©2008 ~motherwarxx
Normally, I stick to poetry or art, but every so often, I write an opinion/article. I had planned on writing a quasi-xrated poem today, but this morning after reading Angry African’s post on racism , I decided to speak out. So, blame AA for my writhing this post instead of the quasi-xrated poem I intended to woo you with today. In his post, AA admitted that he was a racist at one time, and didn’t even realize it. I prefer to use the word prejustice in AA’s situation, rather than racist. I think there is a difference . . . He gave us a scenario of how he passed up one hitchhiker without a second thought due their color, and thought about picking up another, because it was, perhaps, "a preferred color." AA did not say which color he preferred. I assumed when I first read this article that he gave more thought to picking up the white passenger than so the black passenger because AA is a white male. But after further reflection, I really don’t know, because he is also an activitist who may have felt more passion towards a black man than a white. I don’t know. I hope he never tells. The point is, racism is racism. Why is it that he felt compelled to pick up one more so than the other based solely on the color of their skin? AA challenged us to look at ourselves and admit to our own racisms. This is something that we do not communicate about in mixed race situations. Perhaps it is not PC to do so; perhaps we feel that we will offend someone. But unless we look our actions and our thought patterns then the cycle of racism will continue. Unless we selfexamine, we will not be compelled to eradiate these ignorant thoughts. So I said to self, "Self, how am I racist."
Racist Act No. One. I don’t consider myself to be racist, but I suppose I have preferences based upon color. Is that racist? I prefer relationships with black men; I’ve never been attracted to white men. Does that make me a racist? Perhaps yes. Because, truth be told, I’ve never ever considered trying such because of what’s been handed down to me by society, family and friends. Oh, I’m perfectly acceptable of others in mixed race relationships; I have many friends who are married to people of a different race. But me personally, I have never even given such a second thought. Period.
Racist Act No. Two. Now here is another form of racism I have, similar to that of AA’s maybe, maybe not. I’m walking down a dark street. On one side of the street are two white men in business suits, on the other are two black men with hoodies and baggy jeans. As a black female, which group would I feel more comfortable walking past? Answer – The white men in business suits. Crazy huh? Racists huh? True though. This is due to what I’ve learned; what I see, what I’m told by the media, not what I experience. My thought pattern has nothing whatsoever to do with the people themselves; as I don’t even know these people. I’ve never been mugged, I’ve never been raped. I usually walk past either without any interaction whatsoever. So what has given me this ignorant fear that I’d rather past two white men in business suits than two black men in hoodies and jeans. It’s simply ignorant. And, I have to consciously stop this train of ignorant thinking; because I’m passing on this bull to my daughters and sons, either consciously or unconsciously! A recent study showed that black women would prefer to pass individuals on the street by race and gender in this order – (1) black female (2) white female (3) white male (4) black male. The black male is last in the pecking order, even by the black female. Don’t you find that somewhat disturbing. I feel the same way, yet it is very, very disturbing. What have I allowed to sink into my head? What fears have manifested into my belief system? Wow!
The Irony of it All. Now even though I would not give a white male a second look in the prospect of marriage, I would rather pass him than a black male on a dark street! Ain’t that ignorant! Think about it!
Peace, Light and Love . . . CordieB.
P.S. Don’t tell anyone, but I thought that Angry African was a black man for weeks when I first started reading his blog – why?– Because he’s an Angry African Activitst!. I’d stereotyped him too. One day I looked up and I saw those beautiful piercing green eyes in the header and it was then that I looked deeper into what he was. Not that it should make a difference, right? Racism is pure ignorance! We need to check ourselves!
She has my figure, poor kid. 
Photo, entitled, "Generations." Courtesy of 
Haha! Don’t worry, most people made that mistake at first. But I won’t go into that right now. You might be more surprised if you knew the details. I’ll write about that at some stage.
But most South Africans – “black” or “white” – are marginal cases on either side. Part of the Apartheid baggage. We still carry this idea of what we are without really looking to deeply in our past.
You are right. I won’t be saying which was which. It doesn’t really matter. And it makes people think a little bit more as well. I can be racist either way. Racism is racism. Ha! Racism knows no color!
Your dilemma is interesting. Similar to what thatdudeiknow said on the Arabs and Jews dilemma for him. We are “taught” by society and the telly to think one way. Of course it doesn’t help that some people exploit that image for their own gain either.
But here is the reverse. I was in harlem the other day. Not for long – just lost in NY. I really wanted to stop and take it in a bit. Go leanr a bit more about Harlem. How it is today and what people know of the past. I haven’t had that chance before. I left this out of my blog on that experience… But I walked up to a group of guys to start talking to them. Said hello and started talking. All they gave me was a few stares and a grunt. Obvious that they didn’t want to talk to me.
This is another reason why I hate racism. It takes my opportunity to just talk to people I don’t know away from me. All of a sudden I have to be “introduced”.
You know, what is odd is that has never happened to me anywhere in Africa. I cuold walk into a township in South Africa during the fight against Apartheid, or the shackshops in Zambia, or bars in Nigeria or market in Mali and people will always just take me in. They knew who I was the minute we started speaking. That’s what I miss. People just being people.
We have loads of racism in South Africa. But it is in your face and you can deal with it. What is scary about the US is that it is so hidden and almost throughout society.
Anyway, wife calling – she needs help in the kitchen!
Sorry for the long comment.
Lots of love.