Is America Losing Its Newfound Color Blindness?
In the second year of the Obama presidency, is it possible that the altruistic sentiments that called for this man's election have gone already? As Beyonce stood overwhelmed to be called on to provide Barack and Michelle's first dance with the perfectly chosen Etta James ballad, “At Last”, did it not serve as proof that the States marred past of race relations was over as eyes of all color shed a tear? It is the acme of folly to think that colorblindness exists unless you work in a DMV examination room or the ivory towers of a select few East Coast universities. And frankly, the latter remains a false promise of hope and a bastion of naivete in less than hopeful times; undoubtedly the women of Wesleyan University will continue to look for suitable dates of all color as long as their parents don't find out. Socially, economically, and with little help from the media, America and the rest of the world have universes left to grow before people are seeing things in the sepia tones that many use to make themselves look better (not equal) on their Facebook profile pictures.
While there may be room for optimism, equal amounts of cynicism are necessary to grow these aforementioned universes. Whether the glass is half full or half empty in your eyes there is no denying that there is something in that glass. But until Atticus becomes a common boy's name in this country few cynics are holding their breath for real change. While Gregory Peck may have opened many eyes in the majority community, the word chiffarobe still conjures up unconscious imagery of a physically superior, intellectually inferior black man and always will. Quite simply, the civil rights anthems of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions, the haunting oratory of hope provided by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the videos of the March on Washington while inspiring to most, continue to remind a large portion of the population, who lived through segregation, how wonderful those Jim Crow days were. As Baby Boomers live longer, many of their core beliefs also refuse to die, that includes the separatist movements and ideas in the black community. “Each one teach one” is a noble idea, solely, if not put on the wrong track by the teacher and their antiquated ideas, tough to blame the student.
Look no further than the newly legislated changes in the fine state of Arizona. A state that seemingly prides itself on its cutting edge response to issues of race, reverse progressiveness. The lunacy that saw the last Republican candidate for president, John McCain vote against the federal instatement of MLK day in the 80's, followed by Governor Evan Mecham’s first act in office, the rescinding of an executive order creating a Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Arizona in 1987. It's no surprise that in a state capable of electing these “representatives”, Arizona, is once again bringing proof that people are not seen equally to the forefront with their new racial profiling legislation. SB1070, in the eyes of President Obama, “threatens to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.” Colorblindness in a state that now demands all (brown) people to carry “papers” and equally coerces police into checking into the citizenship of all who “look illegal”? No. It's difficult to imagine a police officer insisting a flannel-clad traffic stop proves he or she is not Canadian. Though flannel in a desert does beg questions.
Fox News, for a fourth year running is the most watched cable news network in the US. The banal, and crazed nature of their reporting is unquestionably good comedy, if, people didn't take it as gospel and their coverage truly was “fair and balanced”. Over the month of July 2010, they have spent a great deal of time covering issues with the New Black Panther Party. At best, a fringe movement, and one that does not represent the whole of the black community in anyway despite numerous suggestions to the contrary. Additionally, Bill O'Reilly has repeatedly called for the NAACP to denounce unaffiliated “black” groups while championing the patriotism of the Tea Party Movement. A group whose rallies seemingly always include hate speech in their (often misspelled) placards and signs. This “fair and balanced” reporting further widens the chasm of race in this country at its basest levels.
In a culture more diverse than ever, change has, truly come. Colorblindness is as unlikely now as a clean Gulf Coast by Christmas. But in both cases it is important to continue to try lest the damage done by both will haunt this nation for lifetimes. As a blond haired, green eyed white man I expected to be stared at as I travelled through rural China a few years back. It would, however, certainly be nice if I received a few less awe struck faces as I walk the street with my afro-american girlfriend in our own country. Granted given she is 6' to my 5'7”, that's probably a bit much to ask.
