On Tuesday of this week, the House of Representatives woke up, yawned, scratched it's collective armpit, stuck up a wetted finger to test the political wind, and then took the masterful and courageous move of apologizing for slavery and for Jim Crow segregation laws.
Oh, for Pete's sake...
In the early days of this blog, I commented on discussions in the Virginia legislature about issuing a formal apology for slavery. My comment was along the lines of, well, it's a useless gesture, but if it makes everyone feel better and gets them to focus on the future instead of the past, let's go ahead and apologize. The first comment I received on that post began with the immortal words, "You're an idiot," and went downhill from there, castigating me for endorsing an apology for actions that neither I nor anyone alive today had anything to do with. Well, I may be an idiot (no need to comment, Mike), but I stand by my original point.
This Congress has much to apologize for, including:
* failure to pass immigration reform;
* failure to develop a national energy policy;
* failure to stand up to an overreaching and imperial President;
* failure to develop immediate and long-range measures to resolve the economic crisis; and,
* failure to address the crisis in public education...just to name a few.
Instead, Congress has chosen to pander to black Americans by issuing a symbolic and ultimately useless apology for actions taken hundreds of years ago. Evil and unfortunate actions, to be sure, but actions that have long been addressed - by the outlawing of slavery more than 140 years ago and the passage of civil rights legislation more than 40 years ago.
Whether these actions are enough depends on your race and point of view. Many people today blame every ill of the black community on the lingering and pernicious effects of the era of slavery and Jim Crow, arguing that blacks continue to be held down by a society devoted to keeping them in a second-class status.
Where I come from, we call this a crock.
There is no doubt that America's black community suffers from many problems, and that there is still lingering racism in this country. However, there are also many self-inflicted wounds in the black community: a thug culture of the young that glorifies crime and misogyny over education; rampant drug abuse; distrust of the police and other authority; fractured families and and soaring rates of out-of-wedlock births; and the fostering of a culture of victimhood and dependence over personal responsibility. There's also the tendency of many black citizens to turn to Islam...ignoring the historic fact that Islamic Arabs were among the most active of the traders who sold generations of Africans into slavery
Did I just say all that? Now there are a few reasons for people to call me an idiot.
If the House's apology makes you feel better, that's great. Now let's get over it. Let's concentrate on fixing public education and stabilizing the economy so that well-educated people of all races can find good jobs to build a better life.
If Congress can't do that, they really have something to apologize for.
But I'm not holding my breath.
Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
12 comments:
two words for Congress
Oye vey!
I read this on my handheld and am borrowing someone's access to respond to this--that's how strongly I feel.
Are you familiar with the movie The Matrix? Most people have seen it and it provides a good analogy. In The Matrix, there are two different simultaneous realities. Our hero has only known one carefully crafted reality. At some point he is offered a pill that allows him to see the world around him in a very different way. If he takes the pill, he see what's really there but he can no longer go back to the fantasy.
That was a movie. But in many ways, that is the reality of America. As a white person, you see one carefully crafted reality. You don't really question what's around you because you don't understand that there might be another reality. I'm not trying to be condescending--I'm totally serious. You don't know what you don't know. And the dominant culture supports the fantasy so why would you question it? If you want to take the pill and start seeing what's really around you, take a good African American history course. Because it's not about individual racism--it's about institutionalized racism and it's alive and well in this country. And once you see it--really see it-- you can't not see it.
Ask yourself a few questions: Why has it been that African Americans are traditionally in the city while Whites are traditionally in the suburbs? (Then read up on redlining.) Ask yourself why an African American can buy your house but then that same house won't appreciate at the same rate that it did when you owned it, even though he takes just as good or better care of it. Think about the fact that most people's wealth is based on the worth of their houses.
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
You're a smart man, do some research in some new ways than you have in the past and open your mind to the idea that your reality may not be the only one.
How about I write you in for President - :-)
Well written. Politicians would never want to remember that fact about the Islamic Arabs.
Now you have another vote for president!
