A recent New York Times article began:
Gov. Paul LePage of Maine directed a graphic insult at the state’s N.A.A.C.P. leaders on Friday after they questioned his decision to pass on attending Martin Luther King Birthday events in Bangor and Portland.
The article is very brief and worth skimming before you read on here (by clicking the hyperlink above).
I won’t dwell on the fact that the NAACP only said that it seemed that the Governor wasn’t concerned with their interests. It’s not a huge leap in logic for LePage to infer some kind of racial meaning to this statement since the NAACP exists to advocate for People of Color. But, from what I am given to understand in the article, it is, ironically, the Governor who “plays the race card” by bringing his Black son into the argument.
We can infer from the fact that the Governor has taken a Person of Color into his home and heart that he knows that racial differences are superficial, that the color of one’s skin is no indication whatsoever of the potential that a person has at birth. But is also seems clear, from the Governor’s response to the NAACP, that his understanding of the lived experience of race in the United States is superficial.
Governor Mr. LePage is doing what a lot of White people do. He is living in the belief that because he loves one Black person, or a small number of Black people, that his understanding of what it means to be Black in the United States is complete. Let me say this unequivocally: having a close relationship with a Black person, or a few Black people, does not mean you have rid yourself of your responsibility to work for racial equity as a White person. It certainly doesn’t mean that you do not continue to benefit from the system of inequity that favors White people. And it doesn’t mean that you don’t have any unconscious prejudices towards Black people in general (though in this instance, I will not explore another person’s unconscious after reading one brief article about him in the newspaper). Think about the number of incredibly sexist men who have wives and daughters, wives and daughters, I’ll add, whom they love and who love them. These relationships do not stop these men from pursuing sexist goals at work and leisure. We White men often have people who are members of other identity groups in our lives for whom we genuinely care, who genuinely care for us, but who constantly have to make allowances for our ignorance and insecurity, even though it is they who pay the very price for our shortcomings. The generosity of some of the people in our lives is truly staggering if we think about it.
The concerns of Black people and other People of Color in the United States have to do with the many inequities to which they are subjected. Maine’s NAACP and Black community are actually losing out because the Governor has a Black son. Because he loves his son he seems to feel that he can ignore the concerns of the Black community. He seems to think that not only has his own personal racial awareness development progressed enough, but that is own development is sufficient: that if he can somehow prove that he is not motivated by basic bigotry then he can be excused from taking direct action to address racial inequity in Maine in his role as its Governor. The fact that he may have inherited a state that perpetuates institutional inequity doesn’t seem to concern him and that leads me to fear that his understanding of the impact of race in how life is lived in the US is limited. And since the Governor has brought his son onto the fray, I’ll ask: “What can you do, as Governor of Maine right now, that can make the system more fair for your son and his own children in the future?”
One last non-racial point that just sticks in my craw: the spokesman for the Governor made a statement along the lines of “the Governor has always been combative and his response in this situation is what people have come to expect.” To me, this sounds a lot like, “The Governor has always been a jerk so it’s ok for him to be a jerk now.” Wrong answer.
Update 1.17.10: LePage ultimately changed his mind and the tenor of his speech and did attend an MLK Day event. Keep up the self-reflection, Gov, and listen, listen, listen to your constituents of color!
The risk we share in a "post-racial", "America has elected a Black President" and "Madonna has one too" society, is that a quaint passivity has entered the hearts of well intentioned individuals to right the wrongs with one singularly placed contribution, hug, or photo op. I've actually heard folks state and re-state those quotes of disinformation to validate their socio-political movements.
ReplyDeleteThe BBC reported today on British anti-Royalty organizers, who sited how they could eradicate their British aristocracy by 2025 with the proof of stating that only a few years ago people would have said that it would take 30-40 years to elect a Black President in America..."but it only took 8." I further venture that many of the international states of "UNrest", (more like Civil Wars), are likely based on our "overcoming".
Our diligence must proceed collectively. The struggles of people of color in this country have shed light on many other injustices to classes, genders, and groups, such as women, moreover, white women. Perfect example is that President Obama signed into legislation the Lilly Ledbetter Bill to ensure equal pay for women in his first term.
Hazel Dukes's motto is "just show up". Perhaps the members of other branches will just show up in Maine or other such ignored places. You can't make the horse drink at the river, but if the river overflows, it covers everybody. What happens in Wisconsin's labor movement will harm people of color lowest on the economic ladder by viral national infection. Japan's earthquake tsunami devastation will righfully receive our international support, while we would have difficulty proving the economic tsunami that has inequitably quaked our nation on the backs of those who, though not radiation exposed, are as at risk of early death from sheer poverty and blight. I am confident that the international cry for wealth distribution and equality will "resound like the rolling sea" back at us from the squares of Asiatic nations. The mirror of that reflecting pool will unavoidably uncamouflage the sickness, those who can't see because they've plucked out their own eyes to avoid truth. So to those who can no longer see, we will SPEAK TRUTH to POWER...and Recant pain to pity and JUSTICE sistered by RESPECT can be the only payment duly collected. This America can only heal itself, much as South Africa had to do. Only the refusal to be invisible can cause someone to be forced to address you by sight, smell, speech, touch or empathy. Sounds like some folks in Maine remain to be seen.
"Let me say this unequivocally: having a close relationship with a Black person, or a few Black people, does not mean you have rid yourself of your responsibility to work for racial equity as a White person."
ReplyDeleteI would actually take that a step further and say if you are a white person who has a close relationship with a Black person/ or any POC ideally that is even MORE incentive to be aware of your privilege (and white culture, great point PD!) and to work to eradicate it (the privelege, not the white culture). For me, that is only the starting point. We don't want a bunch of well intentioned White folks then going and caring a lot about and fighting for ONLY the folks of color they are personally close to (has not been very successful in the context of male privilege and gender based violence, for example), but to use that as a good jumping off point to get White folks to more awareness and equity. Keep up the great work!!!!