WHITE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AND IS NEVER "ALL-RIGHT"

WHITE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AND IS NEVER “ALL-RIGHT”: 

This banner and article was inspired by white TV & Radio commentators like Bill O’Reilly & Rush, as well  as other more moderate ones, who somehow think, in their “royal whiteness”, that they have a clue about the subject of racism and what it is like to live as a person of color in America. The reaction of the Black community and other people of color and good will  against the George Zimmerman/TrayvonMartin trial verdict has brought out the worse in these self-appointed experts on other cultures and races. What they don’t realize, or admit, is that they and America as a whole are afflicted with two major conditions or maladies, which have definitely clouded their perceptions, some,  to the point of delirium:

One of the conditions is “white speak” or “white think”, which on the downside means the afflicted thinks he is always right or superior to others (often using the code word “exceptional”), and knows what is best for others, but which also has its upsides, as white people have good qualities, talents, thoughts and feelings like other human beings (though definitely not superior to others’ as those afflicted would have you believe). This condition, when combined with the second one, CAWS (Corporate America White Speak), is often deadly and fatal to both the carrier and those who come in contact with it, both in this country and worldwide. And you don’t have to be white to be a carrier and spreader of this disease; in fact, some people of color do so more effectively than whites.

 How does one know if he or she is afflicted with CAWS? Here are just a few telltale signs:

• If you believe that the Zimmerman verdict was just and had nothing to do with the race of Trayvon, or the race of the jurors, defense attorneys and prosecutors.
• If you believe that the verdict would be the same if Zimmerman had killed a white boy.
• If you believe that the law enforcement and justice systems treat people of color equally and no different or worse than whites in this country.
• If you are not aware that blacks get longer sentences than whites for the same crimes when all other factors are equal except for skin color.
• If you believe that blacks commit more crimes than whites.
• If you believe that blacks use and sell more illegal drugs than whites.
• If you believe that blacks get more welfare benefits than whites.
• If you are unaware that blacks are discriminated against in the workplace relating to hiring, wages, and promotions.
• If you are unaware that this country incarcerates more people per capita than any other developed country and that private prison, probation and supervision companies are reaping huge profits from incarcerating greater number of Americans every year, of all races, but disproportionately blacks.
• If you are unaware that the rich and corporations that they own or control are getting richer and you are getting poorer, or if you think that is ok.
• If you believe your religion is superior to others’.
• If you believe you are superior to others because of your race, culture, nationality, gender, sexual orientation.
• If you are not aware that this country and its economy has been built on the backs of cheap and slave labor, both locally and abroad.
• If you are not aware that  the corporations and government agencies at both the state and federal levels invited the current 12 million undocumented immigrants here to work as cheap but productive labor, sometimes under slave-like conditions.

There are many other symptoms but those are a few we can start with. And now for the cure, which is twofold, and may take some time: first—education regarding the facts relating to the symptoms listed above, and second, a healing process which will be administered through HON (Healing our Nation) Clinics, consisting of professionally facilitated, interactive workshops through which we can experience and get back to our essential oneness. (Information on clinic/workshop is available at pilgrim1@mindspring.com. )

 You see Bill & Rush, we have a lot of work to do before being able to intelligently speak about or comment on race and racism in America. Better confine your comments to politics (oops, racism affects that), the economy (oops, racism affects that), education (oops, racism affects that).  Well, I guess you better sign up for the HON clinic ASAP!!!

(By the way, the Cobb Coalition will be sponsoring some Healing Our Nation workshops locally to assist with this healing process. If you would like to participate or be trained as a facilitator you can get more info at pilgrim1@mindspring.com .)