I have a concern. I am going to make a comment that is potentially offensive
to some people.
However, if we do live in a tolerant society that is truth seeking, then despite my counter-cultural question, we will be able to engage in a constructive discussion.
Recently there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the recent incidents of violence perpetrated against African-Americans including the incident involving Martin, Gray and Brown.
It is my concern that popular culture is imprecise on what the threat, or not, is.
I am concerned that some may erroneously view these incidents as examples of on-going racism in the guise of white-on-black violence. I don't think this is the issue...and here is my argument.
1. Overwhelmingly, blacks in American society have more to fear, in terms of violence, from other blacks. Read here. In the article, the Washington Post indicates that 93% of violent acts perpetrated on African-Americans is by other African-Americans. (In an era of a growing 'mixed race population one might question on this demographic group is being defined). In other words, less than 7% of violent acts towards Blacks are performed by European-Americans. According to the National Standard (which is admittedly a politically conservative source, the number of White American's murdered by Black Americans is more than 2:1 or 16%. Read here.
If these are facts, or truths, then how might one critically examine this issue?
2. The history of societal violence against Blacks in American society is long and, for much of that time, institutionalized. For example, while the deaths of 8 million people in Nazi Germany concentration camps are clearly horrifying, what is, I suggest, more terrifying is that this gruesome task was institutionalized across society with machine like precision and what one might assume, a lack of moral concern by the larger society. (See: Arendt, Zimbardo, Belfour & Adams). In other words, the seemingly sanitized acceptance or toleration of, arguably 'institutionalized black genocide' within American culture is the concern - rather than the race of the perpetrator.
3. The recent incidents (Gray, Brown, Martin) are perpetrated by those to whom society has an expectation to 'serve and protect.' In other words, being the victim of violence by a criminal, or more likely a family member or associate, might be reasonably expected; however, being the victim of someone that society has placed in the role of being given additional rights and powers in order to protect us, breaks down the so-called 'social contract' with government which, according to Plato, Locke and Jefferson, is required to act only upon 'just power.' This (seemingly) flagrant use of unjust power by government is, and should be frightening.
4. For the most part it often seems that the American media has become a faux-reality show driven by outrage, objectification and the old bromide, "If it bleeds, it leads" [the evening broadcast]. What role of responsibility does the media has in exploiting these events in order to sell more fear, which in turn drives viewership, which in turn drives advertising, which in turn drives revenue, which in turn makes car payments, house payments and nice vacations?
5. Finally, as engaged citizens, what is our role of responsibility in this tangled web of affairs? Can one make a viable argument that our tolerance of intolerable behavior is driven by a mind set of Post-Modern thinking where "I" and the victim of "your behavior" and therefore "I" and entitled to additional rights? In other words, if "I" can define away morality, individual responsibility, normative judgment, and the remaining semblance of my obligations to the construction of a just society (the social contract)...then it’s far easier to insulate myself, point-the-finger, eat bon-bons and engage in the mindless "entertainment" that seems to ever increasingly consume our time and mental focus. Or not.
6. Political Scientists have long noted that the use of ‘rhetoric’ is situational. In other words, generally speaking, we use words, ideas and commentaries with the understanding that often they are not accurate; however, the desired ‘end’ justifies the (truthfulness) of the means. As American society continues to evolve to greater fulfillment of Jefferson’s ideal that, “all men are created equal,” are these discussions a mechanism whereby those who view themselves as having been historically disadvantaged, taking the opportunity to “re-write” the American narrative?
In other words, if the existing American narrative has been that ‘today’s African-Americans are the progeny of slavery and therefore tainted, or less human, or a lesser member of society’ – such a mental framework, by any member of society, regardless of race, has got to be demeaning and emotionally damaging to all members of society (see M.L. King, Letters from a Birmingham Jail).[1] However, if, by re-writing the American narrative, through the current ‘pop culture grappling with this issue, so that one is able to bolster the self-esteem of future generations of African-Americans, is this end, a more ensconced demographic class of citizenry, one that see themselves as able to fully participate in the American Dream, worth the seemingly ambiguities we are currently hearing and seeing in the national conversation?
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/11/25/giulianis-claim-that-93-percent-of-blacks-are-killed-by-other-blacks/
Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/394489/new-data-its-still-about-black-black-crime-heather-mac-donald
However, if we do live in a tolerant society that is truth seeking, then despite my counter-cultural question, we will be able to engage in a constructive discussion.
Recently there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the recent incidents of violence perpetrated against African-Americans including the incident involving Martin, Gray and Brown.
It is my concern that popular culture is imprecise on what the threat, or not, is.
