Opinion: Tim Wise: What is post-racial? Reflections on denial and reality
Editor’s note: Tim Wise is the author of six books on race, including his most recent: Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority. He tweets at @timjacobwise.
By Tim Wise, Special to CNN
(CNN) - Being asked to describe what “post-racial” means is a bit like being asked to describe a leprechaun, cold fusion or unicorns: we know what is meant, but, if we are willing to be honest, we also know that none of the four describe something real, something tangible, something true.
To me, “post-racial” is little more than a nonsense term devised by people (mostly white, frankly), who would simply rather not deal with the ever-present reality of racism and ongoing racial discrimination.
It is a diversion, intended to paper over the divisions that have long roiled our nation, and continue to do so today.
Though some sincerely believe this describes America’s reality– especially since a man of color was elected president - the illogic of believing this signals the veritable death of racism should be apparent: after all, we certainly wouldn’t claim that sexism and patriarchy had been smashed in Pakistan, India, Great Britain, Israel or the Philippines just because they all have elected women as heads of state.
Perceptions of discrimination a black and white story
To believe that the United States is post-racial requires an almost incomprehensible inability or unwillingness to stare truth in the face.
How can we be post-racial, after all, when the typical white family has 20 times the net worth of the typical black family, and 18 times that of the typical Latino family?
How can we be post-racial when studies find that even white men with criminal records are more likely to be called back for job interviews than black men without them, even when all other credentials and personal characteristics are indistinguishable?
How can we be post-racial when evidence suggests that the lightest-skinned immigrants earn roughly 17% more than the darkest-skinned immigrants, even when qualifications and levels of productivity are the same?
How can we be post-racial when Asian Americans, Latinos and blacks with college degrees are anywhere from one-third more likely to nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as their white counterparts? When schools serving mostly students of color are more than ten times as likely to be places of concentrated poverty, and far more likely to have the least experienced teachers?
How can we be post-racial when people of color continue to be so disproportionately targeted by our nation’s drug laws?
Although whites use drugs just as often as blacks (and more often than Latinos), it is people of color who comprise nearly 90% of persons incarcerated for a drug possession offense. And it is people of color who are disproportionately stopped and searched for drugs and other illegal contraband, even though they are no more likely (and sometimes less likely) to be in possession of such items than whites are.
How can we be post-racial, when presidential candidates are either too afraid to raise these issues publicly, for fear of voter backlash (as with the Democratic incumbent), or willing to shamelessly exploit racial anxieties and resentments (as with at least one of the primary Republican challengers) by calling President Obama the “food stamp” president, or suggesting that poor black kids have “no habits of work” and should be made to clean their own schools as janitors?
This, despite the fact that most people in poor communities do work, and black teenage unemployment rates (now well over 40 percent) reflect only those black teens who are searching for jobs, and thus, by definition already have a solid work ethic, lacking only the opportunities to put that ethic into practice.
Sadly, the claims of America’s equanimity and post-raciality are not really new.
Even in the early 1960s, before the passage of civil rights legislation, at a time when we were still a formal apartheid state, polls found that a vast majority percent of whites already believed that blacks had just as good a chance to obtain a good job, housing or a good education as we or our children did.
In other words, white denial - one might say, delusion - on the matter of the nation’s racial reality has been longstanding.
It’s hard to say when or if we will actually arrive at that place called “post-racial”, or, better yet, post-racism.
But until whites begin naming streets in our neighborhoods after Martin Luther King, and naming the schools that our children attend after him (rather than fearing that such a designation might signify that our kids attend a “ghetto school”), I know for certain we are not “post-racial” yet.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Tim Wise.
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
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A STATISTIC HAVE SHOWN THAT WHITES USE MARIJUANA AT A RATE OF 47% HIGHER THAN BLACKS, BUT THERE IS 4 TIMES MORE BLACKS IN JAIL FOR MARIJUANA USE.
THIS IS JUST REALITY AND FACT, RACISM EXIST IN THE USA.....
Of course, this assumes the survey or the people weren't biased.
Maybe whites are better at hiding it for some reason? Maybe where and how it's used differs. Whether racism does or doesn't exist is a valid discussion, but your statement by itself is proof of nothing.
.Racism continues existing in the USA and now it is more toward Latinos. You just have to watch TV, any talk on TV or movie there is no Latinos there. Hollywood is another example where Latinos are not present in movies. Even on Political discussions on TV there are no Latinos participating in a panel of discussion regarding current events in this country.
That is racism .
OK Racism continues existing in the USA and now it is more toward Latinos. You just have to watch TV, any talk on TV or movie there is no Latinos there. Hollywood is another example where Latinos are not present in movies. Even on Political discussions on TV there are no Latinos participating in a panel of discussion regarding current events in this country.
HOW WILL THE SURVEY BE BIAS??
I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do about it? I'm white, but not in a position of authority (employer, government, or otherwise), so what exactly do you want me to do about racism? Frankly, I've got my own problems to worry about, and to me at least, these problems are far more important than yours or anyone else's problems....even if your problem is racism. Sorry, but that is just a fact. I look out for my own family first, and then my close friends, and then society in general. I just don't have the time to worry about your problems.
@mslman71
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH "HIDING" IT WELL.
POLICE ARE JUST MORE LIKELY TO STOP A BLACK GUY BECAUSE OF HIS SKIN COLOR.
Racism exist now more than ever, this time it is whites and asians who are racist against Blacks and Latinos. Just to any China town in this country and you will see the greedy Asians how racist they act towards other monorities.
It may not be right but cops are going to pull over the car thats all jacked up with spinners, blasting their music so everyone can hear it and to guys looking like they have something to hide over a white kid in nissan. Tone down the gangsta imagine and people (cops) wont be so pron to pull you over.
How will it be biased? Don't you mean, how could it have been biased?
Aside from the fact that you don't cite your source, one must truly take a statistically meaningful sampling of the population. For example, age groups, economic status, criminal record, gender, region, education, etc all play in role in peoples' behavior. Each of those may also have an affect on whether or not the people asked respond truthfully.
Again, without any sort of citation I'm just supposed to take your word for it, both in terms of the actual number and the validity of the study or studies you claim to have gotten this information from?
Rather, "have an effect."
Your statistics are silly. I'll share some with you though....Blacks make up only 12.2% of the population in the US yet they make up 37.2% of the welfare recipients! That must be racism to! Why can't more white people be on welfare since they are the majority of the population?? Lets give black free money because if we don't we'll be racist. Let give blacks everything because if we don't we must be racist.
And over 50% of the robbers, rapists and murders.
Do you have a source for that claim? It sounds highly dubious to me. The majority of people on welfare are women. The program is designed to benefit women with children, so your claim strikes me as untrue.
RTB, it's not too far off. In terms of total percentages on welfare, there are more whites receiving welfare than blacks. In terms of percentage of the population from each race the rate is much higher for blacks. These data are available are government web sites, though they are hard to bring together because 'welfare' is a rather generic term. Some receive more housing assistance, some food, and so on, and from what I've seen they are recorded differently by different agencies.
So, now I'm confused. Are you talking about traffic stops and marijuana or overall use by race? Or are you just mixing them up randomly to make whatever point you're interested in making?
WE ARE HIRE IN WELFARE BECAUSE COMPANIES PREFER TO HIRE WHITES WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD COMPARED TO BLACKS WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD.
YOU CAN PUT YOUR HEADS IN THE SAND FOR ALL I CARE, BUT THIS IS THE REALITY OF THE USA AND WE WILL BE FIGHTING AGAINST IT.
Care you to cite your source for this revelation?
No sources for this data, again, but, people do like to grasp at any excuse for how and why they live their life the way they do. Maybe the employers want someone who can type in something other than all capitol letters, Hmmmm?
@mslman71
YOU HAVE TWO HANDS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. GOOGLE IS VERY EASY TO USE.
It doesn't work that way Jugg. You make a claim involving numbers _you_ cite your sources. This is how it works everywhere that people have healthy and useful debates that go behind rants and ad hominem statements.
GOOGLE IS VERY EASY TO USE, FEEL FREE TO TRY IT 🙂
Generally when people are sure and have good data to back up their claims they are eager to demonstrate that what they are saying has gone through rigorous vetting and analysis and has stood the test of critics. When people just run off at the mouth throwing out numbers because it's convenient for whatever point they want to make they'll fall back on the critic being lazy because he or she didn't go verify their statement for them.
In layman's terms, I think you're full of cr*p. It's a shame, because I'm more than willing to believe legitimate results, but I'm not going to do your homework for you. Your statements have no credibility.
Try using the caps lock key as well.
You're not "hire" in getting HIRED because no one wants an ignorant ghetto monkey for an employee.
Maybe if you had stayed in school and gone to a HIGHER grade than the third you would understand that?
Dude, don't you have some business to take care of on Stormfront? A person makes a typo and your ignorant, racist talons come out. Couldn't deal with the facts I guess.
Your on welfare because you have the majority of you kids out of wedlock, with no father even in the picture, you drop out of high school at alarming rates, and because you try to emmulate the rappers on TV, who are probably the worse role models imaginable. This is not for all African-Americans, just the one defending this post and article.
@mslman71
MOST MARIJUANA USER ARE FOUND OUT AFTER R"ROUTINE" TRAFFIC STOP. SINCE WHITES ARE NOT BEING PROFILE THEY RARELY GET STOP, SO EVEN THOUGH THEY USE MARIJUANA MORE, THEY ARE RARELY FOUND OUT.
GET IT YET, GENIUS??? LMAO
Then how do you know the usage rate of marijuana by whites if they are never stopped and/or searched?
Again, you didn't cite your sources so I have no idea if you are referring to marijuana use as determined by survey, by criminal prosecution, or by traffic stops. If it is by either of the last two then how could you possibly know what the usage rate is by whites if they aren't investigated?
DUDE, AGAIN YOU CAN GOOGLE IT YOURSELF.
THE NUMBER ARE FOUND BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GO IN COURT. BLACK GET SENTENCED WHILE WHITES GET AWAY WITH IT.
KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND IT WONT MATTER.
IF YOU ARE NOT SCARE OF THE TRUTH THEN: GOOGLE IT, GOOGLE IT, GOOGLE IT 🙂
That's not what you said, you said "whites use marijuana at a rate 47% higher than..."
Your critical reasoning and debate skill stink. Work on it. You're rants will carry a lot more weight if you can add some meat to back them up.
Juggernaut, you clearly don't know how debates work. The burden of proof is on the one making the claim. You are claiming these stats are true. It's up to you to provide the sources. It isn't our job to go search out the sources. If you are going to claim any random statistic, YOU have to be willing to back it up. Otherwise, nobody will pay any attention to what you have to say.
I doubt Juggernaut will cite sources.. He believes that typing in caps is enough..
Instead of ranting, state ANY source for your statics other than this pitiful article
Every think that whites are just smarter at not getting caught? And because possesion is a lesser charge the selling.
I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do about it? I'm white, but not in a position of authority (employer, government, or otherwise), so what exactly do you want me to do about racism? Frankly, I've got my own problems to worry about, and to me at least, these problems are far more important than yours or anyone else's problems....even if your problem is racism. Sorry, but that is just a fact. I look out for my own family first, and then my close friends, and then society in general.
You can learn about your history and you can understand what racism is and what it isn't and call it out when you see it. That's what you can do. White racism needs to be handled by white people. I'm not going to change anyone's mind. Dr. King couldn't even do it. The racist in the south changed by force of law because they had no choice. It's going to take more people like Tim Wise to stand up and tell the truth, to call people out – even if they get mad. When you see or hear racism call it out.
A STATISTIC HAVE SHOWN THAT WHITES USE MARIJUANA AT A RATE OF 47% HIGHER THAN BLACKS, BUT THERE IS 4 TIMES MORE BLACKS IN JAIL FOR MARIJUANA USE.
THIS IS JUST REALITY AND FACT, RACISM EXIST IN THE USA...
You still haven't responded. To be taken seriously you have to tell the source of your statistics. So please let us know, we're all waiting.
Just Unbelievable.
Of the comments I read in this thread before I just got too disgusted to continue, 70% claimed there was no racism then went on to blame those da*m blacks for all their own problems, and 20% somehow managed to blame the Jews, which were not even mentioned in the article. Apart from that very few 10% of semi-same people... the rest of you should be fu*king nerve-gassed.
To the 90%, go look in a mirror. What you see is what is wrong with America
Do you have the numbers on what percentage of internet statistics are completely made up?
Gaunt wants to mass-murder those who disagree, and it's Whites and "racism" that are dangerous?
He didn't say he wanted to do it, he said those ignoramuses should be gassed.
i cant wait till these white baby boomers start dying. and yes you whites are evil and sinister. i see it everyday. the cancer of this planet, most of you hide everything behind closed doors as if theirr no God
Rose, were you ever a slave or in the civil rights movement. If not, have a hot cup of Zip your uneducated Lip
You have led a very sheltered and short life. Have you ever had confrontation that did not offend you? I doubt it.
As soon as these white baby boomers start dying i'll be so much happy. But alot of whites are really evil and sinister and have no clue, when it's your world you never have a clue.
Excuse me while I polish my horns and sharpen my pitch fork.
I know. I guess Im just a blue eyed devil like they say.
Hoping that white people die, huh? You should be ashamed of yourself. You sound like a DIRTY racist
It's so sad how any anonymous discussion of race quickly devolves into name calling and such.
Read your own post to explain evil & sinister
Dan you are targeting me. how sinister
Aren't you just a get along kind of gal. Wishing entire segments of the population dead....heard of a guy you might like to read about.....went by the name of Hitler. But, for some reason, I am sure that you will have a wonderful EXCUSE for advocating Genocide
Really, I have watched your kind ruin my world for years! It will even be greater when you race kills itself off completely!
Roe v. Wade: the greatest gift to America we could imagine. Millions of Blacks eliminating their own children.
Any single person who claims they are not racist to some degree is a liar. Fact.
I'm single, and people that end sentences in "fact" are morons.
Right. Well, you're a moron. Fact. Suck it.
PS Since you made a ridiculous assumption that I am a moron, let me just also assume that since your name is Rosie, you must be obese. And I guarantee my assumption is far closer to the truth than your assumption.
Black or White
ANOTHER STATS SHOWS THAT A WHITE GUY """""WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD""""" HAS 17% CHANCE TO GET A CALL BACK FOR A JOB.
WHILE A BLACK GUY """"""WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD"""" ONLY HAS 14% CHANCE.
SO PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO HIRE A WHITE CRIMINAL, OVER A LAW ABIDING BLACK CITIZEN.
I actually had an opposite experience. I was passed over for a mc job by a convicted rapist who happened to be black. The problem with the stats is they are skewed. How many of these white people actually had a better job history.
What percentage of each filled out the application with better handwriting? graduated from a school or did some college? Did they dress up like thugs during the interview? Did they speak in a clear and concise voice? Were they friendly?
The stats show no real bearing because of the variables. Also what crimes. Crime is a pretty broad spectrum to view.
Dang. I nearly spat out my coffee when I read that. I hope that it is not true. What a sad place we live in....
I wouldn't put much stock in this guy's numbers. He throws them out and doesn't provide any reference to back them up and doesn't qualify them based on any set of criteria, which is how anyone who actually did the research (original source) would present it. There is very little to be learned by black v white statistics used in this way.
Maybe the black and white racists should stop the name calling and try to find a way to just live together as people. There are evil whites and evil blacks.
If we do not put all of this behind us, when will we? Yes I am white and yes some whites are outright bigots, but those are the minority.
Juggernaut, where are you getting all these neat statistics? I would like to look them up so I can quote them in all caps and seem very important .... 🙂
ANOTHER STATS SHOWS THAT A WHITE GUY """""WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD""""" HAS 17% CHANCE TO GET A CALL BACK FO A JOB.
WHILE A BLACK GUY """"""WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD"""""" ONLY HAS 14% CHANCE.
SO PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO HIRE A WHITE CRIMINAL, OVER A LAW ABIDING BLACK CITIZEN.
Its in all caps so it must be true.
ANOTHER STATS SHOWS THAT A WHITE GUY """""WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD""""" HAS 17% CHANCE TO GET A CALL BACK FOR A JOB.
WHILE A BLACK GUY """"""WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD"""""" ONLY HAS 14% CHANCE.
SO PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO HIRE A WHITE CRIMINAL, OVER A LAW ABIDING BLACK CITIZEN.
I would, however, call back the black guy who doesn't type in ALL CAPS.
Evidence, please.
And this data was compiled how? What source, other than this article is there? And if there is another source, how in the world did they obtain what is very confidential information from what companies?
Oh look, it's the guilty white guy who makes a living writing books about racism!
I wonder how he's going to explain all of these diverse and complex social issues. Maybe he won't find a major link to white racism at all, thereby putting himself out of a job. Do you think?
The suspense is killing me!
Dear CNN: You know what I'd like to see? A series of articles that focus on how people are rising above racism instead of an article almost every day focusing on the fact that racism is still happening. As many have pointed out, racism isn't simply a human characteristic and it's not going away any time soon. So... let's present articles that talk about ways to stop racism and teach the next generation how to be less racist.
Oh... and tell the author to get his facts straight. There are a lot of streets named after Martin Luther King Jr in the US. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_streets_named_after_Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
I'd have to ask... did the author actually research all of his facts beforehand or make assumptions?
I think it's called post-racial because there are afro americans who are billionaires and millionaires. They are just as abu sive and condes cending as other rich folks. They drive flashy cars and live in fancy houses. They do dru gs just as well as the rich folks. Some afro american stars even portray themselves as blonde. They also show bigo try to people of other races, e.g. asians and latinos.
There have always been black millionaires going back to the 19th century. The first black millionaire was Madame C.J. Walker. You can read about the black upper crust in the book "Our Kind of People" by Lawrence Otis Graham, who is a member of that class. Blacks having money, lots of it, is nothing new. We can be found in every class. Even those monied families back then had to deal with racism, but less so because their money, their clubs, their schools allowed them to avoid it more than lower class black people.
A STATISTIC HAVE SHOWN THAT WHITES USE MARIJUANA AT A RATE OF 47% HIGHER THAN BLACKS, BUT THERE IS 4 TIMES MORE BLACKS IN JAIL FOR MARIJUANA USE.
THIS IS JUST REALITY AND FACT, RACISM EXIST IN THE USA.
Again I request you post what your source for this information is?
The saddest things I ever heard relating to race growing up is seeing black parents teaching there kids they don't have a chance in the world because they are black... Nice job rearing a race hating slacker of a child...Makes me sick parents sabotaging there children like that. As I teach I my kids; people come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Those who see it any differently have some real insecurity issues.
I have NEVER heard of any black parents telling their kids such a thing. Many black parents do tell their children to expect to encounter racism. They do that for the same reason Jewish parents tell their children to expect anti-Semtism. Because they want their children to be prepared and they don't want them blind sided or unaware that there is bias they'll have to confront in society. It doesn't mean that they're telling their kids that all whites are racists, but it does mean they want their kids to be on their guard. When it's someone white protectively clutching their purse when passing a black man, everyoe's supposed to understand that that's not racisl hostility, just an unfortunate but supposedly necessary precaution. But when black parents warn their children about being judged unfairly and being treated differently, that's somehow an accusation against all whites. It is funny how the exact same behavior elicits different responses depending on whether you are the person whose individuality is being disregarded.
I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do about it? I'm white, but not in a position of authority (employer, government, or otherwise), so what exactly do you want me to do about racism? Frankly, I've got my own problems to worry about, and to me at least, these problems are far more important than yours or anyone else's problems....even if your problem is racism. Sorry, but that is just a fact. I look out for my own family first, and then my close friends, and then society in general. Your complaint falls into the latter category, I'm afraid.
This pessimistic article profits from perpetuating racism in America.
For all those young impressionable youths who may be reading from this site – ignore it and continue living your vibrant young lives with your wonderful interracial friends.
Good job CNN for CUTTING EDGE JOURNALISM. Highly unsuspected that you would publish a piece this GROUNDBREAKING. BTW, ever do a piece on reverse racism? Nevermind. Don't want to confuse you with the truth.
In essence what I got from this piece is that Whites should be ashamed of themselves, feel guilty, grovel to minorities, and give away their money to them.
One last thing. It is laughable that the author wants to infer that Asians have it so tough in America. In fact, they are the most grateful for the opportunity to be here, they have the family structure held in place to have strict guidelines in parenting and an enormous sense of pride and work ethic. Asians make more money and score higher than whites on testing.
Seriously, last thing. More whites are on welfare than blacks...sorry, confusing you with the truth again.
Sure, Asians , especially Asian women are grateful to live becuse they can married a white man for his money,
You liberals are really a braindead group of people. It's truly a mental disorder when you try and pretend things that are real, simply don't exist. Race being the biggest elephant in the room. Race is a reality you just cant deny no matter how many books some Jew writes about it. Go look at Israel and the Palestinians, even the ones telling you multiculturalism is great, don't believe it. Wake up.
Do you love your country?
The please, do the kindest, noblest, most productive thing you could do for your country.
Go take a bath with a plugged in toaster. Your country will thank you.
That's about all I expected from a braindead lemming
No, I was serious. You are a fu*king plague. You rant about how there is no racism while calling out 'the jew' who wrote the article. You honestly have no value alive whatsoever. Dead you could fertilize some plants or something, small value, but better than now.
Gaunt shows us the jackbooted thug, struggling to break free, inside "tolerant post-racial" people.
Being white is awesome.
Unbelievable.
Of the comments I read in this thread before I just got too disgusted to continue, 70% claimed there was no racism then went on to blame those da*m blacks for all their own problems, and 20% somehow managed to blame the Jews, which were not even mentioned in the article. Apart from that very few 10% of semi-same people... the rest of you should be fu*king nerve-gassed.
To the 90%, go look in a mirror. What you see is what is wrong with America.
Gaunt shows us the tolerant caring face of "post-racial" America: disagree with Gaunt and he wants to have you gassed to death.
Tim Wise is anything but!
