Tim Wise: A true and coureagous American (VIDEO)

Tim Wise (Wiki)

It takes courage to do what Tim Wise accomplishes his lectures and prose on social diversity or lack thereof in America. 

I have posted his entire speech many months back. I going to re-post it here for those who are visitors. It is not easy for some white people to listen Mr. Wise. It is also not easy for some African-Americans to listen to Mr. Wise.  His message is not even an easy message to deliver regardless of speaker. He stands tall as a white man delivering a speech that would be ignored by, millions more if he was a black man.

If “white privilege’ as phraseology is new to you, regardless of your thoughts about race, you should do some reading about what I can “conferred privilege’. Privilege conferred simply based on one’s birth.

Just think for a minute. It is possible for one to have unlimited privilege that is denied to others simply based on race, gender or later in life sexual orientation.

Listen to Part 1 of  6  Tim Wise (10:29 minutes)

The complete speech (57:42) Minutes. Yes, I know far too long for our attention spans.  His message is so relevant.

I hope Mr. Wise does not mind the comparison, I do not find a lot of difference in his eloquent message than that of one who was killed before the significance of his message soaked into our society. Tim Wise reminds me so much of Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X).

On The Subject of Racism……

Mr.Tim Wise

Posted with permission from Mr. Benjamin T. Moore, Jr.  accompanied by a most eloquent speech about a sensitive topic: Mr. Tim Wise – on White Privilege.

I am going to add a preamble to this work. First, there is no such thing as a quick read on such a critical and sensitive topic.  I hope Mr. Moore and author of the visual piece, Mr. Wise, does not mind my joining them in delivering a critical message that focuses on racism. Think about this as you read. People who harbor racist beliefs generally also harbor other ‘bad character.”  Sexism is not far beyond.

Know that when I post articles here that so directly address lingering racism in America, my site statistics show me that those articles are read less than other articles. I also notice a much higher incidence of reading such pieces by people from other countries. 


As Atty. General Eric Holder stated not long after his appointment by President Barack Obama. Holder commented about people in America not having the ‘courage’ to undertake very necessary dialogue about race in America. He received major scorn for million in America and not all came from people who call themselves conservative, or people who hate the very day Barack Obama was elected president. No, many people who considered themselves progressive did not seem to care for Holder’s remarks. 

Mr. Moore introduces his piece with a story that is probably common in some form among any African-American who has shared interacting space with white people. Many instances are so subtle the ‘privilege’ is impossible to immediately discern; other instances are blatant and ugly. Let me share a couple of stories. Thus, I hope my friend Benjamin T. Moore Jr. does not mind sharing this space and this piece. 

I often tell about as a very young boy, under age 5, entering the ”Colored Entrance” of an SS Kresge Store in Deep southern Arkansas. My Mom took me shopping with here that Saturday, and all was beautiful.  After entering the store, Mom went about her shopping and I , as any young one left even slightly unattended or unobserved, wonder over to a water fountain. The fountain was accompanied by a small set of steps which denoted the apparatus as obvious for children (Or the extremely short in statue). Of course the fountain had a signed very visibly posted above “grey sign white lettering”. No, I could not read it[;, many many years alter I realized what that sign must have stated.

My fountain did not even have a fountain for “COLORED” to drink.  I did what young kids do as I discerned that I could climb the three steps. I climbed the steps an activated the fountain and,  ”Yes, I TOOK A FRIGGIN DRINK.”  My memory after that point is gone. No I was not bludgeoned or even called a a vile word, and told to get away from there.  (Bet you thought the worse!). No, my Mom must have observed my manual dexterity and rescued me from the potential ravages she would have reaped via my innocence and blissful ignorance. I was taken immediately out of the store, I guess, and our shopping day was over.

As a young volunteer member of the US Air Force stationed in the Great State of Mississippi during the Viet Nam Era, I was given a harsh reality.  Our Flight Lieutenant call all black airmen together for a meeting. During the quick meeting he informed us that we could not attend the squadron’s Christmas party. His reason for the US  Air Force segregation? ”...the owner of the downtown establishments did not allow Blacks in his bldg“.  Many years alter I had an epiphany. I now feel that the owner of that establishment was not the culprit.  I strongly feel that segregation emanated up my chain of command.

