I've made the comment before on this blog that I was raised in a very racist environment. I lived in a whites only neighborhood, went to a whites only school and until I was at least 20 I was under the mistaken impression that people with a darker skin, just weren't that intelligent.
In high school I recall having to study To Kill a Mockingbird, and then examination at the end of that term used the theme of racism and diversity. I got pretty miffed about the whole thing. Finished the examination early and wrote a scathing letter to the teacher on the back of it about how I didn't want to learn about diversity and I didn't think it should be "Shoved down our throats".
Interestingly enough, I actually considered myself pretty progressive, and regularly had fights with my family over such things as the fact that blacks should be allowed to vote and things like that. They frequently blamed my positions on these matters as simple naivety and often I was called things like "Kafir-lover" which is the South African equivalent to "Nigger-lover". Please pardon my use of that word... I mean no disrespect to anyone of color, I'm just trying to give some background.
In a particularly nasty letter last year, those same relatives took offense to my saying that I had been raised in a racist environment, assuming that I was calling them out on their racist mentality. I've reviewed the posts where I mentioned it, and in every case I was referring simply to the environment - country, school, church in which I was raised. Seems like they have some demons they're still dealing with as well!
As a defense, they cited their better than average treatment of black people with whom they associated and a couple of instances where they helped black people out. The thing is that treating people well, doesn't excuse the fact that you consider them to be less intelligent, or that you propogate the idea that they are somehow less worthy and their skin color is a curse from God.
These same relatives, just a year or two prior to last years letter had sat in my home, and declared with great piety that the LDS Church's official declaration extending full membership benefits to members of African decent was a mistake and that even though the Church now extended those benefits, it wasn't really what God wanted.
I walked in on the little discussion... Scriptures spread on knees, faces all expressing great interest in those hallowed truths, and I now regret not kicking them out immediately. Instead I left my home, and spent time in my yard with people more in tune with Christian values.
I was silent then and I regret it. I was a bigot as a child, and I regret that.
There are things happening in Arizona which need the attention of the world, and that is my intent in writing today.
There is a councilman in Prescott, Arizon, by the name of Steve Blair. Steve Blair is one of those people who feels that the first amendment allows a person such as him to spread hate and belittle others, and at the same time be above criticism because he has the right to share his opinion. He has a point, the Constitution does grant him that right, but it also protects the rights of those who painted the mural, and those who are going to criticize him for his white supremacist ideals.
The simple version of the story from what I have read is this... A school had a mural painted of students using green transportation. They selected a few students to serve as models for that mural, and one of those students happened to be either black or Hispanic, reports are mixed. Think back to when you where in school and got picked for something, and how good that felt!
The mural was painted, but Mr. Blair took exception to the fact that it contained a non-white face, when there aren't that many black families in Prescott. Steps were taken to lighten the face of the children in the painting, which in my mind was a huge mistake, but to their credit, those same people have realize their error and requested the painting be returned to it's original state.
Here are a couple of gems from the honorable councilman...
In the city of Prescott and the world we live in we have rights and those rights we should be able to say without being chastised for what we think as an individual. That's the hard part.
I am not a racist individual, but I will tell you that depicting a black guy in the middle of that mural, based upon who's President of the United States today, and based upon the history of this community when I grew up, we had four black families, who I have been very good friends with for years, to depict the biggest picture on that building as a black person, I would have to ask the question, "Why?"
I disagree with the whole perspective that you would have a black guy painted on both sides of that building when the history of Prescott never had a culture issue, never had a problem with whether you're black, white, yellow, we didn't look at race, color, creed, and what they've done is they've made it an issue, in my opinion.
Everybody can have their own opinion about what they think. I don't disagree with diversity in a community, because I think its wonderful, but it came naturally to the people that lived in Prescott because I think it wasn't foisted upon us. And I feel like now that they're drawing pictures up trying to foist it upon is, I feel intimidated by it.
Well, I'm just saying, why do you have to keep dragging up diversity, when you may have diversity in a community, but you have a group of people that keep dragging up the fact that we're not doing the right thing. It's like the gay pride parade in San Francisco. I don't care who you are, or what you are, but you don't need to try to shove it down everybody's throat.
It would appear that Mr. Blair is scared of Black people, which makes me wonder if he truly has black friends. I could probably right a whole bunch more comparing Mr. Blair's racist views to that of the current homophobic movement in this country. HUGE Kudos to the judge who turned down NOM's appeal in Maine though.
Simply I would ask you to do this...
If you feel that Mr. Blair has the right to be a racist bigot and that by spouting that crap we have the right to call him on it, and help him face the music, I would ask you to take whatever action you feel is necessary. Post it on your blog, tweet it, facebook it and/or email people who can do more about this problem.
Below are links you can use to email other members of the City Council
Tammy Linn
Lora Lopas
Jim Lamerson
Mary Ann Suttles
John Hanna
Those links are below if you would like to repost them
http://www.cityofprescott.net/email.php?id=41 Tammy Linn
http://www.cityofprescott.net/email.php?id=26 Lora Lopas
http://www.cityofprescott.net/email.php?id=27 Jim Lamerson
http://www.cityofprescott.net/email.php?id=30 Mary Ann Suttles
http://www.cityofprescott.net/email.php?id=28 John Hanna
Below are some additional links to blog posts and news stories about the incident
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/04/20100604arizona-mural-sparks-racial-debate.html
http://wonkette.com/415809/arizona-school-demands-black-latino-students-faces-on-mural-be-changed-to-white
http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2010/06/07/arizona-councilmember-complains-about-dark-skinned-youth-on-school-mural/
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2010/06/crushing-black-childs-soul.html
Love it when the politicians feel the need to "explain themselves" and dig a much deeper hole, giving us fabulous postable quotes to boot. Is there a place I can link the original quote right on Facebook?
ReplyDeleteI also liked this: "The thing is that treating people well, doesn't excuse the fact that you consider them to be less intelligent, or that you propogate the idea that they are somehow less worthy..."
I'm not black, but I've definitely felt that attitude from LDS members, just based on my non-LDS status. And I'm pretty darned sure the "unchurched" who walk into my church these days would feel the same way... "wow, they sure are nice and smiley to me, but how come I'm not getting invited to all those backyard BBQs?"
You've hit on a fabulous point! Particularly if we claim to be Christian, it's not nearly enough to "treat people well"... there needs to be a deeper belief from within. The belief that we are all equal? Or are equally deserving of benefits and opportunities? Or equally UNdeserving of them? Not quite sure, but you've given me something to ponder today.
; )
It's also amazing how overly sensitive some people can be when "black" is even mentioned. I got chewed out by a ton of classmates back in elementary school when two friends were having a race to see how fast an ice cube would melt in each of their hands. I said the black guy would win because his darker skin would absorb more of the light and release more heat, thus melting the ice cube faster.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else ever been called a racist for repeating a science lesson?
Thanks Clink! And welcome back - I for one have missed you!
ReplyDeleteDave P., I think it's an interesting change that society needs to go through. Like I mentioned in the post, my background was very racist, and then after living amongst the local black people in Africa, I kind of switched to the other extreme - being overly sensitive about any comment involving the word "black". I think society is likely going to swing back and forth a little, hopefully getting closer to the center with each swing, until it gets to the point when where everyone can be treated like equals, but at the same time, appreciate that we all look different. If skin color could be treated like eye or hair color, I think the world would be a better place. And for the sake of that point, we'll just ignore any blonde jokes out there!