I could not help notice two very different [but not so different] stories today about race and how we talk or don’t talk about it.
The first story comes from the mouth of the new Attorney General Eric Holder. Mr. Holder says the we are a “nation of cowards.” Not the usual stuff you get from politicians but these days anything goes. If Obama can day after day bloviate about how the crisis du jour is unprecedented and not seen since [make up a date] and requires massive government intervention or else we will all die, I suppose the coward remark is tame by comparison. Anyway, in context, here is what the AG had to say:
Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. Though race related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race.
Hmmm? Ok? I don’t know, it seems like we talk about race quite often. In fact, we talk about race even when race has nothing to do with it. Case in point. On the same day the AG is calling us cowards for not talking about race, there is somebody who refuses to shut up about it. Mr. Its a Outrage himself, Al Sharpton.
There is a big story here in NY about a 200lb chimp that attacked a woman and had to be shot by police. The NY Post had the following editorial cartoon referencing the behemoth spending bill and the chimp incident.
Al Sharpton, of course, sees racsim.
[CNN] “The cartoon in today’s New York Post is troubling at best, given the racist attacks throughout history that have made African-Americans synonymous with monkeys,” Sharpton said.
Sharpton questioned whether Delonas “is making a less-than-casual inference to this form of racism.”
“The Post should at least clarify what point they were trying to make in this cartoon, and reprimand their cartoonist for making inferences that are offensive and divisive at a time the nation struggles to come together to stabilize the economy if, in fact, this was yet another racially charged cartoon,” he said.
What?!? Give it a rest Al. At least three other references could and should be understood by looking at the cartoon, none of them racist. Besides, Obama didn’t even write the bill. Whitey the Heretic (aka Nancy Pelosi) is responsible for that particular debacle.
At this point, I am content to live in a nation of cowards. I just wish the darn cowards would just shut up about it.
February 19, 2009 at 12:33 pm
“Whitey the Heretic” – HA! I love it! That’s talk about race I can believe in!
February 19, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Sharpton of course has no moral highground for talking about race, since he demonised the whole Italian Amerian community for complicity in the “Tawana Brawley” case/hoax. He has never apologised for it, even though he was court ordered to pay damages for his defamation of character.
Anyway, I had to think hard about the cartoon displayed here, and it just isn’t funny or witty. It insinuates a monkey wrote the bill, as they didn’t “kill” the bill itself. So, the “satirist” in question missed his mark (no pun intended). But hey, it comes from the NY Post, so it MUST to be culturally sensitive, right?
Also, regarding portraying blacks as monkeys, there is a point there, as this has definitely been a negative charicature for well over 200 years. But Bush to was portrayed as a monkey (remember the “Curious George” cartoons?) So, at this stage in human development, the black community can take a portrayal of their members or even community as a whole as being charicatured as monkeys. Why? Because at this point they should be confident enough in their achievements to be able to shrug off any such charicature. If someone said to me, “You are a moose!” I’d just shrug and say, this guy is an ignorant boob, as I am obviously not a moose.”
So, let’s all just get over it. But still, the NY Post cartoon is stupid.
February 19, 2009 at 2:11 pm
When I first saw this cartoon all I thought was “Whats the fuss, all the cartoonist is saying is that Congress is as dumb as a monkey…” Later I learned that people were upset because it is “racist” and then immediatly laughed at the thought, because it is so obvious that its not that.
February 19, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I think it’s funnier that the cartoonist thinks a NY cop could kill anything with only two shots!
The FatMan
February 19, 2009 at 3:21 pm
TFM …or a blunt object up the monkey’s rear.
February 19, 2009 at 9:06 pm
ROGL – Whitey the Heritic – HA!!!!!!
That alone deserves humor blog award.
February 19, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Can you spot the white person in this video?
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?rn=222561&cl=12095134&ch=6535903
February 19, 2009 at 11:53 pm
This was never about race. Al Sharpton is a man who desperately, DESPERATELY needs to call attention to himself. That desperation has only increased now that there is a man of color in the White House. He must continue to play or represent the victim, real or imagined.
This was never about cowardice. This has always been about the ability to intimidate through a false sense of guilt, an entire population into thinking that a coddled generation of young people have suffered anywhere near the genuine racist persecution as their fathers and grandfathers. Even President Obama himself spoke of the need for black fathers to take responsibility for their children. It is no different for fathers of any other race.
Now, what you’ve just read is one side of an honest conversation about race. Supposedly that makes me a racist. But in reality, it doesn’t, and only an idiot would think that it does.
February 22, 2009 at 12:39 am
Considering Sharpton once referred to Jews as “diamond merchants” I don’t personally feel the need to take admonishments on racism from him.
February 22, 2009 at 12:51 am
Sharpton is not alone. Racist comments from blacks, particularly black men, seem to get a pass on television and in the movies. Not just against whites, but jews and asians.
February 22, 2009 at 12:52 am
Yo, people! I’m just doin’ some honest conversation here!!!