Holder's Much Touted Speech on Race Lets White People Off the Hook

Wise visits an online message board and then professes to know what "most whites" are thinking? Talk about prejudice! Online message boards are swarmed most by people with complaints, people with an agenda. Ask the editors of the Alternet what percentage of their readers leave a comment. I believe the figure is less than 5 percent, perhaps less than 1 percent. But that makes a representative example for Mr. Wise, as the comments he sees mirror his preconceived and one-dimensional views about white Americans.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

"Race" itself is a false construction.

It allows us to forget that the true divison is between the possesors of different levels of wealth.

Also, every single "white" person I know was angered by that Police shooting, already dislikes the Police anyway, and is pretty sure that the Corporations and the Wealthy will do anything they can -including inciting "racial" divisiveness- to hold onto their waning power.

My personal experience would seem to contradict Wise's blanket assertions -which should not be very surprising, really.

I mean isn't an article stating basically that "white" folks don't care to worry about "race" -that is therefore itself worried about "race" - written BY a "white" person, for the consumption of -mostly- "white" people (U.S. Left) sort of a self-contradiction?

-matti.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The article is a racists article against white people. I guess the person forgot that alot of white people voted for Obama. Not because of the color of his skin, but for his ideas where exactly what many people also wants. equality for all people no matter what the color of a person skin.

But I can tell you that alot of african americans voted for Obama cause of his skin color, because some thought that having a black president will change alot for them and make the white people the slaves instead.What they forgot Obama is 1/2 black and 1/2 white and he was raised by his white grandparents and mother who is also white.

Now tell me who is playing the race card? the ones who screams the loudest of always being the victims and who truthfully are the ones who gets all the FREE WELFARE of many things.

Since I am a white female who has many friends of all races and different hertigues I can say this many of my friends are also so tired of the so called victims playing the race card and they do need to get over it and get their life in order, because its time to grow up and take care of their own respondsiblity and stop blaming every white person for their own reason why they are on welfare and start becoming part of the community of the HUMAN RACE.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I thought it was exceedingly bad timing.

America elects a black President. Days later, one of his first appointees tells America what cowards they are about race.

That's rather tacky, when a simple thank-you would suffice.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

To think that it is institutionalized in this country is just standard racists rants. We have a black president, black and hispanic AG, black Sec of state (Rice and Powell) etc. Nope, The American dream is open to all who want to work for it.

Any major corporation , university (Obama is a product of affirmative action) or any other large institution now has procedures in place to make sure all races and genders have equal opportunity.

Holders comment blaming personal cowardice for our racial divide is divisive in itself. He blames whites only for racial problems that exist in this country. With the likes of Al Sharpton screaming racism at every chance and profiting off of it, rap music with strong overtones of racism and sexism, he is missing the point.

It's not institutions, but the people. So lets just insult an entire race of people and maybe everyone will come to their senses, except for Sharpton, he still has to make a living and hate is the only product he has!

Holder, lets remember is famous for pardoning terrorists, and criminals. Maybe he got his job because of the strong affirmative action mindset in this nation!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

...you think black people should THANK white people for voting for a black guy? And you, the other poster, think blacks want to enslave white people and that's why they voted for Obama? And you think blacks live off welfare? (Actually, less than 1 in 7 receive any, but facts don't matter I guess)...you all actually prove my point in writing this article...and note, you ignore the evidence in the piece about ongoing discrimination against people of color, and the huge head starts that whites were given to have housing (subsidized by government underwriting while blacks were excluded), and the fact that whites have always said racism was no big deal, even in the early 60s...

as for generalizing, I'm not: every survey taken of white attitudes, EVER, has found that most white Americans do not believe racism is really a problem for black people. Every single survey without exception, so I'm just noting what we actually say when asked...and white outrage over the NY Post and the Grant killing was quite muted, compared to black folks (look at the protesters in each case and how few, relatively speaking were white). Please tell me when the last time white America, in any kind of real numbers demonstrated real anger about racism in employment, the justice system, housing, etc...rather, we tend to get angrier at civil rights protesters than the folks doing the civil rights violating...

