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You May Not See Race But I See an Idiot Have you ever heard anyone say, “I don’t see race?” Basically what they are really saying is “I’m an idiot”. Have you ever overheard a conversation that went something like this? “Do you know such and such? He works with what’s his name down at the work place.” “Who?” “You know, such and such. He has that mole on his face. He’s kind of tall with dark hair” “You mean the black guy?” “Oh, you’re terrible!!!!” Since when did acknowledging distinguishing traits like ones skin color become such a massive social crime? Basically, people are afraid that by simply acknowledging physical or ethnic differences that makes them a racist. These are the same people who lock the deadbolts of their homes in their middle class, white bread neighborhoods because it’s possible that some of the lower class ruffians might violate the sanctity of their private paradise and drive their dilapidated old Chevy Beretta’s into their neighborhood and have their way with them sexually. They also avoid the appearance of racism and usually preach equality while enjoying a life style free of large scale racial co-mingling and spend too much time convince themselves that racism is dead. The phrase “I don’t see race” is a common plague amongst white middle class people who wish to maintain the appearances of being open and tolerant without actually having to be. It seems they have fallen prey to the lip service social order that we have established. In a world full of righteous hypocrites, why do we even try? Everyone knows you’re a god damn racist. I’m not condoning acts of racism or discrimination but to believe that just a mere 50 years after the end of segregation we are magically one united people without the worries and woes of times past is just too god damn moronic to even contemplate. I have some bad news for those people. We’re all racist, every last one of us and the harder you try to cover up that fact the more you look like a god damn fool. Have you ever heard a black guy say “I don’t see race”? Of course you haven’t. If you have feel free to punch him in the face for me the next time you see him and make sure to tell all his black friends. I can assure you that if you do he is in for the beating of his life. Why don’t black people use this phrase? I’m sure that part of it has to do with the fact that most of them actually enjoy their culture that is predicated on separation from white mainstream society. It’s because they remember a long forgotten, failed time in American history called Reconstruction where all the black folks wanted was to be like everybody else. What did we do when they requested this? We shat all over them. So why, just a few decades later, do we think that by ignoring all aspects of our negative past we will magically form a utopian society free of in-equality and race based oppression? The black folks are smart enough to know that we can’t. Just because you acknowledge someone’s skin color does not mean you are placing yourself above them or saying they are of a lesser status. You do this by living in a predominantly white neighborhood where the minorities that are “acceptable” are cultureless, white washed versions of their brethren. You do this when you vote against initiatives that would bus students in from lower income areas because you don’t want to put your child in “danger” (of what is never said). You do this by self segregation, self-righteous culture bashing, and an unwillingness to acknowledge that these things exist. You don’t need to say a god damn thing because your true feelings are written on your sleeves. What about those people who say race doesn’t exist? I hate those people. Of course race exists. How the hell else am I supposed to know who is who? I need something to go on. I need to know who to avoid on the road or who to ask for help with my math homework. I need to know who to pick for my football team and I need to know who to hire to mow my lawn or clean my house. If race doesn’t exist, my search would be much more difficult. The bottom line is that we are not a homogeneous nation built upon a millennium of shared historical perspective. We are a cesspool of fermented waste that has somehow risen to dominate the world. Although I appreciate the value of basic societal norms, never should it include senseless lip service to bullshit principles that don’t and never have existed in any way. Go ahead and keep saying this shit if you want but remember that the world is full of people just like me watching and judging you like the douche bag you are. -= Bagoda =- |