Adulting Part Twelve: Who’s the Racist?
Racism is taught. And not just to white people.
“Racist” is probably the most overused, misused word in popular culture today.
The dictionary definition:
Rac•ist. Noun. Shows prejudice against people of other races or believing that one race is superior to another.
Today, in America, you’re racist if you’re not totally politically correct (meaning you’re extremely careful about offending any group of people in society), if you mention race in any way, especially if you’re white, white and male or Conservative leaning politically. And you’re a white supremacist if you disagree with the tag “racist” being placed on you.
If everyone is “racist” or a “white supremacist”, how do you know who’s really racist?
Or what racism really is?
Have we forgotten this?
Have we forgotten Palestine harbors(A place of shelter; a refuge.) Hamas?
One wonders, isn’t this racism?
Do they know the entire history of the region dating back to Biblical times?
Is this racist?
Is one different than the other?
To someone my age, these images are similar.
To someone my age, these images are not similar.
One is about hatred of Jewish people, antisemitism (Antisemitism is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. This sentiment is a form of racism, and a person who harbours it is called an antisemite.).
The other was opposition to a war.
Two very different conflicts and our citizens don’t/didn’t belong in either.
And this one, the ignorance is astounding…
Do you think the protestors today even know about Kent State?
Back when the man had kahunas?
Not suggesting this, but sometimes a generation needs to be bitchslapped.
I often wonder what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would think about the frequent accusation of racism in America today.
My generation, was taught not to see color, but to judge someone by their character.
In order to do that, you must engage with a person, in person.
How much of that goes on today?
Did you know that the white supremacy movement in America was started by Democratic Southerners who were opposed to abolishment of Slavery in America?
You would have to have been taught accurate American history to know that.
Abraham Lincoln(R), the Republican president who freed American slaves wanted to abolish the white supremacy practiced by Southern Democrats who held slaves.
Your public school teachers and University Professors didn’t want you to know that because many of them are Democrats.
How did so many American students become so opposed to Israel?
Racism is taught. And has been for a very long time.
And not just to white people.
In 1949 there was a musical that opened on Broadway that drew controversy because it was based on interracial romance – which during WWII was a taboo (forbidden because of social prohibitions).
The romance was between a American Military Nurse(white) and a Frenchman(also white) who had Polynesian kids(brown+white) with a Polynesian wife(brown) who was killed in the war.
In the movie the Frenchman sings a short, but very precise song.
The musical was “South Pacific” (Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein) and the song was this:
You’ve Got to be Taught
You’ve got to be taught
To hate and fear, you’ve got to be taught from year to year
It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught
To be afraid of people
Whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a different shade
You’ve got to be carefully taught
Just as something is taught, or learned, it can be unlearned as well.
The more the word “racism” is used incorrectly or as a weapon, the more diluted the meaning of the word becomes.
Any conversation about racism will cover uncomfortable territory and may be unacceptable in some people’s eyes.
For some, calling you or another person “racist” is a last resort end to an uncomfortable conversation, or the ultimate insult, whether it is an accurate call or not.
Racism is not unique to the United States. Most countries on the planet have history steeped in racism, some even more so than the United States.
Search “Apartheid South Africa”, “Uighurs racism China”, “Tutsi racism Rwanda”, “Armenian genocide Turkey”.
Sometimes we Americans forget that.
Anyone can experience racism.
If you learn to use the word “racist” sparingly and accurately, you’ll find racism isn’t as widespread and some would have you think.
Offended?
Just wait until next time.
You never know what you’re going to get!
The worst is that not only is some information not being taught but that even referring to some facts or research is deemed unacceptable. And the racism by POC against POC who dare to speak out or even question the CRT narrative, calling them coconuts etc. And this amplified by white ppl.