I think it's funny that readers of a progressive website can't get this, and actually reinforce the very denial I was writing about...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Unfortunately, most of the comments posted tend to prove Tim Wise's point. Many, if not most, white people equate racism with racial prejudice. In this line of thinking, a racially prejudiced person is racist, a person who is "color-blind" is not racist. For Tim Wise and those who have conducted research in this area, racism is NOT the same as racial prejudice.

Racism (in the US at least) is a SYSTEM that advantages or privileges white folks and acts in the opposite way towards people of color. White folks receive these privileges whether they are prejudiced or not, and most of the time white people are clueless that such a system even exists. That a white person herself might be victim of racial prejudice, or that a black man like Obama could be elected president seems like evidence that the racial world Wise talks about is non-existent, but that logic only holds when you are equating racism with racial prejudice.

The more one studies racism as a systemic problem (and notice this is exactly what Wise was pointing to), the more one will uncover other dimensions of the race issue that are usually hidden to white people. But it takes a long time for white people to "get" this, even among those who don't have a prejudiced bone in their body. And it's often not their fault that they don't see it; the system has conditioned their response. Instead, what we see most often is denial, minimization, attacks on the messenger, blaming the victims, etc.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I am not sure Eric Holder's comment had a point. Now after reading Wise, I know it doesn't, and neither does Wise.

The trouble with any discussion about race is the issue of self-identification. Obama can do this somewhat more intelligently because he's mixed. Sadly, I find most of the comments made by folks like Holder to be a reflection of their biases about class rather than race, and it reflects what Jessie Jackson and Bill Cosby describe about "uppity blacks". The number of Clarence Thomases seems to be going, and that's not a good social commentary on American society.

Most people, black, white and of various shades in between, are too busy making a living and taking care of their families to really care any more about racists and their brand of racism. Give people a job, treat them with dignity, value them for their intelligence, and it couldn't matter less what color they are.

Mr. Holder, it's unfortunate that you had to testify in front of a number of hypocrite cowards for your confirmation, but the bone you have to pick is with them, not with the American people.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

As a female I have seen the duel sidedness to my particular 'ism'.Here some examples
I play pool, males always offer to allow me to lay 'slop' because I'm female. I Refuse for two reasons. One, I'm perfectly capable of playing by the standard Rules.And Two, To accept this offer only reinforces the concept I am unable to compete on a level playing field. This inturn reinforces the stereotype 'Lil lady' needs a hand. Only perpetuating the 'ism'. I do myself a disservice, but also I do the males a disservice by kicking their asses by being able to play under different conditions.
Another? Men who treat women like helpless idiots and the women who let them so they don't have to work as hard at competing, or as a method to get their way.Come On how many woman play the ignorant helpless card- even though they are fully cognizant and capable.It's been called 'Feminine Wiles', but is purely manipulation.Couldn't mow the lawn, "I don't know how to use the mower, It's too heavy for me" Some woman claim not to be able to read, or push a power driven machine- no different than a vaccuum.Same line of BS as a male claiming he doesn't understand the concept of reds don't go with whites.
Domestic Abuse is another taboo topic. Why is it we are ready to throw the male into prison, yet never look to ask why the female he beat up again has continued to stay with this asshole. Now if she is truely unable to escape that must be addressed- but there are safe houses and courts where prosecution can be sought.Assault & Battery are still Illegal.What also amazes me is the fact the Female is never held accountable for the physical or psychological damage done to the children trying to survive in this environment. Frankly her willingness to 'stick it out' is an outrage. Even if they are not being beaten, they are learning how to beat or be beaten.Women who allow themselves to be beaten are not Good parents nor entirely victims.It's called personal responsiblity for your own decisions and actions.Additionally any woman who resorts to violence to make her point is just as guilty of spousal abuse as any male. This is as Stupid as a lil' Drunk guy picking a fight with a huge biker and expecting them to cut him a break on his justified retribution.If your not willing to take a Punch- don't Throw the first one!
Minorities must take part ownership when they allow a bar to be lowered and take responsiblity When their actions provoke a well foreseen negative reaction.
If the Black community wants to Stop the Racist comments about our first Black President- stop making him purely a Black President and refer to him as THE President.The more you point out the fact he is Half Black, the more the fearful whites will consider him only interested in what the Black community wants- feeding their Racist doctrine and Irrational fears. You are doing Him, US and yourselves a grave disservice by allowing his Race to define his presidency.He's not a Black man who became president. he's a president who just happens to be half black.
There are two sides to these 'ism' coins- those who perpetuate them and those who play into them."Cowards" Yes because we continue ignore the fact 'victims' are often complicite in the 'ism' too.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

...not chasing his personal demons on the taxpayer's dime.

