[Marxism] Tim Wise: What Kind of Card is Race? (Re: Barry Bonds)

[wenhuadageming@xxxxxxxxxxx]

to cdes. bustelo, jaganathan, dbachmozart, etc.:

i wish you all the best in trying to explain to other comrades on 
this list about the subtleties and complexities of racism and white 
supremacy.  with regards to internet/email list like this one, i had 
to give up long ago and content myself with lurking, because for me 
personally as an individual, it was just too draining on my energy - 
and my sanity.  having to deal and engage with it amongst white 
leftists in the analog world is tiring enough for me, thank you.

xzy


http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=10157

What Kind of Card is Race?
The Absurdity (and Consistency) of White Denial

by Tim Wise

Recently, I was asked by someone in the audience of one of my 
speeches, whether or not I believed that racism--though certainly a 
problem--might also be something conjured up by people of color in 
situations where the charge was inappropriate. In other words, did I 
believe that occasionally folks play the so-called race card, as a 
ploy to gain sympathy or detract from their own shortcomings? In the 
process of his query, the questioner made his own opinion all too 
clear (an unambiguous yes), and in that, he was not alone, as 
indicated by the reaction of others in the crowd, as well as survey 
data confirming that the belief in black malingering about racism is 
nothing if not ubiquitous.

It's a question I'm asked often, especially when there are several 
high-profile news events transpiring, in which race informs part of 
the narrative. Now is one of those times, as a few recent incidents 
demonstrate: Is racism, for example, implicated in the alleged rape 
of a young black woman by white members of the Duke University 
lacrosse team? Was racism implicated in Congresswoman Cynthia 
McKinney's recent confrontation with a member of the Capitol police? 
Or is racism involved in the ongoing investigation into whether or 
not Barry Bonds--as he is poised to eclipse white slugger Babe Ruth 
on the all-time home run list--might have used steroids to enhance 
his performance?*

full: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=10157


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