Understanding Paul Ryan's Racism in 3 Easy Steps

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/understanding-paul-ryans-racism-3-easy-steps



***SNIP


The Southern Strategy.

Paul Ryan’s claim that black people have “bad culture”, may be genetically defective, and do not have “normal” “middle class” values about the merits of “hard work”, is a simple channeling of legendary Republican strategist Lee Atwater’s tactics for mobilizing white voters by leveraging their hostility to black Americans.

***SNIP

Colorblind racism and White Victimology.

Paul Ryan’s use of “dog whistles” and coded racial appeals to disparage and slur African-Americans exist within a social context where overt racism is a violation of public speech norms and values.

***SNIP

White privilege and white racial innocence.

Paul Ryan’s faux apology emphasized his intent, and how he was “inarticulate” in his claim that black people are lazy and have bad genes.

Paul Ryan meant what he said and said what he meant. White privilege is more than the unearned advantages that come with being identified as “white” in American society and elsewhere. White privilege is an assumption that whiteness, and white people, are benign. White privilege is also an assumption of preeminent good intent and innocence.

[MrScorpio]

1. Excellent essay by Mr DeVega

As usual.

Thanks for the post.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. ITA with your assessment

[Enrique]

3. that was the word I was going to use

excellent.

[sorefeet]

4. This guy has recieved a government

paycheck for his entire life.. Career politician. Not even what the founding fathers envisioned for Americas leaders. Paul Ryan is a parasite, just like the rest of the life time crooks. All under the guise of such love and concern for the American people.

[jsr]

10. Yep, a true career politician.

[madaboutharry]

5. I especially liked his explanation of colorblindness and what bullshit it is.

By claiming "colorblindness," people like Paul Ryan deny the reality that is lived by Black and Brown Americans every day. What can be more oppressive than having those with power deny your reality?

[Hotler]

6. Paul Ryan is a shit stain. n/t

[cvoogt]

7. It's especially rich

for him to talk about the value of hard work since I'm pretty sure African Americans know a lot more about hard work than most white people, starting with slavery and continuing to this day with many working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Their hard work wasn't valued before, and it's hardly valued now. Young black entrepreneurs often get by solely on talent and working twice as hard, whereas white, connected entrepreneurs use connections and networking a lot of the time. Racism's alive and well in America, it's just morphed into an 'unspoken truth' that is actually very much spoken in living rooms in rural America, behind closed doors. My extended family included.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Note the Dog Whistle in the title panel:

[Dustlawyer]

9. Disgusting and UN-AMERICAN!!!