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    Epiphany about Racism

    Filed Under anecdotes, race, rants 

    The LH and I talk about race at least once every day, and last week I had a real moment of epiphany. We were talking about this black, Christian minister named Jesse Lee Peterson, who appears on Fox (Bill O’Reilly’s show in particular) to confirm all the anti-black feelings the white viewers of the show want to see justified. In one particular segment he made the statement that “most - not all, not all - but MOST black people are immoral.” 

    I got so angry, I called him a “self-hating black man.” (Wrong, I know.)  Then I got all indignant about the “lynch him in a back alley” comment about Tiger Woods from the white lady on the Golf Channel; and Fuzzy Zoeller’s earlier statements about Tiger Woods and “fried chicken” and “collards, or whatever they like to eat.” Of course, Tiger never takes offense to any of these things and publicly “okays” these things. And then there is that nutcase Pastor Hagee, (endorser of John McCain) who after being called out for advertising a “slave auction” as a church fundraiser claimed not to have “a racial bone in my body.”

    So I was complaining about these things. “What does a white person gotta say before other white people will agree it’s racist!?” I was pretty hot under the collar. All I want is for somebody to stand up and just ADMIT they were thinking racist things. Just admit it. Don’t try to act like the rest of us are overreacting morons. Take responsibility, for heaven’s sake.

    But then Michael (the LH) pointed out that the reason lots of people won’t call something racist is because they believe it to be true. For white people like O’Reilly, he said, if it’s true, it’s not racist. The reason they get so indignant when accused of racism is because they see it as punishment for being honest. 

    Hmm. If true, that would certainly explain a lot.  I’m going to have to mull that over for a while. Who knows; maybe the same applies to other things, as well (e.g. ageism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc.). I swear, one day, I’m going to better understand these things from a non black woman’s perspective. Heaven knows why I feel it’s necessary.

    p.s. Despite my anger, I do understand the mentality of the self-hating black person; I do. But I still want to gouge my eyes out when I see that Rev. Peterson has a chapter in one of his books titled, “Why Black Women Are So Mean.” Michael’s response is to laugh at racism (both internalized inferiority and superiority). I might laugh sometimes, but my blood pressure still goes up.   

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    9 Responses to “Epiphany about Racism”

    1. will shetterly on March 11th, 2008 2:03 pm

      Yeah, it’s true. Just about any time someone says, “I’m not X, but–” they’re X. People who believe in any hierarchy believe the hierarchy is right, and there’s no prejudice involved at all. Just the other day, I was listening to something that’s going around, in which an Arkansas (I think) elected official starts a homophobic rant by assuring the listeners she’s not homophobic–it’s just that God hates gays.

      We have a very silly species. And some of things done really can’t be laughed at.

    2. Michael Tino on March 11th, 2008 2:22 pm

      Cross-posted from your LJ blog:

      I think that could well be the case with some people.

      For many white folks, though, we don’t speak up because we are taught not to. Our society teaches white folks that we have nothing to gain by speaking up, and everything to lose by doing so. Of course, this is not true–but it is what we are taught (don’t offend people, don’t rock the boat, don’t piss off people in power). It is one way that racism perpetuates itself: by threatening those who realize it is wrong with punishment if we dare say something.

      I don’t think people use the term “race traitor” anymore, but this is what white people who spoke up against racism were often called. It’s not a subtle term. See Mab Segrest’s amazing “Memoirs of A Race Traitor” for more info on that term.

      If only we could teach people that authenticity, integrity and real relationships with people of color are worth taking that risk for…

      -michael

      PS-And I (for what it’s worth) certainly don’t think that pointing out someone’s internalized oppression is wrong. Yes, a black man saying something like “most black people are immoral” is internalized oppression–learned inferiority from a racist society. And you are right to point that out.

    3. La - msviswan on March 11th, 2008 3:59 pm

      “For white people like O’Reilly, he said, if it’s true, it’s not racist. The reason they get so indignant when accused of racism is because they see it as punishment for being honest.”

      Thanks for sharing. I never looked at it that way. i don’t agree with him (LOL), but it does make it interesting how you look at it. I guess I always try to at least place logic to a person when they don’t seem to get my point regarding these issues.

      On another note, I have an older white female coworker. We get along great except for race issues. I’ve tried to explain to her why I sometimes would consider a black person “self hating” due to their anti-black behaviors. I realize she would never seem to see them as such. Perhaps it’s because she would be seeing their behavior as the “norm”. Get what I mean? Anyway, thanks again for commenting also.

    4. CC on March 11th, 2008 6:59 pm

      I’ve been called a “self-hating” white person and I’ve never understood the charge.

      That said, I generally view it that facts can’t be racist, opinions can be racist. I would call all of the examples you listed racist. I would call lots of things people have said about Hillary Clinton sexist.

      The racism/truth dichomy is interesting though.

      An ex-coworker of mine (who, in her defense, had a heavy eastern European accent that made her hard to understand sometimes) came back from lunch once and said that the Wendy’s down the street only had black workers and Hispanic workers, and she always picked a line with a black worker because she KNEW the black people spoke English and would have an easier time understanding her.

      True, even logical, but racist I’d say.

      CC

    5. Joseph Santos-Lyons on March 11th, 2008 7:15 pm

      What is truth? In this context, it still seems pretty subjective.

    6. Donald O'Bloggin on March 12th, 2008 1:11 am

      I would agree with what you said, and say it a bit differently, even though most people I know who think this way wouldn’t say it this way:

      “If it’s fact, it can’t be racist.”

      But this is learned from Professor Indiana Jones, who tells us that “Archaeology is the search for fact… not truth. If it’s truth you’re looking for, Dr. Tyree’s philosophy class is right down the hall.”

      People are very willing to change their opinions on things that are true… not things that they deem factual. This is why people believe themselves in cases such as “I am not X, but…” because they are, in their own minds, supporting their arguments with things they have seen/heard with their own minds, and thus must be factual in and of themselves.

      I agree.. we are silly creatures.

    7. Dubhlainn on March 12th, 2008 1:15 am

      I was in an interesting meeting last week and something took me a’back that I have been processing sense then. It was something I have never considered in my life.

      The meeting was a fishbowl excercise about GLBT issues in the workplace and in one part two HR leaders were speaking, one was white the other black, and the white HR leader says “I do not think though, that just because you are black anyone would feel justified in saying you were inherently immoral” to which the black HR leader said immediatly “There are thousands of people who would consider me as such…”

      It just never occured to me. I grew up with and around racism. I have said and done and thought things I am ashamed of, but I have never looked at someone race without knowing a thing about them and thought “they are immoral”.

      I just cannot understand such sentiment.

    8. Comrade Kevin on March 12th, 2008 2:01 pm

      Our unique perspective as whatever we are, for better or for worse, determines how we view the world outside.

    9. mskitty on March 13th, 2008 1:08 pm

      Hafidha, don’t scratch YOUR eyes out—-they’re not the problem!

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