Racism Hits the Cover of New Yorker Magazine

The one thing I’m enjoying about this election is that it has given me the opportunity to talk about the three of my four favorite topics, Race, Politics, and Religion. So I’ve decided to only talk about it this week in the wake of the New Yorker Magazine July Cover.

New Yorker Magazine (July 2008)

This may be one of the harshest blog entries that I’ve made thus far, but I’m sure that it will get worse.

It’s time to take action and to be heard. You can not be afraid to stand against racism of any shade or belief. History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

We continue to see and hear from primarily Ultra-Conservative White Male Republicans, Conservative Radio Talk Show hosts, and Evangelicals who choose to remain silent and even the occasional Black Civil Rights leader make absolutely ridiculous and Un-American statements about Barack & Michelle Obama.

To the New Yorker Magazine — Discrimination is the destructive practice that gnaws at the conscience in every waking moment of your life. It constantly reminds that you are the inferior one by the utterance, accepted and approval of your discriminatory deeds.

This isn’t the way to pay tribute to Jesse Helms.

Playing to the racial ignorance, unsophisticated, biases and fears of White Americans is not the accepted practice of America anymore, but obviously to some it still is.

Morally sound White Americans are tired of being associated with the ignorance of the past and present racist clandestine deeds of their White neighbors, co-workers, church members and family members. They’re tired of it.

The majority of Arab Americans and/or Americans who are Muslim are tired of being discriminated against by people who claim to believe in the principles of America or Christianity, but actions prove they are both un-American and un-Christian.

What ever happen to the freedom of religion?

What ever happen to love thy neighbor?

I was fortunate to have neighbors and friends who are Muslim, both Arab and Black. I’m Black and a Christian. And we never had an issue. They had my back and I had theirs. Perhaps that steps into the reason why the cover of the July issue of the New Yorker Magazine makes me upset. I have a personal connection to it.

The problem with the Bill Blitt, editors and publishers of the New Yorker Magazine is the obvious lack of socialization and understanding of the Black and the Muslim community.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. (MLK)

What are you afraid of?

What is it about Black you don’t understand?

What is it about Muslims you don’t understand?

What about Christianity do you not understand?

What about the principles of America do you not understand?

If you’re so curious about Black people or Muslims, why don’t you just hang out with someone Black or Muslim. Then you will see how much in common you have or don’t have with them. The point is that you should open your mind to the world, not just your segment of society.

The fact that it is presently not en vogue to be publicly viewed as a racist or harboring discriminatory views based off of race and religion clouding your views of supporting a candidate that is Black.

If Barack Obama was a Republican we would still see the same level of ignorance. It’s not his politics, although that’s easier for YOU to hide behind since it’s socially expedient.

You don’t have to be a White Man to become President of the United States of America. If you don’t believe me I provided a link that may help explain the qualifications with more detail.

Change Is Coming to America whether you like it or not beginning Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. (MLK)

The individuals, groups and organizations who continue to participate in the self-destructive behavior of racism regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender or religious belief with ultimately find their reward in moral defeat and social isolation.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. (MLK)

Why do I care about the New Yorker Magazine?

Personally, I don’t care about the magazine itself. I care about the images it and other media outlets portray Americans, not just Barack & Michelle Obama. For far too long the media offers a negative image of Black, Arab, Hispanic & Muslims on a daily basis. I agree that there are some individuals within those groups who are guilty, but you do not see the same frequency of depictions of White offenders in your local, state or national news as you do the groups previously mentioned.

I’ve went longer than I intended on this one. I welcome any comments, but you must stand behind your comments if you’re going to make them.

UPDATE:

I appreciate Chris, the first person’s comments. He told me to get with the program. Well, perhaps this link to the New Yorker table of contents will help prove that it’s not a hoax by Fox.