The man pictured above was the perpetrator of the “N” Word calling, and baby-slapping February, 8th airliner incident. We will not publish his name out of utter contempt for the man, his acts and his very existence. The CNN video embed below provides information about the incident. Our purpose is to delve into the psyche of people who feel they can still level punishment on people for just about any reason. The perpetrator’s lawyer has asked that people not “rush to judgment” and stated he will plead not guilty to charges. Our purpose is not his guilt or innocence, our purpose is ‘privilege’. Even when influenced by intoxication, think of the reality and audacity to reach over and smack someone’s child while using a racial epitaph.
We at The Progressive Influence often speak about the Fabric of Oppression. Earlier today we posted a piece about last Friday’s false accusation of shoplifting against Forest Whitaker (Actor) in New York City. While some people do not like to read or hear about disproportionate racial profiling by police officers and by retail employees, the phenomenon is as real as 24 hour Greenwich Time.
Today we are focused very visible examples of the Fabric. It is a far greater and deeper problem in our multi-racial society. Bias, discrimination and racism is as pervasive in the United States as any time in history. You might have inclination to think, “Not true, women can vote, blacks can vote, we have affirmative action, gays in the military, growing evidence of free and open marriage and hell we even have wealthy black people in America.” Yes and the very reason your mind would go there validates our existential history. Mike Huckabee can write as many denialist and factually manipulative child history books his fingers will accommodate our history is set and we are obligated not to relive it.
We are going to post a piece on the Fabric in a bit. It is important to watch yet another example of how one who lives in a majority-privileged world handles himself when faced with a situation involving a child of color.
In anticipation some will watch the following video segment and attempt to rationalize the perpetrators actions after learning of his intoxication, think about it for second before you go there. The perpetrator called the toddler a “nigger” directly to the face of his non-black mother. We strongly suspect no use of the “N” word if the toddler’s mother was a black woman. And, there-in lies the mindset that folds neatly into the Fabric of Oppression.
CNN
I posted an excerpt from the following screed on the Fabric of Oppression.
Throughout our class we delved deep into four theories, but there were several, still important, theories that warrant more discussion. The fabric of oppression is another “theory of socialization that describes the structural arrangement of privileges, resources and power” (24). An interesting aspect of the article is the statement that this theory is a “liberal or left political understanding” (24). Now, I’m not a stanch supporter of the right wing movement, but I do not understand how this statement can be supported. This would definitely be an avenue that I would love to investigate.
From the fabric of oppression definition, I drew some parallels between this theory and the culture of power. The fabric of oppression is a “systematic phenomenon that creates some groups that are dominant or privileged by it and other groups that are targeted or oppressed by it” (24). Much like the culture of power, it is plausible to be in the dominant group and benefit, but not be aware or behave in a manner that is mean, prejudiced or hateful. In the same way, “one can be part of a targeted group without ever experiencing a hateful act” (24). Another key aspect that although one may belong in a dominant group does not guarantee wealth, power and success, but greatly improves the chances. On the other hand, being part of a targeted group, does not literally translate to failure, but once again increases the chance for it.
A key aspect of the fabric of oppression is that there is institutionalized oppression. This institutional oppression, which can be legal, illegal or self-perpetuating, is different from internalized oppression. This type of oppression occurs “when an individual takes the external misinformation, stereotypes and negative images” (26). This is never voluntary, but is a result of the mass misinformation given to the dominant group. What I found most interesting was the manner in which this misinformation is perpetuated, a process called hegemony. It is not through force, but rather the values taught in religion, education and media institutions. The example of 1960s women not being forced to stay home, but thinking they needed to stay home, because they had been socialized to do so, actually frightened me. The 60s are not too far off . . . what in our society do we think is normal, but has actually just been socialized into us?
The most glaring part of the article was the bird cage diagram analogy. Applying the diagram to me, I am half and half of both groups. My gender (female), socioeconomic class (working class) and race (Latin) keep me in the bottom of the cage. While my sexual orientation (straight), bodily ability (able-bodied) and religion (agnostic) have me on the top of the cage. The line, “regardless of where any of us sits in this picture, we are all inside the cage“, shook me up! It is once again vital for all of us to look inside and examine everything we have “thought” is right!
We ask that you think about the baby slapper, and the following.
Now, take a look at another depiction of the Cycle of Oppression in the context of human prejudice. Education for Occupation via its Cultural Bridges publication offers an equally descriptive look at internalized prejudice and how it leads to oppression. We posit looking back in time, the components of the Cycle played a major role in the genocide of First nation Native People of North America. Can you see how the baby slapper hits the stages of the Cycle to the letter? Did the baby-slapper not manifest his from birth taught racism during the flight? His racism is his physic disease and, frankly, his prerogative. Problems manifest when he took his internalized racism to speech and physical contact.
After reports have it the baby-slapper was terminated from his employment. His employer indicated his behavior was outside the realm of their values (my words).
One last point about the baby-slapper. We wonder if he was a manager with responsibility for managing a department or function. If so, we take the next logical step and wonder if he managed employees with equal treatment for all. Of what we know his home state was Idaho. We attempt to cast no negatives here, but we suspect in Idaho, and if a manager few (if any) employees of color.
The Pardu's Scroll 