"The venom, looking at the blogs and e-mail responses to the newspaper articles, I'm told--I'm really not online; I have an Underwood typewriter--but I see letters. And it's really sad. It would match e-mail for e-mail the worst Jim Crow remarks in the South against African-American voters." --Ralph Nader... in an interview with Joel Stein.
Ralph Nader is clearly a dumb ass.
Not for his third party bid for the White House--he's a grown man and a grown man can run for president any time he wants to. And I actually agree with him that the current two-party system really limits voters' choices and only benefits massive corporations that can contribute to both sides to hedge their bets.
No, the reason Ralph Nader is a dumb ass is because he compared his treatment after announcing his presidential bid to the treatment of African American voters attempting to register to vote during the Civil Rights era. I know he tried to qualify his statement by only dealing with the verbal comments made towards black people at that time, but the comparison is still there.
And that's a dumb ass move.
Seriously, Nader is old enough to know remember exactly how things were for black folks trying to register in the South. (Hell, he might be old enough to remember how tough it was for Jesus to convert Jews.) Nader knows that along with being called some of the most vile and degrading names in the world to THEIR FACES(there was no internet back then, no matter what Al Gore says), black people also faced unjust imprisonment, concerted violence from private citizens and public officials and even death.
SNCC workers often spent months in Deep South prisons on trumped up charges over their registration efforts, while those black residents who attempted to register were evicted from their land and harassed mercilessly. And if Nader doesn't know about this, then he's done a piss poor job of keeping track of this country's history.
No, I think Nader is well aware of the fact that his treatment really doesn't compare to the treatment of black people. But, I think Nader, like many, many people in this country, believes that when you're mistreated the best way to get people to empathize with your cause is to compare yourself to black people.
Let me explain.
Despite the many inadequacies in American education, the vast majority of white folks do understand that black people caught some serious hell for most of this country's history. The problem is that those people's understanding of that suffering is only on the most surface level.
That's why you see so many of them comparing the treatment of blacks to the suffering of other immigrants, or comparing slavery in America to slavery in other Africa. They have a basic understanding that bad shit happened to black people, but they lack details. And often this doesn't just apply to white folks, it applies to just about every ethnic group, even black folks.
Consequently, when folks want to prove they are egregiously mistreated, their go to move is to compare their treatment to the treatment of black people during slavery or the Civil Rights Era. Not only is this insulting and crass, it's also very predictable.
Homosexuals readily compare their fight for equal rights to the battles black people fought during the Civil Rights Era. While homosexuals have legitimate complaints about mistreatment, there is no effing way it compares to what black people have dealt with in this country. There have been no clashes with police dogs and fire hoses, no visits from angry mobs on the blackest nights and no long incarcerations by racist and capricious courts simply for being gay.
The same thing can be said for the fight for gender equality and the smaller Civil Rights movements of Latinos and Asians. I'm not trying to minimize or ignore the horrible experiences of any of these groups or comment on the legitimacy of their movements. Equal rights should be enjoyed by all people. But, when you consider the sheer magnitude and breadth of suffering black folks have dealt with, the only people who have had a comparable(or possibly worse) experience in America are Native Americans.
Unfortunately, the lure that keeps sucking folks in is that when they invoke the suffering of black folks, it clearly adds gravitas to their cause. Straight up, the simplest way to draw attention to any cause is to bring up the specter of "Negro suffering" because it is a cultural touchstone. Everyone, no matter their personal feeling on black people, understands the reference.
But, the problem with the constant co-opting of the black experience is that it greatly reduces people's appreciation for just how unique and heinous the treatment of black people was in the country. When people begin to believe that their own experience is somehow on par with what black people have gone through, they are less likely to appreciate the far reaching and massive effects this country's racism has on the black community.
That's why you regularly hear people wonder how long black people are going to complain about "something that happened 150 years ago." And why people think telling black people to assimilate and improve their lot like every other immigrant group is an intelligent comment. The fact is, far too many Americans believe that black people have tried to establish a monopoly on suffering, and those people are convinced that the complaints of black folks are really an excuse for malingering.
The shit's insidious.
So, the next time you hear somebody compare their mistreatment to that of black people realize that their comments aren't just making it easy for others to identify with their cause, but they also are preventing this country from rallying around any movement to provide full redress to the black community.
Please react accordingly.
Pay Attention
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
The Affirmative Action Media
Popular wisdom is that O-tastic is loved by the media.
