find it easier to sympathize for the family of the white girl. I feel even that the white family feels the loss more. Again, that is only one of many examples.
I have lots to offer to get me off the hook. There is the most clichéd of defenses: I feel complete comfort and connection with my own African American friends. Networks do only cover the white girl's murder. It's easier to relate to what is most easily apparent. For every example of my prejudices, there is probably a rationale.
But, I must take the responsibility and I am appalled by my bigotry, even more than I am appalled when a friend refuses to understand the inequities of the criminal justice system or the code words of divineness spoken by our presidential candidates.
I ask myself, if I were a student at Little Rock High School, would I have spit on the nine black students or offered a hand in friendship. I am sure I would have been among the latter. But, in many ways it's easier to rise up against the most obvious of oppression with action, than to rise up against inner racism by self-examination.
I can imagine my African American friends reading this and dismissing me from their lives. But if Barack Obama is willing to put his candidacy on the line to say that the issue of race cannot be ignored, "not this time," than admitting amongst my white friends to our ugliness is not too much to ask. If admitting it in a way that ultimately dispels the feelings rather than binding them to us and making them our private haven against evolving, than it will be a good thing. If, with some candor, self-awareness and apology, we can admit it to the African Americans in our lives and move forward with more hope than if we did not, it might be a very good thing.
We want to sit around with our head in the sand and act as if doesn't exist or moreso, that if we don't talk about it, it will go away. It won't go away, so we need to deal with it. Senator Obama's speech brought some things home that people find difficult to digest, because he made us focus on our own beliefs.
If you say that you have never participated in any type of prejudice, then you are fooling yourselves - we all have. Some of us may not call it prejudice, but "just the way I was raised." I was raised mostly in the South and the reason that I say mostly is because the first part of my life, I lived as a "military brat". My father, fortunately or unfortunately, was usually stationed on military bases outside of the United States and the prejudices we experienced in these countries were not so much black or white, but American vs. Non-American. Upon moving to the United States, I then started to experience the racial divide.
Growing up in our own environments, we have heard all types of racial slurs, we either agreed or disagreed; some we condoned and some we didn't. Oh yes, we did. Some were thrown at us and some we threw. I had an experience as an young adult that I would like to share. I became employed at a very prestigious white ivy league University as a computer analyst some 20 years ago. The University had a wonderful dining hall and on my first day, I thought I would enjoy breakfast. As I walked into the Dining Hall and go to the cashier, a 60ish white lady, I was informed that I needed to go into another room because breakfast was free to me today. Naturally surprised because everyone else walked through and paid without the free breakfast announcement, I questioned as to why I would be receiving free breakfast on that day. She stated emphatically, that today was orientation for the HOUSEKEEPING staff and WE were all to receive free breakfast. Now, I guess everyone can imagine the shock on her face when I informed her that I worked in the computer department. At first, I was insulted and angry, not that I think Housekeeping is such a lowly profession, let me explain that before I get kicked for the statement, but I got angry because she automatically stereotyped me, based solely on the color of my skin. Was she trying to be mean, malicious or racist, no, that was just how she was raised. She viewed me based on her experience. We are not talking about 1950 we are talking about 1987. I worked at that university for about 10 years and witnessed great change. Why, because the people WANTED it to change. The lady in the dining hall became someone that greeted me everyday after our first encounter. Now, would I call her racist, no, but my father and many others like him would. A stereotypical comment like that would have sent him over the deep end. Why, because of his experiences. He grew up during military segregation, race riots and civil rights movements.
If we in this generation, don't decide to change our way of thinking, by understanding the experiences of ourselves and others, there will always be a divide. We won't even start moving in that direction until someone like Senator Obama and others make this country stand up and change the way we think, we act and how we respond. Everyone seems to be appalled at the words of Pastor Wright and Geraldine F. Come on, this is not the first time you have heard someone say something like that. Senator Obama could not control what came out of his Pastor's mouth anymore that I could have controlled the things that came out of my father's mouth. We decide what we embrace and what we throw away. Does that make the whole person bad, no, it means that I may disagree with this one area of your life.
