The author shares his disturbing observations on race relations in 2014.
Is it me, or am I seeing a new form of racism?
Has any other black person (who’s reading this article) seen or gone through the following?
– Seeing (angry) white people retch (almost comically) at the mention of President Obama’s name, or a television appearance?
– Seeing (angry) white people again retch when African-american themed music is played in a public place?
– Seeing (angry) white people downplay or outright dismiss any brilliant or really cool contribution black people have made to this country in the last 20 years?
I know that racism has existed in this country for years. I’m not talking about basic American xenophobia. What I’m talking about is a newer, concentrated, more focused racism that seems to have emerged riiiight about the time Obama became president. It’s a form of racism that seems to be a reflexive movement by certain angry whites in reaction to not only the election of a bi-racial president, but also the social changes that have emerged soon after Obama’s election, circa 2008 to early 2009.
Is it me?
Maybe it’s because I live in the sinkhole that’s the American Midwest (What up Ohio!). The one region that got walloped by the Great Recession, and doesn’t look to recover anytime soon. In my home state, (especially my specific town) racial blowback seems to be a sport. Ohio is a state that’s now made up of a ton of angry white people who once didn’t have to worry about jobs and money. Honestly, many of them could get jobs (manufacturing, industry) based on the fact that they were…white. Now, since those industries have gone the way of the VCR, many of these folks are now frustrated, and very angry. And, as American history has taught us, when one group of people gets angry, another group of people may suffer. I can’t count how many times in the past few years that I’ve entered certain bar and grills, and gotten really cold stares from (angry) white patrons. I’ve lost count at the times I’ve been to bars or nightspots, and the minute a DJ plays a hip-hop/urban song, certain whites roll their eyes and openly pout. And yeah, since 2008, it seems to be way more intense than it ever was.
Is it me?
Am I exaggerating things? Is my imagination running wild (writer here)? Honestly, I don’t think so. And, I’m betting black people in certain areas of this country have felt and seen the same thing. It sure as shit seems that way in Florida, where the nation just recently was riveted by the trial of an older White man (Michael Dunn) who may have killed a young black male (Jordan Davis) simply because his music was too loud…and he (the young victim) was black. Could this crime have happened pre -2012 (the date of the alleged crime)? Yes. But, could this incident have been an example of racial blowback, in Obama’s America? In my opinion, hell yeah.
Is it me?
I’d like to think so. But, I don’t think so. For all of the awesome social advances we’ve seen since the Obama Age, there seems to be a concentrated effort to shit on them, too. My fellow liberals, progressives, and black people, welcome to the New Racism.
Photo reinpoot/Flickr
Okay, I AM a white person, female….. and let me tell you, white people were every bit as racist when they had good jobs, as they are when they had none. Giving them jobs will NOT pacify them. This is a “heart condition”. It would take the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to make them see themselves as they really are. Nothing less.
The only difference between Obama and Bush is their rhetoric. Like the Democrats and Republicans, they are just opposite sides of the same coin. We have just been brainwashed into believing there is a difference. This country is still $16 TRILLION in debt, Americans are still losing homes and jobs as well as their lives overseas, Guantanamo is still running, We almost got into another war with Syria, and Pakistan is still getting billions in foreign aid despite harboring Bin Laden. What has actually changed? Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” is just like Obama’s “Yes We Can”. They are both just slogans… Read more »
Animosity towards Obama is partisan as much as it is racist. Maybe more about partisanship than racism, actually. If some white people are angry at Obama, that doesn’t mean they’re angry because they’re white and he’s black. Accusing him of being a socialist out to invade your private life, take your guns away, and destroy religion is not primarily a racist argument. How many of those people angry at Obama are politically conservative? Probably a huge percentage. Are some of them acting out of racism? Sure. At some point there will be a conservative African American President, and you’ll see… Read more »
Yup- if you didn’t like Bush’s policies you sure won’t like President Obama’s. Props to you for criticizing someone on your own “team.”
http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/staff/tlink/development/theme_identity_and_cohort/race_stages.html
I think due to the unavoidable nature of global news and communication, more people are having to think about such things. Perhaps America is seeing a mass of folks entering Stage 4.
The question underlying the observation of “new racism” is, what can be done to challenge or change attitudes, no matter what the basis. Until we, as a nation of “mixed race”, stop seeing people who don’t look like us or agree with us as “them”, we will not be able to find our way to love our neighbor.
In the article, the writer says he is just speaking to what he has observed. But it is weird that when someone comments what they have observed, they are called racist. In all honesty, I was thrilled when Obama got in because his ideas were better for the country and ALL of us, not just blacks. But since he was elected (and this has nothing to do with a his being elected–only a matter of timing) this country has gone crazy on race relations (some of the rebuttles above to certain comments are good examples). Just because someone disagrees with… Read more »
No. Also, people all over the world retch at the mention of Bush’s name. it’s because he’s a liar, and a war-monger, and a destroyer of countries and lives. The fact that he’s white has nothing to do with it.
Oh, I get it now. Because of Obama’s race, no one is allowed to have any visceral reaction to his policies, or , heaven forbid, actually express any opposition to them.
I’m sure glad that dissent is the highest form of patriotism.
