Human Race

Race. There's been a lot of talk of it lately. We can thank a vicious woman named Katrina for that. Americans have been accused once more of blatant racism because of our reaction and assistance to the disaster on the Gulf Coast.

I know there is still racism in America. Sometimes it is obvious. Most of the time, to my white anglo saxon protestant heterosexual married male eyes, I don't see it at all unless it is explicitly pointed out. And even then, I don't tend to believe it.

And I'm a little closer to it than most wasphmm's. I was married to a black woman. And I have a mixed-race son. I say mixed-race. Society would probably say black. He would probably say black. But I lived a little closer to the inside of black society. I lived in a black neighborhood. I had a rather large circle of black friends. I was given a peek.

I once said to a black friend that "I was black once", referring to the time I was married to a black woman. He kindly pointed out that no, I was never black. He was right. I never was. But I feel a special connection. I feel for their plight. I make it a point to befriend blacks at work. Or talk to them on the street. Michelle says that I act differently when I am in the city, and especially to those blacks I interact with. I'm not sure if that is good or bad. I'm sure it is true.

I went to Brent's high school last week. Went to all his classrooms. I took the opportunity to talk to his guidance counsellor because I am concerned about his future (I could write a book). As I was telling him I had a concern that Brent would have a rough time getting into a college with a 2.0 gpa, he said "2.0? He'd be the only white in school with a 2.0". Or something like that. (this was a white guidance counsellor) I pointed out that Brent's mom was black.

I'm not at all sure what to make of that statement. Does it mean he is surprised a white boy has a "low" gpa? Does it mean that he expects only blacks to have 2.0's or worse? Was it racism? Was it insensitive? (I vote yes to both) I found it real confusing.

So now we are treated with stories of people's blatant racism. Barbara Bush who suggested that people in the Astrodome were so much better off than being poor in New Orleans. The politician in Baton Rouge who was overheard commenting that we now have taken care of the public housing problem. The tv caption of the black "looting" and the white "gathering". One thing is certain. The images of the poor and unfortunate in the Gulf area were almost all black.

Is it racism? Or is it classism? Is it because the skin is black? Or is it because these people have no money and therefore no power? Had it been poor whites in New Orleans who couldn't get out, would someone have done more to get them out? Frankly, I doubt it. But was there a disproportionately large percentage of blacks in New Orleans who were among the poorest? I'd say so. And that is where the racism is.

One more point. We Americans and the world at large seem to think that we hold the patent on racism. No. There's racism everywhere in the world. When London was hit with terrorist bombs most recently, the police opened up on brown people. Two Jamaican's were killed by police as suspects. They were not terrorists. Anti-semitism in Germany, Eastern Europe, and Russia. Israel and Palestine. India and Pakistan. Japan and China. Aborigines in Australia and Maoris in New Zealand. Africans in Europe. Just look at the way Europe is cut up into countries. Unlike America's "melting pot" culture where all live together (albeit not always happily), European countries are divided into "like" cultures. The French live in France. The Germans live in Germany. The Dutch live in Holland. No, racism is endemic throughout the world.

We in America COULD try to do something about it. I guess we do try. But to date, while there have been improvements in the plight of minorities, we have in a large part failed.

We've just been sweeping it under the carpet. We don't like to talk about it. And we don't like to admit it. And now it is thrust in our face.

It makes me angry. And sad.