WHAT! It was like saying Nigger to a Puerto Rican

I want to make a quick statement, before discussing U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s ‘slip of the tongue’ a few days ago. My reasons are due to comments submitted over the past few weeks and months from individuals who accused me of something I passionately fight against; biases, discrimination, racism and prejudices.

Accuse me of a bias towards beautiful women. Accuse me of a bias towards cute baby girls. I’m guilty as charged. If I’m aware of something or made aware of it and feel its cause for me to say something about it, I will. I don’t claim that Republicans are eternally wrong or Democrats are forever right. I honestly strive to be fair and consider others. Politically I may align on the side of Democrats more often than Republicans, but it doesn’t mean I do not consider Republicans or agree or defend them when unfairly attacked.

Now onto Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s ‘slip of the tongue’. Please make note, this is how you not launch your bid for Senate.

While relying on a telephone conversation Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) used the opportunity to gain some political points by criticizing her fellow White Female Democrat and soon-to-be Senate opponent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Rep. Maloney said, “I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico who said Sen. Gillibrand went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-Only.” Now to some that’s not offensive, but English-Only Amendments says something all together different to our fellow citizens that English is their 2^nd language. But that’s the nice part of the conversation. She continues to say, “It was like saying Nigger to a Puerto Rican.”

:O Now close your mouth for a moment. I need to talk to the congresswoman for a moment.

Carolyn… Come on now. Do you realize what you’ve just said? Did you ask a Puerto Rican? Did you ask anyone that English is a 2^nd language for them to see how they would view it? No, No, No. You didn’t. You just saw the opportunity to make a political gain because you were speaking in the comfort of being around all White people. You made the mistake of assuming Whites are racist when you think about it, because you didn’t see an issue with saying Nigger.

If there was one Black person in the room I bet you wouldn’t have said it. How can I make such an assumption? Because you wouldn’t have to apologize or even say “I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting.”

If you truly find the word to be disgusting you wouldn’t even say it in any company. If so, you would have clearly made a statement before or after repeating what you’ve said.

I’m not going to beat up on you for making the mistake, because we can go through instances where Black, Latino, Asian, Native and/or Jewish Americans have made racially tinged statements in the comfort of their own. It’s wrong any way you slice it. If you disagree with the word or the meaning of it, then don’t use it. If you’re using it to make a point, then pay attention to the context of your words and delivery, so it will not be misunderstood.

I really believe politicians should include a cultural advisor to their team of political advisors. Seriously, this stuff can be easily avoided with more than a sensitivity training class, but someone to help you navigate through the cultural political obstacles. Why do you think the Republican Party as a whole now has such a difficult time attracting anyone who isn’t a White male? Of course you have some fine Black, Latino and Asian American Republicans, but look at the party as a whole and who do you see? The last campaign didn’t help at all, but I’m the racist. The same goes for Democrats. Think about what you’re saying or what your words may suggest to someone not like you.

Black people everything isn’t about race. Yes, sometimes it is, but how do you best get your point across, but by demonstrating it. There is justification for mistrust, but if we continue to not trust each other on the notion of race then we will never progress and we will be just as bad as those we mistrust, because we are essentially reciprocating the mistrust back. An eye for an eye leaves both of us blind. I think you can see what I’m suggesting.

The same is true for White people. My goodness, think about what you’re doing or how you may alter your actions when around someone of another race. That’s easily detectable, although they may not say anything. Continue to be who you are; just be more aware of how others respond to you. You may not be racist or hold any biases based on ethnicity, but the things you may say unintentionally out of the comfort and security of not having to be viewed by the prism of race first is perceived very differently to someone who does.

References & Inspirations

NY Daily News – 07/20/09 “Rep. Carolyn Maloney Apologizes Over Use of N-Word”

U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY, 14^th District) – Official Website

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) – Official Website

You Just Don’t Get It Do You?

Now for anyone who is still naïve enough to believe racism and/or racial discrimination is a thing of the past let me introduce you to the latest of a string of incidents that you may not be aware of that continues to happen all around us.

You would think Rush Limbaugh would have done this, but it’s the so-called “Big Bad Liberal Media” that sneak this one in. I speak of the New York Post.

