Spike Lee - "Black People Can't Be Racist - Discuss

[JustAnotherGen]

Quote from an interview in Playboy in 1991 - discuss.

Black people can't be racist. Racism is an institution. Black people don't have the power to keep hundreds of people from getting jobs or the vote. Black people didn't bring nobody over in boats. They had to add shit to the Constitution so we could get the vote. Affirmative action is about finished in this country now. It's through. And black people had nothing to do with that, those kinds of decisions. So how can black people be racist when that's the standard? Now, black people can be prejudiced. Shit, everybody's prejudiced about something.
SPIKE LEE, interview, Playboy, 1991

Read more at http://www.notable-quotes.com/l/lee_spike.html#hpivJs0RrMhTLMwc.99

He's never backed down from that statement since he inspired me to pursue a degree in Mass Communications.

[flamingdem]

1. How about "racially prejudiced"?

Seems like that is the term that should be thrown around.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Disagree

He never combined the two words.

Prejudice - anyone. I'm prejudiced against people that wear pajamas out in public. I have a negative opinion when I see them. Take five minutes to wash your face, brush your teeth, comb your hair and get dressed. There is nothing racie based about that.

Racism - just as he defined it.

Does his definition make you anxious?

Keep in mind - his and Singleton's films accurately reflected and influence black Gen Xers. Myself included.

His definition - cause me no discomfort at all.

[HassleCat]

2. Times have changed

Black people now hold important positions, and exercise authority over others. In other words, they control the gears and levers of some of those institutions where racism has been institutionalized. His statement is still basically correct, though, because the general, overall situation still leaves white people in positions where they can populate their organizations with people who look, talk, act and think the same way they do.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Which black American in power

Harmed an entire group of non black Americans based upon the color of their skin? What was the policy, law, institution?

You can't use Shirley Sherrod - Breitbart's widow just settled with her. She didn't hurt anyone in her government position based upon the color of their skin.

[HassleCat]

7. Individual cases should be considered prejudice

When some employer takes a dislike to an individual employee because he acts "too black or "too white," I would call that prejudice or racial discrimination. When an employer categorically refuses to hire anyone from a particular racial or ethnic group, then you're talking racism. This is harder to pin down now, compared to the days when we had actual Jim Crow laws and such. But I'm sure there are still institutions where there are no black people, or maybe a few token black people.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. I've never heard of someone being disliked

And fired for acting "Too white" in Corporate America.

[HassleCat]

10. I have not, either

I did work in a program where a couple black people proposed all the jobs in the entire program should be reserved for black people, and they maintained that the entire purpose of the whole program was to help black people exclusively. In one case, they were able to rig things so a black person, who was also a friend of theirs, received a promotion over a white person. Of course, such a thing is very, very rare, and is not an example of institutional racism. And I think it supports your original point, and Spike Lee's point, that reverse racism doesn't really exist. When you have to search far and wide to come up with a handful of anecdotes, it amounts to nothing.

[TlalocW]

3. Actually, he just proved they can be

He just said a complete ethnicity cannot do something. That's extremely racist.

TlalocW

[JustAnotherGen]

6. How?

How is his statement racist - if it's the truth? How does it harm a non black American group?

What policy did he implement with that?

[randys1]

11. NO, Black people in America, at this point in time, cant be racist. They can be and some are

bigoted.

The only reason it is important for a white person to argue against this is so they can reserve the right to call a Black person a racist and the only reason they would want to do that is to deflect from their own racism.

[leftofcool]

72. I think I may have this figured out Randy.

Do you think that people don't understand the difference between bigotry and racism? For instance, I know that I can be bigoted against right wing fundie Bible thumpers that tell me their "way" is the only truth and I have a tendency to lump them all together. I know that this is wrong on my part because not all Christians are like that, however my bigotry harms no one and is usually kept to myself and I can not nor would I try to implement policies against Christians. Racism harms people, harms nations, harms tribes, harms everyone and policies are implemented so that racism permeates every nook and cranny of America as well as other nations. I would love to see someone who is a much better writer pen an OP on this.

[randys1]

73. DING DING DING

[randys1]

12. Surely NONE of your posts in this thread were alerted on or flagged?

I read elsewhere that they were

[JustAnotherGen]

13. Why would someone alert

On a quote from the Great Auteur Spike Lee?

[randys1]

14. Seriously, that was alerted on? FUCK! but no hidden posts today, ?? but why are you

flagged if no hidden posts?

