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Why There is Danger in Ignoring Racism in America
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by Karen Hatter | September 18, 2009 at 09:15 am
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On a cold, winter morning in February 2007, in Springfield, Illinois, in the land of Abraham Lincoln, then Senator Barack Hussein Obama Jr. announced his intent to run for the office of President of the United States. Three months later, in the spring of 2007, upon urging from his staff, he requested and received Secret Service protection.
It was the earliest a Secret Service detail had ever been assigned since the Service began protecting candidates. Those assignments began after the assassination of presidential hopeful Senator Robert F. Kennedy in June of 1968 in California.
As a matter of policy, the frequency, day to day, month to month, with which Secret Service agents may be called upon to investigate threats to those they protect is not revealed. However, although no specific plots were revealed, it has been reported that the Secret Service Internet Threat Desk first noted “ .... vaguely threatening and nasty comments ....” , commenting on the fact Senator Obama was African American.
This information can be found in best selling author Ronald Kessler's book, In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect.
Mr. Kessler also reveals that on the night of November 4, 2008, as President Elect Obama gave his acceptance speech, former Republican Louisiana Representative and Ku Klux Klansman David Duke, in an audio broadcast on the internet, called the night a “night of tragedy and sadness”, casting dispersions on the President Elect, stressing the importance of the survival of “European Americans”.
The nationalist/supremacist movement, in which David Duke is a leading voice, has been estimated to number just shy of a quarter million. These numbers are derived from among those claiming membership in the various hate groups across the United States, their supporters and those subscribing to and receiving literature from the groups.
In this nation's not so distant past, almost fifty years ago, America had reached another era of change. It was the era of the so called Cold War with the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), also known as the Soviet Union.
The United States was involved in the Vietnam War abroad and a number of actions in Latin America. It was also embroiled in societal upheaval at home due to growing discontent with the country's involvement in the Vietnam War and during what has come to be known as the struggle for Civil Rights Movement, as the descendants of enslaved Africans sought humane and fair treatment, social justice, within the United States' borders.
During that era, while many people, Black and White, sought social justice for those denied it in the U.S., many people, Black and White, lost their lives, as some within the nation, including elected government officials, objected violently to any form of change.
Among those who lost their lives during that era was a United States president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, on November 22, 1963, said to have been felled by a lone gunman with ties to the Soviet Union. The president's younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy, who was also believed to be a man destined to change America, was killed less than five years later.
When Barack Obama took office, he faced possibly the worst configuration of conditions that could be imaged would befall a country. The United States was embroiled in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy had been looted, unemployment was steadily rising, the health care system was severely broken and the list could go on and on.
All of these severe crises bring with them consternation and dread, dread being synonymous with fear and fear being an emotion that often prevents one's normal capacity for reasoning to function at one's fullest potential.
The majority of citizens of the United States have moved on since the historic election of Barack Obama, the nation's first acknowledged bi-racial president. All Americans from within all demographics and all races helped to elect him. But, there are others who are dissatisfied with the election of this president due to reasons stemming from his race.
The inability for people to accept and comprehend that racists in this country do not disagree with specific policies of President Barack Hussein Obama Jr. but that they disagree with the man because of his race lies at the heart of the incredulity of those who attempt to dismiss race as a factor that causes some to oppose the President.
The day after the presidential election in November 2008, the most popular nationalist/supremacist site on the internet gained two thousand new adherents, with the site posting a message stating that the country was doomed.
Today, in September 2009, representatives from both major parties, wary of possible political fallout from addressing the racial tone of some of the current rhetoric, both the Democratic Party but ESPECIALLY the Republican Party, do a great disservice to the nation, with Republican Party members having posted inappropriate rhetoric on official party sites during the 2008 presidential campaign and now continuing, for the most part, to turn a blind eye as various fringe elements, attracted to and within their party, escalate the rhetoric into dangerous territory.
For almost two years, the incorrect belief that the President is not an American has been promoted. During the McCain-Palin presidential campaign of 2008, it was constantly intoned, 'he doesn't see America the way 'we' do', with overemphasis of his middle name, Hussein, at rallies of thousands of cheering crowds.
The lie that he is Muslim, he's a socialist and other ominous tidbits, have been allowed to grow and fester, resulting in the current President of the United States to be added, by some elements in the United States, to the 'He's not one of us' column, making him vulnerable to those racists who would be riled and who would embrace any of those beliefs.
It is dangerously naive and ridiculous to entertain the belief that President Obama is receiving threats, at an increase of 400% since President George W. Bush left office, with the threats being reported to be the highest ever since protection has been provided for U.S. presidents, based solely on his efforts to implement changes in policy and the direction he has chosen to guide the country.
