John McWhorter, in his Forbes.com article, “Racism In America Is Over” (December 30th 2008), says that the election of a black man as president proves that racism against blacks is no longer a big issue in America. I expect white people to say that sort of thing, yet McWhorter is black.
McWhorter is not saying that racism has gone away completely, that no white person will ever use the n-word again, say. America will continue to be imperfect. But a racism that allows a black man to become president can only be so bad – and, in practice, not bad enough to matter much. It certainly cannot be the main issue or even one of the main issues that affects black Americans. Those who truly want to help blacks should give their attention to other, more important things.
I agree that America has come a long way in the past 50 years and the election of Obama is a big step on that road, but that does not mean racism no longer matters.
McWhorter’s argument turns on this passage about backward racist white people:
But with Obama’s election we saw that one thing these backward people cannot stop is a black family ending up in the White House. And really, what else were we worried about them affecting? Wasn’t it mostly their effect on elections? Surely we do not care how such people feel about black people, just in and of itself? I don’t, and I can do without a white person worrying for me about how bohunks feel about me. I doubt my feelings are unusual.
What McWhorter assumes: The feelings of white people only matter in so far as it affects their vote and therefore the government and its laws. Racism, the kind that matters, is only the kind that can be outlawed. And since that sort of racism was outlawed in the 1950s and 1960s and since the law is upheld and applied fairly by the courts and the police, racism is no longer a big issue.
A white person or a rich (or very young) black person might be able to believe all that. And it does sound nice on paper. But in practice America is not like that. Certainly not in my own experience in and near New York.
By law employers are no longer allowed to use race in making hiring decisions. But they do.
By law real estate agents are not allowed to show you houses according to your race. But they do.
You can outlaw racism all you want, but if the courts and the police who uphold the law are themselves racist – as they often are – then what? White people might think the courts and the police are pretty much fair, but many black people do not. Who is right?
Also, how many blacks who experience racism, the kind that is against the law, have the time and money to press a lawsuit?
McWhorter lives in America, but it is not the same America I live in.
See also:
- John McWhorter: “Racism In America Is Over” – the article itself
- Siditty: Blacks Gone Wild: John McWhorter Proclaims Racism In America Is Over – where I found out about the article. Thanks, Siditty!
- Racism is Over – a blog
- Will Smith: America is not a racist nation
- Of Limbaugh and Lowery
- Whites are still racist – more on that
- Apple-pie America – where McWhorter seems to live
- Amy Holmes
Abagond,
What do you say to this kind of self defeating behaviour? Is this self-defeating behaviuor any different than young black men killing each other? My husband and I live a nice middle class life; we live in a nice middle (mixed) class neighborhood. We drive decent cars (nothing fancy and they are both used). We have good jobs with decent job security. But we don’t live in the same America as McWhorter. We live in an America were we constantly have to prove that we belong in the positions we are in, we live in an America were we have to work twice as hard (just like Barack). McWhorter is ignorant! Racism may not be what it was in my parents day but we don’t live in an America were racism can be negated.
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McWhorter, like many privileged black Americans, can afford that view that racism isn’t that big of a monster for Americans. Most black folks can’t. They couldn’t survive with rose-colored glasses.
Obama’s entire campaign highlighted the immense anti-black racism that persists in this country. The fact that the media and general public spends more time dissecting his race than talk about his presidental attributes. The fact that after winning the election, there’s people who want to believe that he’s not black.
If America had outgrown racial hangups and saw everyone as equal despite their ethnicity, why would people so desperately want to believe that Obama isn’t black? Or, even dwell on the fact that he is the country first black president?
Race controls how this country is ran, so therefore McWhorter is wrong, racism is just as eternally American as apple pie.
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Given the state of the country, the Republican defeat should have been crushing – they should have only won two states: Arizona and Alaska. But because of race they picked up much of the South. They won Mississippi, for example, because 90% of the whites there voted against Obama.
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McWhorter needs to climb down from his ivory tower. Maybe racism is not something you can learn about from a book.
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McWhorter is a fool! I dare him to go to a sundown town and say that ish.
