By
Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D.
Teachers College, Columbia University
African Proverb
“The true tale of the lion hunt will
never be told as long as the hunter
tells the story.”
The Rest of the Story:
“Telling on Racism”
January
2015
The Speech that made Obama President
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“There is not a liberal America or a conservative
America, there is only one America.”
“There is not a Black America or a White America
and Latino America, or Asian America, there’s only
the United States of America.”
“We are one people.”
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In announcing his presidential run, Senator
Joe Biden was asked what he thought about
Barack Obama:
"I mean, you got the first mainstream
African-American who is articulate and
bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I
mean, that's a storybook, man."
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White campaign worker for the election of
Barack Obama:
“This society has moved beyond race. The election
of Senator Obama as the first Black president will
finally make it clear. I’m proud to be part of the
movement. We are all human beings and that’s
how this nation should be. Martin Luther King said
it best. We should not judge people by the color of
their skin.”
1.
Ascription of Intelligence/Assumption of
Inferiority and Criminality.
◦ “Obama is an exception to most Blacks.”
2.
Denial of Individual Racism.
◦ “I’m not racist because I voted for a Black man. See, I am a good, moral and decent
human being.”
3.
Racism is Thing of the Past.
◦ “We live in a post racial society as witness the election of the first African American
president.”
4.
Myth of Color Blindness.
◦ “There is only one race, the human race. The color of one’s skin is unimportant. We
are all just human beings.”
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After the George Zimmerman Verdict and in
an impromptu press conference President
Obama stated:
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1. Locking of car doors.
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2. Monitored while shopping.
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3. White woman in elevator reactions.
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“I thought the President of the United States was president for everyone, not just Black
Americans.”
“My mother was attacked by three Black men and beaten and kicked. The injuries stayed with
her until the day she died. She was scared of Black men not because they were Black, but
because she was nearly killed by 3 Black men.”
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“The President is wrong! This is not a race thing. If I am not mistaken Zimmerman is Hispanic
n’White.
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“The President cannot presume to be a spokesperson for all minorities. My Black friend says
these examples are exaggerated. So, Mr. President, control your paranoid self.”
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“Why would/should/could there be separate versions of laws based on skin color? What
specific thing about stand your ground don’t you understand? It’s for everyone. Separate but
equal was a failure, remember?”
“Let’s see, Blacks get arrested more and people of other races are weary because statistics
prove that Blacks are more likely to commit violent crimes. Don’t tell me to turn the other
cheek and not be vigilant.”
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We are a democratic society.
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We are good, moral and decent human beings.
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Egalitarian relationships are valued.
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Truth and justice should be valued.
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We live in a meritocratic society.
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Anyone who works hard enough can succeed in society.
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Equal access and opportunity are hallmarks of society.
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People should be color-blind and not judge one another by the color of their skin.
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Racism is abhorrent, but is now a thing of the past (post-racial era).
In other words, the stories told by White people (especially “race talk”) are
filled with these themes.
1. Reassures them that they are good, moral, and fair people.
2. Prevents them from being conscious of their biased cultural
conditioning.
3. Allows them to live in a world of false deception.
4. Maintains their innocence and naiveté.
5. Perpetuates the racial status quo.
6. Act as blinders about the inequities that exist for people of
color.
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Ultimately, the function of White talk is to Justify inaction.
The shaping of racial realities from the White
Western European perspective comes through
three channels:
1. Schooling and Education
2. Mass Media
3. Significant Others, Peers, and Social Groups
Back talk in a racial dialogue threatens to
decode the racist assumptions of the master
narrative.
It represents a challenge or duel between two
opposing belief systems with much at stake for
personal, institutional and societal realities.
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We live in a society that advantages some groups while disadvantaging others.
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It is ordinary White people, not the White supremacist, who do the most harm to people of
color.
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Whites often do not treat others with fairness and respect, but in prejudicial and discriminatory
ways.
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White people seem adverse to seeking the truth about racism and engage in self-deception.
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Equal access and opportunity are falsehoods.
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Meritocracy is a myth.
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Color-blindness is impossible and it perpetuates inequities.
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Racism is alive, well and thriving in the current times.
In other words, we do not live in a post-racial era. Back talk threatens to reveal the
ugly racist White secrets of society.
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The denial of color is really a denial of differences.
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The denial of differences is really a denial of power and
privilege.
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The denial of privilege is really a denial of personal benefits
that accrue to White people by virtue of racial inequities.
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The denial that Whites profit from racism is really a denial of
responsibility for their racism.
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The denial of the existence of racism, allows Whites to live
their lives in naiveté and innocence.
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Lastly, the denial of their racism is really a denial of the
necessity to take action against racism.
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Group Outcome
The President’s Initiative on Race has found that constructive
conversations have the following potential group impact:
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Heal racial and ethnic divides.
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Reduce prejudice and misinformation.
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Foster improved race relations.
Personal Cognitive Outcome
On a cognitive level, cross-racial interactions and dialogues are a
necessity
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to increase racial literacy,
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to expand the ability to critically analyze racial ideologies, and
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to dispel stereotypes and misinformation about other groups
Personal Emotional Outcome
On an emotive level, participants of successful racial dialogues report
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less intimidation and fear of differences,
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an increased compassion for others,
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a broadening of their horizons,
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appreciation of people of all colors and cultures, and
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a greater sense of connectedness with all groups