Racism Against The Right People
Racism's apparently okay if you're talking about white people, as this UCLA professor is. From YouTube, "UCLA Professor Kent Wong: DREAMers Will Replace "Those Old White Guys" in Congress":
Transcript:
On December 13, at the Levitt Pavilion in the historic MacCarthur Park, UCLA's Kent Wong gave another exhilarating speech at "The DREAM Act is alive" vigil held where he expressed his admiration to DREAMers, their evolution of this country and generation, and how will go on to do many great things with their lives and for this country."I'm proud of the DREAMers who have changed the course of this country," Wong said. "I am so proud of the DREAMers who have take over the chambers of the US senate, who have taken over the office of John McCain... Who have marked on foot from Florida to Washington, DC."
"We will win the dream act soon -- very soon," he exclaimed. "When that day comes, we will celebrate with millions and millions of people of people across this country who are standing with you tonight. Who stand for justice, who stand for democracy and equal opportunities for all."
"When that day happens, the young people of the DREAM Act movement, will go on to accomplish and do great things with your lives," he said. "You will go on to become lawyers, teachers, doctors and members of the US congress to replace those old white men... You are the hope and future of this country. You are hope and future of your generation."
Wong has been the backbone and the driving force behind DREAM Team LA, who has encouraged the youth to protest, and fight for their rights. And yes, we will soon celebrate the passage of the DREAM Act! It is the right thing to do for our youth.
Disturbingly, Kent Wong is the director of the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education..."where he teaches Labor Studies and Asian American Studies."
Replace what he said, "to replace those old white men," with "to replace all those blacks," or "all those Jews" or "all those Chinese," and see how appropriate it sounds.
Discrimination on the basis of color, even the color white, is disgusting, and should be a thing of the past.
"You will go on to become lawyers, teachers, doctors and members of the US congress"...note some of the career options that are missing from this list:
business owners, executives, chemical engineers, software designers, factory managers, military officers
A society in which people aspire only to be lawyers and teachers and doctors and politicians would not have a very bright future.
david foster at December 15, 2010 4:34 AM
I don't see the "old white men" comments as racist. If you want to talk about replacing members of Congress, that's who you will be replacing.
Christopher at December 15, 2010 7:46 AM
A grievance studies teacher has a grievance. Wow. I'm hiring, but as I noted before, that major is a disqualifier. I don't care about your gender or ethnicity, but I do care about your ability to get along with others.
If I were a California taxpayer, I'd have a real grievance. You pay this idiot to give people bad attitudes.
MarkD at December 15, 2010 7:52 AM
Again, Christopher, replace "old white men" with "all those blacks," or "all those Jews" or "all those Chinese."
I don't like people in Congress or the Senate very much because they're politicians. Some are black, some are women, most are white. But, I identify them by their job, not their color. I also don't want a "woman president," etc. -- just a president who's qualified for the office.
Amy Alkon at December 15, 2010 8:24 AM
I'm a white guy, just not an old one yet. I might describe Congress as a bunch of old white guys, too. It doesn't feel racist to me. Is it racist to say the NBA is mostly tall black men?
Christopher at December 15, 2010 8:34 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/12/15/racism_against.html#comment-1800701">comment from ChristopherI don't want to replace white people in Congress or the Senate with people who are non-white, or men in Congress or the Senate with women; I just want good people to replace them.
Amy Alkon at December 15, 2010 8:37 AM
By saying you want to replace people in Congress, you are wanting to replace old white guys. It's the default.
Here are two hypotheticals that seem pretty parallel. Are both of these racist?
Me saying, "If we want to repeal don't ask don't tell, we're going to need to get rid of some of the old white guys who oppose it."
A latino activist saying, "If we want to pass DREAM, we're going to need to get rid of some of the old white guys who oppose it."
Christopher at December 15, 2010 8:44 AM
I'd support the DREAM Act wih a few small changes.
1. College dont count. You want citizenship you serve a full 8 year active term in on branch of the military - not the coast gaurd, or the reservves, or the guard. And you dont get to choose which branch either.
2. Any DREAMer steping forward has to do so with their parents, said parent to vollentarily plead guilty to being in the country illegally and serve time in a federal facility on a work program until such time as they have worked off their back taxes and any debts the government has paid on their behalf.
3. Parents deported upon release, DREAM child can apply for a familly visa after they have completed their term of service. In the event of death in service promised citizenship status can be willed to one person.
Thats what I'd support
lujlp at December 15, 2010 9:25 AM
Are you guys just trying to yank Amy's chain here, or do you really not understand what she's saying?
Pricklypear at December 15, 2010 9:44 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/12/15/racism_against.html#comment-1800753">comment from PricklypearThank you, Prickly...this was getting annoying!
Amy Alkon at December 15, 2010 10:29 AM
You're welcome.