Clinton supporters have been claiming for weeks that she's been abused by the mainstream media, while Obama gets turn down service and foot massages. Throughout history, politicians on both sides of the aisle have accused the media of preferential treatment of their opponents, and the Clintons have had a certain disdain for the media since they reported with glee his penchant for making interns "drop knowledge" in the Oval Office.
Unfortunately, the first rule of politics is that if you repeat something long enough, people will eventually believe it. (WMDs anyone?) So the constant carping of Clinton and her surrogates has had the effect of forcing many media types to accept that Obama has been getting off easy. Everybody hasn't taken the bait, but enough folks have that you will see this Clinton talking point repeated on television and in print regularly.
Now, I of course disagree with this point, but I don't begrudge the Clinton campaign a successfully executed political maneuver. While I still remember questions about Obama's drug use, "blackness" and Muslim name, I can respect that the HillBillies have to tried to paint her as a victim of unfair practices in order to counteract the amazing popularity of Obama. As Undercover Black Man said on his blog it seems stupid to complain that you've got a harder road to the White House than a black man whose middle name is Hussein, but if that's how the Clintons want to play it, so be it.
No, what's pissed me off is that some folks in the media have taken this theory of a love fest for Obama a little farther, and have floated the idea that maybe all this love is a kind of affirmative action. I watched The McLaughlin Group the other night and that crusty white cat who is in charge (I assume he's McLaughlin) was going out of his way to point out that the media are probably enthralled by this "new, black guy," and they want to see him succeed even if he's not qualified because it makes them feel better about all the bad things in the past. That loud old guy said affirmative action as if it was an epithet, and just constantly repeated leading questions without ever really providing any insight.
Interesting.
I don't know how many sports fans read this blog, but a few years back King Dittohead (pill-poppin' Rush for y'all that didn't know) called Donovan McNabb a mediocre quarterback who was only hailed as more than that because the "liberal media" wanted to see a black quarterback succeed. Rush's logic was that it was Eagles' defense that made the team good, and that McNabb would be fairly unknown if he was a white dude named Bob. King Dittohead's comments, which came on ESPN, ignited a firestorm of controversy that ultimately resulted in him getting fired. McNabb would later create his own firestorm when he said he had been held to a different standard than white quarterbacks in an HBO interview last year, but that's a different issue.
Now some of you may be wondering how those two incidents connect.
The simple truth is that the vast majority white folks (and pseudo-white folks) in this country don't like affirmative action. Some think it's inherently unfair, some think it's unnecessary and some feel it was just badly implemented. Lots of folks believe all three of those things are true. Rush thought McNabb's popularity was a result of a form of affirmative action and that loud old dude thinks Obama is getting the same sweet deal.
There's the rub.
See, despite all the evidence to the contrary, there are a lot of people in America who believe black people are getting a sweet deal. They think the "bad blacks" are living off the government and refuse to work, and they think "good blacks" have only achieved success through some sort of unfair advantage that masked their deficiencies. In this reality, the real reason for affirmative action--blatant and persistent discrimination by white people--is ignored or minimized.
Man, one of the main reason I went to an HBCU (Bison, y'all) is because I didn't want to have to deal with folks openly questioning my qualifications throughout my college career at random white university. I had the test scores and GPA to get into most places, but it wasn't worth all that hassle because college is supposed to be a good time.
Consequently, it gets on my last nerve when certain media types get amnesia about just how many negative stories Obama had to deal with in the past, and suddenly start guzzling the Kool-Aid as it relates to his fictional "affirmative action" pass from the press. I'm even more pissed that black commentators with a true understanding of affirmative action don't speak up more frequently about the ridiculous definition of affirmative action that has become a part of standard discourse. It's not enough to just challenge the idea that Obama has gotten some sort of sweet deal that only minorities receive, it's more important to force people to confront the bastardization of the history of affirmative action.
The source of my anger is simple.
I realize that if enough media types repeat this theory, or even report that the theory exists, folks are going to accept it as true. That is more dangerous that rumors about Obama's religion or sexuality becuase it's much easier for people to believe that a black person is only successful because they caught a special break. It falls in line with their reality.
If this lie about Obama becomes an accepted part of the political discourse, Obama becomes just another black dude to many voters. You know, that black dude who got the promotion they thought was for them. Or that black dude who has a nice house and car that they could never afford. Or, even worse, that ungrateful black guy who always wants to discuss racism even though he's doing just fine and living the American Dream. Once Obama becomes linked to affirmative action, he becomes a proxy for every fear and hatred Americans have for that system, and for those they believe benefit from it.
