RACE

No Apologies

We're all worried about seeming racist. Some advice: just relax.

By Raina Kelley | NEWSWEEK
Published Feb 28, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Mar 9, 2009

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  • Posted By: Bartman24 @ 03/03/2009 10:25:12 PM

    Raina, you present a double standard here. African-Americans are allowed to say racist things like "quit making those Blackberry's work all day," rappers and other blacks call each other "***", yet the second a white man says or intimates anything that even one black person may deem to be offensive he is called racist. Not everyone has the sense of humor you do and any white media member foolish enough to "joke" about anything remotely possible to be perceived as racist will be hung out to dry. Look no further than Charles Barkley for another very visible example of this double standard.

    When blacks quit calling themselves African-Americans and blaming any untoward outcome in their lives on racism, then, perhaps, whites will feel more comfortable discussing race. Until then, you can't have it both ways.

    • Posted By: bojack27 @ 03/05/2009 10:35:31 AM

      When blacks quit calling themselves African-Americans and blaming any untoward outcome in their lives on racism, then, perhaps, whites will feel more comfortable discussing race. Until then, you can't have it both ways.


      Hmmmm ....did black startr calling themselves African Americans? I don't call myself that and don't like the saying that we all come from Africa...since two-thirds of the world of a darker skin you cannot group all people and say they they come from the continent of Africa....just call me a black man or just man and that will be enough for me....

      I do agree that some blacks do use the excuse of racism to try to get ahead in life when they haven't examine their own qualifications to meet a certain criteria. But one also needs to look at every case instead of making sweeping accusations or generalizing the whole race.

      • Posted By: doesanybodylisten? @ 05/11/2009 3:22:19 PM

        I applaud this your answer! And can I add I've seen/heard of people (of all colors) making pathetic excuses for just about anything from race to health, family... I could go on. Some peole will use any excuses for anything, thats just that kind of person. Has nothing to do with skin color, has all to do with being a slacker. Ever met a druggie of any color? They've got an excuse for EVERYTHING!!!

    • Posted By: cruisin2 @ 03/03/2009 11:20:34 PM

      i think that's typical of white people to sweep stuff under the rug. oh, if african americans would handle their racial issues then we'll deal with racism on a global level...that's just an excuse not to deal with your racist beliefs. clean up your own side of the fence without excuse and let blacks deal with their issues. be responsible for what you do and can do to make racism end.

      • Posted By: jlm2k61 @ 03/04/2009 2:02:53 PM

        Here is another example of exactly why this issue will never die... When someone who is white, an assumption on my part based on the Dutch grandparents comment, suggests that Blacks have any responsibility for putting a stop to this problem they are called a racist, or accused of having racist beliefs, but the author of this article is saying much the same thing and there is no charge of racism being thrown at her. One of the author's implied points is that for any kind of middle ground to be reached Black and Whites are going to have to work together... Whites will have to stop over analyzing everything and Blacks will have to stop looking for the hidden meanings in everything. This is a TWO WAY ROAD people. We can't just sit on our own side of the fence and declare it cleaned up. We will have to work together. There is no other option. For this to work Whites have to be able to make mistakes and Blacks have to be able to let them.... If the fences stay up then there are still lines drawn in the sand... This side Black, this side White.

        Bottom line, either comments that might be perceived as racist by one side are prohibited from use by both sides, otherwise we are right back where we started. You can't have it both ways, I'm sorry but that is the reality of the situation. Racism is the belief that one group has more or fewer rights than another based solely on the color of the skin. If I call a fellow White person a name, or make a joke about them because they are White, but then I get offended when a Black person says the same thing or retells the same joke, I would be a racist. Either the comment is offensive to all, or it is offensive to none. Any other result is only more of the same old tired thing.

      • Posted By: Bartman24 @ 03/04/2009 11:42:02 AM

        That's precisely the point. White people aren't sitting around calling "race" on every behavior or action that doesn't go there way. Listen, Will Smith and others prominent in the black community have called for an end to the term "African-American." Then folks like Barkley and Sharpton and Jackson stir things up again because it suits their agenda. They are basically out of business if they don't have racism as their calling card. My full Dutch grandparents stopped calling themselves Dutch the second they stepped off the boat. Time for all Americans to simply be Americans.

