(ThyBlackMan.com) I am convinced that at the center of the average white person’s refusal to accept the undeniable fact that racial bigotry is a staple of White America sits a voluminous misunderstanding that those whose hearts overflow with racially-based hatred look like them. It is not like racial bigots have devil horns sitting atop their heads. To the chagrin of many whites, the alluded to racial bigots are fully functioning members of their respective communities.
It appears that the average white person cannot recognize racial bigotry in any form other than outlandish public behavior that they consider beneath them. This failure or inability to identify “milder” forms of racial intolerance, prejudice, and discrimination has allowed for white bigots to exist within White America with little interruption.
Make no mistake about it; white bigots are neither social outcasts nor pariah within White America as they occupy spaces as sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and grandparents within that diverse community. Put simply; they are on the Home Owners Association Board, the local School Board, or even a political representative for their region at the local, state, or national level.
I guess that what I am asserting is that in most ways, white bigots are not much different from those that they share spaces on usher boards, city councils, school boards, or non-profit boards.
A group of Wisconsin high school students from Baraboo High School once again displayed the normalcy that white bigotry has become. The alluded to students took a mass photo where nearly all of the 63 boys made the Sieg Heil salute before entering their junior prom; one student was bold enough to display the “white power” symbol slyly.
As expected, the school superintendent released an all too familiar statement regarding this matter. According to the administrator, the photo “…is not reflective of the educational values and beliefs of the School District of Baraboo.” This moment is yet another reminder that there is a wide swath of Americans “Who have eyes, yet they cannot see.”
I wish that there was an efficient way that I could take the scales away from the eyes of well-meaning “decent” white Americans so that they could see the futility of their repeated denials regarding the infestation of their community by white bigots. It is not difficult to discern that the alluded to outbreak has been so prolonged that well-meaning whites no longer recognize the presence of vermin. Instead of addressing this matter, whites have created a fantasy world where bigotry no longer exists. At best, such rationalization is little more than a trick that offers a psychological release for sober-minded whites. Not even the most vociferous denials serve as a convincing counter-argument that the young men in the photo are someone’s son, future husband, best friend, boss, supervisor, nephew, and the list goes on.
Ultimately, it is White America that must ask itself from whence these weeds of racial bigotry and hatred grow. Only a fool would believe that they do not begin with a dubious socialization process inside of White America.
I shudder to think that the racial bigotry displayed by the students at Baraboo High School is so ingrained into White America that they do not consider it a cause for concern. The lack of alarm reveals many things, none of them positive, about White America and its lack of commitment regarding racial equality in the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is time that whites realize that they have a problem that will never eradicate itself. The issue of white bigotry is one that was created via a wicked brew of racial angst. Consequently, the solution is found in an oppositional socialization process that will require whites to loosen their hold on centuries old politico economic monopolies.
It is a huge task to ask and only time will tell if White America has the ability to address the bigots that have made their home in their midst.
Staff Writer; Dr. James Thomas Jones III
Official website; http://www.ManhoodRaceCulture.com
One may also connect with this brother via Twitter; DrJamestJones.
