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Hippie-Squared: We the Mutt People
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A blogumn by Jeff Rogers
Folding chairs in rows in a high school gym in Kalamazoo, Michigan in about 1968. I would have been about five. A portable movie screen on rickety legs, one of my first experiences seeing a movie out in the world, and it was a black and white documentary. My mom took me to see black people being beaten, drenched and thrown back by founts of fierce water from fire hoses, snarling dogs straining to rip their flesh, tear gas boiling across the screen. Was this before or after King’s assassination? I believe I remember that too. The TV going for hours down in the basement. King’s face above Walter Cronkite’s left shoulder. Lying on my stomach on the couch, watching the backs of my parents’ heads watching, rapt and subdued.
Obama’s is a soaring victory for the whole world. It’s also so deeply personal for many of us that it’s hard to express in direct words. The notion that this election somehow makes us “post-racial” is absurd. The wealth of this country was built on slavery. Racism, civil rights, these are abstractions without the countless personal experiences that give them life. No American is untouched by it all. But we’re all touched in ways that are our own, that belong to us, but also make us belong to each other. I’m white. It’s easy for someone else who doesn’t live in my skin to say that my feelings of relief, of some sort of culmination, are because Obama’s election expiates my guilt or validates me as a non-racist. But that’s reductionist and dehumanizing.
We moved to Lansing when I was nine and I became a minority in fifth grade. I remember being crowded into a corner between brick walls on a cold winter day outside the school doors during recess by a gang of black girls who all kicked me and called me “skinny honky.” I didn’t fight back. I didn’t feel entitled. I remember telling my mom about it all, and I remember swallowing my anger that, uneducated, might have become some sort of hatred. She would never have let it. She helped me instead to use it as a means to a deeper understanding. I remember linking it to the beatings, the hosings, the dogs. My little guilty white liberal skinny honky tales of discrimination are so small compared to what 83 year old Vera, who I met in Inglewood, precinct-walking and who was born in the south in 1925, has no doubt endured. But they’re mine and they shaped me.
I remember lying on my stomach on the shag rug in Nepo, my dad’s professorial commune, 1973. A tenth anniversary rerun of “I Have a Dream.” I watched it entirely, up close to the TV, the full house of adults and their kids moving and talking around me. I remember lying awake that night on the mattress in the crow’s nest room on the third floor, streetlights lighting up one whole yellow wall, King’s cadences and enumerated dreams filling my head and becoming my dreams.
Much of this I hadn’t thought of in years but it all came back to me when the relief of Obama’s election, the fact that they hadn’t been able to steal this one too, gave way during his acceptance speech to a marvelous sense of personal culmination. Obama, whose story is so very American, called us “a people,” and so we are—one people, whether we like or not, and his election seems to indicate that right now, blessedly, we do like it—not based on homogenous genetics hermetically passed around in one tight spot for thousands of years, but a multi-hued, multi-experienced mutt people. Made one people despite ourselves by our shared variousness. A people of the world, by the world and for the world. Obama’s election was not just one culmination but millions upon millions of culminations. One of which was yours, dear reader. And one of which was mine.
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I don’t know if it’s quite proper to comment on my own post, but, hey: cool graphic! I had nothing to do with it, and I don’t know Nathen Gibbs (he didn’t pay me for this). So I’m just seeing it. And I like it a lot.
I don’t know if it’s quite proper to comment on my own post, but, hey: cool graphic! I had nothing to do with it, and I don’t know Nathen Gibbs (he didn’t pay me for this). So I’m just seeing it. And I like it a lot.
I don’t know if it’s quite proper to comment on my own post, but, hey: cool graphic! I had nothing to do with it, and I don’t know Nathen Gibbs (he didn’t pay me for this). So I’m just seeing it. And I like it a lot.
I, too, was so relieved when Obama won, but bigotry is still very much alive in this country. Coming from NC, I know how tough it must have been to call that state for the democrats. It felt like they weren’t just recounting the votes there…they were debating whether they were really ready for what that meant.
