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by Dr. Boyce Watkins
Mark Anthony Neal at Duke University is one of my most respected colleagues. A man known for bringing keen insights on matters of race in America, Dr. Neal uses his talents in ways that are incredibly productive for the advancement of the black community. In a recent episode of his online show, “Left of Black,” Dr. Neal speaks with Duke University Professor Eduardo Bonilla Silva, Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Sociology Department.
Neal and Bonilla-Silva is the author of Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States.
Dr. Bonilla-Silva and Dr. Neal discuss the subtle racism that has come to define life in 21st century black America. You rarely have to worry about anyone calling you the n-word, but the penalties for failing to properly assimilate are tremendous, even for those of us who are highly educated. I’ve rarely experienced more racism in my life than I did once I earned a PhD and found myself being hired in an academic department that had never hired a single black person in 100 years of operating history. By simply being who I was as a black man, I was defined to be a professional deviant.
We must remember that there is a difference between racism and racial inequality, both of which can be devastating. Racial inequality is the result of a dysfunctional society with disparate outcomes that is created from hundreds of years of consistent work by racists who seek to create that society. This work must be reversed with courage, and it won’t happen by us simply getting together and singing “We shall overcome.” If we are not working to dismantle the work that was done by the forefathers of wealthy white Americans who built billion dollar institutions on the backs of slaves, then we’ve failed to make adequate progress.
The point here is that racial inequality doesn’t go away just because you’ve stopped trying to be racist. It continues to exist until we engage in systematic effort to reverse the effects of what we’ve already done. Also, you can have racial inequality in an institution without having a single racist in the building. This is the frustration being felt by millions of hard-working African Americans who can’t figure out why the white guys control the capital, get promotions that we might have earned or always seem to be able to leave their kids an inheritance. Much of the groundwork for such inequality was laid long before we were born.
Check out Dr. Neal’s video at this link. He’s a brilliant brother, and his show is worth watching.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. He is also the creator of the Building Outstanding Men and Boys Family Empowerment Series. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
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M. Coney
November 4, 2012 at 11:34 am
Racism will be and always will be here! I was s****l harassed and harassed by a white racist principal in a Richmond County School in Augusta, Georgia. Nothing was done. I was condemned. I want Dr. Watkins to publicizes the horrible nightmare of racism I went through in this school system. I was bullied by this principal constantly. Richmond County School system in Augusta, Georgia should stop sweeping s****l harassment and discrimination under the rug! I am going to write a petition with change.org and petition Richmond County Board of Education to STOP sweeping s****l harassment and discrimination under the RUG! Racism is on the rise. Some black people help whites to promote it. I would Dr. Watkins to publish the incidents that occurred to me when I was working in this system. Racism is on the rise. What’s is the purpose of the EEOC to the majority of blacks who file a claim of s****l harassment and discrimination? I would say they don’t do anything for them. It best just file your claim or claims and request your right to suit letter before the investigation started. I know what I experienced from the EEOC branch in Atlanta, Georgia. I would like people to rally with me because how I was treated by this racist principal should have never occurred.
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freeze
November 4, 2012 at 12:29 am
When Obama made his first speach to Congress you may have watch how none of the REP clap their hands only because they never thought their would be a Black Man to lead this country. From day one they made it plain and clear that they wanted Obama to be a one tern President. No matter how he tried they tried to make him look bad and the things he accomplish with out their help when he tried to reached across the asile for help. They rather see the country fail than to see it progress under Obama adminstration. Racism still exist today ad it did many years ago only instead it’s some of those wears business suits instead of dunce cape.
Miss T
November 2, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Spoken 130 years ago and still prophetic today!!
People wonder why Republican legislators are so unrelenting on President Obama. Frederick Douglass gave us the answer many years ago. “Though the colored man is no longer subject to barter and sale, he is surrounded by an adverse settlement which fetters all his movements. In his downward course he meets with no resistance, but his course upward is resented and resisted at every step of his progress. If he comes in ignorance, rags and wretchedness he conforms to the popular belief of his character, and in that character he is welcome; but if he shall come as a gentleman, a scholar and a statesman, he is hailed as a contradiction to the national faith concerning his race, and his coming is resented as impudence. In one case he may provoke contempt and derision, but in the other he is an affront to pride and provokes malice.”
Frederick Douglass September 25, 1883
BigWill
November 4, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Racist caucasians have created a stock pile of dangerous weapons with the intent of killing you know who! The only response from AA’s to this serious threat is to continue buying more gold teeth, tattoos, hair extensions, alcohol, tobacco products, crack and other BS. Caucasians created a fake god- a white man to whom black ppl pray to each day and night. The book associated with this fake god- the Bible instructs black ppl to “Love thy enemy” and “Slaves obey your Masters”. Black people, your enemy is planning to wage an all-out war against you and your response is to- Love and Pray for them. Black ppl, please realize you must overcome your fear of cacasians which is responsible for your paralysis to this eminent violence. The time has come for black ppl to stop being slave minded drones to this wicked nation and fake religion.