Jay Bookman a writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote an article that caught my eye recently, titled “Even quiet racism can drive everyone a little crazy.” Now as I started reading I was thinking, hey this guy might get it, somewhat. But as I read on, no doubt he started to lose me bit by bit. It starts off with him telling us about an RV trip he took to the Masters tournament where he was with a large group of white businessmen. He says, “They were introduced as prominent businessmen in their hometown, and as we inched our way through traffic, I was astonished when they began passing time by telling each other jokes about black people — although “black people” wasn’t the term they used — of a crudeness I hadn’t heard since childhood.” Now I get it that he was shocked by the jokes and whatever, but what I caught onto immediately was that no where in this piece did he say that he opposed what they were saying or that he told them this was unacceptable, he just sat there and listened or turned a blind eye to it, maybe even laughed along as to not be an outcast.
Now I am not saying that he needed to “be” the voice for a community that he is not even a member of but, he could have at least pointed out to them their blatant disgusting game was inappropriate. Anyway this wasn’t my main beef with the report. I was more disgusted that he goes on in his opinion to start and talk about how just because there may seem to be silent racism a Black will somehow see racism where NONE exists. He states that “Conversely, it also means that some black people will sense racism at work even in cases when it probably doesn’t exist. Its nebulous nature also means that people can cynically claim themselves to be victims of racism when the real cause of their problems is their own stupidity or criminality.” If he is on a bus with all these so called “prominent business men” who I am assuming from that title run and own businesses, wouldn’t he also conclude that from his own observations of their behavior these men are propagating racism in the workplace as well? How can they look at a person as inferior and make jokes about them one day then the next day at work they see them as equal by hiring them, giving them a safe comfortable work environment and treating them with the same respect as they do their white staff.
So why then is it so far fetched that more than likely the cause “IS” racism and not just over-sensitive Blacks or our own “stupidity or criminality. I do agree with some of his statements about people being responsible and the like, because yes anyone committing crimes need to take responsibility for their individual actions, but like anything that is done, it’s not happening in a vacuum. So I would like to look at the why they did it versus just what did they do. Why are these people acting in this manner, what makes Black communities have poor housing, education, health care, and employment? And could this be the “why” that we’re looking for?
He also makes reference to how Blacks are judged according to what any member of the group does, not on individual merit and I have to say kudos for that one. Because that has long been a pet peeve of mine as to why we need to defend ourselves as being an upstanding person because one Black does something to the contrary, yet whites can do a wrong and it doesn’t reflect on them as a community. Now unfortunately he goes downhill again with this statement “That sense of group responsibility — imposed from the outside — is itself a form of racism, far more subtle than racial jokes but toxic nonetheless. There’s no cure for it — it will exist as long as racism exists. But by acknowledging and discussing its existence, we can rob it of some of its power.”
I’m sorry but judging all Blacks by the actions of a few and those business men making racist jokes are toxic yes, but subtle, I don’t think so and let’s look at the big picture here. Isn’t the fact that they find it funny, acceptable and morally not a problem lend itself to the larger problem of Racism? These men are the very reason why so many Blacks are not being offered the jobs they deserve, the housing they deserve, the health care they deserve or the education they deserve. So to look at these men as toxic but subtle is a misnomer when they are far more than that. They are just a small peek at the type of adversity that awaits Blacks who dare to approach someone like them.
Mr. Bookman made some good points but then turned around and ruined the momentum by simplifying and falling back on poor old propaganda type thinking. This type of thinking is part of the reasons that constantly talking about racism doesn’t rob it of any of its power. We can talk until all of our heads pop off and things won’t change until we Blacks as a community decide to remove the control that they (White community) have over us and our image. We can only do this by ending our co-dependency relationship. I am not talking about some separatist movement per se, but I am talking about moving back to and building up our communities. Nice thought but I don’t hold out much hope of this taking place, which means that the least we can do is to resist and help our children resist the propaganda.
24 Comments
September 7, 2007 at 12:13 am
I’m a woman of Vietnamese birth who’s been in this country for more than 11 years, and I’ve never experienced the slightest hint of racism. I’ve seen whites treat Asians and Negroes with complete courtesy, and never anything else.
