With Friends Like These, Who Needs Glenn Beck? (Tim Wise)

[AspenRose]

With Friends Like These, Who Needs Glenn Beck? Racism and White Privilege on the Liberal Left

"His words rang out with an unmistakable certitude.

“This is the most racist place I’ve ever lived,” said the man sitting across from me, a black writer and poet whose acquaintance I had only made earlier that day.

His expression made it clear that this was no mere hyperbole spat out so as to get a reaction. He meant every word and proceeded in about twenty minutes to lay out the case for why indeed this place where we were talking — San Francisco — was far more racist, in his estimation than any of several places he had lived in the South.

Worse than Birmingham.

Worse than Jackson, Mississippi.

Worse than Dallas.

San Francisco. Yes, that San Francisco.

From police harassment to profiling to housing discrimination to a persistent invisibility he’d felt since first arriving, there was no doubt that the ostensibly liberal enclave was head and shoulders above the rest.

And it wasn’t his opinion alone. I have heard similar feelings expressed about the Bay Area by peoples of color many times since, as well as about Seattle, Portland, and any number of other supposedly progressive paradises where various “alternative” types (of white folks at least) seem to feel at home. Even those who wouldn’t rank a place like San Francisco as the most racist city in which they’d lived, are often quick to insist that its racism is comparable to what they’ve experienced elsewhere, which is to say, no less a problem.

When I’ve recounted these discussions with folks of color living in “progressive” cities to my white liberal friends, they have usually recoiled in shock, followed by a kind of white leftie defensiveness that was, sadly, unsurprising. Their responses to the news that black and brown folks don’t find the history of the Haight-Ashbury district, or the Summer of Love all that inspiring — after all, when Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead were entertaining white hippies in the Fillmore, black folks were fighting for their lives across the way in Oakland — often suggest a desire on their part to believe that the people to whom I’d spoken were seeing things.

Unfortunately the pattern is all too common. If people of color complain about racism and discrimination in rural Georgia, no one is surprised. In fact, to many the image is comforting as it fulfills every stereotype, regional and political, that so many folks continue to carry around regarding who the bad guys are.

But suggest that racism and discrimination are also significant problems in more “progressive spaces,” even among self-proclaimed liberals and leftists themselves — and that it might be unearthed in our political movements — and prepare to be met with icy stares, or worse, a self-righteous vitriol that seeks to separate “real racism” (the right-wing kind) from not-so-real racism (the kind we on the left sometimes foster). And know that before long, someone will admonish you to focus on the “real enemy,” rather than fighting amongst ourselves. “What we need is unity,” these voices say, “and all that talk about racism on the left just divides us further.”

http://www.timwise.org/2010/08/with-friends-like-these-who-needs-glenn-beck-racism-and-white-privilege-on-the-liberal-left/

[Demeter]

1. Racism is All American

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgASBVMyVFI

[TexanRudeBoy]

5. Racism is all human

Have you ever read or seen anything about the way they treat their own black soccer players in places like Italy and Spain?

[Kweli4Real]

2. Wait For It ... Wait For It ...

" are just to sensitive."

" cry racism when it REALLY is classism, not racism."

"there may still be racism around, but it is much less present than before."

Okay ... proceed my democrat/progressive/liberal brethen.

[AspenRose]

4. Each of those arguments have been seen right here at the DU

Especially the "it's class, not race" one.

[Kweli4Real]

6. But then ...

... "A fish cannot comprehend the plight of a drowning man", especially when the fish, even on an unconscious level, knows that the enviroment that is keep him alive, is the same environment causing the drowning man distress.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Unless that fish is in the impact zone of the Gulf Oil Gusher,

in which case both man and fish can drown together as one.

[CBR]

7. Yeah. That "race is to divide classes" crap is garbage.

This is a great article. Should post in GD.

[Number23]

13. Oh honey. Your second point is made so often around here it's almost become a cliche

And what's really sad is the number of people who have bought into the "it's not race. It's class!" foolishness. The fact that 99% of the people who make this argument are white doesn't even seem to make a difference to these folks.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[provis99]

8. a white southerner with a chip on his shoulder accuses liberals of being racist.

this twerp has no credibility at all.

[Kweli4Real]

9. And why is that?.

[AspenRose]

18. If you went to the link and read the article you'd know he's exposing racism

on both sides of the political spectrum. He started with the conservatives first; this is part two.

