A few months back the NAACP buried the N-Word. Though this death of one of the most profane and degrading words in the American English language was just symbolic, there was a ceremony complete with burial. Now this idea of burying the N-word, in my opinion, is a bit aggressive. I don't think it was necessarily a bad idea in theory, but the N-word is not the problem. Whether we like it or not the N-word is here to stay. The funny thing is, in a country that claims "racism is over" and "this isn't 1955 anymore" and "I know my ancestors owned slaves, but I can't be held responsible for their actions" the word nigger, in its' racist form still exists. It has been passed down from generation to generation of post civil war, post Civil Rights movement "non-racist" families. People like Dog the Bounty Hunter, and Michael Richards and countless others get caught using the N-word and their first defense is always, "I'm not a racist". Does the use of the N-word by a non-black person automatically mean racism? Yes, but since i believe that all people are inherently racist in some way, then does the public use of that word make the speaker any more racist than the average joe. My answer is no. In today's society the word is used more to stir the pot. A white guy wants to get under your skin, he calls you a nigger. A falling star wants to make the news again, he calls you a nigger in public to make the news. A white guy is upset and doesn't posses the intelligence to express his feelings about his son's choice of Friends, he uses nigger repeatedly; ignorance.
Burying the N-word is not the answer. Instead of a nationwide movement to bury the N-word, how about a nationwide ignoring the ignorance movement. In today's world anyone who will use that word in an effort to stir the pot, or insult someone is ignorant. Ignoring the ignorance would eventually kill the word anyway, it doesn't deserve the pomp and circumstance of a true burial. Once that word dies I would be satisfied with wrapping it in a garbage bag and throwing off the Brooklyn bridge. The power of that word in today's world is wrapped in pettiness. How many brothers are in jail today for fighting some ignorant fool, over an ignorant word, all while perpetuating ignorance.
There is enough real racism out there and the generators of this racism will never utter that word. We have to learn to quit wasting our time arguing over the petty words and gestures; getting in a tizzy every time someone uses a played out word that is not even relevant to us. It's time to recognize real injustice and ignore the ignorance.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Racism Will Remain, Until Attitudes are Changed
In today's world the debate of racism seems to secretly permeate almost all aspects of American life. Today, more than any other time in recent history the American public tends to be split down racial lines on most current issues that deal in some way with liberty and equality. I ask myself, why is this? Why is it that the NAACP can't support or choose not to support an issue without some whites taking issue with it. Here in Florida there has been an ongoing fight for justice in the Martin Lee Anderson case (see previous blog). I have been monitoring blog sites and news websites reading various comments to see what the masses feel about the case. Almost all comments from people identifying themselves as white people, felt that there was too big a deal made of the case, they felt that the family was ultimately responsible for "giving up on him" and putting him in a boot camp. The majority of people identifying themselves as black people, detested the decision of the jury to acquit the guards, and cited the all-white jury in a small southern town as the reason for the not-guilty verdict. Thinking this occurrence may have just been an anomaly, I searched other stories on other sites in other parts of the country and found this phenomenon was not a phenomenon at all, it was a regular occurrence. There was a racial split in the worlds of news and even sports. From Mike Vick to Barry Bonds to the Genarlow Wilson case to the Jena Six, even Paris Hilton, and Anna Nicole Smith. It seems that our sympathy revolves somewhat around how well we relate to the accused or deceased and a lot of the time race is the only relation.
Seeing these differences in opinion made me think, why? being a black person I am sometimes willing to give another black person the benefit of the doubt even when the evidence isn't in their favor. To me that is only natural, but why the outcry from many white people. It seems that anytime black people in this country attempt to show some unity we get accused of reverse racism. Some people compare the million man march to a KKK rally. On some websites people actually said if there can be an NAACP then people shouldn't complain about the KKK. "Where's my National Association for the Advancement of White People?" I don't have a problem with white people supporting each other or creating organizations for themselves as long as they are not burning crosses in black peoples yards, shooting and hanging blacks. It leads me to believe that there is a sense of entitlement in the white psyche that makes even the most racially tolerant white person resent us from time to time. But I must say for there to be reverse racism there must first be RACISM.
Where does this sense of entitlement come from? It seems evident from the beginning of time, through the fall of many African and Asian empires to the rise of Europe. Even to the current state of places like Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, South Africa Ghana and Kenya. It has been extremely evident through the entire 231 year existence of America. In today's world it almost seems that anything that was created to help even the playing field and help black people in this country progress or "catch up" is supported until it affects their everyday life. For instance, affirmative action in schools was fine until middle class Americans felt their "more qualified" children were being left out of the best schools to allow minorities to enroll. The governments attempt to diversify the business world was met with residence when people felt that their businesses were being left out of Government contracts to allow minority businesses to get that work. Traditional white American neighborhoods' black population can only rise to about 6-7% before the white population begins to decline. Do many whites feel that their color makes them more entitled to the "American Dream"? If they don't feel that they are smarter because they are white, it has to be some inherent sense of entitlement that makes some whites resist diversity. If black people are 12-15% of this countries population, shouldn't at least 12-15% of businesses be black, 12-15% of employees be black, 12-15% of CEOs be black 12-15% of college students be black. I'm no economist or accountant but that seems like simple math. But if an any of the previously named categories are say 6% or 8% black, then there should be something done, not saying that black people should be given anything but there should be a greater effort to find qualified black people to fill that 6-8%. Isn't that what diversity means, everyone has an equal piece of the pie? So why the complaints, in the attempt at equality the bottom few percent of the majority will just have to make way for the top few percent of the minority, is that injustice or leveling the playing field?
