Friday, January 23, 2009

Who is the Racist Now?

Have you ever heard the term “African-Britishmen”? No, there’s just “British”. Are there black people in France? Are they called “Le français-africain”? No. They are called French. Why is it in America we had a need for Dr. Martin Luther King while Europe didn’t? Europe does have its issues to answer for with racism in its dealings with the Jews but with the black members of their societies they don’t at least not nearly the same level as The U.S.... Why is it that we in America have people within this country classified different like African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, while you don’t see “Irish-American, Italian-American, English-American, or even European-American for that matter?
The answer is easy… Reciprocity. In the name civil-rights, the United States has allowed many racially based double standards in hopes to equal the playing field for black Americans. We have seen things like, “Affirmative Action” forcing schools and employers to hire and enroll minority groups to help ensure the inclusion of those groups, but unlike Great Britain’s plan in the 19th century, ours only lowered the bar sending a message that America didn’t think minorities could do it on their own which only created a resentment throughout America as everyone knew that it wasn’t your performance that earned your a position anymore it was your ethnic background. And, with an economy dependant of the structure of a free-market, America has suffered economically as payment to help ease our conscience (so to speak) of something that should have been done better over 150 years ago.
The United States wasn’t the only country involved in the slave trade… many European countries indorsed this idea well before we did… Ponce De Leon, Balboa, Cortés… all endorsed, and took part in creating slavery in the new world… Even earlier slavery was/is used throughout parts of China, the Middle East, Asia Minor, and Africa well before any western civilization ever existed. Saudi Arabia legally allowed a slave trade until the 1960's yet it is the “west of the west”, The United States that bares the black eye when the word "slavery" is mentioned. This fact is not ironic after all it was the United States that became a country under the banner of liberty and freedom only to socially endorse slavery at its conception.
In 1865 and with the Emancipation Proclamation America saw the first real action in stopping slavery, but despite Lincoln’s efforts slavery brought a scar to this country that has festered to levels that I cannot believe Lincoln could have foreseen. In the U.S. promises were made of forty acres and a mule to once enslave black individuals but though legally they were entitled to all the rights that the Constitution and Bill of Rights listed, the U.S. government dusted their hands off and basically expected the American people to invite these new citizens into their lives as equals with open arms; obviously not understanding the relationship the southern states had with their fellow (black) citizens… And, not understanding the actual effects the Civil War had on The South leading to extreme protectionists policies and even terrorist groups like The KKK...As history wrights, it wasn’t until almost 100 years later with the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education ruling that over turned the “separate but equal” Jim Crow laws that forced “white” Americans in southern region districts to desegregate and allow black Americans into their schools and other public places.
Even with this legal action and pictures of national guard soldiers escorting children into elementary schools, a year later we see struggle as a seamstress named Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus (where black Americans were forced to sit)… But why doesn’t Europe face these issues?
During the end of the slave trade Great Britain, went several steps further when ending slavery within its boarders…It is also of note to know that England did endorse slavery but believed the value was in the sales of slaves not in the workforce... They partnered with their transplanted African citizens and destroyed, arrested, and put to death everyone they caught involved with slavery… They “desegregated” quickly by taking great lengths to include black Englishmen by enrolling them in schools and places of employment… They took affirmative action by way of enabling black people and not just lowering expectation and performance goals. In two generations Europe accomplished an equalization of its citizens that the U.S. is now getting a picture of.
Enter the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)… The name alone would cause anyone to think that this group isn’t trying to erase racism but instead live as victims putting a spotlight on a terrible history not to learn from it but instead to use it as leverage to hold hostage a culture for the sins of their fathers.
We hear terms from Jennifer Hudson in a past black focused awards ceremony, “It feels great to be recognized by your own…” referring to other black people… to a roar of applause… We see, TV shows, Magazines, awards ceremonies, scholarships, and grants for specifically black people without apology or fear of undermining all that great civil rights leaders worked and died for to remove. Today’s black leaders have brought back the Jim Crow Laws, by way of reminding all black citizens that they are “separate but equal”… These leaders spout off that they are not just "Americans" but “African-Americans” While the rest of white America are simply “Americans”.
I have an honest question… Did we as a country trade past years of immoral slavery for present years of unethical favoritism and a blind eye to racism? Does the age-old proverb of ‘two wrongs not making a right’ not apply or is this what reciprocity really means?
Our currency reads “E Pluribus Unum” meaning: “From the Many, come One”. Speaking of the many collected cultures and races within our boarders who are all made one people, Americans. Do groups like the NAACP encourage or discourage this philosophy? Is there goal to someday not be needed?
We celebrated the inauguration of our first black president... whether you voted for him or not, the picture was inspiring and validating... America is not a racist country however, we are still held in bondage by people who profit from the idea that America is racist.

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