A New Kind of Racism

Racism is rampant today. We're not necessarily talking about racism of the slurs and rights violations variety (though that most certainly exists to some degree). We're talking about racism without racists. Now, that might sound like a bit of a contradiction, but it really makes sense. The number of outright racists has decreased over time, but prejudice is still very much alive. Racism without racists is unconscious racism. It's when a woman automatically holds her purse closer to her when she walks past a black man. It's when you quietly wonder to yourself why a biracial couple chose to get married. It's when you avoid eye-contact with a Hispanic adult because you assume they can't speak English. It's the kind of racism constantly faced by racial minorities-including President Obama. Does this kind of racism make you a bad person? Well, no. Because you're not exactly a racist. We all have our set of prejudices embedded into our subconscious by our surroundings and the way we're raised. So shouldn't we take a look at what's wrong with those "surroundings" and the ideologies behind them?

For an article providing greater detail:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/opinion/05kristof.html?_r=2

What Would You Do?

This clip is part of a 20/20 series called "What Would You Do?" The series included many stagings of crimes and other shocking behavior in order to reveal how people react. In the clip, three teenagers were "vandalizing" a car in broad daylight. It documents the difference in reactions when they switch to three black teens. It's an interesting look at unconscious racism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIVgMvuCM_k&feature=related

Chart below represents the percentage of cartoons framed negatively, neutrally and positively

A black man and a white man are arguing about racial discrimination. The white down plays racism by calling it culture. It discusses the claims of reverse discrimination. It frames how racism is swept under the rug by calling it culture. Also it admits to the fact that it is the way things have always been.

A "democrat" sees every Rorschach image as a racist. It frames how conservatives have to be careful as democrats are quick to cry "racist".

Showing Nov. 4, 2008 election day for Obama and a black woman as the Statue of Liberty, which is saying that for so long there have been only white people which signifies the Statue of Liberty as a "white America" and now that a person of color is in office the Statue of Liberty signifies a "black America." This unity represents a goal the U.S. has been striving to achieve for years and now finally has achieved. It represents how people of color have a say in things and have power, now that there is a person of color in the White House.

The cartoon is really showing how Obama is the hope for the future and that all the people are out in the dark if they don´t believe or follow his ways. The cowboy is framed as being the "average american", the KKK member is framed as being a major racism issue in the United States and the rebel flag shirted man is framed as being the right wing. Racist rebells that are out in the dark and not in support of the president.

Obama uses "stupidly" in referring to the actions taken by the police in the Gate Incident. It frames Obama as stupid for being on his friends Gate´s side. The controversy over Gate´s arrest has been framed almost exclusively in racial terms. Obama spoke before having all the facts.

Obama paints the White House black. Cartoon has two main focuses that can be taken in consideration. One is that Obama, being of color is painting the white house black and the other one, since posted in an Israeli newspaper, has to be the big focus; Obama is not good for jewish people (black is a bad color for zionists).

According to this picture Obama´s been pulling the "race card" and since Hillary can´t do that, she is trying to take it from him. It frames how racial minorities play the race card all the time. White people find it unfair.

Two working class white men are discussing how they can relate to a woman or to a black man. It frames Obama as a black man who has nothing in common with white men, either black men or woman is a toss-up because neither are like white men.

Biden has a racist paradigm that Bush criticizes. Biden fulfills that paradigm by contradicting his earlier statement. It frames Obama and black people as inarticulate and unclean. Biden cultivates that by speaking in slang so Obama can understand him better.

Hillary is dressing up as a person of color and Bill is confused. Hillary Clinton is saying she thinks she has more of a chance winning pretending to be a person of color rather than being a woman.

Obama is standing "in the shadow" of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, who seem proud of him as a symbole of the accomplishments, namely the Civil Rights Movement and Emancipation. Obama is the signal of the end of racism by bringing together the nations history of uniting civil rights between people of color and the emancipation issues we faced in this country.

Obama is taking the Oath of Office and giving people hope. He does this by "change", making new policies.

The U.S. attorney Gerarld Eric Holder appalled by George Bush acknowledges racism. This Cartoon makes white people seem like they are making progress while black people feel like there is still racism in America.

Glenn Beck is sad because he is giving away the balloon that says the truth about Obama, that he really is an American. The reality is that the cartoonist says that he is not any of those things (nazi, racist, commmunist), that he is just American.