It is crazy to believe that peoples racial and cultural differences will never be a factor in America, as long as we look different we will treat each other different, but that doesn't mean we should stop trying at equality. By all means the country is in better shape racially today than 50 years ago, but this sense of entitlement still exists and as long as it does, racism will never die. As long as the majority feels more entitled than the minority racism will always be a factor. At some point we will have to follow the lead of the Brazilian people of color and examine ways to update the attitudes of many whites and make them comfortable with diversity. And while we are at it we should examine our own attitudes so that we can equip ourselves and our children with the tools to continue to level the playing field and make this county an all-around better place for everyone.
Seeing these differences in opinion made me think, why? being a black person I am sometimes willing to give another black person the benefit of the doubt even when the evidence isn't in their favor. To me that is only natural, but why the outcry from many white people. It seems that anytime black people in this country attempt to show some unity we get accused of reverse racism. Some people compare the million man march to a KKK rally. On some websites people actually said if there can be an NAACP then people shouldn't complain about the KKK. "Where's my National Association for the Advancement of White People?" I don't have a problem with white people supporting each other or creating organizations for themselves as long as they are not burning crosses in black peoples yards, shooting and hanging blacks. It leads me to believe that there is a sense of entitlement in the white psyche that makes even the most racially tolerant white person resent us from time to time. But I must say for there to be reverse racism there must first be RACISM.
Where does this sense of entitlement come from? It seems evident from the beginning of time, through the fall of many African and Asian empires to the rise of Europe. Even to the current state of places like Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, South Africa Ghana and Kenya. It has been extremely evident through the entire 231 year existence of America. In today's world it almost seems that anything that was created to help even the playing field and help black people in this country progress or "catch up" is supported until it affects their everyday life. For instance, affirmative action in schools was fine until middle class Americans felt their "more qualified" children were being left out of the best schools to allow minorities to enroll. The governments attempt to diversify the business world was met with residence when people felt that their businesses were being left out of Government contracts to allow minority businesses to get that work. Traditional white American neighborhoods' black population can only rise to about 6-7% before the white population begins to decline. Do many whites feel that their color makes them more entitled to the "American Dream"? If they don't feel that they are smarter because they are white, it has to be some inherent sense of entitlement that makes some whites resist diversity. If black people are 12-15% of this countries population, shouldn't at least 12-15% of businesses be black, 12-15% of employees be black, 12-15% of CEOs be black 12-15% of college students be black. I'm no economist or accountant but that seems like simple math. But if an any of the previously named categories are say 6% or 8% black, then there should be something done, not saying that black people should be given anything but there should be a greater effort to find qualified black people to fill that 6-8%. Isn't that what diversity means, everyone has an equal piece of the pie? So why the complaints, in the attempt at equality the bottom few percent of the majority will just have to make way for the top few percent of the minority, is that injustice or leveling the playing field?
It is crazy to believe that peoples racial and cultural differences will never be a factor in America, as long as we look different we will treat each other different, but that doesn't mean we should stop trying at equality. By all means the country is in better shape racially today than 50 years ago, but this sense of entitlement still exists and as long as it does, racism will never die. As long as the majority feels more entitled than the minority racism will always be a factor. At some point we will have to follow the lead of the Brazilian people of color and examine ways to update the attitudes of many whites and make them comfortable with diversity. And while we are at it we should examine our own attitudes so that we can equip ourselves and our children with the tools to continue to level the playing field and make this county an all-around better place for everyone.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Killing Black Males is Still Not Illegal?
The lop-sided justice system has failed us again. It must not be illegal to kill young black males anymore. For those of you who don't know 14 year old Martin Lee Anderson died after a severe beating from guards in a Florida bootcamp in 2006. A video surfaced showing four guards beating him prior to his death while a nurse watched, after the savage beating the CHILD was carried off on a stretcher. He later died. This past friday those same four guards and nurse were all found not guilty in the criminal case that spawned from his death. How can a judge say that his death was in no way connected to the beating on the tape. This is the same justice system that was foaming at the mouth with anticipation of putting Mike Vick in prison for fighting dogs, but will allow four grown men to murder a child on tape. Have we come to a point in this country where the life of a dog is more important than that of a child. Or a justice system that would rather lock up high profile celebs than lock up real criminals that are a threat to our children. We agree to send our children to these bootcamps hoping that it will help set them on the right path, but instead we are losing them in the process. How much of a threat can an unarmed 14 year old boy pose to four armed guards. None.
It is ok to give two black males from Florida A&M University two years in prison for hazing a willing aspirant because you want to send a message, you want to get in the law books having the first prosecution under a new law. But Where is the message being sent to these bootcamp guards, Martin Lee Anderson was not the first and will not be the last. So when will someone be held responsible. Bootcamp deaths are not a racial issue most of the kids who have died in the past have been white, but when you have evidence like a video tape of the event and still get a not guilty verdict from an all white jury, it seems terribly reminiscent of past hiccups in the system where race was an issue. The bottom line is all four of these guards and the nurse should all be in prison, experiencing the same kind of mis-treatment that they handed out to thier jailed victims, that is true justice.
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