Baby steps I guess.
I, too, was so relieved when Obama won, but bigotry is still very much alive in this country. Coming from NC, I know how tough it must have been to call that state for the democrats. It felt like they weren’t just recounting the votes there…they were debating whether they were really ready for what that meant.
Baby steps I guess.
I, too, was so relieved when Obama won, but bigotry is still very much alive in this country. Coming from NC, I know how tough it must have been to call that state for the democrats. It felt like they weren’t just recounting the votes there…they were debating whether they were really ready for what that meant.
Baby steps I guess.
How things can come full circle…. I grew up with Jeff after he moved to EAST Lansing (from, apparently inter-city Lansing), where, by my view, and my recollection, there was no prejudice. We were a melting pot of so many different cultures and races due to Michigan State University.
My best friends in grade school included African-Americans from Africa, (the continent, not the country, Ms. Palin….), and so were my brother’s friends. As kids, we didn’t have a clue about prejudice or bigotry or any of those adult words…
But now, for the past (nearly) 20 years, I’ve lived in NC and find the area interesting on many fronts – race relations (on both sides of the fence) being one of them.
But, it seems to me NC’s reluctance to vote Democrat for president (regardless of race) is more about the Bible Belt thinking. For some reason, those most involved in their churches down here seem to think voting for democratic president (except President Carter…) condemns you to Hell.
Religion is everything in political races down here.
Since Obama’s win, you’d think the world will soon be ending. Family values, it seems, are out the window because Obama, the family man, won the election over McCain, the admitted adulteress. Go figure.
More confusing?? NC hadn’t voted for a Democratic president since Carter, yet continually votes in a Democratic governor….
How things can come full circle…. I grew up with Jeff after he moved to EAST Lansing (from, apparently inter-city Lansing), where, by my view, and my recollection, there was no prejudice. We were a melting pot of so many different cultures and races due to Michigan State University.
My best friends in grade school included African-Americans from Africa, (the continent, not the country, Ms. Palin….), and so were my brother’s friends. As kids, we didn’t have a clue about prejudice or bigotry or any of those adult words…
But now, for the past (nearly) 20 years, I’ve lived in NC and find the area interesting on many fronts – race relations (on both sides of the fence) being one of them.
But, it seems to me NC’s reluctance to vote Democrat for president (regardless of race) is more about the Bible Belt thinking. For some reason, those most involved in their churches down here seem to think voting for democratic president (except President Carter…) condemns you to Hell.
Religion is everything in political races down here.
Since Obama’s win, you’d think the world will soon be ending. Family values, it seems, are out the window because Obama, the family man, won the election over McCain, the admitted adulteress. Go figure.
More confusing?? NC hadn’t voted for a Democratic president since Carter, yet continually votes in a Democratic governor….
How things can come full circle…. I grew up with Jeff after he moved to EAST Lansing (from, apparently inter-city Lansing), where, by my view, and my recollection, there was no prejudice. We were a melting pot of so many different cultures and races due to Michigan State University.
My best friends in grade school included African-Americans from Africa, (the continent, not the country, Ms. Palin….), and so were my brother’s friends. As kids, we didn’t have a clue about prejudice or bigotry or any of those adult words…
But now, for the past (nearly) 20 years, I’ve lived in NC and find the area interesting on many fronts – race relations (on both sides of the fence) being one of them.
But, it seems to me NC’s reluctance to vote Democrat for president (regardless of race) is more about the Bible Belt thinking. For some reason, those most involved in their churches down here seem to think voting for democratic president (except President Carter…) condemns you to Hell.
Religion is everything in political races down here.
Since Obama’s win, you’d think the world will soon be ending. Family values, it seems, are out the window because Obama, the family man, won the election over McCain, the admitted adulteress. Go figure.
More confusing?? NC hadn’t voted for a Democratic president since Carter, yet continually votes in a Democratic governor….
So very well said! This election is so very personal for us all & yet so universal & collective — OUR victory — on the backs of OUR children!
We are all mutts!