Go get the bad guys who do bad things; don't pay so much attention to their so-called "color", Mr. Holder, and you'll do just fine.

Thanks and have a nice day fighting crime.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The hardest thing about being a little white person is admitting that we are offered the opportunity to bully people of color under the protection of a ruling class that does not want us to aggress against them. They offer us an obscene deal. We bury awareness of it in nonsense beliefs about our entitlements, and the inadequacies of those vicitimized. In in order not to hate ourselves. We must stop hating ourselves, and acknowledge the obscenity. We were carefully socialized into racism since childhood. It is hard for people to resist group pressures to conform, anytime, but especially when you're young. Most of us white people are fairly decent at heart. Otherwise we would not need to justify the obscenity we are pressured to participate in.

Kicking an addiction always begins with admitting it's presence; second, forgiving ourselves for being addicted; third, embracing un-denial; fourth, committing to change without total self-sacrifice.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Differences exist. Being a white, male, I've seen the opportunities offered to me over more qualified, so called, blacks and women. I was raised a racist, because I benefited from it. Forced by Government or voluntarily, we can only overcome our prejudices and myths, by living, working, playing, solving problems, being together. If that means workshops in every American neighborhood, then, let's do it. Imagine the byproducts.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There will always be some form of racism. We can never escape it. Reguardless of education some individuals will always choose the easy (thoughless) way to tag a problem. The real problem as I see it is an issue of trust. Most Americans do not care about skin color. They just want to know if they can trust the person in question. Obama is half black. Big Deal. So is my sister. What has that got to do with his ideas? I didn't vote for him or McCain based soley on their LACK of good ideas. Perhaps someday the people of this nation can all sit back and laugh about all this as a pigment (or lack of pigment) of their imagination.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Tim Wise reminds us that not all is well. Institutional biases (like who qualifies for mortgages) have long-term effects, as he points out in his article. The beneficiaries of preferential treatment often assume that their achievements are due to their own accomplishments and hard work. It is just not so.

"Personal Cowardice" is NOT an explanation of the continuing tensions between various population groups, including black and white - institutional policy goes a long way towards explaining housing patterns/discrimination and discrepancies in educational opportunities.

The author is doing us a great service in reminding us that we must remain vigilant and mindful of discriminatory policies (and attitudes)at all times. One day it might be YOUR child who is senselessly and brutally killed in the subways. Equality and Justice for all!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Being white I grew up in typical white economic surrounds and still exsist in those same surroundings for the mopst part.

White or black those who aspire to own a home and actually do something about it are the ones who end up owning a home.

For instance, a white person I know wants a home. But when he gets his 5000 tax "refund" (handout) he pays off his two big screen tvs, buys some dope, gets some more parts for his "custom" truck and other various assorted stupid purchases. The money is already gone, my "refund" in its entirety is still sitting in a safe IN MY HOME. He rents and has almost his entire life subsidised by the government (food card, recently 4000 in car repairs, etc..), I get none of that. I own a home and he defrauds the government by saying he lives alone when in fact he HAS MORE FAMILY INCOME THAN I DO!

This is happening and I have at least four more stories that are worse than this that I have actually witnessed myself. All white people (well one mexican).

It all comes down to personal responsibility.

Welcome to the welfare state.

By the way the black people in this country are some of the luckiest people on the planet for having their ancestors brought here as slaves. Anyone been to Africa lately? They are still shucking grain and living in dirt floor huts while they watch their children die of hunger and disease. Simple fact, but maybe that is a better life as we might all be heading there.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Is it defacto rape/revenge?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There are attractive black guys?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

White women are also ridiculously attracted to black guys - in fact, it is more that way than the other. We are all human what is the problem with different races being attracted to each other?

