Racism, What I Have Learned (Part 2)

I’ll have to admit the more I get into the discussion of Racism the more interesting it becomes. I am beginning to come to some conclusions on the issue that I never thought I could have. I am reluctant to express those conclusions until I feel that those conclusions are the only conclusions that can be declared as valid in my mind.

If we are to end racism in this nation we first must agree that it will only be accomplished when we have eliminated the word “racist” from our personal vocabulary of use. Now, remember, I said vocabulary not the dictionary. This will only be accomplished when a person is willing to attribute any feelings of harm to something else other than race. The question becomes of how to accomplish this.

The first thing we must realize is the fact that racism is a group concept not a concept of individualism. While a person may act in some manner that can be implied as a racist act, We must further presume that the person would have acted in the same manner or a similar manner against any other member of that group under the same circumstances.  We must also recognize the fact that in order to call it a racist act we must presume that the person would not have acted in the same manner if the person who was harmed was a person of the same group he identifies with. 

There are problems with the above idea. The use of presumptions as an argument to come to a conclusion is considered as a fallacy of logic. Presumptions are often determined to be false also. We saw this in the Sherrod incident.  In other words, the presumption, itself, must be proven true in order to justifiably call the act as an act of racism.  What we do see in the above idea is the fact that two different beliefs must be governing the actions of the accused person

Furthermore, it goes against the whole concept of the meaning of justice as we declare we practice or believe in this nation. It is presuming that a person is guilty of racism and it is the responsibility of the accused to prove himself innocent of the accusation of racism. And this is an impossibility if for no other reason other than the idea of the credibility of the person which the accuser is not willing to trust. And as we saw in the Sherrod incident the credibility and reputation of a person can be instantly effected based solely upon the accusation.

This kind of thinking will not help bring an end to racism. It will only be fuel to declare that the problem still exist and perpetuate the idea that we still live in a racist society. And as we already know, the perpetuating of the existence of racism benefits no group who honestly wants a solution to the problem. It only benefits those who would use it for personal or political gain.

Another problem that comes to mind is how do we measure racism? For if there is no valid basis for the measurement of it how can we come to the conclusion that racism still exists or is no longer a valid basis for someone to use as a reason for someone else’s actions or words on an objective basis? The very fact that the idea of racism has evolved from one idea to another is proof that there is no effective means to measure it in reality.

If we are to bring an end to racism these are questions that need answers to. If there are no answers to these questions are we doomed as human beings?