People who are constantly on the lookout for racism will make it up out of thin air.
September 7, 2007 at 3:00 am
FeticheNouvelle,
I am glad that you have never had to deal with this type of behavior. But, just because you have never seen any does that automatically make you an expert and able to say “People who are constantly on the lookout for racism will make it up out of thin air.” I don’t know where you live but as a child growing up in the Northwest I had a neighbor who called me and my siblings the N-word pretty much each and every time he saw our faces. His sons grew up and married Black women and he called them the same things. Now that doesn’t mean that everyone is racist because this guy was, but I am just making a point that you don’t know what I or anyone else is LOOKING for.
I have never seen a rape, yet does that give me the right to say that if people are constantly on the look out for rapists then they will make it(rape) up out of thin air. Of course this would be a completely insane statement, so why do people like yourself continuously want to have racisms existence dependent upon what YOU see. I don’t really care if you or every White, Asian or any other race sees what I see on a constant basis. That isn’t going to make racism any less real for the people who are dealing with it. Barrack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Colin Powell, Montel Williams, Venus and Serena Williams and the list goes on of people that you probably have heard of, have all said that they have seen racism or have personally been discriminated against in some way. I guess they are all just “making it up” and imagining these horrible incidents.
I guess I could chalk up every time I am called the N-word or passed over for a job when I am the best qualified or being followed by security in the store, being pulled over by the cops and they don’t have a reason, ignored by store clerks or rude remarks from service workers, as all of these people just having a really bad day. So when you are ready to see the world as it really is just remove your rose colored glasses and look around. But until then, don’t make light of something that you know nothing about. I am sure that when racism is aimed at you or your children(and it probably already has) I am pretty sure you will have a thousand excuses for that person. Actually being Vietnamese, you should check out the racism section on WordPress there is a person who posted a youtube video of a boy who is making racist fun of the Vietnamese peoples accent, but then I guess he isn’t being racist though right? Yet the person who posted it found his Vietnamese portrayal to be not so funny.
Thanks for the comment
November 29, 2007 at 11:33 am
[...] in the post Quiet Racism, the Black Sentinel had written a response to a white blogger’s post about his observations with [...]
December 19, 2007 at 8:18 pm
The problem that I have is when “anyone” says they “deserve” anything. I am an immigrant, and just because I am white does not mean that I was a slave owner or in some way harmed a single black individual. I had to work my way up from nothing, coming to this country with $10 to my name. The fact that I worked my arse off does not mean that I should help someone else who doesn’t want to put in the long hours and hard work. I think it is despicable to lump all people into one category, all people do not do an action – the folks that do it should be judged for it. But, to say that a group deserves housing, education, healthcare is ludicrous – we ALL do. My kids went to a great HS where they were the definite minority (only two white kids in the school) and the education that the teachers provided was incredible. The fact that the other students didn’t want to study or learn (not even to speak English correctly) is no ones fault but their own. The education was not only equal, but better, however they decided not to take advantage. My kids did – they worked hard – got jobs, paid their way through college. It is not that they are better than anyone – it is that they worked harder. So to say that stereotypes are false is wrong – they are “based” on something that others have observed. They should all be banned – including the one that “white people” in some way owe the rest of the races. I am NOT “white people” even if I am white.
December 19, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Gosia,
You say not to lump all people under one assumption, which is a good point and NOT what I am doing. I said some people. Now aren’t you also grouping people all together by saying “The fact that the other students didn’t want to study or learn (not even to speak English correctly) is no ones fault but their own. ” So ALL the other students didn’t want to study, learn etc.? Come on!
And who are these lazy people who don’t want to work hard? I guess you are under some assumption that blacks don’t want to work and want handouts. If you read the article you would see that I was talking about white BUSINESS men who were trash talking the black race.
Now how can hard working blacks get a job from people who have such disdain for them? If I don’t like people who come from wherever you do, and talk terrible about them, then how likely is it that I am going to give you or anyone from where you come from a job? Not very likely.
It is your thinking that is the problem. People are constantly under some stupid assumption that I am saying that blacks should be given this or that. I am saying that we DESERVE the same chance as everyone else. NOT that we deserve some special little extra tidbits. NO, give me the same chance you had and I am fine.
