In the weeks after the George Zimmerman verdict, I have appreciated much of the discussion. But some people’s comments have given me pause, and left me unsure whether these commenters truly understand the definition of Racism.
Sadly, Racism, Prejudice, Discrimination, and Bigotry seem to be used a great deal as though they are interchangeable. These words are not interchangeable – they are not all synonyms for Racism. Racism has to contain an institutional and structural power dynamic. Here in the United States, that power dynamic is held primarily by white, heterosexual, middle-aged, Christian, educationally-privileged men; these are the people who establish norms in our society and have a great deal of unearned privilege because of the color of their skin. This group, called the dominant culture, creates laws and policies – laws and policies that have an ugly history and were designed to help white folk while oppressing folks of color. Thus, Racism is: structural, institutional and systemic power that allows for discrimination and bigotry affecting someone’s health, well being, safety, and livelihood based on real or perceived racial or ethnic affiliation.
Perhaps a bit of a history lesson might be useful here. Let us keep in mind the multi-generational impact of these laws both economically and emotionally. The 1857 Dred Scott Decision: The Supreme Court said that all people of African dissent were not and could not be counted as citizens of the United States. Let us jump to 1935 with the start of Social Security – a great act to be passed, but sadly it did not initially apply to anyone who was not white, a significant economic impact. Now let us move to the 1945 GI Bill – great opportunity for soldiers returning from World War II. Sadly, this bill did not initially apply to any of the soldiers of color returning from World War II. Here we see a huge economic impact for generations of whites with great advantage and thus a huge disadvantage for generations of people of color. The GI Bill allowed for white soldiers to buy their first home and get a college education; this would qualify as unearned privilege due to one’s skin color.
Let us jump to 1954 when we witness the Termination Act. The Termination Act stripped all Native Americans from their identities and spaces as our government told all of these people: “Okay, you are white now, so you must live in the cities and turn over your lands to the U.S. government.” The cultural and financial impact on Native Americans was and remains profound.
Even more recent and disgraceful is SB1070 adopted by Arizona in 2010 and then adopted by Alabama in 2011, which demands that all Latina/os must have proof of citizenship on them at all times. If someone with dark skin that is, or is perceived to be, Latina/o and cannot provide documentation of citizenship, they can be put in jail.
I approach the work of equity and marginalization as a gay man. Working as an agent of change means I am also obligated to know about the start of Gay Liberation in 1969. The LGBT community has a long history of being targeted and imprisoned. Until 2003 with Lawrence v. Texas, it was against the law to be gay in the United States. Sadly, regardless of Lawrence v. Texas, it is still against the law in most states in the South. In fact, LGBT people have zero rights and protections in almost all of the South. My personal call to action is to stand in solidarity with all those who are oppressed by the dominant culture and to honor their narratives – to understand how LGBT people of color are targeted and why.
This history is carried with all targeted people and passed down from generation to generation, much in the way that if you are Jewish, your family knows about the Holocaust and its effects are likely still felt in your family. Of course, the impact is more severe if one carries more than one of these identities. For example, if you are a woman and a woman of color or if you are a man and a gay man of color, the impact is far worse.
Finally, let us illustrate the sad state of racism in the United States with the belligerent, bellicose, bigot Ted Nugent. As of late, Nugent seems to be the appointed spokesperson of the GOP. In response to the Zimmerman verdict, Nugent went on a racist tirade:
Why wasn’t Trayvon [Martin] educated and raised to simply approach someone he wasn’t sure about and politely ask what was going on and explain he was headed home? Had he, I am confident that Zimmerman would have called off the authorities and everything would have been fine. Why the nasty “creepy a- cracker” racism and impulse to attack? Where does this come from? Is it the same mindless tendency to violence we see in black communities across America, most heartbreakingly in Chicago pretty much every day of the week?…When you live in a fog of denial, usually inspired by substance abuse – you know with all the lies about dope being a victimless crime, I think you’re listening to the victims of this dopey crime, because their brains are fried. They’re either fried on substance abuse, and all of them know who I’m talking about.
The fact that the severely misguided and under-educated Nugent feels justified in making these very public racist comments, along with people like Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson, makes it quite clear that we still have a long way to go around issues of racial and gender equity.
