Reverse Racism: the Ultimate Excuse?

STOP CALLING IT REVERSE RACISM!

Racism isn't white hating minorities. It's anyone hating on someone just because of their race.

Racism......only whites are racist, right? WRONG! I've probably heard more racist nonsense from the mouths of minorities than whites. Minorities are quick to blame whites for their lives yet fail to understand w/out whites they wouldn't have the opportunites they have and continue to receive. Yes, there is still racism. There always will be racism. That's just how it is.

A good, necessary article with which I entirely agree to this point:

Does reverse racism exist? Yes, it does.

I argued here that it does not exist, neither as a concept nor a label. Racism is racism, and distinguishing types of racism (group X discriminates against Y; group Y discriminates against X) makes it seem like one type is more newsworthy than another.

Are there differences in frequency with respect to occurrences of discrimination between groups? Most definitely. Should this difference be codified with unique terms? No, as this makes it seem like one deserves more attention than others.

With reagards to Rand Paul, no one can seriously think that he is a racist because the facts show otherwise. He has no history whatsoever of thinking that blacks or minorities are somehow inferior. What the Tea Party was upset about was the inserting of the "race card" into what should be viewed as a legitimate argument about the nature of property rights and government power to interfere with those rights.

The whole "reverese racism" thing is a sympton of too many people (like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton) screaming racism whenever there is a legitimate criticism of a black person or a minority. Obama is the President of the United States and a liberal Democrat, why shouldn't he be faced with criticism from those that disagree with him? Are a small faction of critics racist? Yes. But are all critics of him racist? Absolutely not and that's the problem. People like that idiot Janeane Garroffalo and the equally moronic Keith Olbermann think all criticism of Obama is inherently racist.

Matt,you bring up Limbaugh.Please sight what he's said that you find offensive enough to write an article.I listen to him daily and I don't see it.So I guess I'm among the blind listeners.Enlighten me please.

Matt, I would have to take issue with the myth of "reverse racism." First, race is a poorly crafted construct that humanity has had forced upon it. For example, the main divisions or races are Negroid (yes, the Negro moniker is still in effect), Mongloid (named for the Mongol tribe that had conquered Eurasia), and Caucasoid (named for the 444,000 square miles of land bordering Russia, Turkey and Iran), a theory created by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach and then further twisted by Christoph Meiners back in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Source: Collective Degradation: Slavery and The Construction of Race. This leaves out a LOT of other people who populated the earth that do not fit into these ridiculous classifications.

Next, let's clarify the definition of race.

Racism: a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

This is where the whole notion of "reverse racism" falls apart. Other than extremist groups like the Taliban, when have you heard so-called "minorities" espouse that they feel they should rule over White or any other people? However, when one looks at history, it is the White people who have carried out their claims of superiority and forcibly conquered, enslaved, and slaughtered indigenous people across this planet. The age of exploration and enlightenment was just a euphemism for colonialism. To this very day, the whole world has had its development stunted by European thieves and murderers (Britain, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Netherlands) who erased precious cultures and ways of life wherever they went and replaced it with Western "civilization."

It's about how racism was used to systematically oppress the non-Caucasians physically, mentally, emotionally, and economically. That's the mark of racism. Bigotry and prejudice would probably be better terms to use instead of "reverse racism."

Whitegirl, you have a very sad sense of history and perspective. Whites stole opportunities from so-called "minorities" when they sailed to their lands and stole their resources for their own benefit. By the way, the "minorities" far outnumber the Caucasians if you have any idea about the world's population.

There is no such thing as reverse racism, anymore than driving forward is going reverse backward; it's just racism. It should be called out where we see it. And we should never tolerate it, no matter its source, or no matter who it is directed at. I think we must be clear about this, and shine a light of truth and openness on it, to deprive those who would hide in its shadows of their wiggle room.

the question of "what is reverse racism" is key, i think, to understanding this problem.

anyone can be racist, in that anyone can have flawed perceptions of the relative value among people of different "races." there is the natural bias we all have, which makes us gravitate towards similar-looking and similar-acting people, and we've constructed groups to make that easier -- religions, nations, social practices, etc, and that includes what we consider "race."

but there is also learned racism, which comes from culture. to that extent, all members of a culture are susceptible to holding "racist" views.

along those lines, i would agree with those who say that there is no such thing as reverse racism -- the very term implies that there is a "normal" racism, which (based on the way it's used by those who claim it) comes from the majority against the minority. by making claims of "reverse racism," all people like rush limbo do is to demonstrate their absolute ignorance of the problem.

