Jim Grimsley penned an editorial last week in the Los Angeles Times that accused white people—all white people—of being racist.
Unfortunately for the gay columnist and playwright, one
Benny Huang plans to examine the issue of racism in a dispassionate manner and, indeed, to take the argument to its logical conclusions.
Grimsley, who is white and grew up in Georgia at the tail-end of the
Jim Crow era, railed against the cluelessness of white America on the
issue of race. Even white people who consider themselves enlightened on
racial issues, he argues, are often unaware of the racism that lurks
within their own hearts. “…I have found that black people are all too
aware that progress on racial issues has hardly moved forward at all,
while white people are nearly as blind to their racism as ever,” he
wrote.
I wish Grimsley had been clearer on one point—that is, whether white
racism is cultural or genetic. Within the space of the same sentence he
seems to blame both nature and nurture for white racism. Grimsely
writes: “…[T]hese are symptoms of the insanity of white culture and our
refusal to understand that racism is part of our makeup — each and every
one of us, north, south, east and west — from cradle to grave.”
… The idea that white people are irredeemably racist is central to the
social justice movement. All white people are racist, even good white
liberals.
… Enter Tim Wise, another white southerner. He may be America’s best
known “anti-racist activist” and he’s pretty extreme in his beliefs.
Wise has made a career out of countering anti-black racism, most of
which is entirely fictional, with anti-white racism. Even Wise admits to
harboring certain racist tendencies though he blames it on growing up
in a “white supremacist” culture. He nonetheless believes, despite his
efforts to be the best friend black people have ever had, that he has
internalized certain racist attitudes. And no, he isn’t talking about
racist attitudes towards whites though that would at least be true.
According to Tim Wise, icon of “anti-racism,” even Tim Wise can’t claim to have washed away the stain of racism. Without exception, all white people must be racist.
… It should be noted here that this attitude [Tribalism] has existed in all time
and in all places. The only societies in history that have even tried to
resist the tribalist urge are modern Western societies—this is, white
societies of the post-World War II era. If you regard tribalism as
negative–and in most cases I do—then Europe and North America are
actually paragons of virtue. Colorblindness is an idea that modern
Westerners have strived for even if they have not perfectly achieved it.
Within those societies, it’s the white majority that has been the most
willing to suppress their instincts. Other races seem less enthused
about colorblindness. They have demanded and received preference which they will cling to from now until eternity.
… The idea that we’re born racist, something I think at least some
social justice warriors would agree with as long as we’re discussing
only white people, has certain ramifications. If we accept it (and I
do), we must accept that racism will always exist. The war against
racism can never be won but we can lose our freedom fighting it.
I’ve noticed that liberals often use human nature as an excuse for
behaviors that would otherwise be rejected. If we have an urge, what’s
the use of trying to suppress it? Consider homosexuality, for example, a
behavior regarded as aberrant by nearly every society prior to the late
Twentieth Century. Putting aside moral and religious arguments for a
moment, homosexuality comes with certain health risks, particularly the
male variety—rectal cancer, AIDS, gonorrhea, etc.
(In
a previous column, Benny Huang talked of
doctors who, while gallantly joining in the battles on smoking and fast food, live in fear that their careers will be summarily
ended if they advise against anal sodomy—which turns out to be far from bad medical
advice, no matter how you slice it.)
But don’t tell that to liberals. “Gays” are just “born that way” they
argue with very little evidence. No “gay” gene has ever been found and
studies indicate that children exposed to sexual abuse tend to become
homosexuals. Liberals reject this notion because they believe that
homosexuality is not a choice. Homosexuals therefore have no obligation
to suppress their urges. Be your true to yourself, they say. Telling
anyone that homosexuality is shameful is a form of abuse because it
forces that person into the proverbial closet.
It’s a mystery to me how homosexuality differs from racism if they are
both inborn traits. According to dogma, “gays” couldn’t stop being “gay”
any more than a leopard could change his spots. But isn’t the same true
of racists? If racists are born, not made, then even heavy guilt
tactics won’t cure them. What’s the point of trying to make racists
change? All of this “racist shaming” seems both pointless and
destructive to its subjects.
As a certified “homophobe” I am often asked if “gays” choose to be
“gay.” I always answer the same: yes, because people choose who they
sleep with. That doesn’t satisfy the homofascists who always respond,
“If being gay were a choice, who would choose it?”
… The social penalty for homosexuality is non-existent. The same cannot
be said about the social penalty for racism. You can lose your job for
the slightest episode of racism, real or perceived, which is really
hypocritical in that everyone is at least a little racist.
A simple question demands to be answered: do people choose to be
racist? If say you say no, then what’s the point of shaming them?
They’re beyond reformation. If you say yes, that necessitates a
follow-up question—if racism is a choice, who would choose it knowing
that it would mean living life as a pariah? Certainly no one I know
would knowingly accept the social penalty that comes with harboring
forbidden thoughts. It must therefore be an inborn characteristic.
