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When you listen very closely to defensive made in America Europeans and “Others” proclaim, “There was no racism involved,” and/or “Race had nothing to do with it,” what you’re hearing are apologetic racists who fail to grasp the concept of institutionalized racism. In addition, African American News & Issues editorial board would be guilty of racism if we asserted the popular misconception that “Black people can’t be racist, because ‘WE’ don’t control anything, thus, we have no power to enforce racist mandates upon anybody.”
Propaganda notwithstanding, racism like cancer wears many disguises, therefore a race card can be played in just about any game one wants to play it in. According to The History of Racism, “Racism is the belief that people of different races differ in value. In general the own race is considered the most valuable and others as less valuable. The belief that the character and abilities of individuals are correlated with their race is not necessarily racism, since this can be asserted without implying an unequality in value.” Thus, one can easily say that racism had nothing to do with what happened in New Orleans, insofar as the victims were rescued indiscrimately. On the other hand, racism had everything to do with the Katrina survivors, insofar as it contributed to their sad situation.
For instance, Pres. George W. Bush used a race card during his Sept. 12, 2005 speech in New Orleans that we consider “Texas hold ‘em.” The president answered, “My attitude is this: The storm didn't discriminate, and neither will the recovery effort. When those Coast Guard choppers, many of whom were first on the scene, were pulling people off roofs, they didn't check the color of a person's skin. They wanted to save lives,” when Editor & Publisher’s magazine asked, “Sir, what do you make of some of the comments that have been made by quite a number of people that there was a racial component to some of the people that were left behind and left without help?” As slick as Bush’s response was, it wasn’t an answer. Denial aside, when one connects the historical dots, whatever betides poor, Black citizens is a result of racism. Institutionalized racism.
“In order for one to understand the nature of Anglo-Saxon racism and its effects on present-day Africans/Negroids around the world, or the effect of sanctified racism in India, Sudan and West Papua and its effect today,” Paul Barton asserted in “A Response: “Race” on PBS. One has to also study the English system of servitude, serfdom and servant/master (as in Manor House) relationships. The fact is, racism grew out of a system that was established in England and parts of Europe during the Middle Ages, when Africans/Black Moors began to fall out of favor from being a highly respected and accomplished people, to being reduced to slavery after Ferdinand and Isabella retook Spain from the Black Moors. From this point onward, religious books like the Bible were distorted to establish the philosophy of racism and to connect it to religion.
“Both the Europeans and Semites used similar excuses such as that lie called ‘the curse of Ham,’ which was actually a ‘curse’ on Canaan.” In Dr. Vernellia R. Randall’s treatise on Institutional Racism he asserts, “Racist’ and ‘racism’ are provocative words in American society. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans live daily with the effects of both institutional and individual racism. Race issues are so fundamental in American society that they seem almost an integral component. Some Americans believe that race is the primary determinant of human abilities and capacities. Some Americans behave as if racial differences produce inherent superiority in European Americans. In fact, such individuals respond to people-of-color and whites differently merely because of race, or ethnicity.
“As a consequence, people of color are injured by judgments or actions that are directly or indirectly racist. Much of the attention of the last 20 years has focused on individual racist behavior. However, just as individuals can act in racist ways, so can institutions. Institutions can behave in ways that are overtly racist (i.e., specifically excluding people-of-color from services) or inherently racist (i.e., adopting policies that while not specifically directed at excluding people-of-color, nevertheless result in their exclusion). Therefore, institutions can respond to people-of-color and whites differently. Institutional behavior can injure people-of-color; and, when it does, it is nonetheless racist in outcome if not in intent.
Cutting to the chase, Bush can play on words all he wants to, but institutionalized racism is like a malignant cancer. Thus, if our president really was about equality and justice for all, although he can’t cure the cancer, he could at least treat it. And, perhaps, even put it in remission. If, however, he chooses to ignore institutionalized racism’s existence, he is convicted by his own words. And if you don’t believe that, check out the quote from his inaugural address above.