Khalil, Donald, Kate, and the Irony of American Racism

April 30, 2011

Khalil Gibran said “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars”[1]. To some degree every racial segment can lay claim to a coveted mantle of suffering, and sacrifice endured in contributing to the American dream. Blacks, Hispanics, Whites, Asians, and Native American Indians have all played a role. The problem for future generations however, lies in looking beyond the misplaced sacrificial enthusiasm inherent in bearing the self appointed titular crucifixes of “the moral compass”, “perpetual victim”, “defenders of the constitution”, and “all things American”.

Discrimination simply refers to the recognition of differences among people and making choices based upon those qualities, be they perceived or real.[2]

Does the Black community really have a clue about what the panacea of racism entails? Is there an economic, or political impact? On 4/29/11 Kate Middleton was referred to as a commoner countless times in the media. Definitely a high level of discrimination there, but within the span of the five minutes it took to recite her wedding vows she was transformed into the Duchess of Cambridge. This clearly removes the aura of prejudice consistent with a racial bias.

Prejudice (pre-judgment) —e.g. deciding on a person’s qualities, characteristics and value on the basis of an arbitrary descriptor such as race, before knowing the facts. In general, prejudice refers to “any unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence.”[3]

On the other hand, a commentator expressed incredulity that the Duchess of York, Sarah Fergurson had not been invited to the wedding while the Crown Prince of Swaziland had received an invitation. This arguably could be construed as prejudice consistent with a racial bias. The level of bias therefore provides the intensity and depth behind the components of a model depicting racism.

A bias is a prejudice or preference for one particular point of view or ideological perspective.[4]

Cue Donald Trump and the Birthers. The embarrassing racist devotion to the crusade to prove that President Obama was not born in America adds the interesting element of Xenophobia. The dripping racial context is supplied by the fact that the President has already gone through the vetting, and legal process, and he has been elected via the traditional forum of the popular vote, also enjoyed by former Presidents. The key point being that the vote “trumps” the Trump, (intended), but since the elected President is Black, there is an undertone of rejection, and non-acceptance. This is important because it ties into the “prejudice” caveat of an “unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence”.

An expanded view of Xenophobia cites the “hatred, or fear of foreigners, or strangers, or of their politics, or culture”[5].

‘Racism involves the belief in racial differences, which acts as a justification for non-equal treatment (which some regard as “discrimination”) of members of that race.’[6]

Modeling the tones of racism is pretty difficult, but identifying racism…. not so much. The irony of course is that the directors of “the moral compass”, have fallen woefully short (slavery??), the economic analysis and societal assistance rendered to the “perpetual victims” has been used to polarize the races, and the “defenders of the constitution” have for the most part been self serving and devoted to their own interests.