That's Racist, Liz Lemon

Hey all, thanks for coming back.

Casual Racism 

Anyone who thinks that we live in post-racial America has never been to my pawn shop. Or my state, for that matter.

We need to build a better vocabulary to discern between all the different types of racists. Let me share a couple of examples.

The first one is a landscaper, owns his own business. This landscaper finds a way to disparage Mexicans in every conversation we have. We could be talking about anything - the weather, how much he owes me, movies we have seen recently - and at some point he will work in some casual racism about Mexicans. Its like he wants us to all to be aware at all times that he doesn't like Mexicans. Sometimes I feel like he is looking for a call back, for me to say something like "Yeah, I don't like me no Mexicans neither!" That would mean that we were on the same level, that he found someone that shared his worldview. I never, ever, ever take the bait - but I don't call bullshit on him either. If I was to alienate every racist that came through my doors by calling them on their bullshit I would very soon find myself without a client base. That's a bitch, but its the reality of the situation. I just frown at him and ignore the comment. He eventually got the hint, and now we just talk weather or whatever.

Anyway, that is one type of racist. Here goes another.

I have another customer, a hustler. He always comes to me with these business plans that he wants to include me in, these amazing money making schemes that shall, at least in his armchair imaginings, make us both rich. The other day he was trying to sell me on a product and part of his pitch was " (the item) could differentiate between, say, your wife taking the garbage out and some black guys trying to steal stuff." See, this man may or may not actively hate/ fear/ whatever black folks, but he is counting on my being a racist to help him make a sale. Its shitty, but you must admit an entirely different shade of shitty than my man the landscaper brings to the table.

(I did call bullshit on this guy. I couldn't' stop myself. I asked if his device could also catch white criminals. He mealy-mouthed some excuse and then moved on with his sales pitch. A real pro). 

The landscaper wants us to bond over racism. The hustler assumes I'm a racist and is using it to lever a sale.

Here goes a third type. I'm using a second hand anecdote here.

A friend of mine has a boss who is a complete and utter racist. Nice as can be to everyone face, no matter what their skin color or national origin. But when its just whites in the room he always points out that he is proud of such-and-such for being adequate at their job because, you know, work standards are different in their community. "You know, the blacks, they don't put as much emphasis on education." I'm going to borrow from Tracy Morgan's 30 Rock character Tracy Jordan who borrowed from either Bing Crosby or Bill Cosby, but its "the subtle racism of lowered expectations".

Oh, and werewolf discrimination? Also not cool. 

Less overt, but ever so shitty. Perhaps even worse than the other two because you could hook Subtlety Racist Boss up to a lie detector, ask him if he was a racist, and he would ring the gold bars. He certainly doesn't think of himself like that. But he has absorbed the bullshit of the world for so long that it bends his thinking without him ever realizing it. Lots of liberals I know are like that. Lots and lots.


Okay, Now Fix It Bright Boy

What's the cure? Why, its Time, of course.

Ever hear of "No Irish Need Apply?" Its true - the Irish were once one of the most hated of all racial groups. Irish immigrating to the United States in the early 20th Century had a difficult time finding employment or housing because they were Irish. Can you even imagine? Its hard because times have changed. That's what times do. Now every March 17 the whole lot of us turn Irish for the day.

For better or for worse

In 1964 the US Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, outlawing segregation and sexual discrimination. Before that it was perfectly acceptable for states and cities to pass ordinances to pass laws based on race or gender discrimination.

Think about that for just a tick. If you were born before 1964 you were born in a country with institutionalized racism. If your parents were born before 1964 you were raised by folks that lived in a country with institutionalized racism. That has got to mess with your psyche. Racisim was legal back before then, and if the government says its okay, then gosh by golly it must be so.

Of course now we know better. And the generation after us will know much better, and today's minority groups will fare better as we really come together in what could possibly be an actual post racial America - really, a Post Civil Rights Act America. The generation after the next generation will be even more removed from Racist America and so on and so on. Times will change. 

Thanks for coming by. Anyone who can find me the true origin and real author of the quote I attributed to either Crosby or Cosby wins today's Traveling Now WHOOOOOOO! prize, complete with phone call and personalized WHOOOOOOO!