I had a recent facebook dialogue with several individuals regarding a variety of things related to the Barack Obama whopping victory (okay. . . had to take that cheap shot) of McCain in the Presidential election. The dialogue covered a variety of topics; taxes, abortion, guns (huh?), etc. But the most poignant topic was that of racism and the assertion that racism is a thing of the past. Something, that if it exists at all, exists both ways.
Now it's hard for me to argue that racism isn't a two way street. I have had the unfortunate privilege of witnessing racism spew from the mouths of blacks as I have with whites. I have also witnessed physical acts of racism toward whites, unwarranted and undeserving. However, to assert that racism is a thing of the past is a bit of a farce.
But as for it not being a living evil that thrives and rears its ugly head in so many factions of our lives today; that is simply not the case.
I argue that it is very difficult to eradicate an ill that has not just been institutionalized in our society, but is written into the very binding laws that our country are/were founded on. The 3/5's compromise (Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the United States Constitution) listed below created racism and inequality in the very document that governs our land. This adopted into law in 1787 at the U.S. Constitutional Convention.
"Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons." - 3/5 Compromise
This is quite contrary to our Declaration of Independence from British rule on July 4, 1776 which states:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Yet, it took nearly 100 years and a Civil War to include an amendment which reversed the ill will of the founding father's; the 14th Amendment:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Connecting the dots further, the 1960's (100 years after the 14th amendment) was the heart of the Civil Rights movement. A struggle for equality for all. Throw in the fact that the last "recorded" lynching was done in 1968, a pseudo-lynching in Jasper, Texas in 1998, in addition to Jena Six in 2006 and the foiled planned murder of 88 blacks with 14 beheadings culminating in the attempt on President - Elect Obama's life in 2008 . . .it's difficult to ignore that racism in it's purest form is alive and well.
The election of a black (actually . . .half black) President doesn't erase hundreds of years of institutionalized prejudice, racism and inequality. It at best, provides a springboard for making new headway into a society that is inclusive, appreciative and tolerant of all persons despite their beliefs, background or color of skin.
We have a long way to go America! In 200+ years of Presidencies, 44 elected Presidents, only once has there even been an opportunity for a candidate other than a white male to be considered for the highest office in the land. 1 OPPORTUNITY in more than 200 years.
Should we be expecting complete parity? Absolutely not. That is impossible when racism in our country is 400 years ahead in the game. The question is what will the next 400 years be like? Will we once and for all begin to judge each other "by the content of our character"? Will we cease permitting shallow minds with ulterior motives to form our opinions of those who don't look like the reflection in the mirror? Will we embrace the diversity that GOD has created in all of us, a diversity that in it's prism of color, is more the same than it is different.
The true means to erasing racism is to stop ignoring it. Address it head on, with friends, family, co-workers. Do not permit it to infiltrate any aspect of your life. Do not settle for the uncomfortableness of prejudice, no matter which direction on the two way street racism travels. Open your MIND to the idea that the characteristics of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is much more indistinguishable and homogeneous than we often put on.
President - Elect Obama is the reflection of a World that is blended and mixed and muddled. The product of a black man and a white woman, a Kenyan and a American, raised for several years in an Indonesian land and household by a Indonesian step-father, reared by Grandparents of Irish decent. How's that for a hodgepodge?
Racism exists. We are more alike than we are different and that is the reason racism should be understood and more importantly offensive to us all.
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