Ta-Nehisi Coates, on "Why 'Accidental Racist' Is Actually Just Racist".

[randomness]

The assumption that there is no real difference among black people is exactly what racism is. Our differences, our right to our individuality, is what makes us human. The point of racism is to rob black people of that right. It would be no different than me assuming that Rachel Weisz must necessarily have something to say about black-Jewish relations, or me assuming that Paisley must know something about barbecue because he's Southern.

It is no different than the only black kid in class being asked to explain "race" to white people, or asking the same question of the sole black dude in your office. The entire fight is to get white people to respect the fact that Mos Def holding a microphone is not LL Cool J holding a microphone, that Trayvon Martin is not De'Marquise Elkins, that wearing a hoodie and being black does not make you the same as every other person wearing a hoodie and being black.

The whole piece is worth reading.

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I will refrain from agreeing snarkily and just wearily and wholeheartedly agree.

[eac.livejournal.com]

I really love Mr. Coates. And I return to him regularly for intelligent reminders about this stuff. I'm grateful that he's willing to do it.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Aie. I don't think I can bear to look, right now. Brad Paisley is pretty damn close to my heart, and watching him struggle and fail at this makes me really sad.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Actually, wait, no, got my rage back.

Brad Paisley grew up 80 miles south of me, in a region that spent the Civil War changing hands and deeply conflicted about identification with either the Confederacy or the Union. He's only marginally more "Southern" than I am, and to hear him defending the construction of Southern pride that depends on racism, that damned flag, misunderstanding of history, and pitting poor whites against blacks to keep them distracted from class warfare? FUCK THAT SHIT.