It’s Not About Racism; It’s About Racism AND Power
The incident in Florida has reignited an old debate. Specifically, conservatives are yet again demanding to know… why do liberals and the media always have to focus on whites, as though white people are the exclusive source of racism and hatred?
Let me just set the record straight. Black racists are absolutely, 100% every bit as bad as white racists. Period. Ditto for brown racists, and every other color under the sun. No matter what color you are, if you despise someone else because of their skin color, you are a bad person. Hell, even if you hate people for being the same color as you, you are a racist bastard and deserve to be berated for it.
So why, I keep hearing, are liberals not screaming to the heavens about assholes like the New Black Panthers and their attempted “contract” on George Zimmerman?
Well first off, we did denounce them. It was widely reported in the media, which is probably where you heard about them in the first place.
Secondly, I suppose we could scream louder or chase them with pitchforks, but what good would that do? Not only would it distract from the real tragedy, it would also be way out of proportion.
You see, the New Black Panthers have little or no real power. They’re just a bunch of assholes with costumes and guns. Are they dangerous? Sure, but so is every group of paramilitary yahoos with more ammo than brain cells. Let’s face it, if these guys had any real power or potential to change society, the establishment would have shut them down long before now. Don’t believe me? Ask Fred Hampton.
Groups like the KKK, on the other hand, used to be the establishment. In many areas of the country they were the legislators, the business owners, the sheriffs, the judges. Even as far north as Oregon, the Klan wielded a strong presence for a good portion of our country’s history.
The key is that they weren’t just racists – they were racists with power. And they used that power, with brutal and lasting results. They set the rules in a system that is largely still in place. No matter how egalitarian you are in your mind, no matter how loving and colorblind you think you are, and whether you admit it or not, if your skin is white you benefit from that system every day.
True, this is changing as time goes on. Every year we have a few more black CEOs, Latina judges, and Asian lawmakers. We even have a black president. As these numbers increase, so does the possibility of getting a racist person of color in a position of power.
But seriously, that makes one out of forty-four presidents that hasn’t been a white male. Only about one-sixth of Congress is non-white. There is nothing you can say to change the fact that white people still control most of the United States; the government and private industry.
So, are white racists worse than black or brown racists? Hell no. Are white racists more prevalent than black or brown racists? I have no idea, but I doubt it.
The key is the combination of racism and power. I know, I know… obviously not all white people in positions of power are racist. But history has proven that there is a higher likelihood that a white racist will be able to obtain a position of power and use it to hurt and control others.
Honestly, I really don’t give a shit if some broke and ignorant jackass hates me for my skin color. I also don’t care if some militant 60’s wannabes in matching berets hate me for my skin color.
I do care if the person who hates my skin color is making laws that affect me.
I do care if the person who hates my skin color gets to decide if I get the job.
I do care if the person who hates my skin color decides if I am guilty or innocent.
And I damn sure would care if the police department investigating my murder has had such a long history of racist allegations against people of my color that the chief of police had to be replaced amid scandal.