Chris Matthews is infected with racism
"I forgot that he was Black." The comment by Chris Matthews simply indicates how deeply rooted racsim resides in the white psyche. Unknowingly, Chris longs for some post-racial nirvana where we don't see race at all. In this non-existant world, equality and fairness emerge based on the "content of one's character." The first stage in this transformation is to close one's eyes in a room full of white folks, and imagine that the Black person speaking isn't Black. If we didn't know any better, we would think that he is just as good as us white folks. In fact, "For an hour, I forgot he was Black."
The problem with this longed for nirvana is that we have to live in the here and now. In this world race, and culture, and ethnic preferences, and nationalism -- as well as racism -- all exist. Subconsciously, as a product of white racist privelege, many whites cannot reconcile that Barack Obama can be "Black AND President." To be President, he must be some post-Black incarnation that is acceptable to the inner self of those infected with "white racist privilege."
Many whites have overcome the infection, or they have been vaccinated against overt hatred, and malice of heart. But the disease has not been eradicated. It is like recovering from an addiction. Recovery is never complete. One must battle the demons one day at a time. So it is with well-meaning whites like Chris Matthews. He didn't know he was infected until his mouth betrayed him, and then he spent more words trying to explain what he really meant than necessary.
As for me, I don't want anyone to EVER forget that I am Black. Accept me or reject me, complete with my Blackness. But don't erase my culture, my heritage, my color -- to fit some imagined post-racial notion that helps to absolve your white guilt.
Roger Madison
www.izania.com
The problem with this longed for nirvana is that we have to live in the here and now. In this world race, and culture, and ethnic preferences, and nationalism -- as well as racism -- all exist. Subconsciously, as a product of white racist privelege, many whites cannot reconcile that Barack Obama can be "Black AND President." To be President, he must be some post-Black incarnation that is acceptable to the inner self of those infected with "white racist privilege."
Many whites have overcome the infection, or they have been vaccinated against overt hatred, and malice of heart. But the disease has not been eradicated. It is like recovering from an addiction. Recovery is never complete. One must battle the demons one day at a time. So it is with well-meaning whites like Chris Matthews. He didn't know he was infected until his mouth betrayed him, and then he spent more words trying to explain what he really meant than necessary.
As for me, I don't want anyone to EVER forget that I am Black. Accept me or reject me, complete with my Blackness. But don't erase my culture, my heritage, my color -- to fit some imagined post-racial notion that helps to absolve your white guilt.
Roger Madison
www.izania.com
Let's not take Chris Matthews' comment out of context.
The first context is the background of Chris Matthews himself. He has always been a vocal supporter of equal opportunity and a strong critic of racisim. Just last week he hosted a special town hall meeting held at one of the HBCU's with a variety of prominent AFrican-American guests for an honest, in-depth conversation about racial issues. I saw it and thought it was excellent and much needed.
So--seriously--I do not believe that he actually forgot that a black man is actually a black man in the way you are suggesting. He didn't "erase his culture or herirtage" at all.
I hope you agree that a person's culture, heritage, history, color, race, religion or ethnic background is not a significant factor 24 hours a day. In some interactions it doesn't matter at all.
The second context is the situation. You have the President of the United States talking about solving criticlal problems we face as a nation. What I think he meant by his comment was that the President's ethnicity was not a significant factor in any aspect of that speech. There were plenty of other factors that were far more important. That is what everybody was focused on--the serious issues he was talking about.
So you forget about his physical attributes and his culture, heritage, history, color, race, religion and other ethnic factors for the moment and concentrate on the more imporant business at hand.
It doesn't erase any of it--it just moves it into the background because it is irrelevent to the situation.
Here is an example of what I mean. When I am with my two black (actually half black) grandkids, I don't think about their racial identity. I don't even notice it. In our relationship and interactions, it is just not a factor that is important enough to matter.
Of course, I KNOW they are two little black kids. It is impossible to "forget" that. That is the reality of the situation. But in our moments together, when we are playing and talking and fooling around and when they stay over and we are eating or I put them to bed or when we go out to the circus or to the park or to the beach, they are just Olivia and Chris and I love them.
I think what Chris Matthews means by "I forgot he is black" is that he was judging the President by the content of his character and not the color of his skin.
Don't you agree this is a good thing?
Besides--he has been one of those who often expresses admiration for our President. So, if he is judging the man by his character, he likes what he sees.
So, what's the problem?