In Search of Post-Racial America
I have to admit, I was disappointed. After all, to hear lots of folks tell it we are now living in "post-racial America," all because Barack Obama is to become the nation's 44th president in a couple of months. So, imagine my surprise when I contacted the labor department, in search of evidence to sustain the post-racial America thesis, only to discover that blacks, Latinos, and indigenous folks are still three times as likely as whites to be poor and twice as likely to be unemployed, and that black men with college degrees were still earning 30% less than their white counterparts--exactly the same as was the case on November 3rd! When they told me that black men with high school diplomas were still more likely to be out of work than white male dropouts, well, I damn near fell out of my seat.
And imagine my shock when, upon contacting the Border Patrol, in an attempt to determine when they would be re-deploying large segments of their force to the Canadian border (since, in a post-racial America, we wouldn't want to concentrate all our anti-immigrant efforts on brown-skinned folks), my query was met with a laugh, and an assurance that no such redeployment would be taking place.
And imagine how stunned I was upon getting off the phone with a staffer at the Commerce Department, who informed me that, just as was the case prior to November 4, businesses owned by white men were still receiving about 91% of all government contracts. I had argued with him, insisting that surely huge chunks of that money had been redistributed to black and brown-owned firms now that Obama was president-elect, but they stuck to their story. Nope, they promised. Nothing had changed.
Still convinced we were living in a post-racial America (after all, why would they say it on the TV if it weren't the case?), I hopped in my car and headed out to the suburbs, confident that I would find evidence of our post-raciality in such places as these.
First, I stopped off at the nearest Home Depot, figuring that I would encounter a veritable flood of dark-skinned citizenry, newly relocated to these previously white spaces, and intent on gathering the materials needed for their latest home improvement project. But nope, as far as the eye could see it was white folks with the lumber, and the paint swatches, and the energy-efficient halogen lighting, and the shiny gas grills.
Undaunted, I drove to a brand new subdivision, got out of my car, walked over to one of the just-finished homes, and began scraping little bits of paint from the Hardie-Board siding.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" came the angry contractor's voice from behind me.
Startled, but confident in my mission, I explained myself happily. "Just getting a few paint flecks from the house here," I offered. "No big deal, you won't even miss them."
"What for?" he asked.
"Well, I'm gathering evidence to prove that we're living in a post-racial America. If it's true--and I'm sure it is, I mean, look at all the Obama stickers in the neighborhood--then I expect to find really large levels of lead in this paint, just like in urban neighborhoods where most of the residents are poor folks of color!"
"Hey now, whoa, there is no lead in this paint, I assure you," he spat back, insulted at my insinuation. "In fact," he continued, "this is hypo-allergenic, non-toxic, recycled, tofu-based paint with absolutely no volatile organic compounds."
"No VOCs?" I replied. "Ok, but then, if you're not using any toxic materials for this housing, what are you putting in the hazardous waste incinerator?"
"What hazardous waste incinerator?" he asked, with a screwed-up look on his face.
"Hah," I answered. "That was almost convincing how you said that. Like you don't know! Good one."
The contractor turned around and walked off, acting confused. But I knew there had to be an incinerator around there somewhere. I mean, this is post-racial America! In racial America, pretty much all the waste sites--dumps and incinerators--were in communities of color, and the typical host neighborhood for such sites had twice as many people of color as the typical neighborhood without one. But now, with Obama runnin' things, I just knew they had started putting some of them out here where the white and more affluent folks lived.
Maybe it's over in the strip mall, behind the Applebees, I thought to myself, and headed out to uncover the truth.
On my way there, I decided to further test out the post-racial America theory by driving through the bucolic neighborhood real slow-like, bumpin' some L'il Wayne from the speakers, figuring that in a post-racial America, the local cops would want to pull me over, ask me what I was doin' out there, maybe search my trunk and throw me across the hood of the car just for fun. Ya know, the way they used to do black men. But strangely, nothing happened. Pure coincidence, I thought to myself. I'm sure that if I had some spinnin' rims, they'd have stopped me. I mean, damn, this is post-racial America.
About half-way to the Applebees, (aka the incinerator), my car ran out of gas. I had been so excited about unearthing the proof of our new racial nirvana, that I'd forgotten to pay attention to how low the fuel gauge was before I left the city. Upset, but undeterred, I decided to walk over to the busiest intersection and see if I could wave down a taxi. I knew it might be tough, both because there aren't that many taxis in the 'burbs, and, let's face it, in post-racial America, it might prove tough getting a cab when you're a white guy, but honestly, what choice did I have?
In what I'm sure was just a spot of really good luck, the first cab pulled over.
"To the incinerator please," I asked.
"The what?" he replied.
"The incinera-" I started to explain, but then I realized that the driver appeared to be a fairly recent immigrant, who spoke somewhat halting English, and maybe wasn't up on our waste disposal habits here in the states.
"Applebees would be fine, thank you." I finished.
