I try purposely not to react to racist attitudes, behaviors, or depictions. However, recent events surrounding the potential nomination of Senator Barack Obama to the Democratic presidency has ignited my conscience.
What bothers me most is that the only politician that has come out vocally and publicly against using lynching symbolisms as a scare tactic is George Bush, the Republican President most dislike. Even this, I feel, frankly, was simply opportunistic—not genuine. Where is the enforcement of hate crime laws? Fuck Condemnation! Why wait until Black History Month to announce events that had been occurring for the past year, beginning with the Jena 6 incident? Still, his "political bravery" cuts the Republican/Democratic, conservative/liberal schism. In fact, most recently, it was a self-proclaimed "liberal" that has succumbed to the opportunistic lure of racialization by creating a picture of Michelle O'Bama being lynched by the KKK and circulating it for ratings purposes.
The bifurcation between the left and the right is simply another expression of white privilege, and both sides demonize blacks, objectify women, and sensationally sexualize women of color. No one minds that Don Imus is back in the media, even with his denigration of women of color, but when someone puts forth a legitimate critique of white hegemony (e.g., America), a lynching symbolism fest commences. Let's wake up from the delusions of kumbayahs and the American Dream!
The Dream is that I am not worried about where to get food and housing; the Dream is NOT waking up to images of women like me on magazines in red-cladded, hands tied, and white sheets with poked-out eyes surrounding, NOT waking up to a political candidate employing the reference of assassination in the middle of a emotionally-charged, racially-divided country and time (a reference to RJK, JR's assassination in LA, June 2, 1968).
My opinion is that the only reason the Democrats seem like the "bad guys" right now is because they actually have nonwhite, non-male candidates running. If the Republicans had the same situation, the field would be even bloodier. Conservatives may be holding up the "punk" card by cashing in on the Independents who prefer some degree of certainty in the midst of this Democratic war, but anyone who is not holding the media and politicians accountable for their opportunistic use of race, sensationalistic racializations, and hardening of racial divisions is, in my opinion, actively participating in the post-Civil-Rights form of colorblind, subtle racism.
America is rife with hate-dripping logic, on both sides. I call it !pure insanity! coated with a bucket of guilt, aiding the everyday citizen's systematic amnesia of the makings of racial and socioeconomic inequality (see David Roediger's Wages of Whiteness 1999). I'm not completely shocked, because I've heard the sexist and racist comments while listening to the news, but it strikes me as off that there is so little protest. Even on the Bill O'Reilly thing, the black male commentator is like, "yeah this probably won't make a big splash." In the Sexism Sells one, the woman's media center is practically begging for a protest (see last clip). It bothers me, downright saddens me that there is no outrage. No outrage!!!! **shakes head**
I can't remember where I read it, but it seems as if "the American people" have, nihilistically, internalized the hate around them, even if they aren't the privileged ones. People are bothered, but no one feels under attack. I feel as if I am under attack! My opinion: get over the sensitivity to playing the race or gender card, and PLAY IT!
When Clarence Thomas pulled the race card to protect himself from accusations of sexually harassing a black woman, the American public became children and said nothing. Willie Randolph, NY Mets Manager, had to !!!apologize!!! for saying that criticisms of him on the Mets media channel smelled "racial" (see here). Are you serious?! And Tiger Woods !!!!excusing!!!! statements of lynching. This level of internalized racism is UNACCEPTABLE. Yes, I'm screaming. Get use to it! [As you can tell, I am pretty tired, "over," the angry-black-people politics, or as defined here, the oh-so-timely accusation of persons of color, proclaimed "radicals," and women being "unnecessarily" anger as a TACTIC to discredit their voices. Try again!]
If one believes that either Bill O'Reilly's lame excuse (he casually references Clarence Thomas's use of the "l" word in 1991) or Tiger Woods pardon are legitimate reasons to dismiss these symbols of oppression as non-issues, then he or she sits deep inside the matrix of a racist society. Most recently, Senator Obama has backed pedaled from every one that has spoken one word of truth about American Racism (Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Father Michael Pfleger, and his own wife). Possibly, it's simply political wisdom. But…
What about the rest of us who are living this experience? Who are not protected by the Secret Service, millions of dollars, and/or accommodationist tendencies? What about us who refuse to stop walking down the street, and going to work, and living our lives, despite the epitaphs and symbols of hate tossed our way any time a privileged person wants to feel powerful again? What about us who are so deep in the matrix we CAN'T SEE discrimination as it indelibly tattoos our lives through syringe needles in public parks, massive layoffs at the power plant, long lines in the emergency waiting room, and excess mortality during every natural disaster (see the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave)? What about us who need someone, S-O-M-E-O-N-E to say no to this circus of symbolic torture?
It is not ok to use symbols of lynching as part of sensationalist journalism.
It is not ok to call people who recognize the centrality of race to American society racist.
It is not ok to excuse racist jokes as "good times" between buddies.
It is not ok to insert "unless" to excuse away, lighten, or otherwise disclaim threats of racially-provoked violence.
It is not ok to endorse racism by continuing to provide funding to businesses and individuals who abuse their positions of privilege and influence.
IT IS NOT OK TO SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING!!!!
Please people, don't be scared by the tactics of inequality. Speak truth to power.
Abigail A. Sewell
Yours in truth!
Web References:
George Bush, the Republican President most dislike: http://cbs2chicago.com/national/Bush.black.history.2.652257.html
a self-proclaimed "liberal": http://whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com/2008/05/creator-of-michelle-obama-torture.html
a political candidate employing the reference of assassination: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB6kAXD4WAA
the Bill O'Reilly thing: http://mediamatters.org/items/200802200001
Willie Randolph, NY Mets Manager, apologizes see here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/05/21/randolph.apology.ap/index.html
Tiger Wood's excusing: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3186158
he casually references Clarence Thomas's use of the "l" word in 1991: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/22/bill-oreilly-apologizes-_n_87949.html
Reverend Jeremiah Wright: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/us/politics/01obama.html?bl&ex=1212552000&en=4f275b18627314ec&ei=5087%0A
disappointment in Father Michael Pfleger: http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_deeply_disappointed_in_f_1.html
his own wife: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/19/obama-to-gop-lay-off-my-wife/
sensationalist journalism and Michelle Obama: http://whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com/2008/05/creator-of-michelle-obama-torture.html
Bill O'Reilly's infamous "unless": http://mediamatters.org/items/200802200001
Speak truth to power: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/05/dr-boyce-watkins-keith-olbermann-and.html