You claim that your kids work hard, well I know a butt load of black kids who work hard too, why shouldn’t they have the same chances as your kids. Just because they have black skin does not make them LAZY, UNWILLING TO STUDY OR LEARN and whatever else you blatantly blanketed on them.
Thanks for the reply.
December 20, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I’m trip’n… cuz it seems to me that what Gosia is saying, is, that out of all the people in that high school her/his kids were the only ones that worked hard and took advantage of the education being offered there. NOT!!!
My problem with “immigrants” is they come over here and inhale all this propaganda about us and run with it. So, when they are confronted with us they have these preconceived notions of who we are and what we’re about… so that is what they see.
I think they need to teach these people the real history of this country and not the fairy tale they tend to teach… the same stuff they teach in our schools also.
I guess you got to go along to get along, right?
December 20, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Damien,
Exactly! As you see she had already started dribbling out the propaganda as soon as her reply started. She was an immigrant with NO money and she could do it so why can’t ALL blacks do it. Well for one thing she has a leg up with her white skin. No matter what she says about not being lumped with other whites, she can take advantage of white privilege. The wonderful thing about white privilege is that whites get to take advantage of it no matter what their background.
Thanks for the reply.
February 11, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Dave,
Thanks! So does your mom. I just hope that I can live up to her standards.
Thanks but no thanks.
February 12, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Yea, this is too funny. The comments on this board reflect the usual arrogance and ignorance of those too deeply indoctrinated with the dominant communty’s hegemony, they cannot think for themselves.
Mabye the initial self-hating Vietnamese poster should come to my job where they say some of the most vile things about Asian Americans like how they are a race of people who don’t matter, how they are wack and nerdy, the constant mockery over their names and appearances and accents etc… They think saying “Chink” is funny. I fight with them everyday so I am labeled angry. If the initial poster needs to see blatant racism then she can come. I work at a studio in New York City. She can met me at the intersection of 5thAvenue and 17th street in the Flatiron district and we can walk together. Of course, when they see you, they may cool it until you leave as it usually happens.
They also do not like to hire Asian Americans in the brokerage firm that my uncle does business with because they claim they are strange and anti-social.
Anyway, I agree with you Damien, my parents are immigrants and they would have been oblivious to much of went on in this country as well as what still goes on in this country if I was never there to enlighten them.
MLK spoke about this sort of thing in a much lengthier speech in made in 1967 called the “The Other America”when he said
“A man was on the plane with me some weeks ago and he came and talked with me and he said, “The problem, Dr. King, that I see with what you all are doing is that every time I see you and other Negroes, you’re protesting and you aren’t doing anything for yourselves.” And he went on to tell me that he was very poor at one time, and he was able to make it by doing something for himself. “Why don’t you teach your people,” he said, “to lift themselves by their own bootstraps?” And then he went on to say other groups faced disadvantages, the Irish, the Italians, and he went down the line.
And I said to him that it does not help the Negro, it only deepens his frustration, upon feeling insensitive people to say to him that other ethnic groups who migrated or were immigrants to this country less than a hundred years ago or so, have gotten beyond him and he came here some 344 years ago. And I went on to remind him that the Negro came to this country involuntarily in chains, while others came voluntarily. I went on to remind him that no other racial group has been a slave on American soil. I went on to remind him that the other problem that we have faced over the years is that this society placed a stigma on the color of the Negro, on the color of his skin because he was black. Doors were closed to him that were not closed to other groups. And I finally said to him that it’s a nice thing to say to people that you oughta lift yourself by your own bootstraps, but it is a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he oughta lift himself by his own bootstraps. And the fact is that millions of Negroes, as a result of centuries of denial and neglect, have been left bootless. And they find themselves impoverished aliens in this affluent society. And there is a great deal that the society can and must do if the Negro is to gain the economic security that he needs.”
February 13, 2009 at 12:30 am
Rhondacocoa,
I absolutely love MLK’s “The other America”. It is exactly what people need to start looking at or thinking about when they want to quote MLK. Not constantly portraying him as only having a dream.
Also, those people at your job are jacka$$es. But, of course the Asian lady who replied would never admit that. She would have some excuse or another for them and their ridiculous behavior.
