I was at a friend’s "Windows Live" space the other day and she had made a post about an eighteen-year-old Caucasian on trial for displaying nooses on his truck. The display was an attempt to intimidate protesters who were waiting for a bus to return them to their hometowns, after the Jena 6 protest. This friend’s post included the term “playing the race card”. Every time I see that phrase, I am all too ready to hop up on my soap-box in an effort to make the world understand that “playing the race card” has its place, and that it should not be frowned upon as much as it usually is. I suppose that it depends on the definition that is employed. My use is not the idea of turning an issue into a race issue, but pointing out the fact that racial discrimination is at the root of the problem being discussed. The purpose, in my case, is to enlighten those who have not had the misfortune to have been at the wrong end of discrimination, and to point out the fact that things are not as "honky dory" as is claimed by the very ones who haven't been at that wrong end. Why do I do this? I do it because, inevitably, the question always arises "Why must you always bring race into the equation?", and it is a question that never seems to go away.
I’m fifty-six (56) years old, and African-American. There are those of us (African-Americans) who are a lot older than I am who have seen a lot more discrimination in their time and probably more than I will have seen in my lifetime, when it’s all been said and done. They have, somehow, found peace with what has happened over the years, as goes discrimination. Their bitterness has not faded into obscurity, but, they are less likely to make a big deal of it than some others – such as myself. I live a marvelous life with the ability to do just about whatever I please, but, I find that discrimination is alive and well. I feel that although it is a bit more contained and subtle now, it still puts me on the defensive at every turn. Therefore, I am quick to “play the race card”.
Subtleness is a very effective tool. One way that its use has proven to be very effective is in advertising. Just about all advertising uses “subliminal messaging” to sell their products. It works very well. We are bombarded with the same message over and over, so much so that we tend to block out those ads, and that’s where the effectiveness takes hold. It is similar to learning a foreign language by listening to tapes in one’s sleep. We don’t realize that the sound is there and we hear them “subliminally”, and, as a result, learn the language without even trying. The subtlety of discrimination works in precisely the same manner.
Let me give you an example of that subtlety that few people even realize exists. I’m not sure if they are still around, but, there once was a product known as “the Invisible Band-Aid”. It was “invisible” because it was touted to be the same color as your skin. Sorry, but, it wasn’t the color of my skin. One might ask “How is that discriminatory?” It is discriminatory by way of non-inclusion. In other words, “if this product does not blend in with your skin tones, then, this product just isn’t for you”. That probably sounds trivial, but, I assure you that it is far from insignificant. I’ve had both the pleasure and displeasure of working in not only suburban areas, but, rural areas as well. During that time, discrimination showed its ugly face almost daily. I have been in a store, in need of assistance and on many occasions, I’ve been told that the employee was already busy with a customer. I’m very cognizant of the world around me and when I know that the Caucasian customer being helped came into the store after me, and I am the last to be waited on, that’s (not so)subtle discrimination at its best. I’ve witnessed that sort of subtlety all too often in suburban and rural areas, although it is quite prevalent in the city as well.
I am most apt to climb aboard my soap-box when I hear a Jewish person speak with such fervor about the Holocaust, and he or she remarks how dreadful it was. They often want Germany put on trial over and over until they feel that justice has been served. I believe deep in my heart that what happened to the Jewish nation was absolutely horrible. It is, by far, one of the worst atrocities that has ever taken place. I have no real problem with Jewish people bringing up the Holocaust. It should be remembered in an effort to see to it that nothing of the sort ever happens again (of course, in light of Rwanda and Darfur, this practice fails miserably).
I have a problem when I’m told to stop bringing up the subject of slavery in America, as “it happened a long time ago. Get over it and move on.” Just about everybody in this country, with the exception of the American Indians, has ancestors who came here from some other country. In each and every case, one can trace their heritage back to some village in another land, down to the great, great, great, great so forth and so on –grand-parents. I do not have that luxury and I never will. When my ancestors were brought here on slave ships, no records were kept. The best that I can do is to go back about three or four generations. Beyond that, I am at a loss. I know that my heritage is African, but, from which country, from which tribe, I am unable to say – and will never be able to say. Like the Holocaust (which is always capitalized as opposed to lowercase “slavery” – subtlety?), slavery was an unforgettable atrocity. So, forgive me if I continue to remind the world that slavery in America was such a devastating event.
This is one of my favorite subjects, and I could digress ad infinitum. Rather than do that, I’ll leave you with this sentiment. When I feel discriminated against, I will speak on it. If I witness discrimination, I will, if feasible, act upon it. No matter how long it gets to be, if slavery and the atrocity of it should come up in the course of conversation, then so be it. If that’s what is meant by “playing the race card”, then, I guess “slavery in America” is the ace of trump, and I’ll never have a problem tossing that card upon the table.
This is blackstarr saying “Vive La Renaissance”.
copyright © 2008 blackstarr
