Home » blogs » Prometheus 6's blog

Unapologetic IV

Submitted by Prometheus 6 on December 27, 2006 - 2:02pm.
on

In a recent online conversation, a guy said to me

There is no one, simple, answer to all the things that plague blacks. But most white people are sure that racism is just one of them, and not the greatest of them.

If you, as a black person, cannot concede (stipulate to?) that, then there is actually nothing to discuss.

You can imagine after my response the gentleman decided there's nothing to discuss. And it's not like I was rude, either. I just recognize how humans work; anything you yield before entering a discussion you never get back. And there's one whole hell of a lot of...how did Prof. Patterson put it...tacit agreements in that statement. The next argument would be, “you should deal with your most important problems before you ask me to look at racism as a possible obstacle to you.”

Well.

Let us set aside race altogether for a moment. Let's talk about the National Rifle Association. What are the three most important issues the N.R.A. supports? What do you think their reaction would be if you insisted they only pursue the most important one? How would they respond to the suggestion that they ignore their third priority?

Okay, let's look at the Conservative Citizens Council. What three things are critical to them? Do you think you can convince them to drop the third item on their list until they attain the first two?

One more. What is the Democratic Leadership Council's platform? Do you think you can get them to drop their third plank?

Get my drift? It doesn't matter how many legitimate issues you feel you can identify in Black folks. Each of them needs addressing.

Prometheus 6's blog | login or register to post comments | latest article | previous | next

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Command and Control Reconciliation
Submitted by ptcruiser on December 27, 2006 - 2:18pm.
No person of good will and honorable intent would demand that you concede a critical point before that person agrees to discuss any issues with you. Look how far this position has gotten the Bush Administration in its efforts to persuade Iran not to enrich its supply of nuclear fuel. 
login or register to post comments
Reminds Me of Rudy G.
Submitted by Temple3 on December 28, 2006 - 10:55am.
what I find most interesting about that contention is that this person is correct in arguing this perspective of white folks - but, and here's the rub...white folks have no clue about the full extent to which racism shapes their world. After all, racism made them "white" - and it also created most of the dichotomies and euphemisms to which they cling so desperately in these types of conversations. Since so many folks don't want to be white anymore, there is little left to do but change the subject. "This conversation is so 60's." Ain't no mo white folks, right?? You are good P6.
login or register to post comments
With all the conversations
Submitted by sylviasrevenge on December 31, 2006 - 1:25am.

With all the conversations on intersectionality and privilege that goes on in feminist communities -- a community very active in asking women of color to deny their races to show loyalty to [white middle class ablist heterosexist] womanhood -- I'd say this analysis is spot-on.  

It also works within racial frameworks too when discussing sexism...but that's another topic.

login or register to post comments