Here We Go Again
Posted by Deutlich on June 17th, 2009 | Filed under: UncategorizedHave you heard about the GOP staffer that sent that email with a picture of all of America’s presidents except Obama’s “picture” was just a black square with bulging white eyes?
No?
Well here’s a quick refresher:
I won’t get into how fucking stupid that dumb bitch was because I think I’ve said it all with those lovely explatives. But what I will say is that there is a clear and distinct undertone of racism involved which has gotten political pundits in a kerfuffle.
Some say that those of us who think this is dispicably racist are overreacting while others think this is just another example of exactly why race relations are still such a crapshoot in this country.
Here’s what bugs me the most about it — we can’t have a rational discussion about this without people flying into a total rage. And it’s kind of disgusting. How exactly do we expect to move on and grow if we can’t actually talk about it?
Back when Imus was fired from his talk radio gig for making racially incensitive remarks, I had a couple of reactions to the thing. A) Obviously, there are still lines we can not cross and it’d be nice if more people understood this. B) Firing him didn’t solve a damn thing.
The man’s radio show was televised, for cripe’s sake! Would it not have been better to have the DJ, the basketball player that he called “nappy headed,” a couple of lawyers and the basketball coach on the show to actually discuss how and why things went so awry? To explain where each side was coming from? To hash it out correctly in a way that reached a common consensus?
Because frankly, I don’t think that the people who were behind Imus quite understood why it was so wrong of him to say what he said. And those who were enraged by his comments probably got the cheap 2 second thrill of thinking “victory!” just because he was fired.
But did that actually solve anything?
No.
And I don’t mean to imply that a single situation can fix hundreds of years of cultural difficulties in this country, but being that it was such a nationally discussed topic it sure as shit wouldn’t have hurt.
Note: Thanks to O Hell Nawl for making me think on this topic today.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:27 am
I agree that an open debate on this issue should occur. For one I am very curious on how people could still at like this and two people are all around cowards. They will take up a position about something without being educated. Seriously, not cool.
That’s just it! There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many people with your skin tone who just don’t get it. Who don’t understand how others can act so STUPIDLY. Yet y’all are clumped into the same category whenever someone else acts this fucking retarded. It’s ridic.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Wow. I actually hadn’t seen or heard of this. I do agree with you though, problems would be better solved if we just sat down and talked about them. All we seem to do is fight. Why can’t people just talk?
And what was this woman thinking? That image isn’t funny at all.
No, it isn’t. i don’t get it at all.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Hell, that last picture is me from last night when my cats started fighting and knocked over my tool “box” from a table in my closet. I was like “HOLY GOD OMG WTF I’M BEING ATTACKED BY FURRY ALIENS WITH CLAWS.”
You are so special.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:42 am
I heard about that. It only served to take the heat off the Tennessee politician who made a facebook comment about an ape being one of Michelle Obama’s ancestors. It is pretty damn sad.
It really is pretty damn sad.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I had never seen this. I did see the one about Michelle Obama where they were making a gag about African women being on National Geographics. I didn’t think it was funny. I just thought it was racist. No matter how high up you get, some of us will always be a little deflated because of our race, and it really pisses me off yet some of the “white people” around me thought it was hilarious.
I guess I have no sense of humor.
If that means you don’t have a sense of humor? Well… then I don’t either.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:15 am
It always comes back to our skin color. And yet, it’s always us who have to decide whether to educate people about it or suck it up and act like nothing’s wrong. It’s exhausting.
It IS! And it is so fucking annoying. Either we’re “overreacting” or “not doing enough.” What gives?! It’s like there’s no right answer. And let’s not even get into the politics of dark black people vs light black people…
June 17th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Obama isn’t even that dark… in my opinion thats what makes it ridiculously racist.
well that and the fact that a white person sent it out.