Need to start a thread, here in AfAm, with the following conversation and I am not starting threads right now

"IF Bernie is the Democratic Nominee for president, not Hillary, will you vote for him and if the answer is no at this point in time what has to happen for him to get your vote?"

I would love to hear about that...

[gollygee]

43. He's a Sanders supporter, isn't he?

I'd think he must be beyond reproach.

(To jury - I'm kidding! I'm voting for Sanders myself. )

[demosincebirth]

62. His statemnet is pure BS

[NuclearDem]

9. They can hold racist views, sure.

Are they in any sort of institutional position in this country to actually do any degree of harm against non-blacks? Not at all.

Someone on Twitter saying something racist is not in anyway comparable to the disproportionate targeting of AAs by the criminal justice system.

[lib87]

15. I'd Agree

It's why we all cringe when the word 'reverse racism' is thrown into a conversation in a non joking manner.

[Starry Messenger]

16. It's true.

It baffles me that white people think they are victims of racism. I never learned that that was a thing. I can't claim to know all the things, but as white as my college was, we learned critical race theory, whiteness, and had ethnic studies as a graduation requirement.

Even without that, anyone can read a newspaper.

[YoungDemCA]

75. In many cases, white people confuse being called out for *their* racism

As being victims of racism themselves (or "race-baiting" or "the race card" or "reverse racism.&quot

It would be hilarious, except....

[Gormy Cuss]

17. People who disagree with this are using the other sense of racism

as a crutch. Racism also means bigotry based on race without the power dynamic inherent in systemic or institutional racism. So when someone like Lee is clearly using racism in the broader sense and claims rightfully that those oppressed can not be racist, the weak argument put forth is that the word also means individual bigotry, therefore what people like Lee are stating is false.

Because you know, context is irrelevant.

[gwheezie]

18. When black folks hold the power

And use their power to deny white folks equal standing in our society, then I'll make the racism claim. I agree with Spike.

[Chitown Kev]

19. Duh!

Spike Lee is exactly right, of course, then and now.

[libodem]

20. I do not understand

How a whole group of individuals can be classified as not having any sterotypical ideation about how different nationalities have types of traits.

How wonderful for all of them to be so pure and elevated in their assessment of others. Maybe they are above making classifications and categories. I can only aspire to reach this plane of progression in my spirtual quest.

I'm working on it constantly.

[Chitown Kev]

21. Can you say this in English as opposed to Judith Butler-ese please?

[libodem]

22. That's the best I can express it

Except if I were black I don't think I would not think that those, Southern Culture and Heritage Caucasian types, were all a bunch of callous assholes. Because I think that now.

...mmaybe in my next life I'll rise above it.

I'm sure I have stepped into something bad here and I'll just dig myself in deeper and be smeared with my ignorance.

Please don't be mad. Educate me and lift me up. I want to know more and be free of my ignorance. Help me grow.

[Chitown Kev]

24. In other words, you agree with Jean Genet

one of the premises in his play, The Blacks, was that if black people had systemic power in the same sense that white people actually do, that they would behave in the same way because that's a trait of humanity...

..or to put it another way, that blacks didn't hate slavery so much as they hated being the slaves.

Would you say that's true...not trying to attack you, I'm simply trying to figure out what you are saying..

In one of her biographies, Maya Angelou (who starred in one of the original American productions of The Blacks) had this very argument with her husband at the time.

[libodem]

25. Because we were asked to discuss this

And I just don't see how human beings can't all be a little prejudiced. Maybe I have the meanings of the words confused. I know there are different meanings between bigotry and racism. And I sort of understand where if whites have the upperhand in society they are the majority and they would be the racists. I'm there.

I can't see how there would not at least be some resentment? I'm a little surprised that not one POC doesn't hate what white people have done to them.

I am judging from how I think I would feel. I'd be hateful sometimes. I can't help it.

[Chitown Kev]

27. OK

I'm a little surprised that not one POC doesn't hate what white people have done to them.

Of course, SOME POC hate white people for what systemic racism has wrought in this country to them and their loved ones.

The questions is, what can those POC do about that on a systemic level...or how can they exact revenge... The answer to that question is "Nothing."

[libodem]

30. I think that is why some

White people keep themselves all upset because they know they have been awful and the expect some retribution. They are reflexively defensive and offensive.

I love Maya Angelo by the way. I have a little book of her short stories somewhere boxed up. I have a favorite story that i wish I could remember the title of.

