An interesting perspective on racism in America from a black veteran.
America Begins to See More Clearly Now What Its Black Citizens Always Knew
Category: Race
McCarthyism returns
The anti-racism movement has taken on the hysteria of McCarthyism. It is no longer sufficient to accept the anti-racism message; you must now loudly proclaim your allegiance. Failure to do so – or to espouse an opinion in any way different, no matter how innocent, well-minded or sarcastic – results in a label of “racist”. Such a label is no less damaging than the “communist” label imposed by McCarthy.
For example, a 30+ year Sacramento Kings announcer has resigned following an innocent and genuinely sympathetic twitter post that included the statement “ALL LIVES MATTER…” [1]. Unbeknown to the announcer, this particular phrase is a trigger for BLM; it is perceived as an attempt to “obscure or invalidate the Black Lives Matter message”. The announcer – noting his unfamiliarity with the BLM movement and their disdain for this phrase – apologized, but by then it was too late. In another example, a professor at UCLA – where he has been teaching for 39 years – has been suspended and is being investigated for discrimination after refusing to exempt black students from final exams following the death of George Floyd [2,3,4]. The professor is now under police protection resulting from threats against his life.
There is no doubt that racism still exists in the world. However, we should be able to disagree on how we express our concerns and what remedies are appropriate without fear of retaliation. To claim that any response not in complete agreement with the goals of a specific group or cause is racist only serves to oppress alternative opinion, and should not be supported.
[1] Aaro, David. “Sacramento Kings Announcer Grant Napear out Following ‘All Lives Matter’ Tweet.” Fox News, 3 June 2020, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sacramento-kings-announcer-out-following-all-lives-matter-tweet.
[2] Clark, Chrissy. “UCLA Professor Under Police Protection Following Threats.” The Washington Free Beacon, 9 June 2020, https://freebeacon.com/latest-news/ucla-professor-under-police-protection-following-threats/.
[3] Parke, Caleb. “UCLA Professor Suspended, under Police Protection after Threats.” Fox News, 10 June 2020, https://www.foxnews.com/us/ucla-professor-suspended-under-police-protection-after-threats.
[4] Garcia, Victor. “Suspended UCLA Prof Says School Used Him as ‘sacrificial Lamb’ to Placate ‘Those Who Threaten to Riot.’” Fox News, 10 June 2020, https://www.foxnews.com/media/gordon-klein-ucla-professor-suspended-sacrificial-lamb.
Democratic Caucus history
Rep. Alexandria Ocasi0-Cortez allegedly accused House Speaker Pelosi of racism towards AOC and her fledgling uber-left congressional brethren. In response, Rep. William Lacy Clay called Ocasio-Cortez on carpet but did so with a strange statement:
Really, Rep. Clay? Let’s take a minute to discuss the American history of the Democratic party with respect to race. Here’s an example from the Encyclopedia Britannica regarding democrats in the south after the civil war:
Repressive legislation and physical intimidation designed to prevent newly enfranchised African Americans from voting—despite passage of the Fifteenth Amendment—ensured that the South would remain staunchly Democratic for nearly a century (see black code).
Here’s another more recent example criticizing the state of Tennessee for honoring Nathan Bedford Forrest, a former confederate general:
“Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general & a delegate to the 1868 Democratic Convention. He was also a slave trader & the 1st Grand Wizard of the KKK.”
The first grand wizard of the KKK was a Democrat? Yes, that’s right – a Democrat.
If you’re going to call out the ignorance of some to American history, Rep. Clay, make sure you add yourself to the mix. Whether or not you want to admit it, Democrats have an extensive history of racism in America.
No defense should be necessary
Disney Cable Channel Defends Casting Black Actress As New ‘Little Mermaid’
While I don’t always agree with the message behind such fairy tale roles, the characters are nonetheless often perceived as role models for beauty, grace, intelligence and other desired traits. I see no reason why a large segment of our population should be excluded from these roles simply because of skin color.
If we are ever going to get over the issue of race in America, we’ve got to see each other as equals with similar potentials. One way towards this goal is to allocate our role models (by choice and reason, not force or law) among all of the people who comprise our population. This is extremely important for our developing youth, at least if we expect them to achieve their potential. Think of it this way: how would you feel if all the role models in society (fictional or other) looked nothing like you?
A “Tiny” island of reason
We will never end discrimination against some by discriminating against others.
The rapper in question, Tiny Jag, made the following statement regarding the discriminatory price structure adopted by the festival:
“It’s non-progressive and it’s not solution-focused in my eyes,” she says. “It seems almost like it has spite, and unfortunately with spite comes hate, and that’s just not obviously going to be a good direction for us to go if we’re looking for positive change.”
