Race in North America: Part 1
March 19, 2007
Yup, I’m gonna do it. I’m a white dude and I’m gonna talk about issues of race.. even have multiple parts, as the title suggests! And I’m not gonna tip toe respectfully around the issue like I’m supposed to, as we’ve been shown in so many movies and talk shows. Just to prove it to you, check this out:
Nigger.
..pause for effect.
Breathe it in people. While I do not at all believe in using this filth of the English language, I like to think that we’re all mature enough to not resort to this “n-word” shit. Especially if I’m not using this word toward anyone, but to solely talk about the word itself. If you can’t handle mature discussion or inquiry about this word, you don’t belong on here. Please leave and take your superficial views of racism with you. Issues of race run a lot deeper than the language we choose or the extent to which we censor our outward inquiry about prejudice.
To those who can handle this, and even let themselves think about issues of race in an intelligible manner, you are not alone. It is normal. The reason I resorted to exposing this is the filth that we’re fed to make us believe nigger is such a terrible thing to say, that it’s such a travesty to humanity to even THINK it, as if just by saying the word in question we’re reverting back to a sad time in American history when people believed they were superior to another based on the pigmentation of our skin. While my faith in my fellow man’s ability to think objectively isn’t the highest, I like to believe that we’re enlightened enough to realize we’re one in the same.. ya know, the whole fact that only 0.01% of our genes are reflected on a physical basis (1), let alone on racial profile leaves us a pretty slim margin for prejudice. ..but oh how folks LOVE HATIN’ them darkies.
Genetics aside, I believe the biggest reason for this whole mess about generalizing, prejudice, stereotypes and the like is very simple. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you an excerpt from “Rush Hour”, one of the approximately 98743443 black cop, white cop movies Hollywood shits out in between movies about teenagers bopping around at keggers, buying stuff, and comically trying to relieve their inherent, constant, and proliferating sexual urges.
(Note: Previous to this scene, Chris Rock’s character “Carter” shares his comradery of skin pigmentation with the owner of the bar by saying “What’s up, mah nigga?”. Being foreign (although surely not black), Jackie Chan’s character attempts to use what he thinks (rightfully) should be a regular North American greeting. Hilarity ensues.)
It’s all so real isn’t it? You may be thinking “Dude, it’s just a movie, chill out. Pepsi.” But this is the shit that’s causing huge problems, and not just for people who aren’t black. All the sudden this double standard occurs, as was perfectly and thoroughly demonstrated here (with sooper-cool karate-action!!!11ONE!1). Then we start treating black people as special, off-grounds for inquiry. Then we’re not allowed to say nigger. THEN we’re not allowed to discuss the word, or any issue of race, for fear of being propped on that slippery slope between either being an all-accepting, all-loving, colour blind social retard or a blood-thirsting skinhead breeder of hate.
Are we still in this stone-age mindset of heresy and witchcraft? I say fuck you to the slope, and to anybody who thinks of me as a racial tyrant for saying what I’ve said today. Take your heads out of your asses and think for yourself. Besides, I’m much better looking than Jackie Chan.
Today I tackled a word. More on the general issue at a later date.