I feel that racismn is a passed down heirloom from a previous time that most have lived in. As an African American
I become appalled at those who profiteer in any way on the question of race. I feel that as African Americans we have forgot truly what our ancestors have fought for lets look at statistically how many of us vote too few. How many of believe that there is some government conspiracy out to get us so we dont fill ou the census for better communities far too few. How many of will listed to Alex Jones and the John Birch society or read unofficial stories of past presidents for reasons not to vote far too many. How many of us cite religious reasoning for a reasno not to vote far too many. Taking a step futher as African Americans why do you think that the Jehova Witness Temple and Nation Of Islam temples are soley based in your community to nulify and surpress your vote. If people in power or people with a voice continue to tell you "your vote means nothing". You will continue to see your conditions the way they are. We are our own worst enemy to the masogony we see on BET to the no snitch policy we employ in far too many of our communities
and not everything is racism. Look at the welfare system it's set up to promote famity failure have as many kids as you want get a check easy proposition right. Or what about the section 8 program where a father cannot live in the home and if he does you loose your assistance. We as people of color have to take a really hard look in the mirror before we judge anyone else as racist or prejudice because we have shown a much strong propensity to hate ourself
There is not such a thing as "post racial". Racism is very much alive and real in this country and as long as you have any political party banking on the "race card" it will never diminish, not one bit. I can't keep count as to the number of long time friends of mine who are of the "other" party who have continually sent me e-mails that can only be described as very ugly racist in nature. Since an African American has been elected as our President they and many, many others now feel safe in venting their racial hatred as long as it is cloaked in a political environmental message. Racism is just that and I wished someone could excise the poison from our society.
Yes, some people do profit from racism, but they are not the cause of it. Look, there is no reason that whites should use an illegal drug at a higher rate than blacks but that blacks should be imprisoned for it at 4 times the rate of whites. Nothing about "playing the race card" excuses that kind of disparate treatment.
JUST BY READING SOME OF THE RACIST COMMENT ON CNN ANYTIME A BLACK GUY IS ON IT SHOWS THAT RACISM IS TILL ALIVE AND WELL IN THE USA.
FINALLY PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO WAKE UP ND SEE THAT RACISM IS STILL RAMPANT IN THE USA.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS JUST 8% AMONG WHITES AND 19% AMONG BLACKS.
Awwww. What happened to all the times a black got the job he was NOT qualified for over a white that was well-qualified because they whined and got a law passed!
Please read "A History of Affirmative Action," by Philip Rubio
you are from Dallas, Tx and you are racist, so it is no wonder that your view is so narrow.
Well, the statistics are actually higher. But, you need to input another percentage....those actually looking for a job. And how about another statistic. Per capita, how many on welfare, and for how long
There are so many wrong with this, but the one thing that Mr. Wise has right is his point; post-racial is an idea that we cannot achieve. I grew up in the 90s, and back then they decided to cure the "race issue" by preaching to us kids that everybody is the same. Rather than explain that everyone is different and that being different is ok, the focus was on brainwashing kids into thinking that race just wasn't a thing.
Race relations today has that same issue. Many misinformed people want to move towards a society where we don't "see race". Seriously? Why would we want to move towards a culture where we pretend something isn't there. You can throw out all the statistics you want about economic differences along racial lines, but that's only fuel for a fire that you say you're trying to put out. We should instead be moving towards saying ya, we're different, but so what, it happens. I believe there is one way to move the conversation forward, and that is by focusing on culture. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian are all cultures that people of various races identify with today, not races of people. The discussion should be focused on the differences that these cultures encounter.
I find it disturbing that most comments here try to hush the reality of racism. Racism is alive and well, thank you for asking, and pretending that it is not there won't make it go away. As far as the hate that Mr. Wise calls from the conservative commentors in this article, wake up and smell the coffee, please! The Christian right in America is all about imposing beliefs on others, whether if it is on abortion, gay rights, and up until 30 years ago, on race as well. There is no mistery here. Why can't we talk about it? Why can't we accept that the only hate we have left in America is the one coming from conservatives, trying to impose inefficient ideology ("trickle down"? Really????) and religious "values" that none has asked for
Sure its alive and WELL – the blacks keep it up because they get what they want whining about it!
Exactly what do blacks get as a rewrd for pointing out racism? A higher rate of incarceration, a higher rate of unemployment? Where are these supposed benefits?
The fact that you have this resentment against black people (who according to you, they "get what they want" with their whinning, is proof that racism is alive and well. At least in you. And we all know that Texas is not really where tolerance was born in this country.....
A STATISTIC HAVE SHOWN THAT WHITES USE MARIJUANA AT A RATE OF 47% HIGHER THAN BLACKS, BUT THERE IS 4 TIMES MORE BLACKS IN JAIL FOR MARIJUANA USE.
THIS IS JUST REALITY AND FACTS, RACISM EXIST IN THE USA.
Really? Please state your source
One source: http://blog.norml.org/2009/04/10/who-are-you-us-government-statistics-on-adult-marijuana-users/
That would be a great question to ask at the GOP debate. Do you believe racism still exists today, and if it does what is your way of dealing with it?
Not really that great of article as everyone is saying. What part of your body did you pull your statistics from? I guess this article served the authors purpose. A bunch of uneducated pats on the backs from many and a slight ego boost for Mr. Tim Wise. Funny the article and books on race comes from a white man (Mr. Tim Wise) as well ( so you can obviously see the begging of acceptance from the opposite races this guy is clammering for).
You have all been had.
Ashley Montagu disspelled the notion of "race" back in the 50s. Read his book "Man's Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race."
Funny enough, the zi0nist jews who continually promote multiracialism dont even believe it themselves. Have them write an article on their beloved Israel and you'll see their ideology flip flop quickly.
black women should not be allowed to dye their hair blonde or wear a blonde wig. I dont think you realize how bad your made fun of.
No truer statement!! I don't know why they want to – it looks horrible!
Please go away.
George,
You are a tool and prove beyond a shadow of doubt that racism is alive and well in the United States. We all bleed the same color George, we are all members of the same human race. You should thank God that people are not judged by their lack or moral character or their IQ – because then too, you would know what it feels like to be made "less thank" simply because of the color of your skin or the size of your bank account.
I believe the relevant quote is that there are "lies, damned lies, and statistics". All this gentlemen does is throw statistics at you. Where did they come from? Are they reliable? Are there other statistics that say differently? For that matter, say all he's saying is true. Notice what this gentlemen and all race-mongers avoid. Statistics that show that Asians tend to outperform whites in many ways. Are they some rigging "they system" to work in their favor? Sorry, you can't just quote statistics and say, I'm done. You have to provide more evidence. Given that most people are no longer racist, I'd say we've come a long way.
100% of Americans are racist. It doesn't matter what their race is. Why is that so hard for you and everyone else to admit.
That is an untrue statment.
Y'know – there are some things about Tim Wise' own ethnicity that people should be informed of – namely that he has rarely if ever (to my recollection) discussed the plight of Palestinians in the Middle East. Gee – wonder what that could mean? Take one wild guess!
Why does CNN publish garbage like this? It is factually incorrect and spews the same old leftest non-sense of Wise's generation.
Unfortunately, as long as we keep referring to each other as "Africa-Americans," "Hispanic-Americans," "Iranian-Americans," "Whites," etc... we will always – low and behold = be identifiable by our skin color alone and be classified as 'different.'
I feel bad for racist. In the next 10 years the majority of americans are going to be mixed. Its been found that 95% of the babies born last year are mixed. The old way will soon be nonsense our desendants will feel shame for
I agree that a mixed America is where we are heading. I doubt 95% last year were mixed babies. Can you post your site with this information?
And for whatever reason a mixed race wouldn't turn out like you would want. As all of the mixed race's skin would continue to lighten up.
But thank God not in my family!
Joe Im sure it wont all be roses but nowadays dont we feel shame for our slavery roots and associations in every race. Slaves have been every color in the rainbow if im not mistaken.
The problem isn't with the race itself, but the culture of that race.
Exactly....
In other words, you and Stonesrule have a problem with other cultures than your own.
This is called "ethnocentrism."
And based on sociology, is a natural behavior.
And perhaps with the notion that one ethnic group can be judged in its entirety by another.
Too True, and not every member, of any race, can be put into one basket.....
+1
I don't even think it is the culture of the race. It is the rap/hip hop "movement." I have talked to a lot of African Americans from last generation and most of them think their younger generations aren't nothing but criminals.(a big % at least) Most rap/hip hot is caustic on youth, and all of these big artist that spread this disease are just making it worse on their own people. But not just their own people, but Americans.(and people in other countries I assume)
Blame the Music!
So far from the truth! Be sure you know and understand something before you tell untruths. It really makes you look bad.
Well lets see. People vote on skin color. Well some do. 90% of african americans vote for obama. Republicans knew that was going to happen it will happen again no matter what the republicans do. You actually saw white americans vote across the race line. That just goes to show who the more racist group of people is in America. Its actually not the White people.
So you agree with the author, there is racism in America. You believe it is just blacks who are the racists and not whites. The author would argue that maybe everyone is racist. As soon as minorities take control of government, we will see if whites embrace it with open arms. Sounds like you will think that you are going to be discriminated against because you are white. You might even assume it. Will you enjoy living in America with non-white leaders? Do you know if that affects how you feel every day when you wake up?
Your claim is simply a lie. Jimmy carter and Bill Clinton got exactly the same percentage of the black vote as Obama did – 90%. At the presidential level, black people vote overwhelmingly Democratic. That's just a fact. And your claim that black people "vote skin color" is disproven by the inability of virtually any black Republican to get black support. Alan Keyes, Michael Steele, that nut from the Tea Party in Florida – all have lost over 87% of the black vote to white Democrats.
This is a pretty good point. I know I am white and I voted for Obama. Not because he was black. But because of his beliefs. We really need more people to be color blind.
That is fact that can be backed up, check all the polls and do the research…it happened and they were proud of it…shameful to vote only on color.
The premise you are operating under if flawed…. You seem to be suggesting that African Americans voted for President Obama simply because he is perceived as black. (His mother was white and racist mentality that ensures he is considered Black is another discussion)
African Americans voted for this President like many Democrats before him because they find no answers or responsiveness for the GOP policies or candidates…i.e., Mr. Gingrich who referred to Spanish as a language of the ghetto or implied that African Americans demand food stamps instead of jobs. Simply ridiculous!
Well it may be true that Carter and Clinton all received a substancial amount of votes from minorities. Thats a given since the republican party is primarily old white educated americans. I am not old but I vote on my beliefs and not only 1 issue. That is the major problem with America, they find one thing to believe in and vote solely on that issue. People need to pay attention to more than one issue and look at the majority of the views before voting thats all I am saying.
I (A Black) voted for Obama because I thought he was the best choice. I had hoped that he could bring the country together but the feeling appear to be to RAW. I don't wear baggy pants I work a 40 hour job, A I love the country I was born in (This ONE) But Racism is alive and well. some of the comments written here just goes to prove it.
I'm tired of people that are dressed like thugs getting all up in arms about profiling. If you have a gold grill, wear baggy pants, and listen to loud rap music expect to get pulled over. Successful blacks and hispanics don't look like hoodlums.
What does that have to do with tis article?
Everything.
We should all be able and allowed to wear anything we want on our own time. This is what racism is about. Its keeping people from being themselves because of stereotypes that we all know are not true in every case. Plenty of straight laced conservatives are psychotic child raping serial killers. Were all snowflakes man.
No doubt. There is a flip side to the :issue pf racism in America and that is the fact that blacks get around 600%-800% more home invasion, armed robbery, murder, rape, etc.
BUT, no one EVER wants to discuss that problem on CNN do they?
Do a Google search for COLOR OF CRIME and get some hard statistics on this point.
Sadly, your comment is true.
"should be made to clean their own schools as janitors" Great twist job man. Gingrich suggested that ANY poor kid who wanted to ought to be allowed the opportunity to clean their own school to help earn money for the family, one of the few gingrich ideas I was for. Call it a paid internship or whatever. DID YOU EVEN FOLLOW YOUR OWN LINK?????? The into sentence clearly states how much of an idiot you are.
