POLITICO MAFIOSO: Continuing the discussion on race in 2008

I am back, talking once more about the race issue. I will close the discussion with this article (unless something else happens in the media).

I had many responses from my article and in this one, I list a few comments that people sent me, plus a few other words. --Felicia

May 20, 2008

I am a military brat who has traveled to many places. I was blessed to grow up around different types of people. With those people, I got along with them beautifully. Life, I remembered, was just fine. Now, in certain parts of the nation, I am seeing a rise in racial tension and it's troubling. I've experienced it sparsely during the 15 years when I moved from the Northern United States to the Memphis area. It catches me off guard, because I do not think that someone would behave towards another human being in a racist manner.

In a recent article, I mentioned Memphis having a problem with racism...and no sooner had that article been released, an incident of a racial nature was reported in the news in Memphis. A writer from a Memphis magazine, The Flyer decided to use the acronym HNIC (Head N-g--r In Charge) when addressing the search for the next Superintendent of Memphis City Schools (read the news item below this article). Where is the journalistic integrity here?

I can't fathom a professional using a degrading term like this (regardless of what movie the writer pulled it from), where is the respect for other people?

Another news station, FOX13 Memphis decided to do the series Memphis: In Black and White, which focused on race relations in Memphis. I wondered why there was a need to even mention the black and white split, to do so exacerbates the racial problem in Memphis.

We shouldn't look at things through black and white. Memphis, the city where Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down and where the National Civil Rights museum exists, should be a city where the beacon of freedom for all and love toward your fellow man, shines bright. I am pointing out the problem of racism, that there is a need for it to be obliterated, or our nation will not survive for long.

The issue of race is not confined to Memphis. Since my last article, I've gotten responses from people who have had their own experiences or those who wanted to sound off on this subject. Here are a few from equally concerned readers of my last article:

"Thank you so much. This has been one of my pet peeves as well. I have seen my white next door neighbor, who claims she isn't racist, be rude to the two little black boys who live on the other side of me. They're good kids. During the summer, they will come to my house & ask if my husband can come out and sit on the swing with them.Then one of our faculty just got demoted from being over a certain research program because she wasn't doing a good job and was really in debt with her program. What did she do? She screamed at our Department Chairman and said she was going to Affirmative Action. She can't see that it has nothing to do with black or white, she just wasn't doing her job. And I've got one of the secretaries who is going to be really mad at me, because I went to her supervisor about her pawing off her work on me & everyone else who will do it. I've had enough of it all. We've got both black and white employees around here who work their butts off. The folks who work don't get in trouble.And if I hear another argument over whether Jesus was black or white, I just might scream. He was a Jew from Israel — neither black nor white, but Middle Eastern!

Unfortunately black and white issues are nothing new. They are just another version of Jew vs. Gentile or Jew vs. Samaritan. ~Which brings us to how we should really treat each other. We should be like the Samaritan, who even though he was looked down upon by the Jews, picked up the Jewish man who had been beaten and left on the road side for dead, took him to an inn to be cared for, left money with the caretaker and promised to pay even more when he returned from his journey if more was needed. That was love in action. Love does not see color...Julia D., Memphis, TN

***I BELIEVE GOD ABHORS RACISM. TO DESPISE ANOTHER PERSON FOR SOMETHING THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IS ONE HUGE SIN. SINCE THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD CREATED US — KNEW WHO WE WERE AND ALL OF OUR DAYS — BEFORE OUR MOTHERS KNEW WE WERE THERE — TELLS ME THAT EVERYONE BAR NONE IS GOD'S CREATION — TO HATE THEM — IS TO HATE THE CREATOR.Loey A., LaVergne, TN

***So glad you had such a lovely experience in Appalachia. It's sad that people are so insecure (and that's what it is) that they have to judge others on superficial things like skin color or any other criteria, other than their individual character. Dr. MLK certainly had that one right!

And it seems after years of what I consider great progress since the Civil Rights Movement that things would continue to get better when it comes to attitudes towards our fellow man. But I find lately that our nation is balkanizing into "special interest groups" who all distrust and/or dislike the others. Blacks against whites, Whites against hispanics, Hispanics against blacks, Atheists against Christians, everyone against Mormons, Women against men. Gays against Christians, Straights against Gays. There is no end to the reasons to dislike each other. The only cure for it....it's up to each individual to overcome their group or peer pressure to go against their group interest...and live their life as Americans...or even more basic....as humans. We all have more in common than we do differences. But so many people through their insecurities tend to "identify" with a group....safety in numbers I guess. It's probably a primal human thing based on fear. And fear usually trumps all other things. So few people stop to ask..."what's there to be afraid of"?

Why am I afraid of my fellow Americans? It's crazy. And the media doesn't help...with their pointing out and encouraging these divisions on the nightly news day after day.So all we can do is personally show love and acceptance of one another in our own lives and be examples to others. Which you certainly are.Joyce R., Redondo Beach, CA

***THANK YOU, Felicia!I know exactly what you are talking about. I lived 10 years in a town in East Texas that contained so much prejudice and racism...on both sides...that I was consistently being attacked....from both sides....because I didn't toe the line and had friends from a different race than myself (I am white).

