Here's why
Almost all Americans agree that racism is wrong� But a lot of people also worry that the charge of racism can be abused. We can all think of examples: Tawana Brawley� Clarence Thomas� and of course there's O.J. Simpson� Ever since the acquittal of O.J, the idea that race is a 'card' to be played for selfish advantage has become commonplace�
The Race Card will examine the prevalence of dubious and questionable accusations of racism and other types of bias� The term 'racism' is in a state of crisis� Self-serving individuals, rabble-rousers, and political hacks use accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia and other types of 'bias' tactically, to advance their own ends [while] people of goodwill may make sincere claims that strike others as obviously wrongheaded."
-- Excerpted from the Introduction (pages 6-7, and 36)
Was it fair for a billionaire like Oprah Winfrey to cry racism when an upscale store refused her admittance, unaware that she was a celebrity? How about Michael Jackson's undergoing a series of cosmetic surgery procedures to turn himself white only to later conveniently reclaim his blackness when he wanted to allege that his record company had treated him like a slave?
Clarence Thomas successfully squelched further inquiry into his fitness for the Supreme Court during his confirmation hearings by publicly alleging that the proceedings amounted to little more than a "high-tech lynching." And hip-hop mogul Jay-Z called for a black boycott of a pricey brand of champagne after an executive with the company complained about having their product associated with gangsta rap.
<TABLE class=newspicr><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=smallbusin0f7-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0374245754&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr" frameBorder=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
According to Richard Thompson Ford, author of The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse, these incidents suggest that some relatively well-to-do and well-connected African-Americans might be willing to make inappropriate accusations of prejudice for purely selfish reasons. The problem is that in the process they are subverting the honorable ideals of the Civil Rights Movement to eradicate Jim Crow segregation and the more egregious evidence of the vestiges of slavery in society.
The author laments that such manipulation has backfired, because "it distracts attention from larger social injustices" and "encourages vindictiveness and provokes defensiveness when open-mindedness and sympathy are needed." He goes on to say that whites were disheartened to observe African-Americans celebrating the O.J. verdict, which they saw as "a frightening indication that many blacks would rejoice in retaliatory injustices."
For whites often feel they are themselves the victims of a demeaning racial stereotype that would have everyone believe they are "plain vanilla" and "dull milquetoasts" whose virtues can only be narrowly assessed "by grades and test scores." Regardless of whether white men can't jump or have rhythm, leveling charges of either racism or reverse-racism for unmerited advantage are more likely to engender responses of cynicism than empathy nowadays.
Ford concludes that opportunists who resort to the tactic of playing the race card "are the enemies of truth, social harmony, and social justice." His solution? "For all decent and honest people" to join in condemning any such perpetrators. Certainly, food for thought at the dawn of what has been dubbed by some a post-racial age.
How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse
by Richard Thompson Ford
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Hardcover
400 pages
ISBN: 0374245754
judythpiazza@newsblaze.com
http://newsblaze.com/story/20080520113647tsop.nb/topstory.html
Almost all Americans agree that racism is wrong� But a lot of people also worry that the charge of racism can be abused. We can all think of examples: Tawana Brawley� Clarence Thomas� and of course there's O.J. Simpson� Ever since the acquittal of O.J, the idea that race is a 'card' to be played for selfish advantage has become commonplace�
The Race Card will examine the prevalence of dubious and questionable accusations of racism and other types of bias� The term 'racism' is in a state of crisis� Self-serving individuals, rabble-rousers, and political hacks use accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia and other types of 'bias' tactically, to advance their own ends [while] people of goodwill may make sincere claims that strike others as obviously wrongheaded."
-- Excerpted from the Introduction (pages 6-7, and 36)
Was it fair for a billionaire like Oprah Winfrey to cry racism when an upscale store refused her admittance, unaware that she was a celebrity? How about Michael Jackson's undergoing a series of cosmetic surgery procedures to turn himself white only to later conveniently reclaim his blackness when he wanted to allege that his record company had treated him like a slave?