It went a little like this: Maya was on the phone with a white liberal lady planning some type of gala to honor veterans (I think) The white lady refered to 'our boys" meaning the white kids and Maya called her on it. The woman was so embarrassed she hung up. It was an instance where even flaming white liberals still see color lines. There were more insightful thoughts and Maya wanted to use the incident a teachable moment. She tried to call her back to talk about it but the calls went unanswered. The woman was too ashamed to face her again and continue the dialog. The essay meant a lot to me. Even the well meaning are not completely perfected.

Now, I need to finish watching Wanda Sykes on Ellen. Pretty funny stuff.

[Chitown Kev]

37. uh, YEAH!

White people keep themselves all upset because they know they have been awful and the expect some retribution. They are reflexively defensive and offensive.

Most (if not all) of it is projection...that was "kind of" the position that Maya Angelou took.

[libodem]

41. I found our talk very productive

Thanks for hearing me through the words. I enjoyed speaking with you.

[qwlauren35]

77. And the sad thing is,

when we get angry and riot, we usually destroy our own stuff. So all that fear is groundless... but Hoover still invented SWAT teams...

[Uncle Joe]

23. According to the dictionary definition of racism, I believe Spike is referring to the second version

1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.

2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racism?s=t

In 1991 when he made that quote, I believe it held true according to that definition of racism and for that matter still does today as well.

There is another quote on your link by him which I believe reinforces my belief as to his point of view.

Racism is when you have laws set up, systematically put in a way to keep people from advancing, to stop the advancement of a people. Black people have never had the power to enforce racism, and so this is something that white America is going to have to work out themselves. If they decide they want to stop it, curtail it, or to do the right thing ... then it will be done, but not until then.

Read more at http://www.notable-quotes.com/l/lee_spike.html#TzfzJzuF16szoBXK.99

Thanks for the thread, JustAnotherGen.

[JustAnotherGen]

33. Your welco and thank you

For clearing that up !

[Uncle Joe]

35. Peace to you, JustAnotherGen.

[guillaumeb]

26. Definitions matter:

Racism:
noun
1.
a person who believes in racism, the doctrine that one's own racial group is superior or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racist

So are we talking about:
A) how society is organized, or
B) individual attitudes that may be very widely held in a particular society?

If the second choice, where we talk about individuals, anyone could be a racist. Many Chinese and Japanese certainly held the view that their own society/racial group was superior to outsiders.

Racism can be institutionalized, as it is in the US, but to be a racist does not necessitate having power or being complicit in a racist system.

Sounds like Spike Lee has his own dictionary.

[randys1]

29. Some white people need to be able to call Black people racist.

[guillaumeb]

46. Also very true.

It makes for a good excuse for their own hatred.

[tishaLA]

40. Dictionaries are not written in a vacuum

They always come with biases, usually biases that favor white straight men, so pulling out dictionary definitions of complex ideas or phenomena seems like spitting int0 the wind to me.

I'm an academic, so establishing terminological meanings is always important in my work and the work of others--and that's because the same term doesn't mean the same thing in different disciplines or even within a given discipline. For example, there is a general consensus in most academic circles about the meaning of racism that aligns with Mr Lee's definition; this is the definition sociologists, anthropologists, etc tend to use. But some even within those disciplines are even more specific about its meaning, focusing less on the systemic nature of racism than on the effects. And that is just one version of those differences.

In short, nobody has an exclusive hold on the definition, especially not a random dictionary (I'm sure the OED has a different, probably better one), but some definitions, like those established by those who study race and racism, are better than others.

[Chitown Kev]

49. Knowing the OED like I do

the OED (esp. in its' online versions) takes into account much of what we are discussing here as how the definition itself has changed over time.

[tishaLA]

50. I actually looked it up online

and it's a very clever definition that attempts, in one defintion, to be all things to all people. I admire its complexity, but I'm bothered by its prevarications:

A belief that one’s own racial or ethnic group is superior, or that other such groups represent a threat to one's cultural identity, racial integrity, or economic well-being; (also) a belief that the members of different racial or ethnic groups possess specific characteristics, abilities, or qualities, which can be compared and evaluated. Hence: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against people of other racial or ethnic groups (or, more widely, of other nationalities), esp. based on such beliefs. Cf. racialism n.

