The overwhelming majority of Americans, since the 70s and 80s have been ethically bent towards disgust with racism. This is the thing I discussed mathematically not long ago. Most whitefolks, especially affluent educated ones, are especially careful and owe that care to their black friend. Most blackfolks, especially affluent educated ones take it upon themselves to help each and every one of their white friends to be that careful. So careful in fact, that I can’t find any white people I know who are even close to being comfortable saying ‘nigger’.
It doesn’t matter the context. Even when I give them explicit permission. I’ve gone down this particular road several times in the past few years.
B: Look, I’m going to lend you my black card. Now go ahead and say it.
W: No, man I can’t do that.
B: You can’t hurt me. You can’t insult me. Didn’t you read Invisible Man?
W: Yes, I get what you’re saying, but I just.. Nope. Can’t do it.
B: Can’t or won’t?
W: Stop playing. This is serious.
B: What? Because something Richard Pryor said when he went to Africa 40 years ago?
The situation is hopeless. It doesn’t matter why, and I don’t need to find out why. I’m sure for every person the reason is different. But I do wonder how complicit I am in making that threat seem real. The threat was something I wanted to pass along to my son until some wiser folks piped up. I was going to tell him to ball up his fist and heave ho if anybody at school called him a nigger. The crazy thing is that it had nothing to do with reality, just what I imagined he might face. In kindergarten. In 1998. WTF?
Black Rage
Everybody understands the politics of Black Rage. There was some in LA in the early 90s. There was some in Missouri in 2013. For my books, Black Rage only counts when people start burning down buildings. When there’s no question that folks are ready to stand that defiant, ready for felony arson, that’s a serious Burn Baby Burn moment. That’s the only action appropriate to the invocation of the radical 60s.
I think we ought to consider the difference and the distance between a rude picket sign, punch in the nose, a thrown brick, a looted store and a burned down block. Which is to say, the expectations of “a racial reckoning in the wake of”
Rodney King
Amadou Diallo
Michael Brown
Travon Martin
George Floyd
Is a tired pattern. The real question is who are the enablers? Where do your politics enter into and unbalance your friendships? In other words are you black friends using their friendship as leverage in their political agendas? Are you a racial partisan? Are your white friends sounding boards for the supremacists you think they might be part of? Do you engage in cross-racial allyship? WTF is that?
In yet one more poke at Candidate Harris only to the extent that she represents a racial icon, you’ll note the threat inherent in those Americans who will claim any number of racial reasons for her failure (if it happens) to win the nomination and the election this year. You’ll similarly note the triumphalism in those who will claim victory in the opposite case. It will come in the form of “It’s about time, but let’s stay frosty. You know who is still out there.” There’s always a conspiracy of race out and about poisoning the ethics of the public sphere. But I just get sick of it.
I’m concerned that I might start judging candidate Harris based on her ability to deflect all racial concerns. Maybe I’m too late.