Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S. Wise has spoken in 48 states, on over 400 college campuses, and to community groups around the nation. Wise has provided anti-racism training to teachers nationwide, and has trained physicians and medical industry professionals on how to combat racial inequities in health care. His latest book is called Between Barack and a Hard Place.
Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit. Instead of envisioning white people as the main actors in the scenes we’ll conjure - the ones who are driving the action - we’ll envision black folks or other people of color instead. The object of the game is to imagine the public reaction to the events or incidents, if the main actors were of color, rather than white. Whoever gains the most insight into the workings of race in America, at the end of the game, wins.
So let’s begin.
Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.
Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.
Imagine that a rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: “He’s a piece of $hit and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.
Imagine that a prominent mainstream black political commentator had long employed an overt bigot as Executive Director of his organization, and that this bigot regularly participated in black separatist conferences, and once assaulted a white person while calling them by a racial slur. When that prominent black commentator and his sister — who also works for the organization — defended the bigot as a good guy who was misunderstood and “going through a tough time in his life” would anyone accept their excuse-making? Would that commentator still have a place on a mainstream network? Because that’s what happened in the real world, when Pat Buchanan employed as Executive Director of his group, America’s Cause, a blatant racist who did all these things, or at least their white equivalents: attending white separatist conferences and attacking a black woman while calling her the n-word.
Imagine that a black radio host were to suggest that the only way to get promoted in the administration of a white president is by “hating black people,” or that a prominent white person had only endorsed a white presidential candidate as an act of racial bonding, or blamed a white president for a fight on a school bus in which a black kid was jumped by two white kids, or said that he wouldn’t want to kill all conservatives, but rather, would like to leave just enough—“living fossils” as he called them—“so we will never forget what these people stood for.” After all, these are things that Rush Limbaugh has said, about Barack Obama’s administration, Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, a fight on a school bus in Belleville, Illinois in which two black kids beat up a white kid, and about liberals, generally.
Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.
Imagine a black radio talk show host gleefully predicting a revolution by people of color if the government continues to be dominated by the rich white men who have been “destroying” the country, or if said radio personality were to call Christians or Jews non-humans, or say that when it came to conservatives, the best solution would be to “hang ‘em high.” And what would happen to any congressional representative who praised that commentator for “speaking common sense” and likened his hate talk to “American values?” After all, those are among the things said by radio host and best-selling author Michael Savage, predicting white revolution in the face of multiculturalism, or said by Savage about Muslims and liberals, respectively. And it was Congressman Culbertson, from Texas, who praised Savage in that way, despite his hateful rhetoric.
Imagine a black political commentator suggesting that the only thing the guy who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS building did wrong was not blowing up Fox News instead. This is, after all, what Anne Coulter said about Tim McVeigh, when she noted that his only mistake was not blowing up the New York Times.
Imagine that a popular black liberal website posted comments about the daughter of a white president, calling her “typical redneck trash,” or a “whore” whose mother entertains her by “making monkey sounds.” After all that’s comparable to what conservatives posted about Malia Obama on freerepublic.com last year, when they referred to her as “ghetto trash.”
Imagine that black protesters at a large political rally were walking around with signs calling for the lynching of their congressional enemies. Because that’s what white conservatives did last year, in reference to Democratic party leaders in Congress.
In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?
To ask any of these questions is to answer them. Protest is only seen as fundamentally American when those who have long had the luxury of seeing themselves as prototypically American engage in it. When the dangerous and dark “other” does so, however, it isn’t viewed as normal or natural, let alone patriotic. Which is why Rush Limbaugh could say, this past week, that the Tea Parties are the first time since the Civil War that ordinary, common Americans stood up for their rights: a statement that erases the normalcy and “American-ness” of blacks in the civil rights struggle, not to mention women in the fight for suffrage and equality, working people in the fight for better working conditions, and LGBT folks as they struggle to be treated as full and equal human beings.
