My Dear Readers,
There are times when I receive correspondence that “compare
apples to oranges.” In today’s posting I am responding to such a request. Although the writing initially surprised me greatly, I
appreciate the opportunity to respond to this. Knowledge can eliminate ignorance, but only if
we want to work towards that healing as a response to hate.
Dr. Kane
Dear Visible Man,
In light of your recent verbal attack on the black men who
you denounced for being full of “racial hatred” for attacking a white man (Another Consequence of Racial Hatred, 4/14/2014),
I wonder how you now feel after hearing Cliven Bundy’s remarks about slavery,
the black family and picking cotton?
Here’s this white man, whom after refusing to pay fees for
grazing his cows for 21 years on federal government land, talking about blacks
being lazy and on welfare, and he feels that he can speak about the work ethic
of black people?
Maybe there’s a reason why some black folks get really upset
and act out their anger. Look at all the
garbage we have to contend with! In the case of the men in Detroit, I think they were angry and
just blew up out of frustration. As a
black man born and raised in America, you of all people should understand what
we as black men have to go through on a day to day basis.
It may be that since you have received all of that
education, you may have forgotten what it is to be black. Or it may be that you just don’t deal with
the average issues confronting black men in white America anymore.
Given what you said about the black men in Detroit in
comparison to what Cliven Bundy is saying about us, you may want to reconsider
your position. Perhaps, even publicly
write an apology.
Just saying,
Really Black, Seattle, WA
Dear Really,
Just saying? It seems
you have said a lot. It would be “real”
for me to simply dismiss your correspondence as simple and petty. However that would be a serious mistake on
my part.
It is my belief that you have just confused the point of my
previous posting. Furthermore, it is
clear that you are attempting to use the comments of Cliven Bundy to justify or
explain the actions taken by the African-American males as they almost beat a
white motorist to death. And, neither my profession nor my education indicates
that I don’t understand that frustration. I am secure in my ethnic and cultural
identity. I simply disagree with you.
First, let us bring clarity to the actual comments made by
Cliven Bundy. In review of the online
version of the Seattle PI (4/24/14), Mr. Bundy is cited as stating the
following:
“I want to tell you one more thing
I know about the Negro. … and in front of that government house the door was
usually open and the older people and the kids- and there is always at least a
half-dozen people sitting on the porch-they didn’t have nothing to do.
They didn’t have nothing for their
kids to do. They didn’t have nothing for
their young girls to do. And because
they were basically on government subsidy, so now what do they do?
They abort their young
children. They put their young men in
jail because they never learned how to pick cotton. And I‘ve often wondered, are they better off
as slaves, picking cotton and having a family life doing things, or are they
better off under government subsidy?
They didn’t get more freedom.
They got less freedom.”
Cliven Bundy’s remarks on slavery, the black family and
picking cotton were met with shock, as his conservative supporters sought to
distance themselves. For example:
·
Senator Rand Paul (R) Kentucky, who has praised
Bundy as a defender of states rights, stated, “His remarks on race are
offensive and I wholeheartedly disagree with him.”
·
Glenn Beck, television and radio host stated,
“If he really thinks that slaves had a family life, just that shows you how
unhinged from reality this guy is.”
Beck goes on to encourage conservative defenders to “end their
relationship with Bundy.”
·
Dana Losech, conservative radio commentator
states Bundy is “not media trained.”
Cliven Bundy reacting in his own defense to his critics,
states:
“They’re making it a racist type
thing. I’m not a racist.”
Cliven Bundy, despite his faults (and there are many), may
be correct here, but for a different reason: in his heart of hearts, he really does
not believe he is a racist. As much as
he is truly speaking directly from his heart and belief system, he is also
speaking out of ignorance, which, as defined is the “lack of knowledge or
information.”
It would be a mistake to engage in similar behaviors as Mr.
Bundy’s current detractors (and former supporters) to simply dismiss him
because of his views. It is unfortunate
that none of his detractors have shown any interest in understanding the basis
of his views or attempting to educate him by providing accurate information
regarding slavery, its impact on the black family and the current dilemmas
being faced by black men. Rather than be dismissive of Mr. Bundy, we as
individuals must want to examine the basis of Mr. Bundy’s beliefs.
This form of racism, typically referred to as “unconscious
racism,” reflects anti Black feelings and behaviors among the affluent middle class. It consists of assumptions and expectations as to how
African-Americans as a group do act, how they should act, what they deserve and
whether they should be treated equitably.
Mr. Bundy’s comments also show characteristics of “aversive
racism,” which is a form of racism where the aversive racist says, “I’m not a
racist, but…” and may then engage in racist statements. In doing so, the aversive racist overtly denies racist intent,
while acting in ways that still feel racist to the target.
Mr. Bundy’s former supporters now seek to distance
themselves from his remarks as they too realize, despite Mr. Bundy’s denials,
the insidious impact that such comments have on the people they are attempting
to influence. Unconscious and aversive
forms of racism are insidious because those who practice it not only deny
racist attitudes in a defensive manner, they also engage in racist behaviors
that are based on supposed evidence consisting of singular personal
encounters. In this situation, it’s Mr.
Bundy’s personal knowledge of “Negroes.”
Concluding Remarks
Mr. Bundy's words, in comparison to the actions of the
group of African-American males in Detroit, are in reality a comparison of apples and
oranges, which other than both groups being fruit, cannot be practically
compared. Specifically, both are derived
from being rooted in racial hate and
pre-supposition, yet are dressed attractively for the unsuspecting consumer,
their own social groups, and the naïve public.
However as previously stated, Mr. Bundy’s words are built on
a foundation of “unconscious racism” whereas the acts of violence in Detroit by
African-American males upon an innocent white motorist were “conscious racism”
based on emotions. Regardless of the
“intent” by either Cliven Bundy or the group of African-American males in
Detroit MI, the “outcome” was wrong.
Both outcomes have traumatic impacts and will continue to
work to reinforce division among us. It is up to us, all of us regarding of
ethnicity, racial group or political views not to allow that division to
continue to create disunity among us.
As stated in the Ten Flashes of Light in the Journey of Life,
(#5)
“When a person exposes the true
self to you, embrace the action and treat it as a gift.”
I do want to thank the writer for providing me the
opportunity to take what was stated and create a vehicle of healing and
understanding.
As I stated in the previous writing:
“It is up to all of us as individuals or as members of
the larger group (society, community and family) to decide whether we will continue
to “live in fear” of each other or have the willingness to “live with fear” and
in doing so have the willingness to openly communicate across the table of
human interaction the differences which not only separates us and also works at
keeping us apart. We will either learn to work
together or work apart.”
The Visible Man
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