Posted by
Andrews on Sunday, February 14, 2010 8:19:13 PM
I wrote recently about the repeated accusation that Jefferson, Washington et al do not deserve praise because they were slave owners. ("
Anachronism Alive and Well") In writing that I was reminded of another problem I have with racial discourse in America. Not my only problem, discussions of race in America re so overloaded with hypersensitivity and hair trigger tempers that it is almost impossible to have anything approaching a reasonable discussion. But there is one particular aspect that troubles me, and that is the tendency of those seeking to promote racial grievances to openly hold contradictory opinions without anyone drawing attention to that fact.
For example, long ago, when The Cosby Show was on television, many "socially conscious" types decried the show, claiming that a doctor and lawyer were so far outside the norm for black families that the show was nothing but an effort to white wash the real racial inequity remaining in America. However, at the same time, those same people were decrying the many "blaxploitation" movies of the seventies, and the remnants in the pop culture of the time, claiming that it was outright racism to portray blacks as, not just criminals, but as just poor. In other words, it was racist to show poor blacks, and racist to show middle class or rich blacks. I would say it was obviously racist to portray blacks at all, had the same people not denounced other shows for lacking black characters.
The basic lesson was, apparently, that no matter what any non-black does, it is a clear and convincing sign of racist intent.
Nor is this the only area where such bizarre contradictions exist. For example, many will announce that the higher incarceration rate for black men shows that racism is alive and well in America. However, when anyone mentions that blacks are incarcerated at a higher rate, they will become angry and denounce that statement, claiming it is a lie, and proof of the racism of the speaker. Similar arguments are also often voiced concerning welfare, single parent families, and a host of other social ills. A few, in a clever attempt to dance around the contradiction, will confuse absolute numbers and per capita figures, hoping to use the fact that blacks are only a small percentage of the population to argue that the both do and do not suffer from these ills more than other groups. But, for the most part, those adhering to these positions don't even bother, they simply assert a fact in one breath they deny, and denounce as proof of racism, in another.
But, much as they deserve it, I don't blame the racial grievance mongers for this behavior. Yes Sharpton and company are detestable humans, but accusing him of shady behavior in pursuing his self-interest and the promotion of his agenda is akin to getting angry at a spider for biting or a wasp for stinging. It is in the nature of such activists to spin the truth, even if it makes no sense.
No, the real blame should be placed upon those who never stop to question these assertions. Those so afraid of being called racist (and many are among the conservative ranks), that they will not challenge an obvious absurdity, will not point out a contradiction, and will allow the most excessive claims of racism to stand unchallenged. Yes, we are seeing a bit more spine among conservatives, but there are still too many unwilling to challenge such statements.
POSTSCRIPT
I know in the past I have asked if some positions are signs of racism, or other bigotry. However, that in no way contradicts what I have stated above. When I have accused a group or individual of condescension (as I accused the left in "
Eurocentrism? Racism? Liberal Traits All", "
The Racism of the Left" and "
It Is All In How You Say It"), or argue that a specific claim of "anti-Zionism" masks more traditional antisemitism, I do not expect to intimidate the person into silence. I not only accept, but welcome, a response. So, while I argue that false charges of racism have been allowed to stand too long, that does not mean I will cease pointing out very real cases of racism. I only ask that, as with any criticism, we be skeptical concerning such charges. (Even mine.)
For that matter, I suppose I should state that it is equally wrong to assume that any decision based on race or culture is instantly invalid. Yes, any individual can deviate from a group norm, but when speaking of groups, it is valid to consider traits proven to be possessed by the group. Now, in most cases the assumptions of racists are wrong, but, should it be provable that a specific trait is possessed by a specific group, recognition of that fact does not constitute racism. Though, thanks to our concern over being labeled racist, it is likely we would still refuse to recognize such facts.