It's true!
We don't even recognize the shifty we all give to black patrons in our stores (trust me, black people do this too), we don't always try to understand the Asian customer (not 'Oriental') who has a thick accent and can't speak clear, American English. To say that we are a nation that supports minorities and does not discriminate is neither wholly true nor a huge lie.
I have these same attitudes too but one thing I find funny is that I know everyone does it, we just can't always understand the language it's done in. Contrary to popular belief, this does make me feel better. I don't feel as guilty, but please do not confuse that with me thinking it's okay and I don't want to change.
Just because a biracial (not black) man is president and we don't have as many examples of overt racism is not cause for thinking we've made it. The media perpetuates forms of racism everyday, especially damned BET for reinforcing negative, enduring, and damaging stereotypes of black people everywhere which leads others on the globe to think of us this way and react to us in less than favorable ways (I do not like being addressed in 'ebonics' and let's not get on being called the n-word -- by anyone).
To recognize that we are racist in some ways is a huge step. Remember, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. If we could just stop pretending we are colorblind then maybe we'd be more honest with each other. Ideally, this doesn't mean we will jut be more racist overtly, but that we will realize how we are wrong in doing so.
I am a major supporter of the song because it speaks volumes. Yes it's crude, but I'm not going to exert pretention by saying the song is wrong because it supports racism. We are presented with questions everyday that have no solution. This song presents the problem of subtle racism and puts it on the table, then leaves us to deal with it once the song is over. Instead of critiquing it, take a step back and see where you're wrong and endeavor to fix it.
In the meantime, I'm going to attempt to catch a taxi :)
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1 comment:
that research project i was telling you about deals with this quite a bit, actually. at the end of the day, though, just being a respectable individual gets minorities ahead in the long run (see Dovidio and Gaertner's integrated model of racism, if you're interested).
furthermore, bell hooks (pseudonum of this super cool pro-afro/ feminist whose heyday was in the 90s) writes in one of her more recent books ("we real cool") that african american culture should accept the healthier, more socially powerful matriarchal influence and counter the "machismo" side as such.
in a utopian america, no one would give a flip if you were a flouncing black man in pearls or a chain-wearing gang-banger type...but i personally believe you won't truly be happy until you understand and express yourself.
the bottom line: satisfaction is contingent upon the world you create, both the people you surround yourself with as well as the general choices you make. social success is contingent upon how "mainstream" you choose to be.
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