The topic as presented by Mr. Moore and Mr. Wise, is for those who care enough about our world to work as centuries against those who wish to return to a time of ‘conferred white privilege’.  As may be inclined to move away from this piece and never to view Mr. Wise’s video, understand that people like Mr. Moore, myself and Wise could spend our time on other issues.  There is no effort here at ‘levying ‘guilt‘. We like you react to our environment, and there are people in our environment who want life as it existed over 50 years ago. I should mention before I turn this work over to Mr. Moore, women had best keep an eye on their well-being.  

“When they came for the blacks, I did not speak out, as I was not black….“


On The Subject of Racism……

 

When I was in the 5th Grade, a little white boy with whom I’d been friends asked me from out of the blue, “if you had it to do over again, would you come back white?” My response best as I can recall went something like “HELL NO!” Needless to say, he was taken aback because he didn’t expect that type of response. In his mind I was laboring under an extreme disadvantage. A defect in my birth which could only be rectified in my next life.

He asked me why I wouldn’t come back as a white person? “Well, white people are slow, they’re awkward, they have no rhythm, no soul and they’re just not cool.” I was only in 5th grade and while sincere, my answers lacked the breadth and scope that would come with maturity. My position has not changed and if anything has grown stronger over the years.

Let me give a glaring example of how this works. Is President Obama white or black? Think about this for a moment. He is exactly half black and half white. Scientifically it makes just as much sense to call President Obama white, yet we call him Black. There is a deeply ingrained reason that we do.

In some recent exchanges in some forums, some white people have expressed some discomfort with some of my positions. This is to be expected because through no fault of their own, they’ve been living under a carefully crafted delusion. Yes, they’re older and wiser but in their minds, their view of the world is based out of that same place as my young friend back in 5th Grade. To wit: My white skin makes me better than you and if you could, you’d want to be like me.

They do not realize they are coming from this point of view. How could they? We live in a society wherein racism has been so institutionalized it is transparent. Like the air we breathe we no longer notice it. We just accept it as how things are.

Remember the old Serial from the 70′s “Kung Fu” starring David Carradine? That show was originally pitched to the Studios by Bruce Lee with him in the starring role. However, the studios didn’t think an Asian in the starring role could carry the show. This after he literally stole the show in “The Green Hornet.” Think of what we lost and never got to see because of racism. Racism hurts everybody. The cure for cancer, the solution to free energy or faster than light travel may be in a mind that will never be developed because of the color of his skin.

To those white people who have managed to read down this far, I highly recommend this video presentation by Tim Wise. Tim is white, but he is able to put things in a way that white people can understand. Give it a try. You just might be surprised and learn something. Enjoy.

Benjamin T Moore Jr 

Tim Wise – The Pathology of White Privilege

Additional reading: Sensitive-topic-white-privilege 

Sensitive Topic: White Privilege and White Guilt..A Mere Exploration

The following article is a cross post from the progressive website http://www.leftake.com.  ;

Addictinginfo.org posted an article a few days back that relates to issues of race. Before, you click off this diary I can assure you that it could be a read worth of a few minutes.  If you are one who does not care for long reads, go ahead and click off. The Addictinginfo link was posted in a noble effort to generate comments or dialog about a topic that few in the nation will discuss. The topic is not often discussed on the LT (Leftake.com) and I, as a member, am not the most comfortable with the topic. I have been involved in but one dialog related to ‘privilege’ since joining the site 1.5 years ago. That dialog was with my friend SPIRAL.

The author of the Addictingifno.org article delves into the topics of: White Privilege and White Guilt. Needless to say but I will say it anyway the article generated two comments.  One comment was written by me and I took ‘the fifth’ based on a lack of space for proper exploration of the topic.

I am going to post the author’s work here (in part) and a link for the article.

Let me first state that I do not believe that any white person in the nation should expend any mental energy on the business of ‘white guilt’. Privilege on the other hand is another story.


ADDICTINGINFO.ORG Article

Why do we frown upon taking pride in being white?