And Locochran, all you have to do is go from one neighborhood to another in any area and you'll move from one reality to another.
lacochran - I'm glad to see your comment, because I never claim to be the smartest guy on the block or the one with all the answers. That said, though, I have to say that I only agree with you in part. You are absolutely correct that our perceptions shape our realities. A black person will view the world in a fundamentally different way from me. Neither one of us is "right," but our perceptions shape the way we deal with each other and the world at large. I think you may have missed my fundamental point: it does none of us - black or white - any good to dwell on the past. We live in the present...which was shaped by the past...and we work every day to build the future. We need to learn the lessons of the past and apply them to build a better future. I don't accept that there's "institutionalized racism" in this country...if there were, we wouldn't have years of civil rights legislation, antidiscrimination laws, an Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Affirmative Action programs, and so on. That's not to say that "racism," per se, doesn't exist. It does. But it exists at the level of the individual, and not as a force that permeates our entire society. "Racism" is a convenient, all-purpose excuse for any number of ills, many of them self-inflicted. It is cured by education, shared experience, and understanding. This is one of the reasons why I am so adamant about the value of military service - I spent 23 years working with, and frequently for, black persons (and Hispanics and Asians, for that matter), and that daily experience works better than any Congressional resolutions or pious newspaper editorials to teach the lesson that we're all the same under the skin. So let's agree on one thing: the country ain't perfect. But let's accept that we all need to recognize our shortcomings and overcome our prejudices (yes, blacks have them, too) and work together to build the future in which we want to live.
I've long felt that the biases of racism will fade only slowly over time as each generation takes steps to reduce what certainly was institutionalized racism. You are right that contact, like we had in the military or I had in school in Ohio, is key. But there ARE places in the US where racism is still very strong.
Bilbo, you never had the joy of living in Montgomery AL like I did. The racism there may not be what you'd call institutionalized as it is a bit more subtle than it used to be. But how else to you explain why there are no public pools anymore? (when they were desegregated, the city filled them in and suddenly the white population created private swim clubs) Or why the public schools are abysmal? The majority population won't vote for any tax increases; like with the sports facilities, most whites go to private schools. The beautiful new public library was 80% empty when I lived there. Again, no tax $$.
I'm sure there are some open and non-racist folks who live there, but they must be a tiny majority not to be revolted at the injustices. I couldn't stomach living there again and would not want to raise children there to see that environment as "normal".
Katherine - as always, your comments are right on the mark. Geographical differences do have an impact on racial ideas...the cities of the Deep South like Montgomery (which I visited only while a student at Air Command and Staff College), being more steeped in the legacy of slavery, might be expected to show the effects of "institutionalized racism" longer than other areas. Your key point, though, is your last one: "...would not want to raise children there to see that environment as 'normal'." If we don't educate our children to recognize the evils of racism (and other 'isms'), the insidious effects will continue to be felt for years to come.
I notice you didn’t answer my questions. Not easy to answer are they?
I’ll bet you believe that America accepts people of all kinds as it is “the great melting pot” and all of those different people can succeed if they just apply themselves because America is a “meritocracy.” That’s what we’re taught after all. We know governmental institutions don't lie.
If America accepts everyone equally, why do we have different immigration quotas for different countries?
If it’s about not wanting terrorists to cross our borders, why don’t we talk about securing the Canadian border?
Can you define race? Of course not. Gender, sure. National origin, sure. Color, sure. But race? It’s a made up American construct designed by White men to keep non-Whites from having the same power and privilege. And when a loophole was found, the courts changed the definition. “Oh, did we say A? Um, no, now we say B.” And when a loophole was found for B, the courts changed the definition AGAIN! Don’t take my word for it, do the research yourself.
Don’t think you have power and privilege as a White person in a country that prizes whiteness?
When was the last time you had trouble finding a band-aid that matched the skin color of your grandchild’s knee?