My daddy taught me to evaluate people by what they do and say, not by what they look like or have....and that was before any of us had even heard of Dr. King. I thank God that my parents weren't prejudiced and taught me that wasn't what Jesus wanted.I came to the conclusion long ago that as far as racism is concerned there is only ONE ENEMY.....PREJUDICE....and it can come from anywhere (unfortunately). Again, thank you for getting the message out.Catherine L., Brackettville, TX

***Hi Felicia........I totally agree with you and have lived the life in areas similar to Appalachia. The people there are the "salt of the earth," kind, sharing, they mainly have their Christianity to support them and any time I have been in a more "urban" area the racist attitude is out in the open and terrible....however in these more rural and poorer areas, they are rich in spirit and the people really need each other for fellowship and many other reasons as well.They are real people and the cast of "true Americans" with very little or no prejudice. I had a real life experience there with a neighbor who became a great friend of mine there and he told me his life story....it was so typical of what you mentioned in your article.

Many people never get the chance to see this other side of life, "Appalachia"......they live in the larger cities and grow up with all that negative racial stuff....I have actually met some people here that I know would never vote for a black candidate and they know it but trying to be "politically correct" they say they will vote for Obama.......I know that they either won't vote or vote for McCain...these are democrats, a few are relatives and neighbors that have been saying many horrible things about the Rev. Wright issue but when I ask them how they will vote in light of all the controversy, they say they have to stick to their democrat beliefs and back rounds but later on in their conversation they say they "How can I vote for Obama, he's black" and I say to them "Whoops" vote for who you want to but watch what you say and stop trying to be politically correct at the office or work place.

The rest you know already in their responses to the sermons played on TV of Rev. Wright....somehow, the whole matter of the Obama candidacy will eventually become racial, especially if he does not get elected, this is what they are predicting on the talk shows and people respond to these pin heads like Russert, and the rest......whats their goals?....to do and say thoose type of statement...its race mongering............TomTom C., Cape Coral, FL

***I don't know why it is still an issue either Felicia. In this day and age, where we are supposed to be so smart.. There is still such ignorance. I live in So. Cal. Maybe I've just not had to deal with this in my life, (I am white) but I have zero tolerance for it. Skin is skin. Show me one person who isn't different in some sort of way. Yet people still go about picking out people just because of pigment?.. That is insane. ... All of us are connected by our humanness and by our Christian love. We are all brothers and sister in Christ and I pray, and agree with Martin Luther King, that one day, all will be able to live without discrimination. Sheree

***Hi Felicia!I guess I am not too surprised that racism is still around. All of us,being sinners, I am afraid it won't ever go away until the Lord comes and sets all things right!

Have you experienced racism among Christians? If so, that should never be....we of all people should KNOW what matters most! I have never seen it.....but I have experienced Christians acting in ways so opposite of what the Lord expects.....that it would not surprise me.I am glad you found some really nice people on your trip to the Appalacians! Hillbilly...LOL

I guess some think of the word in negative terms....but to me....it just reminds me of my dad and his family. They were shockingly poor to my mother( who grew up in a home that was poor) as a newlywed when she first met them. But all have managed to achieve a better life.You would think that Christians of all people would realize that,no matter what our skin color, we are all related. We all came from Noah's three sons!!Not being black, it was my observation as a young woman that there was more racism in the northern cities than I had seen in the south. But....that maybe not be a true picture of the truth. ( then too that was about 40 yrs ago)One day....maybe soon....we can be done with all this nonsense.....I am looking for the Lord's return any time!!! The sooner the better!!!God Bless!Jan E., Portland, OR

***There are some very nice black people that have character and class, and then there are those who don't, and its the same with white people...no difference./ It is the individual themself, not the color. I think the racism thing is something the Media use's and these politicians. ...It is very unfortunate that we have racist people in this country, but we do, and probably always will have on both sides....whites and blacks. I would like to see one day racism ends, but it won't happen in my life time.Emily C., Port Orange, FL

***Thanks to all who wrote to me in response to my last article.

And in response to Emily, take heart... I sure hope that the racism will end...my goal in addressing this issue is to, at least, make some headway into eliminating it.I remember a time when the United States was not so split apart. We bonded together as Americans. There was a pride in being American. And we treated each other well. Somewhere along the way, we've lost ourselves. In some areas across the country, we are divided. It's a sad state of affairs for our nation. People, no matter their race, are justifying their reasons to be racist and negative against a person of another race. That doesn't sound like Americans. Or Christians.

I've seen racism in the church even! I've attended a church for a length of time that consisted mainly of a white congregation and sooner or later, the nasty stares start...along with other incidents I won't mention. This is shocking when Jesus Christ was colorblind and He made man and woman of all races and creeds as an example to His preference of variety and affinity to the uniqueness of an individual. It also speaks to His majesty and His desire for variety in that every person is different personality wise and culture.Basically, if God made people of all colors and backgrounds, we should respect them. Why would He say to go throughout the world and preach the gospel to everyone if He didn't want all men regardless of race to be saved?

It isn't going to be just a few protected people who make it to heaven. People of all races and creeds will be there.

We should be looking for direction from the Lord Jesus in how to live our lives and in the process He will be there to guide and teach us as we face obstacles in life. We shouldn't cause our fellow Christians any harm. Christians are to be a light in an increasingly dark world. But all too often, the issue of race attempts to snuff out the light we are supposed to be. We need to come together.

No matter how much of it is fueled by media, the fact of the matter is, racism is still a problem. Otherwise, the media wouldn't have anything to report on. We still have the scourge of racism in our society that needs to leave. How can we be "One Nation Under God" and we can't even see past our differences?That's something to reflect on.