So then I looked, as I do, at the OED's history of the word. Shockingly, the word first appeared, according to the ODD, only in 1903, so it's just over 100 years old and is even newer than the word "heterosexual," which first appeared in 1900 and, at the time, referred to non-procreative sex between people of the "opposite" sex.

But even more remarkable is that almost all the instances the OED itself provides with the definition are about institutional racism, starting with the first one (by a person who is, by the way, a terrible racist himself--against Native Americans). The only instance it didn't refer to institutional racism? A citation from Marxism Today .

[guillaumeb]

52. Interesting to me that the word/concept only appeared in 1903.

I read a book that my daughter gave to me about the concept of racism. Sadly I cannot recall the title, I read it about 5 years ago, but it was for her anthropology class. The book talked about the idea of racism, and the attempt by Southern clergy and academics to "prove" that there is/was such a thing as separate races, rather than a spectrum of colors that represents the variety of homo sapien.

[Chitown Kev]

56. Magnus Hirschfeld, the Germon sexologist

is usually given the credit for coining the term...but maybe he simply popularized the term...but it comes up in connection with German anti-Semitism in Hirschfeld....when he did so, he WAS discussing power relationships.

[Truprogressive85]

28. He is correct

but now why is spike lee's comment from 91' being brought up

I hope this has nothing to with Sen.Sanders

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Because - this is the African American group

He is well respected - and it's not against TOS to post this.

He also has a new film in Post Production. Based upon the film topic - its a good time to have this discussion.

[onpatrol98]

76. ???

1+1=Bernie Sanders???

[Bok_Tukalo]

32. That is a propaganda technique known as the "Big Lie"

Of course a black person can be racist.

[JustAnotherGen]

34. I've never heard of this Big Lie

Who is telling it?

[Bok_Tukalo]

36. Spike Lee, apparently

And anyone else who claims black people cannot be racist. I will accept that they are merely repeating the lie and not deliberately trying to deceive.

[randys1]

38. Wrong...but i think educating you would be a waste of time

[tishaLA]

42. Are you sure you don't mean black folks can't be bigoted or prejudiced?

I don't think anyone would disagree with that. But racist, in the truest sense of the term? Nope.

[Bok_Tukalo]

45. Words have meaning

And individuals can be racist. Clearly. It is absurd to say otherwise.

[tishaLA]

48. It's actually not so clear to me

I pointed out above, when another poster helpfully posted a definition of racism, that dictionaries are full of biases, and often biases that benefit the dominant group. But that doesn't mean that dictionary.com is right about the "meaning" of the word--just that they have offered one voice among many in the cacophony of voices that strive to define the meaning of the word. If you were to ask a sociologist or an anthropologist--in other words, experts who study this phenomenon--they would have a wildly different definition of racism than "a bad thing one person believes about another person of a different race" and instead focus, as Mr Lee does, on the institutional nature of oppression based on race.

[Bok_Tukalo]

54. If we cannot agree that words have meaning then communication is impossible

Regardless of the English bias in the English language, it is the language we are using. Racism is clearly defined and an individual can be racist.

If Mr Lee, or others, want to claim the collective bias of individuals which manifests itself our dominant political, economic, and cultural institutions is racist, there is a great deal of evidence that supports the claim.

But to claim that individuals cannot be racist is absurd. To claim that melanin content determines whether or not you can have this flaw, that racism is genetic, is odious.

[tishaLA]

57. "Racism is clearly defined"

I love the use of passive voice here. It begs the question: clearly defined by whom?

It's okay for you to have your definition even though it differs from the definition largely agreed upon by experts; it's become the pop cultural way to evacuate the term of its historical meaning and a way for allows people to say, for example, that black folks are terribly racist because they say mean things about group X even though they have no ability to exercise the power to oppress group X except perhaps in a micro level. And I think this perversion of the word is both sad and odious.

[Bok_Tukalo]

60. Merriam-Webster. I do not know the name of staff members responsible for the r's

I consider them experts on the English language. I do not disagree with them.

It has nothing to do with calling black folks (which ones?) "terribly racist" and everything to do with stating a truth; individuals can be racist.

[tishaLA]

61. yes, I know dictionary writers have strange ideas about some words and concepts

I also know what experts who study race and racism say.

[Bok_Tukalo]

63. Thank you for talking with me.

<OPE>

[randys1]

51. wrong again...

Last edited Fri Sep 25, 2015, 07:25 PM - Edit history (1)

Look at the time and effort some will put into their insistence that Black people can be racists...

