Why I'm Grateful for Joe Wilson and the Fury of Racists
This story republished courtesy of TheLoop21.com.
I'm not sure when it first hit me, that the future of our country, particularly when it comes to race relations, is really looking up. Perhaps it was when a member of the Boston Police Department referred to Professor Henry Louis Gates as a "banana-eating jungle monkey." Perhaps it was when an angry town hall protester ripped up a poster of Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks -- while others in the crowd applauded. Or perhaps it was when Congressman David Scott was greeted with a swastika spray painted outside of his office and hate mail calling him the N-word all in the same week. Or perhaps it was when Congressman Joe Wilson demonstrated such a lack of respect for our president when he shouted "You Lie," at him during a presidential address.
You've probably assumed that I am being sarcastic in my premise that these incidents are proof that our country is on the verge of significant racial progress but I'm not. During a recent conversation with my mother she expressed fear that Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be right, that the current vitriol being exhibited at town halls and elsewhere is not only uncivil, but down right scary and could soon boil over into violence. We then began to reminisce about the Civil Rights Movement, which my mother lived through, a time when racist rhetoric turned deadly. That's when it hit me: People turn angry when they feel that they are losing ground.
Racist domestic terrorists did not bomb the church that killed four little Black girls in Birmingham, Alabama because they knew those little girls would never attend high school with their children, but because they knew that one day they would. The Ku Klux Klan murdered three civil rights workers, not because they were confident that Blacks would never get the right to vote, but because they were terrified that they would -- and were on the verge of doing so. (It is worth noting that this year the town in which the workers were murdered elected its first Black mayor.)
There are plenty of Americans -- good, fair-minded people -- who do not support the President's proposed health care reform, at least not yet. I consider myself among them. But there are others, who as former President Carter asserted, are simply unhappy that a Black man is president.
And that gives me hope.
Because the reason some people's racism has been brought to the fore is because the America they thought they knew and loved is becoming a different one before their very eyes; an America in which a Black man can get elected president and a Latina can become a Supreme Court Justice. But most of all an America in which their very own children applaud both. This is what really has racists in a tizzy. Every study shows that most of their children do not share and will not pass on, their legacy of intolerance and hate, but instead may end up dating or marrying an Obama or Sotomayor of their own one day.
You know what else gives me hope? The fact that even in a state like South Carolina where the Confederate battle flag still flies near the entrance to the capitol, citizens have seen fit to punish Congressman Wilson in the polls for the lack of respect he showed our president, who as we all know, is Black. If that's not proof of progress then I don't know what is. So let the racists wail. Let freedom ring and let progress come.
This story first ran on TheLoop21.com for which Goff is a political writer.
Follow Keli Goff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/keligoff
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I LOVE this article - refreshing broad historical perspective. Thank you.
I find it hard to believe that the majority of the critics of the administration are racist. Past African-American and Hispanic leaders in the federal government had a higher level of public support. Instead, much opposition to the current administration stems from three areas: (1) the current health care reform proposals are confusing and very expensive, and may not be an improvement over the present system, (2) our current foreign policy appears to be rather awkward, and (3) the president has surrounded himself with advisers who have in the past expressed positions that are harmful to individuals and society. I have been involved in environmental activism since 1980, volunteer with Amnesty, have built houses with Habitat, and help raise funds for the local homeless agency. Even so, I am very uneasy about the direction of this administration. Finally, the charges of racism are being levied because it is easier to demonize one's opponent than to use the truth to refute him.
Nice article.
But I have one beef (there's always at least one, isn't there?)
You wrote: "who do not support the President's proposed health care reform, at least not yet."
This is making me bonkers in lots of locations. President Obama has NOT YET PROPOSED a specific health care reform plan. You, and everyone else, are responding to plans that have emerged from Congress.
This isn't splitting hairs, this is a real disconnect with how the process is working, with lots of implications.
Thanks!
