Two kinds of racism
Submitted by Rollie Hawk on Tue, 01/17/2006 - 14:20.
This morning I saw a news report on a speech Hillary Clinton gave this weekend at a predominantly black church. It was supposed to be a "celebration" of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At this event, she said something to the effect of "this administration is running this country like a plantation and I think you know what I mean by that."
Now perhaps I'm being blinded by my whiteness or my fierce loyalty to this president, but I can't say I know what that means. But what struck me is that there are two kinds of racism in this country.
One kind is filled with people who say minorities are just a bunch of stupid, lazy niggers, spics, chinks, hebes, and whatever else. The reality with these types is that they are actually threatened by other people (minorities or not) and they are trying to cover that with their hurtful words.
The other kind is populated by people who look at minorities and see people who can't help themselves and need to be given (and I stress the word "given") assistance whether by governments, communities, or businesses. What drives this type of racism is a feeling of pity for other people.
Not being a member of any recognized racial minority, I can't say for sure which would bother me more if I were. But in my life I have experienced both pity from some and being seen as threatening to others. Given my own experience, I have a feeling which kind of racism I would perceive as being more dangerous.
Now perhaps I'm being blinded by my whiteness or my fierce loyalty to this president, but I can't say I know what that means. But what struck me is that there are two kinds of racism in this country.
One kind is filled with people who say minorities are just a bunch of stupid, lazy niggers, spics, chinks, hebes, and whatever else. The reality with these types is that they are actually threatened by other people (minorities or not) and they are trying to cover that with their hurtful words.
The other kind is populated by people who look at minorities and see people who can't help themselves and need to be given (and I stress the word "given") assistance whether by governments, communities, or businesses. What drives this type of racism is a feeling of pity for other people.
Not being a member of any recognized racial minority, I can't say for sure which would bother me more if I were. But in my life I have experienced both pity from some and being seen as threatening to others. Given my own experience, I have a feeling which kind of racism I would perceive as being more dangerous.