Obama uses N-word, says we are 'not cured' of racism

[kpete]

Obama used the N-word and explained that the absence of racist language does not mean that racism doesn't exist.

"Racism, we are not cured of it. And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say nigger in public," Obama said. "That's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It's not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don't, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior."


http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/22/politics/barack-obama-n-word-race-relations-marc-maron-interview/index.html

[pipoman]

1. He's exactly right...

And despite the tragedy of this weekend, racism is winding down through attrition. Attrition is the only answer for actual change of ideology..

[sufrommich]

2. "racism is winding down through attrition"

I've heard this claim for 4 decades now.

[pipoman]

3. And racism has been in decline for all 4 decades...

[gollygee]

4. Not much, except for the Baby Boomers

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/07/white-millennials-are-just-about-as-racist-as-their-parents/

Baby Boomers stick out as the more revolutionary generation, at least compared to the Silent Generation that immediately preceded it (and was born before 1946). Boomers are between 8 and 17 points less apt than the Silent Generation to express openly prejudiced views toward blacks, amounting to the greatest shift from one generation to the next. Xers are less prejudiced than Boomers on just one of five measures, interracial marriage.

Beyond generational comparisons, the poll suggests substantial minorities of white millennials hold racial prejudices against blacks. Over 3 in 10 white millennials believe blacks to be lazier or less hardworking than whites, and a similar number say lack of motivation is a reason why they are less financially well off as a group. Just under a quarter believes blacks are less intelligent, while fewer express opposition to interracial marriage or living in a 50-percent black neighborhood. Holding these attitudes is not the same as making racist comments in public or even among close friends, but there's clearly an audience for race-based judgment among the Millennial generation.

(snip)

The fact that today's young whites are not much different from their elders on racial prejudice shouldn't be all that surprising, as it matches past research on policies designed to alleviate racial inequality. Comparing ANES surveys over two decades, University of Michigan political scientist Vincent Hutchings found "younger cohorts of whites are no more racially liberal in 2008 than they were in 1988" in a 2009 article.

Whatever expectation that millennials' diverse racial makeup would spawn especially tolerant views has not yet come true.

[pipoman]

6. I was alive 40 years ago, and yes racism has been in constant decline

The trap is labeling critical thinking, statistical fact, and other realities as racism...the line which mustn't be crossed..

[gollygee]

7. There's also a trap in thinking your experience is an objective reality.

It can feel that way to you, especially if you're white, but that doesn't make it so. People have studied this and found that young people are about where we were (I'm GenX.) And my generation is about where my parents' was. It's looked at in an objective way, but it meets my experience. I don't see younger people as being more evolved on the issue of race than we were.

[pipoman]

18. As I said below, I don't live in a vacuum..

Without knowing the criteria for those who have studied the issue, there is no way of knowing the accuracy of their conclusions. There are logical limitations that are disputed in the sometimes subjective discussion of racism.

[gollygee]

22. There's info in the article I posted

Here's the study: http://www3.norc.org/GSS+Website/

[former9thward]

9. You have intereacted with very few people

compared with the 330 million people in the U.S. Maybe compared with the people you were in contact with 40 years ago and are in contact now your statement is correct. But especially as adults we self select those people. Its like people who say "I don't know how John Smith got elected, I don't know a single person who voted for him!"

[pipoman]

13. I am not living in a vacuum...

See post 12

[LanternWaste]

10. Overt racism has declined, yes

Overt racism has declined, yes. Critical thinking skills though, may lead us to believe that overt racism is merely one of many forms of racism.

No doubt, one will provide objective statistical 'facts' concluding all forms, formats and variations of racism have been in declines as well, yes? Or we're left with simple allegations... which are not in fact, part and parcel of critical thought any more than bumper stickers are.

[pipoman]

12. The issue isn't whether or not racism exists...only a fool would state it doesn't

The question is, 'has racism been in decline for the last 40 years?', and my answer to that is 'only a fool would state it hasn't '...I have no reason to believe it won't continue to decrease. Are we all forgetting that we have a black president who is about to complete 2 terms? Thankfully not a single credible threat on his life that I am aware of (beyond what every other president is faced with).I believe it is a huge mistake to minimize the headway we have made in this last 40 years. Acknowledging success and failure is the key to overcoming challenges in our personal life, business, and public policy.

[gollygee]

15. The election

might be more a result of the generation that preceded the Boomers dying off than the generations afterward being less racist than the Boomers.

At the same time, it is certainly an accomplishment that our country was able to elect a black president. That does indicate less racism than there was in this country in the 50s or 60s.

I don't think you have to be a fool to think improvement won't continue since studies show that each generation from the Boomers on has about the same level of racism.

