What's Wrong With Being a Racist???

Well as I sit at my desk there are at least four articles on yahoo headlines that are focused on Donald Sterling and his off the collar remarks. I partook in a very lively debate a few days ago on my Cousin’s Will’s wall and a few other buddies that I have, we briefly spoke/posted about it. Now anyone who knows me knows I don’t shy away from controversy nor do I seek it out. However I am a strong, very independent and free thinking man and I’m not afraid if my view point doesn’t mirror up with anyone else’s…and I do mean anyone. I like getting folks to think not only about themselves but about how we act and what we do vs. don’t do within our society.

Alright let’s talk about racists. Now, let me say this…if you’re uncomfortable with this discussion or the subject in general, I’d suggest you stop reading now. But if you’re curious and interested in what I am gonna talk about, keep on reading. And if you’re gonna read I ask you to do just one thing, LISTEN FOR UNDERSTANDING….NOT AGREEMENT. Ok, before I get started, I wanna throw out a few definitions so that you can refer back to them as I continue with the discussion

RACE: A division of human beings identified by the possession of traits that are transmissible by descent and are sufficient to characterize persons possessing these traits as a distinctive human genotype.(in other words your GENEs make up your race not skin color)

RACISM: Maybe viewed as an attitude, action (conscious or unconscious), or institutional structure, that subordinates an individual or group because of skin color or race.

RACIST: A person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others.

BIGOT: One who is strongly partial to one’s group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

PERSONAL/INDIVIDUAL RACISM: Prejudicial beliefs & discriminatory behavior of a bigot against an individual or group.

RACIAL PREJUDICE: Racial prejudice is a feeling or dislike based upon a faulty and inflexible generalization due to race. Prejudice may be felt or expressed. It may be directed toward an individual or group.

INSTITUTIONAL RACISM: The policies, practices, actions or procedures of military communities, schools, businesses, and other groups/organizations that restrict the opportunities of an individual or group and violates the statutory laws prohibiting such wrongs.

Ok, that was a mouthful. So let’s get back to the title of this. What is wrong with being a racist? And I’m asking this question honestly because I wonder how many people have really looked at just what is a racist. You see in our society we love to use the economizing phenomenon and instead of educating ourselves before we make a judgment we use this perceptual concept, which is the mind’s ability to take in new information, combine it with old information, and formulate new ideas through quick deduction.  It’s sort of a “quick fix” that happens when we don’t have time to fully analyze the new information.  When you hear certain words in our societal vocabulary they instinctively cause reactions in certain situations. Words like racism, sexist, homo, faggot, fag, nigger, bitch, wetback, asshole, rapist, gook, Oreo, etc. etc are imbedded within our culture as some, regardless of the definition, these words and others have taken on a life of their own. Some are positive while most are negative.  So generally when you hear or witness one being used you immediately fill in the missing information and your opinion and perception are formed; especially if a person has used it and directed it at another.

                In America we pride ourselves on being free and all things associated with being free and having freedom. Free to be just what we want and or believe in what we want. Whether it’s free speech or the right to bear arms most Americans fully believe in the principles associated with freedom and go to great lengths to show their support for them. Whether it’s 20 guns locked in your gun safe or a front yard full of cars, this is America and you’re free to do it. This freedom and freedom of speech includes protests, petitions, sit-ins, boycotts just to name a few. The irony to having all these freedoms is…you really aren’t free. We all, on paper have the same freedoms but in reality we don’t.

                Let’s take one such freedom that many Americans CLAIM they will go to jail for and almost die for; that freedom being free speech. The premise of free speech is that it’s a constitutional right and we have the right to use it. Freedom of speech in this country is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws. Knowing this, many Americans feel they have a right to say what they wish because…the constitution says so. So if you call someone say an asshole it’s seemingly protected and you have the right to do so. You also have the right to say the President is a dumbass and not be sent to the “Gulag” for it. But with any freedom we tend to overdo them at times. Well, I guess that’s as good a foundation as I need. Hell, all of you who are reading this have at least a grade school education and enough time walking on this earth to have experienced some of life’s challenges so I need not go any farther.

                This leads me back to my topic. So why can’t a person be a racist if they choose too? And why are we ignoring the definition of that word and only applying it to people we want too? Most of the time when we think of a Racist we think of a Klan member or some other white person who hates and despises anyone who isn’t “white” just like them (whatever that “white” maybe). But when there is someone who is non-white and expresses a view that’s identical or very, very similar many in our society and the media rationalize the behavior and label it something else. If an Asian parent feels that their son marrying a Hispanic female is BENEATH them…then these Asian parents are indeed racist. You could also call them bigots. Why don’t we call them racist? Oh, yeah, because they aren’t white. Because we have been programmed and socialized to believe that racists are white. We will rationalize that the Asian parents only want the best for their son and that they just want their son to marry a “good” Asian girl. This very attitude and behavior can be seen within all the ethnic groups across America.  What I’m saying is that on any given day we hear, witness and truth be told probably partake in some action(s) that is racist. But because of the perception and stereotype associated with that word, we excuse the behavior of our friends, family members and ourselves; instead of calling them out on those behaviors and actions. This reminds me of the whole Chic-Fil-A incident a few years ago. Same type of thing. A person expressed their personal views and were attacked for it.

