Friday, December 26, 2014

Getting beyond prejudice, and solving the racism problem.

I am still on the road,  but I am finding time to read some interesting articles.

"How prejudiced are Americans? The internet knows. Whether it's racism, sexism, cissexism, transphobia, classism, sizeism, or ableism, online residents are watching out for it and pointing it out at tremendous volume. Whole tumblrs are dedicated to meticulously cataloging the prejudiced histories of famous people.

While often useful and necessary, this strategy comes up short. The idea is that by "calling out" individual acts of oppression, we can raise awareness about the myriad subtle ways that prejudice manifests itself. The citizenry, better educated, will adjust its behaviors.

The problem is that white people, our dominant and most privileged socioeconomic group, tend to resist these critiques. In the case of racism, they are the ones who benefit from prejudice, and they squirm out of this stigma in increasingly interesting ways. How? These days, by loudly agreeing with those critiques, thereby signaling that they are meant for other, bad white people.

Think of the guy in critical theory class who embraces radical feminist authors extra-fervently in a bid to escape his own implication in the patriarchy. This bit of political jujitsu is rather "like buying an indulgence," as Reihan Salam put it at Slate.

One might respond that the answer is improved self-knowledge, greater humility, and more self-flagellation on the part of the privileged (see: #CrimingWhileWhite). Sure. But the problem is that there is no possible demonstration of prejudice and privilege that cannot also be appropriated by white people in the service of demonstrating the purity of their own views, resulting in an endless vortex of uncomfortable, obnoxious earnestness. Being a Not-Racist these days is getting very subtle indeed.

But there's another approach that is both simpler and far more difficult. Instead of focusing on individual guilt and innocence, the socioeconomic structure that undergirds racism can get equal or greater billing. If educating the privileged has reached a point of diminishing returns, then attacking racist outcomes with structural policy can make that education unnecessary.

Now, it should be noted that any individual instance of calling out prejudice is surely harmless and heartfelt. It should further be noted that many if not most anti-prejudice activists share these structural goals. The problem is a question of emphasis. Prejudiced words tend to get 10 times more attention than racist acts and structures. For example, Donald Sterling was hounded mercilessly for his racist comments, but largely ignored for his concretely racist actions as a landlord.

And the problems America faces go far beyond one rotten rich person. There's the prison-industrial complex. The stupendous wealth and income gap between black and white. The fact that the police randomly gun down unarmed black men and boys on a regular basis. That's just for starters — and it's getting worse, not better.

Working on those problems is going to take a massive nationwide policy effort. Prison and sentencing reform, ending the drug war, overhauling American policing, and implementing quota-based affirmative action would be a good start. In particular, there is a good case for class to take center stage in any anti-prejudice effort. Nearly all racist oppression is heavily mediated through economic structures and worsened by endemic poverty.." {More} 

I agree with the reforms needed to curb institutional racism, and that economic self-reliance is remedy and possible cure-all for "racist oppression". But what is also needed is a level of individual soul searching that so call Christians found during the Christian Awakenings of the 18th and early 19th century in the United States.

It won't be easy. The "individual guilt" the author writes about, in my humble opinion, is tied to the larger institutions because of the makeup of the people and policy makers who run those institutions.

We will probably never be able to change what is in their hearts, but we can certainly hold them accountable and shame them into doing the right thing-----even if they do so reluctantly.

       

  
    

225 comments:

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Josh's mom AKA Rim Job Sr. said...

Shut up and get back to work! I need my meth and those dicks aren't gonna suck themselves!

Josh said...

lol ... Look at the post times from these butt buddies. They're so intent on insulting me that they're meeting off-site to schedule their weak-ass attacks.

Did y'all hook up on Black People Meet? lmfao!

Josh is a gay sex slave said...

"Look at the post times from these butt buddies."

You certainly are 1. paranoid and 2. full of gay references. Hmmmmmm.

"Did y'all hook up on Black People Meet? lmfao!"

Well we know your mom sets up all your hookups at the truck stop.

