Accusations Of Racism As A Form Of Advancement
This week, Slate is publishing excerpts from Richard Thompson Ford's new book, The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse. Here's his preamble to the first installment, which actually seems to say a bit more than the first installment itself:
Almost all Americans agree that racism is wrong. Many believe that it remains a serious problem that affects many people on a regular basis. But a lot of people also worry that the charge of racism can be abused. We can all think of examples: Tawana Brawley's claimed assault seemed to have been a staged hoax. Michael Jackson—a musician who enjoyed the most lucrative career in the history of recorded music—teamed up with Brawley's former handler, Al Sharpton, to accuse his recording label, Sony Music, of a "racist conspiracy" to undermine his popularity after sales of his disappointing latest album are, well, disappointing. The multimillionaire—who, through untold plastic surgeries, has achieved the Aryan phenotype of Snow White— declared fearlessly, "When you fight for me, you're fighting for all black people, dead and alive." (That rumbling you hear is the sound of thousands of former slaves, sharecroppers, and victims of Jim Crow turning in their graves.) Prince, a musician whose contract was not quite as good as Michael Jackson's but still extraordinarily generous, complained that he was a "slave" to his record label (years later Prince made a deal with Jackson's old label, Sony, apparently unafraid of the racist conspiracy). Clarence Thomas, when charges of sex harassment surfaced during his confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court of the United States, compared his critics to a lynch mob. And of course there's O. J. Simpson. We all know what happened with O. J. Simpson (don't we?).The Race Card will examine the prevalence of dubious and questionable accusations of racism and other types of bias. I will argue that the social and legal meaning of "racism" is in a state of crisis: The term now has no single clear and agreed-upon meaning. As a result, it is available to describe an increasingly wide range of disparate policies, attitudes, decisions, and social phenomena. This leads to disagreement and confusion. Self-serving individuals, rabble-rousers, and political hacks use accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia, and other types of "bias" tactically, in order to advance their own ends. And people of goodwill may make sincere claims that strike others as obviously wrongheaded.
> compared his critics
> to a lynch mob.
I'll always believe he had a point.
Crid at January 21, 2008 6:17 AM
As Reynolds says, "read the whole thing."
Ford suggests the same, Crid:
Amy Alkon at January 21, 2008 6:20 AM
Thomas as sexual predator? Really? So while I am not a fan of Clarence Thomas, I never thought that the bit about a pubic hair on a coke bottle was a stellar pickup line. Perhaps I am just saying it wrong.
jerry at January 21, 2008 6:50 AM
Here's Kingsley Browne's very interesting take on this, from a 1998 Reason piece by Cathy Young:
http://www.reason.com/news/show/30734.html
Kingsley basically says workplace hazing happens to men, and it happening to women isn't sexual discrimination, but rather lack of it. They are being hazed same as the men, but in a way that takes advantage of their Achilles heel, their pursuee psychology (in terms of their sexuality).
Amy Alkon at January 21, 2008 7:00 AM
Books by Kingsley Browne.
Amy Alkon at January 21, 2008 7:03 AM
Holy crap. I just ordered The Race Card. Sounds interesting. It's the second book I've bought on Amy's reccomendation!
Thanks for the tip, Amy.
Jeff at January 21, 2008 8:52 AM
What was the first, and did you like it?
Amy Alkon at January 21, 2008 9:14 AM
Amy, I ordered A Guide To Rational Living. I think I sent you a thank you email for providing a link to it.
Did I like it? Oh hell yes. It recognizes the role of ideas in the production of human emotions. Their typology of unreasonable beliefs is obvious, so obvious it was easy for me to miss it until I read this book. The chapter 'Accepting and Coping with the Grim Facts of Life' was probably the most useful one for me. The author's theory seems a forerunner or a foundation for Cognitive Therapy. I can see the tie-in with Nathaniel Branden's book. From Amazon.com, I've sent several copies as gifts to friends.
Thanks again!
Jeff at January 21, 2008 9:44 AM
Jerry —
So, what exactly makes you think Thomas ever actually said it?
Women's accusations, taken as absolute truth despite there being no evidence, were a standard element of lynchings.
Lunatic at January 21, 2008 11:26 AM
Lunatic, you just described the Scottsboro Boys case to a T.
