Comments on: Ask the White Guy on ‘Is It Racism or Bigotry?’

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:58:25 +0000

This discussion is useful and helpful. The discussion is one that persons from varied and diverse backgrounds have had in America for at least 400 years. As a person of African American descent, I applaud this discussion. In essence, all persons are the same based upon the very basic genetic disposition, our differences occur as a result of our enviornment, culture and societal norms. When Michelle Obama said that she felt proud of America she voiced what many in Black America had said behind closed doors. W.E. B. Dubois said it correctly nearly 100 years ago, the most significant problem in the 20th century is the color line. Let’s work together, for when the oppressor places his or her foot on my neck, we all suffer indignity, and as whole the Human race suffers. It suffers from the fact that mankind can never fulfill its creed unless it becomes inclusive, and not discount one from the other. One aspect that has affected race relations has been the role of Gender, dialogue has become to limited with regard to diverse.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:54:21 +0000

If one says ” I don’t care about choclate ice cream”; it doesn’t say I hate chocolate ice cream or I am racist against chocolate ice cream. George
Bush and not Kanye made the Racism statement. I might not care about
anything; but it doesn’t come close to mean im racist of anything. The play on
words made by Bush is his own doing.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:43:00 +0000

I have never seen such ridiculous hair splitting regarding semantics as I have seen with this article. Who really cares how you semantically split hairs on whether something is racist or bigoted? Both are wrong. Period. If the lefties want to say that racism cannot happen from a black to a white (which is BS if you ask me), then let them believe that. At a minimum, it’s bigoted and that is just as wrong.

I have to say that I surely hope Luke’s (and his supporters) comments about blacks not being “racist” towards whites doesn’t mean that they condone the behavior that is so “erroneously” being classified as racist.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:54:33 +0000

“Luke: Whereas I agree with the social result you hope to make with your argument, in this case, I believe you are simply wrong. Not due to any of the social factors you or your critics cite, or to your analyis of the nature of hate and distrust manifested in its various forms, but because language is a living medium. Words mean what people think they mean, regardless of what the experts would like them to mean.”

I want to echo the thoughts of this writer and, having no other way to identify the post, I have included the beginning sentences here.
I, too, think you may be losing your perspective. Your sarcastic comment in reply to a thoughtful post is evidence of that. Lately it seems as if your place of power as columnist may be going to your head. Now you seem to think words mean whatever Luke says they mean.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 09:44:46 +0000

I can understand about history; but, when do we move on and look toward the furture. If we are always stuck in the past how can we grow. It’s time to work as one and not bash each others race. As for what Kanyae West said, it was totally out of line. I for one don’t listen to any celeberty about politics and so forth…. What do they really know?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 09:08:19 +0000

Luke, this article is extremely well written and on point. I am African American, born in Alabama, and lived and worked for the Navy and other federal agencies in the DC metro for over 28 years. I am highly educated with a BS [sciences] and Masters. My view of the world with my varied experiences I have still what one would call the “White Man’s Stress” , somewhat depited in a Newsweek article a couple of years ago. The same group pf peoples who are scared to death of losing power via the vote , eg. the 2000 nat’l presidential election , specifically in Florida. This group understand that in a few years they will be the minority. Therefore, to tilt the balance in their favor, building more prisons for african american blacs [thereby eliminating the vote] and deporting the Mexicians , including the american born children, thereby further eminating votes. This all comes from their, the white man’s stress. For those minority employees of the federal government , they must realize that they are not in a non racist work environment. I point to the DC federal appeallate copurt case EEOC v Sam Wright heard in aabout 2000 where the federal judge panel allowed he federal gov’t attorney admitted that the federal agencies are not complying wth the 1964 civil righs act, in terms of providing “administrative law judges’ to hear eeoc cases but rather high payed attorneys. This is why only 1% of all eeoc case filed are decided in the plainiff favor. THe same portion for federal challenged cases.. Also, remember, since the Reagan years ,the federal judicary has written case law where the average attorney will not take a case on a contingency basis because such cases require hunreds of hours of prepretion and offensive challenging related legal analysis. So, attorney from a cost benefit perspective just do not take these discrimination case, but rather work for the employers, including the federal government. Those few that represent plaintiff require large sums of $$anywere from $25-30k. What household has this money onhand, particularly when the odds are against them to win boni fide discrimination cases. You also should know the supreme court judge Alito, onece said, most case where discimination occurs , the employee does not have the money to persue or appeal. Something is wrong with the judicial system. BY the way do not expect any judge to appoint any attorney to represent you on a pro bono basis, its a waste of time. Lastly, forget about the US Justice Depart., too many entrenched conseervative career attorney or just last of leadership.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:21:46 +0000