but it's a defensive posture. it comes from the fact that they still perceive an inherent difference between people, so much so that even a person's natural biases can only be explained relative to the dominant group. that they cant accept that learned biases, by being learned, are entirely separate from one's own group, is an example of racism -- they think that black people and white people think differently, which causes blacks to "reverse" the "normal" racism, causing a different problem.

and that they call "white on black" racism just "racism," but "black on white" racism "reverse racism" further establishes that "white" is "normal," and primary, and that black is secondary.

it's racist to claim "reverse racism." anyone using that term (to the extent they are really using it, and not just parroting it, which i think happens quite often, and probably explains how it's used by people like whitegirl above) is expressing categorically racist views.

they're simply trying to become the victim. they perceive that the traditional behavior of racism has been effectively reduced, so that any further claims of racism are inherently flawed, and that now THEY are the victim -- a special (reverse) victim -- of a certain kind of racism that is (to them) even worse because they've presented it as a sort of "revenge" thing, like now the minorities are just "getting even" with whites for unfairnesses that (they feel) have already been corrected.

it's PR bull@!$%#, and we all know it.

Nice Post Everyone, first Ive seen so far that addresses the race issue intellegently and unbiased.

Matt-----Was wondering where you had gone. Glad to see you're back. Good article. Thanks.

Try these on for size:

Top 10 Racist Limbaugh QuotesView Photos
By Casey Gane-McCalla October 20, 2008 9:45 pm

THE TOP TEN QUOTES
1. "Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"

2. "Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing."

The communist connection is an old way of dealing with black leaders. They used it on Martin Luther King, they're using it on Barack Obama and Limbaugh used it on Nelson Mandela. By siding with the racist apartheid regime over a world-wide symbol of peace and freedom, Limbaugh has shown he's a global racist.

3. "Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

Limbaugh is once again fear mongering and race baiting by associating professional black athletes with criminals and gangmembers. He continues the fear mongering association of good, decent, hard working African Americans as criminals.

4. "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

Now Limbaugh is saying that an organization with a storied tradition of representing the positive black people for change in their communities are criminals and rioters. An organization that has been represented by intelligent professional African Americans, that has played a part in the Civil Rights movement and continues to be an intelligent, concerned voice for the African American community is degraded to common criminals. There you go Rush. Keep racism alive!!!!

5. "They're 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?"

6. [To an African American female caller]: "Take that bone out of your nose and call me back."

7." I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve."

I wasn't super offended by this, the whole black quarterback/coach thing has been going on for years in sports, but the quote was so offensive that Retired General Wesley Clarke said:

There can be no excuse for such statements. Mr. Limbaugh has the right to say whatever he wants, but ABC and ESPN have no obligation to sponsor such hateful and ignorant speech. Mr. Limbaugh should be fired immediately.

8. Limbaugh's many attacks on Obama.

Limbaugh has called Obama a 'halfrican American' has said that Obama was not Black but Arab because Kenya is an Arab region, even though Arabs are less than one percent of Kenya. Since mainstream America has become more accepting of African-Americans, Limbaugh has decided to play against its new racial fears, Arabs and Muslims. Despite the fact Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law school, Limbaugh has called him an 'affirmative action candidate.' Limbaugh even has repeatedly played a song on his radio show 'Barack the Magic Negro' using an antiquated Jim Crow era term for Black a man who many Americans are supporting for president. Way to go Rush.

So Rush Limbaugh has managed to make racist attacks on four of the most admired and respected people of African descent in the past one hundred years, in Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Colin Powell and Barack Obama. He has claimed that Joe the Plumber, who isn't even a plumber is more important in this election than Colin Powell, a decorated military veteran who has served honorably in three administrations. How can the Republican party stand by this man and let their candidates appear on his show? Rush Limbaugh's comments are so racist, they're funny, in a Borat, Archie Bunker kind of way. What is not funny is the millions of dittoheads who listen to him, who take in and re-spout all the racist rhetoric that he spits. Limbaugh's statements are echoed in the racist, angry Palin/McCain supporters who shout 'kill him,' 'terrorist,' 'communist,' 'traitor,' 'socialist' and 'off with his head.'

9. "We need segregated buses… This is Obama's America."

Okay Limbaugh let's take back all of the Civil Rights movement and bring segregation back. But you're not a racist.

