After I slapped my forehead at Ben Carson's latest pronouncement that the GOP is far more accepting of black people than Democrats, I had to write my first diary. I do it because statements like Carson's are right wing attempts at appropriation. They learned at Karl Rove's rotten knee that the modern Republicans lie and steal. They steal progressive big ideas (MLK is ours!) and small ideas (right wing comedy - they're still working on that) and use them against us. They wave 'Party of Lincoln' banners unironically, trumpeting the 150-year-old good intentions of a man who whipped their ass in the Civil War.
Now. Right this very instant, white progressives have a great opportunity to do some serious mending of racial fences. After all, every racist in America has raised his/her hand during the Obama Administration. We know the Limbaughs, Coulters, Krauthammers et al by their self-identification.
That knowledge is power; you move faster when you know who’s holding you back. Certainly, statements like Carson's are beyond idiotic; the fevered rationales of a black 1% oblivious to the struggles of the hard working, honest, majority of black people who have been turned away from jobs, homes, educations and other opportunities because of skin color.
The black 1% are much like the white 1% in holding very different opinions on how America works best. But, instead of buying banks and politicians, our black 1% spends its time buying favor with a party that generally hates them for their skin color. No matter how many Mia Loves or Michelle Malkins they trot out, it is obvious that they are fringe elements -- a sad, cynical proof against charges of racism.
While it's cute they care enough to at least alibi the party's overall intolerance, I think we need to stop glancing over at that freak show. I get it. It's human nature to want to feel morally superior to another, but is that progress?
I don't need another Carson hate bomb to know they don't have black people's best interests at heart. Dr. Ben isn't even able to time his silliness well. It's only a month since he was berating the white and Latino GOP presidential candidates for not calling the Charleston SC massacre a racist act. Maybe it surprised him that his fellows ran away from it. It didn't surprise the black 99%. We’ve been called “idiots,” “sheep” and worse, by right wing black people who think because we supported Obama at a 94% level we’re neo-field slaves. Yet, they are absolutely fine with that same percentage of white males supporting "Anybody But Obama." They have bought into the right wing narrative that the only racists are black people who decry racism.
But, there I go - talking about right wingers. While that absolutely must be done, I think it is more important to build a coalition of white progressives and black people that actually address race.
Talk. Act. Fuss. Cry. Curse. You know, the same process you use learning to drive: learn what you can to get by and pray you don't kill anyone.
A 'Truth Booth' is required -- one on one, we need to talk across our chasm, so eventually we can bridge it. Why? Because we're not perfect. Bernie Sanders is my guy, but I wasn't against the black women who jacked his speech. Here on the DK, while no one was spewing the n-word as if they were on Fox, there was some serious virtual mean-mugging against those brave ladies.
If we don't turn the lens on our two joined families, the enemy has a chance to divide and conquer. So, let's talk about our differences -- Gay marriage, the environment, music, the economy, education, technology, media, etc -- and not run away when we disagree. Let's be the adults in the room and accept blame where there is blame and work against injustice where we can.
One of the things I notice right away is the relative economic comfort of the many white progressives, compared to black people. In America, that is a big thing. Ask Abraham Maslow.
So, let's not try to convince too stridently and let's not be too rigid in the face of heartfelt beliefs.
If we can agree a bit; disagree a lot, but still work together, maybe we can finally SEE each other. Black and white Americans have rarely had opportunities to be pragmatic together. Black people were pragmatically shunted to the underclass for most of American history, but that wasn't a dialog.
Saying all this to a right winger isn't possible, but saying it to a progressive might make a difference because these two groups have spoken unpleasant truths to power -- white progressives because they had the power to do so, black people because not to do so meant death.
Trust me, black Americans will eventually catch up with white people on every social indicator you can imagine, but with an ally, that speeds up the process -- and restores one's faith in humanity.
So, I’m going to write more diaries about this very issue. I hope to nudge the crap out of you, get you out of your comfort zones and maybe help some connections get made.