"The race card"
The struggles of minorities in this country have long been belittled and dismissed with a wicked little phrase that has no place in the race conversation. This insidious phrase has been employed by pundit and everyman alike in an attempt to shield themselves from the intergenerational guilt passed on to them by their ancestors. Sometimes this phrase is said with the best intentions in the world by a caring person who doesn't realize their own privilege, but the meaning of this phrase is clear: we have absolved ourselves of the guilt of our forefathers and no longer care about the struggles of everyday people in this country.
This phrase has no place in the race conversation, nor does it have a place in political discourse as a whole. We must all, at once, realize that the struggles of our brothers and sisters in this country are not to be derided, belittled, and dismissed as a relic of the 60's and 70's. I know its hard to come to the conclusion that we have so far to go until we achieve a fair and equitable society for all of the inhabitants of the United States of America, but its epiphany time folks. The "race card" idiom does much more to harm the race conversation than it does to heal the wounds between races.
Its time to realize that the struggles of other races is neither a card nor a game.
They are the real problems, opinions, and feelings of real life people who are just trying to survive in the US. It isn't a game, where cards are played to win. The race conversation can only be advanced or regressed. There are no winners, no rules, only an object: to heal the wounds created by 200 years slavery, Jim Crow laws, animosity and abuses perpetrated by those in the white race. That is the fundamental truth of race in this country, and it is something that all white people must come to realize: our privilege is built on 250+ years of tears, blood, and hardship.
There is a lot of guilt associated with this simple realization, and sometimes its hard to deal with. But believe me, when you employ the "race card" argument you do nothing but detriment your own position, and diminish and minimize some strongly held feelings. You, in affect, alienate people further by employing the "race card" argument, and given the object of the race conversation in the country (to heal wounds), you are doing nothing to help us advance.
Before employing the "race card" argument, please keep in mind these things:
- When discussing race, get over your own victimizations. I know that sounds harsh, but I do not intend it to be. What I am saying is that everyone in this country: white, black, brown, blue, purple, whatever, has problems and issues. Everyone has struggles. Sometimes its classism or ageism or some other -ism, sometimes its simply personal problems. No one is saying that you personally do not have struggles when talking about white privilege. The discussion of white privilege is simply a discussion about privileges that people of the white race have that other races don't. It is in no way meant to diminish your own struggles.
- Everyone has the same potential to be insensitive and ignorant, and you are probably no different. Keep in mind your own capacity to be insensitive. Be cognizant of it, and try to avoid insensitivity at all costs. Before getting involved with the race conversation, remember that you are indeed fallible and capable of showing privilege. This doesn't mean you are a bad person, and it doesn't mean you are a racist. It simply means watch for your own blindspots.
- The only arbiter of racism is the person feeling it. Racism is purely a subjective feeling, felt by the receiver and perpetrated by the one holding the opinion. Who are you to tell someone when they are and are not feeling the emotions associated with racism? You are no one. If someone says they feel like you are being racist, the first thing I want you to do is STOP! and look at the comments you've made and filter them as if YOU were the one feeling the racism. Wait 5 minutes. Analyze your behavior, and then speak. Believe me, in this little break you gain A LOT of perspective.
- Use healing words. There has been enough animosity and anger in this conversation over the years, more is not needed. I am in no way saying don't express your opinion, but try to keep your personal feelings in check. Keep in mind the way your message is affecting those reading it. Keep in mind that what you are saying is not private, and thus has a net affect on the mood of the conversation you are in. Recognize your own feelings, and take a step back.
- Keep in mind the deep history of this conversation. No one person is solely responsible for the state of race relations in this country. No one is blaming you for the dilapidated state of equality in our society. Please do not act like the weight of 200 years of racism is being placed on your shoulders simply because someone mentions their own repression.
- Finally, remember that, especially on the internet, what you THINK you are saying to a dailykos account is actually a human being on the other side. They have their own feelings, wants and needs. If you come at this conversation from a hostile point of view, expect only hostility in return, but if you are sincerely willing to help move the conversation forward, people will generally be understanding of your opinions.
Classifying someone expressing their struggles as playing the "race card" does nothing to advance the conversation, if anything it has a regressive effect on the conversation as a whole. Remember that the things you say have an affect on people, and how you say it may make them feel like you are diminishing their personal experiences for political expediency. Nothing is more alienating than that.
Anyway, thanks for listening.