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Racism is no where near over in America. Electing Barack Obama as the first black president is definitely a stepping stone, but a black President does not cure hatred and bigotry.
Even if the majority of white voters had cast their vote for Obama, that still would not mean that racism was defeated.
I live in the South and I speak from personal experience, racism exists then and still exists now.
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That is pretty much how I see it too, though from New York and not the South.
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McWhorter has no clue.
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http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/oscar-grant-young-father-and-peacemaker-executed-by-bart-police/
Racism isn’t over. Isay that sadly as a white person.
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Racism is the South isn’t that much worse or different, really, from racism anywhere else in the country.
The idea that the Northeast is more “tolerant” is BS. More phony liberals, sure, but the level of racism remains the same.
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I heard about Oscar Grant. Not surprised, sad to say. McWhorter would call it an “imperfection”.
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Didnt you once say that an openly racist person is not as bad as one who believes they are a “tolerant” liberal? this implies that they tolerate people not as good as themselves. The esteem themselves better and think you need their help.
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White America is dying. According to current projections, white population will fall below 50% by 2042 (eight years earlier than previously estimated). By the century’s end, it’ll probably be at South Africa’s level.
Who will you blame for your problems then? Your new Mexican (or Chinese) overlords? I guarantee you, they won’t be nearly as accomodating as the whitey once was.
Probably not, though. As South Africa’s example shows, even as a small (~9% and falling), disempowered minority, whites are still blamed for every wrong, real and imagined (and simultaneously are expected to pick up every tab, and clean up every mess).
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Whites once ruled South Africa along racist lines. They made the country what it is, both he good and the bad. Ditto whites in America, even if they fall below the 50% mark.
I do not think that whites in America will fall below 50%: instead the idea of who is white will broaden – just as it has in the past to take in Jews and Italians and, way back when, even the Irish.
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Openly racist people are not “better”, just easier to deal with because you know where you stand. Everything is out in the open. With “tolerant” liberals they not only hide their racism from you, but even from themselves.
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White America is dying. According to current projections, white population will fall below 50% by 2042 (eight years earlier than previously estimated).
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The so-called current projections of the declining “white” population only include non-hispanic “whites”.
There will not be less “white” people in America, just less “white” people from the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Irish/Celtic stock.
Like Abagond said, the idea of who is “white” will clearly broaden to include whites from Latin America.
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Whites once ruled South Africa along racist lines. They made the country what it is, both he good and the bad. Ditto whites in America, even if they fall below the 50% mark.
The question isn’t whether whites deserve their predicament. The question is whether blacks would fare better in the coming non-white, Brazilianized America. I venture that they would not.
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Nonserviam said: The question isn’t whether whites deserve their predicament. The question is whether blacks would fare better in the coming non-white, Brazilianized America. I venture that they would not.
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I have to agree with you.
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I believe racism has changed from what my parents and grandparents had to endure. I believe it is less in your face and more “closet racism”.
Often times I see the “N” word employed in anonymous forums: Youtube, Blogs, Xbox Live etc. The worst part about that type of racism is that you can’t address it face to face.
God forgive us for we know not what we do.
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In the early 1970s acceptable white racism changed from the Jim Crow sort that you mainly see in old white people to the colour-blind racism that is common among white people now.
My posts on the two kinds:
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Hello All
My name is Raymond Carnation. I was a Philadelphia Police Officer that opposed racism against African Americans in my department.
I along with two other officers were then retaliated against and then fired for coming forward . This occurred under the command of William Colarulo now a chief inspector.
In May of 2008 we won our Precedential Federal Racism Case Myrna Moore vs. The City of Philadelphia. D.C. Civil Action NOS. 99-cv-01163. This ten year nightmare has
inspired me to campaign to ask President Barack Obama to place police racism on our national agenda. I am also aware this is a Global Problem I researched Ali Tahmourpour racism case from Toronto Canada.He and I are teaming up and are seeking Global as well as national attention on this serious problem. We are in the process of writing a book on our true stories and our findings on police racism.We hope that Oprah ,20/20 or Dateline can do a story so the world,public and our President can take proper action and place this on our Nati onal Agenda.