So very well said! This election is so very personal for us all & yet so universal & collective — OUR victory — on the backs of OUR children!
We are all mutts!
So very well said! This election is so very personal for us all & yet so universal & collective — OUR victory — on the backs of OUR children!
We are all mutts!
Great post Jeff. My inability to sleep nights before the election, my daily anxiety, the knot in my stomach and concern over the outcome, certainly transcended whatever “white guilt” I might be carrying around (I too saw the days of the dogs and the fire hoses as a young child – who wouldn’t deeply feel the shame of that?). I truly feared a McCain Palin administration, as much if not more than I’ve ever feared anything. My fear, anxiety and profound hope obsessed me completely in the days before the election. I know what you mean by culmination. Yes WE did! All of us mutts.
Great post Jeff. My inability to sleep nights before the election, my daily anxiety, the knot in my stomach and concern over the outcome, certainly transcended whatever “white guilt” I might be carrying around (I too saw the days of the dogs and the fire hoses as a young child – who wouldn’t deeply feel the shame of that?). I truly feared a McCain Palin administration, as much if not more than I’ve ever feared anything. My fear, anxiety and profound hope obsessed me completely in the days before the election. I know what you mean by culmination. Yes WE did! All of us mutts.
Great post Jeff. My inability to sleep nights before the election, my daily anxiety, the knot in my stomach and concern over the outcome, certainly transcended whatever “white guilt” I might be carrying around (I too saw the days of the dogs and the fire hoses as a young child – who wouldn’t deeply feel the shame of that?). I truly feared a McCain Palin administration, as much if not more than I’ve ever feared anything. My fear, anxiety and profound hope obsessed me completely in the days before the election. I know what you mean by culmination. Yes WE did! All of us mutts.
Ah Brian… it seems that we (NCians) at least still believe in checks and balances… even if the state is going straight to hell for electing a family man very much in love with his wife.
Its all so confusing but its good to know that SOMETHING has obviously changed since I was a kid scolded by neighbors for hanging out on the other side of the tracks. No really. I’m serious.
Ah Brian… it seems that we (NCians) at least still believe in checks and balances… even if the state is going straight to hell for electing a family man very much in love with his wife.
Its all so confusing but its good to know that SOMETHING has obviously changed since I was a kid scolded by neighbors for hanging out on the other side of the tracks. No really. I’m serious.
Ah Brian… it seems that we (NCians) at least still believe in checks and balances… even if the state is going straight to hell for electing a family man very much in love with his wife.
Its all so confusing but its good to know that SOMETHING has obviously changed since I was a kid scolded by neighbors for hanging out on the other side of the tracks. No really. I’m serious.
Party politics is always complicated, but it is especially complicated in South. Up until the mid 70s and early 80s it would have been blasphemy for most white Southerners to vote for a Republican. Back then southern Democrats were much different than Democrats everywhere else in the country. And completely different from today’s Democratic party. And now, it seems from what you North Carolinians say it is crazy to vote for a Democrat.
I think race and religion has always been muddled in southern politics. Brian, I think it is both race and religion that has prevented many southerners from voting Democratic until recently. It was Barry Goldwater the father of conservatism who opposed civil rights legislation in the name of individualism and anti-big government. And we continued to see lots of conservatives use that and “states” rights as a way to discriminate against or at least refuse to protect different groups. It is coded, but I think it is still racism. I also agree that religion and “family values” have been used against the Democratic party, but I think the Democrats problems in the south has been a combination of both subtle racism and religion.
In any case, Obama’s victory in North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana makes things seem much brighter. I’m hopeful that it is an indication that we are finally starting to move away from some aspects of discrimination. And I am REALLY REALLY happy that you wrote the victory is that we all came together as one people recognizing and appreciating our differences rather than pretending that we are “all the same.” Mutts Indeed!
Party politics is always complicated, but it is especially complicated in South. Up until the mid 70s and early 80s it would have been blasphemy for most white Southerners to vote for a Republican. Back then southern Democrats were much different than Democrats everywhere else in the country. And completely different from today’s Democratic party. And now, it seems from what you North Carolinians say it is crazy to vote for a Democrat.
