Americans group themselves into separate cultures, do not act for true justice
Someone reads about how black actress Daniele Watts was allegedly thought to be a prostitute — after publicly showing affection to her white husband — and detained by police Thursday, and concludes such actions were racially motivated. Someone else reads the same thing and concludes the opposite. Both make sure to write their baffling conclusions in the comments section.
Or perhaps someone decides to make a video about racism, so they gather some sarcastic African-American youths who begin with an endearing, “Hey, white people.” Then the token white guy shows up to back the kids’ statements, and to sell you a T-shirt.
The people in the video promise that $5 of the $13 you spend on their shirts will go to charities in communities fighting racism. And if that isn’t tasteless enough, the kids are supposedly from Ferguson, Missouri, and they’re doing this sales talk via FCKH8.com about a month after the Michael Brown shooting. There’s even a charming dedication to “Mike” at the end.
Both scenarios are beautiful examples of how many Americans tackle issues like these. Commenting on an article, spending money or sharing a meme or catchphrase becomes the equivalent of doing something, like Michelle Obama and #BringBackOurGirls, for example.
It’s also an interesting look at the way Americans tend to handle alleged racial incidents, as with Watts and Brown. Instead of waiting for an investigation to get underway, everyone immediately divides and takes sides — generally along racial lines. Watts, Brown and the police in each scenario play hero and villain for every side, much like George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin two years ago.
And then, there is no search for true justice because everyone is busy fortifying their cultural differences. Even though we’re all Americans, we still group ourselves by outward appearances so that it’s now possible to have a black and a white America.
Not that this sort of divisiveness is just starting now. Look at how someone like Justice Clarence Thomas has been treated over the past couple of decades because he’s staunchly conservative. Many translate his conservatism as him hating his blackness. Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) even went as far as to call Thomas an “Uncle Tom” due to his court rulings.
Yeah, because in America, we should always look at issues based on our skin color — unless you’re white, in which case doing so is racist. Don’t fight or wait for real justice. You need to look out for your race first. After all, do you want to be referred to as the next “Uncle Tom” of your culture?
All of this cultural division has a “separate but equal” vibe to it — except, instead of sounding mean and nasty, it sounds compassionate and nice. We divide ourselves in the name of sensitivity and everyone is thrown into separate bundles.
Welcome to progressive America.