Clarence Thomas successfully squelched further inquiry into his fitness for the Supreme Court during his confirmation hearings by publicly alleging that the proceedings amounted to little more than a "high-tech lynching." And hip-hop mogul Jay-Z called for a black boycott of a pricey brand of champagne after an executive with the company complained about having their product associated with gangsta rap.
<TABLE class=newspicr><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=smallbusin0f7-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0374245754&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr" frameBorder=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
According to Richard Thompson Ford, author of The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse, these incidents suggest that some relatively well-to-do and well-connected African-Americans might be willing to make inappropriate accusations of prejudice for purely selfish reasons. The problem is that in the process they are subverting the honorable ideals of the Civil Rights Movement to eradicate Jim Crow segregation and the more egregious evidence of the vestiges of slavery in society.
The author laments that such manipulation has backfired, because "it distracts attention from larger social injustices" and "encourages vindictiveness and provokes defensiveness when open-mindedness and sympathy are needed." He goes on to say that whites were disheartened to observe African-Americans celebrating the O.J. verdict, which they saw as "a frightening indication that many blacks would rejoice in retaliatory injustices."
For whites often feel they are themselves the victims of a demeaning racial stereotype that would have everyone believe they are "plain vanilla" and "dull milquetoasts" whose virtues can only be narrowly assessed "by grades and test scores." Regardless of whether white men can't jump or have rhythm, leveling charges of either racism or reverse-racism for unmerited advantage are more likely to engender responses of cynicism than empathy nowadays.
Ford concludes that opportunists who resort to the tactic of playing the race card "are the enemies of truth, social harmony, and social justice." His solution? "For all decent and honest people" to join in condemning any such perpetrators. Certainly, food for thought at the dawn of what has been dubbed by some a post-racial age.
How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse
by Richard Thompson Ford
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Hardcover
400 pages
ISBN: 0374245754
judythpiazza@newsblaze.com
http://newsblaze.com/story/20080520113647tsop.nb/topstory.html
How do whites distinguish between actually racial or prejudice acts that are legit and ones that are BS? Do some of you actually believe that Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton haven't done some good in their lives? Why does someone like Rush Limbaugh get a pass from whites and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton get hammered by white people? I'm just curious and want to hear candid, intelligent feedback.
100 years ago the folk who said blacks were equal were the weirdos.
Nowadays those who say they aren't quite(kinda thing) are the weirdos.
The thing is, every human system on the planet is riddled with various tribal restrictions and cliques.
masons moslems jews oxbridge christians protestants catholics yale black white bla bla bla so to legislate against it is like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon.
Nowadays those who say they aren't quite(kinda thing) are the weirdos.
The thing is, every human system on the planet is riddled with various tribal restrictions and cliques.
masons moslems jews oxbridge christians protestants catholics yale black white bla bla bla so to legislate against it is like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon.
Do you think Beantownjim is more of a character created who post at various forums to create views? Al, Jesse and Rush on the other hand are real people who we've all seen including their antics but I didn't want this post to be strictly about them. So going back to the original question: Why are white people so sensitive when someone accuses them or perceives them to be racist?
Personally it seems like if you really want to make a white man or woman made, all you have to do is call them racist or give the perception they're racist and they lose it. Is it more of a guilty feeling of knowing how one really feels inside or concern of what other may think???? Just trying to get an understanding. Racist seems to be the white person N word.
I agree with this but why does it get whites riled up as opposed to other nationalities? Some say that whites are the only true racists on this planet because they wield power worldwide and have a history of oppression and manipulation of lesser viewed people. Does racism encompass this in your opinion?
Observation and I agree it shouldn't mean anything to you. That's my point. Someone could say you're an alligator but that doesn't make you one. Would you call any of those people a n*gger regardless of race in their presence or do it in your familiar surroundings?
NAACP is a racist Org... What would happen if I started a NAAWP? I would be called racist right? What about National urban league ect... What about Jet Magazine ect? Some Blacks use race card to get away with murder ...Whites get riled up because theryr FED up with it already...You sound like teacher or a student looking for ideas for your term paper or a shrink... Read the book.
