"You see racism where there isn't any..."

Awesome news! Actually, not awesome; annoying news... (there is some swearing in this post.)

I got an email about my post on the George Zimmerman post I wrote.  In this long-winded, ridiculous, and offensive email I was told that "blacks are too sensitive about this case, and about racism in general;" "you see racism in situations where there isn't any;" and "you should be happy about the changes for the better, at least your not a slave now;" along with an explanation about what racism is.

If you sent me this email, first of all you are a coward for not using your real name.  Secondly, you have not bothered to read anything that has been posted to give you a better understanding of racism through the lived experience of black folks. (See Questlove's article about the Trayvon Martin murder.)  Third of all, fuck you.  You think that you are adding an important aspect to this discussion, but you are not. 

Because I believe that people may not understand what I mean when I say "racism," I thought that I would define racism as I see it.

Audre Lorde defined racism as a scourge that pervades every aspect of society; it is the "belief in the inherent superiority of one race (whiteness) over all others and thereby the right to dominance." (Lorde, Sister Outsider, 1984, page 115.)  Stuart Hall adds that racism is an institutional hegemony of white folks over other raced people through economic, political and ideological practices. (Hall, "Race, Articulation and Societies Structured in Dominance," 1980, page 338.)   But trying to define the institutional and complex social relations it encompasses is extremely tricky.  Racism is part of the English language.  People still use the word "minorities" to describe people of color-- who outnumber the white population of planet Earth.  There is a hierarchy inherent in that word that has nothing to do with numbers.  The pervasiveness and institutionalized nature of racism in our society is what makes it so insidious; an endemic feature of society that permeates every aspect of it.  It also makes it seem invisible to white folks who can decry overt examples of racism as crude and uneducated while ignoring or perpetuating underlying institutional racism in their daily interactions (or emails) with non-white folks.

It is the institutionalization of racism that makes it oppressive; but also renders the notion of "reverse-racism" a myth.  Because "white" culture dominates our institutions in our society,  there is no way that non-white races have access to power needed to oppress white folks.  There is definitely prejudice towards white folks, but at the end of the day, white people don't have to worry that their may lose the right to vote, or that the police will assault them.

In short, racism is big.  Really big.  And not fixable over night.  And something that I see EVERYWHERE.

Sci-fi writer Catherine Shaffer wrote on her blog So Shiny a great response to people who ask the question, "why are people calling me a racist?"  See the whole post here.  What I would like to highlight is the list of rules to follow if you truly want to try and fight racism. She writes: 
    

 

Great words of advice for anyone who takes this as seriously as I do. 

That's probably enough angry blogging for now.  Have a great Saturday!