And yanno? Sometimes there’s this weird fuzzy line where it’s ok for a black person to say or do something that’s NOT okay for a white person to do — but in this case? It’s pretty obvious that no black person would send some shit like that out. Making it a definitive NO-NO.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Yeah, I saw that on O Hell Nawl, too. Did you read that the woman who “accidentally” emailed it didn’t really apologize? She just said, “Oops, wrong button, tee-hee!” (I’m paraphrasing, of course)
But it really sickens how me, here in the 21st century, we can’t have any civil discussions on race relations, especially in regards to Obama. Criticize his policies all you want (I, in fact, don’t fully agree with his economic policies). But when you start saying he’s planting watermellons in the White House garden, that’s where I draw the line!
It’s just so sad that this sort of thing keeps rearing it’s ugly head.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:45 am
i hate that i have to be grouped in with the people who think that shit is funny.
I feel you.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Blerg, deleted my long ranty comment. Suffice to say, I hate that it’s totally ok to be racist and ignorant towards minorities as long as you don’t say it out loud.
I KNOW! That shit is fucking ridic.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Yeah, I know I’m special, because even as a white guy who voted for Obama, the “race conversation” scares me, so I go for the humor and the quick laugh instead. Your post deserved a more thoughtful response. So, here it is:
I have black friends. African-American friends. Like most of my friends, I know them through work, or the interwebz. And yet, I’ll still put my hand on my wallet when a group of black men walk past me on the street. Or I’ll ask myself: Did I vote for Obama because he’s black, or because I thought he’d be the best candidate? I mean, I’ve voted Democrat for president in ‘04, ‘00, and ‘96, so it’s more likely that, but I still ask myself. So, when this topic comes up, what scares me most is finding out if I’m a racist. Because, really, I have no fucking idea. (I certainly hope not!)
I think those thoughts you have are not only common but not at all racist. And I find that a lot of people who are not of color are afraid to pipe up. Usually because those folks are NOT racist and don’t want to come off as such just by asking a question. And I think that’s sad. Because without questions there are no answers and without answers there’s no progress. And that’s absolutely no reflection on you personally. It’s just something I’ve noted over the years. You’re always welcome to ask questions or voice an opinion here.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:08 am
It’s bullshittery like this that makes my blood pressure rise (on a daily basis).
These “people” who create or write this stuff about the president and then SEND IT to people, obviously, want to get caught and bring more of this ignorance to light.
and giving ignorance a spotlight pisses me off but I do realize that it should (and needs to) be talked about because there are people who still think like that.
Also, I think stuff like this just further pushes back any kind of solution that could be on the horizon. The discussion (in the media) is always on analyzing the image (or words) and never seems to be on “what can we do?” It’s usually an afterthought or left for the last 2 minutes of the program.
EXACTLY! So frustrating.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:39 am
That’s pretty disgusting. Everyone keeps saying that racism is dead, but that’s the most bullshit thing I’ve ever heard. It may be slightly more subtle than it used to be, but that’s about it. Just a different, sneakier animal. And I think the election proved that.
And, not to change the subject, but that’s what makes me sad for the gay men and women of our country. They have only begun to fight. And it’s a long battle.
I’m sad.
It really is a sneakier animal these days. And that makes things even more awkward because when something is blatantly racist to those of us that know what it feels like, it can be shoved off as an “overreaction” just because the racist act was done “under the radar”
Meh.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Well… in all honesty the issue with systematically eliminating entire indigenous populations technically hasn’t even been addressed fully. Technically… this country is quite notorious for sticking it to the underdog and giving half-assed apologies for it.
It’s interesting that so many people voted for Obama because of his skin tone and thought this symbolized the end of racist and supremacist thinking. And even more interesting that while people are ignorant enough to make these kinds of gestures to show their distain for differences… they’re the same ones out there capitalizing on them. What I mean is… generally speaking browner toned people tend to have fuller lips for example. Unless you’re Vivica Fox I don’t see too many brownies running to Dr. 90210 to puff up their lips or whatever other body part associated with more ethnic features. It’s like the hatred is really within themselves for not coming to grips with the fact that they wish they could be so awesome and so they take it out on others to make them feel inferior. Do I see this changing? No, especially with the new president in office and I warned people not to look at the states that Obama won but look at the ones he lost and that will tell you what the bulk of America really thinks/feels.
You said it, sister.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:03 am
I live in an area where open racism is still the norm. It’s isn’t strange at all to be having dinner out and about and overhear slurs and just general open bigotry. It’s kind of mind boggling, frankly.