personally, best sex of my life was with a black guy. I think that is something the first 3 posters on this comment would be pretty crappy at.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Actually said some things close to the truth once in a while, even when it was unintended. Remember his famous line "candidate A is on the wrong side of the issues; candidate B is on both sides of the issues, and, candidate C doesn't know what the issues are"? He was really talking about the American people, even though he didn't know it. We as a people are all over the map regarding most issues, and "race" is no exception. The plain truth is there is only ONE race of humanity, and that the "race" issue has been used to enslave humans and divide citizens, the better to control them. All humans share the same precious spark of life, have pretty much the same aspirations, and react to differing situations in typically human ways.. The REAL issue before us is the continuing psychological warfare the rich employ against the rest of us. The "race" issue is but one of many smokescreens used to distract us from their criminal activities.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

First let's describe what this term means. I believe it to mean allowing someone to alter standards of a certain situation to some lower, or attainable level, or allowing these standards to be loosened for a particular person.

Now, I could bring the obvious, anti-affirmative action rant here; however I think talking about how we all do this personally gives us a better view of who is letting who off the hook when it comes to racial understanding in society.

Ask yourself this: How many times have you lowered standards, or let things slide b/c so and so is black, or economically disadvantaged, or southern, etc. The list goes on and on. In fact, the best possible example of this is our own language and grammar. I often times correct my white friends when they speak improperly. Why do I do this? It is simply that I believe I am helping my friends sound better, speak better, etc. In turn, I would hope people would do the same for me.

Despite my own feelings that I'm a pretty fair guy when it comes to accepting other cultures, etc. I have been letting down my black friends by not correcting them the same as my white ones. I have been bitten by the PC-fairy in this situation. I am in a sense, letting my black friends off the hook here; as in general, I believe we, as whites have been doing for the last 20 or so years. We certainly hold blacks to much lower standards than ourselves and let them off the hook on everything from simple courteousies to grammar. Could you ever imagine someone suggesting that white "surfer-slang" was its own acceptable language as people have suggested ebonics is?

I really believe that the people leading the charge in letting black people off the hook don't mean any harm to the progress of the black community, however I believe they are doing black people more harm than good. We all should begin a movement of personal understanding where we hold all Americans to equal standards. Once we start doing this, the best of our society will shine through, and those who are not the best will be compelled to become better and strive to be the best they can. There should be no excuses for not pursueing excellence, and as Americans we should not promote the embracing of these excuses by holding people to equal standards.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

How about some Chinese, Japanese, Korean . . . people letting us know how they have been suppressed by white people in the last 10 years?

"African American" has become a self designated description that includes a large percentage of white trash. How can I discriminate against people I can't visually identify? They gots to tell me what they are so I can then dislike them.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

How about some Chinese, Japanese, Korean . . . people letting us know how they have been suppressed by white people in the last 10 years?

"African American" has become a self designated description that includes a large percentage of white trash. How can I discriminate against people I can't visually identify? They gots to tell me what they are so I can then dislike them.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Racism still exists. I receive hundreds of complaints yearly concerning discrimination in housing. Not all complaints are valid, of course, but many are. We recently completed several housing "audits" of communities in California to assess discrimination based upon race, specifically discrimination towards African-American home seekers. All of these audits clearly revealed that over 40 percent of the time, housing providers discriminated against African -American homeseekers. By discrimination, I mean that housing providers actually lied to African-Americans for the purpose of denying housing. I find that quite shocking. When I first began working at a civil rights organization, I had an occassion to meet with dozens of community agencies and was struck by the comments of many of their representatives expressing that racism was a thing of the past, doesn't happen anymore, so lets just move on and forget all about those bad things of the past. But discrimination does still exists and we cannot allow ouselves to pretend that it has just suddenly ceased to be a problem in our society. We need to work as individuals to eradicate this ongoing problem. The author of this piece stated that the Justice Department was responsible for enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. That is not exactly true. The Justice Department investigates and seeks to enforce the Act for issues of ongoing pattern and practice, generally that would be large property management or real estate companies. For individual violations of the Act, HUD (Dept. of Housing and Urban Developement)is empowered to enforce the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination in housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, gender and familial status. You can look at fair housing laws and enforcement at HUD's website at hud.gov. Hud has not been proactive during the past administation, perhaps things will improve under this adminstration. That is why it is so vital that we all take notice of what happens in our communities and contact elected representatives about inequities in housing, zoning, education or anywhere else they may occur. Your voice is powerful. When you hear or see unfair or hateful treatment of another person, it is your responsibility to speak up.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