The organizers of the festival justified their pricing structure by making the claim it:
“…was built to insure that the most marginalized communities (people of color) are provided with an equitable chance at enjoying events in their own community (black Detroit)…”
If the true goal was to benefit local marginalized communities, it would have been acceptable to offer lower priced tickets to local community residents without regards to specific race. However, penalizing a specific race with higher prices appears to be, as noted by Ms. Jag, an act of spite – one that demonizes an entire population based solely on its skin color.
Isn’t this what we are fighting against?
Yes, but…
An NPR opinion piece is taking the position that Jussie Smollett isn’t the only one in history to make false claims regarding attacks by or upon people of color. To make their point they bring up the cases of Charles Stuart and Susan Smith, both of whom made false claims that minorities attacked them and/or their families.
Opinion: ‘Be Prepared’ To Face The Facts For Jussie Smollett
However, there is a difference between what Stuart and Smith did and what Smollett perpetrated. Stuart and Smith did not take their actions specifically to denigrate a race or group; rather, they made their claims to divert attention away from their own evil acts. Smollett, on the other hand, in my opinion sought to intentionally disparage a particular group to bolster a political position he supported while gaining fame and financial benefit for himself.
In any event, two wrongs don’t make a right. Even if there was a direct parallel between the actions of Stuart, Smith and Smollett it does not excuse his actions. False claims of racially-based attack should not be tolerated from anyone.
Violence as a response to speech
No charges for FedEx driver who fatally punched man calling him racial slurs
Do you really think that the FedEx driver in this case felt physically threatened in any way while he was driving by in his truck? How about the obnoxious speaker, when confronted by the driver? This driver had the opportunity to let the matter go and drive on, but he chose instead to stop and exit his vehicle to physically confront the source of his verbal insults. By doing so he became the aggressor, and he should be held responsible for the results. Oregon may have no duty to retreat, but there is no excuse for deliberately escalating a verbal exchange into a physical confrontation. Free speech is just that – even when those speaking are insulting you in the most egregious manner. Speech can never be used to justify a physical assault.
Of particular concern are the comments by Senior Deputy District Attorney Adam Gibbs of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office regarding the decision not to pursue charges against the driver:
“…the decision by Mr. Warren, who is black, to not let the racist vitriol to which he was being subjected go unanswered is not of legal significance.”
Mr. Gibbs has essentially condoned physical confrontation as an acceptable response for speech with which you don’t agree, even when it leads to violence. I hope Mr. Gibbs lives in Portland so he can witness the results of his action first-hand.
One more reason not to move to Portland (others here, here, and here, to name a few).
False claims of racism hurt everyone…
… and when discovered should be dealt with as firmly as actual racism.
False charges of racism can be extremely damaging to the accused, and result in threats of violence and legal action. When indisputable proof of a false racism charge exists, such as the body camera footage related to this claim, the public must admonish the accuser and take action to ensure that all are aware of their false claims. In addition, as in this case where a false accusation is made by a person who holds positions of public trust (local NAACP president and reverend), they should be removed from such positions posthaste. Unfortunately, it seems that the other local NAACP officers are rallying around their fallen member:
“Based on the integrity of Rev. Moultrie, I really don’t feel that he has a reason to lie about what he saw.” [attributed to Timmonsville NAACP Officer Henry James Dixon]
I hope the members of the Timmonsville NAACP have the courage to review the video evidence and take swift and appropriate action, just as they would have expected Timmonsville Police Chief Billy Brown to have taken swift and appropriate action had the claims actually been true.
Thank you, Jeremy Hunt
A voice of reason rings out among the partisan, acrimonious rhetoric regarding race:
Demonizing white people doesn’t improve race relations
While I am sure that Jeremy and I have different views on many subjects, I feel that I could have a constructive conversation with him regarding those differences. That’s how it’s supposed to be; civil discourse is the true purpose of free speech.
Magic?
Ballou High in Washington, DC had a first in 2017 – the school had a 100% graduation and college acceptance rate. This transformation, however, may not be the achievement it appears. In 2016, only 3 percent of Ballou students tested met city-wide reading standards, and virtually none met corresponding math standards. Such a significant transformation borders on the magical – or was it something else?
An interesting article on NPR casts a shadow on this achievement of Ballou High School. It also raises an important question: Are we really helping disadvantaged youth by allowing them to graduate from high school when they have not actually earned the diploma? When students of color (in 2013, Ballou was reported to be 99% African-American) are presented to the world as competent by virtue of their successful graduation, but upon closer examination are found to be clearly not competent, how do you think this will impact the view society has of these students? What are the odds that these views will be extended to characteristics of race (intentionally or otherwise)?
While lowering the bar may help graduation rates, it is a disservice to the students and will only provide fodder for racists. Let’s raise the bar instead, and give students the real tools they need to succeed in today’s world.