As we drove I noticed that he had a small Somali flag on his dashboard. Seeing a great opportunity to discuss the whole post-racial thing with a person of color--and a newly-arrived one at that--I took advantage of the opening.
"So, you're originally from Somalia, huh?" I asked.
"Yes I am," he replied. "I just came to America five months ago."
"Wow, great timing!" I shot back.
"What do you mean?" he asked, appearing stumped.
"Well," I replied, "I mean, you only had to live in racial America for like, half a year--not even--and now, bam, it's like, we're all post-racial and stuff. Pretty cool."
The look on his face suggested he hadn't gotten the news about our newfound racial ecumenism.
"Oh snap!" I said (because see, in post-racial America, white guys can say things like oh snap and it's all good), "You hadn't heard? Oh yeah, hundreds of years of straight-up oppression? Done! Even-Steven! Man, you picked a great time to come. Oh, and are you Muslim?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied, seemingly worried about where I was going with all this.
"That rocks!" I noted. "So, did your flowers get delivered yet?"
"Flowers? What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Oh yeah, see, in the new America, we've also moved past that whole religious bigotry thing, and the whole racialization of Muslims thing. Yep, so now, instead of being accused of terrorism, y'all are gonna get a dozen roses each week, and two dozen during Ramadan."
"Get out of my cab, you're a crazy man!" the driver shouted.
I felt bad that I'd upset him, but I don't blame him for thinking I was crazy. He'd probably never heard anyone say "y'all" before.
I walked the rest of the way to the Applebees, and never did find that pesky incinerator. But my time in the burbs wasn't totally wasted. There was still one more way to prove we were living in a post-racial society, and I intended to take advantage of it.
So I walked into Applebees, and immediately began filling out a job application. See, in the pre-November 4th America, job applicants with white-sounding names were 50% more likely to get called back for an interview than those with black-sounding names, even when their credentials were identical, according to a huge study by economists at MIT and the University of Chicago. But that was ancient history now: so pre-Obama. A newfound confidence washed over me as I put the finishing touches on my app. Yessir, Jamal Washington is ready and willing to be the best damned waiter in Applebees' entire history!
After getting gas for my car I headed home to check the answering machine, certain that the restaurant's shift manager would already have called, excited about the chance to hire anyone named Jamal. But there were no messages.
Just then I heard a knock at the door. It was the mail carrier, who informed me that an envelope had fallen out on his route, and since it was addressed to me, he wanted to make sure I got it. It was a little beaten up, but the content was clear. It was a solicitation from a local mortgage lender, encouraging me to take out a sub-prime equity loan.
"Honey, come quick!" I shouted to my wife.
"What is it dear?" she asked in reply.
"See," I shot back confidently. "I told you we were living in a post-racial America. They're even pushing predatory loans to white folks now!"
Though my wife is not convinced, I for one am sleeping better at night.
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Robert Gray says:
Very nicely done, sir.
Very nicely done, sir. Just far enough over the line to be uncomfortable. Just where it ought to be.
As you point out, so many people think that the election has solved the problem, when, at best, it has only shown us that the work we have left to do is worth taking the trouble to do.
Yes, it is a sign of progress, but it is really just a sign that progress might be possible (while the right-wing reactions to the election simultaneously show us how difficult such progress will be).
macon dee says:
pointed and hilarious
Thanks Tim, great satire on the already-oft-deployed Post-Race Card.
As usual, there's a lot of hearty statistical meat backing up the claims here.
The drama and dialogue work well. You should write a novel!
Daniel Bouchard says:
Hilarious
Great post Tim and an appropriate response to what I feared would happen were Obama elected. That being, whites would insist race problems are over.
Which is funny because as you've said before, in order to know the depths of racism and oppression, it's best to ask the targets who have been conditioned on how to identify it. Not the folks who, either knowingly or unknowingly, perpetuate it.
In addition, when a fellow white insists that we are past the race problem, I use it as an opportunity to begin an entirely new discussion.
Me: "So, we're past the race problem, eh? Well then by virtue of that fact, that means there WAS a race problem. So in your estimation, what exactly are some of the race problems that existed before November 4th?"
That leads to some stuttering or a half-assed attempt to conjure up some either blatantly obvious or completely fantastical example, usually during which the person realizes how idiotic the initial suggestion of racism being over is, and shuts up or changes the topic entirely.
Anywho, keep it up Tim.
Food for thought: it's also quite amusing that Obama isn't even in office yet, but we're hearing serious critical analysis over his actions. Jeebus...give the guy a chance to actually slap on the title of President. We gave Bush 8 years of the benefit of the doubt and Obama isn't even being given one day.
Frederic Christie says:
Brilliant
Hilarious.
Shumit DasGupta says:
Racial Micegenation
By giant industrial blender might be the only solution. The fact that someone might actually fund this is what makes me proud to be an American.
Ivory Madison says:
Wait...
Wait, ending racism takes more work than just electing a black president? You’re kidding. But that’s the most work some voters will have ever done to fight racism, and they don’t want more responsibility than that and like to hear we're done.