Great article, thanks for restoring a bit of my post-election hope. You're absolutely right -- people respond like this when their backs are against the wall. The civil rights movement saw an angry White Southern backlash which eventually shook itself to pieces. It gave way to a climate where saying that Strom Thurmond should have been President gets you drummed out of elective office. Now we have another White Southern backlash, and history is likely to repeat itself. And these people aren't even sure what they're protesting -- the most coherent thing the teabaggers are marching against is government, and that's not likely to go away just because they carry offensive signs.
nice article, but I'm not as optimistic as you are. I hope the election of Obama is a sign things are better, and it ripped the scab off the wound so the real racists could expose themselves to the light of day. Many have. But let's look back in a few years and see what the effects are. Let's see if the state of S.C. throws Joe Wilson out, or if he's elected with a larger majority than the last time. Let's see how many more innocents suffer, like the poor census worker found hanging from a tree while just trying to keep his life together in these hard times. Let's see how the race-baiters on the television and radio (I'm talking about the Becks and the Limbaughs) do in their ratings over the next few years.
You would think hard times would bring out the best in this "Christian" nation. I think I'm seeing otherwise.
Fine post, Keli. I think you've nailed it; and like the fire hoses and police dogs this too shall pass because the kind of virulent racism of the Confederacy that we witnessed pre-and-post-Civil War, during Reconstruction and in the 1950s and 60s, will pass away again. These folks have lost the 19th century Civil War and are now trying to undermine 21st Reconstruction. The arc of the Universe bends towards Justice!
brilliant
it really is amazing the difference between young & old on race & tolerance
the so called "n-word' is used asa form of greetin among friends
The emerging Hispanic American voting behemoth will end the days of good ole boys seriously influencing anything. Catholic mission statement of social justice will become an integral part of 21st century America.
The real end of racism will come when the american people elect a president not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. When a person goes to the supreme court because they are one of the best qualified,
Color , gender , etc. should not be envolved. So far I don't see that happening. The president was elected by the color of his skin, and everyone knows it. , The first time it has happened in the history of this country. When will we get past The First Black President, and get to the 44th President.?
How many people are willing to throw everything under the bus just to say "i'm right' , and to hell with the the rest.
Real racism is dying , please stop reserecting it ,for political points. Stop seperating people according to all your own different groups and then complaining when someone else does it!
"Real racism is dying , please stop reserecting it ,for political points. Stop seperating people according to all your own different groups and then complaining when someone else does it!"
chimark: Who are the "your different groups" you refer to? Why was important in your post to point out that they were different? Or is it just that they are different from you? And why is that bad?
Have you ever considered that perhaps millions of us voted for the current president precisely BECAUSE of what we believed to be the content of his character?
If you really want racism to die, YOU can help hasten its demise by examining why people who don't look like you or don't share your particular identity make YOU so uncomfortable. After all, above the surface of our skin we are all Americans, and under it we are all humans.
I totally disagree with you. Do you think George Bush was elected based on the criteria that you implied? If President Obama ran for office based on the fact that he is a Black Man, he would not have won. President Obama was more qualified, in my opinion, then any President in recent history. It appears to me, that you are having difficulty in handling the truth. You reveal in your response an underlying racism, and it shows in your remarks.
involved, resurrecting, separated, Racism is alive and well. I see it everyday here in Texas. The worst racist I know is a doctor who grew up in Florida. Politicians separate people and take advantage of them. You have been taken advantage of, and from the look of your post, given an inferior education. A college degree today is about equivalent to a high school degree of 30 years ago. Schools have been "dumbed down" so that everyone who wants a college degree gets one. This is not preparing good citizens or deep thinkers. Look at the number of conservative intellectuals who are dying off with no replacement. Conservative thought is reduced to high school graduates like Limbaugh and the mental giants on Fox. Not an education among them. They are deejays, not leaders.
"chimark"
Actually,... 43 Presidents were elected "by the color of thier skin"; as you so eloquently put it.
Their white skin was a prerequisite for them to even BEGIN to be considered.
You say that "real racism is dying",....and the point of Ms. Goff's excellent piece is just that.