      • Posted By: Bartman24 @ 03/04/2009 11:41:29 AM

        That's precisely the point. White people aren't sitting around calling "race" on every behavior or action that doesn't go there way. Listen, Will Smith and others prominent in the black community have called for an end to the term "African-American." Then folks like Barkley and Sharpton and Jackson stir things up again because it suits their agenda. They are basically out of business if they don't have racism as their calling card. My full Dutch grandparents stopped calling themselves Dutch the second they stepped off the boat. Time for all Americans to simply be Americans.

  • Posted By: martialguy @ 04/27/2009 1:40:59 AM

    mmts, you wrote << I am a proud racist. I look down on Chinese, Koreans, N e g r o s And I am proud of it. .>>
    Are you proud because your sick and twisted god forced descendents of Adam and Eve into incest to procreate; and you are a proud mutant descendent of that incest act ?

    • Posted By: doesanybodylisten? @ 05/11/2009 3:12:34 PM

      martialguy - is that all you can come up with is this Adam and Eve crap? Sounds to me like you're a bigot in your own right. You look down on other people because of what they believe instead of the color of their skin. I am not of Christian faith so I personally take no offense, but I don't believe in insulting others for what they feel they need to believe in. Obviously you need to belittle the hopes of others that get them though the day in order for you to get through yours. Does your prejiduce end there? Or are you afraid to tell white people what you think of them in this forum for fear that you will be exposed as a racist way up there on your pedistal? Or white people must be the only ones. Just because its not what you choose doesn't make it wrong. You're one of the idiots that makes everyone feel like they have to walk on eggshells because you must just be oh so perfect. I have friends of different races and we all make stereotypical jokes of all sorts. Anyone who gets offended can leave. In my life I've seen classy white people and classy black people. I've also seen white people be just as trashy and ghetto as any black family. Oh, and another thing: Can we stop with the African American crap one of these days? My black friends hate it, since none of them even come from Africa and most don't know or care if thats where their ancestors came from. Some checked and found they don't. I have a Jamican friend who gets real bent out of shape about it. Racism will always exist as long as their is the media needing to sell papers and people who are sheep that must follow and obey. Cuz if its on TV it must be true right? Cuz TV doesn't lie.....

  • Posted By: tired and old @ 04/30/2009 4:02:43 PM

    STOP WHINING.. I LIKE BLACK FOLKS! :)

    I AM PROUD TO HAVE FRIENDS OF MANY COLORS.

    I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT WRONGS.

    COLOR DOES NOT MATTER.

    A CROOKED CONGRESS /OR A CROOKED PRESIDENT; A GREEDY CEO /OR A CORRUPT UNION BOSS------ WHAT MATTERS ARE THE LIES AND CRIMES BEING PERPETRATED ON THE AMERICAN POPULACE.

    I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ROTTEN VILE SCUM ( LIKE O J SIMPSON ) EXIST.

  • Posted By: Celtia @ 03/10/2009 10:37:19 AM

    The double standard for black conduct vs. white conduct is the main cause of racism in America. Anything "black" is supposed to be great -- blacks can be as racist as they want about whites, and nobody so much as bats an eye. But let one white person even hint at something that can be interpreted as racist against blacks, and whether it is or isn't biogted the boycott will start and the black "ministers" will begin their rants about white racism. Take the new "Buy Black" campaign, designed to encourage patronizing black-owned businesses. Can you imagine the hue and cry if a "Buy White" initivative were put out there? My God, there'd be a national hemorrhage. We have Black student unions, Black chambers of commerce, Black political caususes -- just put "White" at the beginning of any of these things and imagine how many whites would be lmabasted and hounded out of their jobs and livelihoods. Racial equality is a great thing, but we won't truly have it until any racist is ostracized by society, including the black ones.

    • Posted By: Mr_Lemme @ 04/30/2009 3:35:01 PM

      Stop whining.. I like white folks! :)

  • Posted By: distantsmoke @ 04/29/2009 11:39:26 PM

    martialguy,
    So if all the asians in my community have interests that don't interesct with my interests, then "I" must be racist? Is that what you are saying? That I must have friends from each "group" in my community, or I am racist?

