Monday
16Jul2007
Is (insert name here) a Racist?
Monday, July 16, 2007 at 19:03
(cross-posted to Jack & Jill Politics)
RaceWire has the story of a white North Carolina mayor, his statement about black youth and the NAACP effort to get him to apologize (hopefully not to Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson). Here's what the man said:
Do I agree with the comments?
Yes, but there's more. The mayor has a point, but it falls well short of the complete truth. He would have done a better service had he said, "too many of the multi-billion dollar entertainment and marketing efforts of large corporations force a gangster type of dress, attitude, behavior and action upon our youth." I agree that too many of our young folks of color are caught up in these false images. I also agree that too many of our youth of any color are caught up in this.
Our art form, hip hop, has become a highly profitable product in the hands of corporations who have skillfully, slyly and selectively sold back to us the most destructive images imaginable. They accentuate the negative and eliminate the positive. They set dysfunctional expectations in the minds of the wider community and ourselves of not just what it means to be black, but what it means to be.
The answer is more complicated. Companies are responsible. Parents are responsible. A police force which assumes that a black kid is a criminal is responsible.
Second, are they racist? And if you think so, is it because whites who say things like this are reluctant to critize the "gangster behavior" of some white communities and institutions?
I'm loving the second part of this question. "Institutional white gangsterism" has a nice ring to it. The mayor could have made his same statement about "too many of our CEOs, primarily white" are engaging in gangster type behavior. After all, when a company gets reporters fired for publishing studies critical of its products, that's mad gangsta.
Yet we don't roll into the headquarters of Monsanto on a regular basis
Please throw down your responses in the comment section here or at the original RaceWire post, and see what folks are saying over there.
Update @ 19:10:
The first commenter on the post at RaceWire asks a good question in his response and followup on his own blog:
RaceWire has the story of a white North Carolina mayor, his statement about black youth and the NAACP effort to get him to apologize (hopefully not to Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson). Here's what the man said:
Mayor Pat McCrory, who is white, said he was accurate when he wrote that “too many of our youth, primarily African American, are imitating and/or participating in a gangster type of dress, attitude, behavior and action.”And the questions posed by the RaceWire folks:
First, do you agree with these comments? Second, are they racist? And if you think so, is it because whites who say things like this are reluctant to critize the "gangster behavior" of some white communities and institutions?I'll take a crack at this, having no additional background on the situation.
Do I agree with the comments?
Yes, but there's more. The mayor has a point, but it falls well short of the complete truth. He would have done a better service had he said, "too many of the multi-billion dollar entertainment and marketing efforts of large corporations force a gangster type of dress, attitude, behavior and action upon our youth." I agree that too many of our young folks of color are caught up in these false images. I also agree that too many of our youth of any color are caught up in this.
Our art form, hip hop, has become a highly profitable product in the hands of corporations who have skillfully, slyly and selectively sold back to us the most destructive images imaginable. They accentuate the negative and eliminate the positive. They set dysfunctional expectations in the minds of the wider community and ourselves of not just what it means to be black, but what it means to be.
The answer is more complicated. Companies are responsible. Parents are responsible. A police force which assumes that a black kid is a criminal is responsible.
Second, are they racist? And if you think so, is it because whites who say things like this are reluctant to critize the "gangster behavior" of some white communities and institutions?
I'm loving the second part of this question. "Institutional white gangsterism" has a nice ring to it. The mayor could have made his same statement about "too many of our CEOs, primarily white" are engaging in gangster type behavior. After all, when a company gets reporters fired for publishing studies critical of its products, that's mad gangsta.
Yet we don't roll into the headquarters of Monsanto on a regular basis
Please throw down your responses in the comment section here or at the original RaceWire post, and see what folks are saying over there.
Update @ 19:10:
The first commenter on the post at RaceWire asks a good question in his response and followup on his own blog:
Black people, is it important whether or not this cat is racist? Or, is it more important to impact the racial-mindset behind his statements (i.e. his perception about Black youths and gangs)?See the rest here, and again, toss up your responses.
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Reader Comments (2)
Bump what white people think!!
We need to tell adult Negroe males who have sired children; to be good fathers, concerned fathers, loving fathers, caring fathers to their children.
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It seems to me that there is entirely too much time worrying about whether someone is a racist or not.
I read the Bible where it says that God works out everything for good. Racism, slavery, bigotry, and etc are evil. Plain and simple. But, God also says that, "who, by worrying, will add a single hour to his life?"
Basically, what I mean is, "stop worrying so much about whether someone is a racist. If they are, they are. It is stupid, but they are. Instead, focus on the blessings that God has given you even if it was at the expense of your forefathers."
My great grandfather (who I never met or knew) gave up his life fighting the Germans in a far away land. I could spend my life worrying and blaming others, or I could thank God that the Germans did not win.
Same thing with slavery. Evil? Most definitely. But, entire generations of African Americans now live in a country where they have opportunities that don't exist in Africa. Imagine yourself living there right now.
Do I agree with slavery? He _ _ no. But, God has blessed YOU. Yes, your forefathers paid an immeasurable price, but God promised to repay you for that. So, are you going to curse His Blessings by worrying about whether some guy (who you probably don't and never will know) is a racist?
Who cares? Focus on your blessed life and move forward.