The topic is avoided as a national discussion because of this situation: I moved from Detroit to Atlanta before I started high school. First day, new school. Home Ec class- mostly upper classmen. So you know that dirty little freshman can’t sit with the juniors and seniors, so I sat with some freshmen girls, and tried to talk to them. They were suspicious, mean, rude, and one flat out asked me why I was talking to her. Why? Because they were black girls. So they had such a chip on their shoulders that they thought my trying to talk to them was some kind of trick or a joke. It really hurt my feelings and pissed me off. I couldn’t say anything, though, couldn’t blame them for being suspicious, couldn’t complain about it (and am really pretty nervous about being this honest here, frankly), and all because I look like the fucktard in the diner down the street that still thinks we should repeal Jim Crow.
So, that’s why we can’t seem to have an open, honest discussion on racism as a country- because you think that you’re a good person, you think that you’re above it, but you’re not, no one is, and the people who really deserve some rage directed at them won’t be a productive part of that discussion, and I don’t want to take their heat for them. It’s not I how think or how I feel…
Huh? Whatever. Racism sucks. That’s a safe comment, right?
It’s exactly those type of situations that make it abundantly clear why we SHOULD be talking about it more. On both sides. And not in a way that just points fingers.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:10 am
I can’t wait for the day when everyone can just joke about each other and it’s not a big fracking deal, because everyone knows it’s AN EFFING JOKE.
Someday…
One can only hope. I don’t know that we’ll ever get to that place the way things are now. Of course, things that are funny to person x are sometimes horribly offensive to person b and it doesn’t even have to be race related at all.
blah.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:30 am
You know, sometimes little things are declared racist that I don’t always think are, but that picture? How is it possibly anyone could NOT think it racist? How else is there? Some people are stupid, ignorant dullards and I sort of understand their ridiculous stupidity because they’re DUMB AS SHIT but someone of intelligence doing something like that? WTF? It is amazing to me that people still think in this way. It’s amazing to me that people ever did. I can’t believe there are still fucking KKK people in the world. Now obviously I’m a pasty white person and I have no idea how it feels to be discriminated against because of the colour of my skin, but I just don’t understand the supreme ignorance behind racism. From my years in New York I’ve seen racism on both sides. I wish there was a magic solution where people could coexist peacefully and intolerant idiots could be shipped to some deserted island away from the rest of us.
As for Imus, dude’s a stupid old fart who rides around wearing a stetson for God’s sake. He’s a cantankerous, stupid, right wing idiot and should have been fired long BEFORE he made those stupid, ugly, racist remarks about that girl.
The thing about not knowing what it’s like to be discriminated is two-fold, I think. On the one hand, you do know what it’s like based on imagery, news, friends, coworkers, and just living in America. On the other, you may not know what it personally feels like to be discriminated against. But that doesn’t negate the fact that you are aware of the situation as a whole. Yanno?
June 17th, 2009 at 11:36 am
God, will they just fucking STOP with this shit already? It is so juvenile. They need to GET THE FUCK OVER IT.
True
June 17th, 2009 at 11:42 am
seriously, you voice things a million times better than i can so it only makes sense to say i agree with you 100% on all of it.
Aww, thank you.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I’m with LiLu– I can’t wait till the day that I can make fun of everyone just like I make fun of how white I am.
Amen. And the fact of the matter is that – YES – we are all different. We may bleed red blood, but for fuck’s sake we are inherently different. We speak different languages. We live in different regions. We eat different foods, practice different religions and wear different clothes. And some of the characteristics that come from this is just funny. Dangit.
Now, regarding this particular email, there’s just nothing funny about it. It’s not like we’re making fun of some idjet for wearing diamonds in his teeth (regardless of color). It’s just plain… racist.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I completely agree. 100% That’s so funny because I just had a convo with a girl at work and it TOTALLY threw me off that she thought that my support of Pres. Obama was because we share the same skin tone. I’m over it. No matter how articulate AAs are, we are still lumped into a subsection of society and it’s sad that we can’t have a conversation about race or about a black president without the same ol’ ignorant (add boring) ideologies coming into play.