The F.B.I. has warned of the "lone wolf" , who may be stoked and catapulted into violent action if the rhetoric continues unabated and unchallenged.
Also at NowPublic :
Jimmy Carter: Racism Has a Role in Opposition to President Obama
An Allusion to Watering the Tree of Liberty
Two Sides of a Coin ( an article on the nationalist/supremacist movement)
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (37)
at 10:28 on September 18th, 2009
"In this nation's not so distant past, almost fifty years ago, America had reached another era of change. It was the era of the so called Cold War...."
Legitimizing covert racism by creating fear and mindless suspicion is in our not so distant past.
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and those organizations suspected of having Communist ties.
McCarthyism and the persecution of hundreds of Americans who were black listed came later, but before that it was used to legitimize the KKK. The HUAC was created by Martin Dies who was a supporter of the KKK. Other members of HUAC such as John Rankin and John S. Wood were also Klan sympathizers. Wood defended the Klan when it was investigated and argued, "The threats and intimidations of the Klan are old American customs, like illegal whisky-making."
However, attempts by the committe to attack and intimidate FDR's administration failed. HUAC's strident attacks on the Roosevelt administration prior to the outbreak of the war did not suit the political mood of a nation that was largely in favor of his leadership. All that changed, however, in the postwar atmosphere was the fear and contempt for the Soviet Union, at which time HUAC's activities commanded broad popular support and consistently attracted major headlines, and attracted support and served as a spring board for McCarthy's siege.
In the wake of Senator McCarthy's downfall, the prestige of HUAC began a gradual decline beginning in the late 1950s. By 1959, the committee was being denounced by former President Harry S. Truman as the "most un-American thing in the country today." The work of the committee continued to decline in importance throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s until the committee itself was renamed the House Internal Security Committee in 1969, prefiguring its eventual abolition in 1975.
As we advance in civility, hate entities like the HUAC and emerging groups like the nationalist/supremacist movement that pander to ignorance and prejudice will be revealed for who and what they are and their significance and influence be eradicated.
Thank you Karen for this thought provoking article.
at 11:30 on September 18th, 2009
I thank you, A, for reading my article and for the additional information you have added to the thread which serves to highlight the intertwining of bias, racism and governmental power structures and how it has been used in the past.
During the 1920's, the Ku Klux Klan was an organized political force in the United States with many state political figures among its membership, wielding power in government for decades.
at 12:43 on November 15th, 2009
Keep the light shining as it shines for all.
at 05:43 on September 19th, 2009
Racists who? So much technical terms. What is a racists in your own words and layman's term? When you hate a person because of his color is it racism? When you hate a person because he is ugly, is it racism? Is he ugly because he has a different color? We are all human and people. Which standard should we follow then? Since both the offender and the offended parties shout, Racist! Where will this lead them? When will this end? I believe it's regardless of color. It is just a person doesn't like another person and he thinks he has certain rights to step on some other's rights. There are interracial marriages, why? Because they love each other, they said. There is a common ground where they can settle their differences.
But there are many grounds, mind you, false religion, false teachings, false ideas, human ideas are not a common ground. The Living God is the common ground of people. Knowing that God who cannot lie and who wants all men to be saved, we can be freed from hating each other. A person cannot change himself by his own doing. Do you think the one in the highest seat in the government can change everyone's point of view together with his parties? No. How about the other parties? No. How about yourself?
How can we not ignore racism in America as well as other countries? Learn how to become not a racist. Learn to become a Christian by words and by deeds. Let us start now! Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9
When the change starts from us with the help of God. Who is that God? There are many gods and religions out there.
It should start from us, even "Just For One Day!" Let us take turns in learning, hearing what God teaches, then, put it into action, put it in practice.
God wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth, and teaches that we follow Him for the benefits of all people. What will become of us without Him?
Mercy begets mercy in the time of judgement.
While you live, show compassion, and you will get the same from God come judgement day.
Regardless of color, if you do not know the biblical compassion and charity, read the link. Even today, God wants to save those who didn't even bother to look nor ask, you might be one of them.
at 11:01 on September 18th, 2009
Hate groups can be right or left, black or white, Nazi or communist or any color or ideology.
at 15:52 on September 18th, 2009
158, this piece is meant to underscore a systemic and historic link to racism in the U.S. government and specific, entrenched attitudes that have guided the evolution of the United States.
Hate groups existing in the United States are the result and consequence of America's development and history.
at 15:53 on September 18th, 2009
158: "Hate groups can be right or left, black or white, Nazi or communist or any color or ideology."