"Newt Gingrich proposed a plan Friday that would allow poor children to clean their schools for money, saying such a setup would both allow students to earn income and endow them with a strong work ethic."
Sure, I'll concede racism exists, but you make it seem as if white people would turn back to slavery tomorrow if given the chance.
I actually think so. Given the chance, I really would think they would love to go back to slavery. Think about it; how much money companies would save by not paying for labor (or paying 10cents an hour as they do now in sweat shops). Does that ring a bell? Racism and exploitation of poor people and people of color is alive and well. Do you not see how they relentlessly try to kill labor laws at every opportunity? The keyboards you and I are typing on are more than likely made by some child or someone with no worker rights...
We need better grade schools. With knowledge comes empowerment. We can't expect minoritys to excell in college if their education as youngsters sucked. I personally believe things are getting better every decade. 50 years from now, we won't be having this disscussion.
we cant expect anyone to succeed anywhere if they can't spell ^^^
I agree that we tend to see improvement upon reflection at the generational level. Day to day, we tend to notice when we fail to meet our ideals or when we encounter some determinelt bigoted person. I think we will be having this discussion in a decade, but the indicia of discrimination will be different and, hopefully, far less pronounced.
A culture or portion of one, has to value education for this to work. Kids having kids, thug life, no fathers, no respect for authority....how are these kids to be educated? Other things have to change, and that is reality.
*minorities...
Racism is fundamentally a natural human instinct, it’s actually also found widely in nature with animal interactions. What’s funny here is that this idiot wrote “6 books on racism”, which means that his career depends on racism. HAH! CNN is so petty that they actually post this article as if it’s real journalism, LOL!
I certainly hope that you are not making that statement in an attempt to excuse or justify racism. Even if that was not your intent others who are reading it will certainly take it as a way to excuse their own racist thoughts and bigotries. Next time be more careful of what you write....that is of course "assuming" that it was not your intent to absolve racists of any wrong under the guise that racism is a natural occurence in human nature.
There's comments like this every time...
This article is CLEARLY an opinion piece (Please note the heading...) Stop acting as if CNN is duping people into thinking this is a news article.
Seldishnness, greed, violence, all are also found in abundance in nature. Does it folow that they're OK?
It is sad that racism always jumps to the forefront of America's problems during a recession. We are like a large family with a rich relative. Everyone tolerates everyone else until he dies and then the claws come out.
Racism is only at the "forefront" of CNN 😉
Racism is a part of being human. We ARE racist and we will ALWAYS be racist. We just need to feel safe enough to ADMIT it, and then consciously act to analyze our decisions rather than just make them on our 'gut' feelings – which ARE racist. Whites are racist, blacks are racist, hispanics are racist, etc. We all know this.
I agree 100%. As a white person who has lived in poor black neighborhoods for several years of my life I have seen racism go both ways and black people can be just as racist as anyone else. Just as hispanic, or asian people can be. It isn't just a white thing and anyone who thinks that is just unreasonable.
Speak for yourself. Not everyone is racist, but thanks for admitting you are!
As long as race-baiters like Tim Wise stand to profit from their rants, there will always be 'racial issues' ...
True dat!
Bullseye.
"Racism" puts money in Tim Wise's pocket.
Stashu
@ Stashu (copying and pasting, bringing this to the top) This is STASHU's Statement
You clearly do not understand affirmative action – it has NOTHING to do with hiring unqualified etc. It states all things being equal then.... This type of ignorant statement just breeds more of the same. A more qualified person does NOT lose out to a disqualified or lower qualified candidate – that is not affirmative action. It may be what you want to believe when you do lose out to a protected class but that's NOT the case. It is you or yours just didn't have what it takes
not quite. if an applicant is graded on a point system (public employment, college, etc) being a qualified minority adds more points. this can result in a less qualified minority getting a slot that otherwise would have gone to a caucasian.
im not a big fan of affirmative action. its like trying to catch something that already got away from you. i prefer to even the playing field in education before someone attempts to go to college or applies for a job. if given a level playing field skin color shouldnt matter.
of course, i realize that education opportunities at the pre-college level are vastly different under the current model
Wow, CNN censored my reply! Mentioned the Ninth Circuit Court and a Judge who had made a ruling (for Stashu to look up) Stated on tests, in Fire and Police Departments, they will skip hundreds of white males to get their first "quota" filler. Mentioned educating themselves instead of telling themselves fairy tales about what is basically reverse discrimination. Wonder if this will get posted now that I have left out most of of it?
Could you possibly be more wrong? If a white man and a black man were up for the same job and both had to take a test. If the minimum requirement for that job was to score a 70, the white man scored 85 and the black man scored 72, under affirmative action who would get the job?
@ Steve, depends on if the Court mandated quotas had been met or not. And, if your question was directed at me, you can find proof of this easily enough.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/innovations/steps-forward-and-back-for-affirmative-action-2/29773
But there a many articles that will verify what I have stated
Race is like many other cultural distinctions we affix ourselves to. We are more comfortable with people who share the same customs. It's just the bottom line, and to pretend as if there are no differences is just stupid. No, no, I get it. You're accepting of every culture - except the ones with violence that's otherwise generally understood, right?
You are correct. All other things be equal, I'm more comfortable with my own race. Usually, all other things aren't equal and I'm comfortable with friends, regardless of their race.
Yes I also have a problem with baked-in aggression. Treat people the way you want to be treated, and vice versa.
Others racism towards all that are not white male is not an excuse for inactivity in most peoples lives. Unfortunately the levels of power held are old and carry on from the begining of man kind. Its all about fertile land and white man evolved on the fertile cresent. You all are ignorant and need to read and learn from Guns, Steel and Germs. The truth is always harder to accept. Im not for people being immobile because of racism. We can overcome it. Im a puertorican hispanic woman and no one is gonna tell me where I can live or go to school. Im an american that also knows spanish thanks to the spaniards but my little island belongs to America so Im more american than most white people. I dont need to live in poverty but ive seen how racism can keep you there if you dont brush it away. Racist ad prejudice of this world need to understand how insignificant they really are.
Wow!
The "author" looks like the wigger driving the Hyundai in the holiday commercial! ; D
Whats a Wigger? Is that expression endearing?
Not to me it ain't. The real deal is bad enough, but a white poseur? Yuck!
Having seen how badly blacks and Puerto Ricans were treated in the 60's and onward, USA has improved dramatically.
Blacks in general will remain a poverty class until they start adapting classic American principles.
Graduate from High School, on time.
Keep your nose clean and don't hang out with criminals
Get in the habit of working while youre young.. If you cant find a job volunteer at your church or school.
@JJ….classic American principles such as, murders the indigenous peoples, steal their land, and put them on reservations. Or, subjugate other races and force them to work while you reap the profits? Or do what US Steel did in Alabama after the Civil War…. Pay local law officials to fraudulently imprison African Americans, sell them to coal mines and reap huge profits. Read Douglas Blackmon’s (Wall Street Journal Editor) book, The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II.
That American Principle?
Here is a link to Mr. Blackmon's work... Educate yourself before you speak.
http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/
Indian American is generally dark skin, but they fair pretty well economically
Go check out the color situation in India.
all i am saying is, color of skin is not as relevant in the case of Indian American
CNN's only purpose is to divide Americans. This article is complete falsehood.
Really? We need more schools and roads named after MLK? The end of racism is when no one thinks about it anymore. This idea that if we name enough roads after black leaders, give enough scholarships to minorities, or build enough parks in bad nieghborhoods we can end racism is ridiculous.
Racism is still around. Just read an article that has something to do with a black or latino person. Many negative comments arise. You might can change a person but you cant change how they think. After awhile I stopped reading comments. I read a few here and wont read any again. I wont give in to the hatred that people have of another race. Peace
Can't being saying anything negative about a precious black or brown. Nope, can't have that.
The problem is, we are still a relatively segregated society. In those places where black, white, and latino mix freely and easily, racism is less and less of an issue. But we still have many people who grow up in towns that are 99% white. They have never really sat and talked and interacted with black people. Believe me, I grew up in one of those towns. When I went to college, I became best friends with a black girl. Even though we were friends, I would still say things that she would have to call me out on. We had a lot of discussions about race and our experiences with it, and it was very eye-opening. The people on here saying "race is just an excuse" haven't had those eye-opening experiences, so they are living in denial. Just like the article said.
The opposite is true.
Living among/near "minorities" -- not to mention being forced to foot the tax bill for their numerous social pathologies -- is what breeds "racism."
Zane – You are wrong, and your comments tell me just how you view minorities. But I suppose you'll scream if I call you racist, won't you?
Sunny is a typical lie-beral, she'll scream about racism no matter the facts.
No, I'll take it as a compliment.
I am white. I never had to be "called out" by any of my black friends. I also have two beautiful bi-racial children. Just you wait and see...your eyes might be "open" about the struggles of blacks but I can honestly say, having two biracial kids, that I endure MORE abuse from blacks in public than I ever have from white people. I have learned the very hard way, that more often than not, those black people you defend, are the ones who talk about "whites" behind your back. It is painful and it really hurt me, but it is true. Racism is a 2-way street. We just don't hear about how blacks treat whites...especially here on CNN.
Diane, I have all total 18 nieces and nephews half of whom are biracial and I would call out any black person that would attack a parent of my niece or nephew. I don't know where you live, but it has been my experience that blacks are more tolerant of biracial people than whites. My husband is white and I am carrying a biracial little girl. My family has been completely accepting of our relationship so have all my friends. No one has said a thing against my husband. But a friend of his wanted to know if he was gonna marry that n*gr, and another friend said I wasn't black-black because I wasn't a ghetto hood rat. However, I understand this is anecdotal, my situation and that these ignorant, racist people he knows don't represent every white person.
I'm not naive enough to believe the "race issue" has been resolved as a result of Barrack Obama being elected as President. All the bigotry and prejudice rife within our society has not been magically swept away. But what I do feel is that racism has been a) diluted in most and b) relegated to a vocal minority. Ask yourself these three questions: 1 – Do you think people of different races should inter-marry? 2 – Do you think anyone should be denied a job based on their race? 3 – Do you think people of one race are smarter than any other race?. Now ask those questions to your grandparents and your kids. I can't fathom answering yes to any of those questions nor can my kids. I think we're headed in the right direction.
I am white....I think Asians are smarter. Am I a racist?
You're a racial realist.
Yes, if you think asians are smarter, you are being racist by definition. But you are white, and all whites are ignorant when it comes to racism, so your comment is what I expected.
What's wrong with intermarriage?
Intermarriage is genocidal for both groups involved.
Nothing, as long as you're marrying a fellow human being.
This guy is way off base. Sure there's racism, but it's no worse here than anywhere else in the world and racism doesn't go one way either. Also, I can't remember the last time I went into a city that didn't have a street named after MLK. The biggest enemy of the black community is the black community itself. 70% of all black children are born to single mothers, schools have been integrated for over 40 years, yet the achievement gap is still there. In the 3 counties around where I live, 72% of all arrests are black people and the population is comprised of around 20% Black people. If you believe the author, the police are just allowing all the white people to commit any crime they want without fear of arrest.