When was the last time you read your child or grandchild a story that had non-White people featured in it? How about a fairy tale? Shared a movie? Book? Magazine? Newspaper? TV? Everything you look at is >90% White. Where are the heroes of color in this “melting pot”?
When was the last time you worried for your own or your family’s safety when you were pulled over by a cop?
When was the last time you were followed while you were browsing in a store, simply because of the color of your skin? I don’t know an African American who hasn’t experienced this. Not one.
You know about the GI bill? African Americans fought for America in WWII just like Whites but when they got home they weren’t entitled to the same cheap housing as the White people were. They couldn’t get into the same desirable neighborhoods. They couldn’t get the same mortgage deals. You didn’t tell me why people of color are in the cities while Whites are in the suburbs. Are you beginning to figure it out?
Take it one step further. Consider the cities versus the suburbs. Did you notice where the dollars/resources go? Where are the better schools? The better hospitals? The better groceries? More banks? Better police protection?
You reference racism in the south. Let's get closer to home. You live in a very affluent county. Nearby is PG county. Not the same level of schools or anything else, is it? But then PG is largely African American. Did you know that PG county is the most affluent African American county in the country? And yet, somehow, their money isn’t good enough to get quality resources. Can you explain this?
Even the language you so love is biased. How many positive terms with “black” in it can you come up with? Black sheep? Nope. Black hat? Nope. Black magic? Nope. Black balled? Nope…
I understand these are uncomfortable ideas. You can continue to blame the victim rather than challenge your world view.
lacochran - let me address your comments by copying them, and adding my own:
I notice you didn’t answer my questions. Not easy to answer are they? - No. But they do have answers which you may or may not find satisfying or acceptable…
I’ll bet you believe that America accepts people of all kinds as it is “the great melting pot” and all of those different people can succeed if they just apply themselves because America is a “meritocracy.” That’s what we’re taught after all. We know governmental institutions don't lie. - You may wish to go back and read my post titled Melting Pots, Tossed Salads, and Mosaics (January 31, 2008) for some more thoughts on the “melting pot” concept and how it’s changed over the years. As for the idea that America is a meritocracy, well, that’s the theory. The practice, obviously, falls somewhat short of that. But I would argue that the concept of a true meritocracy is closer to reality in the US than it is in any other country you can name. You can read forward from the very first post in this blog and search in vain for any statement indicating a belief that this country is perfect. What you will find, though, is a firm belief that – on balance – we’re trying harder than anyone else. And if you believe that I believe that government institutions don’t lie…well…I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
If America accepts everyone equally, why do we have different immigration quotas for different countries? - To the extent that immigration quotas are based on nationality rather than on ability to contribute to American society, they are unfair. That said, I don’t know of any country that permits unlimited immigration of any persons from all other countries. In general, any country would be expected to offer precedence of immigration status to those most in a position to make a material contribution to the society…an unemployed beggar with no marketable skills is unlikely to be as attractive a potential immigrant as, say, a machinist, teacher, doctor, or tradesman who can earn his way and pay taxes. I don’t believe it’s realistic for America – or any country – to “accept everyone equally.” What I do believe is that America has a responsibility to offer those who are accepted equality of opportunity.
If it’s about not wanting terrorists to cross our borders, why don’t we talk about securing the Canadian border? - If the problem were only terrorists, I’d agree with you. But the reality is that the biggest long-term problem is not the occasional terrorist, but the vast swarm of people entering the country illegally…the great majority of whom cross not from Canada, but from Mexico. A person wishing to cross the border illegally from Canada has to get into Canada first…and that’s not as easy as you might think. I’ve written often enough about this problem and my proposal to solve it…you can go back and read it again (July 2, 2008). And I challenge you to find ANY legislation proposed by ANYONE in our do-nothing Congress that’s any better, more fair, or more comprehensive than my proposal.
