I Think I Might Be Racist…
January 12, 2009 by Hook (Hustleman)
Filed under News/Pop Culture, US | 320 views
Since everyone is kicking off the new year Cero-Nueve with an article I thought I would do some soul searching and found out I was racist.
Or am I?
CNN posted an article under the line “You May Be More Racist Than You Think, Study Says,” by Elizabeth Landau, and she reports on a study where, essentially, people say they are not racist but do not react when they witness a racist gesture. Once you read the story you’ll catch the gist of where I am going to go.
It got me to thinking…”Am I racist?” My first thought was, “No, I can’t be. I am surrounded by people of all races, religions, sexual preferences and creeds. I am not racist or prejudiced.” As I go deeper, there are some other thoughts recalled which lead me to believe I may be no better than Shay Whitey.
Recollection #1
While pushing my shopping cart full of Honey Nut Cheerios, bananas, Totinos Pizzas, a diminutive Asian females gets into her new 2009 Yukon and proceeds to motor by. An immediate chill runs down my spine at the thought of seeing her speed down the road in a vehicle that was clearly not meant for people who were under 5″5″, female, and Asian. I live in California so I was close to grouping Pacific Islanders, Indians, and probably Northern Africans into that comment. Now, it seems I am not only racist but apparently chauvinist. In my defense though, the aforementioned Asian lady did almost clip your boy, but it had nothing to do with her race or stature. She appeared to be a bit preoccupied with her phone call. Hey, get a bluetooth and I won’t need to get racist.
Recollection #2
I am cruising on the I-15 north and an ashy blue Ford Escort violating the smog code is applying serious pressure in the rear view (nullus). Well, as I am trying to get out of the way, I have to pull my best “Dukes of Hazzard” manuever to avoid an accident. As the driver moves past me, I don’t even get an “I’m Sorry” gesture. The Baja California tags tell the story. Not only did I almost get taken out but the guy wouldn’t have had insurance anyway.
Damn…I am racist. In scenario one, this isn’t something I’ve known all my life. My parents didn’t raise me to fear the Asian Danica Patricks of the world. Sometimes, it’s a thought someone puts in your head and one day without even thinking about it, you’ve lumped an entire group of people into one bad stereotype. One would think that as a Black person in America (a Shay Lighty too but that is another story) that I’d be a little more tolerant and understanding. Nope…my knees tremble at the sight of the Korean lady in the Excursion. It could be that this is not racism…but it’s still not right. It’s slightly ignorant.
In scenario two, someone told me to watch out for Baja tags when I got to San Diego because an accident with those meant your insurance had to be in order. There could be a DMV study that has tracked the number of uninsured Mexicans involved in accidents but I don’t think I can stereotype Mexicans that way.
These are two really goofy scenarios, but if I am doing it on this level, how do I know I am not doing it to other groups of people in inappropriate settings like say on the job? If they were to do it to me, I know I’d be ready to mic check someoene.
If you do read the article, it provides a link to the “Implicit Association Test“. I took the “Race IAT” hoping to find out that I wasn’t racist at least towards white people. Hey, I need to start somewhere, I guess. Just a hint before you take the test, do it when you are alert. I did the test just before typing my article (at almost 2 AM). I thought the test would reveal that my self-perceived favoritism towards Black people is just an outpouring of racial pride. I posted my results below:
Your data suggest little to no automatic preference between European American and African American.
I don’t even know how to take that. Either I am not biased when it comes to black and white people, or I am not as partial to Black people as I thought I was. Of course……it is late……..I am probably just delirious.
Hopefully, someone gets to take the test and let’s me know how they did. It’s a pretty crazy test.
Tobias
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I’m Asian, 5′3″ and drive a Jeep Cherokee.
I haven’t run anyone over yet
Oh I know I am racist. It’s hard not to be when New York City’s fire department is 90% white. The NYPD is sparring for position against the LAPD and NOPD for #1 killer of young Black men. When it comes to a bad economy, who’s first to get fired and last to get hired? How is it that NYC is the financial capital of the world (I suppose), yet students outside of NYC, suburb and rural areas in NY state, receive more educational funding to the point that they can afford sports teams and extra curricular activities but NYC students, mostly Black and Hispanic, can’t even afford updated books?
Don’t get me wrong. I take each person as they come regardless of race. I’ve actually seen myself messing with White women and Asian women (because Black women are more trouble than they’re worth). But, I ain’t stupid either. I have my reasons for being racist - try self-preservation for one. And, they say they’re scared of us! HA!
Anthony,
Your response is something I’d like to research. What would be the best books, magazines, or websites to check? I can’t lie. Left coast life makes you a little too laid back at times.
Tracy,
I am working devilishly to right my wrongs!
I try to dole out my prejudice along different lines. That way it’s spread over every ethnic group. For instance, I don’t particularly care for people who don’t drink (at least a little bit). I also don’t like extremists or rollerbladers.
Lol this is too funny, you racist as hell…
-Ed.
http://www.edthesportsfan.com
According to the test, I have a moderate preference for African-Americans. Apparently, I’m not as well-rounded as I thought. I remain unforgiving, though.
Newsflash, we are ALL racist. Sure, most of us don’t have the social, political or economic power to oppress a seemingly inferior group, but we all make judgements based on skin color (well and on gender and age, but that’s a total different story.) While its easy to admit when we are racist against other groups, how many of us will admit when we are being racist against our own? I know that on a daily basis I grown ass men in baggy jeansn ridiculous t-shirts, the newest Jordans and I INSTANTLY think “where do these niggas come from?” And I make judgements from the other end of the spectrum. Even though I’ve dated a number of white women, I instinctively shake my head upon seeing a black man with a white woman. Thoughts of “Uncle Tom” or “House Nigga” quickly scroll across my mental marquee.
But I do not think its bad to have these thoughts. its important to acknowledge that you have these racist thoughts and train yourself not to act on them. I mean every racist thought you’ve had about someone, there are many other people who have had the same thoughts about you.
interesting test. I decided to take a different test because I already know i’m racist I don’t need a test for that, lol.
Tobias. You’ll have to do a lot of the footwork. That’s just life in NYC. You pick up on these things that matter to you. Articles in newspapers, statistics, etc. There’s no specific place to get all that information. On top of that, it’s difficult when info amy be fudged. For example, murders of young black men are posted in statistics as accidents or some shit to hide the fact they’re actually city/state-sanctioned homicides.
Apparently I have no discernable preference for either group… my radical credentials just got revoked. I definitely harbor prejudicial attitudes, but the test sucked for me because as a Type A, I didn’t want to get the test wrong. So maybe I’m just prejudiced against stupid people?
I have to be honest too. I was playing that test like I was the Last Starfighter.
That will show the age of some of our readers if they get that one.
Moderate preference for African Americans.
I almost want to think that it had more to do with my test-taking abilities, but I am almost sure that they account for most if not all factors that may potentially skew your score.
Just took the skin tone test. Was curious if all the back and forth in the AA community about skin tone had affected me (since I always felt like I did not have a preference for light or dark…or certainly hoped I did not). Ended up with little or no preference for light or dark skin. Yeah!