I think race and religion has always been muddled in southern politics. Brian, I think it is both race and religion that has prevented many southerners from voting Democratic until recently. It was Barry Goldwater the father of conservatism who opposed civil rights legislation in the name of individualism and anti-big government. And we continued to see lots of conservatives use that and “states” rights as a way to discriminate against or at least refuse to protect different groups. It is coded, but I think it is still racism. I also agree that religion and “family values” have been used against the Democratic party, but I think the Democrats problems in the south has been a combination of both subtle racism and religion.
In any case, Obama’s victory in North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana makes things seem much brighter. I’m hopeful that it is an indication that we are finally starting to move away from some aspects of discrimination. And I am REALLY REALLY happy that you wrote the victory is that we all came together as one people recognizing and appreciating our differences rather than pretending that we are “all the same.” Mutts Indeed!
Party politics is always complicated, but it is especially complicated in South. Up until the mid 70s and early 80s it would have been blasphemy for most white Southerners to vote for a Republican. Back then southern Democrats were much different than Democrats everywhere else in the country. And completely different from today’s Democratic party. And now, it seems from what you North Carolinians say it is crazy to vote for a Democrat.
I think race and religion has always been muddled in southern politics. Brian, I think it is both race and religion that has prevented many southerners from voting Democratic until recently. It was Barry Goldwater the father of conservatism who opposed civil rights legislation in the name of individualism and anti-big government. And we continued to see lots of conservatives use that and “states” rights as a way to discriminate against or at least refuse to protect different groups. It is coded, but I think it is still racism. I also agree that religion and “family values” have been used against the Democratic party, but I think the Democrats problems in the south has been a combination of both subtle racism and religion.
In any case, Obama’s victory in North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana makes things seem much brighter. I’m hopeful that it is an indication that we are finally starting to move away from some aspects of discrimination. And I am REALLY REALLY happy that you wrote the victory is that we all came together as one people recognizing and appreciating our differences rather than pretending that we are “all the same.” Mutts Indeed!
Jeff,
You can see more photos and read about the Race Cube here:
http://www.nathangibbs.com/race-cube/
Glad you enjoyed the idea!
Jeff,
You can see more photos and read about the Race Cube here:
http://www.nathangibbs.com/race-cube/
Glad you enjoyed the idea!
Jeff,
You can see more photos and read about the Race Cube here:
http://www.nathangibbs.com/race-cube/
Glad you enjoyed the idea!
Katrina, I don’t believe in the melting pot metaphor, where everything runs together. I believe America’s more like a stew. There’s a certain blending of the flavors, but a potato’s still a potato, a carrot’s still a carrot; but they’re both a little softer, and the potato tastes a little like a carrot and the potato like a potato, etc. Don’t want to strain the metaphor, but you get the idea. We’re just one big mutt stew!
Katrina, I don’t believe in the melting pot metaphor, where everything runs together. I believe America’s more like a stew. There’s a certain blending of the flavors, but a potato’s still a potato, a carrot’s still a carrot; but they’re both a little softer, and the potato tastes a little like a carrot and the potato like a potato, etc. Don’t want to strain the metaphor, but you get the idea. We’re just one big mutt stew!
Katrina, I don’t believe in the melting pot metaphor, where everything runs together. I believe America’s more like a stew. There’s a certain blending of the flavors, but a potato’s still a potato, a carrot’s still a carrot; but they’re both a little softer, and the potato tastes a little like a carrot and the potato like a potato, etc. Don’t want to strain the metaphor, but you get the idea. We’re just one big mutt stew!
