Reverse Racism/Racism

I've been thinking about something lately, and I thought I might share my viewpoint.

What is "reverse racism"? It's a term I made up, so I'm sure I'll have to explain. I'll give an example.

If someone says, "Black babies are so cute," or, "Mexican men are strong," is that considered a compliment? Or is it racist? Think about it. It's a compliment, meant to show the listener that the person they are talking to is open-minded or has a positive view of different races. However, I think it's the latter of the two explanations. Giving a compliment may not be racist, and it's not motivated by hate, but a generalization based on something the person has no control over is a prejudice, in my mind. Maybe the comments are motivated by "white guilt" or just ignorance, but they can hurt. And the person who said these things does not believe she's a racist person, but I see these small instances that seem to imply that she is, whether she knows it or not.

I think part of my opinion is formed from the fact that I see people trying to justify to others that they are open-minded, and it might be some insecurity on their part. Once I tell someone like this that I am part Hispanic, all of a sudden this person begins telling me all of the people they know of different minority groups, telling me of a minority person they respect, telling me something that they believe is complimentary about Hispanics . . . Just because you know a black person doesn't make you open-minded, I'm sorry. And then singling out someone on the basis of race, regardless of the circumstances, then becomes a racist act. If you see that person as a particular race and not an individual, it seems you still separate yourself from those groups. And then all of a sudden your best friend is a black person? Does that person know about this? Maybe we should tell him or her how proud you are to have a black friend, and what this does for your self-image.

Maybe you find yourself watching the news, and you see white people running a charitable organization that helps out the underprivileged in a particular community. The people they are helping happen to be minorities. So then you feel good about yourself that some white people are reaching out and giving back, and you see some minorities getting a helping hand and getting their lives back on track. You think we're moving in a positive direction. I'm not implying that these things aren't a step forward, but when you start thinking about white people helping the world, it starts to get a little uncomfortable for me. I don't mind that they are helping, just the fact that some whites might then feel that they have taken part in the charity themselves, as a race and not as individuals. Or that people see minorities as people who need help. I'm sure it's something like racism in the workplace or in the community that limits opportunities given to some, but it's an economic factor, rather than a race factor that causes many of the stereotypes people have of downtrodden minorities.

I know racism still exists in a negative way. I can't prove it, but I think the homeowners association here made the Hispanics on our block move their plants indoors and remove the landscaping materials they had put in, when I see white families on other streets with the very things these people were asked to remove. I really can't see any other reason to do that. The HOA simply didn't like these people for one reason or another, but I think I know the reason. It's one of the things I don't like about the South, in general--that racism still abounds.

Racism in this area of Texas is more obvious than in San Antonio, I think because minorities are so prominent there. This is a predominantly white area, and you can occasionally see the prejudices emerge. The Confederate flag decals, the nasty looks, the rude attitude, the insults . . . It's all here. I don't like it. It makes me ashamed to call myself a Texan, and it's a real shame since there are so many good things about Texas to be proud of.

Sometimes it's necessary to generalize people into groups or even into races, just for organization's sake. But when it's unnecessary, it's a negative generalization. "Hispanic women are pretty," isn't a compliment to me, since they aren't really complimenting ME. They are saying I had nothing to do with it--the exercise, the diet, the care for my skin and hair, my choices in clothing--are all beside the point, it seems. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I don't want to be just a Hispanic. Sometimes I need to be--I get it. I understand. I accept the responsibility. But I don't always need or want it. I want some of my own efforts to be applauded.

I'm probably overly self-conscious about race issues. I know that. I've had arguments over this topic with people I know and respect. It's the racism I hate, not the races. I don't hate white people, just specific people's attitudes towards others. Not everyone does this. But I think we should think about how we look at other people and decide whether or not we make racist generalizations. Analyze our own behavior toward others, how we act around different races, and how we interact. Do you catch yourself assuming the Mexican person down the block is dealing drugs? Or that the black person behind you is getting ready to mug you? Or that the minority family on your street is struggling to make ends meet?

Someone I know (and will not name) believed that the black family across the street was into drugs and crime. And when some mail turned up missing from the mailbox, guess who was immediately blamed? As it turned out, none of these assumptions were true, and this person ended up eating crow. She really thought her opinions were justified, however, even after being proven wrong. I think it's sad. I don't like seeing people this way. I hate seeing entire families of predominantly white Texans "guarding" our border for national security, while ignoring the insecure Canadian border, I guess because Canadians look too much like "we" do. And somehow I don't think these vigilantes are checking for passports or reviewing the Interpol wanted listings. I agree that we need secure borders, but at what cost? What about humanity? Don't people deserve the chance to make a life here in the United States? If life is so difficult where they come from that they would literally risk their lives to make ends meet for their families, why are we being so heartless? Why do our borders have to be protected against darker skinned people and not others? The terrorists of 9/11 mostly crossed into the United States through the Canadian border, not Mexico. So why is Mexico such a threat? Really, we should ask ourselves what the real reasons are.

Well, I'm sure I've made some enemies tonight. I'm tired, so I'm sure I didn't really make my points clearly enough. I may be doing some clarifications tomorrow. It's a big topic for one blog entry, so I'm sorry this became so involved and extensive. I'm sure I didn't do justice to the points I was trying to make. I was kind of all over the place tonight, and not very clear. That happens when I'm sleep deprived.

Good night, peeps, and blog ya later.

R