Below is my story so you will have a better understanding what had occurred in the Philadelphia Police Department. Together we can make a positive change for all. I hope you and your staff can assisted us in our quest.
Thank You and God Bless.
Yours Truly,
Raymond Carnation
around4life@aol.com
Cell# 267-231-8143
http://www.counterpunch.org/washington05162008.html
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I dont care if white america is dying, and who really knows if that is true. Saying that “White america” is going to die is a oppinion not a fact.
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No single event is going to erase 400 years of racist attitudes. The title of McWhorter’s thesis was an attention seeking headline that anyone who is black knows to be complete balderdash.
Racism a system that advantages whites and disadvantages people of color is alive and well in America. We may have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go…
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An open letter 2009-02-07
Dear Mr. President
Please help to stop torturing people in Democratic Europe!!!
It happens that Law enforcements (Police and Security guards) in a group has the ability to arrest people (especially dark-skinned people)- in the name of Law- no matter if they are actually guilty or not- and take them to some room (for example, any room in Law enforcement use- as dressing rooms(even the Law enforcement call it Swedish & German lager)! etc.- or to their vehicles or any other “blind” places with no public view) with no security cameras in it where they would beat up the people, torture or even assault sexually. When the victims of such cases would try to stand for their rights and turn to Justice the guilty policemen (or security guards) would always have the excuse- violent resistance to the Law, thus their duty has been to deal with them. Law enforcement would censor such cases so society doesn’t get to hear about it from the media etc. There have been many cases all over the Democratic and Humanitarian Europe (for more information (120 cases) – Mr. Juan Fonseca, the chief of Discrimination bureau in Stockholm, former member of Swedish Parliament (Cell # + 46733421988); Amnesty International EU Office; and others. Also some cases are covered by the media, for example, in Swedish channel 4 News has shown a video taken by mobile phone of a police officer where it could be seen how European Police were torturing refugees in such a “torture rooms”. In Stockholm main Police Station Picture of non cocas ion police officers pictures marked SS on .There are many other similar cases happening- even maybe right now when you are reading this letter and the guilty parties suffer no consequences. If such violence realized by the Law enforcement isn’t being stopped, victims are being damaged not just physically but also psychologically what may turn into some more violence when victims wanting to put out their insult and aggression for what they have experienced get violent to the rest of society, to the Law enforcement itself and even You- politicians, government etc. as there have been cases in France, Sweden and other countries when people come up with weapons and shooting, explosions and so on and so forth… And there are more cases in US and all over the world available on camera and videos as evidence to back up this proposal in order to end these kinds of barbarian behaviors.
solution to stop all this violence and have the justice would be- all Law enforcement should be carrying small camera (with memory of a few GB) attached to their uniforms- taping them on their duties or any action (it is not expensive technology when you compare its costs to expenses of courts when dishonorable officers are being sued by their victims). Such camera should be coded and the tape can be stopped or viewed only by some people in charge but not policemen or security guards themselves; such tapes should be collected from all the policemen and recorded daily- when they finish their working days.
There also should be placed security cameras in all the Law enforcement used premises and officers will be not allowed to take arrested people to any “blind” places away from public where nobody can see them.
Low enforcement communications should be taped 24 hours every day by some higher level Law enforcement unit (which consists from maximum diverse of people of different nationalities and races available in the country). The taped materials would be available for court use.
I sincerely hope that you will kindly conceder this matter not only as a President but also, someone who deeply cares about humanity. Hope You would bring this idea further talking to your colleagues all over the world because it is the Start of new beginning to make changes and have positive effect on every country. All the next generations would remember you not only as a 44 President but also as someone who has done well to the entire world and made the big change for the Justice and human right, and stopped racism, and discrimination all over the world hopefully.
With best wishes, and hope for a better world for us and our children. Truly yours: Rico Hendran
Post Restante
104 60 stockholm
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Dear Mr. President,
I am respectfully requesting you place police racism on our national agenda.