Cousin Dave at January 21, 2008 2:40 PM
Remember, Thomas' exact phrase was "uppity blacks." (I realize it's been sixteen years now.) I don't think the "lynching" was necessarily all about the stereotype of the Horndog Negro; it might also have been about punishing a black guy who made it to a position of authority without the help and sanction of the Left... Manic liberals want points for being compassionate, and if someone benefits without their compassion, they presume something's wrong. What's the point of being so admirably open-minded if nobody needs you to, or is even grateful?
See also, Hillary Clinton.
Crid at January 21, 2008 6:41 PM
If I understand the theory, it doesn't matter whether he said it or not. Presumably saying that he said it makes him fall under the stereotype of black sexual predator, except that I don't think that that is a very good pickup line for most sexual predators.
jerry at January 21, 2008 9:35 PM
You want to be screwed in this country now? Try being poor white. You're not given the hand up (unless, of course, you're a criminal or a welfare mother) and it's assumed that you're privileged just by virtue of your skin color. I (almost) wish.
Again, though there's no easy answers. Except I think we need to start ignoring color and gender and treat everyone the same. Even as I type it, I know that's just so much wishful thinking.
One thing that desperately needs to change is that we have to start rewarding the well behaved instead of the ill behaved. Go to jail and the liberals will line up to rehabilitate you. Likewise if you have several babies by different daddies before you're 20. Keep on the straight and narrow and you're on your own. I'm cool with that. Let us compete fairly. Those of us who got honor roll in school and studied instead of making babies because we gave a thought to the future would -- all else being equal -- come out ahead of losers who wound up in jail or on welfare. As it stands now, the government not only lets them butt in line but pushes us goodie two shoes out of the way to do it.
Before anyone else says it, hell, yes, I'm bitter. Being a law abiding citizen that kept her ass off of welfare should count for more.
Donna at January 22, 2008 8:52 AM
Uhm....Donna...How many non-white people are you sincerely friends with? It is a no-brainer that non-whites have a little bitty of a bit harder time making it in this world, especially when poverty is a factor. I guess it's your bitterness that makes you blind to that. I think things are changing rapidly for the better, but being bitter about the issue won't help. It has been said that some of the most racist whites come from poverty: people who are more likely forced to live amongst those they find different or non-desirable. I will find the link after lunch.
I recommend the book Amy talked about last week that I am almost through reading. It's called -Mistakes were made, but not by me.- It talks about dissonance theory. There is a nice, fat chapter on racism and prejudice, and why we can't see the racism and prejudices we hold.
Has it ever occurred to you that the people who are generational welfare recipients were given a life-system that promoted joblessness and government dependency? Don't be bitter. There are better people to blame than the ones who take what is offered them and their mothers and thier mother's mother, and their mother's mother's mother....
kg at January 22, 2008 9:46 AM
kg, you're the one making assumptions. I keep a small group of friends because I prefer that to a large circle of acquaintances. To answer your question, I had to stop and count on my fingers, out of 12 friends, 8 were black. Of course, since you're bigoted you probably won't believe that.
And the welfare mothers? I was referring to white ones I have known. It is you who assumed I was referring to black women. I have several black single mothers for friends. They, like me, would work at damn near any job before accepting welfare. For the record. If you read my posts on this blog, you'd know I often refer to my sister who had one baby at 16, another at 18, and whom welfare put through college.
Ummm, who's prejudice is showing? I'd thank you not to make unfair assumptions about me in the future.
Donna at January 23, 2008 9:49 AM
What made YOU think I was only talking about blacks on welfare on this post, Donna?
And go back and look at your last comment on the affirmative action post. You admit you only have black friends who are like you in thought and work ethic. I challenge you to make friends with people, black or white, who don't. I further challenge you to understand where they are coming from so that, possibly, instead of being a bitter handful of blameless terd, you could actually help the situation by inspiring others (who aren't like you)to achieve their goals. You have an excellent story of trailer rags to ranch style riches. People are inspired by these testimonials, especially if you can be genuinely caring in the process.