Sorry to burst your bubble; there is racism in the democratic party. Were you asleep during the 2008 primary?

And why is it that people with a legitimate concern about racism are described as "having a chip on their shoulder?" You hear that term almost exclusively directed towards black people and/or anti-racists. It is used dismissively and intentionally to make light of real concerns and almost has a dogwhistle-like effect.

Where does "speaking truth to power" devolve into "having a chip on your shoulder?"

[Cha]

10. Thank you, Aspen Rose.. this is Tim Wise..an anti Racist

Activist.. for those who accuse him of being something other than he is.

<snip>

"Tim Wise (born October 4, 1968) is an American anti-racist activist and writer. He has lectured since 1995 at over 500 college campuses across the US. He has trained teachers, corporate employees, non-profit organizations and law enforcement officers in methods for addressing and dismantling racism in their institutions."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Wise

[Kurovski]

11. K&R. (nt)

[DevonRex]

12. This is an excellent article. I'd like to read more by him.

I'd especially like to read more about the Obama Presidency and racism, not just the Obama vote and liberalism.

[Number23]

14. Kicked. Rec'd. Stomped. I even made the black power fist a few times by mistake

Tim Wise nails it -- once again. Thanks for posting.

Money Quote: "Indeed, polling data suggests that plenty of whites who voted for Obama — including many who are no doubt liberal on issues like abortion or the environment — nonetheless harbor deep-seated racial biases. For instance, one AP survey in September of 2008 found that about a third of white Democrats were willing to admit to holding negative and racist stereotypes about blacks, and that about 60 percent of these nonetheless supported Barack Obama for president and intended to vote for him. Considering the research on racial bias among whites, which finds that nearly all of us continue to harbor certain anti-black stereotypes and biases, it is safe to say that millions of otherwise liberal white folks are practitioners of racism, albeit a 2.0 variety, as opposed to the old school, 1.0 type, to which we have cast most of our attention."

And I'm sure that it's just a coincidence that within months of his election, white support of Obama had plummeted to around 45% while his support amongst minorities remained mostly unchanged.

[Kweli4Real]

15. There it is ...n/t

[4dsc]

16. Works boths doesn't it??

I mean lets face it, both blacks and whites are racists. When was the last time you say a poll asking blacks whether or not they had racist feelings or whatever??

[AspenRose]

19. Yes, because individual instances of black racism is TOTALLY comparable

to institutionalized, systemic racism by whites. Got it.

:eyes:

Example: "Black Panthers" supposedly "threatening" white voters at *one* select polling area vs. purposeful, widespread, organized voter disenfranchisement of voters of color in several states, including laws enacted to prevent former felons (who are disproportionately of color) from voting.

[The Traveler]

20. So by your logic

the size, power and scope of the racist institution is the salient moral issue, and not the disease itself? The racist institutions of people of color are small compared to the racists institutions of whites, but does that make them less repugnant?

I find that argument difficult to accept. I view racism as a disease of the mind, and I do not find it acceptable from anyone, or at any level.

The rethuglicans indeed have attempted with some success to implement "organized voter disenfranchisement". That is why the fraudulent take down of ACORN was so important to these thugs. ACORN was a serious impediment to the achievement of that objective.

These efforts must needs be opposed, and I do not see enough happening to oppose them.

However, I am not sure "laws enacted to prevent former felons .... from voting" are high on my list of things to oppose. Such laws have a long history in the US, and there is a non-racial rationale for it. Do we want those willing to commit felonies exercising franchise? It is a legitimate question that can be debated at length on its own merits without reference to race.

Trav

[Karenina]

21. Can you NAME any of "The racist institutions of people of color ?"

[JonLP24]

22. Ok

In 1800 no states barred felons from voting, on the eve of the civil war, 80% did. It still impacts poor, minority males to this day as evidenced by the 2000 Presidential election in Florida. Here are some things that I wanted to point out by a study from the Sentencing Project.
--------------------------------------------------------

The study also showed that of all the ethnic groups affected by disenfranchisement and the criminal justice system, African-Americans are hit the hardest.

“One in 12 African-Americans is disenfranchised because of convictions—five times the rate of non-African Americans,” King said.

The study also explains that voting power in African-American and poor communities has been diluted by the disproportionate high rates of people from those communities—particularly Black men— becoming ensnarled in the correctional system.

“Thirteen percent of Black men are disenfranchised and as many as 40 percent of Black men are projected to lose their right to vote in states that disenfranchise ex-offenders,” said the study.

