Comments on: Where Have All the Racists Gone? http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:43:46 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jessie http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-2285 Jessie Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:50:36 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-2285 Isabel ~ I sent you a direct reply concerning the question about notification on updates to the site. In your original comment, you wrote: <i>"Probably the biggest obstacle to ending racism is the human need to remain innocent,"</i> and I agree. What I meant by that statement in the comment above about 'historical context' and 'racial innocence,' is simply that whites cannot simply ignore their/our own participation in the racial history of this country, and more broadly, in colonial racism globally. But, I do think this gets to the heart of whiteness (to play on words) here, in the sense that whites <i>do</i> want to assert their innocence in racial politics and yet, that racial innocence is not supported by the facts, and so it goes, again and again. I hope that makes sense. That's the best I can do before coffee. ;-) Isabel ~ I sent you a direct reply concerning the question about notification on updates to the site.

In your original comment, you wrote: “Probably the biggest obstacle to ending racism is the human need to remain innocent,” and I agree. What I meant by that statement in the comment above about ‘historical context’ and ‘racial innocence,’ is simply that whites cannot simply ignore their/our own participation in the racial history of this country, and more broadly, in colonial racism globally. But, I do think this gets to the heart of whiteness (to play on words) here, in the sense that whites do want to assert their innocence in racial politics and yet, that racial innocence is not supported by the facts, and so it goes, again and again.

I hope that makes sense. That’s the best I can do before coffee. ;-)

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]]> By: Isabel Adonis http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-2281 Isabel Adonis Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:21:52 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-2281 For Jessie, The larger point that Adia and Joe and I and lots of others have tried to make here is that the broader historical context of the country really stands in stark contrast to that. What do you mean by this? Isabel. For Jessie,

The larger point that Adia and Joe and I and lots of others have tried to make here is that the broader historical context of the country really stands in stark contrast to that.

What do you mean by this?

Isabel.

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]]> By: Isabel Adonis http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-2280 Isabel Adonis Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:19:51 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-2280 Apologies for not answering sooner. I thought this site would notify me of any responses. (?) I assumed there weren't any. Can you clarify this, please? Adia, What I'm saying is that we live in a racist world where race, colour, physical characteristics matter, where nationalities matter. You can't get away from that. you may do your best to take a position against that but you are part of it. We are all in it to greater or lesser degree. Now some people take a stand - the anti racists, and they identify the race problems out there, as nothing to do with them because they are the ones who are working for good. It is easy of cause to identify the Klan because they wear big hats, it is easy to see the racial slippages of celebrities. In England small children are being taken to court for racist slurs. There is a general feeling that is racist language stops then we will have rid the country of racism. Actually all that happens is that IT emerges somewhere else. The origin of racism is in the very make up of our own minds. The mechanism of the brain, the function of language is to separate one entity from another, but this is a limited function. We always separate, we can't help it and we always want to see this limitation out there, so to speak. Do you see what I mean, I wonder? Isabel. Apologies for not answering sooner. I thought this site would notify me of any responses. (?) I assumed there weren’t any. Can you clarify this, please?

Adia,
What I’m saying is that we live in a racist world where race, colour, physical characteristics matter, where nationalities matter. You can’t get away from that. you may do your best to take a position against that but you are part of it. We are all in it to greater or lesser degree.

Now some people take a stand – the anti racists, and they identify the race problems out there, as nothing to do with them because they are the ones who are working for good.

It is easy of cause to identify the Klan because they wear big hats, it is easy to see the racial slippages of celebrities. In England small children are being taken to court for racist slurs. There is a general feeling that is racist language stops then we will have rid the country of racism. Actually all that happens is that IT emerges somewhere else.

The origin of racism is in the very make up of our own minds. The mechanism of the brain, the function of language is to separate one entity from another, but this is a limited function. We always separate, we can’t help it and we always want to see this limitation out there, so to speak.

Do you see what I mean, I wonder?

Isabel.

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]]> By: Jessie http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-1766 Jessie Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:56:21 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-1766 Here's <a href="http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/03/democrats-and-t.html" rel="nofollow">one guy</a> who claims that he <i>"grew up a racist,"</i> but he distances himself from that in the present by asserting that's all in the past now. The point that Isabel makes about the desire for racial innocence is one that <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=KUDIisq-KksC&v" rel="nofollow">Shelby Steele</a> has made. I think there's something to that, white people do want to stake out the territory of "innocence" when it comes to race and racism. The larger point that Adia and Joe and I and lots of others have tried to make here is that the broader historical context of the country really stands in stark contrast to that. Here’s one guy who claims that he “grew up a racist,” but he distances himself from that in the present by asserting that’s all in the past now. The point that Isabel makes about the desire for racial innocence is one that Shelby Steele has made. I think there’s something to that, white people do want to stake out the territory of “innocence” when it comes to race and racism. The larger point that Adia and Joe and I and lots of others have tried to make here is that the broader historical context of the country really stands in stark contrast to that.

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]]> By: Matt http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-1747 Matt Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:02:54 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-1747 I agree with your overall point, Adia. I might disagree on whether Richards and Gibson are similar cases.. But mostly, I'm not sure what we gain by focusing on whether individuals are or are not racist. In my experience, though I imagine your much more experienced dealing with this sort of thing, that takes attention away from getting people to understand just what racism is. I think that's more important, so I'm content to leave judgement of the overall person alone in most cases. I agree with your overall point, Adia. I might disagree on whether Richards and Gibson are similar cases.. But mostly, I’m not sure what we gain by focusing on whether individuals are or are not racist. In my experience, though I imagine your much more experienced dealing with this sort of thing, that takes attention away from getting people to understand just what racism is. I think that’s more important, so I’m content to leave judgement of the overall person alone in most cases.

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]]> By: Adia http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-1741 Adia Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:56:36 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-1741 Isabel--you state that there are no real racists. Are you implying that there are "false" racists, or do you also argue that there are no racists at all? Isabel–you state that there are no real racists. Are you implying that there are “false” racists, or do you also argue that there are no racists at all?

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]]> By: mgs http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-1736 mgs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:24:31 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-1736 It would be great if celebrities could get racial-slur-career-destruction insurance. Then the issue could be framed as an adverse selection problem. It would be great if celebrities could get racial-slur-career-destruction insurance. Then the issue could be framed as an adverse selection problem.

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]]> By: Isabel Adonis http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/03/11/where-have-all-the-racists-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-1732 Isabel Adonis Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:14:00 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=192#comment-1732 Dear Adia, There is no line to be drawn. This is because all human problems belong to all of us. That doesn't mean to say that we are all guilty but it does mean that there is very little to separate those who use the n -word and those who don't. Probably the biggest obstacle to ending racism is the human need to remain innocent. I want to be seen as innocent and fighting racism and therefore racists are over there. They (the klansmen) on the other hand want to maintain some kind of purity and see the problem with black people. And so it goes on. There are no real racists. best Isabel. Dear Adia,

There is no line to be drawn. This is because all human problems belong to all of us. That doesn’t mean to say that we are all guilty but it does mean that there is very little to separate those who use the n -word and those who don’t.

Probably the biggest obstacle to ending racism is the human need to remain innocent. I want to be seen as innocent and fighting racism and therefore racists are over there. They (the klansmen) on the other hand want to maintain some kind of purity and see the problem with black people. And so it goes on.

There are no real racists.

best Isabel.

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