I am concerned that some may erroneously view these incidents as examples of on-going racism in the guise of white-on-black violence. I don't think this is the issue...and here is my argument.
1. Overwhelmingly, blacks in American society have more to fear, in terms of violence, from other blacks. Read here. In the article, the Washington Post indicates that 93% of violent acts perpetrated on African-Americans is by other African-Americans. (In an era of a growing 'mixed race population one might question on this demographic group is being defined). In other words, less than 7% of violent acts towards Blacks are performed by European-Americans. According to the National Standard (which is admittedly a politically conservative source, the number of White American's murdered by Black Americans is more than 2:1 or 16%. Read here.
If these are facts, or truths, then how might one critically examine this issue?
2. The history of societal violence against Blacks in American society is long and, for much of that time, institutionalized. For example, while the deaths of 8 million people in Nazi Germany concentration camps are clearly horrifying, what is, I suggest, more terrifying is that this gruesome task was institutionalized across society with machine like precision and what one might assume, a lack of moral concern by the larger society. (See: Arendt, Zimbardo, Belfour & Adams). In other words, the seemingly sanitized acceptance or toleration of, arguably 'institutionalized black genocide' within American culture is the concern - rather than the race of the perpetrator.
3. The recent incidents (Gray, Brown, Martin) are perpetrated by those to whom society has an expectation to 'serve and protect.' In other words, being the victim of violence by a criminal, or more likely a family member or associate, might be reasonably expected; however, being the victim of someone that society has placed in the role of being given additional rights and powers in order to protect us, breaks down the so-called 'social contract' with government which, according to Plato, Locke and Jefferson, is required to act only upon 'just power.' This (seemingly) flagrant use of unjust power by government is, and should be frightening.
4. For the most part it often seems that the American media has become a faux-reality show driven by outrage, objectification and the old bromide, "If it bleeds, it leads" [the evening broadcast]. What role of responsibility does the media has in exploiting these events in order to sell more fear, which in turn drives viewership, which in turn drives advertising, which in turn drives revenue, which in turn makes car payments, house payments and nice vacations?
5. Finally, as engaged citizens, what is our role of responsibility in this tangled web of affairs? Can one make a viable argument that our tolerance of intolerable behavior is driven by a mind set of Post-Modern thinking where "I" and the victim of "your behavior" and therefore "I" and entitled to additional rights? In other words, if "I" can define away morality, individual responsibility, normative judgment, and the remaining semblance of my obligations to the construction of a just society (the social contract)...then it’s far easier to insulate myself, point-the-finger, eat bon-bons and engage in the mindless "entertainment" that seems to ever increasingly consume our time and mental focus. Or not.
6. Political Scientists have long noted that the use of ‘rhetoric’ is situational. In other words, generally speaking, we use words, ideas and commentaries with the understanding that often they are not accurate; however, the desired ‘end’ justifies the (truthfulness) of the means. As American society continues to evolve to greater fulfillment of Jefferson’s ideal that, “all men are created equal,” are these discussions a mechanism whereby those who view themselves as having been historically disadvantaged, taking the opportunity to “re-write” the American narrative?
In other words, if the existing American narrative has been that ‘today’s African-Americans are the progeny of slavery and therefore tainted, or less human, or a lesser member of society’ – such a mental framework, by any member of society, regardless of race, has got to be demeaning and emotionally damaging to all members of society (see M.L. King, Letters from a Birmingham Jail).[1] However, if, by re-writing the American narrative, through the current ‘pop culture grappling with this issue, so that one is able to bolster the self-esteem of future generations of African-Americans, is this end, a more ensconced demographic class of citizenry, one that see themselves as able to fully participate in the American Dream, worth the seemingly ambiguities we are currently hearing and seeing in the national conversation?
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/11/25/giulianis-claim-that-93-percent-of-blacks-are-killed-by-other-blacks/
Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/394489/new-data-its-still-about-black-black-crime-heather-mac-donald
Note: The 2013 FBI Uniform
Crime Report, a compilation of annual crime statistics, also shows similar
data: 83 percent of white victims were killed by white
offenders; 90 percent of black victims were killed by black
offenders; 14 percent of white victims were killed by black
offenders; and7.6 percent of black victims were ...Nov 25, 2014
[1] I
recall reading but am unable to find the source of a research paper where Americans
of different races were asked to describe some aspect of American governance.
The findings where that, generally, White and Asians replied (to the effect) “we
believe” whereas Blacks and Native-Americans replied “they believe.” The result
being that along racial lines Americans self-defined themselves into, or out
of, American society within their own self-image.
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