A More Perfect Union

 Originally written November 2, 2009

“Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze….”  Anger is a powerful feeling and because anger has a tendency to get out of control it can end up being counterproductive.  This does not mean, however, that because of that, this anger should be denied or ignored.  The resentments of the black community are most definitely valid.  “Whites are carefully taught not recognize white privilege.” (Jandt, 2010, p. 31)  I believe that what must cause a lot of the anger is not the recognition that unspeakable wrongs were committed against African-Americans, but having the decency to admit that the subsequent generations still live with their destructive legacy today, and that unfortunately not enough has been or is being done to truly achieve equality.  The resentments of the white subgroups are also valid because underprivileged Americans of all races are taken advantage of in order to continue lining the pockets of corporate interest.  But what is not valid or justified, is shifting the blame of this status quo on your brother or sister of a different color or national origin.  Although this type of behavior is often encouraged and inflamed by those in power, precisely because it distracts from the real sources of the problem and prevents the subgroups from finding a solution.  I believe it is important to acknowledge, validate, and discuss the real causes of anger, but dwelling solely on those feelings and never moving beyond them toward a solution in counterproductive.

“The past isn’t dead and buried; in fact, it isn’t even past.”  Unfortunately, the wrongs committed against African Americans through slavery and the discrimination and segregation of the years that followed is alive and well today.  I live in a neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C. that used to be segregated, and if no one told me that wasn’t the case anymore, I would not know the difference.  The reality is that no one pays attention to what happens here, unless it is a shooting.  The families of our neighborhood were abandoned by their larger communities and their governments after their ancestors were exploited and left to die.  We are now to believe that some affirmative action and a few federal dollars will actually level the playing field?  We must recognize that the generations of today are suffering the direct consequences of the crimes committed against their forefathers.  This means that they carry this past with them every day in the present and sadly, likely into the future.

I do believe that a trans-racial society is desirable and possible in the United States and hopefully in the world.  A society in which everyone is embraced, not despite, but because of their differences and unique contributions to the community.  It is important to remember, as President Obama mentioned in his March, 2008 speech that progress has been made, but that there is such a long way to go.  I wish I was able to pinpoint what would be necessary in terms of changes in culture and communication to take us the rest of the way.  I was six years old when I first learned about slavery and that knowledge was etched into my brain forever along with later knowledge of the holocaust against my fellow Jews and other minorities and groups that have been robbed of their dreams and their lives during the thousands of years that humans have roamed the earth.  It continues to be incomprehensible to me.  Until there is real and honest communication about lingering prejudice, discrimination, and unfairness we will continue to take baby steps when we should be taking long leaps.

References

Jandt, F.E. (2010). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage