Happy Martin Luther King's Day people. I hope you're all enjoying the long weekend and an extra day off.
I'd like to start off this day with some thoughts on racism in America and where it stands at this time in 2014. I'll start off first with radio personality Rush Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh, as you all know, is a conservative radio host who is the highest paid media personalities in the US. He recently signed a contract through to 2016 that awards him 400 million dollars and his books regularly hit the New York Times bestseller list. His latest bit of oddballery is Rush Revere, a children's book (!) that is currently displayed prominently in the front window of every Barnes and Noble in our fair nation.
Rush Limbaugh is, like most Americans, a racist. Unlike most Americans however, Limbaugh is pretty upfront about his racism as many of his statements can attest to. "Flush Rush", an organization of which I am a proud member, has dedicated itself to ridding the airwaves of Limbaugh. "Flush Rush" has had a great deal of victories recently despite Clear Channel renewing its contract with Limbaugh. Before we lose ourselves in blissful fantasy where the world is free from Limbaugh however, let's ask a hard question: Can we really afford to lose such a blatant and necessary reminder that racism is very much alive in today's America?
More below the "McNugget."
I am a white, progressive woman who is currently living in Florida. Like most liberal women I like to consider myself as not racist. I mean, hey! I contribute all the time to the Southern Poverty Law Center! I totally support Barack Obama 100%! Well, 90% (what the hell is with all those drone strikes man?)... and I am a strong protestor of the "Stand Your Ground" law as well as the unjust imprisonment of Marisa Alexander. Plus, not to repeat an old chestnut, but some of my best friends are black as well as my colleagues at the skilled nursing facility where I work. So it's pretty obvious that I'm totally, totally not racist.
Still, I got a rather nasty shock two days ago while I was standing in line at "McDonald's." I was ordering breakfast with my two-year-old son. As I loitered by the counter waiting for the server to get our egg mcmuffins ready, my eyes passed over the other customers behind me. It was a couple of white, middle-aged guys and a younger black man with sunshades. After glancing at the younger man, I turned back towards the counter... and suddenly noticed that within a split second my right hand had gone over my purse and my left hand was beckoning my toddler to stand closer to me! It was all totally reflexive! I didn't even know I had done it! See a white guy, don't give a damn. See a black guy, COVER YOUR WALLET! PROTECT YOUR KIDDIES! BOLT THE DOOR AND INVEST IN GOLD! THE WORLD IS GOING TO HELL!
It was really distressing to see these racist reflexes in myself. After all, I am no stranger to situation of racism here in Florida considering that one of my clients had a SWAT team storm his house because his neighbor called the police after seeing my client's (black) physical therapist enter the residence.
It doesn't matter how enlightened we liberals are, we're still racist. Racism is still strong. The reflexes are still there. We automatically cover our wallets and beckon our children whenever we see a black person, and black people automatically dismiss the reflexive, protective actions white people take in their presence. It happens. Hell, just because we voted for Barack Obama doesn't make us not racist. Strip away the trappings of presidency, put Obama in a T-shirt and jeans and have him stand behind you in line at "McDonald's." I guarantee you that if you're white, you will automatically be covering your pockets as soon as you see him. You know this. Obama knows this. It was what his Trayvon Martin speech addressed. Despite reasoning behind the decision of the Roberts' Court which gutted the voting rights act, we are still a very, very racist nation.
This is why I am grateful for Rush Limbaugh. He is a big, blustery, obscene reminder that racism is here and it is not going away that easily. Oh sure, Rush has taken a few knocks over the past year or so but he's still here. He's still overpaid. He's still making his books into best sellers. He's not going anywhere soon... and that's a lesson we liberals need to take to heart. We may have Barack Obama as president. Martin Luther King Jr. may have his own holiday, but America is still racist. We must never, ever forget this.