Posted
by Jill Ensley
March 17, 2009 at 8:03 p.m.
Hate Gas vs. The Honest Racist
The other night, I had crawfish for the first time. I know, I know. How did I not get tarred and feathered? And yes, I did suck 'em. But really, who is surprised at that? GUFFAW.
The thing that I can't go along with, that I can't get used to, is the rampant and blatant racism. It'll rear its ugly head at the most quiet of times....like after a tired day of canvassing last Summer and some helpful Slidellian or Baton Rouge-ian is chatting away, sweet as pecan pie, only to offer me some advice about not going over there because there are, you know, black people. DEAR GOD, thank you! You have saved me from being a decent human being. Here, have a cookie, asshole.
The instances that get me the most actually, are the ones on a certain website. One that I won't mention because frankly, I'm embarrassed that it's the portal to most information in this city.
A few days ago there was a shooting in Mid City. Mid City is predominantly white, middle-class families...and there are those who would like to keep it that way and aren't afraid of saying so. The shooting took place in the early hours of the morning as two males were gunned down while sitting in their car. One was from the 9th Ward. Little information was given other than what I've just said. However, the 200+ comments after this story quickly assumed that not only were the shooters and victims black, but that they were doing a drug deal, were on welfare, and good riddance.
A couple days later, there was a short note about Super Sunday being postponed. Super Sunday is the best chance for the general public to see many of the Mardi Gras Indians and is a long-standing tradition. I, myself, was really excited to see them, so went looking for a reschedule date. It makes me so proud of my fellow human beings that the first reactions to the simple note that Super Sunday had been rescheduled for next weekend elicited not only a "WHO CARES?????", but a few negative assholes saying the Indians are nothing but gangs and thanks to the rain, a few less people will be shot. And I thought LJ-W commenters were bad.
As a "Northerner", I'm used to people having the decency to keep these ugly thoughts to themselves, and I'm not quite sure which is better...to get it out in the open and be honest about your hate, or to keep in under lock and key, only letting it out in little bursts in private...like farts...stinky hate farts.
I have no answer to that, and by god, it's parade o'clock. It's ALWAYS parade o' clock these days. Hey! It's Thursday! Let's have a G-D parade!
and 2 others
Comments
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alm77 (anonymous) says…
I think the problem with the "honest" racists is that they perpetuate it. Those who keep those feelings and thoughts to themselves keep them from infecting the next generation.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
Well, having been raised in Southern Missouri, I can tell you that children aren't so great at identifying "why it's so damn stupid". It's better for them to not learn it in the first place.
Keith (anonymous) says…
They're going to learn it, because the very people who are careful enough to keep their prejudice to themselves in public are not at all shy about what they say in private.
Jill, I know exactly how you feel, I just spent a week back in my hometown in SW La and the ONLY thing that keeps me from considering moving back there is the racism. I spend a week there biting my tongue and trying not to scream at lifelong friends. Friends who are not uneducated, but can't or won't break out of the mold of the racist southerner.
mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) says…
Yeah, but then we get to point and say to our children, "OMG, look at that stupid asshat! Hey, see this behavior here? It's really moronic, and if I ever catch you trying to turn out this stupid, I'll beat your ass."
The keep-it-to-yourself racists never *totally* conceal it, anyway. It comes out in their words and actions, just in a more subtle, harder-to-confront version. Nope, I like my labels clear and my distinctions easy to make--let's encourage them to wear Tshirts.
DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
I dunno. I have a theory that we are all racist (and sexist, and religionist, and classist, etc...) to some degree. And it is based on the same tribal foundation that leads people to want to muck fizzou (sp). Articulating every moronic thought casually does indeed perpetuate these ideas. I am more suspicious of those who declaim racism as if they are somehow morally exempt and therefore superior, so there is, in fact, no moral high ground available.
Navigating the gray waters requires equal measures of restraint and self awareness.
DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
But then, everybody knows there's two kinds of people in the world: Those who ask, "Who's Allison Krauss?" and those who ask, "Who's Robert Plant?"
godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
Oh Dots, it always comes down to RPAK with you.
And I will admit, I've had some passing asshat thoughts about the day-laborers who cat-call me as I biked by. I'll admit it. Then I remember that it's a different culture, as misogynistic as it may be. But in the end, everyone has the potential to be an asshole, no matter where you came from or what you look like. I guess the point is, would you rather be harassed up front, or sucker punched after you've been talking to someone for 20 mins. I think I'd take the quicker method.