By
Justin “Filthy Liberal Scum” Rosario
– June 2, 2011

So I have been asked a question by a reader: “Justin, I want your honest opinion on this. Why is it that society in general is usually ok with people saying they are proud to be everything else other than white, but people usually frown or raise eye brows when someone who is white says they are proud to be white? I know there is the whole KKK and White Nationalist in our past, but why do you think this is such taboo? As a Mexican woman, I am curious to know what you and others think. I think this is a good conversation we need to have.”

Well, I think there are three main answers: White Privilege, White Guilt and unavoidable racism.


White privilege, for those not familiar with the concept, is the fact that being white in America (and throughout the world to varying degrees) automatically conveys a higher status that is completely unearned. A less qualified white candidate will often be chosen over a more qualified black one. That sort of thing. I was unfamiliar with the concept until a few years ago myself but I was aware of its effects. Despite being half Puerto Rican, I am, as I have mentioned before, unmistakably white. Not just white but WHITE. There is not a person on the planet who would think I had a drop on Hispanic blood in me. Because of this I have been treated with a deference by customers at my retail jobs that baffled me at first. My first few jobs were with almost all white co-workers and there was nothing noticeable. Once I went to work for EB Games though, my manager (and almost all of the staff) was black and suddenly I started to see a peculiar pattern. Despite being older than me (not a lot but enough to be obvious) and a much sharper dresser, customers would approach me, the assistant manager, first with questions for the “manager” and ignore the actual manager. It didn’t matter the race of the customer. Black, white and Hispanic would all assume I was in charge. The look on their faces when I pointed out the actual manager was was always the same: eyes would widen followed by a quick sheepish glance over at my boss. Fortunately, Steve was very graceful about it.


Another disturbing example was the night several years later when my (Hispanic) boss, my (Hispanic) co-workers and I (Whitey Mc


White) worked a late shift at the store and they were giving me a ride home at 3 AM. I was stuffed into the back seat and was not visible from the outside. A car full of Hispanics at three in the morning caught a policeman’s attention and we were pulled over. As the officer started to grill my (nervous) boss, I poked my head out and said “Good evening, officer! Is there something wrong?” I quickly told him that we had been working and they were dropping me off and I swear to you, he nodded, told us to have a good night and let us go without another word about why he pulled us over. Everyone in the car was staring at me as I sat back and said only half-jokingly, “That’s why you should keep a white boy on hand. Cops don’t bother us.” Now THAT’S privilege!


So that’s White Privilege in a nut shell. We live in a country where being white is the “norm” and we are conditioned to look “up” at Caucasians. Most people are not even aware of this on a conscious level. Chris Rock said it best: “ain’t a White man in this room who’d trade places with me, and I’m rich!”

EXERT ENDS
Full Article

My thoughts and comments.

Justin uses two very basic examples to illustrate his (or her) perception of White Privilege. I am very familiar with the looks that show on people who are surprised when their paradigms are shaken by evidence that shatters generally accepted stereo-types. The first example comes as no surprise.  The second example seems a bit far fetched to me as many many police officers would have probed a bit more before releasing the triad to move on. I do accept Justin’s examples as relevant illustration, however.

As one who has facilitated workshops on diversity and inclusivity, I want to offer a few more examples of White Privilege. I am going to state emphatically, that ‘privilege’ (in the stated context) is not something that we can lobby for, request, or purchase. When I teach about ‘privilege’ one key premise is critical to the subject: conferred privilege. Conferred Privilege means, privilege granted via the simple act of being born into a group that society may have granted rights not shared by other groups. (A dire example that goes back through the millenniums is being born into slavery. The birth carries with it the fact that the new born has been birthed into institutional slavery and is, thus, a slave).

Why do I feel that Justin’s examples are illustrative but almost too basic for proper illustration of ‘privilege’?  A few examples from me and other sources might help with my reasoning.

http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/White_privilege

2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area that I can afford and in which I would want to live.

3. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

4.I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.

The Pardu: I can speak in normal voice without the reaction of surprise that I can be literate and well spoken. (Worse, yet without being told I am well spoken. Hence, Joe Biden and Harry Reid and Senator Obama)

The Pardu: I can vie as an aspirant to the US Presidency without suffering thorough the maze of comment and concern with race. (David Gergen once commented about candidate Obama that he will have problems with some in the nation because of his ‘blackness’. Roland Martin was sitting next to Gergen, so I assume that for Martin Gergen’s example and choice of words was fine.)

