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Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 6:32 PM UTC

Yay! Racism is over!

Some Americans may think that black people need to stop complaining. Here's why I won't

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Topics: This Week in Blackness, Race,

As of late, the sentiment that racism is over has been stated to me or friends of mine in numerous forms numerous times. And, as of late, this hasn’t come from other Negroes (which for a brief period in ’08 it did). This reoccurring phenomenon has often come from non-blacks in various stages of unrest due to our, ahem, “complaining.”

I’m always overjoyed when someone takes my observations about problems in our society due to race as complaining. It makes me feel like they care, you know? They care enough to take time out of their busy day to attempt to make me feel like crap. That’s amazing.

You do know that’s what you’re doing, right? When you start yelling/writing letters about the complaining Negroes it feels like a direct punch at anyone who might have noticed race-based issues in our country. You’re not speaking about some nameless dark horde seeking to conquer this nation via government programs.

You’re talking about me. My mother. My friends.

I always wonder what the speaker/writer of these words is hoping to accomplish with these statements. When they decide to explain to us that we just need to get over “it,” what’s the best-case scenario in their mind? Do they believe that the black person will have a moment of clarity? A sunbeam will break through the cloud of our discontent and we will suddenly have the insight of those who can see how racism is over? When you tell a Negro “get over it” are you expecting a hug afterward? The Negroes will shed tears of joy at their newfound enlightenment and go get a job? Inquiring minds want to know.

Well, just in case you thought any of those things, let me assure you: It won’t happen. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to marginalize the already marginalized and possibly get a glass of wine thrown at you — depending on your vicinity to said marginalized Negro.

Elon James White is the editor-in-chief at This Week in Blackness. You can also follow him on Twitter. More Elon James White.

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