Call to action: Imagine how powerful we could be if all of the targeted populations joined together to stop this type of oppression and even more powerful if we enlist the support of all of our allies that are within the dominant culture?
My hope in publishing this article is to encourage and invite people to engage in a meaningful dialogue around the issues of race, gender, power, and equity. I hope many will contribute to this conversation in a respectful manner and also correct me if I have committed any trespass in my exposition here. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Michael Hulshof-Schmidt teaches Social Justice at the Portland State University School of Social Work. He is the Executive Director of EqualityWorks, NW, a company that provides workshops on racial equity and how to stand in solidarity with targeted populations. You can read more of his work, including an earlier version of this piece, at http://hulshofschmidt.wordpress.com.
When you made that list, you left out Louis Farrakhan and the emerging anti Semitism within the extreme left wing movements.
Great article and solid points. Frankly, the oppressors use hate and discrimination to divide and concur. As you pointed out, concerning a “Call to action: Imagine how powerful we could be if all of the targeted populations joined together to stop this type of oppression and even more powerful if we enlist the support of all of our allies that are within the dominant culture?” It’s a dream Dr. King had and one that needs to come to fruition soon. It’s certainly time for us to all work together.
Shawn,
Yes, oppressors do use hate and other forms of bigotry to divide us, thus we must work collectively to stand in solidarity with all those who are oppressed.
Very insightful article! I felt like one was reading my mind when I read this powerful stamen, “Imagine how powerful we could be if all of the targeted populations joined together to stop this type of oppression and even more powerful if we enlist the support of all of our allies that are within the dominant culture?”
I will have to come back some other time and comment on this.
This well-articulated piece serves to remind all of us that beyond the barriers of race, color, sex, etc., we are all human beings co-existing together. However, in order to reach that place of equality for all, it’s our task for each of us to be agents of change, and speak out and against all ‘isms.’ As a gay man of Mexican American descent, I’ve accumulated a significant amount of racist and homophobic experiences which continue even today, and especially in the Southeast where I have lived for 17 years. These experiences serve to embolden me to speak out for change and to make this necessary change real, pervasive and permanent. I’m grateful to and for, others who came before me to shed their light on this road.
Christopher, I do believe humanity has a chance if we are able to hear and then honor narratives such as yours. Your counter narrative standing against an established dominant white heterosexual and Christine narrative needs to be honored and revered. Thank you for your voice for social justice.
Te BDS movement defines anti Semitism in the modern age
The essence of racism is generalization. To quote Ted Nugent and thus imply that he is representative of white America is absurd. I am not Ted Nugent. To imply that all whites are the same as Nugent, Limbaugh or Robertson is racist. For Celebrities to go on the cover of Ebony and say I am Treyvon Martin is to say that all blacks are the same. That is racism.
Mr. Arnold, I am saddened that you have resorted to reductio ad absurdum. I can only speculate that any talk of race makes you exceedingly uncomfortable. Even sadder, your comment does now make space for authentic dialogue.
Mr. Arnold: Professor Hulshof-Schmidt did not in any way imply in his article that all white people are like Ted Nugent or are represented by him. He said that such people as Nugent, Limbaugh, etc., seem to have become the spokespersons for the Republican Party. This is simply true. If the Republican Party objects to that characterization, it could at any time correct it by repudiating what such people say. I have not seen anyone do so. When people say “I am Trayvon Martin” they mean that they are standing in solidarity with repressed people. Also, sadly, in the U.S. today there IS sense in which all black people are the same — that is the sense in which all are subjected to discrimination. Not that all are the same people inside, but that the dominate society perceives them that way.
I am writing this response primarily for those other than yourself who may read it, with the hope that the discussion can go on in a more positive direction.
What about “shorty” Belton Does he count?
Thank you, Ms. Mistretta. As the author points out — significantly in the very title — this is a starting point, a call for understanding and care as we use charged language to describe the ills of our world. If we take the charge to repair this world seriously, we must look carefully at the sources of the damage. Willful ignorance, denial of oppression, blaming the victim — all of these cracks in our society arise from privilege. Let us instead look to our personal power and reflect on how knowledge, wisdom, and solidarity can move the conversation, and our society, forward.