While I do believe extremists from the right have infiltrated this site like they've been proven to have done at other siles, some Progressives may not be as progressive as they think. One reason why we don't improve race relations in this country is the same reason that governs why many Americans cannot admit that they were part of the problem in getting this country in the state that it's in: Too many of us are too thin-skinned and take offense at truths we don't want to face and/or take responsibility for. Here's a little truth: Just because there are Afro-Americans in coveted positions doesn't mean we aren't a racist society. To base the so-called lack of racism on some getting or obtaining certain positions is as absurd as people saying there's no racism because of Oprah Winfrey's status. If this was so, then every White American should, at least, be of the same status as Bill Gates.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

A black man doesn't need to let me off a hook. No more white guilt for me. And anybody that groups most whites together like this commentator isn't going to get my attention anymore. Just my 2 cents.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

We knew exactly what he was saying. Just like when Rev. Lowrey said white will do what's right. It's all code for just because y'all elected a black president doesn't mean you can let up on the grovelling.

Want to know why whites don't talk about race? We aren't allowed to unless it is on black terms. Life is too short to waste it self-flaggellating.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Its important to understand the distinction.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I was raised in labor camps with people who did migrant farm work for a living so I have been around people of all races, colors, and creeds all my life. I later received a college education, not because of student loans or grants but because I worked to pay my own way and my own expenses. I am white.

Some people are prejudice against other races. That is beyond doubt. However, I have seen just as many prejudice blacks, Mexicans, and American Indians as I have seen prejudice whites.

Prejudice against a particular individual simply because of their race is wrong. It is wrong now and it has always been wrong.

Stereo-typing, as this article does is also wrong. It is no more true to say that I want to see someone oppressed simply because I am white and they are black than it is to say that someone likes watermelons simply because they are black.

It is also not true that I have received preferential treatment in my life because I am white. I have never been able to get an FHA loan either. But it wasn't because I was white. It was because I didn't meet the qualifications set for those types of loans.

Further, the one piece of legislation that has driven the biggest wedge between the blacks and whites in this country is so-called affirmative action. Any time an employer or an institution acts in an "affirmative" way to decide who gets the job or who gets admitted to a particular college or who gets the student loan, they are, by definition, acting in a discriminatory way towards someone else.

Yes, there is prejudice in this country and there is hatred based on race, but that prejudice and hatred is not limited to one color nor is it limited to one particular race. I don't know what the answer is. I do know that taking opportunities away from one race and giving them to another race is not the answer. Neither is the stereo-typing in this article.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Attorney General Eric Holder … recently told his Justice Department employees that the United States was a “nation of cowards” for not talking more about race.

But if Attorney General Holder is really sincere about wanting a “frank” conversation about race, he should put the following items on the agenda:


Education. bureaucrats maintain an incessant harangue on white racism because they see the writing on the wall: most students are indifferent to race and just want to get along. If left to themselves, they would go about their business perfectly happily and color-blindly, and the race industry would wither on the vine. Thus the institutional imperative to remind black students constantly about their victimization and the white students about their guilt. Last month, the elite Phillips Academy at Andover proudly announced a student presentation on White Privilege: A History and Its Role in Education. Would the student have come up with such a topic on their own without the school’s educators deliberately immersing them in such trivial matters? Of course not.

Crime. Before Holder and his attorneys revive that practice, they should study certain facts that remain taboo in the mainstream media. For instance, the homicide rate for black men between the ages of 18 and 24 is well over ten times that of whites. In New York City, one of the nation’s safest large cities, 83 percent of all gun assailants were black during the first six months of 2008, according to victims and witnesses, though blacks make up only 24 percent of the city’s population. Add Hispanic perps, and you account for 98 percent of all shootings in New York City. The face of violent crime in cities is almost exclusively black or brown.

Education. Commentators on NPR’s “black” show, News and Notes, recently groused about the lack of black policy experts on the Sunday talk shows but ignored the possibility that the education gap might have something to do with it. The black high school drop-out rate approaches 50 percent. On the 2006 SAT, the average score in the critical-reading section was 434 for blacks, 527 for whites, and 510 for Asians; in the math section, 429 for blacks, 536 for whites, and 587 for Asians; and in the writing section, 428 for blacks, 519 for whites, and 512 for Asians. America’s lousy showing in international math, science, and reading tests compared with Japan and Western Europe is influenced in large part by the low scores of blacks and Hispanics.