Dear diary: my butt still hurts but I made a dollar and I hid it from mom. I still have a funny taste in my mouth but I'm kinda used to it from all the buttholes I lick. One day I'll be a famous writer and won't have to lick ass all day for my mom.

Signed, Josh AKA Bungholio

Josh's mom AKA Rim Job Sr. said...

Joshua! Get back to work. Those buttholes aren't going to lick themselves!

Josh is a gay sex slave said...

"Did y'all hook up on Black People Meet? lmfao!"

Do you think Josh really laughs at his own jokes? Is that psychological compensation for his mom whoring him out as a gay sex slave at truck stops?

Josh said...

These motherfuckers are training like it's the Olympics to troll on the Internet!

"Hey, what time's practice today?"

"Ah, show up about 2, give or take."

Got these asshole morons doing jumping jacks, running steps and drinking raw eggs like Rocky Balboa.

Got those little pink 2lb girl weights, doing arm curls, while #2 browses Google--typically to no avail--looking for trending insults. Meet back up in 15 to coordinate a troll.

Idiots are in the Synchronized Troll 200, Special Olympics category, and still can't place with a medal!

Damn. Lower the bar to the point you only have to step over it, and still your dumb asses trip and bust your faces.

Synch it up, like you're the ghetto, broke-ass version of Voltron. lol

Josh is a gay sex slave said...

"Synch it up, like you're the ghetto, broke-ass version of Voltron. lol"

lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol

Just like a 15 year old girl. Do you really laugh at your own stale jokes? I bet you do. Seems as if you're the one trained to jump when I tell you to. Let's see Josh respond again with some stupid shit followed by lol. Do you lol when you're getting poked by a trucker? LOL sweety!

"Idiots are in the Synchronized Troll 200, Special Olympics category, and still can't place with a medal!'

Josh is in the grab his ankles and bob on a knob event and he is the all time leader in gold medals. Well actually more like pearl necklaces but you get the point.

Josh's mom AKA Rim Job Sr. said...

Stop trolling on the internet Joshua! You'll never be a writer! Get your ass in that truck and start bobbing! Momma needs her meth!

Josh said...

lol @ 8:13 & 8:15.

This has gone from being cute to outright creepy. The butt buddy anon twins are scared shitless to post unless they have each others' backs.

"What if he says something back to me!?"

"Don't worry, honey. I'll be there."

I hear some Michael Bolton playing in the background, I'm just not sure which one of you plays the woman in the relationship. I'm guessing #2, AKA the pilot.

Are black trannies obsessed with hair weave like black women? I imagine Yisheng has a white board in her room, plotting her steps to rob the Asian's convenience store for hair weave. Are you pansies in on this Oceans Eleven-style heist? I know that's a high number to count to, and by "fairness" standards you only have to get to six to receive equal credit, but you might want to study up a bit. A lot can go wrong. Dogs and alarm systems and the good brand of weave being sold out. And, of course, is the heist runs late, you'll miss your FNB synchronized troll meeting!

Can't have that, can we? lol

Josh is a gay sex slave said...

"I hear some Michael Bolton playing in the background, I'm just not sure which one of you plays the woman in the relationship"

More gay innuendo. Methinks you're really getting into your role as gay sex slave Josh. Seek help.

"Can't have that, can we? lol"

More lol'ing huh? I bet your tricks love the way you giggle like a little girl. i bet you wear a skirt and have your hair in pigtails too don't cha sweety? I bet Buck loves that.

Josh's mom AKA Rim Job Sr. said...

Josh! For the last time, put down the diary and stop trolling online and get back to work!!!!!!!!!!

Buck needs his knob polished and you're the best! And stop giggling too! It's embarrassing! It's bad enough you walk around wearing girl shorts but the incessant giggling is driving everybody crazy!

lol lol lol lol lol lol lol

Joshua is annoying said...

blah blah blah lol.

blah blah blah blah lol.

blah blah blah blah lol.

There sweety er I mean Joshua, save you a post, now back to your job which ain't writing!

Josh said...

