Turning Racism Upside Down To See It Rightside Up: The Remix
Posted: Monday, August 17, 2009
by Edward Rhymes
Republican Party darling Mike Huckabee, during a recent speech, decided to dispense some tough love to a predominantly white audience when he voiced his concerns about the state of affairs in American white communities. "The epidemic of whites involved in drunk-driving fatality accidents is deplorable," Huckabee said. He cited the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2000 statistics that showed that white male drivers between the ages of 21-34 constituted the largest percentage of drunk (or impaired) drivers in fatal crashes and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Prevention Research Center's 1999 findings that of the 91,248 alcohol-related driving fatalities, 65,309 were committed by whites.
"White politicians don't want to discuss these issues, but somebody has to speak up," Mike Huckabee said, as he continued his assault on what he called the "white crime epidemic."
"The average serial killer is usually male, between the ages of 25-35, and he is usually white. The majority of the time, he will kill victims of his own race. The ages of his victims will vary greatly, depending on his particular 'interests.' His intellect ranges from below average to above average. He doesn't usually know his victims nor have any particular hatred for them personally (though they might be symbolic to him in some way) most of the time... His victims never did anything to hurt him in any way...they are normally strangers to him. He doesn't come from one social class or another; he can come from skid row or Park Avenue. The typical child abductor-murderer is, likewise, usually a white male. They are single and about 27 years old. They are either unemployed or work in unskilled jobs, live alone or with parents; while their victims are typically 11-year-old white females from middle class neighborhoods." "Child sex offenses are among the fastest growing offenses of the Federal criminal caseload from 1994 to 2006 and during 2006, 3,661 suspects were referred to U.S. attorneys for child sex exploitation offenses. Child pornography constituted 69% of referrals, followed by sex abuse (16%) and sex transportation (14%). Most suspects charged with sex exploitation were white, male, U.S. citizens, and had attended some college." "Where do we point the finger for this," Huckabee said as he was quoting from a December 2007 Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice.
Huckabee continued his attack on those he referred to as "social and moral vampires." "Child pornography or kiddie porn is a crime whose perpetrators are overwhelmingly white and whose victims are disproportionately white. This too must stop. Even in our sacred institutions such as our churches, specifically in far too many Roman Catholic churches, our innocent white children are being preyed upon."
"Do you realize that nearly 70 percent of those serving time for violent crimes against children are white," Huckabee said as he cited the Survey of Inmates of State Correctional Facilities by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, "and white inmates were nearly three times more likely to have victimized a child than black inmates" What are we doing to ourselves?, he continued. "Susan Smith, Andrea Yates and Deanna Laney represent a frightening pattern of murder and neglect of white children by white mothers.... And do they take responsibility? No. They either blame it on some phantom black man or say God made them do it." Huckabee also referenced reports from over recent years, of white female teachers taking advantage of and exploiting their minor students.
Mike Huckabee additionally raised the issue of fiscal irresponsibility saying, "Our current economic crisis can also be traced to a pandemic of greed perpetrated by the predominantly white male old-boys-network." "Monetary estimates from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners approximate the annual cost of white collar crime as being between $300 and $660 billion as of 2005." The preacher-politician paused for effect. "While you're looking for the Black or Hispanic with the ski-mask and gun" Huckabee exclaimed, "the Bernie Madoff's are "making-off" with our economic fortunes." "How many more Enron's, Worldcom's, Tyco's, HealthSouth's, and ImClone's do we have to endure before we get the message?"
Mike Huckabee later turned his focus on white youth and drugs, "It's the same story for young adults. Whites are 66 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds and 70 percent of drug users that age. Blacks are 13.5 percent of persons in that age group and only 13 percent of young adult users, while Hispanics are nearly 15 percent of that age group, but yet comprise only 12 percent of drug users 18-25. According to the Justice Department, drug users tend to buy from same-race dealers. So the nearly three-quarters of users who are white, mainly rely on white drug dealers, not the Blacks or Hispanics of accepted imagery. When it comes to drugs like Ecstasy and crystal meth - a hot product in suburban America - the dealers and users have long been known to be mostly white, middle-class males between 14 and 32. American society doesn't want to face the fact that white kids deal and use drugs. They simply can't look in their faces and see that a nice-looking white kid is selling drugs to their kids, because that would mean that their kids could do this too.
"When will it end?" lamented Huckabee.
Author's confession:
Dear reader, this article is only an invention. Mike Huckabee never delivered a speech such as this. However, the statistics stated in the article are very real and very true. As a matter of fact this piece had been published earlier in 2005 (see link at end of article) and has been tweaked to add some more up-to-date statistics and a new main character (instead of George W. Bush, Mike Huckabee).
No leading white political or religious leader has ever, to my knowledge, come close to expressing the thoughts and views outlined in this composition. Very few of our national leaders have made a call to arms in the fight against racism, either because it was considered a political non-starter or because it was in their own selfish and destructive political interest to stoke the prejudicial and racist fires of American society. However, if they did, what do you think the response would be? If you don't have an answer it's OK. I realize that it is difficult to come up with an answer to a question that has rarely or never been asked. However, other groups (especially Blacks and Hispanics) have had to deal with similar rhetoric for centuries right here in America and have had to answer the question I just posed to you, time and time again.