                Donald Sterling probably is a racist but is that a crime? Nope. I have read that he paid a $3 million dollar fine for denying housing to blacks stating that “they smelled and attracted vermin.” Who the hell says VERMIN? LOL. Anyhoo, denying housing is a crime; he was found guilty or given a plea deal and paid up and I support that 100%. But if you are simply stating that you don’t like someone based on their skin color yet you don’t act on it or discriminate…what’s the problem? People do this every single day and many of you say nothing. Many of you will walk passed an interracial couple and cut your eyes or make comments. Really? And you got issues with Sterling too. We are heading down a slippery slope when we start attacking folks for their own personal views especially IF THEY AREN'T ACTING ON THEM. Again, not talking about those that do act on them. Sterling apparently has been like this for years but it seems as long as everyone was benefiting...we will simply ignore the crazy old man because he's paying us.
              
                 I wonder how many people who are reading this have FRIENDS from different ethnic groups. I also wonder how many DON'T have friends from other ethnic groups. People you'll label as friends yet you don’t interact with them in a social setting. But you are friends on Facebook right? I don’t mean the Indian guy (work friend only) that works in the office next to yours but the Arabic neighbor (friend) whose always at your home for weekend parties that you do things socially with and not concerned to be seen in public with. Are we really saying that if you choose not to associate with people of your choosing...you're a racist? Just because I don’t support gay marriage doesn’t mean I’m a homophobe and hate gays. It simply means I don’t support gay marriage.

                                Our society turns a blind eye to behaviors from some races yet others we attack with vigor as we must right the wrongs being committed; shouldn’t we right ALL WRONGS not the ones we want to right and look the other way on some? Isn’t it ironic that a few months ago Richard Sherman was attacked and called all kinds of names? Many of the same people are probably the ones outraged by Sterling’s remarks and I’m betting some agree with him. Some even felt Sherman deserved the backlash he received and they are probably the same one’s saying how what Sterling said was wrong. The ban for life on Sterling is wrong. And it’s wrong for one simple reason it’s not against the law to be a racist. It’s morally frowned upon, but not illegal. If you hold a sign saying, “I HATE WOPS!” Is that illegal, is that not free speech? You know, we can’t have our cake and eat it too. We can’t say we want free speech but when someone says something that’s clearly covered under free speech, yet we don’t like it we get angry, mad, offended and demand that action taken against them.

                I’ve talked about system/victim focus several times and in several posts when I discussed it conceptually as it applies to things we do within our society. I said CONCEPTUALLY!!!! Victim focus is a reactive problem-solving approach which narrowly defines social problems in terms of the victims.  It sees the victim as the cause of the problems, and focuses on how we can fix the victims and integrate them back into the system.  In other words, there is sometimes a tendency to “blame the victim” rather than looking at the entire picture to determine exactly what the problem is. So Donald Sterling is the victim in this. And what will we do?

a)      First step, identify a social problem: Donald Sterling is a racist.

b)      Study those affected and determined how they are different: He’s rich, old and white.

c)       Define the differences as the cause: He’s old, rich white which makes him out of touch.

d)      Assign someone or something to correct the differences: NBA Commissioner steps in with a fine and ban for life. Problem solved racist gone.

 

The other half of this equation is knowing, understanding and applying system focus. System Focus is a proactive problem-solving approach which broadly defines social problems as being part of, or caused by, the system, organization, society, or community.  We look at the system which produces the victims, and address the problem by determining how we can change or improve the system as well as the victims, to prevent further problems. The System (our society) produced Donald Sterling as our society creates racist people. I’m sure we all know if you place a bunch of children in a room they will all play together. They will not pay attention to skin color until an ADULT points this out and then teaches them that there is a difference. So…racist aren’t born…they are taught. This can also be seen when you travel abroad and how those in the country you’re visiting thinks and views we Americans. Racist are clearly a product of their environment. Calling Sterling the “victim” doesn’t mean he’s right or you agree with him or liked what he said. It means you acknowledge that there is a bigger issue that must be addressed and that Sterling’s actions made you aware of the issues. And that those issues must be dealt with because fixing the individual doesn't solve the problem.

So instead of focusing solely on Sterling we should be looking at other areas not only inside the NBA but the NFL, MLB, cooperation’s, the Government, etc.etc. If Sterling is a racist owner, I’d bet my life there is at least one other owner or CEO or whatever that is also a racist. And I'm sure we all know that there are a lot more. Lynching Sterling isn’t going to stop racist behavior or racism. What will stop it is our society teaching our children and enforcing in them that it starts with them and they should do all within their power not to fall into the stereotypes and not to do the things that will be viewed in our society as racist. When you have a BBQ at your home invite that co-worker that you only speak too at work. Expand your circle of friends. Educate your children. Play different music while riding in the car. Have a conversation with someone that you have nothing in common with. Be a leader amongst your peers because the climate and behavior of an organization is an indicator about the attitudes and actions demonstrated by its leaders. Debates are frequently win-lose, while what you want to accomplish are win-win situations.  You should put out your viewpoints on issues and allow others to come back and state their own views on that particular matter.  This will make way for some new and different perspectives or approaches to develop.  If they feel it was impart their own idea, they will be more likely to embrace it and change.

                Do y’all get what it is I’m saying? What are you personally doing to make things better? What does your circle of friends look like? Who comes to your poker game? Who comes to your cook outs? Who attends your daughter’s birthday parties? We surround ourselves with folks that look like us, sound like us and act like us. And those that are different we simply don’t include. Are we being selective or racist or are we rationalizing our behavior? Donald Sterling expressed his self in a personal conversation to someone he was intimate with and in a relationship with. Behind closed doors not to the media or general public. What you say to your wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, lover, etc is your business not mine. Only when you stop someone from moving forward is when I personally will have a problem with it. I wonder what some of you would think if you heard me speak inside my home or car. Or what I say about people when no one is listening or can hear. I wonder if you’d be quick to label me a racist.