Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 2-15-19

Editorial/Column
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Black Like Me
T he other day, I ran across a television news story about a police depart- ment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that once allowed its white narcotics officers to work undercover while wear- ing makeup that made them appear to be Black. Needless to say, once the photos sur- faced, the department was in- evitably swept up into the continuing blackface contro-
versy.
The minute I saw the pic-
tures I chuckled and said to myself, "Here we go again." More white people being ex- posed for their complete ig- norance.
You have to laugh about this kind of stuff, right? Not in the way that you would be amused by a good joke, but in the way that you would laugh "AT" someone who continues to make a complete fool out
of him or herself.
There was a time when I
would hear something like this and want to physically confront any racist white per- son who engaged in the buf- foonery. Now, I just look at those types of individuals as simply sad and pathetic.
I mean, think about how psychologically messed up a person has to be to hate and love you at the same time? "I hate you, but I lust for a sex- ual encounter with you. I hate you, but I wish my body could look like yours. I hate you, but I worship your style, attitude, rhythm and every- thing else you represent."
Can you imagine the amount of energy it takes for someone to constantly at- tempt to destroy the object of their envy? When you look at the issue from that perspec- tive, any amount of anger you
may want to feel could easily be replaced by a certain level of pity when it dawns on you that you're dealing with indi- viduals who may be suffering from an undiagnosed crisis of identity.
Much like people who ob- sessively tan, use steroids or who are addicted to plastic surgery, at a very deep level, blackface is another side ef- fect of self-hate and a cheap way to achieve, at least tem- porarily, a desired look that doesn't come naturally.
Due to everything men- tioned above, it's hard for me to get too mad at these mod- ern-day "blackfacers" be- cause, like they say, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
I would just love for them to stay painted for more than few hours at a time so that they could get a true first- hand experience of every- thing else that comes with the package.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can contact Mr. Barr at: cbar- ronice@gmail.com.
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Atonement For Former Racists
f everyone who has used an ethnic slur, who has told
a sexist or racist joke, who has shown prejudice to- wards people because of their so-called race, sex, reli- gion or lifestyle, and who has shown intolerance for immigrants, was condemned for it, then nearly every working American would lose his or her job.
Moreover, if every politician who has done the same thing, probably half of city councils, county commis- sions, state legislators, and Congressional representa- tives throughout America would have to resign, including the President of the United States.
Finding someone who has not done or said some- thing racist during his or her lifetime will be like trying to find a needle in a proverbial haystack.
Therefore, the calls for Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to resign should be extended to President Donald Trump and others. It is unfair for celebrities and leaders to lose their livelihoods while others are given a slap on the hand for the same misdeed.
People can change their beliefs, attitude and behav- iors. In fact, we should care more about what racists do than what they think or say.
For, instance, President L. B. Johnson was known to throw the “N” word around liberally, but he de- fended the 1964 Civil Rights Act under pressure from Southern Senators. Former Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black was publicly known to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan, yet, he voted to abolish Jim Crow racism while referring to the law as “the N---er law.”
More recently, President Bill Clinton made the Sis- ter Souljah remark, yet, hired more Blacks in his ad- ministration than any other president. President George W. Bush was credited with having the most eth- nically diverse administration than any other Republi- can president.
No, there are no free passes for racists or anyone who uses insensitive language or behavior. However, we must ask ourselves when are we going to allow politicians, our bosses, our co-workers, etc., to rise above and past their racist mistakes and give them a chance to atone for their behavior . . . or as was once said, “Let him or her who is without sin, cast the first stone.”
Think about it.
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