Let's think about it, when the tragedy at Columbine occurred there were literally hundreds of news stories asking the question: "Why are our kids becoming so violent." Not why are white kids becoming so violent, but "our" kids. Now let's contrast that with what happens when a black child is killed in a predominantly black community. The headline more often than not has read something like this: "The problem of black-on-black crime" or "Violence amongst black youth." There are two scenarios taking place here: 1. De-emphasizing or minimizing ethnicity. When the crime is perpetrated by white youths color is not the issue; the issue is "our" children and violence. 2. Emphatic emphasizing and alienation when black youth are deemed the culprits. It is no longer "our" kids; it is "black" kids or youth. Can you, will you, see the difference? Our need to examine these inequities is exacerbated by the recent comments made concerning the adequacy of Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor; the racist claims of the "Birthers;" and the outright venom spewed by many on talk radio and cable news that goes beyond critique and enters into the realm of bigotry.
I know there are some who may be offended by the assertions that I have made in this piece; this is regrettable and yet I understand. I also know that some would try to assert that I am somehow being anti-white (a charge that will come as a complete surprise to my Swedish-American wife of many years). But before you give full sway to your feelings of anger and disgust, answer this: were you this offended when Blacks or Latinos (and other ethnic groups) were being characterized in the same way? Did you challenge the people who made (and those who published) derogatory and inaccurate remarks about other ethnic groups, to tell the whole truth?
Now, do I believe that just because the majority of serial killers, embezzlers and those who commit violent crimes against children are white men, that that means the majority of white men are serial, killers, embezzlers and commit violent crimes against children? No. Again, I emphatically say no. It would be false logic and erroneous reasoning (as well as bigotry of the first order). However, this has been the fallacy and bigotry that many people of color have had to live under. No, dear reader this piece was not written as a tit-for-tat job, but rather as a means for all to see (through the looking glass as it were) a perspective not seen much. It should cause us all to pause and remember: ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
It makes one feel helpless when a tragedy is ripped from its actual social context and real human suffering and then racialized for the masses, does it not? It's not easy being made to look like deviants, criminals or malcontents, is it? It is frustrating and dehumanizing when the few are made to represent the many. When the face of evil and all that is thought to be wrong with society bears a resemblance, in ethnicity, to you. This, I understand all too well. If that is how you feel, please remember it; meditate on it. For it is the same feeling that many of your fellow citizens have had to live with on daily basis. In conclusion, let us also ponder this: A fictitious speech had to be written to talk about the crimes and indiscretions of white folk; the words and speeches that are used to degrade and debase Black folk and other people of color is all too real.
earlier published article
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Edward, this is extraordinary! Sheer brilliance! It's an opinion shared as a result of thought, not a substitute for it. As JP said, a beautiful mind!
Yes, "all we like sheep have gone astray." Thank you for putting it out there with the facts and in a nonprejudicial manner.
Best regards,
Avis
PS Love the title and I'm happy it made the front page. Welcome to SearchWarp!Avis,Thank you for your kind words. I have read your writings and have found that have wonderful way of "speaking the truth in love." Something we need so much more of in this world and life. Thank you for all that you do and God bless you.
Well written and definitely an attention grabber!MarijoThank you Marijo,In the anti-racism and cultural proficiency work that my wife and I do (a great deal of that work has been done with churches and congregations) the challenge was facilitating the process that allowed individuals to "get it." I found that by helping them walk in the "others" shoes for even the briefest moment, brought about a level and depth of understanding that they hadn't experienced before. This writing was written in that same spirit. Thanks again for your kind comment.
I think you made the best point when you quoted the scripture, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." It doesn't matter what race or colour we are, we have all sinned. I have often listened to American newscasts where it was stated that "xx% of prison inmates are black (or American Native, or Latino, or whatever.) I'm not sure what they are trying to say. As the saying goes, "If you do the crime, you'll do the time." They make these statements as if it is some kind of racial bigotry that has caused 'X' number of Afro-Americans, American Natives or Latinos to become inmates. People are people and should be referred to as such without the racial reference, especially when it comes to statistics or any kind, especially negative ones.Thanks Dave,If you do the crime you'll do the time is just another way of saying we reap what we sow. I don't believe, however, that the problem is one being referred to as a particular ethnic group (for example I believe sexism is real, but the problem isn't that women refer to themselves as women --- it's the attitudes we have about women), I believe the problem is the prejudices we have about certain ethnic groups; the problem comes from individuals and society ascribing notions of inferiority or superiority based on race and ethnicity.
I would also say that what I perceive as mass incarceration in the United States is a blend of certain dynamics ranging from institutional and systemic racism to lack of personal responsibility to the apathy and inactivity of entire communities --- in other words I don't think it's a simple problem.
But I do believe with all my heart, that there a powerful, righteous and loving solution and it is when we show love and mercy and seek justice; as we turn to Him who is the personification of those blessed attributes (Christ), then we can at least make change in the small corner of the world that we've been entrusted with.