Can you define race? Of course not. Gender, sure. National origin, sure. Color, sure. But race? It’s a made up American construct designed by White men to keep non-Whites from having the same power and privilege. And when a loophole was found, the courts changed the definition. “Oh, did we say A? Um, no, now we say B.” And when a loophole was found for B, the courts changed the definition AGAIN! Don’t take my word for it, do the research yourself. - First off, I’d define race the way my dictionary defines it: “a group of persons related by common descent, blood, or heredity; a subdivision of the human species, characterized by a more or less distinctive combination of physical traits that are transmitted in descent.” Your view of race as “a made-up American construct” is interesting, and I’m not sure I buy it. Since you have obviously already studied this, can you point me to a few of the sources of your information so I can start my own research?
Don’t think you have power and privilege as a White person in a country that prizes whiteness? - I would really love to have some of that power and privilege! Granted, I enjoy economic and social advantages that I attribute to accident of birth, education, military experience, and hard work. You can argue that those advantages might count for less were I black, and you may well be right…but within my admittedly-narrow range of experience in the military and the marketplace, I see whiteness per se as “prized” less than you seem to see from where you observe.
When was the last time you had trouble finding a band-aid that matched the skin color of your grandchild’s knee? - I haven’t had that trouble, obviously. But the major manufacturers (Band-Aid and Curad) have produced their products in other than traditional pink skin tones for quite a few years, now. If they’re not available where you shop, a request to the store manager usually does the trick.
When was the last time you read your child or grandchild a story that had non-White people featured in it? How about a fairy tale? Shared a movie? Book? Magazine? Newspaper? TV? Everything you look at is >90% White. Where are the heroes of color in this “melting pot”? - As it happens, there are any number of books available nowadays with non-white characters, including lead characters…I know this because I’ve been shopping for books for my grandchildren for the last eight years. This hasn’t always been the case, but the situation is correcting itself. Fairy tales are, admittedly, a bit different – many of them continue to feature mainly white characters, perhaps as a function of having been written by the Brothers Grimm, who were – surprise! – white Europeans. Movies and TV? – it’s getting difficult to find a TV program that doesn’t have a major, if not a leading character who is black…and frequently shown in a supervisory position. There are fewer major movie roles for black actors, but I would argue that the number is growing.
When was the last time you worried for your own or your family’s safety when you were pulled over by a cop? When was the last time you were followed while you were browsing in a store, simply because of the color of your skin? I don’t know an African American who hasn’t experienced this. Not one. I’ll address these two issues together, because they reflect virtually the same issue. These are serious issues, and I wouldn’t begin to pretend that they aren’t. They do reflect latent prejudices that need to be corrected by education and understanding…on all sides.
You know about the GI bill? African Americans fought for America in WWII just like Whites but when they got home they weren’t entitled to the same cheap housing as the White people were. They couldn’t get into the same desirable neighborhoods. They couldn’t get the same mortgage deals. You didn’t tell me why people of color are in the cities while Whites are in the suburbs. Are you beginning to figure it out? - I don’t deny that there were grossly unfair inequalities in the World War II era. But we are living in 2008, not 1945. Are you implying that the same sort of deliberate government-sanctioned inequalities exist today for our veterans? I doubt it. And I don’t know where you live, but in my suburban Fairfax County neighborhood, there are quite a number of “people of color.” Read down to your question about PG county for my observations that relate to your question.
Take it one step further. Consider the cities versus the suburbs. Did you notice where the dollars/resources go? Where are the better schools? The better hospitals? The better groceries? More banks? Better police protection? – This will no doubt sound racist to you, but ask the question this way: where are the higher tax revenues which will support the better schools, police, and other public services? Better groceries and banks tend to be found where they can be economically viable. They aren’t found in neighborhoods where prevailing economic and security/crime considerations argue against moving there. The solution goes back to stopping crime and improving educational and job opportunities for everyone. In the absence of tax revenues in the short term, this means painful choices for state and local governments – what do you not buy/do/fund in order to pay for those things that will most help the community. And for the community to pull together to make itself more attractive for stores to open.