In the same vein as your article here, there’s the famous feminist saying: “We’ll be post-feminist in the post-patriarchy.” And Gloria Steinem always said that extraordinary women will always find a way to excel but equality won’t be achieved until, for example, mediocre women regularly ascend to the level that mediocre men do. Would electing a woman president end domestic violence and rape instantly? Would it magically cause women to have equal representation in Congress and the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies?
The New Yorker recently said something about Obama not being one who is prophesying but himself being the prophesied. Regardless, the most important point to be made these days is that millions of people still need to do the individual and collective work to get to the promised land. That's a big job that takes work, not just hope, and it's much bigger than the election of any one candidate symbolizing progress. The pundits do us a huge disservice claiming there’s nothing left to fight for. Thanks for irreverently pointing out the reality, as usual.
See you soon, Tim. And thanks again for being such a big part of Red Room!
Ivory Madison
Founder and CEO, Red Room
Milensu Kapaipi says:
change
I enjoyed reading the blog and the comment by Ivory. I agree that there still are huge gaps in terms of embracing tolerance, even in the Blue states. Even though some people might see injustices in the system very few would be willing to give up a privilege like being a preferred candidate for a job to a person of color in the name of social justice. It’s human nature to always think your problems are worse than others and it takes a really humility to do the right thing. And humans have been short on humility since time begun. On November 4th change seemed like something tangible that you could touch in the air especially in places like the Grand Park in Chicago, but I now it taken back its elusive form and keeps falling back on the ‘To Do’ list because it takes a lot of work and like you said it’s not a responsibility most people will gladly take up.
Michael Boehm says:
Too true
I have been saying this for years... the epochal event in our nation's history will NOT be when a black man / woman / et cetera is elected president. The epochal event will be when a black man / woman / etc is elected president, and no one makes a big deal about it.
Tim Wise says:
actually...
...i think the epochal event will be when a person of color can be as utterly mediocre as most white people and still be elected president...mediocrity is a privilege of the dominant group, and only when a black or brown candidate (or likely a woman of any color) is able to get as far as mediocre-or-less white guys (W. or Reagan, or whomever) will we know equity has been achieved!
Of course, though I am serious here, the real mark will be when the larger mass of black and brown folks have equal life chances with white folks...and that day won't roll in due to a singular event of any kind, least of all an election...
Kristie Abruzzo says:
Thanks. If you haven’t
Thanks.
If you haven’t already read it – Ta-Nehisi Coates’ article in Time is another good response to the statements that have been flying willy nilly around President-Elect Barack Obama and race in America. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1858897,00.html
The nuances of racial and religious discrimination always deserve a good wrestling. Adding a bit of humor helps the conversation continue. I try to remember that every time there is a small step or a big leap in the right direction it provides new energy and, dare I say it, new hope for black and white Americans who have been quietly and diligently fighting for decades to change the statistics that stare us in the face and make our stomachs turn. May we each use our own particular ability and keep fighting this together.
Milton Davis says:
Great Blog
Great article. As a black man I have no illusions. This country still has a long way to go. Obama's election proves that we can actually tell our children if they work hard they could be President of the United States and mean it. For years we told them that and felt like liars.
Diane White says:
Excellent article as usual
91% of government contracts to white male firms? Holy crap. and to the black guy who thinks his son can become president? think again. Obama is an 11 degree cousin to Bush and 8th degree to Cheney. Obama has NO African American blood, though he is called an African American. He acknowledged the bridge black Americans built for him, he acknowledges himself as African American but he is African and American, that latter of which the government designates as white. Remember, they are trying to hyphenate you.
Frederic Christie says:
Hold Up
While I think some skepticism is appropriate, the fact is that Obama's lack of African-AMERICAN blood is completely irrelevant. He is a man of African descent who is an American, and therefore is African-American. More centrally, whites view him as black, so he is black. If whites viewing him as black can vote for him, that indicates that there have been some real changes...
Matthew Killian says:
I think perhaps it might be relevant...
I am struck by this particular statement: "whites view him as black, so he is black." What is troubling to me is that it does two things: (1) It stands in the way of freeing us as a people of the present inequalities and injustices; and (2) it is too similar to the activities of European invaders to the Americas that started much of this that we are fighting against. That is, in order to steal land from indigenous peoples, legislation was imposed that regulated the identity of the native people, who was an 'Indian' and who was not. This legislation was a tool to privatize land (a foriegn idea to the idigenous people then), deciding then who can keep some of their land and who cannot; i.e., cannot keep it if they are indigenous enough. The point is in who is deciding whose identity. This is significant in many ways and it is not unlike the polarization of American tendencies, either you are in or out of 'whiteness' and it is the whites that decide if one is white or black. This is unacceptable! There are many pieces to this. And one last point on this is that race is a devisive tool and the continuation of the polarity perpetuates the prevention of solidartiy and equality.
Tim Wise, I want to thank you. And I want to thank all those participating in this 'conversation.' Great work!