Many of you may have read some of the hoopla going on regarding Dean Esmay (here and here) and some of the things he has had to say about black people vs white people ... and the whole race/racism issue. A lot of people have responded ... like David Anderson (here and here), Oliver Willis (here and here), and many others (here and here). Well, I am not going to write about the race war of the blogs ... you can check out the blogs themselves to see what they are griping about ... but I am going to talk about some very good points that Esmay made.
Now, unfortunately, Esmay alienated many people because while he has some good points ... he does seriously come off as a racist. And, those points are being lost within the conversations that are going on about Esmay, himself. I think a lot of people don't want to talk about those points either and those that seem to bring them up ... immediately try to whitewash them away with excuses based on what happened in our country's history.
Whatever.
The truth of the matter is ... is that black people do a lot of crap that they do not want white people doing. And, that is one of the points Esmay made. It is also very true. There is a serious double standard going on and it seriously ticks a lot of people off.
Now, before anyone jumps in to call me a racist ... get a grip quick like and in a hurry. I have three black children. I have a black husband. I have a ton of black in-laws. I have black family members. And, I am so not a racist. But, I am realistic and I do see a lot of messed up stuff between black and white people.
I am in a unique position, in my opinion. Not only do I get to see white on black racism up close and personal ... but I also get to see the opposite as well. I have seen racist behavior towards my husband by black and white people. I have seen racist behavior towards my children by black and white people. And, I have had racist behavior directed at me from black and white people.
My family can't win for losing. My husband is a sell-out because he has a white wife ... so say a lot of black people. He is nothing but a nigger according to a lot of whites. I am a "white trash wh*re" according to white people ... and a "sl*t for black c*ck" according to many blacks. My children are half-breeds, mulattoes, biracials, interracials, oreos, niggers, wiggers ... you name it and many white and black people have let it pass through their lips. (Please pardon the asterisks. I am trying to avoid google picking up those phrases.)
I have dealt with people that have no problem calling me a cracker, honky, or whatever ... but would have a fit if I or any other white person would dare call them a nigger. And, you know what ... that is messed up. I ain't about to call anyone a racial/ethnic slur. I don't like them used in my house/yard or in my presence ... by ANYONE. But, I don't have any intention of just letting someone call me a racial/ethnic slur either.
And, I hear them. I hear them from white and black people. But, you know what ... I hear it a lot more from black people than I do white people at times. I cannot count how many times my black girlfriends were talking about "white" women ... and then said, "Oh, but we ain't talking about you ... you're black to us."
Hello? Yeah, it is a compliment in their opinion ... as they are saying they don't consider me any different from them ... but yet they are still putting white people down and calling them names they would not want anyone to call them. And, it doesn't matter how much you love/like me ... I am still white. It doesn't matter how deep I am within the black community. It doesn't matter how many black kids I have. It doesn't matter that I prefer Soul and R&B to Country and Classical. I am still white and I don't have a problem with that.
But, see ... that brings up another topic as well. If you are proud to be black ... then that is a good thing. Black people are supposed to be proud of their history, their ancestors, their culture, etc. But, when white people are proud that they are white ... well, then they are racist. They are prejudiced. They have no reason, according to most black people, for even feeling proud of who they are.
And, why is that? Because white people enslaved black people and therefore have no redeeming qualities. It all comes down to a period of history that no one now can change nor could have controlled. And, goodness knows it wouldn't matter if you are white and your ancestors were against slavery ... because no matter how many white people fought for the end of slavery ... black people will always believe that they had some ulterior motive or that history does not accurately record that they were nothing but racists anyway.
Think about it. If white people had a national White History Month to talk about all the great, and not so great, things that white people have accomplished through the centuries ... well, then a lot of black people would throw a fit and say we are excluding them and we cannot do that. That would be discrimination. And, then we would all be racists.
If the Wayan Brothers can make a movie that makes fun of white people, then white comedians should be able to do the same. And, if black people don't want white people dressing up and playing like they are black ... well, then they shouldn't do it either. If you don't want white people making fun of you ... then don't make fun of them. It is a double standard pure and simple.
I could keep going with the examples, but I won't. There are a million examples out there of racism, discrimination, prejudice, and ethnocentric behavior. On both sides. This isn't just a "black" problem anymore.
Come on, people. It is time to wake up. You cannot have things both ways. You cannot be the victim and the attacker. You cannot be the victim of racism and then a racist yourself. You cannot throw a hissy when someone calls you a bad name when you call others bad names as well. You cannot make fun of another ethnic group and then get mad when someone makes fun of you. And, you most definitely cannot talk about people grouping you according to some stereotypes ... and then do the same thing yourself.
If it is racist when someone else does it ... then it is racist when you do it. Period. No amount of excuses changes that. And, "Black comedians are showing a bit of payback for that in the way they make fun of whites," doesn't cut it for me. If it isn't right for white people, it isn't right for black people. You cannot kick and scream over the way someone treats you, but then treat them the same way. And, to do so for some kind of payback ... well, that is just childish and hypocritical.
Note: I tried to give a trackback to Oliver Willis, but when I clicked the "trackback url" it said that it was missing. I think you have to register to get it ... since you have to register to comment. I don't register to read blogs, so no trackback for Oliver.
Update: Oliver told me how to trackback to him, so I did. Now all is right in the world. :P