Sorry David about being so long-winded, but I so appreciated your comment and this is a subject that I think people try to discuss without acknowledging the complexities and I didn't wan to be guilty of that (is my professor's cap showing? :D).
Keep up your very positive work.
Edward, this is a beautiful article that depicts a quiet truth. I remember the media was up in arms about, "Boys in the Hood." On Easter, there was the "Godfather" marathon. Somethings cannot be hidden with BIPOLAR. As if the proper names justifies a behavior. Just to share, my heart fell when Yates was declared mental... A Black Female in Richmond Tx. killed her child and got life (No BIPOLAR for her.) I enjoyed this article very much. This is definitely a good commentary, see you on CNN.Dr Rucker, thank you.After looking at the case regarding Andrea Yates, I believe they may have been serious emotional and mental issues taking place in her life, but to the extent that it would cause you to drown your children, I can't answer. I do know that we have issues of prejudice, which simply means to prejudge and ALL of us can be guilty of no matter our color; and racism (which means prejudice + power = racism) that has allowed a dominant group in our society the ability to define who is superior or inferior and who is worthy or unworthy. And it is from that paradigm, that the stereotypes and discrimination stems from.
It has always been my contention that it is impossible to live up to the golden rule without getting out of your comfort zone; without taking a walk in shoes of someone else. It is not a certain political ideology that makes me address these matters, but rather a strong understanding of scripture. The command to do seek justice and do mercy rings in my ears; the standard of pure religion, found in the book of James, that tells us that caring for the fatherless and widows (or the most vulnerable members of our society) is a huge part of it and the standard by which we shall be judged is how did we respond to "the least of these" among us (Matthew 25).
As I said in the piece, this wasn't a tit-for-tat hit job, it was an appeal to my brothers and sisters who have never really thought of these things before, to start thinking about them.
Thanks for taking the time to comment on my work, it is greatly appreciated.
Very well done. As in politics, racism has no 'level playing field'. This was a great article.Thanks Michael,I've read your piece on healthcare and found it very insightful and had a very firm grasp of the dynamics involved. Thanks again for your comment.
I enjoyed the article from the standpoint that it is ludicrous and wonder if you heard that most recently the infamous Bob Dylan was arrested walking through a neighborhood to unwind bfore a concert while on tour with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson, HOWEVER, there was no racial slur in this case as there predominatly would be if a a black man were walking in a unfamiliar neighborhood and had gotten arrested for such a act....how dare anyone to walk in an unfamiliar neighborhood. I get a little tired of that crap too and I think your article lacks class.Thank you for posting a comment Sharon, but I would like some clarity. In what way, specifically, do you believe my article lacks class? I would really be interested in your response. Thank you.
Thank you for saying what should be said. I recently read a letter from the chairman of a major company, stating he was scared because of our current, popular, elected by a majority president.I don't know how many people have read his letter, but it scared me. Your articles brings up many of his fears. Fears that somehow white Americans will lose their stronghold. As you so eloquently pointed out, the difference is between "our" youth and "Black on Black" or "Hispanic" crime. Perhaps we need to think of the "American" problem, not the "ethnic" problem.Thanks for a great articleThanks Michele. Well, prejudice (simply the act of prejudging) and fear, a great deal of the time, are interconnected. It can be a very disconcerting thing to have one's reality challenged. Standing in someone else's skin is usually a good place to start when it comes to constructing a new and better reality. I hope what I write can give some help with that process. Thanks again for your comment.
Bravo, Edward! Thanks for [tweaking] the earlier published article, and sharing it with your readers.Thanks Ronyae! In light of some of things we have been engaged in as a nation and society, I thought tweaking this piece, would be timely and appropriate. I'm glad you thought so too.Thanks again.
Another great article, Edward.I read the "speech" by Huckabee without doubting it. It reminded me of the old "my best friend is black" phrase, where white folks tried to represent themselves as non-prejudiced.How can racism end? Why do my wife, a Hispanic, and I still get nasty looks in public? Why did she feel afraid when we stopped to eat in an out-of-the-way restaurant in Alabama?I appreciate your comment very much Ken. I know those looks because my wife and I are an interethnic couple as well and I also know about those out of the way places that I feel uncomfortable in too. I don't know about racism, in and of itself, ending (because, on a personal level, that's a heart condition), but there are some things we can do to hold such prejudicial and racist behaviors and attitudes at bay. One example would be for us all to have a courageous, respectful, everything-on-the-table conversation with someone who has been discriminated against. Another way would be to educate ourselves (and demand that our children are as well) about the TOTALITY of American history, warts and all --- an incomplete understanding of history leads to an incomplete and erroneous understanding of current events. Without putting our current dynamics in historical context, it is as if we are walking in on a conversation towards its end, while yet trying to offer up a valid opinion. On a very elementary level, we should treat the injustice that happens to our neighbor (no matter the gender; no matter the culture; no matter the ethnicity) as if it happened to us. Thank you again for commenting and it's a joy being on SearchWarp with you.
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