Comments on: Republican Official Admits Racism Helps Them Win Against Senator Obama http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/ Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:49:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Joe http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-7140 Joe Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:27:17 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-7140 Actually, the term "racism" was cointed for institutional racism, so in the US case only whites have created a system of racial oppression. Actually, the term “racism” was cointed for institutional racism, so in the US case only whites have created a system of racial oppression.

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]]> By: Tim Valentine http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-7139 Tim Valentine Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:52:41 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-7139 The author is only referencing the instance of racism through the more commonly known dynamics of white and black. Stop being so sensitive unless he's talking about you. The thing about racism is that it isn't racist, because anyone can be a racist or exhibit racism, regardless of their race. This is just one black guys point of view. I often write about this subject, but in a much different context, reconciliation. The author is only referencing the instance of racism through the more commonly known dynamics of white and black. Stop being so sensitive unless he’s talking about you.

The thing about racism is that it isn’t racist, because anyone can be a racist or exhibit racism, regardless of their race.

This is just one black guys point of view. I often write about this subject, but in a much different context, reconciliation.

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]]> By: adia http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2792 adia Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:48:02 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2792 Isabel: My viewpoint differs from the facts you cite--if that wording serves to better validate your statements--in that I feel whites must acknowledge the reality of their privilege, and that doing so does not, in and of itself, perpetuate unproductive differences. Rather, I believe it to be a reflection of the reality of unjust enrichment and a crucial first step to creating a more equitable society. Hope that phrasing works better for you, and does not relativise your position and disempower you while asserting some kind of pseudo scientific objectivity. Isabel: My viewpoint differs from the facts you cite–if that wording serves to better validate your statements–in that I feel whites must acknowledge the reality of their privilege, and that doing so does not, in and of itself, perpetuate unproductive differences. Rather, I believe it to be a reflection of the reality of unjust enrichment and a crucial first step to creating a more equitable society. Hope that phrasing works better for you, and does not relativise your position and disempower you while asserting some kind of pseudo scientific objectivity.

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]]> By: Isabel Adonis http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2770 Isabel Adonis Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:28:17 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2770 Adia I am glad you don't like it. I don't like it either. Neither do I like being called the n word by white people. I'm making a point that I'm one of those people you are talking about. Isabel Adia

I am glad you don’t like it. I don’t like it either. Neither do I like being called the n word by white people. I’m making a point that I’m one of those people you are talking about.

Isabel

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]]> By: Isabel Adonis http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2766 Isabel Adonis Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:13:59 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2766 Please do not be sorry for my feelings. I have "viewpoints", I have "feelings", you have the "the facts" and you face "reality". This is a standard rhetorical move to relativise my position and disempower me while asserting some kind of pseudo scientific objectivity. Nothing will change until we all learn to face the fact of our own prejudice. best Isabel Please do not be sorry for my feelings.

I have “viewpoints”, I have “feelings”, you have the “the facts” and you face “reality”.

This is a standard rhetorical move to relativise my position and disempower me while asserting some kind of pseudo scientific objectivity.

Nothing will change until we all learn to face the fact of our own prejudice.

best Isabel

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]]> By: adia http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2765 adia Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:49:54 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2765 Also, while I understand the point you are making, I also have to add that I am not comfortable with your use of the n-word. Also, while I understand the point you are making, I also have to add that I am not comfortable with your use of the n-word.

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]]> By: adia http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2764 adia Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:45:09 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2764 Isabel--I'm sorry you feel that your point of view is invalidated through this blog. Though I sometimes disagree with your arguments, this is not a disavowal of your viewpoint. Here I would just say that I do think racism is linked to those in the racial majority denying the humanity of racial others (this is in fact a crucial component of racism which is grounded in the psychological) but that I don't think pushing whites to acknowledge their privilege and take responsibility for ending an unjust system is "to separate [the relationship between whites and blacks] further through another kind of apartheid." Nor do I think that acknowledging the reality of whites' unjust enrichment, position of privilege, and immense responsibility for creating systems of racial inequality is equivalent to creating "another kind of apartheid." As a result of the racist systems of this country, whites and blacks do experience different social outcomes, opportunities, access to jobs, health and wellness, etc. I don't think that acknowledging this basic social fact perpetuates differences, I think it is simply facing reality. Socially, we aren't all equal, and I don't see how we can strive to work for equality if we can't face up to this basic fact. Please be clear--I am not invalidating your point of view here, simply pointing out where I differ. Isabel–I’m sorry you feel that your point of view is invalidated through this blog. Though I sometimes disagree with your arguments, this is not a disavowal of your viewpoint. Here I would just say that I do think racism is linked to those in the racial majority denying the humanity of racial others (this is in fact a crucial component of racism which is grounded in the psychological) but that I don’t think pushing whites to acknowledge their privilege and take responsibility for ending an unjust system is “to separate [the relationship between whites and blacks] further through another kind of apartheid.” Nor do I think that acknowledging the reality of whites’ unjust enrichment, position of privilege, and immense responsibility for creating systems of racial inequality is equivalent to creating “another kind of apartheid.” As a result of the racist systems of this country, whites and blacks do experience different social outcomes, opportunities, access to jobs, health and wellness, etc. I don’t think that acknowledging this basic social fact perpetuates differences, I think it is simply facing reality. Socially, we aren’t all equal, and I don’t see how we can strive to work for equality if we can’t face up to this basic fact. Please be clear–I am not invalidating your point of view here, simply pointing out where I differ.

