Personal Musings on Race in America

The grass roots in this country are too shallow to make a difference. There has to be a concerted, institutional approach to ending the inequality and divisiveness.

I don't know how this will be done.

For the past 20 some odd years, "right wing" media has been drumbeating into the minds of middle and working class white Americans that they are the real modern victims of racism, by affirmative action, by political "pandering" , and by political correctness. This drumbeat has taken a real toll. We now have a presidential candidate that is openly supported by white nationalist and supremacist elements. This will be a problem going forward no matter who wins the election. We seem to now have a nationalist party that is largely organized around a particular ethnic viewpoint. 

Good article Jonathan. 

A weak economy has a way of making groups feel as though they are being left out. Empirically speaking, the group in question has suffered during this downturn. They feel vulnerable, and are looking for someone to say "I care". It's lip service, and nothing will make people happy until their stomachs are filled and the care is repaired. Lip service won't do that.

So, now we have another group of disaffected people, but they think they have it worse, because it happened to them more recently. So everyone's miserable now, and the misery won't wane unless the economy improves.

"Jim Crow" and open racial discrimination ended just within the past 50 years, and in some ways that ending is a trickle down thing that continues today. 

What we don't really know is just how long it is "supposed to take" for hundreds of years of racial discrimination to be resolved. Maybe it takes more than 50 years. I would say it takes as long as it takes.  

Great article Jonathan. I have a lot of thoughts about this. 

I agree that haters are going to hate. I also realize that we don't always practice what we preach. I have seen first hand how blacks are not getting the same shake on jobs, even within the protection of the Teachers Union. When I worked in personnel, there were code words for not wanting a black applicant. You know if it feels bad to you, it must feel really rotten to them. 

On the other hand, there is this.

My kid's university was at ground zero, Baltimore, that has brought us to the current ground of frustration. After the fear of the riots broke and the protesting started, I thought it was a positive thing, since we have a history of protest that brought about the current level of civil rights. But as my kids found out, this quickly turned sour. While BLM started out as a positive thing, it evolved slowly to anger and disinformation. My daughter's took away a hard lesson. Even the best intentions can turn to hate. 

So your point about Colin Kaepernick does hold merit. If things are going to change in this country with race relations, what we need are positive role models. All I have to do is look at the change that Dr. King brought with his non violence methods and with speeches that only uplifted all who heard them. Currently we have none of that and wearing "Pig Police" socks, not only raises the anger in blacks, but also vindicates those who want to hate blacks. Yes, it is his right, but it doesn't make it right. 

I think a lot of people believe BLM has taken an unfortunate turn. It appears that to some extent the movement has been superceded by leftist ideologues. Shit happens. Either it will get back on track or it will fall into the dustbin of history. 

I think BLM is a minor footnote in race relations though. Race problems go far beyond that. The inevitable" browning of America", and the resulting "fear of a black and brown planet"  seems to be a much more fundamental issue , to me anyway. 

I think the "browning of America" affects certain areas more than others. If you live in any of the major metro areas, you see people of many races and also intra racial couples. My children's generation see life differently that that of the older baby boomers and above. In this sense, there is progress. 

I agree that the programs that have been put in place have only pacified the situation without achieving what it claimed or hoped it would achieve.  I don't necessarily think that it was all lip service.  I think there have been those who truly wanted to help but it's difficult when there are opposing forces whether it's in the form of policies or funding.  I also think there has to be some self-reflection from the black community.   Not everything that has contributed to racial tension and continued inequality is because of all white people.  I don’t believe that there will ever be real change unless we can talk about race and differences without being accused of racism.  There is no atonement we can offer that will appease the sin of slavery and we can't go back in time and change it.  I don’t think equality can be achieved if those seeking it think it’s something that can be given to them.  

 I don’t think equality can be achieved if those seeking it think it’s something that can be given to them.  

That's a 21st century encapsulation, for sure. In today's world, we can have more and get it cheaper and faster than ever before.

This issue and conflict must be worked on tirelessly and diligently, and the reward comes in very small increments.

Is today's America ready for that kind of work?

Is today's America ready for that kind of work?

The country is definitely going through some changes with the birth of BLM and the rebirth or re-brand of the alt right.  I'm almost afraid to see what the outcome will be from their influences.  I just hope we find some leaders that can focus on the main objectives and let the smaller infractions go.  Otherwise we're going to continue arguing over what equality looks like rather than how we can get there.