And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the mess we do, on a daily basis.
Game Over.
Thank you for this piece, Tim. Wish more prejudiced people in general would take the time to step outside themselves and imagine what it would be like if the shoe was on the other foot. But, unfortunately, people tend to see how if the perceived "minority" were to be treated if they replicated some of the same prejudiced actions; and they use that to fuel their own power. Simply put, they know that they will and can get away with it.
Comments
I agree with Mr. Wise, people of color are considered abnormal in the eyes of most. People of color aren't considered true Americans their African/Latino/ or whatever American. Funny thing though, many of these same folks have more history in America than the so called real Americans. Of course people of color couldn't have done any of the things mentioned with out great backlash. I have a theory, maybe what whites fear the most is revenge for what they have done.
Please don't confuse whites with the tea party. I don't support any of these people. I believe they are throwbacks to another era. I agree that the media should do more to: A) portray more diversity in what makes up Americans; B)reveal & campaign against the disturbing level of violence and racism that underpins these radical right movements. ...But then again, when has the media done their job?
Pure unadulterated drivel.
If the TPPM was mostly black the state run media and the libprog blog world sure as hell would not be saying the same crude vile racist bigoted things about them as they do white TPPM people. That's a fact!
And to the racist Will who says "Will says: I have a theory, maybe what whites fear the most is revenge for what they have done."
I'm sorry, please enlighten all us white people just what we have done that you say blacks are going to get revenge for? I can't figure it out. My great-grandfather came here from Sicily. I can't think of what HE would have done to be the victim of revenge. Or my grandfather or father! What did they do? What did I do that needs to be revenged?
What did YOU do that there will be revenge?
It's too bad and so sad that this fool don't know the difference between "came here from Sicily" of his own free will as a free man, and being brought her for the sole purpose of being a SLAVE. I have often wondered when I've heard this idiotic kind of analysis, how stupid that they do not understand the difference in coming her in search of a better life and being brought her because of your color to be enslaved.
Try asking the children of Israel (Jew/Hebrew) about being enslaved by Pharaoh vs going to the promised land to be free, and/or coming to America to be free, then you can get a better understanding of going someplace for a better life and being forced there to be enslaved. I certainly hop that this will not only help this poor lost sole, but that it will enlighten many more who attempt to compare in search of with being forced into!
Will says: people of color are considered abnormal in the eyes of most.
Is that not as bigoted as saying all Chinese can't drive or all blacks are stupid?
You people just have no clue what you say.
One more thing. How many white people have you heard about standing in front of a voting place in military clothing and swings weapons calling white people racist names AND GET AWAY WITH IT?
Get some education Will.
Just imagine if you had addressed the issues and left race red, white and blue.
Just imagine if I never heard 'by any means necessary' or Hymie Town or watched the New and Improved Black Panthers waving batons at a poling station.
Now...just imagine [remember] the lack of response when Bush was called a liar, a Hitler, the dumbest, the worst ever. Selective memory, indeed Mr. Wise. You bring the dialogue to a low ebb. It has never been about color. Obama never would have been elected had it been an issue. Policies and politics are the color of money - they're never white, black or even plaid.
Black people are called African-American because that is what THEY prefer to be called. Just in my lifetime, we have gone from preferring negro, to colored, to black, and now to African-American. If I had my way, it would be plain old American. The Democratic party has played the segregate and separate game for their political purposes, and it will never benefit the country.
Also, you repeated the unsubstantiated lies about the Tea Party when they were in D.C. No one was spit on, and no one was called the N word. Not a single shred of evidence has been produced to verify these claims, and there were tons of cameras and video at the event. Also, a $100,000 'reward' offered by Andrew Breitbart for anyone able to produce such evidence has gone strangely unclaimed. Perhaps the congressmen lied? Wouldn't be the first time and seems much more likely.
great piece. I had read it elsewhere but thanks for bringing it to another audience.