Brian, Delia, Katrina, thanks so much for the info on NC and the South in general. Seems to me like we’ve gotten to where it’s not that race doesn’t matter–it does. But for some racists in the South (or anywhere) it’s not as important as it used to be and it’s not as important as other factors–their own self-interest, right now, in the economic situation, for instance. And ultimately I think Americans usually elect the most charismatic candidate of the two. (God help us, Bush in 2000 had a certain ugly charisma, the charisma of the bully, and Gore was so repressed and handled at the time that his charisma was squelched enough that Bush could get within theft distance.) There have been so many examples of blacks in mainstream America and winning Oscars and Tiger Woods and etc., that even to sort of garden variety knee-jerk racists they don’t seem like they have horns and a spiked tail anymore; the charisma can penetrate and trump the racism now.
Brian, Delia, Katrina, thanks so much for the info on NC and the South in general. Seems to me like we’ve gotten to where it’s not that race doesn’t matter–it does. But for some racists in the South (or anywhere) it’s not as important as it used to be and it’s not as important as other factors–their own self-interest, right now, in the economic situation, for instance. And ultimately I think Americans usually elect the most charismatic candidate of the two. (God help us, Bush in 2000 had a certain ugly charisma, the charisma of the bully, and Gore was so repressed and handled at the time that his charisma was squelched enough that Bush could get within theft distance.) There have been so many examples of blacks in mainstream America and winning Oscars and Tiger Woods and etc., that even to sort of garden variety knee-jerk racists they don’t seem like they have horns and a spiked tail anymore; the charisma can penetrate and trump the racism now.
Brian, Delia, Katrina, thanks so much for the info on NC and the South in general. Seems to me like we’ve gotten to where it’s not that race doesn’t matter–it does. But for some racists in the South (or anywhere) it’s not as important as it used to be and it’s not as important as other factors–their own self-interest, right now, in the economic situation, for instance. And ultimately I think Americans usually elect the most charismatic candidate of the two. (God help us, Bush in 2000 had a certain ugly charisma, the charisma of the bully, and Gore was so repressed and handled at the time that his charisma was squelched enough that Bush could get within theft distance.) There have been so many examples of blacks in mainstream America and winning Oscars and Tiger Woods and etc., that even to sort of garden variety knee-jerk racists they don’t seem like they have horns and a spiked tail anymore; the charisma can penetrate and trump the racism now.
I followed Nathan’s link to find out more about his race cube and it played in so well to the ongoing commentary here, that I had to share an excerpt (but everyone, please follow the link, it’s well worth while):
“The Rubik’s Cube is a game in which the goal is to unscramble a chaotic mix of colors into groups of color on each side, bringing order to the cube. Race Cube is a modified Rubik’s Cube with the colored squares replaced by faces of people. Rather than the abstract color separation of the original game, Race Cube manifests an age-old problem: segregating people based on color, or race. In most cases, people with a very similar skin color could be classified as different races. This new puzzle not only confronts the player’s ability to determine the race to which each face belongs, but also the fundamental assumption that clear racial lines exist.”
That’s the other thing, of course, with Obama. The old American tradition that a single drop of African blood makes someone “black” has carried over. Obama is considered “black” and yet he’s no more black than white. And culturally, his upbringing seems to have been more “white.” Place him on the cube and where does he go? Race of course is a virtually meaningless concept biologically. The closer you look the harder it is to separate, segregate, discriminate…go back far enough and we’re all African, all the children of Lucy.
I followed Nathan’s link to find out more about his race cube and it played in so well to the ongoing commentary here, that I had to share an excerpt (but everyone, please follow the link, it’s well worth while):
“The Rubik’s Cube is a game in which the goal is to unscramble a chaotic mix of colors into groups of color on each side, bringing order to the cube. Race Cube is a modified Rubik’s Cube with the colored squares replaced by faces of people. Rather than the abstract color separation of the original game, Race Cube manifests an age-old problem: segregating people based on color, or race. In most cases, people with a very similar skin color could be classified as different races. This new puzzle not only confronts the player’s ability to determine the race to which each face belongs, but also the fundamental assumption that clear racial lines exist.”