10. "Obama's entire economic program is reparations/"

So everything Obama is doing is a big plot to give money to Black people. Any evidence? Stop the racist fear-mongering.

TWO MORE OF CONTESTED VERACITY:

1. "I mean, let's face it, we didn't have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I'm not saying we should bring it back; I'm just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark."

2. "You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed."

BONUS QUOTES
(…because ten isn't enough!)

"Obama is "more African in his roots than he is American" and is "behaving like an African colonial despot"

"Obama is an angry Black guy"

Tha enough for ya? There's more...

Genuine racism still happens every single day in the United States, and elsewhere, for that matter.

And it happens by all races against all races. I've personally been refused service at a restaurant based on the color of my skin. I've been told to get back on the highway and keep driving till 'you see white faces'. I rather think that qualifies as 'genuine'.

Except if it's black on white racism, according to this seed...it's not "real" racism...it's "reverse" racism...which is only an excuse? Nope...racism is not the sole perogative of whites...believe me, move to a black neighborhood or live in a predominately black city, you'll not only get to experience racism at first hand, but you'll realize how totally stupid racism is. When you do, and you see that people are people, some are awesome, some are a**holes, and the color of their skin has nothing to do with it...that's when you can end racism.

Much of what people call "reverse racism" is simply a reaction to the racism a person or group of people has experienced.

Whites treated blacks like dirt for so many years, that blacks naturally have bad feelings towards whites. Therefore whites claim that blacks are practicing "reverse racism".

If whites are that paranoid maybe they have a reason to be.

Racism is idiotic, reverse-racism is just as idiotic, and stupid racism - when people try pass off religion as a race - is just ridiculous.

as long as you have people you have racism .

as long as you have people you have racism .

as long as you have oeople you have racism .

people are just that wat

AHA! Reverse Reverse Racism, Matt!!!

Great stuff, Matt...I remember talking to a Viner months back on it...boy, was he full of resentment, touting the NH firemen case...

And of course the self-projection and what not, and how racists don't ever see themselves as racists, but rather unto others and when they do the whole 'I was joking' thing like abusers, and then turn around with these 'but seriously...' gems!

And I'll say it again...they are being legitimized by the Republican and tea parties and being given cover by right-wing conservative populations.

There maybe some racists on the Left too...but not as MANY and as LOUD as the ones on the Right who are literally on a pedestal.

Here's one of my fav articles on Limbaugh all the way back from '95, which is even more relevant today given the increased charged atmosphere of bigotry from blacks to immigrants to Muslims, etc.

http://motherjones.com/politics/1995/05/lyin-bully

I have a correspondent named Irwin Wingo in Weatherford, Texas. Irwin and some of the leading men of the town are in the habit of meeting about 10 every morning at the Chat'n'Chew Cafe to drink coffee and discuss the state of the world. One of their number is a dittohead, a Limbaugh listener. He came in one day, plopped himself down, and said, "I think Rush is right: Racism in this country is dead. I don't know what the @!$%#s will find to gripe about now."

Incredibly today talking to another Viner on one of Soph's articles,

http://susanduncan.newsvine.com/_news/2010/06/04/4463177-jake-knotts-raghead-and-the-nature-of-gop-racism?last=1275691120&threadId=973366&sp=0&pc=25#last_1

in regards to SC Senator Knotts racist slur 'raghead' against Haley and Obama, he/she totally downplayed it and instead went on an anti-Obama rant, and even after pointing this bias out, still failed to come about condemning Knotts and deflected.

Limbaugh is pathetic. So is his lil buddy Beck. It's not hard for either one of these idiots to read a scripted version of the news via the teleprompter. I mean FFS Beck fake cries over nonsense. It's scary to think of the millions that stand behind that BS. I have a feeling it's the same millions that believe WWF wrestling is REAL.

Racism in 2010 is a measurement of stupidity and ignorance. Those that are racist are the ones that proclaim they're not and then throw in "my best friend is black". Ignorance in it's finest form!

Here's how you can show a racist just how clueless they are: Line up 10 men behind a black curtain. Let the racist walk down the line, and as he/she does the person behind the curtain can state their first name, level of education, and career. Then ask him/her to tell you what race each person is. They never get half right. I saw this done with men who were against gay men.

People who never evolve outside their immediate circle, who never see the world and other cultures, have a hard time appreciating, or respecting people who are different from themselves.