[randys1]

39. dont respond, you are being set up for a hide, let me take the hit

[JustAnotherGen]

64. You aren't the first person to tell me that today

[chervilant]

65. You are incorrect,

and I agree with the other responder who observed that you're not likely to be enlightened about racism and its inherent component of power over. Historically, white males in positions of power -- both socioculturally and economically --have earned (and deserve) the classification of racists.

But, perhaps my adjuration is merely rubbing salt in your wound. I hope someday you'll understand.

[Bok_Tukalo]

66. Then live in your cocoon

<POE>

[chervilant]

67. I am a sociologist, and I was privileged to participate in

a series of workshops about racism. I am in good company in my "cocoon."

(Perhaps you're familiar with projection?)

[Bok_Tukalo]

69. Yes. I'm familiar with it.

Are you familiar with confirmation bias?

[chervilant]

70. I noticed how your verbiage changed from

"...a black person can be racist."

to

"...individuals can be racist."

hmm... seems a wee bit inconsistent, Bok.

(BTW, doesn't seem relevant to bring up confirmation bias, since the workshops I attended helped me identify and understand my own racism. But do keep flailing away--thus far, you aren't boring, just incorrect.)

[Bok_Tukalo]

71. I can revert to that if you like

But it is the second question. I was trying to address the issue at a more fundamental level. If you accept that black folks, as a group, cannot be racist, then the first question is can individuals be racist?

I find it interesting that no one has answered that.

[tishaLA]

44. The paradox of racism

"The idea that America has lots of racism but few actual racists is not a new one. Philip Dray titled his seminal history of lynching At the Hands of Persons Unknown because most "investigations" of lynchings in the South turned up no actual lynchers. Both David Duke and George Wallace insisted that they weren't racists. That's because in the popular vocabulary, the racist is not so much an actual person but a monster, an outcast thug who leads the lynch mob and keeps Mein Kampf in his back pocket." -- Ta-Nehisi Coates

[gollygee]

55. +1

All people tend to define things in the way that works best for them. It works best for white people to define racism in a way that allows us to point at other people without having to look at our own lives. It keeps us from having to do any work. We can just say that the problem is other people, elsewhere, maybe an uncle who will die off anyway, or maybe people who live somewhere else. We don't have to look at the structures and institutions we're a part of and consider how they might have racism built into them, and therefore we don't have to do anything to change them.

[tishaLA]

58. My students this summer were talking about racism in class

and they started sharing stories about individual white people saying horribly bigoted things to them (the class was almost entirely Latino and African American) or behaving in horribly bigoted ways. After a few of them shared their stories, I pt a stop to it and said, "Look, I don't want to minimize the pain these incidents might have caused you, which is very real. But I also don't want you to miss the forest for the trees: it's important to talk about these issues not in terms of what one person did to another, but to examine the structural inequalities that underlie them and the social assumptions that accompany them."

[Chitown Kev]

59. For example, when Ta-Nehisi Coates (after James Baldwin and many others)

talks about how so many immigrants who went through horrid discrimination when they came to this country became "white"...Anglicized names, etc...learning to say "nigger"...etc...thereby joining the dominant discourse on things.

[Number23]

68. Well said. For alot of folks, it's those OTHER white people that are the racists

It's the Southerners (if you're not a Southerner)

It's the religious (if you're not religious)

It's the uneducated (if you're educated)

Racism only seems to exist in whatever realm that the white person discussing it does NOT belong to. It is this lack of introspection and self-reflection which has lead to racism's seeming inability to die or even significantly lessen.

the racist is not so much an actual person but a monster, an outcast thug who leads the lynch mob and keeps Mein Kampf in his back pocket."

Coates nails it as usual.

[YoungDemCA]

74. Great points

Well said.

[David__77]

53. I think people can be prejudiced against others based on perceived race.

There are various dictionary definitions of racism. Here is the one from dictionary.com:

a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.

I don't think that the basic institutional framework in the US (government, education, etc.) is geared toward reinforcing something that could be conceived of as "black racism."

I think that there are probably people that are perceived as members of different races that might have prejudice against others perceived as of different races or believe in ideas of racial superiority/inferiority.

I think a lot of people in this country define as "racism" as racial prejudice or bigotry. I see that as potentially different than institutionally-reinforced racial discrimination.

[JustAnotherGen]

78. 1,456 Views - 77 replies

Over the words of a black film maker from two decades ago.

If America paid attention to what black folks have been saying the problems are all this time - we wouldn't be in the situation as a country we are in.

