Racism and Conformity

I’ve been combing the Internet, looking for a different perspective on Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s been tough to find. I, too, could write self-congratulatory, pat-myself-on-the-back-because-I’m-not-a-racist tripe, but what’s the point when you can find it elsewhere.

It’s hard to take all the sanctimoniousness seriously. I’m willing to bet that there are many, many people out there who wouldn’t consider themselves racists, and yet, seem to hang out with people who are exactly like them. You know, they think the same way, believe the same things, and perhaps, are even the same color as you are. If you’re a liberal, just how many conservative friends do you have? And if you’re an atheist or agnostic, are you giving people shit because of their beliefs?

I recently read Rebecca Walker’s book, Black, White and Jewish – a book about her balancing act between cultures and coasts. The book acts as a prism. Each incident written is a reflection on the rigid parameters of racism. When I finished the book, I was more convinced than ever that when you take the race out of racism, you are left with conformity – the demand that everyone believe and behave the same way.

Think about it next time you’re going to flame someone who disagrees with you. But that's just my opinion...

BTW, if you’re looking for an interesting perspective on MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech, look no further than Dave Dellinger’s book, From Yale to Jail. He describes the final months of King’s life, with death threats against both himself and King at one protest. He also describes in detail how King worked up to the “I Have a Dream” speech, practicing the phrasing in other speeches. With the exception of the ending, Dellinger found the beginning and the middle of the speech to be somewhat boring.

Comments

[Joshua James]

Great post. I've also sort of distanced myself from also this self-congratulatory back-slapping for MLK, and I wasn't quite sure why until you articulated it.

I don't have a large number of close friends, but the ones I do definitely vary . . . plus, I'm in an interracial relationship with my lady, and my very best friend is of a completely different race than both my lady and I . . . and my other best friend is Irish and Catholic as all get out - despite my distain for Catholicism (though we've certainly had our share of challenging conversations).

You make me feel better about myself from this post, thank you.

I believe it's, in part, a reaction to where I grew up, in Iowa. I've sought out other people from other cultures because it was the only way to know other worlds (I never traveled until much later, after college) and distance myself from an upbringing I was less than pleased with, maybe.

Anyway, thanks for the post . . .

[Scott Walters]

But the Martin Luth King Day celebration isn't about everybody else, it is about Martin Luther King, who certainly deserves to be celebrated, don't you think? The interesting thing about the "I Have a Dream" speech, at least as I understand it, is that the first two thirds that Dellinger found boring are King following his written speech -- but the part that really caught fire was when he departed from his notes and started improvising. It is true that he was hitting on themes he had preached on previously, but nevertheless he was speaking impromptu. I also doubt that King wanted race "erased," just discrimination based on race. I don't think he was looking for a conformist we're-all-the-same-in-this-bus-Bonzo attitude.

[Laura]

Scott,

True enough about Dellinger. The point I was making about that is the idea of working a speech through until perfection - something that is missed when people review the "I Have a Dream" speech.

The day is about Martin Luther King Jr, but it is also about larger issues. When you whittle it down to just being about MLK, it becomes about the man and not the principal or what he was truly about. There were many, many people who stood up with MLK Jr, who don't get a holiday built around their birthdays. Perhaps we should remember the courage of the anonymous as well. This doesn't lessen what MLK did by any means; it just makes the light brighter for everyone.

I'm not saying that MLK would've wanted a conformity. I'm saying that behind every racist, sexist, classist, etc. is someone who would much rather live in a world where everyone is exactly like that person is. It's the reason why many people have issues with religion. Conventional religions demand that the participants convert the world - "save them".

My point in that entry was to link intolerance and discrimination. MLK would've been the last person, I think, to demand that everyone be the same way.