Oh, yes, but this is all the white communities fault, somehow. And as far as other countries go, I would say we are way ahead. Executions, genocides, actual enslavement, well those things that are not commonplace in this country, but are every day occurrences in many others.
Deny all you want my friend but think of this. The after-effects of the British empire are still felt in places such as India and Pakistan; the brusing reality of the Khmer Rouge still haunts much of Cambodia; the Soviet era still echoes in much of what we now call Eastern Europe and Russia. Yet we are supposed to believe that 300+ years of slavery, colonial dominance of much of Latin America and the wholesale slaughter of American Indians are suddenly–poof!–gone because we elected a President of color. Does that logic really resonate with you? If so perhaps you can point out to me one of those Unicorn-riding Leprechauns next time you see him talking to Bigfoot.
Whites wont be the monority once a harsh immigration and deportation law is enacted. Some might call this racist or profiling people of color. I call it justice. We have this notion because your of color and its wrong that white people are picking on them. Illegal immigration is very dangerous. Considering we know nothing of who is in our country. Does the illegal carry a disease, are they a murderer, rapist, education. If you look at the people of color that become citizens the legal way are most likely seeking a better life and more apt to embrace instead of not.
I agreed with part of your assetions but the other half sound of complete ignorance and incompentence. Yes, as an African American we do have the same oppurtunities as whites but we do not take it upon ourselves to take advantage of those oppurtunites. True some of these skewed studies of African Americans being born into single parent houselholds are just that skewed you have to look at socio-economic backgrounds as well. Lastly I could aspouse staticstics that I read on a what I want to hear website or watch FOX news for the same affect but before you make such an outlandish comment or your town I would pull the FBI statistics or maybe even your local PD that would maybe bring a common sense solution to the out of touch reality that you live
Your argument supports the author. From my personal perspective, that of a white male having grown up in Kentucky, with relatives still living there, I can vouch for the continued existence of racism in America. 'Nig*' jokes are still being told. My mother said, and I quote, "Obama will never be elected, he's black." She'd discussed that election with her friends and his color was the prime reason they could never support him. That sounds a lot like racism. That there is racism else that is a bad or worse does not change the author's point. To the author, thank you, it is only more obvious by the comments here how blind many are to racism, or worse, those who see it and are not bothered by it.
Obviously you can't or didn't bother to read the article. Your comment support his point.
Not sure what your point regarding MLK streets is, perhaps you could elaborate. The "biggest enemy" of historically subjugated groups is the systemic and interpersonal racism that undercuts efforts of these groups to improve their situation. Any group, regardless of racial/ethnic background, will have the kind of appalling rates you described if their history mimics that of most African-Americans in this country.
Integration is not a solution for inequality. If you thoroughly examine the Brown v. Board of Education case, you will see that the initial complaint was not about segregation, but rather about the unequal level of funding and resources given to schools with African-American students. Thanks to integration, the inequality of resources could continue. Segregation continues in many schools today. To your point about arrests, various studies have proven that in racially-mixed communities, such as your 3 counties, African-Americans are regularly arrested at higher rates – one particular study described how in a city with a greater number of White drug dealers and drug users, African-Americans were still arrested at higher rates.
Blame, however, doesn't get us very far. Focusing on community empowerment will create greater change.
Hard to keep cause and effect separated, isn't it? Think what the term "Social Inheritance" might mean, before you contribute it to be hard wired in the genes or so.Newt Gingrich was born to a teenage single mother, ?? Did you know that? Two children from his first wife, whom he abandoned with two teenage daughters, while the mother was seriously ill. As he cheated with a younger women when his first wife was seriously ill, he did exactly the same with the second. THAT SOB is trying to preach racism, and family values... I'd say its social inheritance, not a racial difference or pre-destination.
"Sure there's racism, but it's no worse here than anywhere else in the world and racism doesn't go one way either."
REALLY??!! WHERE is it worse??!! Canada?? South Africa?? Oh, wait let me guess.......the Caribbean??!!
THAT'S the SAME "guilt" that the author was refering to!!! YOU want it to be THAT way, so you can turn around and feel "better" about what you see happening in this country.
And if you don't know that whites have HISTORICALLY been allowed to avoid being arrested for the SAME OFFENSES that have sent MANY African AMericans to jail, then you're either in denial, a LIAR or EXTREMELY ignorant!
Uh, better than other places? Really/ Try Canada. It's far from post-racial, but WAAAY better than anything I'm seen in the USA. When we white Canadians visit the USA we see the tension between black and white. We are always surprised that you have "black" neighbourhoods and "white" neighbourhoods and are afraid to go into the "wrong" neighbourhood. We see how poorly you interact. And when we are pleasant to black people, meaning treating them no different than white people, they are usually surprised and respond warmly. And sometimes being nice to black people earns us glaring looks from whites. You can't tell objectively how things are because you're too close to it to detect the unintentional but negative biases you have and project. Not everybody in the USA, but many. I love Americans as individuals, but collectively your society is a mess.
The fact that it is a topic to be discussed indicates to me we're not there yet.
Dr. Marsh I'm happy to see you got your education on. But most white people HATE BLACK PEOPLE AND SECRETLY DON’T LIKE US. I am convinced most white people think black people are lazy, unintelligent, killers, robbers, and baby makers which is the same thing they thought hundreds of years ago. So true to form nothing’s changed in terms of perception. My uncle lives in a all white neighborhood has been there for 5 years white people called the cops on him said it was a black man in a stolen Benz...he's been driving the same Benz for 4 years...
Nice story – a bunch of black kids attacked my grandfather because he was pulling out of a parking lot and they just happened to be at the stoplight. He's 76. He was pulled out of the car and beaten. These things go both ways – EVERYONE has a lot of work to do.
FRIED CHICKEN AND ??
Lol, did they really?
Really, I call BS. I am white. I have incredible black neighbors. I live in the South. Our kids go to school together, play together, study together. But, neither me, nor my neighbors will go into the "hood". It is not a color thing. Act like me (work, discipline the kids, abhor criminal behavior, respect authority, value education and it does not matter who you worship, sleep with, or the color of your skin. But, glorify violence, crime, thuggery, then you have no place in my life and yes, I will do everything to avoid you (as will my Black neighbors)
But, I am sure your blanket statement that all whites hate all blacks makes you feel better about yourself in some manner.
Here, here...quit making so much sense! Arguenot...that's the best comment in the whole debate!
That's completely inaccurate. I'm white and I don't feel that way, and I don't know anyone who does. I think you're mistaking your own bad experiences (not saying they're not true or valid) as proof of an opinion held by an entire race. There's a word for that; racism.
All you have to do is turn on the TV and watch what is popular in the music industry, and all of this 'perception' you speak of is all validated. Maybe if the African American community who has this opinion spent more time cleaning up their own culture and less time blaming others, there would be far less problems!
"Cleaning up" a culture – Incredibly disrespectful and bigoted, in my opinion. The marketing of mainstream rap music has become completely disconnected from the realities of those I would consider street corner poets. It is a business, and just like action movies appeal to white audiences, does that mean we should CLEAN UP white culture? Perhaps a thorough cleaning should begin with the communities that kidnapped, enslaved, and exploited countless others? I believe Native Americans will have input on who should be cleaned up.
Once upon a time, there was a direct correlation between the lyrics heard on hip hop radio stations and what was occurring on the street. Yes, violence was a theme for some MCs, but not all, and you can hardly blame someone who is reporting what occurs outside their home. Do you decry any of the major media outlets for showing us footage of violence in the Middle East, or of violence closer to home?
So this self-loathing communist relies on "statistics" from an ultra-liberal University of Chicago sociologist who, with Soros providing the "research" funding, cites surveys that are 25 years old to tell me what a racist I am? Yeah, articles like this go a long way in healing the racial divides in our country. Way to go CNN (again).
Wow. And judging by your rhetoric, you are an avid Glen Beck watcher. Care to tell me how buying into hate-monger rhetoric is going to heal this country?
No, I don't watch or listen to Beck. In any event, was your question directed at me or to the author of this "article"?
It's not a "liberal" thing.
What do Wise and Soros (born "Schwartz") have in common?
what a bull article, Tim you are a liar. If that is you opinion I do not want to hear the rest.
racism today is just an excuse
You are living in the dark. But I don't blame you. I didn't realize how bad it is until I married a black man. Suddenly, we get pulled over for absolutely no reason. We were pulled over once on I-70, and the cop said, "You weren't quite going fast enough for me to issue you a ticket. I just wanted to check on you." Check on us??? How many times have you been pulled over for nothing when you're minding your own business?
Racisim is alive and Tim is right on. One thing not covered in my read is that native americans experience more fequent and intense abuse than other groups. KAN is a group in Juneau short for kill all natives and they have kiled some, just because. Racism is not an excuse it is a realilty
This guy makes some valid points, however he generalizes too much instead of picking and choosing certain area's where these problems truly exist. As some posts suggest, the post-racial society does exist in big cities where racial minorities have moved. For example, San Francisco, NY, Charlotte, Chicago, Atlanta. These areas show the highest level mixing among different racial backgrounds. This also shows that small towns are still lily white because the residents choose to keep it this way and because minorities go where they feel welcome. Blacks, Latinos, Asians, etc will not go to the deep south where they have a better chance of still being discriminated against, rather than being welcomed. The deep south has a long way to go to where minorities can be treated fairly. This point is proven in how the GOP presidential nominees likes to use language that will rile up the deep south. Using terms like "food stamp president", or stereotypical statements like, "preferring food stamps to paychecks". Seeing how no GOP elected official has not come out to condone these statements, it shows that the only way to appeal to the south is by using this racially charged language.
Really? I live in the South, and I will say, people here are more open about issues than in some of the more "civilized states". Now, you have your gang bangin thug areas...and most of them are black. BUT, people of all races, regardless of anything other than a desire for personal safety, want nothing to do with those areas. Common sense, unless you are the type to turn your neighborhood into a war zone?
Blacks won't go to the South? Half of all US blacks live in the South.
And there's just as much, if not more, racial animosity among Northern urban white ethnics than there is among deep South whites. After all, it's those working-class urban whites who can least afford to leave areas being destroyed by "minority" occupation, while being forced to foot the burgeoning tax bill resulting therefrom.
At the same time, whites are considered racist if we want a month to celebrate our heritage (hello black history month), or if we display the American flag (hello puerto rican flags everywhere), or any number of other things that other countries/nationalities get to do. Whites get pushed out of jobs because the company has to meet their quota of minorities..how is that fair?
This argument goes both ways.
Excuse me but don't white people have the St. Patrick's Day parades, everywhere? Nobody is stopping that and I don't recall anyone ever stating it was racist for an Italian, a Swede, a Russian or any other European person to celebrate their heritage. White is not a heritage it's a designation for a Caucasian person. African-Americans just happen to call themselves Black also even though like White, Black is an umbrella term for people originating from sub Saharan Africa. So don't get it twisted.
Plus, we all know White Power means something entirely different from Black Power. One is pride in heritage with no inference that Whites or anyone else or inferior to said blacks. White Power is associated with known lynching and cross burning racists. So I wish white folks would stop this silly argument cause I know and hope ya'll are more intelligent than that.
Just wanted to point out that Affirmative Action, I assume that is what you are referring to, does not work as your oversimplification implies. We all need to educate ourselves on these issues, myself included.
Wise is a white-hating Jew whose business is slamming non-existent "white privilege" while deflecting attention from all-too-real Jewish privilege.
Thanks for proving him RIGHT!!!!