That’s the other thing, of course, with Obama. The old American tradition that a single drop of African blood makes someone “black” has carried over. Obama is considered “black” and yet he’s no more black than white. And culturally, his upbringing seems to have been more “white.” Place him on the cube and where does he go? Race of course is a virtually meaningless concept biologically. The closer you look the harder it is to separate, segregate, discriminate…go back far enough and we’re all African, all the children of Lucy.
I followed Nathan’s link to find out more about his race cube and it played in so well to the ongoing commentary here, that I had to share an excerpt (but everyone, please follow the link, it’s well worth while):
“The Rubik’s Cube is a game in which the goal is to unscramble a chaotic mix of colors into groups of color on each side, bringing order to the cube. Race Cube is a modified Rubik’s Cube with the colored squares replaced by faces of people. Rather than the abstract color separation of the original game, Race Cube manifests an age-old problem: segregating people based on color, or race. In most cases, people with a very similar skin color could be classified as different races. This new puzzle not only confronts the player’s ability to determine the race to which each face belongs, but also the fundamental assumption that clear racial lines exist.”
That’s the other thing, of course, with Obama. The old American tradition that a single drop of African blood makes someone “black” has carried over. Obama is considered “black” and yet he’s no more black than white. And culturally, his upbringing seems to have been more “white.” Place him on the cube and where does he go? Race of course is a virtually meaningless concept biologically. The closer you look the harder it is to separate, segregate, discriminate…go back far enough and we’re all African, all the children of Lucy.
Yes, but why "skinny" honky? Not that you weren't or aren't skinny, which I know you to have been and to be. But you're also nice, and they didn't say "nice honky." Although "nice honky" does have a ring to it. What is it about skinny that's derogatory, exactly?
Brian, re East Lansing circa 70s:
I actually think the fact that the university town-ness of East Lansing and the fact that there were so many other cultures (Asian, African, Indian) represented in our schools had the effect of disguising the actually no-less-prevalent — and more traditionally American — racism, i.e. prejudice against the black kids who went to the mostly black schools downtown. My parents (many of our parents, I guess) were liberal, collegiate, multi-cultural, progressives, at least compared to their parents. They taught us that racism was bad, but didn't necessarily teach us what it was. There was, also, kind of a sense that "we know now" that blacks are people too, sort of the way "we know now" that disease is caused by germs and not by "the ether."
We also knew, back then, that there were bad people who were racists and we — the progressives or the children of the progressives — were the good people who knew better. But we were still in our hermetically sealed little world, with the Asian, African, Indian professor/student families allowed in but African-Americans — you know, blacks who had actually been in this country for many generations — mostly not.
And of course one traditional means of segregation — economic — was still in force. Suburbs for the college-educated folk, and the inner-city for those not so fortunate. Guess which group that tended to be.
My parents would react with indignant hysteria if anyone ever implied they were racist in any way. Compared to the generation of their parents, they were probably Ghandi-esque. But I can still remember every word of my dad's so-called "hitchhiking story" which he used to trot out as a testament to his non-racist bonafides; the story is about meeting a black man out on the road to or from college one weekend (I guess I can't remember every word after all). The moral of the story is, the black man turned out not to be a murderer or any other kind of criminal! And that's literally the whole story. They gave a guy a lift and he didn't kill them, despite being black. He would tell this story and actually think it illustrated how progressive he was. Just as he thinks it's progressive to volunteer for the Obama campaign (good) and talk to people about how "articulate" Obama is (bad). I suppose our children will see our little anecdotes as similarly offensive (but I don't see how).
Jeff, isn't five a little young to be seeing Watts Riots documentaries?
Yes, but why "skinny" honky? Not that you weren't or aren't skinny, which I know you to have been and to be. But you're also nice, and they didn't say "nice honky." Although "nice honky" does have a ring to it. What is it about skinny that's derogatory, exactly?
Brian, re East Lansing circa 70s:
I actually think the fact that the university town-ness of East Lansing and the fact that there were so many other cultures (Asian, African, Indian) represented in our schools had the effect of disguising the actually no-less-prevalent — and more traditionally American — racism, i.e. prejudice against the black kids who went to the mostly black schools downtown. My parents (many of our parents, I guess) were liberal, collegiate, multi-cultural, progressives, at least compared to their parents. They taught us that racism was bad, but didn't necessarily teach us what it was. There was, also, kind of a sense that "we know now" that blacks are people too, sort of the way "we know now" that disease is caused by germs and not by "the ether."