The Pardu: Experiencing television shows with a predominate minority (black (African-American), Hispanic, Asian) characters that is not developed around humor.

The Pardu: one more, I just (as I am typing) heard Newt Gingrich do the very thing that many are guilty of.  As he recapped the Republican debate candidates form last Monday Evening’s Debate, he states that Herman Cain is an entrepreneur, managed a large corporation and is a very articulate guy. Well, he shared the stage with the a couple of the least articulate people in US politics and he dares give
Cain the (unconferred) label of articulate.

There are thousands of additional examples.

While ‘privilege’ in some societies is conferred, and its harmful affects can be exacerbated by another more serious human failing: the Fabric of Oppression.

The Fabric of Oppression is often illustrated via use of a grid and strategic placement of groups within the society. The groups are placed onto the grid based of a set of guiding topics LEFT COLUMN of the grid. Working from left to right for possible impact on various groups.  Please know that during workshops each grid cell  receives much group discussion with participants providing examples of the facilitated topic.

Fabric of Oppression in the U.S.

Read for Left categories (Privileged Class – Form of Oppression

Identity Categories (examples)	Privileged Class	Oppressed Classes	Form of Oppression
Race	White/Anglo/European descent	People of Color, including people whose ancestors came from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Arab world. Bi/tri/multi-racial people. Sometimes white people who “appear nonwhite.”	Racism/White Supremacy
Sex	Men	Women, Intersex people, Transsexual people.	Sexism
Gender Identity, Gender Assignment, & Gender Presentation	Men and Women who conform to cultural gender norms.	Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex, and Genderqueer people. People who do not or cannot conform to societal gender norms.	Gender Oppression
Religion	Christians, especially Protestants	Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, Pagans, and followers of other “smaller” religions.	Anti-Semitism, Religious Oppression, Racism, White (Christian/Aryan) Supremacy
Sexual Orientation	Heterosexual people	Lesbians, Gay people, Bisexual people, poly-folk.	Heterosexism/ Heterocentrism
Socioeconomic Class	Rich people/Ruling class people (inc. Upper Middle Class)	Poor people, working class, middle class.	Classism
Physical, Psychological, & Developmental Ability	Temporarily Able/TAB (temporarily able-bodied)	Disabled/differently abled	Ableism
Age	Middle-aged	Young, Old	Ageism

CYCLE of OPPRESSION posted by SPIRAL

The Fabric of Oppression stretches far beyond simple impact on minorities, it does on close inspection show how ‘privilege’, extrapolates to just about everyone who will read this diary. Eventually even the least discriminated against group (White males under age 40) fall into a category.

Justin of Addictinginfo.org clearly illustrated the basics of privilege.  Justin also delved into something called ‘white guilt’.  As I go about my diversity consulting and facilitation, I am very careful in helping workshop participants understand that a desired outcome is not any form of guilt. It is often an outcome that literally ‘blows-up’ such workshops thus relegating the session to possible resentment and content rejection. The critical outcome is recognition that despite our wishes to the contrary, we do not live in a color blind society. We should therefore educate ourselves on how best to become more tolerant of differences.I often ask my participants, ‘what good do I accomplish by placing you, via your mind, into a state of ‘guilt’. It serves no meaningful purpose.

So, I will leave ‘white guilt’ to people who will allow their minds to go there vs. a stark reality check that going forward, I can have positive impact on the world in which I live.

When I do assail the GOP’s ‘Southern Strategy’ it is for purpose of recognition of the strategy and its dangers vs. placing people who grew up in the south into some state of unproductive guilt.

“..pride in being white”. Anyone who falls for that premise has in and of themselves doomed themselves to ease of manipulation and placed their mind in a place that fosters the very differences they wish to avoid.

Justin ends his article…..

But still, guilt is a powerful emotion and easy to manipulate. After the onslaught of political correctness was done, there was a distinct feeling that being white was tainted by history. On top of this, it’s almost impossible to celebrate being white without coming off as racist, which is the third main issue with white pride. How does one celebrate being “white” (as opposed to Irish or Australian) without make it very clear that the alternative is “not white”? “White” is not a single ethnic group, it’s a mish-mosh of different cultures so it’s hard to celebrate it without contrasting it to something else. Once you start contrasting you inevitably drift into the “I’m better than you” zone so it becomes racist even if you’re trying NOT to be.