Le sigh. I was so angry I blogged about it too and then realized that she’ll probably never read it. Maybe one day I’ll tell this girl that life isn’t made of cocks and balls. lol.
I HATE that sort of shit. When I was at VA Tech and sitting in a law class of 600+ we had this open dialog about Affirmative Action and MAN did I flip my shit when some idiot basically proclaimed that the only reason people of color got in was because of it. Oh, man.. I am awful at keeping my trap shut in situations like that. I’d love to be a fly on the wall if and when you speak to her.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
WOOOOOOOOOOW!!! That affirmative action conversation is one that I can NEVER have in mixed company. I know your original post was about having conversations and talking through issues, but AA is a hard one to discuss without my blood boiling.
Check this little diddy.
I’m the silly, talkative, goofy, off the wall type. I just like dumbing myself down because I have lots of pretty pieces of paper on my wall to prove otherwise so I don’t care what other people think of me if it’s not in an academic setting.
Well in high school, I was the same way even voted Most Talkative because I used to talk at like 89 mph. Anyway, they announce what schools you got into if you turn in your letters to the office in the morning. So over the intercom the principal announced that I got into UVA. Great! The next thing I know this kid Scott comes up to me and says “You just got in because of Affirmative Action!” I about shit my pants! LITERALLY!
Two weeks later, as we line up for graduation and the honor kids are lined up by rank, I’m ahead of him by about 25 spots. I decided to break out of line and go up to him. I said “Wow, I almost didn’t see you all the way back here. I guess affirmative action got me to the front of the line huh?!” LOL!
Now I work with his father and every time he wants to give me an update on his son, I think to myself… “Wow! That’s great, even assholes can grow up to live normal lives”
June 17th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I definitely agree. There should be more healthy discussions about race. It’s the lack of this type of discussion that contributes to messed up conceptions on both sides.
Also, that picture of the presidents is pretty disgusting. That woman should be fired if she hasn’t been already.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I agree with you. What is happening isn’t helping race relations at all. I got a similar email but it was Obama on a dollar bill. It disgusted me and I emailed the sender and told them how ignorant it was. No surprise – didn’t receive an email back.
I could have just ignored but and shrugged it off but I’m not the type of person to do that.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Canada prides itself on being multicultural and inclusive. A country of immigrants. A place where English is not the only official language.
We don’t talk about the Japanese camps. Or the Native people who were actually wiped out (seriously, the Beothuk are actually EXTINCT.) Or the Acadian deportation.
America wears its racism on the outside. We bury ours under ambiguous statements like “The Great White North”. I agree with whoever said that people assumed Obama taking office signaled the end of racism in America. No, it signaled a new (obviously more intelligent) President taking office. But things like this prove that there will always be people who can’t see past his skin colour, for good or ill.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
That shit is so ridiculous. I had no idea that happened.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I didn’t know about that! And all I really have to say is that I totally agree with you. People need to discuss the issues, not just come up with a short-term “solution” to a long-term issue.
June 18th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
There was a state senator here in Utah who, a year or two ago, joined in a discussion on some education bill that detractors had nicknamed the “Ugly Baby Bill.”
He said, “This baby is black. It’s a dark, ugly thing.”
The ensuing debates really bothered me because they fixated on whether the senator was racist. And I was like, wow, these people clearly have no idea how much that remark could sting. The debate should have had something to do with how it is to be black in a place that’s overwhelmingly white, and how that overwhelming majority might not be sensitive to the “lines we cannot cross,” as you put it. Instead it was like, “Let’s look into the soul of this bumpkin fatass and see if he’s racist.”
Anyway, I wrote a better explanation when it happened. Sorry, not to be self-promoting in your comments. It’s just another example of dialogue mishandled: http://tinyurl.com/kuufdu. It’s old, so the links don’t work anymore.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Maybe this (presumably fired) staffer can become BFF with this other (presumably fired) staffer: http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0609/No_namecalling.html?showall
A racist & a lunatic. BFF.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
This is just sad. But I do often wonder what is better, that these things stay swept under the rug or that they surface and people talk about them? Probably the latter, I guess (to a certain extent).