What is it about the issue of race that makes most White people squirm in their socks? If you've managed to live in the Western Hemisphere and have not found yourself affected in anyway by some form of racial prejudice, then might I suggest you get a blood test to find out if you're even human. Be it subliminal or overt, we are all saturated with messages of what certain people are suppose to be like. From family to friends to our respective places of worship to the classroom to the workplace to sports to entertainment to every conceivable corner of our media , etc. racism is as inherent in our nation, our communities, and our homes as air. And guess what? That doesn't mean you're evil. The truth is, we are a SICK society and in a SICK society, people tend to be ill; and very often we don't realize how infirmed we are or that we are even sick at all.
The reason why we are so slow to rectify or rather cure this most pervasive ailment, is because quite frankly, we are ignorant to the very real and diverse perspectives of racism. This is exactly why those Race forums that appear on cable television or network news every year fail to accomplish anything, because for the most part, we are not speaking the same language, thus, none of us are able to hear one another. No White person can truly grasp the racial perspective of a person of color, anymore than a man can understand the perspective of a woman as it relates to sexism; and guess what? We should not expect them to. When it comes to these issues, we do live in two completely different worlds. Therefore, the challenge is to first understand why this is and take the necessary steps to bridge these two worlds. The worst thing we can do is to continue to emotionalize the discourse.
Those of us who have been in the posture of victim must learn to understand that not everything has racial intent. In otherwords, consider the source, i.e. take people where they are: generation, environment, not malice is in some cases the root of some offenses. The White community would do itself well to not fall into the absurdity of feigned offenses and word play, such as, reverse racism which is the absurd notion that somehow Blacks or other people of color that have never ever wielded any authentic power in this hemisphere can somehow or have exacted racial prejudice.
The truth is, terms like reverse racism or the infamous race card, were created as a means to absolve white society from honestly dealing with the issue of race as it truly is. Also terms like white guilt which is a supposed jab at white liberals, don't fair any better either. The irony of such terms as white guilt is that those who haplessly fling them around fail to recognize the subliminal indictment they place upon themselves. Guilt is a good thing. It's the soul's way of reminding us that accountability matters. A white person who comes to the realization of certain racial truths, is not some guilt ridden lib lab who wants to indict their own people, rather, they have the audacity to believe that such simple, yet, bold creeds as liberty and justice for all actually means what it says.
So you might not be a racist Mr. Clinton, but, like many like yourself, you have displayed some racist tendancies. Again, this doesn't make you a covert operative for the Klu Klux Klan, but, you do have a problem. Truth be told, the perpetrator is in no place to diagnose him or herself, because you're not in the place nor do you understand the perspective of those to whom your "tendancies" tend to affect. Therefore, the real way to confront this ridiculous disease of race, is to A) address it truthfully. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Be willing to take the courageous, yet, liberating steps to addressing yourself and your environment. Be willing to be wrong, no matter what your intentions might have been; and B) Let us LOVE. Let us love each other where we are. Let us love each other enough not to stay where we are, but, evolve to a higher plain of respect and understanding. "Let us love our neighbor, as we love ourselves!" Do that and indeed, we shall overcome!
Copyright 2008 JLI
No comments:
Post a Comment