A few weeks ago I was on Morning Edition talking about Obama's response to Trayvon Martin's murder. I wanted to emphasize the constraints Obama faced as he tried to meet the needs of black constituents. And I did so, in part, by referring to the thin line blacks negotiate in integrated spaces in general, comparing his attempts as President to my own attempts as a faculty member on a predominantly white campus.
In hindsight I wish I could've come up with a better analogy. It's not simply that I shouldn't compare being President to being a professor. It's that making that comparison in this specific case takes away some of the real politics involved. The decision to, for example, argue that helping unemployment in general helps black people (it doesn't) instead of taking a more targeted approach, is NOT the decision to wear a suit everyday to work instead of jeans and a hoodie…so some students will take me seriously. This isn't to downplay the real constraints people of color have to make in negotiating our everyday lives. But I still wish I could've taken that back and said something different.
However, given what I DID say, I got an interesting letter in the mail last week. No return address:
Dear Professor Spence,
I listened to your interview on N.P.R. on 3/30/12 about Trayvon Martin. The young man’s death
is an absolute tragedy; Zimmerman should be arrested and tried in a court, with counsel, consistent with
Florida law.
On the other hand you, my friend, are totally full of horseshit. Your fear of racism or racist on
J.H.’s campus is unfounded. J.H. is one of the most diverse & tolerant schools (SAFE) on the planet! If
anything you are paranoid. You are far more likely to be mugged by a black man off campus!
Let me tell you where you ought to be afraid! Not from white folks or cops, but from young
black men, especially in the larger cities. Those niggers would shoot your liberal, black ass for a pack of
gum. Black on black crime is rampant & out of control! Ok yes, you probably blame it on the white
racism or institutional racism, or some “vestige of slavery imposed on blacks by the cultural memory of
violence against black slaves.” Perhaps even unemployment on poor housing. ‘WRONG.’ IT IS OUT OF
CONTROL BLACK MEN BEING VIOLENT!”
I AM BLACK. Man, it ain’t the crackers killing us. It is us killing us! I am from Charlotte, N.C. The
mayor is black, the police chief is black, the school board is controlled by blacks, the county manager is
black, and the brothers here are killing each other – about 2 killed per day. O.K. make a big deal about
Martin & tell the world how you suffer being a black man at JH but man you’re not telling the truth
Get Real!
I originally thought the letter was written by someone white. I only know one black writer who routinely spells "nigger" with an "er" rather than an "a" (Ta-Nehisi Coates). I imagine most of us spell it the way we PRONOUNCE it–with an "a". But it could conceivably be someone black. I don't believe this represents a sign of "self-hatred" if it is. Rather the letter reflects the very real fact that many black people bear a great deal of resentment towards poor/working class black men and women. And experience a great deal of frustration because (black) local government officials don't seem to be able to do much to improve their quality of life. This is definitely the case in Detroit, and appears to be the case in Charlotte.
As I've noted before I believe this conundrum is the central issue in black politics.
With that said though I've never been mugged or been fearful of being mugged/attacked/jacked by the black men I see on the way to work, on the way home, or when I'm out and about in the neighborhood outside of Hopkins, or when I'm out and about downtown.
I have, on the other hand, been racially harassed at Hopkins. It only happened once. And I'm not necessarily "fearful" of it happening again–I can handle mine. But that once was enough.
Ain’t nobody confused about the underlying root cause of our “central issue” predicament http://youtu.be/f3PJF0YE-x4
The black community will not be able to improve until they begin to accept some accountability. More harm is done to black people by other black people than any other race. Any culture that glamorizes criminal exploits and uses racism as one size fits all scapegoat will never be able to create a positive image and undo negative stereotypes.
Been meaning to get to this. When you say “harm” what do you mean? If you’re talking about individual acts of violence and crime….well, yes. People tend to commit crime in the neighborhoods they live in or around. Given that black people are segregated, black criminals will tend to commit crime in black neighborhoods. Just like white people tend to commit crime in white ones.
As far as glamorizing criminal exploits, I’m not sure what you mean here. Vigilanteism for example, is a crime. The #1 or #2 movie this season will undoubtedly be the third Dark Knight movie. In fact it’s very difficult to find a blockbuster non-romantic comedy that doesn’t feature criminal exploits by the protagonist….
The writer may have been white, or a Black conservative. Redirecting the focus is a common theme when Afrikan Americans raise the issue of institutional injustice. Their basic objective is to defend a system which protects their power, property, and privileges. I live in CLT. I don’t know how many people have been murdered here in 2012, but I know it’s not two Afrikan Americans per day. Total murders for 2006 were 83; 76 for 07; 83 for 08; 58 for 09; 61 for 2010. The violent crime rate has actually been falling under Mayor Foxx which is rather amazing considering the economy. I don’t know how much credit the mayor and the police chief can take for that, but it is what it is. I’m saying this as a critic of Afrikan American electoral politics, which I often compare to neo-colonialism in Afrika.
The interesting thing no one discusses of course is white-on-white violence. As Dr. Roger Lane points out in the final quarter of the 19th century and in the first third of the 20th century, first Irish-Americans, then Italian-Americans had higher murder rates than Afrikan Americans. Their murder rates were reduced by employment in the industrial sector,
Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad has an interesting analysis on how the liberals who influenced American politics between 1932 and 1968 viewed Afrikan American crime as a cultural pathology not worthy of specific policies to solve the problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z_A1ediUWY
“because (black) local government officials don’t seem to be able to do much to improve their quality of life.”
This is the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever seen. Since when is it the governments job to improve people’s quality of life? The man who’s response you posted is exactly right.
um…that’s what government DOES. “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” what part of that isn’t clear?
unless you’re suggesting government is supposed to do that…but not for black people.
The “persuit if happiness” is not a guarantee of happiness or a gift of goods.
You make your own way in life with the freedoms allowed one under the Constitution.
It’s sink or swim.
The Government owes nothing to no one, institutionalized welfare has destroyed much of black society in every major American city.
And it’s not coming back ever.
We’re talking about Trayvon Martin. The question stands.
Even Jess Jackson is afraid of seeing Black men around when he is out on the street. This pathetic Black (liar) just can’t seem to get it right. No wonder the Black Community is such a failure. Idiots who can not and will not tell the truth. You can walk the streets anytime of the day or night in a White city (for now) and you won’t be harmed. Take your sh*it to a Black city and see what happens. Ignorant and confused……TOOL!!!!