    Personally I have friends of all kinds. African American, Asian, male, female, and even non-Americans from several different countries. But if I have left out even one group in all this, you are saying I'm racist. And that proves the point I made below, exactly.

    • Posted By: martialguy @ 04/29/2009 11:54:58 PM

      It is NOT the case that NONE of your close aquaintances ( in a multiracial community ) is outside of your race; so you are not likely racist.

  • Posted By: distantsmoke @ 04/29/2009 8:48:40 PM

    I know why I'm worried about seeming to be racist. If I stand aside and hold a door open for an African American to enter a building, I'm called racist. If I simply walk into the building and DON'T hold the door, I'm called racist. If I stand right next to an African American in a overcrowded room, I'm "invading his/her personal space". If I keep a short distance between us, I'm racist. If an African American politician runs for office and I don't vote for him/her, I'm racist. If I offer to help an African American woman traveling with 2 kids and associated luggage, I'm racist (because obviously I must think she can't "handle" it). If I don't help, I'm racist.

    So, my entire life, I have been taught by African Americans and the American Media, that no matter what I do or don't do, I WILL be called racist. So yes, I do worry about it, because I don't feel racist. When I try to help someone, I'm not chossing to based on the color of their skin, but by whether or not they appear to NEED help. When I try to give someone some personal space in a crowded room, more often than not, it's because I feel croweded myself. If I choose to hold a door open for someone, it's usually because I just feel like being polite.

    But the last 50 years have taught both African Americans and "Whites" that EVERYTHING MUST be seen through the lens of racism. Thus, racism can never be eliminated.

    • Posted By: martialguy @ 04/29/2009 10:27:59 PM

      If your close aquaintances are from a multiracial community; but none of them are outside of your race; then you are likely racist or victim of racism.

  • Posted By: drace2002 @ 04/29/2009 10:37:39 AM

    Martialguy you wrote: Are you proud because your sick and twisted god forced descendents of Adam and Eve into incest to procreate; and you are a proud mutant descendent of that incest act ?
    I'm sorry you feel that way about religion but is attacking someone who never even said he was a christian by you own veiw of my religion really a good way to go about it? I am a christian, I don't hate anyone. Christianity has been twisted by so many people that yes it has a bad rap, but if you've ever bothered to actually read the new testament you would see that we are supposed to love everyone, not the just the people who are the same as us, no matter what color, creed, religion, or country they may be part of. for those who say they are Christians and hate those of other cultures or races, read your bible a little closer next time, maybe then you'll really get the message that Christ was trying to tell us.

    • Posted By: martialguy @ 04/29/2009 4:50:06 PM

      Hate groups have used religious umbrellas such as the Christian Revival Center to preach racial hatred. White racists are predominantly christian and are proud of their lineage. Some-one needs to point out to those idiots that there should not be that much pride because they came from the inbreeding of Adam and Eve family.

  • Posted By: shoeshoffman @ 04/29/2009 3:11:42 PM

    I had to respond here because Newsweek apparently could not handle responses posted concerning "Rebranding Hate in the Age of Obama " a most infuriating piece that lacked balance and failed to recognize that the government along with big media is the biggest propoganda agent in America. Just because an orginization or the government labels a group a "hate group" doesn't make it so. And please identify exactly why Americans should not be upset with illegal immigration and our government's lack of willl to enforce the laws they have written and we have paid for. This article was a purely biased piece of rubish.

  • Posted By: John E @ 04/29/2009 12:21:17 PM

    webesters defines racism as the preference of one race over another, nothing is mentioned about color of skin. As a white boy growing up in a black neighborhood and dating as many black girls as white girls I can tell you from experence that black people are as capable of racism as whites. Yet I have found many journalists i've spoke with are hyper sensitive in their fear of being called racist. I remember a teacher in the Berkeley Mo. school dist.let black kids use profanity in creative writing class, her reasioning was "well that's the way they talk at home" yet white kids were expected to use proper english, some folks said "see she's being sensitive to them" I think that is covert racism when a white teacher thinks black kids need lower standards than white kids. Think about it .

