The 'Race' Card

[Karen Hatter]

The majority of people of African descent, living in America, do not have the luxury of compartmentalizing our collective experience here in America, beginning with forced immigration, enslavement, Jim Crow, the Black Codes and after slavery, in modern times, the long list of inequalities and abuses that have been brought down upon our heads as a result of who we are and our past relationship to those in stewardship, of non African descent, in America, when we express our feelings, beliefs and concerns over our past and for our as yet to be known futures in America.

Many Americans find it difficult and it makes them uneasy to hear a perspective that does not reflect the experiences of their own. It's difficult to understand another's perspective if one can't hear the speaker because one doesn't like what the speaker is saying.

Race, in America, has remained a divisive force among many Americans, not because America's citizens of African descent speak of it; it's because the society has never reconciled itself to the reality that for centuries, those of African descent lived in a world so different, with many continuing to do so, it would seemingly require, literally, a physical transformation and, as that saying attributed to caretakers of the land before the establishment of European colonies here, the ability to 'walk in another's moccasins'.

Numerous studies and reports, regarding societal development along separate paths in the United States, including the Kerner Report commissioned by President Lyndon B. Johnson, have been conducted over the past few decades that indicate all that has transpired in America, since its inception, has shaped the psyches and consciences of all in America, Black and White, resulting in divergent view points on many things due to our life experiences.

The African slave trade and the system of chattel slavery became major sources of wealth for Europe. Estimates of the number of Africans taken from the continent during the nearly five hundred year period, including the East Coast Slave Trade, carried on by the Arabs of the Middle East, reaches beyond 30 million, taking into account all the European nations involved in the transport of Africans.

As Europe emerged out of the times known as the Dark Ages and as it recovered from the loss of life during the plague that came to be known as the Black Death, the wealth generated from the transport of Africans and their enslavement allowed Europe to continue to rebuild, seeking new, previously unexplored territories outside of Europe.

All who partook of the wealth generated during the slave trade, received a leg up, economically, at the expense of lowering an entire continent of people to the status of less than human for those purposes.

I hear and read, nearly on a nonstop basis, the admonition to just 'get over slavery'. Our lives here right now are representative of our ancestors somehow grabbing hold to their belief in a Creator and against so many odds, including choosing not to take their own lives out of heartbreak and despair, who lived to continue, despite their hardships and struggles, in spite of slavery, so that each generation reaped the benefit of the succeeding generations' struggles, propelling us forward until we've arrived here.

One of the silliest notions that exists, whenever anyone of African descent speaks of historical matters that have occurred or are occurring, due to America's history and how it viewed race, is that the speaker is playing the 'race' card.

For most within the African American community, the 'race' card is not some trump card that helps you 'win' any discussion or debate. Virtually every time, whenever race is mentioned by an American of African descent, nearly every discussion veers off course, with the speaker being called out for expressing a belief based on their life experience.

For a number of years, our family has lived in a small, predominately White community, in the Black section of town. My oldest daughter was five years old when she began kindergarten. She had one child, who happened to be a White child, that she called her best friend. She and the little girl played together during recess after lunch. My daughter began school in 1994.

One day, as she and her friend approached another group of girls, they asked the other children if they could play with them. They were told that my daughter's friend could play but, my daughter could not because she was Black.

When my oldest entered 3rd grade, in 1998, another friend, who also happened to be a White girl, explained to my child that, according to the child's older sister, it was alright for my daughter to be friends with her but one day, when they got older, they couldn't be friends any longer because my daughter was Black.

Now, I sent my daughter out into the world to attend school in 1994 yet, it was as if she had been attempting to break the color line at her school in the 50's and 60's. Why is that?

This is not a unique set of circumstances nor is this story an unfamiliar or unique experience among many of us within the African American community. Is speaking of these incidents somehow playing the 'race' card? Some outside the community would most likely say it is.

I shared this story to illustrate that a child, who obviously wasn't concerned about the color of her playmates, was introduced to the concept of exclusionary race based customs, by White children, as she attempted to interact in the world, heedless of the complicated concepts and issues that weigh heavily on the collective American psyche regarding race.

In reality, that imaginary 'race' card? It's more like the Old Maid card in the children's card game of that same name because we know, that is, if you're an African, when you get stuck with that card in your hand at the end of the game, you lose.

[Sourakhata]

I view the 'race card' thing as an empty notion in the vast arsenal of lexical manipulation to minimize & subdue our cry for full freedom & our struggle in racist Amerikkka or elsewhere worldwide..!

What happened to your daughter is awfully common, that's how they treat us and our sacred kidz, that's why we have to teach our Afrikan children to love their selves & their own people first & foremost, 'cause if we want unity (the only way to stem the crakkka) we have to teach them first..!

