Pulling the Race-Card in 2012 is an Insult to Dr. King's Dream
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Happy birthday to an American hero, one of my favorite mentors, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King's courageous position on equality inspired me to visit the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, back in 2008. I can't imagine what it must've been like to fight for something that should be every human's birthright: The right to experience the same freedoms and opportunities that exist for everyone else.
But he did. He lost his life for it. He lost his life for all of us; so we could experience the beautiful diversity that we all take for granted in 2012.
Unfortunately, Dr. King's dream is being soiled by humans who still choose to pull the "race-card," or use the sins of our fathers to gain advantage in today's society. For example, one of the top trends yesterday on Twitter was #StuffWhitePeopleSayToBlackPeople.
Twitter was flooded with Tweets where Black folks were bringing up the usual stereotypes that they believe White people project onto them. One of my followers posted, "Wow! If this trend was the other way around, Black people would be throwing fits, saying it was racist!"
I agreed with her.
Never one to be afraid to remain silent regarding issues of equality, I posted the following tweets, in an effort to make people think:
#StuffWhitePeopleSayToBlackPeople : "Drats! That negro pulled the race card again! Just when I had 4 Aces!"
#StuffWhitePeopleSayToBlackPeople : "It's 2012. Racism still exists because you keep bringing it up."
#StuffWhitePeopleSayToBlackPeople : "Sir, please explain the difference between "Black Only" television stations (BET) and "White Only" water fountains."
#StuffWhitePeopleSayToBlackPeople : "Dear Radio One, You appear to discriminate against Whites. Look at your site." (I'll expand on this in a moment.)
Most White people would be scared to post tweets like that, for fear of being labeled "offensive" or even worse, a "racist." But I just don't have that fear. I keeps it real, son. I call it like it is. I'm simply expressing the feelings that most White folks are afraid to share publicly. And it's not just White folks, other races are tired of having the "race-card" pulled whenever an individual feels they can benefit from it.
To pull the "race-card" in situations that don't warrant the "race-card" is an insult to the legacy of Dr. King.
When I was doing my radio show, I remember getting a call from someone who was trying to pull the "race-card," on some topic I was discussing. I calmly remember responding with, "Sir, everything in life isn't a product of racism. Sometimes, we don't get the things we want because we're not qualified, someone is better qualified, or any other number of variables. Sometimes things don't go your way because sometimes things don't go everybody's way. It's just part of life. Everybody wins sometimes; everybody loses sometimes. It doesn't mean it's a product of racism. Failure is a product of life. The sooner you quit using racism as your scapegoat, the sooner you'll accept complete responsibility for your life. When you accept full responsibility for your life, you'll be inspired to create it from a position of power — not insecurity. When you create from a place of power, you're more likely to create the life you envision in your dreams."
When you choose to pull the "race-card," you give your power away to some outside entity. You hallucinate that "The White Man" controls your destiny, whereas, YOU control your destiny. Your destiny is a product of the thoughts you choose to hold in your mind. Your decisions determine your destiny, as covered in Chapter 37 of my book Follow The White Rabbit.
Since we're talking about pulling the "race-card," I'm going to illustrate how it's done. Except this will be done from Whitey's perspective, so you can fully appreciate what it looks like from the other end.
I have ten years of broadcasting experience under my belt. I'm a ratings champion. When I moved back to Richmond, Virginia, two years ago, I spoke with (via email) the Operations Manager of a popular Hip-Hop station in town. We chatted about the possibility of me coming aboard.
I felt like it would be a great opportunity to add some diversity to their on-air line-up, considering there were zero Caucasians on the staff. Two years later, there are still zero Caucasians on the on-air staff. Click HERE to see the staff. From an Equal Opportunity Employment perspective, I felt like this was a serious liability. Since I have a doctorate in all things "Street Cred," I felt like I would've been the perfect piece to the station's "lack-of-diversity" puzzle.
But I never got hired.
