Jack & Jill Politics

I’m still on vacation, but I thought this article by Tim Wise was worthy enough to interrupt it.  At a historic time in political life such as the probability of electing an African-American to the White House, there is a large faction of the population who would rather put the Alaskan version of the Beverly Hillbillies in the Oval Office than take that step, while yowling about how they’re not being racists.  Hat tip to Buzz Flash.  It seems that everyone who is honest enough with themselves, can grasp this concept:

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do–like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor–and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college–you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

It also appears to me that when white people like Tim Wise tell the truth about themselves, and actually tells his own race when “their whiteness is showing”, whites in denial are quick to shoot the messenger.  Until we can have an honest discussion about race, and I mean the kind of discussion where people get down and dirty in their honesty, and others are uncomfortable, but press through being uncomfortable to get to the nuts and bolts; even going so far as to set up a Wiki to track the MSM’s blatant Double Standards to present them with evidence of their own dereliction of duty; until we, as a people, and as a Nation, can get to that point of openness and honesty, articles like this one will continue to highlight the issue but may very well not solve the problem.