Please Stop It

Guys, I gotta run and catch a plane, so I don't have the time to do this the justice it deserves. That said, I keep hearing this "sexism vs. racism" argument put forth by Hillary's supporters, who rightly sight the list of sexist slights toward Hillary, but wrongly conclude that Obama has no such list. Most foolishly, they conclude that public slights are the worst part of the problem of racism or sexism. There is a reason you will never hear me engaging in Oppress-A-Thons in which we compete to see whose grievances are worse. The reason is simple--I know the limits of my experience.

So, I just need to say this before I scream. Please, stop with the "sexism is the last acceptable prejudice" or "Obama has endured less racism than Hillary's endured sexism" or the blithe quoting of Shirley Chisolm or the "sexism is the most binding force in America," or the "We're lucky to be black." You don't have to run me down to make your point. Have a drink. Take a run. Cut on the boob-tube. Or better yet, open a goddamn book that tackles something that's larger than your own, evidently, accursed existence. Do something that will prevent you from speaking on evils you've never had the privilege of dancing with. I beg of you--just stop it. You aren't qualified to speak on this. And the more you talk, the more we know.

P.S. Sorry for the lack of hyperlinks. Not joking about that plane. Something more analytical, and less raw when I get back. Be safe guys.

Comments

[luis]

You might appreciate this, though you might be too angry just right at the moment to appreciate the humor...

[luis]

Hrm, it took out my link: http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=750

[asl]

'Lucky to be Black'. That one always fascinates me.

[K]

this was my response to an article of yours written in 2004. url: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0421,coates,53761,1.html?c=1#comments

I disagree with the notion that Black America's problems are simply those of poor America.

To simplify these issues as a matter of socio-economics is a dangerous oversight. Socio-economics is a part of the issue (and also a bi-product), but the heart of the problem is totally different. Please stop speading such nonsense.

Look at education. Studies show that regardless of income levels of Black homes, students persistently test lower than their White and Asian counterparts. I personally think that it is a matter of our paradigm concerning education. Ultimately, it's education that will determine our altitude as a people, especially with the advent of globalizaiton and a world in which it no longer matters if you're poor or rich, but rather if you're educated and competent or not... And especially since not everyone can be a big-time rapper. Yes, money does help with gaining a good education and reaching the heights of the likes such as Cosby, but attitudes actually do more. And in Black America, our youth tend to learn more from hip hop artists than they do from their teachers in school. Our attitudes towards achievement get us nowhere. We glorify the things that don't matter. It's not a matter or socio-economics, it's a matter of priorities. We need a cultural revolution and a paradigm shift.

So, while Cosby has been extremely politically incorrect, he certainly has a point. I don't agree with his bashing "ghetto" names, etc, but I do appreciate the him for helping poor students with their education over the years...students who today YOU might misnomer as Black elitists.

Please reconsider your argument and criticism of Cosby. Yes, Cosby's outspoken criticism is flawed. But an article like yours will give people an excuse to overlook his good points...

And if you're gonna come with the criticsm of Cosby, you should also come with some set of accompanying solutions.

Thanks!

K

[ewkpates]

Solutions may be hard to come by. It's tempting to place blame, and there are so many possible culprits, but it appears to be so multivariable a problem that, and I hesitate to say this, "consciousness raising" may be the only place to start.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/info/2781682?seq=1
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/589469
http://eus.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/39/2/194
http://www.brookings.edu/press/Books/1998/blckwhit.aspx