Modern day racism is a headache.
Stop what you’re doing, relax, drink some cool water, take a nap, and it will all go away.
Racism still exists in modern America because people still talk about it. (I actually hate myself for adding to the noise, but, alas, here I am.) Remember the last time you heard negative gossip about someone you were impartial towards? How’d you feel about that person the next time you saw them? Exactly. Racism is an issue because there are people in various subcultures and situations that want to keep it an issue. For what gain in particular, I’ll let you be the judge.
Let’s go ahead and clarify some potential biases or accusations. I’m as “white” as they come – blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin (in my defense I CAN tan if I have to), born and raised in the Deep South – the prototypical Aryan from what is considered the most racially discriminate part of America. I was born to hate.
My county and 16 of the surrounding 17 counties (covering three states) are predominately black. I’m actually a minority. Where’s MY diversity scholarship? I’ve lived with a Frenchman, a Mexican, a Columbian, a Canadian, and tried to live with an African American. Guess what. I don’t care what color you are or what culture or subculture you’re from – not many do.
Arguments on racism, whether for sociological or criminological purposes are obsolete. The real issue at hand is intolerance of cultural blending. Ever listen to Dave Chappelle, Katt Williams, Gabriel Iglesias, Aziz Ansari, or Russell Peters? They, along with dozens of other comedians (admittedly, the easiest profession in which to get away with “insensitive” comments), make their livings off of mocking different subcultures. How do they make a living? You pay them to make fun of you. They thrive off of cultural stereotypes. Would you call them racist? No – “so right” and “spot-on” may actually be more common terms.
How do you think stereotypes came into existence? Some people group performed certain behaviors characteristic of that particular group. After a while, all the other subcultures in a particular region had their own primary characteristics, and everyone began to identify everyone else by (insert characteristic here). And thus, we have before us the entire realm of Associationism.
The entire concept of racism is absurd. No one cares about your argument for white privilege, pan-Africanism, or immigration. Do you hate certain skin pigments? I doubt it. But do you think certain groups of people, particularly those you’re involved with, are better than others? If not better, are you at least more passionate about those in which you are associated? Of course! There’s this phenomenon called an in-group bias. Essentially, it means you’re positively biased towards what you find yourself in. A result of this is often a negative bias towards what opposes you, a group of yours, what you enjoy, or what you find yourself involved in. Does this mean you hate every person who has anything to do with the contrary? Maybe on an occasion, but more realistically, if at all, you MIGHT dislike a facet or two of a group – which is natural due to the innate mentality of in-group biases. Everyone experiences this. Are you displeased by some subculture (punk/emo/goth kids, gang members, debate club, DIII athletes, homeschoolers, homeless, mentally ill, poor, immature, etc.)? I would assume so. But do you in fact hate them for the color of their skin? I highly doubt it.
In truth, my opinion means absolutely nothing. But, if we want “progress,” which is the only thing our generation and culture wants, everyone needs to stop throwing around the word “racist,” and start creating cultural environments accepting of matured subcultures so that we can grow as humans, rather than learn how to eloquently complain about what’s “unfair” on social media.
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Kenneth D. Burke
