Race Card
“And indeed Mark Fuhrman was like Voltaire’s God: If he hadn’t existed, Johnnie Cochran would have had to create him.”
David Horowitz, October 1997
I hear it alot. Whenever a black person in the spotlight mentions discrimination of any kind somebody (usually someone white) declares shenanigans on the basis of the race card. I always think that’s bullshit. Perhaps there has been a person of color in a situation that used the negative treatment of their race to validate some failing on their part. The thing is the race card is more valid than most people want to admit. However, the race card is a double edged sword and those who wield it are cut by it more often than they can use it on another. I carry the race card like it’s my drivers license the difference is providing my I.D. can keep me from getting locked up. The race card can be the reason I’m getting locked up. The more accurate description would be the race card is a credit card and every month we have to pay at least the minimum balance on it. The race card is thrown in my face more than I can whip it out…as a matter of fact I can’t recall every getting to play it. On a daily basis though, it comes up. When I walk past University of Maryland (the hospital and the school) it comes up. I watch every day as people try to exert the subtle energy it takes to move out of my way. I notice when people stop walking and pretend to let something attract their attention long enough for me to move from behind them. They always lose interest in whatever it was once I’ve passed by. I notice (it’s hard not to) when people stare at me from a block away and then don’t speak when I say hello. I notice when people tense up, but don’t move away from me as they walk by. I notice when cops and security guards try to take a different tone with me. I notice when the salesperson keeps an eye on me in the store. In fact for me alot of these things are amplified. I mean who the hell is afraid of a guy wearing a sport coat drinking a mocha latte? Plenty of folks. My tastes that are outside of the mainstream just put me in places where there aren’t alot of black people. More often than not when I walk in peoples antenna goes up. Sometimes I start conversations with clerks so they can chill out and realize I have an interest in what they’re selling and don’t plan to rob them. One of the saddest things about the experiences I’ve just related is that the people in question aren’t always white. Alot of the time it’s the elders whom I’ve been taught to respect that show the most fear. It’s getting to the point that when an elder speaks to me in a friendly manner I want to stop and have a conversation. However, the race card remains…I get to see all types of wonderful garbage like this…
The race card has never been a free ride. It’s very essence is strife. As a matter of fact it’s even becoming a matter of contention with the sistas. “The problem with black men is…” I was still trying to get past to problem with men in general. I wasn’t really ready to deal with a slew of issues directed right at me. I’ve thought about this recently cause I visited some forums for a tech/gaming network and it seems like everyday some thread pops up saying something about black people. I’d realized: 1) that football season will be over by the time I get around to buying Madden ‘07. 2) there isn’t much real political debate there anymore. 3) people my age and older are a rarity these days. Given these factor I was considering not checking in anymore. I just keep noticing all of these weak ass threads and then I watched as the few black kids on there would try to stick up for…us. So I now I keep checking in to lend some intelligent counter-weight to such situations. The sad thing may be that the most effective tool I have is a simple insult. For instance there was a thread about “black people” talk and I ruined everyones fun by joking about the Bostonian accent. Or after that when someone put up a video of a drive by with a heading “Look how far black people have come in their struggle for equal rights”. I once again pissed them all off by displaying a picture of some mullet rocking redneck. So I have a race card…but I can’t seem to get it out faster than it’s thrown in my face.
definetly not a free pass. those situations you talked about i can reate to clearly. i get the purse huggers, and usually like the last seat anyone takes on the subway is the one next to me unless there happens to be a smelly wino onboard. had a chick actually run away from me one night in university as i struggled home with two bags of heavy groceries too. maye she thought i was going to mug her with a load of bread and a bunch of kraft dinner
Comment by jdid — October 25, 2006 @ 2:27 pm
I agree with you that the race card is a “double-edged sword.” I have had it thrown in my face as well . . . even by my own people. Just the other day, a black salesman at a store I frequent tried to ring up the white lady who was standing next to me but was obviously not the first in line (she stood near the edge of the counter and I was right in front of the register). I was infuriated because I knew this wasn’t just an oversight . . . this brotha held the “white is right” mentality and chose to ignore me. I held my peace though . . . people like that obviously have issues that a mere cuss-out won’t fix.
Comment by Shana — October 25, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
Very interesting observation!
As a young professional black woman working in Corporate America my race card appears to always be indirectly checked. Since moving to Dallas (from L.A.) I’ve become more aware of the progress (or should I say lack of progress) for everyone living together in “harmony”.
As a black woman trying to climb the corporate ladder, I have found that I will always have to have more in my background than Suzy who’s applying for the same position. The job may require an undergrad degree and one year experience, but some how I damn near need a graduate degree and five years work related.
But after three years of trial and error, I’ve been forced to learn the rules and adapt to my environment. I noticed since my move that I had to refrain from my own self inflicted prejudices. I had major issues with white women; particularly those in their 30s to 40s (mind you I am 27). They always assumed I was raised in the hood in Dallas, shocked that I have a degree, articulate, sense of style, and have seen a few places. I say stop ASSuming. It’s not fair that I have to always be the “one” to show these closed minded folks that not all black people fall into the popular stereotypes.
Okay sorry to blog on your comments. Obviously this is a touchy subject for me…LOL
Comment by Ms. Confessions — October 25, 2006 @ 7:31 pm
*sighs*
this is such a difficult topic
i think that as an immigrant
I really miss a lot of things
that other people see
but how much of it is real
and how much perceived?
Maybe I have faulty perception
Or maybe sometimes others
are hypersensitive
Comment by God's Child — October 26, 2006 @ 2:50 pm
Oh man.. Blogsome ate up my comment. I guess I was writing too long man. Well, lets just say the double-edged sword comparison is DEAD on. Kudos on a good post. Happy Friday to you.
Comment by Luke Cage — October 27, 2006 @ 1:49 pm
I got my black card revoked in college when I called out the bullshit of the black student groups in our “white” newspaper.
I’ve been looking to get a new one ever since.
Comment by Start Snitching — October 27, 2006 @ 9:10 pm
Great post!
I try to use my “card” sparingly. I think it’s easier for some White people to trivialize an instance of bigotry, so that they don’t have to deal with its ramifications.
Like the poster mentioned above, “the card” is so often abused and used by our own people, because they’re programmed to think a certain way.
I work in non-profit, predominantly white… and I find that many of my colleagues will phish, and try to force me to play that hand, on THEIR terms. I’m a reluctant and refuse to play that game.
When the hand is dealt on MY terms, they don’t want any parts of it.
hahahaha.
Tricky, tricky.
Comment by coffey — October 28, 2006 @ 7:59 pm
Weighing in late, but as the only card carrying African American woman in my town, I am torn between using the card sparingly and disavowing that I have one… I agree with God’s Child, I think there is a skewed vision/perception of the reality.
Comment by Gina — November 1, 2006 @ 8:10 pm