And better yet turn around and talk smack to you and call you and angry black woman. That is the nature of the type of sickness she has. I wrote a post about her comments specifically called “http://theblacksentinel.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/curing-dysfunction-with-dysfunction/.”
Thanks for the reply
June 6, 2009 at 2:44 pm
To the asian woman who has no clue of what she is talking about, you should find out things for yourself and don’t judge others. You got a break to leave your impoverished homeland so whites can have someone besides themselves to train weak uninformed minds to agree with them while unleashing their systematic centuries old hatred and racism upon those who stoo up to them unlike you. You are at best very ignorant. Racist feel redeemed by your ignorant acceptance of their racist behavior. You are blinded like many others who arrived in America as willing immigrants instead of a history of slavery, racism and discrimation of every manner. They spit in our face to offer you all America has to offer because you think they are your little white angels. They offer you opportunities that has been categorically denied to the black man. They use you to justify their hideous racist ideas that suggest that because you are somehow smarter, wiser and harder working is pure bs. I’m sure your being so much harder working did not prove a benefit in Vietnam or you would not have come to this country. So, you of all should be wise enough to not buy into that. Stick around, your day is coming.
June 21, 2009 at 11:05 pm
To be honest i havent read most of these comments, because i know some of them will contain racist things i don’t want to hear. I am a mixed race english person , and i consider my self half english half jamaican , not half nigger half white. Its a shame that everyone can’t just be intrested in other peoples heritages, rather than just hate because of it.
June 21, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Ashton,
I don’t understand what in the world your comment has to do with anything. I mean I do understand that we should all respect each others race.
But, can you answer me this one thing? Why is it that when you say that you don’t consider yourself half “nigger” and white you didn’t use a derogatory name for white ONLY black? What is that about? Why is it you would even think that anyone would consider that you would refer to yourself as half a nigger? That itself is ridiculous.
Thanks for the reply, at least I think.
July 25, 2009 at 11:12 am
It’s so funny to see racists accusing everyone else of being racist. This blog is full of comments by none-white bigots pointing out white bigots. Things like “To the asian woman who has no clue of what she is talking about” and “she had already started dribbling out the propaganda” make me laugh. She has an opinion that differs from yours, so you can’t help yourselves but hysterically produce her as ignorant and without worth and that the things she experiences are “propaganda” while of course the things you experience are “truth”. I couldn’t stop laughing when you use the term “hegemony” as if you are not part of one yourself.
July 25, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Benny,
It is one thing to say that a person is a black or asian or even a white person who has not clue what they are talking about. But it is another to say that BECAUSE a person is a certain race they have no clue what they are talking about. You obviously lack the where with all to understand the difference. And trust me there are plenty of people on this blog that I have different views with who I DON’T think are racist. Having a differing view doesn’t make a racist. Having a view that because one is a certain race and therefore stereotyping them with propaganda DOES make one a racist.
And it is obvious that you actually don’t understand the difference between propaganda and personal experience. It should be simple for YOU to read the difference. When a person bases their understanding of another race on hearsay and a bunch of stereotypes that is propaganda. You can’t say that just because your grandma was attacked by a black person now all black people are violent and think that is an experience. If I were to say that because some white people are racist that now ALL white people are racist that would be propaganda. SEE THE PROBLEM?
Get a clue and do a bit of reading before spouting idiocy as it is so ridiculous. I don’t have a problem with people who explain their positions without trying to implicate EVERYONE of that particular race or gender or whatever into the picture. So when you learn what certain words actually mean then maybe you will have helpful comments but we can certainly see that hasn’t happened yet.
You are one of the weakest links, GOODBYE!
July 27, 2009 at 11:52 am
Am black, racism is nonsense whether from a black or white. If ya nose, ears or anythin on ya boby is in a different position than that of the other person of another race, consider ya self different from them but if its otherwise, the one who fears God the most is the one that is the best of all. Wake up guyz white power or blackpower is bullshit. 4get it en work 4 a common goal. En if u still discriminate others but still go 2 church, piz stop wastin ya tym coz the God tha created u hates ya nonsense.
By muzkays (muzkays@yahoo.com)
July 27, 2009 at 2:38 pm
“You are one of the weakest links, GOODBYE!”