Pricklypear at December 15, 2010 11:07 AM
It's highly racist, the kind no one outside of preferred groups can get away with.
momof4 at December 15, 2010 3:34 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/12/15/racism_against.html#comment-1800936">comment from momof4momof4 is exactly right.
Amy Alkon at December 15, 2010 3:41 PM
Sigh. I'm resigned to the fact that by the time I reach retirement age, advancing law and social mores will render my citizenship to be third class at best. Too bad there isn't a Western frontier to escape to anymore. Anybody want to go live on the moon?
Cousin Dave at December 15, 2010 8:04 PM
I remain befuddled as to how this is racist. The desire to get rid of incumbents and elect people more like oneself is basic politics. White men are the incumbents. Latinos, I suspect rightly, think they would be better served by replacing white people in positions of power with latinos.
I suppose in some perfect world, candidates would be entirely honest and transparent, and policies would not cater to ethnic groups and their particular interests. But that is not the world we live in.
Christopher at December 16, 2010 7:56 AM
You know why thats not the world we live in?
Because cowards keep saying "Maybe someday but, thats not the world we live in" and refuse to do any work that brings that someday closer.
Its been about 12,000 yrs since civilization began, and thanks to people like you 'someday' is just as far away as it was the first time some moron sain it
lujlp at December 16, 2010 9:36 AM
Language is very powerful and should not be used lightly. Using "Old white guys" or "that's so gay" in passing is just not okay. I'd put the two in the same category- negative, and lacking the consciousness necessary for true equality.
Gspotted at December 16, 2010 4:52 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/12/15/racism_against.html#comment-1801997">comment from GspottedThanks, Gspotted. Well-put.
Amy Alkon at December 16, 2010 5:46 PM
I'm in full agreement that language is powerful; I also think that it doesn't serve anyone well to be thin-skinned about it. Life's too short.
As an old-white-guy-to-be, I'm well aware that old white guys generally hold the positions of power and prestige in the U.S., and that women and people of other ethnicities are gunning for those positions. Wong's choice of language might be a bit impolitic, but that's what he was talking about. It seemed more pro-latino in its sentiment than anti-white. I just can't get worked up over it.
Christopher at December 17, 2010 7:41 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/12/15/racism_against.html#comment-1802508">comment from ChristopherMe? I'd like to get rid of obviously crooked senators and representatives, like Charles Rangel, who happens to be an old black guy.
Amy Alkon at December 17, 2010 7:47 AM
What, you don't think that Rangel being asked to stand up in front of the House while being told he was a very, very naughty legislator was sufficient punishment for his corruption?
Unfortunately, the recent election seems to indicate that the only way Rangel will leave Congress is when he's dead or in jail.
Christopher at December 17, 2010 8:51 AM
By saying you want to replace people in Congress, you are wanting to replace old white guys. It's the default.
So, christopher, Nancy Pelosi is an old white guy? Explains a lot, actually.
:)
Steve at December 17, 2010 10:35 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/12/15/racism_against.html#comment-1802591">comment from SteveFunny, Steve.
Amy Alkon at December 17, 2010 10:38 AM
Thanks Amy,
I just couldn't resist. Christopher is correct, in that the house and senate ARE primarily white men:
http://www.thisnation.com/congress-facts.html
But that doesn't excuse the racism in Wong's speech.
Steve at December 17, 2010 10:44 AM
It's a good ol' boys club in the house and the senate? Yea- captain of the obvious. Being a jerk doesn't change anything and it didn't take two brain cells for him to come up with that line.
Stokely Charmicael changed things like this:
In 1965, working as a SNCC activist in Lowndes County, Alabama, Carmichael helped to increase the number of registered black voters from 70 to 2,600 — 300 more than the number of registered white voters.
Stokely Carmichael is credited with coining the phrase "institutional racism", which is defined as a form of racism that occurs through institutions such as public bodies and corporations, including universities. In the late 1960s Carmichael defined "institutional racism" as "the collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their color, culture or ethnic origin"
It doesn't do any good to turn the hatred around on whites. Institutional racism sucks no matter who or where it's coming from. But it's cool, no need to get worked up over it.
Gspotted at December 18, 2010 12:36 AM
Gspotted, the ironic thing is that, as far as actually making any difference to living conditions in Lowndes County, Carmichael and his ilk didn't do a damn bit of good. Lowndes County is still one of the armpits of the Southeast. There is no industry there to speak of and no economic growth, despite the fact that the county seat, Hayneville, is only about 20 miles from downtown Montgomery. Half of the population lives below the poverty line, and 1 of 4 households is headed by a single mother.
Lowndes is one of the south Alabama countries that is constantly demanding subsidies of various sorts from the state. Yes, Carmichael's group came in and swept aside the hopelessness of racism and poverty -- only to replace it with an attitude of entitlement. Result: 40 years later, no positive change in living conditions.
Cousin Dave at December 21, 2010 3:56 PM
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