  • Posted By: fallon2012 @ 04/29/2009 11:42:47 AM

    When the press is paralized with the fear of being labeled racist, it has gone too far. Just report on Obama like you would any other president. Make fun of his gaffes. Report on the mistakes. It's okay. I won;'t call you racist.

  • Posted By: christopherkidwell1 @ 04/29/2009 8:57:18 AM

    The fact is that if a person has to 'worry' about seeming racist.... they most likely ARE racist. That is the bottom line that I have come to over my 28 years of life on this planet: if you have to try to not be racist in your actions, you need to do some soul-searching.

  • Posted By: Hannah2009 @ 04/25/2009 8:23:52 PM

    Oops, looks like Newsweek software blotted out the word I used. OK, so I'll say shvartsa instead!

  • Posted By: Hannah2009 @ 04/25/2009 8:22:22 PM

    I don't give a damn if anyone thinks I'm "racist"..I'm one of the White people with NO "white guilt". Never had it, never will. I don't have a job that I could lose for being thought "racist", or an apartment I could lose, or for that matter, anything I could lose!

    And yes, I can't stand ***!

  • Posted By: myles4u @ 03/05/2009 1:27:56 AM

    But really, some of my best friends are journalists. (just not as sharp as you)Good writing.

    • Posted By: kitanachan @ 04/25/2009 5:57:15 PM

      life2go -- as a black person, I completely agree with you that black people have as much work on racism as white people. I am constantly lambasted with comments saying that I am too "white" when I am just being me. I think too many blacks are still too sensitive about racism... their radars are too sharp and instead of being able to actually see racism when it occurs, they pick up every little thing that could "possibly" be racist and blow it out of proportion.

  • Posted By: tired and old @ 03/13/2009 4:26:38 PM

    TROUBLE WITH AMERICANS THEY DON'T STICK BY THEIR GUNS AND SAY WHAT THEY MEAN.

    WHAT IS WORSE A BIGOT THAT PRETENDS HE IS NOT OR A BIGOT THAT CALLS HIMSELF A BIGOT ?

    NEGRO = BLACK THIS IS A COLOR.

    BOY = A YOUNG PERSON OF MALE GENDER.

  • Posted By: ZoeB @ 03/09/2009 4:29:25 AM

    "it's pretty clear that you are worried that you'll inadvertently say something insensitive and you'll wind up being accused of racism and it will ruin your career. I understand your fear."

    Yes, well, that's good, but are you saying that the fear is never justified? If a white journalist makes a reasonable criticism of Obama that he definitely *won't* be fired and have his career ruined?

    Didn't think so. Telling your colleagues to "relax" is fine for you, you're in no danger. I suppose it's poetic justice though, how many Blacks have been told to "relax" and not get so uptight about the violence inflicted by racists? At least what's at stake here is only their livelihoods, not their lives.

  • Posted By: I get it @ 03/08/2009 1:02:40 PM

    "Cowards" is right. I am unemployed because I was fired by a coward. I made the mistake of talking about the black church I went to. And by the way, who are these wierdos posting in here?

  • Posted By: aloysiusmiller @ 03/08/2009 6:52:39 AM

    Oh now you tell us. Yes we're so afraid of appearing racist that we had a significant vote for an incompetent to become President of the US. We should have all relaxed and sent this poseur packing.

  • Posted By: Kandydusk @ 03/03/2009 2:21:18 PM

    I agree with most of the points made. I stiil dont feel that the monkey picture was just that. Its no secret that blacks have been called monkeys. Why couldn't he use a donkey??? It would have had a better effect. I think that is what he was trying to portray.So, why are people acting as if this is just a picture. I'm absolutely for free speech but pictures like that have no place in the Washington Post. It's just down right hurtful and disrespectful. I'm not surprised that pictures like this have surfaced. I was just hoping that Americans could move beyond racial differences.

    • Posted By: bceagle @ 03/07/2009 7:20:31 PM

      I'm absolutely for free speech ..... no you're or you wouldn,t have written the rest of your sentence. if you really believed in free speech you would have simply stated that and left out the rest. you don't understand what free speech means.

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