PHEW!! I survived another week in this reality based blog!! And tell Benny, I’m not a non-white…my picture clearly shows I am a tiger with a 6 year old companion called Calvin.
October 16, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I find the picture of the duck very offensive. I expirienced a lot of racism as a child, and could never get over the fact that people could hate you for the color of your skin.
October 16, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Ge Ge,
You and I both have experienced a LOT of racism as a child. I have also experienced a LOT of racism as an adult. The picture is meant to be offensive. It is trying to give a message about racism.
Thanks for the reply.
November 3, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Thank you so much to the person who posted the MLK speech. It really contains the essence of the argument behind racism; the fact that people are told to pick themselves up by the bootstraps but how can they when all of the opportunities are denied to them? I went to an inner city middle school and then won a scholarship to a very affluent High School and later on College and experienced first hand the disparities in education, especially. In middle school, most of my teachers were white in an overwhelmingly minority high school. I knew very smart people in my class and I was one of them but the education that was given us did not prepare me at all to attend an affluent high school. I remember my teachers being schocked after I was admited on a full ride. They knew that they had not prepared me to attend a High School of that standard. I still remember my Math teacher asking me to go to her office for extra exercises despite the fact that I was doing well in her class so that she can cover more pre-algebra with me so that I can be prepared when I entered high school. Now, I was as smart then as I am now and just as driven but have had to struggle my way through things simply because I was not expected to acheive as much as I have and was therefore given an education that disadvantaged me greatly. MLK’s speech definietely strikes a cord with me. I’m living proof of the fact that people are denied equal opportunity from the beginning and are then blamed for their failiure. I consider myself lucky to be where I am but feel sorry for the many other smart kids in my class who did not have the same opportunities I had.
November 3, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Tati,
Thank you for sharing your experience. You are exactly the reason I write and post what is happening around us. We need to be aware that this crap is still happening. Just because civil rights laws were passed and integration became the thing of the day, did not stop racism and the continued subjugation to stop. So again thank you for your reply.
November 3, 2009 at 7:26 pm
“I still remember my Math teacher asking me to go to her office for extra exercises despite the fact that I was doing well in her class so that she can cover more pre-algebra with me so that I can be prepared when I entered high school.”
It sounds like your teacher recognized that you had more potential than most of your classmates, and wanted to give you extra attention to provide education on par with your abilities. She should be commended for taking the extra time.
November 6, 2009 at 1:00 am
Soooo, this is a text I got from an old friend who hasn’t texted me in… forever.. and this is what she sent me.
If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you’re not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists. You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gangmember, or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.I am proud… But you call me a racist….Why is it only whites can be racists? here is nothing improper about this.. Let’s see which of you are proud enough to send it on. I sadly don’t think many will. That’s why we have LOST most of OUR RIGHTS in this country. We won’t stand up for ourselves!BE PROUD TO BE WHITE!!It’s not a crime YET .. but getting very close!It is estimated that ONLY 5% of those reaching this point in this msg will pass it on. I am certainly proud to be white.
ookay, first off.1. What race is orange? (I asked dear old friend this and she said, “IDK lol, japanese?) Point proven.
2. What rights have whites lost? Slavery ownership rights?
3. “You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us..” okay, ALL people, of all races, do that to EACH OTHER. saying “YOU” implying all races not white is offensive.
4. LOL @ the ending statistic… it is so random and so MADE UP how could they even logically or scientificly come up with that number?
5. Being proud of a race doesn’t make it racist, when a person says “I am proud to be German…Portuguese..English…Spanish…Russian..” No one screams “RACIST”
6. When has someone screamed “racist!” when a police officer (of any race) beat up such a scumbag? When has a police officer wrongfully beat up an innocent person protesting their rights?
This is concrete proof that racism is here, people. I am Native American and my “friend” knows this, yet she still sent it to me. Why? I can’t fathom. whatever, the case, I was angry and sad about this.
November 6, 2009 at 11:46 am
Leslie,
I agree wholeheartedly with what you say. It is sad that people are so wrapped up in their own privilege that they can’t see how idiotic and hurtful this email is. I have seen this as well and find it absurd to say the least. Thank you for sharing.