I think there is a massive misunderstanding about “racism” in this country and the connection to Obama. For starters, the current Liberal agenda wants to promote interdependence with the state and one another. The problem with this is it kills the independence factor of the individual and the drive to make ones self better. For example, I spend 600 a month on federal taxes. Sure, this pays for roads and infrastructure. However, it also pays for trailer park Jenny or Hood rat Shaniqua with their 4-6 kids. It also pays for money sent to hostile countries that want to kill… Read more »
Maybe “white guy,” you could just read, be quiet, listen, think and learn. This black man is sharing his reality with you. You are not the expert here. Please have some humility.
You lost your credibility at “Liberal agenda,” White Guy.
“Shaniqua”. Lord. :/
Actually, Greg, I think you should ask an impartial white man–no offense, but sometimes if you are the victim of social injustice, you can see it where it doesn’t exist (as a poor, short man, I’ve been guilty of it). That said, I’m glad you asked: I think you are dead on correct. I might have thought racism was virtually wiped out before Obama was elected. But wow: the thinly veiled racism behind the vitriolic hatred of Obama couldn’t be cut with a sharp knife. His very presence has brought up bile from the bottom of America’s digestive system, even… Read more »
A dog bites the hardest when it’s backed into a corner. The days of a white, middle class, straight, patriarchal, christian America are radically changing. It may seem painfully slow on a day-to-day, even year-to-year scale, but generationally, we are a profoundly different populous than we were when my parents were my age, and their parents before them. And there are going to be people, in some cases many people, who are having a serious problem accepting this. That sucks, and they are wrong, but the fact that they are so angry and disgusted is just proof that they are… Read more »
Well said!
I’m confused by the statement “For all of the awesome social advances we’ve seen since the Obama Age”. I do not believe there have been any “awesome social advances”. This country and its citizens are downward spiraling into disgusting behavior, abuse of rights, unlawful government and all of that done under a banner of “progressivism”. What you are seeing is the “silent” majority no longer feeling like it has to be silent and tolerate what they know is down right wrong…. It is not wrong to disagree with someone else’s culture if it is bad (and yes, some cultures suck).… Read more »
Disgusting behaviour and abuse of rights? Let me guess. Gay rights advocates oppressing the poor widdle Christian bigots?
Your argument about some cultures are bad (in relation to the author’s comments about African cultural elements) is the textbook definition of racism.
Again with the homophobic implications. “Deviant” in the eyes of the church, which guess what? doesn’t need to be considered when making laws, because the US *doesn’t have a state religion.*
You voicing your opinion doesn’t make you a jerk. The fact that you think North American society was at its height in the 50s makes you a jerk.
Has any other white person (who’s reading this article) seen or gone through the following? – Seeing (angry) black people retch (almost comically) at the mention of President Bush’s name, or a television appearance? – Seeing (angry) black people again retch when country themed music is played in a public place? – Seeing (angry) black people downplay or outright dismiss any brilliant or really cool contribution white people have made to this country in the last 20 years? This has got to be one of the stupidest most decisive articles I have every read. Until you quit blaming white folks… Read more »
Not only is your statement (opinion?) one of the most ignorant things i’ve read today, the fact that you got defensive, and later HAD to end it with “I’m not a racist”, in my opinion, yes sir, you’re a bit of a racist. Guess what? I am white, southern and think and know racism is alive and well just as he stated and it’s f-ing disgusting. Please tell me how or where he blamed us for the state of affairs in the African Amercian community.
Jim, he wasn’t blaming anyone really in this article (except for maybe angry white folks) for the state of anything. He was just saying there are some angry displaced people right now. Times are changin’ and people don’t always like change. Especially, when they were on the winning side of the old way. And, yes there are lots of angry white folks. But, there are also a lot of hypersensitive people out there now a days too. There needs to be some sort of comfortable place for us (Americans) when it comes to talking about race, culture, sex, etc. We… Read more »
I think you mean divisive.
Normally, as a moderator, I would remove this comment but I see it has a reply so I won’t.
Instead, I will say, NO I don’t think it’s divisive. Or decisive. I think it’s honest from the perspective of a Black man living in today’s society.
Hi Joanna, i’m sorry but i am hopeful your comment above is directed at Mr.Shasta? I assume that only by the writing, but it’s below mine and i think i am just getting it confused by the order it is posted? If my comment was the one that you almost removed, my apologies, his comment made me a bit upset and i responded.
Nevermind, i got it . Have a good one!
No. Also, people all over the world retch at the mention of Bush’s name, and it’s because he’s an a buffoon, a liar, and a war-mongering destroyer of countries. The fact that he’s white has nothing to do with it.
I’m white, female, and live in (presumably progressive) California–on the central coast–and you’re not crazy, I’m seeing it too. The election of President Obama has rattled white people everywhere, stripping off their polite masks and revealing the racism hidden behind them. It’s an ugly backlash and I hate it.
Nope, it’s not you. Pres. Obama’s election removed the polite, delicate racist mask of the perceived diminution in white privilege. Plutocrats have been strumming the harp strings of racial resentment at the expense of trashing the pretense of American democracy, reason, science, common sense, decency, legality, justice etc…nope, definitely NOT your imagination