Living down here has, however, given me more insight into why my mother thinks the way she does. I spend many a conversation with her railing against it, don't condone it, but at least I can see where some of it comes from.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
dup, I wasn't talking about *my* kids. I was talking about the ones that belong to closet racists (and I think dots *again* articulated my point better than I could). I grew up with parents who I wouldn't necessarily classify as racists in practice, but have told some horrible jokes about our Commander in Chief. Which affirms many of the above statements. However, knowing that my parents made an effort (and succeeded most of the time) to button up their thoughts and also to talk about the subject of racism as best they could ("I know I shouldn't feel this way, but...") in order to keep from passing these ideas down, means something.
DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
Duplenty brought up non Raising Sand appreciators which reminded me of B52 fans which reminded me of shit.
Hold on, now. Stay with me here.
Racism is like shit. You know everybody does it, but who wants people shitting in the street? Duplenty would prefer interacting with those that would throw their shit directly at him(?) rather than those that sneak up behind him and smear some on his(?) back. Why not neither?
Let's hear it for people who can appreciate their daily shit discreetly, and then wipe their asses and go about the rest of their day without getting any on anybody.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
I just think this is a complicated issue. Racists aren't black and white (pun intended), they have these feelings that they either fight or embrace. You're calling the ones who embrace it "honest" and the ones who let it slip "gassers". I think they deserve a bit more respect for at least trying to do the right thing. Feelings are much more complex than "Well, I just won't feel that way anymore." especially when it comes to the feelings of racism, because those feelings are based (almost completely) in fear. I've seen many a racist try to get educated just to have that one unfortunate event (that happens to them or someone they know) that reinforces the fear they had in the first place. It takes many interactions with people who are different than you to begin to accept them and get over your fear. Most racists live in a culturally homogenous area, so unless they specifically leave their side of the segregation line, they aren't getting those interactions. There is a point where even the blatant racists who have had positive experiences will say "Well, *this one* is alright, but..."
So, what I'm saying is that it's not about being "closeted" and hard to recognize, nor is it about shitting quietly and feeling good about it. It's more about an honest struggle with a *perception* that takes time, effort and energy to change. For some people, those opportunities happen naturally in life, for some those opportunities are the return on a large investment.
DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
Why thank you, duplenty! Deep down I knew you cared about and supported my naivete and loving world view.
Alm: Good points. "...nothing to fear but fear itself" is a cliche with legs. What complicates the brew is that some fear (or caution) is good, because no matter how large one's investment toward accepting people, it doesn't mean they have accepted you. The isms are endemic to our nature. I happen to belong to a demographic that is reviled the world over. You know what I mean. The aging straight pot belly American white man. Because of who I am, there are places where I am not safe. That's not up to me and my personal feelings of good will toward men, it's just the way it is.
The areas of gray in all this are wild with subtleties. Mix a little fear with the assumption of superiority, and you have a cocktail that will keep you drunk for life, no matter what you do.
I know white people who have tried. They are offended when the entire Black community doesn't pay homage to them because they don't say nigger anymore. Or calling people racist if they are in favor of the SLT. People are blinded by their own condescension; as if the poor Native Americans are too stupid to articulate their own stake in this piece of land.
So when I say "Why not neither," I'm saying it in the same sense of minimal expectation that I would apply to not shitting in the street. Call me an idealist.
meganstuke (Megan Stuke) says…
If you live in the western world you are a carrier of the disease of racism. I fight it. And when the occasional twinge of some intolerant thought creeps up on me I do everything I can to not only talk myself out of it and remember that I'm wrong in it, but to keep it to my damn self. i don't need to put that kind of thing out there, where other people might hear it and say "See? I am justified in my nasty thinking and bigotry." Never encourage those who do not have the wherewithal to stop their basest instincts on their own. Frankly, it just adds fuel to the fire.
That said, I think Misty is right, and it is fun to point and laugh at them and warn your kids that people like that? They also like to smell their own farts and they eat doggie doo. So let's not be like that, thank you.
DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
I think what he meant was I am MORE than a bit of an ass.
He is right, but I appreciate your efforts - however mis-guided.
godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
Dots is actually a dollop of ass. But as we all know, a dollop will do ya.
Advertising has infected my brain. I don't even remember what that was for.
DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
"...a dollop will do ya."
Jeez, I'm trying to remember how long it's been since I blushed.