Who can disagree with that assertion? But so-called "Hate Groups" are so blinded by their ideology that "hate", for them, doesn't even enter the equation of their existence. Hate groups typically see everything in terms of black and white--i.e., they're right and everyone else is wrong. To make eye contact with them--let alone attempt to engage them in a dialogue--is an exercise in futility.
at 13:47 on September 18th, 2009
Great piece, Karen!
at 13:54 on September 18th, 2009
Thank you, TC.
at 14:08 on September 18th, 2009
Boy the US really have it in for Obama, I think if Obama were a Canadian and ran for Office,there really would not be a big deal in this country over colour for the most part,as long as the man can do the job.
It is wonder anything gets done in the US, who are known as a Can Do society, but it seems like Won't Work Society!
at 14:27 on September 18th, 2009
Barry, America indeed seems a country gone mad! Thanks for commenting.
at 15:36 on September 18th, 2009
Karen: Yeah! Many are mad alright! LOL!
at 15:42 on September 18th, 2009
You're right, Rory, there's a lot of that.
at 14:30 on September 18th, 2009
Barry: Americans would probably be better off if the two parties did nothing but fight with each other and pass no legislation! LOL!
at 15:43 on September 18th, 2009
Rory it seems that way, both fighting trying to be top dog, I tell ya if it were me, I would have em both neutured!
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 16:24 on September 18th, 2009
Barry remember the cowboy hat and smokes in the House of Commons, leopard crawl and campaint. This infighting and racism is baffling to me. Wake up America.
at 17:47 on September 18th, 2009
JEEZ ACP! I think that we should all just get a good night's sleep! That's it! Americans are suffering from sleep-deprivation! LOL!
at 03:34 on September 19th, 2009
Yeah, and baffling to me too, and we don't have MPs in white pointy hats!
at 17:36 on September 18th, 2009
Barry: Yeah! Cut their thingamajigs off! HA! But in all seriousness though that's precisely what millions of American voters (and voters is the operative word here) would like to do nowadays-literally!
As much as I love to read Karen's stories (this one included) and agree with her at times, I've got a fundamental disagreement with her in regard to the extent that racism factors into voter's sentiments concerning the Obama Administration and government in general. Moreover, I think that there's a much simpler explanation for the anger that many American voters have recently expressed. The explanation is this: American government, since its inception, has been limited compared to the rest of the world's government. The philosophy of limited government has been ingrained into the American psyche since 1776. And at this point, at least 50% of the American voting public (in spite of dramatic efforts to instill more trust in government) simply don't trust their government to do the right thing. In other words, at least 50% of American voters put relatively little faith and trust in the U.S. government no matter who the President is and no matter what political party dominates the House and Senate.
So you've got 50% of the American voters that don't trust the U.S. government to begin with and an obscure Senator, with virtually no national political experience (and who most voters never heard of} get's elected on a platform of "change" and the "change" turns out to be a dramatic expansion of the U.S. government. It's quite telling that in these economically and financially devastated times, where unemployment rates have approached those of the Great Depression, one of the few sectors of the economy that has registered job growth is the U.S. Government, "health care", and "education".
at 19:51 on September 18th, 2009
All of that aside, Rory, the fact remains there are close to a quarter of a million hate mongers that take issue with this President, spinning scenarios of doom and gloom of darker skinned people over running the country, dangerous propaganda that may be internalized by the less grounded among us who also subscribe to hate.
There was a certain climate that preceded the assassination of President Kennedy that involved a whole lot of name calling, including the perception that he was planning to 'give the country away' to 'those' people.
There were those that were not heartbroken when President Kennedy was killed.
The similarity in hostility is striking and my point was, despite all of any of the rest of it, there still are those residing in the United States who do not like the President because of his race and they speak out on it everyday.
at 05:20 on September 19th, 2009
At least alot of American people were equal opportunity haters of Bush and Cheney! Regardless of colour. Now imagine the Public and Media explosion if Bush and Cheney were of colour and this scenario played out? WOW!
at 06:34 on September 19th, 2009
Karen: Yep! People didn't like JFK simply because he was Catholic. Others didn't like him because he was a "liberal" in their eyes. Others loved him for those same reasons. JFK, by today's standards would be considered a "conservative" in many respects. And look who assassinated JFK (if you believe the Warren Commission report) . . .a Communist! And people don't like President Obama because he's an African American. And others don't like him because he's a "socialist" in their eyes. And there are those that didn't like Bush because he's a WASP. And others didn't like him because he's a Republican. And so it goes. (BTW: I've read much of Ron Kessler's works. I find him to be objective and highly informative). I'm of the belief that there are just as many crazies on the left as there are on the right. And I'm also of the belief that whites don't have a monopoly on racist views. Indeed, I've heard more Asian-Americans and Latinos use the "N"-word than I've heard whites use the word.
at 06:55 on September 19th, 2009
You may have missed the point of my article, Rory.