The fact that Obama was elected says very little about the state of America, but the fact he couldn't talk about race says alot. Like a solider in foxhole your not going to care if the person next to you is purple, you just wanna make it back. Now when you get back to the states you (may)be changed, things were just to bad to ignore facts. Of course their are no absolutes, when I say abnormal I'm talking about preception. I know your aware of the maxim perception is reality, not necessarily the truth though. I'm no racist have friends of all persuasion,just find no benefit in being dishonest. There is a fear that whites have of people of color, I can not think of any other logical explaination<(revenge).
I am a racist and have been all of my Black life, however, I must qualify that by saying "I don't practice racism". I am 74 years old and I can remember when I use to root for ALL qualified Black people to be successful in every team sport. But, that did not make them successful, instead, it was their ability that made them successful and not their race.
At one time I was a Civil Rights, Title VII Legal Writer for EEOC, and let me assure you, I do know racism when I see, hear or live it, so I do not have to assume anything about racism. I have marched, stood and communicated with ALL of the fighters for so called freedom, but I have never seen anything like the racism that is taking place since the election of President Obama - we want "our" country back - we want our government back. You would think that President Obama took America to Indonesia or some other place outside of the US to hear them say what they are saying.
Wise up, or just go some place and lay down and wait for the revolution that will not be televised, but will be fought in the streets of America. Maybe not during my life-time, but it is coming and it's not going to be about race - it's going to be about the haves vs the have-nots. America is moving at an alarming rate into a 2 class system - the haves and the have nots. You wait until poor whites find out that they are no more loved than poor Black or Hispanics, they too will join this economic battle.
Wise up America, otherwise, you are only exceleratin the revolution!
@ Lucky Pierre
That sounds a lot like Russia's previous form of government. The Bolsheviks (the have-nots) were disproportionally larger than the leader and other officials of the country (the haves) so the Bolsheviks caused a revolution and took out the people in power.
Is that what you had in mind?
What would it be like if Democrats didn't segregate us into groups and play each group against the other for their political purposes. Most white people believe in the 'melting pot' and get frustrated when they hear African-American, Hispanic-American, etc...How about American? If you don't want to assimilate, you have missed the greatest gift this country has to offer...acceptance.
Ohhh thats right, assimilating is exactly what white people in Arizona want for Hispanics. Its exactly what people in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Illinois want for muslims too. Must have slipped my mind how warm welcoming people are to different races and religions in this country.
We do have a 2nd amendement, which was deliberately placed in the Constitution so that citizens would have the ability to rise up and overthrow the government should it become authoritarian. Current conditions seem to be heading that way. We reserve the RIGHT to preserve our Republic.
You realize you just grossly misinterpreted the 2nd amendment right?
@There is a fear that whites have of people of color, I can not think of any other logical explanation<(revenge).
Of course, you can't find a logical explanation - your premise is illogical as is linking foxholes and the presidency. Race/color has nothing to do with disliking current policies and dissent. The left has colored dissent 'white' because it suits their goals ... keeping minorities beholden to the government. Where's is freedom if you are not independent.
One issue that is bi-partisan created is Racism....sorry my friend Ted C, but you can't pin point it on one particular party.
John,you sound very emotional to me, do you real believe that it's just the Dems. dividing for politics? The melting pot would be nice, but sticking your head in the sand doesn't erase the reality of millions of hyphenated Americans. I guess you feel people aren't trying hard enough to be American tisk tisk. (<If you don't want to assimilate)=John
Will, don't take this personal, but you're an idiot. Assimilation was the backbone of America's emergence into becoming the greatest nation on earth. Now, if you want to say you're not American(but enjoy all the benefits thereof), but something else, no whining if things seem a little rough.
“Prejudices are what fools use for reason.” ~Voltaire
John: Please, slavery was a major bone in the back of America don't be a romantic
"He who calls one a fool, is indeed the fool" by God. You can locate that in the Holy Bible, if you've ever heard of it.