It's exactly like what Bill tried to do in South Carolina, except instead of attacking Obama personally, it attacks a generally reviled media that many people don't trust. Yet it also uses that same media to spread the attack and lend it credibility. It's a masterful back door attack that could have an effect well into the general elections.
It's quite simple, really.
Obama could become a nigger with a sweet deal.
Clinton supporters have been claiming for weeks that she's been abused by the mainstream media, while Obama gets turn down service and foot massages. Throughout history, politicians on both sides of the aisle have accused the media of preferential treatment of their opponents, and the Clintons have had a certain disdain for the media since they reported with glee his penchant for making interns "drop knowledge" in the Oval Office.
Unfortunately, the first rule of politics is that if you repeat something long enough, people will eventually believe it. (WMDs anyone?) So the constant carping of Clinton and her surrogates has had the effect of forcing many media types to accept that Obama has been getting off easy. Everybody hasn't taken the bait, but enough folks have that you will see this Clinton talking point repeated on television and in print regularly.
Now, I of course disagree with this point, but I don't begrudge the Clinton campaign a successfully executed political maneuver. While I still remember questions about Obama's drug use, "blackness" and Muslim name, I can respect that the HillBillies have to tried to paint her as a victim of unfair practices in order to counteract the amazing popularity of Obama. As Undercover Black Man said on his blog it seems stupid to complain that you've got a harder road to the White House than a black man whose middle name is Hussein, but if that's how the Clintons want to play it, so be it.
No, what's pissed me off is that some folks in the media have taken this theory of a love fest for Obama a little farther, and have floated the idea that maybe all this love is a kind of affirmative action. I watched The McLaughlin Group the other night and that crusty white cat who is in charge (I assume he's McLaughlin) was going out of his way to point out that the media are probably enthralled by this "new, black guy," and they want to see him succeed even if he's not qualified because it makes them feel better about all the bad things in the past. That loud old guy said affirmative action as if it was an epithet, and just constantly repeated leading questions without ever really providing any insight.
Interesting.
I don't know how many sports fans read this blog, but a few years back King Dittohead (pill-poppin' Rush for y'all that didn't know) called Donovan McNabb a mediocre quarterback who was only hailed as more than that because the "liberal media" wanted to see a black quarterback succeed. Rush's logic was that it was Eagles' defense that made the team good, and that McNabb would be fairly unknown if he was a white dude named Bob. King Dittohead's comments, which came on ESPN, ignited a firestorm of controversy that ultimately resulted in him getting fired. McNabb would later create his own firestorm when he said he had been held to a different standard than white quarterbacks in an HBO interview last year, but that's a different issue.
Now some of you may be wondering how those two incidents connect.
The simple truth is that the vast majority white folks (and pseudo-white folks) in this country don't like affirmative action. Some think it's inherently unfair, some think it's unnecessary and some feel it was just badly implemented. Lots of folks believe all three of those things are true. Rush thought McNabb's popularity was a result of a form of affirmative action and that loud old dude thinks Obama is getting the same sweet deal.
There's the rub.
See, despite all the evidence to the contrary, there are a lot of people in America who believe black people are getting a sweet deal. They think the "bad blacks" are living off the government and refuse to work, and they think "good blacks" have only achieved success through some sort of unfair advantage that masked their deficiencies. In this reality, the real reason for affirmative action--blatant and persistent discrimination by white people--is ignored or minimized.
Man, one of the main reason I went to an HBCU (Bison, y'all) is because I didn't want to have to deal with folks openly questioning my qualifications throughout my college career at random white university. I had the test scores and GPA to get into most places, but it wasn't worth all that hassle because college is supposed to be a good time.
Consequently, it gets on my last nerve when certain media types get amnesia about just how many negative stories Obama had to deal with in the past, and suddenly start guzzling the Kool-Aid as it relates to his fictional "affirmative action" pass from the press. I'm even more pissed that black commentators with a true understanding of affirmative action don't speak up more frequently about the ridiculous definition of affirmative action that has become a part of standard discourse. It's not enough to just challenge the idea that Obama has gotten some sort of sweet deal that only minorities receive, it's more important to force people to confront the bastardization of the history of affirmative action.
The source of my anger is simple.