We all have experienced walking across the street when we see someone coming our way that makes us uncomfortable and experienced someone walking across the street when they see us.
Oh and by the way Johnathan, your friends will still be your friends, because you can bet most of them already know how you feel and they like you anyway.
On my own level, I will admit that fear of difference sits in all of us. Even after living in Chicago for 5 years, now that I've moved back to Wisconsin and am situated amongst a very white community, whenever a black person walks out of the grocery store I notice. Then I get upset at myself for noticing (by notice, I mean there's a mental double-take) - and then I'm uncomfortable and forcing myself to NOT avert my eyes and to make a friendly greeting if eye contact is made.
Not because I have anything against any skin color or ethnicity - but because the mind is trained to notice differences, and I have lost that comfort zone I had when surrounded by a mix of people. While people live divided by race in communities, there will be that divide in the brain that makes us instinctually react at least slightly differently to those who look different than ourselves.
It's a hard thing to understand and come to accept. Even when you intellectually fight hard against it, some reactions are beyond your control.
Again, I applaud Jonathan's courage.
I like the movement for the working class. I am working class and my vote will go to the person who best represents my interest in jobs and benefits for the working class.
I was for Joe Biden and John Edwards in the beginning of this primary election cycle. By the time of my caucus in Colorado, I had two candidates to choose from. I had already decided that Obama was the opportunistic candidate - egocentric to the extreme. I consider Obama dangerous because of what he encourages in his followers - vote for me not with your mind or you are a racist.
Obama delivered Ferrara's words to the media. His campaign made a big deal out of them - just like they did with Bill words about Obama's voting history on the Iraq War. Then his campaign made a big fuss about Hillary's words about LBJ and partnerships between the races to achieve results. He obviously wants no criticism or he thinks it is quite acceptable to intimidate other Democratic voters with charges of racism. To me, that attitude is very dictatorial.
The way he got most of his delegates is also dictatorial to me. Half of his delegate count come from caucus states, like mine. Going to my caucus was one of the horrible experiences in my life. Obama supporters were very hard booted - very evangelistic. They were not concerned with helping people vote. I want a new Voting Rights Act to prevent something like this from ever happening again in the Democratic nominating process. All I have is my vote. I do not have grandiose ideas any longer about being able to affect change any other way. And that is fine. I deeply appreciate the right to vote for a leader to represent me. What a terrible experience Obama supporters have given me.
So, this is NOT news to me. The speech is not over inspiring to me personally. It did not convince me of anything but that it may make more people think. It did, and in a nut shell it does not mean he can do the job.
How about this: nobody cares what the label is. If you do or say something racist, you do or say something racist. Period, full stop. Not having been racist in the past does not buy you a free pass to do and say racist stuff in the future.
Nothing is going to improve if we can't examine our own attitudes and work together towards a better future. Remember Desmond Tutu's "Truth and Reconciliation Commission?"
As a black American I have had a situation occur in my life that might give you some hope. Some time ago I overheard some very close friends of mine as well as others listening to a very racist joke told by a mutual acquaintance. This particular joke referred to all black people by that unspeakable term. They didn't realize I was there and didn't notice that I saw some of them laugh and others sit indifferently without any protest as if someone sneezed. It was actually like a slow motion moment out of a movie for all parties involved. Naturally, I was angry but I decided to confront them on this. I brought the issue out in the open and let them know how I felt about it as well as how it reflected on their thoughts about me. They knew that I wasn't hypersensitive about race but they also knew that I simply didn't associate with racists or people who toss about prejudiced notions so easily. I simply could have walked away from them forever and rightfully so. I was truly torn as to what to do as I cared for these friends deeply. I asked them point blank after everything we had been through if they saw me as a sub-human or a valued friend. By bringing their callous indifference out in the open I am convinced that they learned something about themselves, blacks and other minorities, as well as something about friendship. I learned that caring for someone allows you to forgive. More so, after lengthy discussion I learned why some people sit indifferently even when confronted with language and ideas they disagree with or abhor.