For those who are unfamiliar or oblivious to the racial connotation of a monkey and how it relates to race let me attempt to offer you a very brief history lesson of being Black in America.

This drawing from Josiah Nott and George Gliddon called “Indigenous Races of the Earth” was drawn in 1857. This drawing was the beginning of the ridiculous suggestion that Black People ranked between White People and Chimpanzees in terms of intelligence. The lie was perpetuated throughout America as truth by Whites during a time in the U.S. when racism and bigotry was socially acceptable and common place. Today we still find it, but the lie is more secluded and socially sophisticated.

Now to address why this cartoon is considered to be racist and not just insensitive towards animal rights?

It does show a level of insensitivity towards animals, but it’s the text and the known history of not only the NYPD, but the relationships between Blacks and the police. I’m more than happy to go there, but want to stick to this issue for the moment.

Now to add the text to the cartoon that reads, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill” the day after President Obama signs the Stimulus bill and the fact that he’s Black (which I could go into that for those who want to debate the “One Drop Rule” and how that relates to the President.)

Footnote: I want to add that it’s also interesting how this depiction comes almost a week after Charles Darwin’s 200^th Birthday to and how it can spark the conversation about Social Darwinism. But I’m trying to not overwhelm you with the depth of sophistication of the subtle message this image suggests in form of a cartoon.

The cartoon in today’s New York Post is telling of the silent rise in the sophisticated racial & discriminatory attacks reported since 2008. I’m still amazed of the ignorance of history that some people and institutions continue to exhibit.

Throughout American history the racially motivated reference of Blacks with monkeys has been made, most recently history in Pennsylvania at a McCain/Palin political rally.

One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual inference to this form of racism when, in the cartoon, the police say after shooting a chimpanzee, “now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.”

What the Hell is that suppose to mean? You talk about respect for authority or the Office of the President.

But this isn’t the first time a New York Post cartoonist has come under heavy fire in the past for racially tinged cartoons. Does anyone remember the cartoons depicting 2001 NYC Mayoral candidate Freddy Ferrer and Rev. Al Sharpton? And who can forget the magazine cover of the New Yorker Magazine last July.

Some will often try to ignore the racial implications out of being uncomfortable speaking about the subject or fear of being questioned. For those who have read this blog for any length of time I hope you can conclude that I tend to understand where you’re coming from and will question when it isn’t clear or objectionable.

I understand if this is you, but do not be afraid to speak out against racism or discrimination. Now some have tried to use these words against me, but it still doesn’t fit, because whenever I’ve seen discrimination I’ve always spoken up or clarified the intentions of the person accused regardless of politics, race, preferences or religion.

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” he wasn’t just talking about one group of people or a single issue. I invite you to chime in on your sincere thoughts, ideas and suggestions regarding this cartoon. But if I can quote King for the millionth time it would be this principle that I continues to motivate me to even share my opinion about the things I blog about. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” This may not matter to you, but your silence says more than your words if it doesn’t.

References & Inspirations

New York Post – 02/18/09 “Sean Delonas Cartoon”

Wikipedia “Scientific Racism”

Wikipedia “One Drop Rule”

Wikipedia “Ethnographic”

Wikipedia “Popular Racist Ideology”

Will We Have Another Senator Kennedy?

If you’re a lover of political history among other forms of history you’ll be delighted to hear that Caroline Kennedy is interested and is seriously being considered to fill the vacant Senate Seat by Hillary Clinton.

I think this is a good, safe and wise choice by Gov. Patterson (D-NY) for many reasons, but politically I think if he decides to appoint Caroline Kennedy it would do him no or very little harm in terms of his rapidly approaching re-election campaign. She’ll be able to campaign in two years and do well.

I have nothing against the other candidates, but believe she will be appointed to be the next junior senator of New York.

At least the governor is smart enough to not make the same mistake that plaques his Illinois counterpart.

Additional Resources:

Yahoo! News/AP – 12/15/08 “Caroline Kennedy to seek Clinton’s Senate Seat”

The New York Times – 12/05/08 “Kennedy Is Said to Cast Her Eye on Senate Seat”

President John F. Kennedy Presidential Library Foundation “Caroline Kennedy, President”