Sept. 5th, 2017....Turning the dogs loose on native people in Cannonball ND.

What fucking change!!!!

Kavika,

It is a sad truth that when we talk about civil rights, the forgotten group are Indians. I could cite the reasons why, but that would not be helpful. I would say is that the tribes need to get together and work cohesively, to make themselves seen and heard. Right now, only a handful of people are even aware that Indian graves were were dug up last week and that when Indians tried to stop them peacefully, they were attacked by dogs. Media is the way to get that message out there, and the only way to get media attention is to be organized. 

There are thousands of Indians at Cannonball now and have been for weeks. Over two hundred tribes are represented there, along with non Indian supporters.

The media didn't cover this story for weeks, it was only Indian Media and Democracy Now that were there. The articles published in main line media were quotes from the local sheriff.

Native people have marched in Washington D.C. Amnesty International and the Indigenous rights coalition of the UN has spoken out.

Tribe are sending people, supplies, money and whatever else is needed by the protestors.

Unless the main stream media starts reporting the actions of DAPL accurately it will remain a hidden story.

I ask again, ''What Fucking Change''....

Kavika - Indians are the living legends and history OF America.  How cool is that!  Unfortunately we don't communicate this enough.  Native American communities are tight knit and very suspicious of outsiders so much so that it may have become a detriment.  Most understand why Native American's are leery of outsiders but again it may be working against the community especially now when they need outside advocates.   More outreach and education needs to happen to get non Native Americans to buy in to why it's so important to maintain our Native American heritage and traditions.  This whole situation makes me sad.  :0(

American Indians are not much of a presence in major cities, and don't have political or cultural "clout". Without attention , continued attention, from mainstream media , including mainstream online media, it is hard to see how things will change. Media presence is everything these days. 

This is the issue, John. Sad but true. Out of sight and out of mind. The only way I can see it happening is if the Indians take it to the street in larger cities that are nearby.. otherwise they will be forgotten. 

We tried that in 1973 and wound up with Wounded Knee.  'Member Alcatraz?  March/take-over of the BIA in DC?

What change?

That was a long time ago, and when it was going on, people did take note. It entered pop culture and was reflected in song, which means young people took note. The Academy of Arts and Sciences took note. Nothing like that is going on now. It's an ongoing process, not a once in lifetime event. 

perrie , naw , it was not that long ago , I was 11 when it happened , and just looking it up to refresh my memory, it was actually started as an internal tribal conflict( wounded knee 2) about a corrupt tribal leader that was using fear  intimidation , and nepotism, when violence started the feds had no choice but to send in federal marshals , just as they would in any other community in this nation, Which the AIM participants were against and wanted to solve the matter tribally and internally, 1st correct me if I have any of the basics wrong there.

 as for it isn't happening now , it is , and its happening here where I live in regards to how things work on the rez with road and works , the casinos , and many other things that day to day go on in Rez life.

 take my word , its still happening , just no ones paying attention.

and if what I posted sounds like a movie script? that's because the Val Kilmer , movie Thunderheart was loosely based on this event.

I saw that movie and really liked it. Never heard about a part 2 of Wounded knee, unless it went by some other name. 

I don't see the message getting out to the MSM. Not sure what it takes other than unity and a central voice. 

2  incidents happened at wounded knee , the massacre back in the 1890s , that's WK 1 , the one in 1973 I refer to as WK2 , the first was government over reach and treatment bad treatment of natives and completely the governments fault. 

The conflict was with Dick Wilson and the Goons (Guardians of  Our Oglala Nation) and they were goons. AIM was called in to help rid the rez of Wilson and the Goons at the request of the elders of the nation.

At the core of it was corruption of the BIA, the strip mining that was causing illness, and the Black Hills.

The BIA and Goons were corrupt to the core, with AIM coming in the tensions boiled over. Thus began the 71 day siege of Wounded Knee. It was a bloody encounter with the government. Deaths and over 1,000 Indians arrested. A number of unsolved deaths took place after the siege was over.

The movie ''Lakota Women'' the story of Mary Crow Dog is a fairly good depiction of the siege.

Natives from all over the nation joined the siege. Wes Studi was there, as were many others. Food and other supplies were brought to the protestors via back trails which were unknown to the FBI etc. Many of the protestors were Vietnam vets.