Zane told the truth.
It's not imaginary. Whites run the show in this country so of course you have privilege! Professor Tatum explains it best:
What is white privilege?
White people, who also have a race but don't always think about what it means to be white in a largely white-dominated society, sometimes struggle with the concept of white privilege. What are the benefits or the advantages to being white in a society that has historically given benefits and advantages to members of the dominant group? If you are a person who has that privilege, you don't necessarily notice it. It is sometimes taken for granted. Let's use the example of racial profiling. If you're driving on the highway and you are not randomly stopped, you don't get to the end of your drive and say, "Gee, I wasn't randomly stopped today." You just take for granted that you got in your car, drove to your destination, without incident, like you do most days. It's not something that you think of as a function of being a white person in this society, you know?
If you go looking for an apartment and you find the apartment you like, and you rent it without difficulty, you don't say, "Gee, I benefited from being white today. I got that apartment I wanted." If you go shopping in the grocery store and find hair care products and make-up that work for you, you don't think, "Gee, I'm benefiting from being white today. The hair care products I need and the make-up I want were readily available for me."
Can I find opportunities to express my culture if I'm of Asian or Latino descent? How often during the course of a day will I be asked if I speak English, or how long I've been in this country? Will the physical symbol of my face always mark me as a foreigner? These are not things that white people think about on a day-to-day basis – they just take it for granted.
You're talking about sensible reactions to group behavior.
When statistically significant numbers of blacks congregate, a whole range of social ills will skyrocket.
My family is from Germany and I had to learn English. Why should it be any different for Latinos of Urban African-Americans to do the same?
What is it with you anti-semitic people? Are you really so ignorant as to believe there is some secret plot the jews have to take over the world? You are an ignorant fool if you believe that. You are just as bad as those who hate because of color.
Wise isn't "secret" about his hatred for whites.
Zane summed it up perfectly
The author of this article has written 6 books about race and wants to write and sell more. His take on this should therefore be viewed with scepticism as he needs racial inequality, or at least the perception of it as a serious national issue, in order to sell books.
"he needs racial inequality, or at least the perception of it as a serious national issue, in order to sell books" Denial, which is one of the points the author was making in this blog… He didn’t make of the facts that were cited, nor did he make up Jim Crow, discrimination in housing (zoning laws), predatory lending practices, Native American exploitation or many of the other issues WE face as Americans. Simply saying get over it or outright denial will do nothing to address the problem. As with any problem, the first step is recognizing you have a problem!
If you truly believe that all African Americans have to do is work hard and these issues would solve themselves, explain to me the incidents at Rosewood in Levy County, Florida or the Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921 (Black Wall Street). I could go on but I won’t. Those in denial will find any excuse to keep their heads in the sand and these issues will continue to haunt us.
Thanks for backing up my early argument. Here, here.
If you are Fat, , Jewish, Short, Hindu, Gay, Christian, Male, Tall, Female, Brown, Yellow, White, Purple, I have shocking news for you......at some point in your life, you may not get a job, someone may not like you, someone may make more money than you, someone will have a better car, bigger house, be more popular.
Here is another shocker: Life is not fair, quit using this nonsense as an excuse to: Sit on your rear, commit crimes, never work a day in your life, use drugs, have generations on welfare, allow your kids to run amok (feel free to sill in any other anti-social behavior here)
Arguenot, you demonstrate in every hateful bigoted word that Wise is right in his perception that hate and bigotry is indeed still alive in America. You spew all the vile hate and stereotypes of minorities that we have been trying to overcome all these years. You must be a very sad insecure person
Diana, can you not read? Just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean you should yell racism. The point of the post was that no matter who you are or what you look like, it's going to affect you eventually; and you shouldn't use it as an excuse for anything. Should I use smaller words so you can understand?
You must be a sad, paranoid illiterate person...
Really, This is what I learned as a young child, whining about a toy a friend got that I did not. Life is not fair. Everyone has something they can complain about, income, abuse, color, religion, etc....
At what point is it up to the individual to try to be the best they can be, and not wallow in excuses?
Its not a race thing, its a cultural/values thing. Is it white people's or any other races fault so many black children are born out of weddlock? Have less kids so you can afford to send them to a descent college, or better yet none at all. Get a real hair cut, speak english and pull up your pants so someone will hire you. After about age 17 you really need to grow up and start acting like a real adult, not the gangsta rapper or sprots star you wish you were.
And there is reality at its finest. Shame on you. I would love to see this author go into an "urban" neighborhood. Really spend some quality time with the thugs, drugs, and guns. Then tell me I am a racist and it is all somehow MY fault!
Tim Wise I'm sorry you are so ashamed to be caucasian. I for one am not! As a women I have experienced inequality & prejudice. I came from a poor white family. Have I done well for myself? Why yes I have. Why have I done well for myself, because I didn't sit around moaning & blaming other people for my situation & looking for handouts! I worked hard, saved hard, got myself through college with no financial aid because I'm not a minority. So maybe some of the "minorities" out there need to stop "carping" on about past history, "sneaking in" under the boarder, claiming benefits they haven't paid into and get off their 'minority high horses"!
Oh look, one person who succeeded from an adverse situation, that must mean everyone has that ability.
They do Taylor. Success is not an accident, it's drive and refusal to give up even when life craps on you.
Racism is alive and well in America. I am black and happen to be a PhD scientist. It always cracks me to see people in my predominantly white neighborhood look at me as if I just stole my own car and the ladies holding onto the purses at the grocery store.
Ha Ha Ha nice one!!!
With a PhD in "science"I'd think you'd know better than to try and generalize anecdotal personal experience.
Good point. Also consider, the man made a point that he is educated (phD) but people treat him as if her were not educated. He is planting the idea that education and crime affect each other, and if a race does poorly with education, they tend to be more criminal. And blacks are woefully low statistically in educational success and therefore more prone to criminal behavior. This black man is acknowledging that lack of education is a major cause of crime and he fits into this negative stereotype. I question why so many black people struggle with education. Education is the great equalizer apparently.
the thing you don't seem to understand is although this was his personal experience there are many other black people out there experiencing the same thing. instead of seeing this guy as an upstanding citizen they see his skin color and draw their own negative conclusions. that in itself is a big part of the problem. when you see an italian guy do you automatically think he's in the mob? probably not. so unless given a reason why should black people be looked at as if they are about to do something bad just because they are out trying to get their weekly groceries?
It's post racial for anybody with a brain. We will always have the slow, hateful people.
More on Tim Wise:
-He frequently states that his hero is longtime Communist party leader Angela Davis
-He says that Fundamentalist Christians "are spiritual terrorists almost by definition"
-He loves to denounce capitalism, but encourages people to buy his book on Amazon.com!
– He states that "conservatives are sadists, pure and simple"
-He makes racist comments about Herman Cain, calling him "Stepin Fetchit"
I could go on and on, but the truth is that Tim Wise has nothing to offer the world but hatred.
Amazing how people still don't understand that if you are gonna talk the talk you gotta walk the walk.
so in other words he is the typical lefty toolbag that CNN would provide space to.
But the question is whether racism is still having a significant impact on minorities being treated equally by the majority? It doesn't matter if the author is Hitler or Jesus, the question remains. My own observations are that racism is a part of being human and we ARE racist and we will ALWAYS be racist. So, we need to ADMIT it, and then consciously act to analyze our decisions rather than just make them on our 'gut' feelings – which ARE racist.
So he talks about racial in-equality in terms of perceived earning power, then ends off with saying a good step forward would be to start naming streets and schools after Martin Luther King? Really?
Dude, do some research and you will see that the majority of major American cities have a MAJOR street named after Martin Luther King. You will also see that there are quite few public schools of all levels named after Martin Luther King.
He also has a holiday named after him too, and deservedly so! Dr King was one of the bravest and finest men to have lived.
As this election year heats up, sadly racism is going to become more and more prevalent in the race... It happened in 2008 and it will be even more prevalent in 2012. It's pretty much all the DNC has to run on.
Bill, you've got that twisted. Hate and race-baiting are an RNC specialty. You heard what came out of Gingrich and Santorum, right? Or were you in a cave somewhere away from the 24-hour news cycle? LOL.
Madamelaverite why are even trying to explain to these people honestly man after reading hundreds of blogs over the past month most white people got it twisted and most white people HATE BLACK PEOPLE AND SECRETLY DON’T LIKE US. I am convinced most white people think black people are lazy, unintelligent, killers, robbers, and baby makers which is the same thing they thought hundreds of years ago. So true to form nothing’s changed in terms of perception.
@ The guru. Let me tell you. Quit avoiding the reality we see everyday by playing the blame game. I have black neighbors. I never really think of them that way until an article like this pops up. Other than these times, I think of those neighbors as the ones with the nice yard and better behaved kids. Color is not the issue. It is what people do and say that make others judge them.....
At what point does the blame game stop, and personal accountability become important to people like this author? When entire urban populations are written off because the issues there are too "political" to actually address honestly, that is true racism, which this author is guilty of.
Keep wringing your hands, pointing fingers, and continue to not allow honest open discussion. The minute someone proposes a measure to combat the harsh reality in these areas, the Wises, and ACLU fear mongers come marching....and nothing gets done. So, who really is at fault here?
Yeah this guy obviously does not live in someplace like the SF bay area. Post racial has a meaning here. It is what the kids are. Only the adults who grew up in relative monoculture like, India, Indiana, or Ireland, talk about race. My Chinese-(Caucasian ie northern European mut) son who is flirting with the Irish-Indian girl in his 7th grade talks about "does she like me?"
Post-racial is real in places. It is coming to your town. Heck some day it will even land it southern Indiana where I grew up. They just need a huge influx of jobs to pull in all the foreign talent.
Perfect example of what the writer meant when he said "in denial."
Spot on Gloria!
you sounds positively obsessed with race
this writer is a clown
The writer is a a social progressive (another name for a bigot). He openly trashes anyone who disagrees with him, presents data that is no longer relevant and calls anyone who disagrees with him a bigot who needs to be silences..
I am surprised that he is not with his Occupy buddies destroying things in Oakland or in Rhode Island throwing condoms at Catholic school girls. Does the fact that some of the girls are black mean that Occupy is racist?
summerized; Your culture came here to escape oppression, and from that enviroment you learned to oppress and did so, so you see the hate that indifference buildt from those many of you still have indifference towards coming right back at you. I personally try to be more understanding than always tring to be understood. I can see where the dysfunction came from and in turn reconize the dysfunction that could arise in me, if i choose not to be honest with my self, not honest with the dysfunctional lie of the feelings of the enviromental dysfunctional upbringing of the lies based on feelings. verysad and very true
I live in King county....yes renamed recently after Martin Luthor King...funny because it was allready King county but named after William Rufus King the former Vice President during the Washington treaty era....It was renamed without a vote or public hearing after a movement made by our rather self indulgent politicians (insert Ron Sims)....So take your opinion Tim Wise and shove it up your A$$....renaming streets, schools and provinces to show we whites are comfortable with people of color means nothing......
Free markets and democracy help ameliorate racism but we'll always be racist. It's our social – maybe even genetic – inheritance. Better that we acknowledge our racism rather than pretend we've rid ourselves of it. I fear the self-righteous almost as much as the blatantly racist: puritanical Yankees have killed more non-Anglos than Southern rednecks.
