Dialogue with a Racist

I have often found myself in a position, deciding whether or not to respond to a question that has been posed to me on numerous occasions. It is a question posed by those who are unwilling to accept being labeled as a racist, even when their very views scream racism. That question is "am I a racist simply because I prefer Whites instead of Blacks?" It is a question I cannot begin to answer anymore than I can convince a pig that he should wear shoes. Racism is built on ignorance, fear and insecurities and those who say they prefer one race over another are threatened by the reality that people of color have achieved levels of status and now possess political clout in this Country. Racists believe that this power was achieved primarily to push them out of society and to create a new society of militants and radicals. In their minds, there is not enough opportunity or success to go around. In their minds, those they say they do not prefer have nothing to contribute, nothing to teach and nothing to share.

I fear that many politicos within the Republican Party share these sentiments as they continue to stumble in their ability to declare their positions. The recent declaration made by Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins that the Republican Party needs "a great white hope" was no faux pas. In those very words, Jenkins told the world what she and her Party truly believe and that is that our Country could not possibly be run effectively, and in the best interest of white society, by a Black President. The very fact that the Republican Party has embraced racist talk show host Rush Limbaugh as their spokesman tells us a thing or two about their ideology. The subtle implied racism of the Republican Party has given way to a brazen defiance of political correctness, and their fear of this new President and his administration has backed them into a corner like a frightened animal and now all they feel they can do is attack.

I suppose I could respond to the question I posed earlier by saying that one's preference of one race over another is not the defining factor in determining racism. I would say that when our preferences cause us to believe that our enemies can be determined merely by the color of their skin, that we have taken a vital step towards being a racist. I would say that when our bias begins to overshadow our logic and our own best interests and the interest of our Country, that we have taken our first steps on a dangerous path to racism.