[nattyreb]

Yeah, that "race card" b.s. is to encourage us to shut-up and say nothing about any injustice, i just can't stand to hear it!!!

[Mordecai_7]

This is nothing more that THE POLITICS OF RACISM. These politics have kept The BlackMan, Woman, and Child at a social, cultural, economic, and political DISADVANTAGE since 1555. If we, as a people, continue to allow ourselves to be subjected to these politics then, we ought not complain about them because we do have the choice to do something about them...

[WildFlowers]

I agree - a plan of action is needed for such matters. It is however very hard as one is often approached with "the get over it" mentality. That's easy to say if it's not you that's affected.

[Warrior Princess]

This article is something that so many of us need to read, because before caucasians can accuse a brother or sister of "playing the race card", it is coming off our tongues at an ever faster rate. Bro. Malcolm had a term for that, 'parrots".

Sister, I have found jewels in your column and I certainly hope that you do not mind my sharing them with all proper credit to the very much insightful wordsmith/author.

[Pellethie]

Not long ago my wife and I joined a seemingly popular history forum as we both have an interest in this subject. It wasn’t long before we discovered this site was dominated and frequented by white people. No big deal as we both have joined other places similar in nature. What set this place apart from most others was their numerous threads which to me were posted to symbolically relive the defeats of non-white peoples in not only American history, but that of the world as well. To me, history is much more than discussing wars, conquest, victories and defeats. No sooner than we joined ’bait’ threads began to appear about ‘Native American’ wars against the whites and the policy of genocide carried out against us along with fallacies concerning our traditional cultures. Contesting some of these one sided postings we were set upon with remarks such as -
‘Before the Europeans, Native peoples of America had their own tribal wars’ Well that is true there was fighting between tribes, but they were for the most part small scale raiding, very ceremonial and not as the total warfare carried out by the Europeans. For most Indian tribes the objective was not to completely conquer or exterminate our adversaries as there would be no one to raid next season. Not much to compare with the white Christian manifest destiny practiced from exploration, colonialism to Americanization. Following a bit of our contesting such fallacies, these people saw fit to start threads glorifying men like president Andrew Jackson whose Indian removal policy was the decimation of many tribal people and their way of life. I suspect this was an attempt to anger us thus provoking Indians to say something that would get us banned. Although we remained somewhat cordial, their trolls were set upon us. True statements we made resulted in us getting warnings from their moderators while these folks were allowed to make any foul, off hand remarks they wished. Not able to provoke us into a banning, they did so by claiming we were multiple accounting. True, my wife and I posted from our home, but used two different computers. Oddly enough this site I speak of was creating sock puppet accounts just to bait and troll us.

American Indians were not the only quarry in this fox hunt, fake African Americans were applied to get their sick symbolic messages across. I recall a thread concerning reparations for former slaves was started as to trounce African Americans with statements such as - ‘Well their fellow Africans sold these people into bondage’ or ‘Hell no there should be no reparations, these people should learn to pull themselves up by their boot straps and advance into mainstream American society’. What I gathered from such statements, they were saying it was perfectly alright to own slaves just because other Africans sold others into bondage, or it was perfectly alright to carry out a policy of genocide against Indians because we sometimes raided each other. Whenever anything was said to contest such bias statements, these white people were quick to shout - ‘race card’, or white guilt.

They then started a thread glorifying Nathan Bedford Forrest to go along with the others praising confederate military leaders. Acting upon a hunch, I got over my disgust enough to read threads from a rather ugly site called stormfront where folk with different handles were making identical statements concerning non-white people. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to come upon the conclusion that some of these are the same people.

Any postings concerning peaceful aspects of non-white history were ignored or shunned by these people. Any statement against such genocidal white American leaders or Antebellum America was looked upon as blasphemy.

[Warrior Princess]

(LOL You and your wife were banned for the same reasons that "ethnic studies" AKA history or any study of life outside of the eyes of the 'dominant' culture's is banned.)

Oh yes, this is their regular trademark. The anatomy of their psyche has been well documented by the use of their own pens in their own most important documents.

It is not popularly kept in mind that this document was drafted in the midst of all of their thieving, enslaving, raping, murdering, etc.

It is also not popularly kept in mind that holidays like the 4th of July celebrate all the stuff that comes in after the words "in the midst of all their..."

American justice is not blind; it's just schizophrenic as hell.

Look at all of this wailing and moaning about "tyranny" in the midst of their giving out what is clearly the epitome of tyranny:

*********************************
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

This document was drafted in the midst of their killing, enslaving, raping, thieving, etc. American justice isn't blind, it's just schizophrenic as hell.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

[blackdeffender]

the whole concept of that term "race card" to me is whiteys way of saying "shut up and do not even mention the rape and constant destruction of your people"