A white and a black man are hugging each other. White and black people are finally making peace with each other and the speach bubble is referring to Obama´s "yes we can."

The politically correct police are going to arrest the cartoonist because the character he drew of Obama looks like a crazy extreme. No matter how beign one´s intent is, they can still be labeled "racist."

A member of the Ku Klux Klan is "anonymously" comenting on an article about a school bus attack. There is still racist hate beign spread verbally and over the web.

Judge Sotomayor is characterized as a Mexican pinata, when in actuality she is Puerto Rican. This cartoon demonstrates ignorance and the assumption by Americans that all Latin-American people are Mexican, which at times can be seen negatively by Americans.

Angry Wackos

There are people who hate his policies that are called racists, but actual racists, such as the members of the KKK, don't associate themselves because they just hate him for his skin color.

“Another America”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/a3b9fb57-093f-4bd7-8bd6-dfe2f2b6727a.html

“Obama Makes History”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/48d08e40-054f-4f80-976e-6c7bfc2f49ac.html

“Glenn Beck”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/ee2ea97c-3f4d-4f6d-b5ab-4e3421ebe24b.html

“Racist Backlash”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/6b947a26-0ae0-48a2-ac62-f26746d1799c.html

“Obama’s America”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/fea75948-6fd7-4c66-a14f-5afa95b2f70f.html

“Obama and Resigned KKK Member”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/8ceca1ff-b1f1-4762-aaae-eb7e0a9d3a15.html

“Obama Gives Hope”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/ab05250e-ea51-46c1-8a45-7ac658d4b967.html

“A Racist among Us”
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/76059

“Dems See Racism”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/ab05250e-ea51-46c1-8a45-7ac658d4b967.html

“Local STL- Racist Comments on School Bus Beating”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/0fa033af-3a08-4910-a29f-95abed4235f9.html

“New Haven Firemen”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/5f2da5a4-1b5f-4909-b823-4b0a93bdc42c.html

“Terrorists Fist Jab”
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/original/nyrkvet.png

“The Democratic Race Correction”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/cf1924d4-6734-4b4e-a198-6c5ab1d50d9d.html


“Obama Lapel Pin”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/e04a5a78-24f0-4b73-8f6b-39addbbaaa9f.html

“Hillary Goes for the Black Vote”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/dbc46fb2-fe7f-4c26-bec4-4882b610574e.html

“Stimulus Bill”
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/original/delonas.jpg

“Criticizing Obama 101”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/09dabf38-f899-4f1e-868c-bf869ae0ff2b.html

“Holders “Cowards”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/7b307407-93c5-42c3-b41e-fa04427c82e2.html

“Obama’s Skin”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/6e15de9b-edd3-48cd-a08c-3e7a8df28d3d.html

“Articulate and Clean”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/13c78025-f46b-4303-bd44-492396faf664.html

“Who to Vote For”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/b67d499f-7bcd-4d1d-a9e7-6465930f4d32.html

“Last Hurdle”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/62ab07ca-1042-4c53-981a-67174a519d62.html

“Soto mayor as Piñata”
http://www.mije.org/files/u426/bok-sotomayor.jpg

“Inauguration Ball”
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/65594/

“Angry Wackos”
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/75885/

“Profiling Post Gatesgate”
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9fkt8mvIsaUZSFXUL65kZxh4NLpHv-dEJwOiDBQKNzstDS_AZISxa_XSKC96t6wWppAD6BlQ_muN_ZOh6sr9GeG9jl6ljMZfypUyK8g8h5oZGXypvC_0AztO0vILWhFXqP4F3h_TR6I/s400/profiling.gif

“Obama Paints the White House Black”
http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/obama-caricature-thumb.jpg

“Gates Incident”
http://www.caglecartoons.com/viewimage.asp?ID={6F524C00-2F81-44E8-A085-7DF32840D771}
“The Heckler”
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/02f211d4-f4d0-4bfc-866e-5524787f1edc.html

Henry Louis-Gate - Race Card

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-july-28-2009/henry-louis-gate---race-card

As a distinguished black studies professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr. is ecstatic to finally feel oppressed.

The Flight of the Conchords- Racism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs_rXxi0zhM

The Word - He Who Smelt It, Dealt It

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/240127/july-29-2009/the-word---he-who-smelt-it--dealt-it

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Racism is nothing more than an unpleasant nuisance that is best to ignore, like a fart.