Who gives a rat's @s$ what tim wise thinks about anything? His opinions are his "bread and butter" issues. He makes money as a professional "anti-racist". His degree is in political science (1/2 step above basket weaving).
Attacking the author rather than the facts that he used to support his argument suggests that you can't refute anything he wrote. If anything, it illustrates the accuracy of what he wrote.
Whoa. Somebody gets it.
Hey wait a minute...you are insulting basket weavers....
And you have a degree in?? There is no need to insult a specific major because you dislike the author.
if most people wanted diversity shoved in their mouths,they would open them.
There will always be racism as long as there are people (this author, university professors, and politicians) that can make money off it.
How does that relate to any of the facts he mentioned as evidence of the continuing potency of racism? Just because you don't want to hear about it doesn't change the reality of it.
So if we just ignore it, racism will go away?
Talk, talk, talk. Work hard, help others, raise your kids with values. Actions speak louder than words. Quit whining and go out and make whatever positive impact you can on your community. The government cannot legislate a person's discriminatory thoughts. Go out and try to change those thoughts by being a positive role model.
Your suggestion that racism is rational just proves the auther's point. If a majority of whites in the 1960's claimed there was equality of opportunity, what will the majority claim today?
Please get our name straight.
We are HISPANICS
Latino is a mistranslated term adopted by the left in order to concoct a new race out of us so they can turn us into a permanent underclass and make money off of us by with their big government programs.
Hispanic is a term selected by the government after Hispanics lobbied successful to have the government acknowledge that they were a group impacted by prejudiced laws and social systems. It allowed for the government to track the needs of spanish-speaking people around the country as civil rights laws were being created and enforced. Latino, since it is not a government term, will often be used by grassroots organizations, heritage groups and other community-based initiatives. Sometimes it is used to create a more community-oriented environment. Newspapers that serve an area with a high Latino population often start to use Latino. This could show an actual connection to the community, an attempt to connect with the community or a simple attachment to a new buzzword.
I have been in corporate america for 20 years and have not seen ANY discrimination in the workforce. I realize that 1. I started my career after many of the laws passed. 2. I started in CA.
There is an issue with expectations and education. We will never become more "equal" in terms of wealth until education in this country changes. As long as public schools are run by district, the cycle will continue, poor will get poor education... Switch to a voucher system and you democratize education.
But the basis of this article is absurd, showing that less blacks get hired does NOT show discrimination. Showing the there is a discrepancy in OLD wealth does not show discrimination. There is NOTHING in this article that shows ANY discrimination in our work force (I am not saying that there isn't ANY).
We need to equalize opportunity by democratizing our education system. I don't see any other way.
Sorry Abe, but what you claim is simply not plausible. If you haven't seen ANY discrimination in 20 years of work, it's because you have been trying not to see it. Discrimination is practiced in subtle ways, which is why large studies are needed to illustrate different outcomes for similarly situated people of different ethnicities.
I think I love you.
Discrimination does not have to be overt. Much of it is subtle. There have been studies showing that with IDENTICAL resumes, but only the names being different, the resumes with "black" names (Tyrone, DeShawn, Jada, etc.) got far fewer responses than resumes with "white" names (John, Sean, Mark, Jennifer, mary, etc.).
I don't care anymore. I'm tired of the issue and whether or not it "goes away" or becomes post-racial, it makes no difference to me. White liberal guilt is old and tired. Do what you want with your own life. black or white. Don't expect people to make a life for you.
I've been called a racist before for doing my job. It doesn't affect me nor does it deter me. The race card becomes an excuse to fail. Those crying racism, get over yourselves. Most people don't care.
Pointing out facts about how racism still negatively affects people of color in our society has nothing to do with "white guilt." It's a very American value to desire equal rights and a level playing field for all.
Seriously? How about you compare your statistics with the National Crime Index? You may find the answer to a lot of your questions. With affirmative action allowing under-qualified, under-educated "special class people" to jump hundreds, if not thousands of more qualified applicants. With many immigrants refusing to learn English. With "people of color" committing a majority of the crimes (especially violent ones) this author is nuts. I would love to know where he obtained his statistical data.
Why do inner city schools have the most inexperienced teachers? Because those schools are generally out of control, violence prone cess pits. Qualified teachers Do Not Want To Teach There, not because of the color of someones skin, but because their safety is constantly at risk. Reality sucks, and life isn't fair, get over it.
Interesting.
Accurate.
You clearly do not understand affirmative action – it has NOTHING to do with hiring unqualified etc. It states all things being equal then.... This type of ignorant statement just breeds more of the same. A more qualified person does NOT lose out to a disqualified or lower qualified candidate – that is not affirmative action. It may be what you want to believe when you do lose out to a protected class but that's NOT the case. It is you or yours just didn't have what it takes.
while the original intent of affirmative action may state that with equal qualification... but it is almost impossible in practice, and we always resort to quota system. perhaps you have heard of the new jersey firefight case not so long ago, when a test did not produce enough black and Hispanic firefight to promote, the offices decided to scrap the entire test. funny thing is all the test materials are available to everyone, what does that tell you?
I think we aspire to be "post-racial"; in the meantime we're just "less racial than in the past."
best anwer yet.
More self-hating crap from communists. Notice how the author blames 'mostly white people'.
The author is the cause of our problems. What a piece of dirt.
I disagree, I think Socialism would be more accurate......shame on those of us who have shed blood, sweat and tears to get where we are....Shame on us for expecting everyone, regardless of race, color, or creed to do the same.
Don't many towns and cities now have a MLK Drive, or MLK Middle School?
And generally crime rates are higher around those MLK named roads. Coincidence?
racism is a core "value" within the conservative ideology, and based in ignorance, fear and selfishness.....this country is deeply conservative, specially in the south where people still have resentment against the federal government for taking away their property (read slaves), and have not stopped crying like babies since the times of Jassie James until the present as demonstrated by poeple like the clowns in the GOP running for president.....and as you all can see they are mostly white people
Really? And you base your statements on what exactly? I happen to live in the South, and have never owned a slave. In fact, no one in my family ever did. But then, if you look through history, I challenge you to find one culture that was not either an owner of slaves, or enslaved at some point and time.
And I guess it is selfish of me to want to keep what I work so hard for...and expect everyone else to do the same.
I agree with your premise, but the US is built and predicated on slavery and after 300 years we have devided ourselves by race to the point there is a permanent racist class on all sides. As a black man (I dislike that term, I'm human) I can fully agree we are in a lot of cases as racist as any overseerer of the old south. As all of us begin to realize no one has a monopoly on racism (whether seemingly justified or not) the aformentioned comparisons are not equal to the American situation as mast slave cultures were imperial and and an outgrowth of the expansion of empires. America chartered itself as a country of freedom (for some) while relying on slavery for manpower. I don't want reperations, affirmative action or handouts. I want to be a human being free of labels in the country that I love. I've left my blood on the ground in defense of the very same people who would marginalize me because of race, religon,creed or (as posted here repeatedly) neighborhood. Just ask a Native American (if you can find one) how that feels. God Bless the USA!
You are exactly the person to which the author has written about. He's obviously hit a nerve with you. And I am not at all surprised that you live in the south! Travel more (out of the south), educate yourself and get to know the good people, all people who inhabit this country! And let's get one thing straight, this in not just your country!
p.s.....I'm so sick of narrow minded people like you!
racism is a core "value" within the conservative ideology, and based in ignorance, fear and selfishness.....this country is deeply conservative, specially in the south where people still have resentment against the federal government for taking away their property (read slaves), and have not stopped crying like babies since the times of Jassie James until the present as demonstrated by poeple like the clowns in the GOP running for president.....and as you all can see they are mostly white people
Wow, your ignorance is astounding. First off, racism is not affiliated with one political party. It is something that is learned in all parts of the country by all types of people. And this country is far from "deeply conservative" considering the current President of the United States is a Democrat. FYI, the majority of slave owners in the south were Democrats before the "racist conservative republican" sought to free them. If you are going to make a comment on an issue like this, please at least educate yourself, remove your own racial bigotry and blatant political bias, and make an objective comment that contributes to the dialogue instead of furthering the hatred.
As long as the elites keep the middle income people bickering over race the gap in classes will continue to grow. Divide and conquer.
I agree. But Race is still an issue.
Amen, Joe.
And as long as the majority of the country remains under educated to the point they really believe that the wealth will trickle down to the poor, the wealthiest among us will continue to increase their wealth and the rest of us will live paycheck to paycheck with no recourse.
I'm guessing when he mentioned the quote about the food stamp President, he was referring to Gingrich's speech a while back. That's so funny, replay that speech, he never mentioned anything about "poor black kids" or anything else about color! This writer is an idiot and should be fired...he is trying to stir up crap that isn't even accurately portrayed.
that is true, he did say that about those kids, might have been in a diffrent speech, wake up!
I believe Newt was talking about kids in inner city schools (most if not all of those are populated by black kids). I'm sure he wasn't talking about any of your private schools or even suburban schools. His implication was if you are poor and unemployed it is because you are lazy and have no work ethic. The man is so far removed from reality, he is in a different universe.
Isnt talking about racists in this way racism in the deriavtive sense?.
You just blew my mind....
What a bunch of self loathing garbage, and BS stats!
The "school naming" thing is the key. If you want to be equal, let's talk. I'm all for it. However, when you want to tear down, redo, or rename things just to take away the white name and add the "ethnic" name, you lose me – and most others with it.
Let's meet in the middle, not remove anything and everything that's white just to make YOU feel better!
I was raised in the 60's and 70's. I was taught not to judge people by the color of their skin, but to judge them by their character. I have taught my children that as well. Where we live, there are a lot of hispanics. I have nothing against hispanic people in general. However, I do have problems when my 9th grader is taking an American History class and the subject always comes back to "how did this effect the hispanic people", or what was the hispanic side of this story. Why don't they teach about the Irish side or the French Canadian side??? Whenever there is a multicultural event in our town, it isn't really MULTI Cultural. It is Hispanic. Why aren't other cultures represented in the "Multi-cultural" event???? Seems a little biased to me.
So presidents day, Colmbus day, St Patty's day, Feast of st Anthony, Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras ...... Are all hispanic in your town? Where do you live?
The author should use more relevant data. If you check the link given in the paragraph about people of color comprise nearly 90% of persons incarcerated for drug possession, the study is from 1995, it is 17 years old...
The study that is used for job call back is 9 years old, hardly relevant anymore.
Things have improved over the last 40-50 yrs. Since prejudice is largely learned in the home setting, it will take another couple of generations for it to be largely expunged ( and by that I mean 100-150 yrs). Of course people are very adaptive.... In 2150 people will probably descriminate against those of Polynesian descent or something equally strange.
Unfortunately, it will never be 100% gone, but it will hopefully continue to impove with the passage of time.
As long as people suffer from a feeling of insecurity or inferiority there will be racism. Must have someone else to blame those feelings on, b/c it can't be possible that there is something is not right with me...these feelings must be caused by someone else. This makes it ok for me to hate them and say bad things about them.
From yesterday's Boston Globe report on a study of census data showing "that all-white enclaves “are effectively extinct’’; and that while black urban ghettos still exist, they are shriveling."
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/01/31/study-finds-cities-more-racially-integrated/qyENaxW2CvxVrFFOI5kq6I/story.html
Any more uninformed comments? Or are you all writing posts now about how I'm a racist for delighting in progress rather than longing for failure?