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]]> By: Isabel Adonis http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2754 Isabel Adonis Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:20:31 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2754 Joe, I am very aware of racism and many other ways that society is fractured. I am not a historian, nor am I a sociologist though I know enough about the things you have mentioned. I am a person who has been all my life on the receiving end of society's definition of me. I am a nigger, I am a black, I am an ethnic minority, I am foreign, I am coffee with cream, I am mixed race. Actually I am none of these. I am merely human. Now I have found this site and I have come here to say what I think about race but from the outset I was informed that my point of view was small in relation to your big ideas. I have recieved no validation for my point of view. What I am saying is that racism is a problem of relationship between whites and blacks and this stems from our conditioning where thought is given too much importance and we are cut off from our real selves. It's a relationship that has gone wrong but the answer is not to separate it further through another kind of apartheid, no matter how well meaning. Everywhere in the world whites join up to be white and it seems that even in this anti race thing they continue to behave in the same way. Isn't it time for something different? Isabel Joe,

I am very aware of racism and many other ways that society is fractured. I am not a historian, nor am I a sociologist though I know enough about the things you have mentioned. I am a person who has been all my life on the receiving end of society’s definition of me.

I am a nigger, I am a black, I am an ethnic minority, I am foreign, I am coffee with cream, I am mixed race. Actually I am none of these. I am merely human.

Now I have found this site and I have come here to say what I think about race but from the outset I was informed that my point of view was small in relation to your big ideas. I have recieved no validation for my point of view.

What I am saying is that racism is a problem of relationship between whites and blacks and this stems from our conditioning where thought is given too much importance and we are cut off from our real selves.

It’s a relationship that has gone wrong but the answer is not to separate it further through another kind of apartheid, no matter how well meaning.

Everywhere in the world whites join up to be white and it seems that even in this anti race thing they continue to behave in the same way.

Isn’t it time for something different?

Isabel

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]]> By: Joe http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2732 Joe Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:25:20 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2732 Indeed, we are all trapped within a system of racial oppression, no matter who we are. This particular US system of human oppression was initially created (and mostly run at the top since) by those who self-named themselves as "whites" and who named those they exploited and oppressed as "black," "Indian," "Hispanic," and other names, including all the major racist epithets. The white-created system also included economic exploitation to create great white wealth from Indian lands and Black labor, and later from the labor of other people of color. Whites certainly had some volunteer help in this process, but much of the help has been, to a significant degree, coerced. Thus, as I see it, there is plenty of room for all kinds of resistance to and dismantling of this system of racial oppression. In all kinds of psychological and structural places. Historically, and strikingly, most of the large-scale societal resistance has come from African Americans and other Americans of color. These anti-racism movements have brought most of the change in the system of racism so far. A sad, and critical, feature of resistance, however, is that almost all "whites" have almost always resisted that anti-racism resistance, and even whites who are uncomfortable with the system of racism today will not, or do not know how to, help to bring it down. One need now is to encourage caring whites to intervene against racist thought, commentary, and action where only they can do so. Almost all caring whites are afraid to do that intervention out of various fears, and/or do not know how to do so. Tasking whites with action does not mean that there is no need for Americans of color, and whites, to counter racism in all other arenas of this society. We all, including Americans of color, must grapple with the demons and frames of racism that occupy our own heads, as Baldwin eloquently accents. The anti-racism tasks are complex and long term, and even those who fight racism actively cannot escape its profound effects. Indeed, we are all trapped within a system of racial oppression, no matter who we are.

This particular US system of human oppression was initially created (and mostly run at the top since) by those who self-named themselves as “whites” and who named those they exploited and oppressed as “black,” “Indian,” “Hispanic,” and other names, including all the major racist epithets. The white-created system also included economic exploitation to create great white wealth from Indian lands and Black labor, and later from the labor of other people of color. Whites certainly had some volunteer help in this process, but much of the help has been, to a significant degree, coerced.

Thus, as I see it, there is plenty of room for all kinds of resistance to and dismantling of this system of racial oppression. In all kinds of psychological and structural places. Historically, and strikingly, most of the large-scale societal resistance has come from African Americans and other Americans of color. These anti-racism movements have brought most of the change in the system of racism so far.

A sad, and critical, feature of resistance, however, is that almost all “whites” have almost always resisted that anti-racism resistance, and even whites who are uncomfortable with the system of racism today will not, or do not know how to, help to bring it down.
One need now is to encourage caring whites to intervene against racist thought, commentary, and action where only they can do so. Almost all caring whites are afraid to do that intervention out of various fears, and/or do not know how to do so.

Tasking whites with action does not mean that there is no need for Americans of color, and whites, to counter racism in all other arenas of this society. We all, including Americans of color, must grapple with the demons and frames of racism that occupy our own heads, as Baldwin eloquently accents. The anti-racism tasks are complex and long term, and even those who fight racism actively cannot escape its profound effects.

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]]> By: links for 2008-04-25 at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/04/23/republican-officials-admit-racism-helps-them-win-against-senator-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2730 links for 2008-04-25 at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:39:20 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=250#comment-2730 [...] Republican Official Admits Racism Helps Them Win Against Senator Obama - racismreview.com “I was talking the other day to a prominent Republican who asked me what I thought John McCain’s strongest issues would be in the general election… “Race. McCain runs against Barack Obama and the race vote is worth maybe 15 percent to McCain.” (tags: barackobama racism) [...] [...] Republican Official Admits Racism Helps Them Win Against Senator Obama – racismreview.com “I was talking the other day to a prominent Republican who asked me what I thought John McCain’s strongest issues would be in the general election… “Race. McCain runs against Barack Obama and the race vote is worth maybe 15 percent to McCain.” (tags: barackobama racism) [...]

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