No slavery in the Republican North, but in full measure in the Democrat controlled South. Increased immigration and the industrial revolution post civil war made the U.S. a world economic power. Slavery ended 145 years ago, unless you include the bondage Democrats have the black population under at present. Give the slavery thing a rest.
So, John, is it really fair for you to assume that I don't know what the Holy Bible is? I posted a quote and you apparently thought it was addressed to you...another example of where people make assumptions of others before actually knowing anything about them...this leads to prejudice....do you see the cycle?
I was going to delete the disrespect and name calling that has occurred on here, but I will leave it...might make some good writing material this week.
Slavery did end a while back, unfortunately someone's gradfather alive right now, would have gotten a brick to head (or worse) if he even thought of trying to get a union job. Times have changed, when America got their head start there was no competiton.
Is it fair to assume my quote was directed to you? Is it fair to assume that I didn't know your quote was from Voltaire? No, I don't see a cycle, but I see you trying to manufacture one. And Will, you lost me man.
John: You have to be able to seperate hype from actual abilty, what's that saying "you cant drink the kool aid"
John, you are acting like me stating who the quote is by is uncommon...lol...you need a hug....*HUG* lol
Tim: I not doubting the greatness of America but much of its downward sprial is due to the fact it did not include all persons. When you don't have ideas diffrent than your own you create stagnat situation. This will continue unless people begin to realize they need to step it up and world is a big place.
What the hell are you talking about Will? You're incoherent. Did you mix some grain alcohol with that kool-aid....flashback to frat parties?
I gotta get outta here, Will is scaring me. Who is Tim? Good night.
Will will never move forward if he keeps looking backwards.
Last comment was for John,
sorry I typed Tim
I'm sorry things aren't great, many people still face huge hurdles.
Imagine if the media were truthful? I'm probably asking for too much there.
Stan - you raise a good point 2nd amendment but....
The list is worth reading and examines the 200 year cycle of democracy. It also points out what I stated in another post..Where is freedom if you are not independent. We are on the abyss and nearing No. 8 and if DC is hellbent on calling dissent 'misguided' there is no Republic to preserve.
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage”
More on the list and Professor Tyler - Life cycle of a Country by doing an engine search.
Excellent Sadie. I've seen the list before but it never hurts to have a refresher, especially now.
Cameron, timely indeed.
It should be posted in front of every election booth in America.
Just "imagine" if we didn't have to constantly listen to this kind of rhetoric and "pretend" games! What a way to stir the pot, Jamie!
What if this writer told the truth?
Has nada to do with white privelege
White privilege? Give me a break. Whites finish high school at a higher rate than minorities, pursue higher education at a higher rate than minorities, and depend less on public assistance than minorities. Sounds like we're earning it to me. Enough of the intellectual dishonesty Jamie.
Did you see the ACTUAL violence by the leftists in Arizona. Unlike the totally unsubstantiated accusations against the Tea Party, we have lefties striking policemen, throwing rocks, bottles, etc.. at police, property destruction and so on..all verifiable by audio and video. The truth is the enemy of liberals.
Will seems to be a little mentally vacant. Is it just me or was he totally incoherent? I couldn't follow his line of reasoning for the life of me. Very strange...
@ Progressive. I'm 35 years old and it's only been during my parents' lifetime that African Americans were acknowledged as whole human beings by the U.S. government. If you start the race at the starting line and I start it in the parking lot, chances are...
@Examiner reader. You are only afraid to stir a pot when the ingredients awful...think about it.
Was listening to some old Gil Scott Herron the other day (The Revolution Will Not Be Televised; Whitey on the Moon) and couldn't help but see the inversion. It's like looking at a photo negative.
One of my favorites - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, you want see it on the evening news, it will be fought in the streets!
Enjoyed reading! You give me hope.
A little black girl inside a 42yr old woman, wondering why so many hate me for being born this way.
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