2008 Woodie Awards
Racism still plays role in America
Matt Watson
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Opinion
Matt Watson is the opinion editor of The Reflector. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Today marks the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., who was shot in Memphis in 1968. He was shot presumably because he advocated equal rights for African-Americans. It is not often these days we hear about an assassination resulting from prejudice, although such murders do happen from time to time, as our letters in this issue point out.
However, since men today aren't as prone to walk around wearing bed sheets (as Forrest Gump would say), several people I have met seem to believe racism is something of the past. Although I understand the woes faced by Mississippians who have to defend against "Yankees," specifically certain media outlets who sometimes portray our region as one dominated by nightly lynch mobs, we can't ignore the observable fact that racism still lingers. Contrary to some socially conservative thinkers, America does see race, and it's not just the South.
When election day comes in November, there are people (I have met them) who won't vote for Barack Obama since he is black. Some are also apprehensive about voting for someone who they have been lead to believe is a Muslim. While this misconception highlights religious intolerance and ethnocentrism more so than racism, it was spread in part by negatively throwing around Obama's name, which is a product of his African heritage.
To further prove that America does see race, Obama is also accused of not being "black enough." A year ago, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) said what many people, even African-Americans, had on their minds.
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," he said, as quoted by CNN.
While Biden implied that black people aren't normally clean or nice-looking, his comment ironically underlined a prejudice some African-Americans had - that Obama had too much white in him, as he is biracial.
Another issue that at least partially illustrates racial prejudice in America is the manner in which people, from talk show host Sean Hannity to Hillary Clinton, have dealt with the relationship between Obama and his former minister, Jeremiah Wright. Instead of acknowledging that all black preachers don't display their patriotism the same way white aristocrats do, Hannity and Clinton condemned Obama for simply knowing the guy. Even after Obama's painstakingly moderate speech on race, Hannity and Clinton couldn't get this through their thick heads.
Unlike some other countries, America has an intrinsic tendency to see things by looking at race. While this may not always result in racism, it easily breeds it. And even though a lot of Americans may not be racists by definition, they may display prejudice in certain situations, like Clinton did when responding to video clips of Wright's sermons.
Also, a look at a few obvious things points to this inherent tendency in our culture to see race. For instance, just how many African-Americans have been president of MSU? Actually, they have all been white men (surprise!). Likewise, every one of our U.S. presidents have been white men. Furthermore, no Southeastern Conference school, save MSU, has ever had an African-American football head coach. If you want more, read the comments on The Reflector's Web site under former columnist Jacie Williams' Nov. 6 article with the headline "Race shouldn't render dating obstacle."
A long time from now, we will still consciously have to deal with racism in America. As King declared in his "I Have a Dream" speech, "1963 is not an end, but a beginning."
Today marks the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., who was shot in Memphis in 1968. He was shot presumably because he advocated equal rights for African-Americans. It is not often these days we hear about an assassination resulting from prejudice, although such murders do happen from time to time, as our letters in this issue point out.
However, since men today aren't as prone to walk around wearing bed sheets (as Forrest Gump would say), several people I have met seem to believe racism is something of the past. Although I understand the woes faced by Mississippians who have to defend against "Yankees," specifically certain media outlets who sometimes portray our region as one dominated by nightly lynch mobs, we can't ignore the observable fact that racism still lingers. Contrary to some socially conservative thinkers, America does see race, and it's not just the South.
When election day comes in November, there are people (I have met them) who won't vote for Barack Obama since he is black. Some are also apprehensive about voting for someone who they have been lead to believe is a Muslim. While this misconception highlights religious intolerance and ethnocentrism more so than racism, it was spread in part by negatively throwing around Obama's name, which is a product of his African heritage.
To further prove that America does see race, Obama is also accused of not being "black enough." A year ago, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) said what many people, even African-Americans, had on their minds.
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," he said, as quoted by CNN.
While Biden implied that black people aren't normally clean or nice-looking, his comment ironically underlined a prejudice some African-Americans had - that Obama had too much white in him, as he is biracial.
Another issue that at least partially illustrates racial prejudice in America is the manner in which people, from talk show host Sean Hannity to Hillary Clinton, have dealt with the relationship between Obama and his former minister, Jeremiah Wright. Instead of acknowledging that all black preachers don't display their patriotism the same way white aristocrats do, Hannity and Clinton condemned Obama for simply knowing the guy. Even after Obama's painstakingly moderate speech on race, Hannity and Clinton couldn't get this through their thick heads.
Unlike some other countries, America has an intrinsic tendency to see things by looking at race. While this may not always result in racism, it easily breeds it. And even though a lot of Americans may not be racists by definition, they may display prejudice in certain situations, like Clinton did when responding to video clips of Wright's sermons.
Also, a look at a few obvious things points to this inherent tendency in our culture to see race. For instance, just how many African-Americans have been president of MSU? Actually, they have all been white men (surprise!). Likewise, every one of our U.S. presidents have been white men. Furthermore, no Southeastern Conference school, save MSU, has ever had an African-American football head coach. If you want more, read the comments on The Reflector's Web site under former columnist Jacie Williams' Nov. 6 article with the headline "Race shouldn't render dating obstacle."
A long time from now, we will still consciously have to deal with racism in America. As King declared in his "I Have a Dream" speech, "1963 is not an end, but a beginning."
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 10
Roberto Cabrera
posted 4/04/08 @ 9:07 AM CST
I do belive that the majority of america hopes that they are not labled as being racist. but what you are taught to belive is benificial for the progress of your own kind whether right or wrong for years does not go away even in forty years. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 4/04/08 @ 10:26 AM CST
I agree that racism is still a major issue in this country but it seems to have switched to rasicm against white Americans. Why is it that when every we have to feel out a job application or a college application we have to say what ethinicity we are? Race should not matter, the most qualified person should get the job or get into that school. (Continued…)
Mechelle in Mississippi
posted 4/04/08 @ 1:39 PM CST
White people don't even realize their racists. Not only that, they have the power to to keep people from obtaining a piece of America's economic pie. Sure we can sit down at a table with whites or go to school with whites, but what good is that if we can't get the same jobs, the same pay, the same loan rates, etc. (Continued…)
Rob
posted 4/04/08 @ 1:41 PM CST
Ryan,
Any section on race in a job application is optional, and should be clearly identified as such on the application.
Who said it was ok for a black person to call a white person a cracker? Are you referring to comedians such as Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle? I've never heard or seen that condoned in any non-artistic fashion. (Continued…)
Patrick
posted 4/05/08 @ 1:56 PM CST
Rob said "And the whole access to secret documents argument is just stupid."
Stupid is such a harsh word. Rob, you don't believe in cover-ups? Surely you don't believe everything you hear. (Continued…)
robcsnm
posted 4/05/08 @ 4:25 PM CST
[quote]And the whole "access to secret documents" argument is just stupid.[/quote]
I don't think so. One of the great benefits of the internet is that like the printing press 500 years ago, it is letting people find out about why they are in the condition they are in. (Continued…)
Nick
posted 4/07/08 @ 2:06 AM CST
First off, of course not all whites are racist. Last time i chkd alot of whites were involved in the civil rights movement. 2 of the 3 civil rights workers killed in mississippi in the "mississippi burning" incident were white. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:17 AM CST
In response to "Anonymous"
His Comment "Additionally, don't be rediculous by comparing McCain's pastor's attitudes with those of an African American pastor. (Continued…)
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