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=01b9b5b0eb6b237d90fa24cbecfb809c

In keeping with the four paragraph rule--I left something out. I wanted to point out another study which is explained in the link that ex-felons who vote are less likely to be rearrested. Also I wanted to point out it makes a good point that those who stay in communities that are disproportionately affected are also affected as well because a significant portion of the voting bloc can't vote to affect changes in their own community. A lot of the reason many of these felons are where they are is because of a lack of options and politicians end up getting elected that like tax cuts, shipping jobs overseas, etc--which increase the gap of the rich and poor. Also the studies show they care about the same issues we do.


But I'll discuss the merits without reference to race for now. I'll just talk about ex-felons, the ones out of prison, off parole, and off probation. Though I'm a far left wacky liberal that wants the country to be like Vermont where inmates can vote but I see that since "former felons" are not high as it is on your list of things to oppose I won't talk about them.

I support allowing ex-felons the right to vote after they serve their punishment to the judicial system for many reasons. #1 Penalizing them further doesn't make any sense when it should be enough to regain a civil right. Another is in both federal houses (I'm not sure about Presidency) there is nothing that can prevent a felon to serve in federal office. Yes, the House and Senate can vote to expel members but that is besides the point. A felon can serve in elected office and state laws can't affect that. However for state offices they vary of course and state laws can prevent that for only state office. The point is they can make laws. Also laws can change all the time and any law can pretty much be changed. So do things like misdemeanor turned into felonies. I think anyone should be allowed to vote for candidates that support the laws they like whatever they may be. Good luck trying to elect candidates that want to make violent crimes legal though it is the right of the Houses to push for any laws they like. Also they live in the same country we do and the decisions politicians makes effect us all. We should all have a say in how are lives are going to be affected.

Finally, they are just some things that shouldn't be felonies. For example, almost all forms of drug possession, including paraphernalia are felonies in all states. Drug laws is also another thing that disproportionately affect poor minorities. Also throughout history drug laws have been enacted by playing on to racial fears. Look at the lead-up to the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act and the Marijuana Tax Act. Also when Nixon started his "war on drugs" and the drug laws that were enacted at the time were made in spite of and ignored medical research. Though some forms of animal cruelty are not felonies. Dogfighting used to be a misdemeanor in some states but with the exposure of the Michael Vick case many states strengthen their dogfighting laws, both federal houses made interstate dogfighting a felony, and the vast majority of states enabled RICO statues to be used to try dogfighting cases. Still things like leaving a pet inside a car that dies in my state(AZ)--even in the summertime is a misdemeanor. Battery or assault are misdemeanors here and most likely elsewhere too.

Also the reason why I do follow the issue closely is I may end up on the list. In my home state any amount of cannabis is a class 6 felony. Even a seed. That is one felony though I'm willing to commit. Admittedly first offense, you can agree to a plea deal to bump it down to a class 1 misdemeanor. This also applies to any kind of drug paraphernalia as well. Though if you mess up during probation, it gets bumped back up to a felony. Though I may not have this kind of deal. Back when I was teenager, I got caught with a crumbled up piece of tin foil I used to smoke cannabis out of which still had the residue. I planned on throwing it away but I didn't get to it yet. I had to accept a plea deal which would suspend my license until I was 18(even though I didn't have a license at the time) to get the class 1 misdemeanor rather than the class 6 felony. I'm not sure if it makes a difference if I was a teenager at the time. I hate to think of all the people that lost voting rights in this state to similar situations like that. Me--I'd love to vote people like McCain out of office who thinks cannabis is a "gateway drug" but I do have much more serious complaints about him.

I'm sure there is more I can say or I could say this whole thing better but I'll leave it at that. As to the OP I love the work Tim Wise does. Unfortunately for me, the article at the OP keeps redirecting to advertisement but I enjoy the 4 paragraphs. I'll try my disk to see if I can access the article on that operating system later on to see if I can access it. On edit-Ok, I'm reading the entire article right now.

[Raineyb]

23. Damn! Too late to rec but may as well kick! A most excellent read.

And as per usual you can see the responses just as predicted by Mr. Wise right in this thread.

[AnnieBW]

24. I saw lots of Hispanics in the San Francisco area

Well, places like Daly City, that is. The 'burbs. They probably lived out there and commuted into San Francisco because they couldn't afford to live in town.