Excellent article.. makes sense…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:53:08 +0000

I’d like to jump in if I may. Firstly, to thank you Luke for your understanding and ability to explain some of the problems of racism. There are a lot of people that really don’t understand and hopefully will listen to you. I’d also like to clarify something if I could. In my studies we divided racism into two types. The first is individual racism. The kind where someone doesn’t like someone because of his or her race and calls names and makes people uncomfortable. Society has moved to a point where this sort of racism is rare….at least in public. The second kind is the more important and more subtle and more insidious therefore. It is what we called institutional racism. This is the kind that Luke is speaking of here and CANNOT be practiced by minorities in America. People seem to think that once individual racism was put down somewhat things should be fine, but those people conveniently forget about legacies. Those advantages and privileges passed down from generation to generation while black families were left out are what built that wealth discrepancy he speaks of. And it IS economic because that’s where true power IS. One of the reasons the military is so absent institutional racism is because there are no legacies there. No matter who you parents were, you still have to WORK your way through the ranks and there is no “good ol’ boy” system permanently in place to play favorites. Now, to give another example of the bigotry/racism split, just remember the problems that almost every new immigrant group suffered upon arrival in America. The Irish, for example, were despised about as much as anyone for a while. Each new European group was. They were victims of bigotry. But the difference was, once they assimilated into the majority culture, who knew whether they were immigrants or not? They were white and they spoke English like everyone else. They effectively became PART of the majority. The minorities in America are unable to do that and that is based on race. There is so much more I could say but I don’t want to become a bore. Still, I must say that the key to getting past our past is for whites to at the very least understand the situation and stop fighting against programs to even the playing field. And of course, that means not listening to people like Rush Limbaugh, who are undereducated and yet have a disproportionate amount of influence on our population.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:45:44 +0000

Luke:

Whereas I agree with the social result you hope to make with your argument, in this case, I believe you are simply wrong. Not due to any of the social factors you or your critics cite, or to your analyis of the nature of hate and distrust manifested in its various forms, but because language is a living medium. Words mean what people think they mean, regardless of what the experts would like them to mean.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone. “It means just what I choose it to mean – neither more or less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master – that’s all.”
Lewis Carroll

It is obvious that the general public believes that “racism” means one person of a race treating a person of another race unfairly. I understand that you would like it to have a more specialized meaning, but your argument is a little like King Canute ordering the tide not to come in. His position of authority did little to convince the sea to stop from washing about his feet and throne. Your position as an authority on diversity issues provides you some leverage in fashioning opinion, but like King Canute, in this case, I think you are overreaching.

You are passionate about your cause and I applaud you for this. It is a passion our society needs and should heed. However, lately I have been seeing more and more cases where I believe you are losing your perspective, as in this discussion. This is dangerous to your overall mission. Overreaching can cause you to lose your credibility; if not with those who agree with you, certainly with those who might yet be persuaded. It might be helpful for you to have someone you trust, who can serve as a critical sounding board; someone who, on some occasions, might challenge you to rethink your opinions. Whatever, I applaud your mission and your passion and I hope you keep at it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:39:23 +0000

I just don’t think you can put an economic aspect to racism. Racism is purely the exercise of power over another based on race. Based on your long explanation stating economic comparisons and trying to exclude other races just complicates things when it doesn’t need be. Lets keep that part simple. The reason behind racism is the complex part that I believe you are trying explain. You said in a previous post that reverse racism can’t happen by definition, but most people know what it means just like how you reference white affirmative action. I have to observations about the many discussions of race on this website. The first is that it appears to me that when “whites” are trying to articulate their point of view they are speaking from an individual standpoint and when “Blacks” do they are speaking from a group point of view. I believe if everyone speaks from the same point of view or at least understands what view the person is speaking from, misconceptions will not be made. Secondly, I noticed many comments state that “whites” don’t understand or need a history lesson. Unless you crawled out from under a rock, everyone should know the over all history of America and how slavery and race shaped our country. The question is whether we move forward and as individuals make choices and show the next generation how to improve on these issues.