I really appreciate Justin’s exploration of the topic. It is a far greater topic for exploration than blogs can do justice.  Yet, blogs and social media are wonderful media that was unavailable to people 10-15 years ago.

The genesis of Justin’s work is a bit perplexing as I am not aware that the very topic is a problem among the populace.  (I am left wondering, why did the Latina ask him the question? The only time that I see such references are with far far RIGHT or anarchist groups who are using race clearly for purpose of dangerous and guttural racial differentiation.

I would love to think this is a complete non-issue but that might be unrealistic.

It is easy and may be worthy to throw the topic out there for discussion. I have always believed that if a person is going to throw a topic out there, at least spend a moment of contemplation and comment of the full impact of the topic. Again, thank Justin for throwing the topic out there and I hope Justin does not mind my expansion of the topic.

For the couple who may endeavor here, is this an issue that is widely discussed outside of the ears of minorities?

I am seriously interested in knowing.

The House of Oz: Another Congressional Bigot Removes His Mask

“He’s a very bright man. But think about his life. And think about what he was exposed to and what he saw in America. He’s only relating what his experience in life was …

“His intent isn’t to destroy. It’s to create dependency because it worked so well for him. I don’t say that critically. Look at people for what they are. Don’t assume ulterior motives. I don’t think he doesn’t love our country. I think he does.

“As an African American male, coming through the progress of everything he experienced, he got tremendous benefit through a lot of these programs. So he believes in them. I just don’t believe they work overall and in the long run they don’t help our country. But he doesn’t know that because his life experience is something different. So it’s very important not to get mad at the man. And I understand, his philosophy — there’s nothing wrong with his philosophy other than it’s goofy and wrong [laughter] — but that doesn’t make him a bad person.” - Dr. Tom Coburn (R) Oklahoma

During the run-up to the 2007/2008 general election, candidate Obama only allowed peeps into his eventual unveiling of tendencies to serve the nation as a centrist.  His occasional references to Abe Lincoln, “know your enemy and keep them close” quote was telling.  Therefore, the fact that he reached out for republicans to join his administration should not have been a surprise.  Since his election the president has shown an overwhelming tendency to reach for mediation and rely on avoidance strategies when it is clear that a stern demeanor and ‘hard-nosed’ responses would have been more effective.   The very same tendencies may have contributed to a less than adequate health-care reform bill, may have contributed to escalation in Afghanistan, and certainly contributed to the current level of resistance to fair and equitable debt ceiling/budget issues.  Moreover, (since I believe that entire issue is contrived and manipulated), the president’s tendencies contribute to a GOP which seems to have him stringing along like a marionette.  

If one does not stand-up to a bully, the bully will become even more brazen.


Since his announced candidacy through his eventual election right up until today, the president has faced numerous assaults on his ethnicity.  The president has remained steadfast and on ‘task’ when many would have lashed-out as some feel he should.  From the Tea Party through a Bill O’Reilly interview in which the president allowed the bigoted O’Reilly to via proxy express alleged hatred from the RIGHT. “They hate you; they hate you”, O’Reilly was clearly speaking his mind and sitting as a spokesperson for all that harbor animus towards the president.  The president sat tall in response’…I don’t think they hate me, they don’t know me.”  Naivety?  In a very real way, yes.


The latest clearly racist assault on the president emanates from one that President Obama has referred to as a friend: the honorable senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Dr. Tom Coburn.  The comments that serve as preamble for this article can be categorized in no other way than racist.


Coburn’s comments fit the following definition like a wet leather glove.

World English Dictionary

racism or racialism  (ˈreɪsɪzəm, ˈreɪʃəˌlɪzəm)
-noun
1.	the belief that races have distinctive cultural characteristics determined by hereditary factors and that this endows some races with an intrinsic superiority over others.

No Coburn comment about the superiority of whites over blacks. He did not speak about inferior Latins or Hispanics, nor did he differentiate in elevating the position of whites over the nation’s Asian or Islamic populations, but rest assured his comments fit the definition of a racist.