The family. Closing the educational achievement gap will be difficult as long as the black illegitimacy rate is nearly 71 percent, compared with a white rate of 26 percent. Taxpayers foot the bill for this family breakdown—when fatherless children who never learned self-control and self-discipline disrupt classrooms and prevent other children from learning, and when the same fatherless children get sucked up into gang life and fail to connect with the world of work and responsibility. Many poor single mothers work heroically to raise law-abiding sons, but the odds are against them.

Don't fall prey to any politician who pretends to use the problems faced by a minority faction of his party.

He may be actually USING the minority faction for his, or his party's personal gain.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Why?

Because there's always that same annoying cast of supposedly "liberal" whites who simply don't "get it". They claim to have "black friends" who think the same way they do yadda yadda yadda and that blacks are always playing the "race card" (even though we didn't invent it). These whites can cite verbatim everything they know is WRONG with the black community, but ask them to cite any positive contributions and not a single one of them can come up with anything--which of course makes them look even more stupid. It's maddening to think that when blacks speak out against racism--which is what EVERYONE who considers themselves a thinking and rational human being should do--somehow that's being "a victim".

Call me naive, but isn't remaining silent in the face if injustice because of fear being a victim?

Wise is absolutely right about the fact that it is WHITES who need to start having the dialog about race, but just like GW who left a huge mess for the black man to clean up, so it seems to be up to us people of color to clean up something that's none of our doing. People might be tribal, but to denigate, demean and even murder a group of people based on skin color--that's been the legacy of white America. Why is this so hard to understand?

For once I wish white people would shut up and imagine themselves living under that ugly cloud known as racism. I really don't think most of them could handle the daily slings and arrows that are launched at people of color everyday and still manage to succeed. And that's really the AMAZING aspect of the resilience, drive and determination of black people--that we have success and greatness and brilliance in spite of all the domestic terrorism and injustice meant to block our path. Somehow, we manage to raise our children to want better, to do better and to expect better. Of course, like ALL communities, we have our share of problems, but unlike what these supposed "liberal" whites believe, it has nothing to do with race and EVERYTHING to do with the individual making bad choices.

What I find funny is that suddenly Tim Wise stops being white because "he's jewish", though when he walks down any street he looks white to pretty much everyone around him. I guess to some, making Wise Jewish somehow invalidates his arguments and his message and he's no longer talking to white America.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

"The racial divide about which Holder spoke, particularly in terms of the neighborhoods where people live, is not the result of some abstract cowardice to engage one another. Rather, it is about the racist fears of whites, who decades ago began leaving neighborhoods when blacks began to move in."

what a crock - any school 40 years ago or even today reflect a sort of self segregation in the lunchroom/cafeteria

I am tired of hearing about a 'prejudice' I never had, I am tired of any attempt to make me feel guilty for what I am -

every shade of humanity has been sold, enslaved, used, raped, exploited, and GET OVER IT

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

What alternate dimension are you pouting from? My memory of the BART incident, as a Bay Area resident, was that the officer in question fled the area after death threats. People were so outraged with him and with BART (and justifiably so) that it fed headlines for days. I avoided downtown Oakland for awhile because of the riots but neither I (who am white) nor my friends (who are white) blamed the protestors in the least. That man's execution was shocking and unjustified and I honestly haven't met, or even heard of, a single person in the San Francisco area who got upset with the backlash.

Seriously, you had a much stronger argument til you started making $hit up.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The commenters, not AlterNet.

I've been around white people my entire life, and "you people" are exactly what Tim Wise describes. Even the ones of you who I would consider somewhat a friend.

Your comments are a prime example of what Wise and Holder were talking about. Instead of discussing the ways in which your white skin benefits you, you scream about anti-white racism. Like anti-white racism ever put an innocent man in jail. Like anti-white racism leads to a smaller income and a higher mortgaged.

Like anti-white racism is what causes students to be placed on academic tracks that are beneath the academic potential they possess as demonstrated by their scores on standardized tests. Like white students are disciplined more frequently and more harshly than students of color.

Like when men ever endured an abusive work environment on the basis of their skin. Like on an average, white men make less than black men for the same jobs. Like a black man with a criminal record has a better chance of getting a job than a white man with no record.