You reference racism in the south. Let's get closer to home. You live in a very affluent county. Nearby is PG county. Not the same level of schools or anything else, is it? But then PG is largely African American. Did you know that PG county is the most affluent African American county in the country? And yet, somehow, their money isn’t good enough to get quality resources. Can you explain this? - What are the “quality resources” to which you refer? I can’t speak to PG county because I don’t live there or have first-hand experience. But I do know, based on observations made while walking my dog, riding the bus to work, and shopping at the local Giant, that my upper-middle class Fairfax County neighborhood is at least 30% non-white (primarily black, Asian, and Hispanic, with a rapidly-growing number of Middle-Easterners). Maybe we’re different from higher-end communities…I don’t know. But I do know what I see every day.
Even the language you so love is biased. How many positive terms with “black” in it can you come up with? Black sheep? Nope. Black hat? Nope. Black magic? Nope. Black balled? Nope… - Well, now you’re on my turf. There are many positive uses of “black” that you should cite: businesses always want to be “in the black,” a “black tie” affair is very prestigious, and VIP limousines are generally black. In fashion, black is a color representing sexy sophistication, elegance, and power (do you own any little black dresses?). Priests and nuns wear black robes. “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving, is so called because it generally helps put businesses back onto a good financial footing after a slow year (back in the black, so to speak). The use of “black” in the negative sense doesn’t refer to black persons per se, but to a traditional relation of color to concept in English. In many African cultures, white is the color associated with evil, mourning, and other negative things. Why is this? I don’t know. There’s a good discussion of the subject (as far as it goes) in Wikipedia, but it would be worth a formal linguistic study. Bottom line: the use of colors to represent emotions and qualities varies from language to language, and doesn’t necessarily have to do with racial bias.
I understand these are uncomfortable ideas. You can continue to blame the victim rather than challenge your world view. I think you continue to miss my point. - I’m not "blaming the victim." What I am suggesting is that the victim, by seeing examples of deliberate injustice where they don’t exist, and focusing on past injustices instead of concentrating on the problems and issues of the present, becomes an unindicted co-conspirator in his victimhood. Seeing discrimination and injustice everywhere blinds us to the real issues which must be addressed.
I don’t think you and I will ever completely see eye-to-eye on this one, and I don’t mean to minimize the real issues and injustices that continue to exist. But I do wish there was less harping about the past and more focus on improving the present – by improving education, repairing the economy, bringing illegal immigration under control, and focusing on the issues that unite, rather than divide us. And that needs to be done on both sides – black and white.
Bilbo:
Thank you for taking the time to consider the bulk of the questions I put forward. I could counter on a lot of what you've said and if you want to go there, we can. But I do think most of this comes down to a fundamental disagreement on:
"I’m not "blaming the victim." What I am suggesting is that the victim, by seeing examples of deliberate injustice where they don’t exist, and focusing on past injustices instead of concentrating on the problems and issues of the present, becomes an unindicted co-conspirator in his victimhood. Seeing discrimination and injustice everywhere blinds us to the real issues which must be addressed."
When I talk about institutionalized racism, I'm not suggesting there's a cabal somewhere plotting to keep people of color down. If it were that simple, we'd could fix it easily. It is much more insidious than that. I am further suggesting that you cannot dismiss the history because it continues to play a part--the socioeconomic conditions that you reference are a direct result of this *recent* history. So the problem compounds.
You and I agree on a lot of territory--we want a better country, we want a fair country, we want a country we can be proud of. We may just fight for it in different ways.
I will be happy to get you the information you requested when I am back in town.
lacochran - this is a very interesting and thought-provoking exchange, and I'd be happy to continue with it...I think each of us has something to offer to the other in the ongoing give-and-take. You are correct that we agree on a lot, and our disagreements are ones of perception and experience. We can pursue this off-line if you wish via e-mail, or bring it out of the comments into full posts once you get back. I hope you're enjoying your trip (except for the high blood pressure I've caused you), and I look forward to sharing ideas with you in the future. Best wishes, Bilbo.
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