Why? Should I assume that the Operations Manager discovered I was White, and because of that, opted to hire a Black person? I mean, at the top of their website, it clearly says "Part of the BlackPlanet Universe."
So like, I guess because I'm White, I can't be a part of the BlackPlanet Universe?
Well, that seems awfully unfair.
Let's reverse the roles: If there was a highly qualified Black candidate that applied for a job with a company that seemed to only employ White folks — that openly promoted Part of the WhitePlanet Universe on their website — and she wasn't hired (after the manager initially expressed interest via email) should we assume that she wasn't hired because the manager found out she was Black?
I'm certain a lot of Black folks would give that notion some serious consideration, don't you?
Of course you do.
So, let's ask ourselves the all-important question: "What's the difference between Black Only television (or radio) stations, and White Only water fountains?"
Are you being honest with yourself?
In the information below, I've taken the liberty to highlight each time Radio One uses the term African-American. Let's take a look at what Radio One's website says, in the "About Us" portion of their website:
Radio One, Inc. is an urban-oriented, multi-media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. Our core business is our radio broadcasting franchise that is the largest radio broadcasting operation that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. We currently own and operate 53 broadcast stations located in 15 urban markets in the United States.
Our operating strategy is to operate the premier multi-media entertainment and information content provider targeting African-American and urban consumers. Thus, we have diversified our overall media platform by making acquisitions and investments in other complementary media properties. Our other media interests include our approximately 51% controlling ownership interest in TV One, LLC (“TV One”), an African-American targeted cable television network (www.tvoneonline.com ); our 53.5% ownership interest in Reach Media, Inc. (“Reach Media”), which operates the Tom Joyner Morning Show (www.reachmediainc.com); our ownership of Interactive One, LLC (“Interactive One ”), an online platform (www.interactiveone.com) serving the African-American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment, which operates a number of branded sites, including NewsOne, TheUrbanDaily and HelloBeautiful ; and our ownership of Community Connect, LLC, an online social networking company, which operates a number of branded websites, including BlackPlanet, MiGente and Asian Avenue. Through our national multi-media presence, we provide advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to the African-American and urban audience.
Now, what if we were to change "African-American" to "White" in the above description. How would that change things?
Radio One, Inc. is a multi-media company that
primarily targets Caucasian (White) consumers. Our core
business is our radio broadcasting franchise that is the largest radio
broadcasting operation that primarily targets Caucasian
(White) listeners.
What?!
A radio station that targets White folks? What are you trying to say, Black folks' money ain't good enough for you? What if I like the music that your station plays, are you saying I shouldn't be listening to it? Are you saying I'm not welcome in your WhitePlanet Universe? Are you saying you don't care about me, a Black person, as a consumer?!
Well, that's certainly what it looks like.
And Dr. King would be ashamed of such blatant discrimination against other races.
But it happens all the time — and everyone just tolerates it because of America's lackluster history with race relations. The White Man in 2012 is still being guilted into keeping his mouth shut, because our ancestors 50 to 400 years ago made selfish, inhumane decisions. Black comedians crack jokes on White stereotypes all the time, and we take it in stride. However, as soon as a White comedian tries to joke on Black stereotypes, he's labeled "offensive," or "racist."
Click HERE to read my February 2011 blog "Why Can't The White Man Crack Jokes on Black Folks?"
The double-standard must end. The President of the United States is Black. Therefore, equality reigns. We have achieved Dr. King's dream here in America.
However, we run the risk of destroying his dream if we continue to allow certain groups privileges based on the color of their skin.
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Categories: Truth, Delusional Thinking, Equality, Evolution, The Past, Deception
Tags: puling the race card why do black people always pull the race card stories of reverse discrimination does Radio One discriminate against white people an insult to Dr. Kings Dream results for Dr. Kings I have a dream speech everything isn't a product of racism being discriminated against in the workplace
I agree totally with this post. I wish we as human beings, worldwide, could finally let go of this equal but separate mindset. We are all just human beings. I am not American, I am of mixed race and from a family of mixed races all across the board.
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