I am not so naive to think that my friends are 'cured' of all prejudice and bias forever, but it was a step, and for our group of friends a major step in the right direction. As uncomfortable as it might have made them feel this dialog had to take place or the friendship was over They knew that I was serious and was not joking around so they reeled in their dread over being confronted with racial issues and opened up to a deeper conversation.
I want to highlight the fact that Jonathan Leigh Solomon has made a pioneering step in this arduous journey that lies ahead for our country and I'm willing to walk it with him even if it's just here on this comment at the Huffington Post. The point is that through dialog together we are better able to understand each other and begin to mend fences. I think that this is very relevant to Obama's point, and the overall message of his speech as this openness must take place on a national level. If you didn't take that away from Obama's message then this is precisely where the disconnect lies between racial groups in this country.
P.S. Hopefully your black friends don't abandon you for your honesty as it is a clear reflection of your desire to grow on a personal level and to better your relationship with them and others.
Having said all of this the question is what do we do about it? Do blacks who disagree with the sentiment sit idly by and not recount their positive experiences and friendships with whites? Do whites sit indifferently when a family member, coworker, or friend demeans an entire group of people? We should bring this out in public discourse. We should have a very public dialog about this and whites shouldn't be afraid or uncomfortable in doing so. Especially whites who hold resentments against blacks or believe they are the root of all of societies ills. These people should be jubilant over an opportunity to express their grievances publicly. Blacks because of their subservient (at least in many cases) status have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I guess it's incumbent on whites to agree to this since they are the majority in this country. They could continue on with their daily lives as if there were nothing wrong or they can address what's on their mind and we can begin to move on to addressing the issues as a nation that you wish Obama were focused on.
Some points can be made about the specific nature of American socio-political race issues, as well as the undeniable institutional, systemic, and sometimes overly subtle threads of racism that still exist today. So surely, people DO need to grow up with regards to "skin pigment", as well as what 'set of genitals' one has, or what country one was lucky or unlucky enough to be born in... as well as living among various religions, dealing with topics such as war and nationalism, and other similar sentimental elements of our culture. (and yes, pigment does not equate to race, but get real... it is COLOR among any physical differences that makes people act like immature and afraid beings)
Like the term "white trash" as opposed to what regular (black) trash?
Check out the Murtha thread. Note the number of people who attacked him based on his age.
And these are Obama supporters all pumped up on hope.
Yes, those bland snarks about Murtha being an old guy are shocking, and certainly on par with our country's history of slavery and disenfranchisement.
from one CA girl to another.
goodness gracious the man isn't saying that he changed things, or could wave a magic wand and swish it all away. he's saying that we can take steps to have it be better, and that now is a good time to do that. what he is simply doing is challenging us all to tap that thing in ourselves that can help things be better - you know, the ol' "do what you can, where you are with what you have" thing.
you don't have to believe "in" Obama, Ann -- but for goodness' sake at least believe in yourself.
Senator Obama's speech, his actions, and comments like yours have radically changed the conversation. Painful and a relief. If stuff like this catches on, we might be in danger of real change! Thanks for your courage in leading.
Sure, we feel uncomfortable with people who are not like us. That's a species trait that may feed into racism, but it isn't racism per se. I'd be willing to bet that you'd feel the same level of discomfort if you were shoved in the middle of a flock of Japanese businessmen as you would feel if you were shoved into the middle of a raucus black sermon on Sunday morning. For that matter, I'd bet you'd feel exactly the same if you were shoved into the middle of a Swiss bankers convention.
"My God! They aren't like me!!! They are SO odd!!!"
Please don't confuse discomfort at unfamiliarity with racism...