Being "White" In America

In today's world, we hear a lot of comments such as "...this is what it is like to be 'Black' in America." Or, "...you are taking what he said out of 'context'."

I've been sitting back, watching the whole Obama/Rev. Jeremiah Wright ordeal run it's course. All the while, thinking to myself, "..boy, boy, boy." I wasn't around in the 50's or 60's. All I have to go on is what I was taught in school or what I saw on t.v.

What I DO know is this, we as a country have come a very long way when it comes to civil rights for the minority. In fact, we have come so far, I really don't even know who the so called "minority" is any more. Webster defines the word 'minority' in this way: a part of a population differing from others in some characteristics and often subjected to differential treatment.

In 1985, Michelle Obama, (at that time, her name was Michelle LaVaughn Robinson) wrote a thesis while attending Princeton University. The title of this thesis was "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community". For the record, the library at Princeton University has removed this thesis until November 5th, 2008. We elect a new President of The United States on November 4th, 2008. Odd don't you think? In this thesis Michelle describes, the best she can, what it's like to be 'black' in a primarily all 'white' college. She goes on and on and on about how she was made to feel by her 'white' college classmates. Let me ask you something, do you hear the 'white' community yelling "RACIST"? Do you see organized marches and protests taking place? What would happen or what would be said if a 'white' student at, oh let's just say, Grambling University or Southern University, (both are majority 'black' colleges in the state of Louisiana) wrote a thesis titled "Grambling-Educated Whites and the White Community"? I know what would happen, all hell would break loose. Both Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson couldn't catch an early enough flight to get there and protest. Who's choice was it for Michelle Obama to go to Princeton? If she was so into helping the 'black' community, why doesn't her degree come from a college such as Grambling or Southern? Both of which cater to the 'black' student.

I have another question for you to ponder. Where is Condolezza Rice's thesis titled "Notre Dame-Educated Blacks and the Black Community"? I can tell you where, it doesn't exist. She has way more class than to write such rubbage.

How many of you remember Jimmy the Greek? Jimmy the Greek was a football analyst for CBS back in the 70's and 80's. He worked for CBS for 12 years. He was fired in 1988 for comments that he made in regards to the physical abilities of the white and black athlete. He went on to say that the black athlete was "bred to be the better athlete because, this goes all the way to the Civil War when ... the slave owner would breed his big woman so that he would have a big black kid." Again, Jimmy the Greek being white, was fired from CBS for making these comments.

Now, 15 years AFTER Jimmy the Greeks comments, Dusty Baker, (a very well respected professional baseball manager who is black) had this to say in 2003 while he was the manager of the Chicago Cubs, "...I'm not playing the race card. I'm telling it like it is. What I meant is that blacks and Latins take the heat better than most whites, and whites take the cold better than most blacks and Latins. That's it, pure and simple. Nothing deeper than that." Dusty was NOT fired for these comments.

Keeping with the CBS theme, who remembers Don Imus? Don Imus, a white, radio talk-show host, was fired by CBS for calling the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos." A team that included both white and black players. Imus was even sued by some of the players. And guess who was there leading the cause in getting Imus fired from CBS? You guessed it, both Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. Civil rights leaders such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson became closely identified with protests against Imus. But one of the earliest sparks may have been provided by the National Association of Black Journalists, an organization based at the University of Maryland in College Park. (Funny, I don't recall there being a National Association of White Journalists.) CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves said he made the decision to stop carrying Imus's program after he and CBS executives heard from "all segments of society" in recent days. Moonves also went on to say "...In our meetings with concerned groups, there has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society," Moonves said yesterday in a statement. "That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision."

Now, let's talk for a minute about the part "..make their way in THIS society." Does Moonves mean a society that allows preachers such as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright to say things such as "God damn America"? Or, "Hillary doesn't know what it means to be a nigger"? Or, "USKKK of America"? What society is CBS executive Moonves speaking of when he says "particularly young women of color trying to make their way in THIS society"? Please tell me because I don't get it.

The society that I myself live in, is one of which that includes the date of October 3rd, 1995. On this date, not only did the United States of America hear the words, but the entire WORLD heard the words, "Not Guilty". On this date, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty for the brutal murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. To this day, nobody has yet to be charged with the two murders.

I can still see it like it was yesterday. It was almost like the day The Towers went down. America was huddled around any t.v. they could find. A verdict was coming. Everyone just knew O.J. was going to be put away for life, or better yet, put to death for this horrendous crime. Didn't happen. Not guilty. I remember watching all of the major news stations. They all had the same thing on. Blacks all across America jumping up and down cheering. Cheering as if they themselves were on the stand. Cheering like they had just won the lottery. Some were quoted as saying "justice has finally been served". Do what? Did they just say justice had been served? I'm sorry, but two lives were brutally taken. Throats were slit from ear to ear. Blood running from the door all the way out to the street. Letting O.J. off the hook was not serving justice.

Who remembers Michael Vick? Michael Vick was the former NFL quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. Vick is also black. Vick is the former quarterback of the Falcons because he is now in prison. What is he in prison for, you ask? Vick is in prison because he broke the law. Michael Vick funded an illegal dogfighting ring. Big difference in funding an illegal dogfighting ring and deer hunting. Why am I comparing the two? Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because blacks all across America did that when Vick's butt was thrown in jail. They said, (they being a lot of the black population in America) there was no difference in whites going out and killing deer and dogs killing each other. Some even said it was a "cultural" thing. I don't know about you, but I have deer hunted in my life. I did it so that I could eat. And yes, it is against the law if you do it out of season. I would say that 99.9% of the deer hunting population out there hunt deer for food. I've yet to come across a deer hunter that did it to gamble on who had the bigger or best deer. Most do it to feed his/her families. Period.

Now, let's take this in a different direction for a minute. How many of you whites that are reading this have been called a racist for even bringing up the suggestion of needing a border fence? Why do we whites have to be a racist for the mere suggestion of the need of a border fence? Has this country not heard about the ongoing tunnel problem we have on the Mexico/U.S. border? Has this country already forgotten 9-11-01? Why do people automatically ASSUME that the white population wants a fence to keep folks from Mexico out of our country? Why can't it be that we want a fence in order to protect us from another violent attack such as 9-11-01? If I'm not mistaken, if your like me, you want a border fence on both borders, Canada AND Mexico. (But it wouldn't hurt to start at the southern border). It's a matter of National security. It's about keeping the gangs, drugs, murderers out of this country. Rev. Jeremiah Wright accuses the U.S. government of putting illegal drugs into the hands of black-America. Doesn't he know that over 90% of ALL illegal drugs that enter this country come from Mexico? You would think that if the Rev. Wright was so into protecting his race, he would be demanding his friend of 20 years, (that just so happens to be running for President), to make it one of his highest priorities to build a fence. But no, it's so much easier to blame white-America for the down fall of the black society in this country.

In closing, I don't say God damn America. Rather, I say God Bless America. God Bless the men and women who fight for my freedom and the freedom of people like Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The freedom that gives Rev. Wright the freedom of speech. God Bless America in giving us the strength and the courage to grow as a nation. Grow to the point that we DO now have the possibility of our first black President. The growth as a nation to give us Oprah, the wealthiest woman in America. (By the way, Oprah is black). God Bless America for the freedom that gives Michelle Obama the freedom to say that for once in her adult life, she is happy with her country.

K.P.