[1StrongBlackMan]

79. In the other Thread ...

a DUer wrote "I'd like to see you call Spike Lee an outlier to his face" ...

Am I supposed to be (intellectually or physically) afraid of Spike Lee?

I mean Lee made some great films (the best one, IMHO, was short, The Barbershop that he shot while I film school) AND he's ... what? ... 3' 6", 52 lbs.?

[JustAnotherGen]

80. Get out!

He better watch his knee caps or my six year old niece will . . .

Oh never mind!

If you've ever seen him with kids - he's a sucker for a little person! He'd just roll over and take it!

Psst - see they are trying to make you into 1DOCILEBlackman.

Don't let 'em get ya!

[1StrongBlackMan]

82. LOL ...

a couple things ...

Why would anyone care WHO an Actor/Director supports? But I guess when peer endorsement are none existent, you take what you can get ... even someone that you were criticizing and condemning as ignorant and a racist, 20 key-strokes ago.

I like Spike and his entire body of work ... but wanted to just shake him when he got into the dust up with Tyler Perry (whose work I, general, dislike). I wanted to whisper: "Dude! Why you knocking his hustle? Besides, it re-breathed life into the Christian play circuit ... it fed a need in the Black community.

Psst - see they are trying to make you into 1DOCILEBlackman.

I know ... I haven't been out 2 days, and I've been lied about, called uncivil AND lectured about Martin and Malcolm's universal intent! I would have preferred a 40 and a blunt!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

81. racism is so much more than interpersonal racism that i tend to agree with spike lee

black people can be prejudiced towards other races, but they do not contribute to institutional racism

[Garrett78]

83. In other words, is so-called "reverse racism" legit? No.

And that question always reminds me of an article by Tim Wise that I wish every white person would read: http://www.timwise.org/2002/06/honky-wanna-cracker-examining-the-myth-of-reverse-racism/.

As a white person, I always saw the terms honky or cracker as proof of how much more potent white racism was than any variation practiced by the black or brown. When a group of people has little or no power over you, they don’t get to define the terms of your existence, they can’t limit your opportunities, and you needn’t worry much about the use of a slur to describe you, since, in all likelihood, the slur is as far as it’s going to go. What are they going to do next: deny you a bank loan? Yeah, right. So whereas the n-word is a term used by whites to dehumanize blacks, to “put them in their place” if you will, the same cannot be said of honky; after all, you can’t put white people in their place when they own the place to begin with.

Power is like body armor; and while not all whites have the same power, all of us have more than we need vis-a-vis people of color, at least when it comes to racial position. Consider poor whites: to be sure, they are less financially powerful than wealthy people of color; but that misses the point of how racial privilege operates within a class system. Within a class system, people compete for “stuff” against others of their same basic economic status. In other words, rich and poor are not competing for the same homes, loans, jobs or even educations to a large extent. Rich compete against rich, working class against working class and poor against poor; and in those competitions — the ones that take place in the real world — racial privilege attaches.

Poor whites are rarely typified as pathological, dangerous, lazy or shiftless to anywhere near the extent the black poor are. Nor are they demonized the way poor Latino immigrants tend to be. When politicians want to bash welfare recipients they don’t pick Bubba and Crystal from the trailer park; they choose Shawonda Jefferson from the projects, with her five kids. Also, according to reports from several states, ever since so-called welfare reform, white recipients have been treated better by caseworkers, are less likely to be bumped off rolls for presumed failure to comply with regulations, and have been given more assistance at finding jobs than their black or brown counterparts. Poor whites are more likely to have a job, and are more likely to own their own home than the poor of color. Indeed, whites with incomes under $13,000 annually are more likely to own their own home than blacks with incomes that are three times higher due to having inherited property.

None of this denies that poor whites are being screwed by an economic system that relies on their misery. But they retain a leg up on poor or somewhat better off people of color thanks to racism. It is that leg up that renders the potency of certain prejudices less threatening than others; it is what makes cracker or honky less problematic than slurs used against the black and brown.

[MrScorpio]

84. He was exactly correct then and that's still the case to this very day nt

[kcroyals]

85. What some call racism isn't

I think that as a black man this claim needs to be made with an understanding of what racism is as defined. There are some blacks who feel that they are superior to whites because they are black. That by the definition is racist. But when blacks are called racist for our criticism of the structure, maintenance and creation of a system based upon racism created by whites, well that's not.