![[tmbchr]™](/journal/popocculture-blog-logo.jpg){kind=logo}
What’s Really Racist?
Racism can be a complicated topic. Not only are there strong feelings mixed up in all of it, but also shifting cultural attitudes. As such, people’s definitions of what’s actually racist and what isn’t don’t always tend to match. To one person, an image, word or attitude may be completely benign and to another, it may be totally insulting.
Case in point: The image below comes from the “African-American Outreach” section of the website of Focus on the Family:
They paired the image with the following text about the strength of the black family:
Family has always been the centerpiece of African American culture – it has been the bed rock, from single parent families, to grandmothers raising children to traditional nuclear families. The Black family is built on the spiritual foundation of faith born out of great perseverance, upheld by great internal strength and hope. Our roles over time have changed, our opportunities have grown and we have a future of hope because of the sacrifices of our forefathers.
When there appeared to have been little hope we could always turn to God. Spirituality is a valuable part of our culture which has helped us to hurdle obstacles and pain throughout our journey. African-Americans are one of the most religious groups in America. It’s part of our fabric – a legacy that’s been passed down from generation to generation. Our faith holds communities and families together.
As we celebrate Black History Month, Focus on the Family desires to honor the hope and heritage of the sacrifices Blacks have made for our country. And the Biblical principles upon which it was founded.
I’m curious to hear whether other people see this as racist or not. While I’m sure their intention was not to be that way, I do have to wonder what a black man playing a trumpet has to do with honoring the African-American family. Why not have a photo of a black family? Wouldn’t that have made more sense? I’m willing to concede that maybe it’s just a poor graphic design choice. But I also have a mild suspicion that maybe it’s a subtle reference to the legacy of the black-faced minstrel shows of days gone by, where the only acceptable role for black people was as jolly entertainers. Whether or not that’s what Focus on the Family envisioned here, the simple fact is that this attitude definitely still lingers today.
Historical references:
- The Legacy of the Minstrel Show from Wikipedia
- Blackface Minstrelsy from PBS
- A Look Back at Minstrelsy from About.com
Is there any possible way that we can establish objective criteria for deciding what is and isn’t racist? Or is it one of those “I know it when I see it” type things? Maybe racism is just in the eye of the beholder… If that’s the case, what does your eye behold here?
[Thanks to JK for spotting this and sending it my way]
- What’s The Difference?
- Similarity in words
- What’s cooking?
- Racist Against Racists
- What’s The Hold-Up? [Facebook]
- Prev: Homeward Bound
- Next: Money & Religion: Perfect Together
February 21st, 2006 at 8:29 pm
If I was forced to I might find the page more sexist than necessarily racist.
February 22nd, 2006 at 12:48 am
I think the people you should be asking this question to are black people.
Speaking purely as the 30-something white guy I am, I don’t know if it’s necessarily racist, but it could certainly be read as a stereotype (”see the happy negro doing what he does best”). I’m with you in that you’d think a page about families would have a picture of a family on it.
February 22nd, 2006 at 6:38 am
here, this may test your ability to be objective.
www.thebirdman.org.
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:07 am
Well, this is Focus-on-the-Family after all. What else would you expect?
Racism is a very difficult topic to address honestly, because white people don’t necessarily even see how racism is embedded into some of our various assumptions.
I don’t like to talk about it except in very controlled settings (and I have participated in some). I’m of mixed-race and also gay, so there are all kinds of opportunities to get hot-headed and feel bad. I’d just as soon avoid it unless there is a constructive purpose.
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:32 am
I find racism and even sexism to be our biggest obstacle as a culture, but even more-so then that, and what bothers me about resolution and impotent discussion is the inability for all of us to brave the obstacle with nothing more than a white flag and a book full of cliche’s.
I am much more concerned about the division of wealth over the idea of racism. Because last time I looked, being poor or being rich probably means you have more in common than being white or black.
February 22nd, 2006 at 4:13 pm
I agree, but unfortunately race and class are very highly correlated. In addition, some of the presumptions that drive the polarization in class/wealth have racism embedded in them. For example: American dependence on oil (and the wealth/comfort conferred upon upper classes by the resulting energy surplus) has, at its source, a presumption that we deserve other country’s resources. Many Americans (including “underrepresented minorities”) don’t notice the consequent suffering because it happens to people who “aren’t like us”.
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:40 pm
which underrepresented minorities are you refering to? there is enough representation in being american, unless you are looking to play a political game.
racism is a political game. it doesn`t exist anywhere else. without politics, races merrily hack the crap out of eachother in typical tribal fashion. and i`m refering to white people here………….northern ireland, where religion usurps politics every time, for example.
there are those in america who desperately need racism to feed the political game. and there are those who desperately need racism to feed thier conscience.
February 23rd, 2006 at 3:38 pm
once we are free from the trap of conscience then things like racism will be recognised for the ego attachment they are.
pretty much anything we become emotional about is based on ego attachment.
for instance, i`m english, so a natural way to insult me would be to suggest there is something wrong with being english. i can choose to react in many ways. my patriotic conscience would demand that i react in kind. it` s not a useful way of acting or reacting to anything. when we begin to evaluate why we have these forms of conscience, we start to realise that they are installed for a reason. so we will conform.
i watch my children being indoctrinated at school by social engineers into sharing and sympathy for the plights of all manner of things that have no bearing one thier lives whatsoever.
where are these fiddlers when my children have to begin to prepare forsurvival in the real world?
one that doesn`t give a shit about how much a person cares or gives or helps.
wander the streets of a big city and explain to people that you`re a genuinely caring person and that you want a head start………….
three resourses that will get you what you want in a new environment;
resoursefullness.
determination.
flexibility (under pressure.)
why don`t we teach these skillsto our kids at an early age?
my opinion is that we wouldn`t put up with the crap that our service providers give us in return for all the tax dollars we give them (under threat of being shot.) if we were taught these skills.
conscience is what stops us from getting to the point where we say……”hey, wait a minute”
instead we say things like “oh well, we all have to pay our share”
February 24th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
My two cents: this picture rubs off on me as a harmless stereotype rather than outright racism.
Of course, this is “Focus on the Family,” so I wouldn’t put it past them to portray gay people in bondage biker gear or something.