I realize that if enough media types repeat this theory, or even report that the theory exists, folks are going to accept it as true. That is more dangerous that rumors about Obama's religion or sexuality becuase it's much easier for people to believe that a black person is only successful because they caught a special break. It falls in line with their reality.
If this lie about Obama becomes an accepted part of the political discourse, Obama becomes just another black dude to many voters. You know, that black dude who got the promotion they thought was for them. Or that black dude who has a nice house and car that they could never afford. Or, even worse, that ungrateful black guy who always wants to discuss racism even though he's doing just fine and living the American Dream. Once Obama becomes linked to affirmative action, he becomes a proxy for every fear and hatred Americans have for that system, and for those they believe benefit from it.
It's exactly like what Bill tried to do in South Carolina, except instead of attacking Obama personally, it attacks a generally reviled media that many people don't trust. Yet it also uses that same media to spread the attack and lend it credibility. It's a masterful back door attack that could have an effect well into the general elections.
It's quite simple, really.
Obama could become a nigger with a sweet deal.
Acceptable Hate
Just how far should sports fans be allowed to go?.
In my study of sports, I've noticed that the relationship between fans and players has been deteriorating for quite some time. Anyone who recently has attended a NBA or major college game has seen and heard vulgar, despicable displays of fan behavior.
This Sports Illustrated article discusses some of the most egregious examples"
The article does a good job of explaining how the recent explosion of media outlets and technology has given fans far more access to the players and their foibles. It's true that in today's media market, fans can instantly call up factoids about most players with a simple Google search. The article also explains how anti-gay sentiments have replaced obviously racist remarks as the accepted means of conveying disgust in most arenas.
But, what the article doesn't do is explain why all this hate exists.
That may be because the author knows on some level that he is to blame. Stay with me.
The mainstream media in this country has never been a neutral and unbiased provider of information. Never. That is a lie media types tell to add gravitas to their reports, appeal to the widest possible audience and to justify special privileges received from the government.
And the sports media are no different from their general news cohorts. Any dedicated consumer of sports news will tell you that spin and bias maintain a constant presence on the sports page. Media types tell fans who is a good guy or bad guy often based on how well an individual treats them personally, or how much power that individual wields.
In addition, the inordinate amount of attention the media give to every mundane arrest of an athlete or the barely disguised disgust heaped upon anyone who deviates from the standard party lines for athletes ("I'm just so happy to be GIVEN this opportunity") drives public perception. Media coverage, combined with the standard racial and class biases in American society have combined to provide a very volatile mix.
Add in the spark of alcohol, and the explosion of hate at arenas is really no surprise.
Fans, whether they admit it or not, have internalized a low-level hatred of athletes based on the information fed to them by the media. Strangely, this hatred is often paired with sycophantic behavior, which leads to self-loathing, and then even more hatred for athletes. Many fans love the amazing things athletes can do, but despise the actual athletes. While these feelings can be controlled when fans deal with athletes that they identify with (either because of erroneous beliefs about a particular athlete's character or because of a loyalty to that athlete's team), they explode outward once fans are no longer constrained.
Consequently, it seems perfectly normal to direct vile and vulgar attacks towards players from another team. Hell, for many fans it makes sense to direct similar attacks on players on their own teams that they don't like.
The regular rules of interaction do not apply simply because these athletes have been clearly marked as acceptable targets for hatred. With alcohol and other narcotics lubricating their tongues, these fans can finally unleash all of the feelings they kept bottled up for so long in a setting that greatly minimizes the possibility of retaliation.
It's a perfect set-up.
In my study of sports, I've noticed that the relationship between fans and players has been deteriorating for quite some time. Anyone who recently has attended a NBA or major college game has seen and heard vulgar, despicable displays of fan behavior.
This Sports Illustrated article discusses some of the most egregious examples"
The article does a good job of explaining how the recent explosion of media outlets and technology has given fans far more access to the players and their foibles. It's true that in today's media market, fans can instantly call up factoids about most players with a simple Google search. The article also explains how anti-gay sentiments have replaced obviously racist remarks as the accepted means of conveying disgust in most arenas.
But, what the article doesn't do is explain why all this hate exists.
That may be because the author knows on some level that he is to blame. Stay with me.
The mainstream media in this country has never been a neutral and unbiased provider of information. Never. That is a lie media types tell to add gravitas to their reports, appeal to the widest possible audience and to justify special privileges received from the government.