As a side note, my best friend since I moved to this area (8 years ago) lives in shocking poverty. She makes less than $10,000.00 a year. She applied for food stamps three years ago, and after giving all of her information, she was approved for $12 a month. Apparently, because her mother who lives with her (in a single wide trailer that is over 30 years old on land that has been condemned) receives disability, she does not qualify for more benefits. In the past 8 years, I have become like family to the entire extended kin who live up and down the same dirt road. I have helped several kids enroll in college, although most have quit. I continue to encourage them. My best friend's son's biggest dream is to become a truck driver like one of his distant uncles. I have continued to give him the resources (paperwork, tutoring, pep talks) so that he will be able to realize this dream. Although he has learning disabilities, he will graduate in two years. The technical college is waiting when he does, and I will be there to bring him. I have tried several times to get my best friend enrolled in school, but she is too shy to take the plunge. I keep trying. Her comfort zone is the dirt road. There she is not shy. She is probably the rock of the entire extended family. She cares for all of the children under school age, for which she rarely gets paid. On Sundays she takes two van loads of kids to church because most of the parents are too hung over to do it. She inspires me with her goodness and humility, that before knowing her, I had never even fathomed. Our friendship is an ebb and flow; we pick up the slack for each other. I have learned so much about race, ethnicity, culture, and poverty in the last eight years, but what I have learned the most is that the differences that people believe they have from all the undesireable other people do not exist. We all are struggling for the same things, but in different ways. Changes can be made toward a positive enlightenment for all people, but it takes challenging yourself to think in a way you normally wouldn't and to take risks.
kg at January 24, 2008 5:57 AM
Uh, kg, it was you who said this bigoted thing: "Uhm....Donna...How many non-white people are you sincerely friends with?" It was you who assumed, not me.
As for only having friends of like mind, I like people I like and don't consider those I don't friends. Of course, we must have something in common. It depends on the thing.
Frankly, I think all incomes in a household should be considered before the taxpayers have to feed the household. I say this living with a daughter who makes about the same as the daughter in your example. My $32,000 a year should be considered before the taxpayers feed her or my grandson. Duh!
But it depends. I have friends who are not like-minded on other issues. Most of my friends are Christian, not Atheist for example. But there you go making assumptions again and you dare call me bigoted because I don't care to make friends with freeloading bums.
And ranch riches? Excuse me but that expression is new to me. You'll have to clarify because it makes no sense. Hardly. I live in an area where $32,000 doesn't go too far and that's gross anyway. A good third is taken out for taxes, health insurance, union dues (without that union I wouldn't have that pay or those benefits), and buying back previous state service for my retirement because, yes, imagine that I'm covering my butt just in case Social Security does go caput.
I live in cheap apartments. A trailer would be a move up. At least I wouldn't have to do my laundry in a laundromat. And am I suppose to sympathisize with people who can afford a car (yeah, I know it's a necessity in the country, at least they can afford to live in the damned country) but can't get food stamps when I can't afford a car and have to take the bus? fuck 'em
Oh, and you'll pardon me if I don't think aiding and abetting the brainwashing of little children and furthering another generation of ignorance by driving them to church is admirable. Yes, my Christian friends know I think this way. We shrug each other off. They think I'm mistaken; I think they are. Fancy that.
Donna at January 24, 2008 8:31 AM
Point One:
You really are clueless. I said non-white friends you are "sincerely" friends with. I will venture to guess that the (particularly) blacks that you assume you are such good "friends" with don't reciprocate in the same way you do. Even though they probably won't waste their time explaining it, keep patting your pretentious back for being so "good" to them. I'm sure it makes you feel wonderful.
Point Two:
My point is made. You are unwilling to challenge yourself to be friends with non-like minded people.
Point Three:
I didn't give you all the details of why she can't work, although she did the entire time she was able without governmental assistance. Biggest yearly salary for her was $13,000 in the year 2000, and she thought she was living large (as did the extended family).
Point Four:
Ranch style houses, which can be pretty affordable in many communities. You choose to live in an area where $32,000.00 doesn't go far. That's your choice. Maybe you don't manage your money well or made a lot of bad mistakes in the past so you can't do better than some skanky apartment. Your fault, not mine.
Point Five:
Oh, what a great idea...let me impose my belief systems on someone else based on my more priviledged educational experiences and enlighten the entire neighborhood with my superior brain. Is that how you make friends? I have made it my business to understand a culture that is very much different than my own. If you have ever experienced or read about the evolution of blacks in America, oh Knowledgeable One, you might find a thing or two about strong community ties to churches. She believes in her heart that toting those kids every Sunday will benefit her and them in a supreme way. I respect her for the unselfish caring she brings to so many of those kids who love her for doing it. She believes her life is full of blessings, one of which is that God has blessed her with a trailer that has stood the test of time. Although it is immaculate on the inside, the outside is a patchwork of metal squares and bruised lumber: a place right out of the old documentaries of the South.