“As an African American male, coming through the progress of everything he experienced, he got tremendous benefit through a lot of these programs. So he believes in them. I just don’t believe they work overall and in the long run they don’t help our country. But he doesn’t know that because his life experience is something different. So it’s very important not to get mad at the man. And I understand, his philosophy — there’s nothing wrong with his philosophy other than it’s goofy and wrong [laughter]….

LAUGHTER!!!! 

Do you believe that as the comments oozed from Coburn’s mouth he may have realized that he had exhibited a psyche no different from those espoused by John Birchers, members of the Ku Klux Klan, or better yet how does his comments differ from  past comments of Strum Thurman or Jeff Sessions (current Senator Alabama). 

Does the honorable Senator from Oklahoma feel that all black males escape the clutches of poverty via welfare programs, Affirmative Action Programs, or  other programs from Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society?  Is it possible the Coburn stereotyped the president into the same ‘bigoted bag of GOP baises.’  Biases that are shared by far too many Americans regardless of their politics.  I assert that it is typical in the nation and endemic on the socio/political RIGHT.  

Coburn exhibited a level of ‘white privilege’ that could never exude from the mind and mouth of a true friend of the president.  I do not expect people such as Coburn to have any level respect for me as black man, but if he and the president profess some twisted sense of respect for each other, I find the ‘backstabbing’ validation of his racist views startling.  

Many progressive commentators are expressing disbelief that Coburn would ‘go there’. Why not he speaks his mind? Bias, bigotry and racism obviously reside in his mind. Why not speak it? David Duke speaks it. Pat Buchanan speaks it.  Rush Limbaugh speaks it. Why not Coburn since he obviously believes that black people, to the person, derive benefit from “said (UNNAMED) programs.”  Coburn surely could not have leveled the same sick rational against Hilary Clinton or her husband Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton was not born with gold spoons to scoop-up his Cherrios.  I suggest that Coburn would not have ‘gone there’ with a white president “background”.

The aforementioned speaks to the veracity of thought that is an infestation in the GOP; a form of racism to the core.  Despite claims and protest to the contrary, here we have one who claims to respect the president and he cannot avoid speaking his innate racially superior thoughts about black men.

The mindset is horrid actually. I recall times when white men have leered at a bookshelf in my home and actually commented to me, ” I read that book, I cannot believe that you have read some of the same books that I have read”. Or, when introduced to the friend of a white woman that I worked with and hearing the woman tell her friend as I walked off, “So intelligent!”. As if to say, ‘that one is uncharacteristic of the lot and yes, I introduced you to him”.

Much of this should not surprise you. If you are one who follows current events, you should be now see the rebirth and acceptability of a rekindling of the nation’s pre-1960′s  human/civil rights.  In case you have lived in a closet and shielded from the world post world War II, you know of which I speak. But of course, you could be one who accepts the regressive strategies of the RIGHT.

As to our president.   I believe that after the latest exhibition of disdain from the RIGHT, President Obama has to start to understand that he is at a time in history when his tendencies to mediate, vs propose and fight as well as  his tendency to want to work with the RIGHT are failed tendencies.


If his ‘friend’ Coburn can speak as he has, what should that tell the president about the McConnell’s, Boehners, Cantors’ Kyl and all the usual suspects.  The message is clear.  President Obama must side with his base, reach into his deep innards for progressive thought and behavior that will remove his tendencies to work with the RIGHT.


None of them are his friend!

The RIGHT’s Journey to Oz continues..

The Road to OZ is not a road paved with Yellow (Gold) bricks. 

The Land of OZ  (The OZ skyline, and a place of conservative happiness and glee…Ah such a beautiful place. Few minorities, no GLBTs, just enough poor people for servants, Predator Drones have replaced chirping birds, thoughts of climate change are illegal, collective bargaining is non-existent, private schools proliferate, public schools are no longer funded, women do not dare think of an Equal Rights Amendment, the corporate CEO is worshiped on Sundays, the President of the United States is subordinate to the nation’s CEOs, Pat Buchanan is the Minister of Information and Cultural Preservation, entitlement programs have been banned w/the elderly as the wards of the core family,   national media is a monolithic FOX NEWS and a place where cognitive abilities are only exercised in gaining and preserving personal wealth…AHH such a wonderful place)