Dennis Banks, Nowa Cumig is his Ojibwe name meaning ''The center of the Ground''..and one of the original founders of AIM was there as well as most of the original founders of AIM..Russell Means (Lakota) was there as well but he was not a founding member of AIM.

Dennis is now in Cannonball ND standing his ground. (Miigwetch shinoob)

The book, Dennis Banks, Ojibwe Warrior is a good read.

Hoka Hey

This is a great article, Jonathan.  Living as I do in KY, we were on the cusp of the civil war, which was about 150 years ago, and still reverberating through our society, and in a modern city, trying to come to terms with our past and hopefully better our future.  What is the answer?  I don't know.

I know that racial discrimination is institutionalized, and have seen it first hand.  It is in the very programs designed to help people better their lives.  It is rampant and can only get worse.  Try to make it better and get shunned, when working for those existing institutions.  The line is drawn in the sand.  Don't actually DO anything that might help.

Our school system is one of the largest in the country, and yet, we have failing schools.  What constitutes a failing school?  Failing test scores?  Nope, more than that.  It's schools that do not represent a safe place for kids to get a basic education, it fails to deliver on its promise of a solid basic education.  Its in the old school books, the old buildings, the decrepit desks, the lack of color, the crumbling infrastructure.  Its in the fact that the parents aren't involved, the kids just show up because they have to, and create trouble when they do.  Its more than a lack of nutritious meals being served, or high pregnancy rates, or high drug abuse rates.  How can kids go to school to learn when they go home to chaos?  Its a failure of hope.  These kids have no hope.  No hope of bettering their lives and no hope of having a solid foundation on which to build a solid life.  Where are their daddies?  Not their "baby daddies", but their father figures?

Income inequality is certainly a large part of it.  Mothers and fathers, who have a solid family, must work 2-3 jobs, in order to make ends meet.  To buy shoes, not fancy shoes, just Wally World shoes, for their kids.  They are chasing the middle class dream, but can't get there.  And every time we turn around, something else costs more, not that wages reflect this inflation...  

More and more costs are having to be absorbed by the middle class, and wages aren't keeping up.  You can't work yourself out of a hole that just keeps getting bigger.  And where does all that money go?  To line the pockets of those who have plenty.  

We here in Louisville, have one of the most diverse populations of anywhere, except perhaps NYC.  On a smaller scale, I'd say we are just about as diverse as NYC.  We have a lot of refugees, immigrants, and people of different colors and faiths.  They all seem to move to areas designated to be for them, not spread out amongst the general population, but stuck together, into, specific neighborhoods.  Do they want to live together?  Or are they pushed to be together, so they can be out of sight, out of mind?  

I look at many things happening today with utter dismay.  And feel the futility of trying to make anything better, even on a small scale.  Ingrained prejudice and nastiness seems to be a part of life.  Treating those that have less than you do seems to be a free pass to treating them as less than human, too.  

It seems to me that changing the culture of acceptance of racism involves changing people's hearts.  That doesn't happen very frequently, nor does it happen fast.

As Chief Justice Robers said, "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race, is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”  As long as the government discriminates on the basis of race, race will always be a divisive factor in our society. 

Sean,

I refer you to this link: thenewstalkers

If you can think of a way to stop human nature, I'm in. 

"Government in its last analysis is this power reduced to a science. Governments never lead; they follow progress. When the prison, stake or scaffold can no longer silence the voice of the protesting minority, progress moves on a step, but not until then."  Lucy Parsons

The best possible starting point for developing and maintaining good relations with any community, is having close relationships with those in the community. It starts at home by inviting and being available to be a brother, a sister, a child, or a parent to those in need around us, regardless of color or creed; perhaps even, going outta the way to be extra aware of those who are downtrodden due to prejudice and racism. It may sound trite, but a hug, a supper, and a bed, speak louder than any words you can speak. My wife and I went this route some 25 years ago, and have never looked back. The result is that though we live in a very predominantly Caucasian Christian community, our meals, worship, and playtime are shared with more Hispanics and Indians than whites on most occasions. we also pay a price for that as one can well imagine. It works however, and we have wonderful relationships with our Indian and Hispanic neighbors that we wouldn't trade for anything, and never will. It comes down eventually in the end to being a friend, a neighbor and a brother.