There is a lethal atmosphere that has been created and allowed to flourish since the 2008 presidential campaign that has gone mostly unchallenged by both parties.
Given America's violent and historically documented response to change, from various elements, from slavery, so called civil rights, immigration, and here, I am speaking of the Ellis Island immigrants and the furor created upon their arrival and attempts to meld into already settled communities, it is the responsibility of both parties involved in this pretense of a political debate to call out any who cross the line, contributing to incitement and violence.
at 11:35 on September 19th, 2009
Karen: I don't believe that I've missed the point of your article. What I do believe is that we disagree on what constitutes "a lethal atmosphere that has been created and allowed to flourish since the 2008 presidential campaign that has gone mostly unchallenged by both parties."
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2deltaactualat 21:20 on September 18th, 2009
The problem is talk about racism is always,White racism toward Blacks when Blacks are just as racist as Whites.Also left out is racism towards Blacks from other races other than Whites.Here in LA Calif we have Latinos killing blacks and vice-versa strictly because of race.Whites are not the only race that have negative perceptions against Blacks.Asians,Middle Easterners and other nationalities also have negative perceptions of Black Americans.If we are going to talk about racism seriously then we have to open the whole can of worms.Anything else is just avoiding reality.Whether Whites are prejudice towards Blacks does'nt change the fact that more Blacks will be killed by than Black on Black violence then any White on Black violence.PRES.Obama brought this fact up during his speech to the NAACP conference.So if we are to discuss racism in America we have to have an honest and open forum.I doubt that will happen
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busybj (not verified)at 22:07 on September 18th, 2009
2deltaactual....We live in America, agreed? America is a country that only a handful of generations ago it was LEGAL to own other people. Blacks could not own whites, or land, or be educated. As a white person, It was perfectly legal, and widely accepted, to OWN a black person. This slave labor was widely responsible for the heavy lifting of building the new country. It was less than 150 years ago we, through a bloody war, ended the practice of slavery. and in historic terms, it was NOT that long ago. Blaming others for racism is just a cowardly way of trying to distance yourself from slavery. I imagine you claim proudly that "We Americans stormed the beach at Normandy" or that "we Captured Sadaam Hussein" or "We landed on the moon". I also imagine just a quickly you say things like "I never owned a slave!" or "I didn't slaughter any natives" or any of America's not-so-flattering historical highlights. The BEST thing is to look inward about racism, not demand that everyone look everywhere ELSE but to white people like you. Saying "Black People are just as racist as whites" (a very common sentiment from people suffering from white guilt) does NOTHING toward making yourself a more tolerant, conscientious person. What are MY feelings about this group of people? What are MY fears? WHY do I think this? Odds are, you are NOT a bad person, you just have sorting out to do. LIke it or not, YOUR race enslaved another race, and no matter how you look at it, the opposite has NEVER been true. Dealing with that in an honest and vulnerable way will go miles in your recovery from white guilt. Or you can continue to lash out at everyone else and insist everyone else is as bad as you. Why not make your SELF better than you were yesterday when it comes to race relations, and not try to convince yourself and others that many other people are the same or worse than you.
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2deltaactualat 23:15 on September 18th, 2009
Trust me I have no "white guilt"as I have nothing to feel guilty for.As usual you walked around the racism issue as all that dont want to deal with it honestly.This why America is and always will be racially polarised.If people dont want to deal honestly about racism then they should not use the race card every chance they get.At this present date according to the UN there are over 300,000 slaves in Haiti.Slavery is still very much apart of Africa.History show that whites were slaves also as every other race was at one time.I have also done the family tree research and learned that my grand parents arrived here during WWII,so I have no guilt.You might be surprised that most of my friends don't suffer white guilt either.The elder generation may feel this guilt but my generation knows there is no reason to feel guilty.And I have been around for close to 1/2 a century.Nice try though.Are you familiar with the term "Blowback"?This is what is happening in America.White guilt is becoming a myth.Although I served in Iraq I never bragged about capturing Saddam Hussein as I was against this war from the very beggining.Got to go as I plan on gettig up early and enjoy my Saturday lack of guilt and all.Have a great weekend.
at 19:30 on September 19th, 2009
2deltaactual, please familiarize yourself with the Code of Conduct as relates to ad hominem attacks here at NowPublic.
at 08:43 on September 19th, 2009
Reading to all this, how can someone deny racism in America? It is even worst that I have imagined.
at 08:56 on September 19th, 2009
Chevalier de Pas, it is probably worse than you can imagine because you are being lead to believe that it is. There are those who are very interested in "fanning the flames of racism". And there are those who want to "put out the fire", so to speak! Michael Steele: Opposing a radical political agenda is not racist.