And the sports media are no different from their general news cohorts. Any dedicated consumer of sports news will tell you that spin and bias maintain a constant presence on the sports page. Media types tell fans who is a good guy or bad guy often based on how well an individual treats them personally, or how much power that individual wields.
In addition, the inordinate amount of attention the media give to every mundane arrest of an athlete or the barely disguised disgust heaped upon anyone who deviates from the standard party lines for athletes ("I'm just so happy to be GIVEN this opportunity") drives public perception. Media coverage, combined with the standard racial and class biases in American society have combined to provide a very volatile mix.
Add in the spark of alcohol, and the explosion of hate at arenas is really no surprise.
Fans, whether they admit it or not, have internalized a low-level hatred of athletes based on the information fed to them by the media. Strangely, this hatred is often paired with sycophantic behavior, which leads to self-loathing, and then even more hatred for athletes. Many fans love the amazing things athletes can do, but despise the actual athletes. While these feelings can be controlled when fans deal with athletes that they identify with (either because of erroneous beliefs about a particular athlete's character or because of a loyalty to that athlete's team), they explode outward once fans are no longer constrained.
Consequently, it seems perfectly normal to direct vile and vulgar attacks towards players from another team. Hell, for many fans it makes sense to direct similar attacks on players on their own teams that they don't like.
The regular rules of interaction do not apply simply because these athletes have been clearly marked as acceptable targets for hatred. With alcohol and other narcotics lubricating their tongues, these fans can finally unleash all of the feelings they kept bottled up for so long in a setting that greatly minimizes the possibility of retaliation.
It's a perfect set-up.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
I Cried Last Night...
Just a few tears.
Watching The Wire, I had to wipe a few wet spots from my cheek. It's not that I'm particularly sensitive, it's just that the show hit me that hard.
It hurt me to watch children make adult decisions. I know loyal viewers of The Wire would say that this wasn't the first time that happened, but it felt different to me.
Watching Michael, Dukie and Bug deal with the rapidly changing trajectory of the their lives shocked me. No child should have to make those types of decisions, no child deserves that type of life. Even though I know it's just a television show, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was real somewhere in this world.
Somewhere kids are making those types of decisions.
I carried my son to his crib Sunday night. He'd had a hard time getting to sleep, it was a busy weekend at my parent's house. He'd cried, whined and grunted, but he finally put himself to sleep drinking a bottle.
As I walked him to his room, curled up against my chest, I looked down into his face.
He was smiling.
In his sleep, his little mouth curled into a smile and then a silent laugh. He's done that before, and I always say that he's talking to angels, but last night was different.
Last night I wondered how many kids in the world never smile in their sleep. I wondered how many kids have never been carried to their cribs by their parents, how many kids have been adults since their birth.
The Wire touched that part of me as a parent and just as a human. In my son's innocent smile, I saw the absence of joy in so many lives. In his comfort, I saw those children's pain.
I ache for those children. I hate myself for not being able to improve their lives. I hate a world where they suffer the way they do.
But, all I did was cry a few tears....
Watching The Wire, I had to wipe a few wet spots from my cheek. It's not that I'm particularly sensitive, it's just that the show hit me that hard.
It hurt me to watch children make adult decisions. I know loyal viewers of The Wire would say that this wasn't the first time that happened, but it felt different to me.
Watching Michael, Dukie and Bug deal with the rapidly changing trajectory of the their lives shocked me. No child should have to make those types of decisions, no child deserves that type of life. Even though I know it's just a television show, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was real somewhere in this world.
Somewhere kids are making those types of decisions.
I carried my son to his crib Sunday night. He'd had a hard time getting to sleep, it was a busy weekend at my parent's house. He'd cried, whined and grunted, but he finally put himself to sleep drinking a bottle.
As I walked him to his room, curled up against my chest, I looked down into his face.
He was smiling.
In his sleep, his little mouth curled into a smile and then a silent laugh. He's done that before, and I always say that he's talking to angels, but last night was different.
Last night I wondered how many kids in the world never smile in their sleep. I wondered how many kids have never been carried to their cribs by their parents, how many kids have been adults since their birth.
The Wire touched that part of me as a parent and just as a human. In my son's innocent smile, I saw the absence of joy in so many lives. In his comfort, I saw those children's pain.
I ache for those children. I hate myself for not being able to improve their lives. I hate a world where they suffer the way they do.
But, all I did was cry a few tears....
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