Media Matters Misses the Point on Racism and Black Culture

[liveonearth]

http://mediamatters.org/action/drlaura/
(you can listen to what she said here, it's 7 minutes long)

Media Matters wants to chastise Dr Laura Schleissinger who spoke about racism on the radio, calling her comments racist and "breathtaking". She is a bit feisty and sometimes rude, but I don't think she is a racist. Apparently she has said some things that "attack" lesbians as well, but I haven't heard them to know what I think of her position there. I have never listened to Dr Laura before, FYI, so the clip above is all I know about her. I essentially agree with her point with regard to racism and black activist culture, but it is such an unpopular position as to cause trouble. Most people can't wrap their heads around it. The truth that she sees is that the black PC position on racism has become "hypersensitive" to isolated words/references, and is too easily triggered by comments which are not actually racist. Some blacks become unable to see that not every remark that mentions blacks or contains the word nigger is inherently racist. For example, I'm not racist, but by agreeing with Dr Laura (or putting "nigger" in print) I could be labeled such. Even Media Matters didn't get it. Media Matters is a useful media watchdog that busts A-holes (Beck, Limbaugh) in the news constantly, demanding apologies and inciting public outcries against public figures. Media Matters calls Dr Laura insensitive and over the top. But I think they need to look in the mirror, and think a little bit harder. I would call her cranky and tired of reverse racism. PCness limits our ability to communicate frankly about important issues by making some words taboo. I want the media to listen and hear and report on what they understand, not to enforce PCness.

Comments

[bodylove.livejournal.com]

I feel so strongly on this issue I woke up thinking about it. I think it's b/c I sensed a "blame the victim" mentality that perpetuates racism. Here's an old article that may be of interest to you:

http://www.discourses.org/OldArticles/Discourse%20and%20the%20denial%20of%20racism.pdf

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Everybody is a victim when there are disputes like this. I am the victim of your pinning mentalities on me, when to me people are people are people. We have all manner of visible and invisible differences, and if we know that we are all different and all worthy, the whole fight evaporates.

Good quote. I am mostly in agreement except that I don't think it has to be about blaming the victim. It's about getting to where we can talk frankly with each other and do some self-soothing. When someone hits one of our buttons, instead of taking it out on them, we work on our buttons.