Yes, I think you are right. I will go over today and fill her head with the rationality of atheism. I will show her the path off the dirt road where her family has resided for four generations so that she can be just as great as someone like you. One day we can argue the issues of affirmative action and welfare reform, and on that day, we will truly be friends!
I don't think so. I actually respect the people I call "friends" a little more than that. And I am kind to the people I love.
Initially, I was thinking your bitterness was the problem with who you are, but now I see who you are is the bitterness. You are drunk with it. Good for you. Add some salt to it and keep shooting. Before long that puking from your brain just dry heaves.
kg at January 24, 2008 9:40 AM
You're an ashole, kg, and a bigoted one at that!
My point to point one was your assumption that my friendships weren't sincere. Umm, yes, they are. They are sincere because we can talk about these things. Blacks aren't the only ones with community ties to church but I'm well aware of the history and extremely offended at the implication that my black friends are a bunch of Uncle Toms just patronizing me patronizing them and gladhanding each other is what we are all about. Like fuck.
I did not propose anyone push Atheism at anyone else. I just said don't expect me to admire the indoctrination of little children. How the hell does that translate into wanting to force them to be little nonbelievers? First of all, there's no need. Left alone, common sense will get them there. But I'll agree with you on one thing. The reason so many go to church. There's a hell of a lot of nonbelieving butts sitting in church for just for the community. Pity they feel they have to give lip service to something they don't follow or live by. The great majority anyway. But I'm not complaining. It's a good God damn thing they don't because if they took their religion as literally, well, there's a whole lot of hate in the Buybull.
I think our conversation is done. There's someone patronizing of blacks here and it ain't me. I treat them as equals not some charity project the great white lady can bestow kindness on to feel good about herself. Talk to me again, when you can refrain from acting like my friends don't deserve the respect they've earned by being financially independent. As for my living in an area where the cost of living is high, true, but if I were to move to your pitiful neck of the woods, my skills and experience wouldn't net me $32,000 annually because newsflash the cost of living in an area reflect the ability of the local gentry to earn a living.
Donna at January 25, 2008 8:23 AM
The fact that you are "extremely offended" by a faceless fellow blogger "at the implication" indicates to me a bit of insecurity. Because I am careful with my thoughts, I don't often get offended by opinions of others who aren't. Also, however, I am honest enough with myself to sincerely consider the views of others, but balanced enough (emotionally and intellectually) not to be consumed by them. And I never indicated "that my [your] black friends are a bunch of Uncle Toms." An uncle Tom, as you'll remember from high school American Lit., is a pejorative term for blacks who behave subserviently to whites in authority. I didn't (and don't) believe you to be a figure of authority for your black friends (at all. Not even a little bit), and I wasn't speaking derogatorily about what quite possibly is a less meaningful friendship they have with you than what you have with them. If you think I am wrong about this, fine; but, here's a challenge. Show them your previous comment: "You want to be screwed in this country now? Try being poor white" and see what they say. Better yet, get a few of your black best buds to post a comment here lamenting about how much tougher it is for trailer trash whitey than your average black american.
"Yes, my Christian friends know I think this way. We shrug each other off. They think I'm mistaken; I think they are. Fancy that." This was the part that really inspired me about friendship. I can't wait to go over to my best friend's house so that we can shrug each other off. I mean, how else do you become b/f/f? Fancy that!
"some charity project the great white lady can bestow kindness on to feel good about herself." Cute. If there is any charity project going on, it's her bestowing it on me. But, I am sure you can't grasp that...especially since they way you choose friends depends upon how they "deserve the respect they've earned (by you, oh Great White Pal) by being financially independent." Is another requirement of yours for friendship also that they provide you with references and fingerprints?
"your pitiful neck of the woods" It's actually quite lovely, especially in the evening when the moon hangs low in the sky and the stars look close enough to touch.
"cost of living in an area reflect[S] the ability of the local gentry to earn a living." No, oh negative wad of bitterness, I believe it is Economics 101...supply and demand.
"there's a whole lot of hate in the Buybull." I am shocked you, of all people, noticed.
kg at January 25, 2008 10:55 AM
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