*CHEEKIE NOTE*: Yeah, so it’s another one of those days. “Eff A Monday”, and all that jazz. Please enjoy a throwback from my old-school collab blog with the big sis. I wrote this some time ago, but I still feel the same way. 
See ya’ll Wednesday!!
I’m a debater by nature. I love to engage in intelligent discussion with people who share my views, but I think I get a bit more excited when I’m engaging with someone who doesn’t share my views. Not because I’m trying to pull them over to my side of thinking, though. Okay, maybe a little. It’s because I love learning about other people’s perspectives.
But, nothing irritates me more in a discussion than a comment that abruptly halts a discussion. A great example of that particular irritant? Five words:
“Not everything is about race.”
I swear, it’s like the go-to phrase for the average racially squeamish cat. It is fast becoming such an epidemic in our so-called progressive society that it has the potential to not only replace the race card, but far surpass it. And though President Obama’s win has created joy, hope, and many opportunities for Blacks to use “My President is Black” as a comeback to The Man, it has also revived this monster. “Post-racial America”, anyone?
Much too often I am engaged with a person (whether face-to-face or on the internet) in a conversation such as this one:
Cheekie: You know, I truly believe that even though Barack Obama won, the fact that he had to overcome the amount of obstacles he did in the first place lends validity to the claim that we aren’t as “post-racial” as everyone would like to believe.
Racially Squeamish Cat (RSC): Well, I think that since he was elected, that means his race didn’t matter.
Cheekie: But, you have to ask yourself, what did it take? People losing their jobs, people losing their lives in a prolonged war, people losing their homes, etc? I wonder if those circumstances were the primary factor in choosing him even if it meant setting aside their prejudices for a bit. Prejudices that are so ingrained, they can’t just disappear with one election.
RSC: You know, not everything is about race.
Cheekie: *DEAD*
Yeah, way to completely cut off what could have been a very enriching conversation with one of the safest cop-outs known to man today. That convo might as well have went like this:
Cheekie: You hear about those Klansmen that burned a cross in front of that Black family’s yard? Racist pricks.
RSC: I don’t know, not everything is about race.
Trust, I recognize those of us who completely abuse that race card. Case in point:
But, ya know, most of us ain’t her. First off, we don’t sport mullets. Second, a lot of us do have enough brain cells to write off certain situations and give people the benefit of the doubt, but please believe we can also identify valid racism and call them on it. Just because some abuse the race card doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be used at all. That’s like saying that there are people who abuse alcohol, so alcohol should be completely banned even from those who “drink responsibly”.
Anyhow. Point is, yes, not everything is about race. But, some things are. Hell, a lot of things are. There is no way we will be able to progress against racism without clearly identifying it as as a valid problem. Discussions on race are uncomfortable, no lie. But, there is nothing to be accomplished from ignoring it. You can’t fix a cracked glass and only bring the glue. You have to bring the glass. Holla.
Love ya like Al Sharpton loves his perm,
Cheekie
*sigh* u have this conversation all too often and its always an annoying one. especially because im not a conspiracy theorist, racist, or person who who thinks the white man is evil
i KNOW he is.and strangely enough, all of my labmates are others (read: not black). and we engage in racially charged discussions all the time. and often times they agree that things ARE in fact about race and should be discussed, instead of sweeping them under the rug like race doesnt play a role. and i appreciate such debates–even if race being an issue is the only thing we agree on.
furthermore, albeit sadly, most 2520s dont care to acknowledge race because it has no negative impact on them. white privilege is alive and well (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4f9zR5yzY) and they have NO reason to put themselves in our shoes and see why we see things from the race pov. *shrugs*
LMAO @ that video. I love how he said if we had to re-up every year he’d be like “um, I’ll take White, yeah thanks.”
But yeah, I think the biggest privilege of them all is not having to be in the position to acknowledge it. Like, those who deny it exists, I’m like, “You see what you just said there? How White privilege doesn’t exist? You’re experiencing it right NOW, ninja!!”
A skill-less?! A skill-less?! A wok or a frying pan!! #DEADDDD Cheekie, I luv ya! I really do. This ghetto-fied heaux just did the 720 degree head roll. Born on H? Be here on M? Mr. Shoelace? The ignorance oozed out of this and I died..slowly.
Now I hate that a lot of people make things about race. I can admit however that I’ve pulled the “because I’m black” card to make someone uncomfortable knowing good and well that it had NOTHING to do with race. It’s just funny to see a 2520 turn beet red. I can’t have a laugh or 7? (Katt Williams would let me… And I get to call someone else to get their 7 laughs in too!)
But like Gemmie said, 2520s don’t have to bring up the whole race card thing because it’s “easier” for them. They don’t NEED to bring up the race card to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Gemmie, that link? Ha! So true lol
LOL, yeah people have definitely abused the race card, but I swear nowadays, the “not everything is about race” card is FAR surpassing its predecessor, the race card. It’s like okay, I know some of my brethren/sistren are using all willy-nilly, but you need to pump the brakes on using it EVERY single possible race topic as well. lol
Good post. It reminds of people who always start a racist statement with “I’m not a racist, but…”
There are plenty of people who dismiss discussions on race (more specifically, the black race) when it deals with unfair disadvantages. There are a lot of opportunities given to underrepresented minorities (not just blacks) to level the playing field and 2520s (some, not all) can’t understand why opportunities like these are needed. To them, it’s just a handout to people who don’t deserve it and/or something that the government is doing to make it up to black people for slavery. It is true that the institution of slavery ended a long time ago, but the disadvantages black people have had and the mental slavery that they’ve been subjected to has lasted arguably until the 1990s. That doesn’t give minorities permission to ‘ack a fool, but you’re being intentionally thick-headed if you don’t acknowledge the prejudices that still exist in today’s society. It isn’t the Jim Crow era, but it damn sure isn’t post-racial.
“Good post. It reminds of people who always start a racist statement with “I’m not a racist, but…””
YESSIR. Stoopid disclaimers like that definitely ring the racist bell. Oh, and your comment? Is on some “WELL SAID” ish.
Cheekie,
Totally off topic (‘cuz the real one being discussed here is not for 2520-man to comment on …) but I noticed the new sidebar (“sidebar”; NOT ‘sidechick’, lol) picture over at my Fav read – Miss Luvvie’s joint, the one with you “stickin it in the camera” (that’s a line out of an ol’ YT-boy song by … neva’ mind …) and got curious (ok, enticed actually; but we leave that one alone) to wonder “what she look like …?”
Then I link here … see “With cheeks you want to pinch … but don’t”
Well, I’m always up for a sexual harassment whatever, so I just might, if ya shake that thang in public.
(Note to Cheekie: This is a ‘funny’ OK? I don’t plan on so devaluing any woman by presuming I can take liberties that violate her personal dignity.
Unless she asks, of course, lol!)
Compliments are much obliged. Off-topic or not. Thanks, homie.