@ whites are better at hiding it.... OPEN YOUR EYES. The lack of respect the president gets which comes from only whites. There are no minority commissioners in the sports leagues when the minorities are who built them. The whole tim tebow thing I mean REALLY if he were black he would be on the bench. The way David Stern handled the lockout how could you ignore that and not say that is racially motivated Whites are all but hiding it and that's why they have the biggest targets on their backs.
are you kidding me? where were you for the Bush years? He got the least respect of any president. Stop using the race card to cover your own faults!
I never considered bush a president considered h cheated to get in so let me rephrase obama was the most undeserving disrespected president in history. The fact that bush still walks the streets is a argument that the writer could've used if Obama would have done half if what that man did to ruin this countries and many others h would have been hung but yeah we are the ones with faults. Lol
The fact that you respond with "we are the ones with faults" when i clearly said "your" just shows your thought process here. take a good long look in the mirror if you want to see a true racist!
I believe as many others that racism will always exist and IMO the world should be segregated
Bush deserved his. Obama from birthers to commie calling, he's a muslim, socialist ect. and he hadn't even won yet. It"l stop when we have a new target (Klingons beware).
Are you kidding? They built Hockey? Footbaall? Basketball? Baseball? Look at the leagues in 1960 and telll me who you see playing.
No you go back and look at the revenue and growth compared to now.
Wow! It sounds like you are the one who is racist here, "Black."
trust me I am a black man born, raised and lives in Detroit. I have no choice but to feel the way I feel not only about whites even the blacks. We have destroyed this planet.
You guys are quick to jump on black because he states his opinion. I see where he's going with this, though not 100% accurate he is not wrong in what he says. A majority of white people, black people, etc are still racist. But ask yourselves this, if you were on the bottom looking up, your views would be different if you were at the top looking down. White people have for the most part always been in the majority and will never understand what it's like to have to beat stereotypes. Black people don't want everything but when your people have fought relentlessly for "equality" and high end positions are still controlled by whites, think about it.
I am white, and I tell you now, I do not care for this President based solely on his ignorant decisions that have put this country firmly on a downward spiral. And, FYI, I have many friends, of all races, colors, and creeds who feel the exact same way....even *shock* black friends.....
Well you and your friends are sadly mistaken Jesus Christ himself couldn't have turned this county around in 4 years after bush...and the fact you said Obama put this country in a downward spiral speaks for itself guess we were on an uptrend before he got in huh?
The only hope for saving this country from bankruptcy is RON PAUL if he makes the ballot or a LIBERTARIAN if he does not. All the other candidates including Obama have nothing to offer but US bankruptcy, endless wars, poverty, hopelessness and despair.
RON PAUL 2012
"I believe as many others that racism will always exist and IMO the world should be segregated" That is the smartest and most accurate statement that I have ever heard from a b l a ck mouth! So there are 1 or 2 out there with brains..
Yeah? Look at Wes Welker who leads the league as a receiver. He was a walk on at college and no one in the NFL would even draft him because of the whole "White men can't jump BS". Then you have 100's of black ball players who can't even begin to compete academically, who get a free ride through school while their white classmates pay throught the nose. The knife cuts both ways.
They've been dieing to have a black QB too. But since most couldn't adapt to the game they way it was played, they're changed the rules of the game and turned it into a street dash.
I agree it cuts both ways and i agree some blacks squander their opportunities but you can not say whites don't do the same and as for the rule changes goes they have been put in to slow the game down because as you say whites are not known for their athleticism.
if Tim Tebow were black, he'd be Donovan McNabb. if you can remember back that far.
I do not remember Mcnabb throwing the ball as ugly as Tebow does....but what u was trying to say is Tebow is not out there because of his play he is out there because he received so much coverage and no black quaterback would have got that.
Black people are 13% of the U.S. population ... who do you think put Obama into office? That's right, all those racist white people.
Latinos are now benefiting from rules that were made up to give blacks the upper hand (Affirmative Action). I say.. "Go Latino Go!" If I am told I must hire a minority, even though a white man may be better qualified... then I'll hire a Latino! I know they truly care about family values and have a greater since of job pride than most blacks I've ever met. They will work hard and not mouth off with reverse racism comments. FACT: Latinos are now the largest minority in America.
So you respond to policies designed to curb racism with more racism. Hey Einstein, how about not being so intellectually lazy that you actually evaluate potential job applicants as individuals – based on their demonstrated work histories and achievements – as you would expect to be evaluated. When you interview for a job, you aren't interviewing "most blacks, most latinos, most whites, whomever." You're hiring an individual. How about demonstrating that you aren't completely lazy (a slur you've directed towards all African Americans without appreciating the irony) and do your job properly.
Well, here is the problem: When someone DOES try to evaluate people as individuals, the Left jumps up and down and demands that we think in terms of GROUPS (Affirmative Action, Job Quotas, etc). Then, when we think in terms of groups, the Left starts jumping up and down again and demand that we think in terms of individuals!
The Left is schizophrenic. They demand that conservatives be "colorblind" and then when conservatives REALLY DO start acting colorblind, the Left freaks out because that threatens their narrative of a racist USA that needs constant monitoring!
A sad perpetration of exactly the kind of thinking that caused the problem in the first place. PREFERENCE. If you think affirmative Action gave Blacks some kind of upperhand how come you don't work for one? If your married and your wife has a decent job, you can thank Affirmative Action for that too. If I were Hispanic (latino is an invented word pretaining to Italians) I'd never work for a potential racist like yourself (a lot of Hispanics are darker than I am) SAD can describe anyone who thinks as you do. It's your right as an American but it makes you no less pathetic.
"a lot of Hispanics are darker than I am" Thank you for making it clear that it isn't, and NEVER has been about "color". It is simply the African race. Sorry, but Africans have proven over and over again what "White that prefers Latino over African Americans." is saying. Your races actions are pathetic at best. I could care less what color you are. My wife is probably darker than you too! African Americans need to change their actions if they ever expect to be "accepted"! But that will never happen..
I couldn't agree with you more "White that prefers Latino over African Americans." I prefer ANY race over African Americans!
If you're not familiar with Tim Wise, here's some background:
– He refers to Christians as "jeezoids"
-He refers to African-Americans who disagree with him, even scholars like Thomas Sowell, as "hucksters"
– He didn't know that, in the U.S. Civil War, the North was blue and the South was Gray. He wrote an article attacking a politician for supposedly wearing a Confederate uniform, only to be informed later how wrong he was.
-The day after the September 11 attacks, he wrote an article denouncing the United States, without citing any concern for the victims or denunciation of the terrorists
-After the Columbine school shootings, he wrote an article attacking the parents of the victims
Here are a few quotes from Tim Wise:
“I agree with immigration openness because I basically reject borders…”
“While black Christianity, for example, has long been a theology of liberation, redemption and deliverance, the Christianity of white Americans has almost always been, in its fundamentalist conceptions, a theology of dominion.”
“If fascism comes it will be welcomed, lock stock and barrel by persons who pray at every meal to
a God they visualize as white, whose son they also think was white, and who they believe is going
to rapture them all into the sky upon the blowing of some heavenly trumpet, after which point all
those who don’t think as they think will be burned in an eternal lake of fire. Their vision and
version of God is itself fascistic—to love a God who would do such a thing is to love an abusive,
sadistic and evil deity after all—so it should come as little surprise that their conception of the
state would be equally authoritarian or worse.”
There's so much more....Tim Wise is not anti-racist, he is racist, Christophobic, Marxist, and an apostle of hatred. CNN should be ashamed of itself.
He sounds like an idealist to me. Mostly a boring moron. But he was right on when he wrote:
“If fascism comes it will be welcomed, lock stock and barrel by persons who pray at every meal to
a God they visualize as white, whose son they also think was white, and who they believe is going
to rapture them all into the sky upon the blowing of some heavenly trumpet, after which point all
those who don’t think as they think will be burned in an eternal lake of fire. Their vision and
version of God is itself fascistic—to love a God who would do such a thing is to love an abusive,
sadistic and evil deity after all—so it should come as little surprise that their conception of the
state would be equally authoritarian or worse.”
Give 'em hell, Harry! 🙂
There's never going to be a "post-racial" anything, because race is a reality you cant hide. Multiracialism is a recipe for failure in any nation or state.
So you are saying that only a mono-racial society is viable? Why is Multiracialism a recipe for failure?
I don't think you really understand society or people.
So how come we're the "Greatest nation on earth"? Nobody is indigenous to this country and the Natives were here first followed by (Oh, My GOD.) the Spanish. Sounds mighty multicultural to me. What your problem is is elitism. You are angry because you perseve you place as "Top Dog" is being supplanted by "others". PATHETIC. The new top minority will be muliti-racials in about 25 years. With any luck you will have gone to judgement by then (good luck on that day).
One is a proven working society, the other is still based on theory that we're testing now.
"greatest nation on earth" says who? And even that status is slipping away quickly. It became great after WW2 when America was still predominately white. But keep ignoring reality, we'll see where we all end up.
Did you notice my quotation marks indicating sarcasm? We are certainly not "great" and never were. You and the others dissenting here, as usual, have made it clear that you will never accept anyone other than whites as Americans. While we are as mainstream in most cases as anybody else you frame your statements as ideology rather than a fact based account of some "reason" that all are alike because of skin color. The film "Watermelon Man" (not a black superhero) exposed you a long time ago. There is hope for the future though. Just ask M & M. or visit your local trailer park we can site bad behaviour among any racial group you choose. Perhaps you'd enjoy Newt's moon colony where like minds will gather.
Interesting article. My community (Southern MN which is predominantly white) built a new elementary school and called it "Rosa Parks Elementary". This topic is too broad to generalize how people perceive race. True issues remain, but it also true that it's no longer the 1960's. We've come a long way from there.
You're giving this idiot too much credit when you say his was an "interesting article." This is a bomb throwing, race baiting, American-hating Marxist wanna-be who would love to see this country torn apart and tries his best to incite said end with lies and false accusations. For CNN it pick up his blog and give it a large forum is shameful and speaks volumes about this news organization's true heart of darkness. This is not news worthy. This is not rigorous thought or even smart editorial. This is an anti-American rant from someone who secretly cheered when the towers went down. Wise is the true enemy of this country!
First off the first modern era civil right legislation was passed by congress in the 1950's under Eisenhower. Unfortunately it weas very watered down by LBJ and the democrats. A fact my best friend mother when I was young (they were a black family) always held against LBJ.
Second, does the author know the meaning of apartheid. I don't think so.
And finally, a white man, a guess who feels guilty for being white, writing books on the suffering of black americans.
I give credence to those african american friends I have who went through the civil rights fight of the 50's and 60's.
But this is just more liberal guilt, now I feel better writing.
We won't get over race as an issue until people stop using it as an excuse. Both white and black.
Great comment.
BINGO! You just the smartest comment of the day award!
'We won't get over race as an issue until people stop using it as an excuse. Both white and black."
We won't get over race until people stop using it as an excuse, term of membership, cry of camaraderie, criteria of inclusion or basis of opposition.
These apply to anyone of any group.
"Excuse" in the context you use it implies an explanation to justify a situation or obtain forgiveness. Are you honestly disputing that racial profiling exists or poll taxes specifically targeted African Americans, Native Americans weren’t put on reservations, zoning laws in Los Angeles didn’t segregate blacks? Seriously?
When we look in the mirror, we don’t always like what we she staring back at us but it doesn’t make the reality any less true.