What Wise was saying was that Holder missed the point by not addressing the ways in which white people benefit from historical and present structural and institutional racism. This isn't about individual prejudice or self-segregation - this is a bit off topic, but stop trying to compare the self-segragation of adolescents to the forced and unequal segragation of the past. And if you're talking about self-segregation in housing, Wise isn't talking about people who choose to live among their own. He's talking about realtors who direct white people to white neighborhoods and black people to black neighborhoods. Even if they have to drive their clients past houses in one neighborhood or another.

He's talking about the couples of color and interracial couples who qualified for prime loans but were given sub-prime loans just because they both weren't white. And you wouldn't know that. Does your local bank advertise that white people will receive better rates than black people? And since my guess is they don't, have you ever done any research on the issue? Or, are you just talking out of your lack of information?

Of course you're probably unaware of the way your white skin benefits you! That's the way racism works these days. And besides, if your boss told you there was a black applicant better qualified than you, and you were hired just because you were white, would you quit? Or do you assume that if anything, you've been denied jobs because management had to hire an unqualified person of color?

I declare! The way some of you are acting, you'd think Obama was the first white president in history.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Is everybody here that naive? This 'argument' is designed for just what appears to be discussion on race. I'll tell you what matters; the hand that feeds you. The hand that feeds Obama and his minions are predominantly white. So Holder and anybody else is not going to bite the hand that feeds them. You think that 'black' people 'elected' Obama? How many people in general could afford candidate 10K dinners? As I said before, the hand that feeds these people are predominantly corporate, rich, and white...

FTW

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

9/11 Organizaciones
911Truth.org

patriotsquestion911.com

United for truth
911Truth Europe
911Truth Madrid
Murzia truth Squad
Pilots For 9/11 Truth

Architects & Engineers

Scholars for 9/11 Truth
9/11 Investigación
911Research*****
History Commons*****

Journal of 9/11 Studies*****

WTC7*****

Web sites - Blogs
911Blogger*****

George Washington's Blog*****
Investigar 11S
Los Misterios del 11-S

11-S

Barcelona 11S
Infowars (Alex Jones)
911Proof

911Reading room

911Omission report

911Share the truth

Physics911

Investigate911

911AllTheTruth (Español)*****

What really happened

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I almost didn't read the article because I lost all respect for Tim when he did his barbituate lefty nonsense. But I read it and I'm even more convinced he has a limited function due to his insistence on being an AM guy in an FM world.

He raises some interesting points in general but to critique the AG's general statement by saying it lets whites off the hook by doing the same thing, saying in general that white denial is the source for all blame, just renders it all so ambiguous. Personally, I thought Holder's "cowards" statement was refreshing and honest. Was it a blanket one-size fits all statement? Of course not. To critique that as if it provides cover for white denial is just blowin' smoke. I'm convinced that guys like Tim have to have every statement ever made cover all bases all the time in all ways and real life doesn't work that way.

I'd like to know how he determined the melanin content of those discussion boarders who weren't outraged at the Grant murder... seems pretty trippy to claim to know things like that and then use it as a basis for a general slam against all melanin-deficients' beliefs. The reality is the angst about protests of injustice usually come from a certain "class" of people... mostly uppers (if you wanna believe those are mostly whites go ahead, I get that). But most people in California white or black were rightly pissed off and NOT at the protests... hell, most people I know were doing the protesting. We were all pissed at the murderer and the institution of "law enforcement" that routinely uses it's disproportionate paramilitarized abuse of power and racial paranoia to pulversize communities of color and *gasp* people of the lower clases, white or black. I guaranfuckin' tee you that if you ain't middling or owning clas you KNOW you can't trust a cop, no matter his or her melanin content. If you po', you a target, period.

But hey, what do I know, right Timmy? I'm just a barbituate lefty... kinda like you.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I've never owned slaves and I've never denied black people any of the rights that white people enjoy. By suggesting that white people deserve to be impaled on some kind of figurative hook you're breathing just as much life into racism as any lowlife cracker in Mississippi.

FREE AMERICA

REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Blaming everybody is the same as blaming nobody.

Blaming everybody white is insightful and worth writing an article about.

Gosh, that's...what's the word?

Racist.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]