[pipoman]

16. This is what change through attrition is...

Attrition is the only real evolution of core beliefs in a society. In the millenia preceeding the 20th century this change took vastly longer than since mass media and communication...the evolution of morality and ideals has reached stratospheric proportions in the last 100 years in comparison to the thousands of years prior...

The conversation isn't over, we just can't deny or diminish our progress.

Oh, I'm not one to blindly accept just everyone's definition or characterization of what racism is or isn't....

[NightWatcher]

19. All the old racists are dying, but here's a 21 year old shooter

Some die, and some more are made daily. Hopefully we are getting a net negative with the racists...

[pipoman]

20. Decline is attrition

And I believe we will have decline to a portion of the population commensurate with other dumbass-thought...they never go away, just insignificant to societal norms.

[NightWatcher]

21. I know what the word means. I think we're only hoping that there is decline

I was commenting that yes, every day an old racist dies, but also a new racist is made. Today we have to deal with rw hate media like previous generations never had.

We're only hoping that there are more old racists dying than are created every day.

Hope

[pipoman]

23. RW hate like previous generations never had?

No, that has been around and has been far more prolific and horrible than it is today...eternal pessimism isn't helpful..

[NightWatcher]

24. I said "rw hate MEDIA". Previous generations did not have Stormfront or hate radio

[pipoman]

25. See I view those as societal anomalies that will always be present

They lure and attract those relative few who are already disposed to dumb ideas and lack critical thinking skills...they will always be saying stupid shit among themselves...there are no longer active local chapters of the klan..again beyond the dumbass brigade...

[Tom_Foolery]

5. Here's the link for the podcast:

http://www.wtfpod.com/

[Bonobo]

8. I totally agree with him. That is often fake, bullshit racial sensitivity.

Ultimately, it doesn't mean much when compared to the hard-to-get-to, deep shit that bunges up the soul.

[Cha]

11. "President Obama opens his mouth and speaks TRUTH to this country."

Nerdy Wonka
?@NerdyWonka



http://theobamadiary.com/2015/06/22/early-bird-chat-540/

[Gothmog]

14. I have no problem with the use of the n word by President Oama

[meow2u3]

17. PBO used the word properly

He dropped the n-bomb for one reason: to describe the still-festering racism in this nation--on which the country was founded.

[Prism]

26. I'm looking forward to President Obama when he reaches his final lame duck form

I think he's tried very hard to thread a needle on racial issues as president, speaking out while attempting to be deft enough to escape criticisms of being inflammatory or divisive or "angry" (which he'll get from some quarters no matter what he says).

Once he no longer has to care about political implications, it will be interesting to see what he has to say.

More, please.

[Rex]

27. Spot on, just like what he said about the Rebel Flag...retire it to a museum.

We still have a lot of healing to do and some don't like the idea of mixed races or races getting along in harmony. Some have a vested interest in White Power and keeping minorities under their thumb.

Obama, ballpark, knocked out of, in orbit somewhere around Jupiter.

[djean111]

28. We can legislate punishment for the effects of racism, we can legislate equal opportunity.

But we cannot legislate away racism. I don't know what the answer is, but none of the candidates can actually have any sort of "plan" to get rid of racism. They can, at most, legislate against the effects. They can legislate more opportunity. But legislation never changed a heart or a mind. Sadly, and IMO.

[DustyJoe]

29. Just needs refinement

We've had EEOC requirements for decades and those regulations have been trying to keep up with bigotry as it sends out a new branch. Maybe the public could get behind legislating verbal/written racism and/or bigotry as long as it addresses all forms, all segments of the population, no exclusions. Some municipalities legislate cuss words said in public, even if it's just a civil citation not a criminal citation. Then WHY can't they use the same power/legislation to language intended to incite, you know them 'fightin words' that all races/sexes/religions seem to use to needle and provoke others.

[Behind the Aegis]

30. He said what needed to be said.

"That's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It's not just a matter of overt discrimination."

No, it's not, but there are way too many who believe it is, and not just on the right. From micro-aggressions to passive bias, racism and other -isms are still in full swing, and I see little signs of them slowing down. There have been advances and triumphs, of course, but just because it isn't "in your face" doesn't mean we can heave a heavy sigh of relief. The 'in your face' type, bigoted epithets and the like, are becoming the exception, not the rule, but it is "the rule" which is the fucking problem! I remember when minorities were constantly accused of looking for racism (homophobia, sexism, anti-Semitism) in everything, for playing the "race (anti-Semitism, homophobia, sexism) card", and in some cases, it still happens, but what is more common, are those who now look for any reason to dodge or dismiss racism (and other -isms) with a casual "move along, nothing to see here" attitude.

Bigotry cannot be eradicated when it isn't discussed!