Photo courtesy of netamirDuring my lunch break today I caught a few minutes of an old episode of Dr Phil.
I love Dr Phil due to his ability to force life-changing advice down the throats of idiots by YELLING AT THEM VERY LOUDLY. The man is a genius.
Anyway, the snippet in question featured Paul Mooney - a comedian I first noticed on Chappelle's Show - and some other people I didn't recognise debating whether or not institutional racism continued to exist. It was magnificent.
Mooney exists in the same space of Chappelle. He turns racism towards its defenders, makes them experience its bitter taste, and wraps to whole thing in humour. It shows the ridiculousness of racism and hopefully, can lead to such beliefs collapsing under the weight of their own stupidity.
Mooney discussed a doll test I had never heard of, wherein black children had been shown a black doll and a white doll, and when asked which one was the 'ugly doll', they would always pick the black one. This test had been performed in the 1960s and this year with identical results.
While decrying this obvious signal that nothing had changed he said 'they should've asked which one is the serial killer doll? Which one is the doll that will go to the mall and shoot everybody? Then they'd pick the white doll."
The predominately white crowd erupted with scorn and labelled Mooney as 'the most racist man in this room'.
The thing is, the white people in the audience will be stung by these statements - stereotypes as ludicrous as those often used against other cultures and creeds - and they will then get into their cars and never face them again.
Racism exists. Overt institutionalised racism may not exist in its past form - all employers are 'equal opportunity' these days - but it carries on in a more nefarious fashion.
You can walk into a workplace and demand a sign saying you're not welcome be taken down, but what do you do if you just don't get a job interview? Not ever?
Meanwhile, Barack Obama is President, and that is awesome. Awesome to the max.
I haven't addressed that before, so I'll give that some room to breathe. Obama is the best man for the job at this time. His election is a boon to America and the world at large, and holds huge promise. I'm pumped. While I could not vote, I certainly sent a lot of telepathic messages towards the US of A.
But, (And much like a the music video of an up-and-coming rap outfit, you knew there'd be an obvious, gesticulating butt in here somewhere), it's important that Obama be recognised for the right reasons.
On my way to lunch the radio played a piece about Bush showing Obama through the White House, saying it was happening 'days before Obama becomes the first African-American President of the United States'. This is understandable, it's history. It's a strong story and a good angle, but it Obama's skin colour is referenced in all stories that concern him.
My hope is that, once history is made and he is in the office, his race will fade and we can start recognising him for more relevant reasons. My hope is that Obama will be recognised for his achievements. Otherwise, if Obama continues to primarily be 'the first Black President' we're all just continuing the subtle racism that permeates our society. We've got a good shot at some real progress here, but emphasising the novelty value of it all could undo everything.
I love Dr Phil due to his ability to force life-changing advice down the throats of idiots by YELLING AT THEM VERY LOUDLY. The man is a genius.
Anyway, the snippet in question featured Paul Mooney - a comedian I first noticed on Chappelle's Show - and some other people I didn't recognise debating whether or not institutional racism continued to exist. It was magnificent.
Mooney exists in the same space of Chappelle. He turns racism towards its defenders, makes them experience its bitter taste, and wraps to whole thing in humour. It shows the ridiculousness of racism and hopefully, can lead to such beliefs collapsing under the weight of their own stupidity.
Mooney discussed a doll test I had never heard of, wherein black children had been shown a black doll and a white doll, and when asked which one was the 'ugly doll', they would always pick the black one. This test had been performed in the 1960s and this year with identical results.
While decrying this obvious signal that nothing had changed he said 'they should've asked which one is the serial killer doll? Which one is the doll that will go to the mall and shoot everybody? Then they'd pick the white doll."
The predominately white crowd erupted with scorn and labelled Mooney as 'the most racist man in this room'.
The thing is, the white people in the audience will be stung by these statements - stereotypes as ludicrous as those often used against other cultures and creeds - and they will then get into their cars and never face them again.
Racism exists. Overt institutionalised racism may not exist in its past form - all employers are 'equal opportunity' these days - but it carries on in a more nefarious fashion.
You can walk into a workplace and demand a sign saying you're not welcome be taken down, but what do you do if you just don't get a job interview? Not ever?
Meanwhile, Barack Obama is President, and that is awesome. Awesome to the max.
I haven't addressed that before, so I'll give that some room to breathe. Obama is the best man for the job at this time. His election is a boon to America and the world at large, and holds huge promise. I'm pumped. While I could not vote, I certainly sent a lot of telepathic messages towards the US of A.
But, (And much like a the music video of an up-and-coming rap outfit, you knew there'd be an obvious, gesticulating butt in here somewhere), it's important that Obama be recognised for the right reasons.
On my way to lunch the radio played a piece about Bush showing Obama through the White House, saying it was happening 'days before Obama becomes the first African-American President of the United States'. This is understandable, it's history. It's a strong story and a good angle, but it Obama's skin colour is referenced in all stories that concern him.
My hope is that, once history is made and he is in the office, his race will fade and we can start recognising him for more relevant reasons. My hope is that Obama will be recognised for his achievements. Otherwise, if Obama continues to primarily be 'the first Black President' we're all just continuing the subtle racism that permeates our society. We've got a good shot at some real progress here, but emphasising the novelty value of it all could undo everything.
3 comments:
Come on...wake up and smell the roses! Nothing gonna change in the US, except the richer gonna get richer, and the poor gonna keep on getting ass-raped!
Nothing gonna change that dynamic, because that's what the good ol US of A is built on. A whole lotta ass-raping of the poor man!
Putting a black man in the white house aint gonna change a damn thing.
B.
i think for a while, we can and should, celebrate there being a black person as US president.
but soon, you're right, he's got to be just the president.
A worthy point migratingfishswim!
For now, it is an amazing thing, and we deserve our fair share of basking. I'm doing it right now.
aaaaah.
B - also a fair point, with bonus points for using "ass rape" twice.
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