9:20, 9:21

Hey, safety in numbers, do you hold hands while crossing the street? Does #2 watch out for #1 while he's in the bathroom? How do you put your pants on in the morning? One leg at a time like everybody else? "Hell nah, son. My boy pull them shits up for me, undastan?" Not really, but whatever floats your boat.

I don't know which is more pitiful: The fact that one of them cannot dare post without following the other, or the fact that they meet up to simply rewrite the same weak-ass insult they've been using for 50 straight posts.

It's a close one.

When it comes to trolls, though, they certainly earn a ribbon. No, not simply given to them because diversity is our strength and whitey be holding back the progress, yo. They actually earned it! Meeting up off-site, practicing their insults, coordinating their weak attacks. If only we could find more like these two willing to put this effort into school work and obeying society's laws, Field's blog would suddenly be really light on instances of so-called police racism!

This is what MLK's dream was all about. Two little black boys, enjoying the unadulterated freedom in America to plan their entire lives around trolling an Internet blog in tandem. This is what people fought and died for. Look at the progress!

Somewhere out there is a proud, proud papa. Of course, he might not know he has a kid yet. The DNA results get mixed up when it's 8 tests per one kid. But the sentiment is the same -- pride!


I was about to say "bro fist," but I cringe to think what would happen suddenly to #2 if he read that aloud around #1. lol Get the Vaseline ready.

Buck said...

Hey Giggles, get back in my truck and finish polishing my knob.

Buck said...

"Get the Vaseline ready."

Not today Giggles, I'm doing you and Rim Job Sr. raw. Bend over girly boy!!!!!!

Josh said...

lol @ 7:28 and 7:30

It makes the safety in number twins so mad that they can't bully me into leaving.

I can just hear their off-site conversation now:

"Why is he still here?"

"I don't know! Did you use the one about his mother and the trucker?"

"Yeah, dude, like 30 times now! He's not flinching."

"What does flinching mean?"

"It's not important, foo -- he's not leaving! What do we do?"

"Just keep at it."

"Maybe we should remind him that we're black and be thuggin' this shit, yo; or we can keep on changning our names to get even more insult in with each new reply!"

"Nah, just stick with the gay Buck stuff. He'll eventually cry and ragequit."

"Aight, son, but you post first. I'ma sit back and wait 'til you go."

"Aight, son. Peace."

"Aight, I'll post right after you, Smoochie."

Josh is a homo said...

At least he stopped giggling after every post. We're making progress. Maybe he's too busy trolling for new dick. He's even talking to himself now.
Seek help son. And stop sucking dick.

Anonymous said...

Josh is a homo said...

Josh is a homo.

Josh is a gay sex slave said...

Wassa matter sweety? Don't find your own posts funny anymore? lol

I'm sure Buck misses your sweet gigling. lol

Josh said...

LOL @ 9:17, 9:19, and "we're making progress."

At least your bitch-asses fess up that you can't go at it alone. You's is 'fraid of the white man?

"Mammy, help me, please! Whitey make me fetch hims' shoes and call me Moon Pie, he did!"

"Oh, sweet baby Tyrone. Go get your coud'n Jamal and jump his ass!"

Josh is a gay sex slave said...

"At least your bitch-asses fess up that you can't go at it alone. You's is 'fraid of the white man?"

Afraid of a sissified gay sex slave? Ha! never sweety. A girly boy wearing short shorts and servicing truckers can't scare anybody.

Josh said...

Right. Now go back to your registered name, pretend to be calm and intelligent, wag your finger in disappointment at people, ask a dozen questions, and use all the information gleaned to troll the shit out of somebody with your anonymous tag.

Such fucking bravery! The Greatest Generation doesn't have shit on these heroic trolls.

Josh is a gay sex slave said...

"Right. Now go back to your registered name, pretend to be calm and intelligent, wag your finger in disappointment at people, ask a dozen questions, and use all the information gleaned to troll the shit out of somebody with your anonymous tag."

Go back to sucking off truckers to get money for your mom's meth. The heroine generation has nothing on the meth heads of today.

Anonymous said...

Blacks are the most racist people on the planet.

The Fixer said...

"Blacks are the most racist people on the planet."

Whites are the dumbest.

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