But racism is DEEPLY ingrained in America, and many, many people of otherwise good will...... who would VEHMENTLY deny any prejudice, (and many who would NOT)......
will out with some surprisingly retrograde attitudes regarding race and ethnicity.....
You just have to SCARE 'em some,....
And change is scary.......
I agree with Ms. Goff that some pretty ugly behavior of late...can actually be seen as a sign of hope
But racism is not dead YET, not by a fair piece
When you corner a stinking, mangy, cur who's snarling and foaming at the mouth...........that's when he's at his most dangerous. Best not turn your back on him
Great piece
tm
Excellent piece, and I totally agree. When I hear the hateful, malicious rhetoric from the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, it greatly disturbs me. But after reading this, I realize you are absolutely correct. Those ranting wing-nuts would NEVER admit it, but they're afraid that President Obama just might succeed and then where will they be? Long forgotten, I hope.
Obama, McCain, Clinton -- they are all just puppets. There are 28 levels of security clearance above that granted to presidents. As long as we keep voting for the puppet of the moment from either the Dems or the Reps we will continue to sink deeper. The damage is mostly done now; the country has set a new record for indebtedness, the populace has been dumbed down, drugged (half of US adults are dependent on some sort of brain-altering legal or illegal pharmaceutical. This fall the $USD will begin the begin the big dive to zero worth. (ETA=15 months).
Boy, I bet you're a lot of fun at cocktail parties.
Progress has been made. Progress remains to be made.
Agreed and we ought never forget the most wealthy 1-10% love keeping poor and middle class folks squabbling across racial lines while they do as they please. It's a tried and true strategy.
Real racists and those that easily fall for this sort of thing are diminishing in number.
I adored the way President Obama addressed the issue on "The Late Show". The majority of United States is moving forward.
Well, said and agreed!
I applaud you. Now my hope is that you'll take this realization and defend the 50 million plus that voted for someone other than Obama for reasons other than race from being swept in with the handful of idiots you've been unfortunate enough to encounter. You can start by leaving Joe Wilson out of it.
Fair-minded people did not defend Sen. Kerry's military service or oppose Bush's bailout of the banks only to be slapped with a racist label for daring to disagree with the president now. Carter's claim, which you downplay here, is that an "overwhelming portion" of the protestations are fueled by racist motives. Latch on to that realization that racist attitudes are not crossing generational lines, and stand up for the under-40s who did nothing to deserve such an insult.
Carter did not say that an that an "overwhelming portion" of the protestations are fueled by racism. He said the most vitriolic aspects of the protests were caused by racism. People don't reach a point of tearful, spittle-flecked, red-faced rage because of a difference of political opinion. Carter was making the point that the virulence of the protests is fueled by racism, not the protests themselves.
And you know, I don't see you or any other Republicans, speaking out against that "handful of idiots". By its silence, the republican leadership is complicit in this. Glenn Beck gets tons of coverage, and just carries it further and further, because there's never any pushback from the repube establishment. It's cynical and disingenuous and dangerous to let this go to its logical conclusion. It's always party over country with you guys.
One question--say you get enough people riled up that you retake congress and the presidency. What then? How are you going to govern a country that you have torn apart by fueling latent hatred and fear with lies and misinformation?
Very well stated!
Great post! I would add that after Glenn Beck made the statement that things would be worse with McCain, I watched his show to see how he would spin it. He claimed that McCain is a progressive and would have also passed legislation, like cap and trade, that conservatives are against, but, now here's the kicker, no one would have protested. They would have been ok with McCain doing it. Hummmm, now what is different about McCain vs Obama, besides the very obvious intelligence level?!
Excellent points, and all of them very well made, Tim!!
Just under 40's? Shame on you for not recognizing the rest of the American people who are fighting to keep our country out of the hands of socialism and communism. We baby boomers are right there with you. the rest of what you say is terrific - but don't leave us out. We are not racist - we are the generation who helped defeat that!
Kets all forget about racism and reconized only one race! The human race.
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