We also knew, back then, that there were bad people who were racists and we — the progressives or the children of the progressives — were the good people who knew better. But we were still in our hermetically sealed little world, with the Asian, African, Indian professor/student families allowed in but African-Americans — you know, blacks who had actually been in this country for many generations — mostly not.
And of course one traditional means of segregation — economic — was still in force. Suburbs for the college-educated folk, and the inner-city for those not so fortunate. Guess which group that tended to be.
My parents would react with indignant hysteria if anyone ever implied they were racist in any way. Compared to the generation of their parents, they were probably Ghandi-esque. But I can still remember every word of my dad's so-called "hitchhiking story" which he used to trot out as a testament to his non-racist bonafides; the story is about meeting a black man out on the road to or from college one weekend (I guess I can't remember every word after all). The moral of the story is, the black man turned out not to be a murderer or any other kind of criminal! And that's literally the whole story. They gave a guy a lift and he didn't kill them, despite being black. He would tell this story and actually think it illustrated how progressive he was. Just as he thinks it's progressive to volunteer for the Obama campaign (good) and talk to people about how "articulate" Obama is (bad). I suppose our children will see our little anecdotes as similarly offensive (but I don't see how).
Jeff, isn't five a little young to be seeing Watts Riots documentaries?
Yes, but why "skinny" honky? Not that you weren't or aren't skinny, which I know you to have been and to be. But you're also nice, and they didn't say "nice honky." Although "nice honky" does have a ring to it. What is it about skinny that's derogatory, exactly?
Brian, re East Lansing circa 70s:
I actually think the fact that the university town-ness of East Lansing and the fact that there were so many other cultures (Asian, African, Indian) represented in our schools had the effect of disguising the actually no-less-prevalent — and more traditionally American — racism, i.e. prejudice against the black kids who went to the mostly black schools downtown. My parents (many of our parents, I guess) were liberal, collegiate, multi-cultural, progressives, at least compared to their parents. They taught us that racism was bad, but didn't necessarily teach us what it was. There was, also, kind of a sense that "we know now" that blacks are people too, sort of the way "we know now" that disease is caused by germs and not by "the ether."
We also knew, back then, that there were bad people who were racists and we — the progressives or the children of the progressives — were the good people who knew better. But we were still in our hermetically sealed little world, with the Asian, African, Indian professor/student families allowed in but African-Americans — you know, blacks who had actually been in this country for many generations — mostly not.
And of course one traditional means of segregation — economic — was still in force. Suburbs for the college-educated folk, and the inner-city for those not so fortunate. Guess which group that tended to be.
My parents would react with indignant hysteria if anyone ever implied they were racist in any way. Compared to the generation of their parents, they were probably Ghandi-esque. But I can still remember every word of my dad's so-called "hitchhiking story" which he used to trot out as a testament to his non-racist bonafides; the story is about meeting a black man out on the road to or from college one weekend (I guess I can't remember every word after all). The moral of the story is, the black man turned out not to be a murderer or any other kind of criminal! And that's literally the whole story. They gave a guy a lift and he didn't kill them, despite being black. He would tell this story and actually think it illustrated how progressive he was. Just as he thinks it's progressive to volunteer for the Obama campaign (good) and talk to people about how "articulate" Obama is (bad). I suppose our children will see our little anecdotes as similarly offensive (but I don't see how).
Jeff, isn't five a little young to be seeing Watts Riots documentaries?
John, thanks for the long, extremely insightful analysis. No, those documentaries were about the bus boycott and march on Selma, etc. in the South. MLK and that whole crowd.
John, thanks for the long, extremely insightful analysis. No, those documentaries were about the bus boycott and march on Selma, etc. in the South. MLK and that whole crowd.