Warmest Regards,
Raymond Carnation
around4life@aol.com
http://www.counterpunch.org/washington05162008.html
http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/3-Former- Philadelphia-Officers-Win-10-Million-Lawsuit-Against-City/1$41422
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universal protection services Denver CO
This is a racist company if you are a white person you will not be employed and if you are lucky to be employed and have a black supervisor your career is over you will be threaten that if you say anything you will be fired and as a white person there is nothing you will be able to do about it, and under the current laws unable to even get regress
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Looks like someone got canned for wearing their Stormfront wife-beater once too often… 😀
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Racism over? That’s a big a** laugh. The only thing that has changed for many whites are the laws. Power does not concede unless forced to. The racist acts perpetrated by Republicans against the Obamas, and all the white folk that regused to vote for him (and the blacks who voted for him for that reason alone) prove it’s alive and well. Hate groups are proliferating as I write this.
Plus, if Obama had been a garden variety brother – no white momma, I’m not sure he would have gotten as far as he has. I think the fact that he is white as well helped smooth the way for many whites who did vote for him.
One election did not undo hundreds of years of virulent hatred and white supremacy. Trust that. It’s going to take whites being able to take a long hard look at themselves and their actions for real change to begin. They can start with apologizing for slavery and the reparations.
But who am I kidding? They can’t even start there. All you’ll get is “my ancestors never owned slaves.” Like everything was coming up roses after slavery…but I digress…
Yes, it’s still racist like a MF up in this b*
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I read John McWhorter’s book “Losing the Race” and I must say that he makes some interesting points regarding the state of race relations and the state of the Black “community” (I use that term loosely), and a lot of his points are absolutely correct (i.e. the cult of anti-intellectualism so rampant in the Black “community”), but I too agree that on many points, he sees the world through rose tinted glasses.
Even as a lower class, inner city kid in the Bronx, I believe I have led a relatively privileged life (attending private schools, always having afterschool/extracurriculars, having an involved family that did not let me stray) compared to others that live around me. So no, I do not live the same life that the poorest of Black people do, and therefore, my life isn’t as ruled by race as theirs is. Even so, I have experienced both naked and closet racism and I know I’m not alone. McWhorter seems to think that people who decry the closeted racism that is common in places like NYC are just exaggerating their victimhood and cannot provide explicit examples of the racism they encounter. Not so, Mr. McWhorter. I and many others could tell him completely differently, but he probably wouldn’t listen anyway. In his mind, we are post-racial and we are liars. He’s as closed as the Victimologists he speaks about in his book.
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I haven’t read his book, but I’m sure I know the points he probably trotted out about the black underclass are absolutely true. It is also true that these problems exist because of racism and even though each of us make choices (to listen in school, to not reproduce before we are ready) that affect our life chances that does not diminish racism as a factor. It still affects you nobody how far you rise. the best example of that being the President. Never before has a commander and chief been so disrespected. The racist who are blocking him at every turn claim its because of his policies, but we know that’s only partly true.
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A Fool can see that it is not
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America has not changed in fact is worst when you have 5,6,7,8,9,10,year olds calling you nigger,has to be taught at home by thier parents,I nkow and watch these people they cannot help themselves this is who they are.Who is notorious for criminal activities,Europeans,hands down the worst.Western Civilization has been anything but civilized. It has been more barbaric, as a matter of fact. We are told that Western Civilization begins with the Greeks, and the epitome of that is Alexander the Great. The only thing that I can remember about Alexander the Great was that at age twenty-six he wept because there were no other people to kill, murder and plunder. And if you’re not satisfied with that, you could always take the Roman Empire.
m like the Demon have ShutDown the caucasians Brain and Taken Over The caucasians Body”Like Your Movie Body Double,yoo
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Another rented negro or just a straight up idiot.
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McWhorter has always made my teeth itch. Now i understand why i have such a visceral reaction to him. He’s a black conservative. I put him in the same bag as that sellout Candice Owens and the rest of despicable ilk.
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He is married to the white gaze and is white supremacist adjacent.
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