THE RACIAL ERROR

It was thought by many that President Obama's election and re-election might serve to stem the tide of racism in this country for two reasons:

    first, African Americans would see that many whites voted for him to be their leader, and

    second, whites would see that an African American could serve as Chief Executive.

If anything, racism is as pervasive as ever, if not more so.  The Zimmerman trial, as evidence,  has devolved into a seemingly purely racial event outside the scope of justice.

A little thought explains why expectations were misguided.  It is, from my perspective, in the inherent error contained in the two reasons stated above.  They are both racist statements.  They perpetuate the racial divide.  both identify people on basis of the immaterial color of their skin.   They should have read as follows:
 
    So-and-so percentage of Americans voted for Obama's election, and

    So-and-so percentage of Americans think Obama is a good President. 

I heard a review of the movie, The Lone Ranger.  It said that the original radio show of the 1940's and 50's was racist.  A white Lone Ranger was dominant, Tonto the Indian was subservient to him, and not his equal.  In the movie, which the review said seeks to redress the racism of the radio show,  Tonto is shown as the dominant one.  What utter nonsense.  I will make a wager that not one person involved in making the movie was even alive when the radio show was so popular.  I was.  The relationship of the two men was not a racist one but a beautiful one...two men from different cultures who worked together for justice and who were trusting and loyal friends (kemosabe).  There wasn't a hint of racism in their relationship.  But today's society is so saturated with a racial focus and bias, that it often sees things that aren't there.

We cannot end racism by being racist.  Or by a program that is inherently racist (see affirmative action).  The one and only way to stop racism is to stop being racist.  Of course.  Every time the boy Zimmerman killed is referred to as "African American", every time Obama is identified as "the first black President", racism is deepened.

Perhaps,  when racism is long gone, people of all colors will laugh together and scream out racial epithets without awakening the ghost of racism past.  Perhaps.

And hopefully.

 































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