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Sharp n’ Blunt

What Have Black Folks Done to Evoke Such Blind-Hatred?

By Desi Cortez Columnist

there needs to be not necessarily an apology but a cultural "confession" leading to a much-needed "reformation." White bigotry and the resulting discrimination isn’t a figment of the imagination of the nation’s non-White population.

June 25, 2015 5 min read Free to read

I’ve a honest legitimate question to lay on the table, and I submit it to apparently millions of White Americans: “Why do you so hate Black folks? What have we Black people done to White folks to elicit this type of scorn, malice, animosity and hostility?” If ever there seems to be an example of “blind” hatred – it’s this widespread and deeply embedded disdain towards Blacks which seems to personify the term. And, much of the same slice of White America also hates Latinos, hates Indians, hates Asians, hates Arabs/Muslims, hates “uppity” women . . . hates everybody . . . who’s not White.

Ask Donald Trump . . .

It sure comes across as the only “good” people-of-color are either conquered, being exploited or actually “dead” people-of-color . . . As I sat watching Mother Emanuel’s first Sunday service since the executions of the “Charleston 9” I understood the gathering and the site itself were “prime targets” in the minds of what the experts calculate is a blending of “Right Wing” racist klansmen, politicians, business-people and law enforcement officers . . . I didn’t know if the whole world was holding their collective breath, but I knew for sure all across Black America we were.

Black America and our allies will be holding our collective breaths on Friday when Reverend.Pinkney is laid-to-rest . . . because we know America’s history, both recent and yesteryear.

What’s wrong with White folks?

What ails them?

Is it something in their water?

Why can’t they seem to get-along with anyone on the United Nation’s playground? Perhaps because “American Exceptionalism” (White Superiority) is still the All-American company-line.

Whatever it may be, I don’t know who nor what can help them, but if nothing else, there needs to be not necessarily an apology but a cultural “confession” leading to a much-needed “reformation.” White bigotry and the resulting discrimination isn’t a figment of the imagination of the nation’s non-White population.

We ain’t all imagining it . . .

Look no deeper than the webpages of Conservative propaganda machines like FOX News . . . the pathetic, weak, sorry-ass desire to “humanize” Roof as merely being a drug addict and mostly a victim of mental illness. . . and to legitimize the Confederate flag he flew. Both charades vividly illustrate, in stark Black n’ White that far-too much of White America is having to be dragged, kickin’ n’ screamin’ out of the 19th century. Conservatives are all over the internet “deflecting” and “masking” this punk as cra-cra-crazy instead of a simpleminded, small minded, run-of-the-mill rank n’ file company man.

It’s this denial of the obvious distaste for Blacks and other Americans-Of-Color, this pretending to having a monopoly on all that is pure n’ good. This make-believing this is a post-racial era of “colorblindness” and denying the distinct, palpable racism woven into the very fabric of the established, dominant WASP culture of this country – is insulting to most of us.

Don’t piss down my back . . and then try to tell me it’s raining.

Is the Confederate battle flag a symbol of Southern heritage?

Yes.

Is it simultaneously an enduring symbol of hate, blatant defiance, treason, alleged White superiority, unproven Black inferiority and undeniable Redneck terrorism?

Hell yes it is.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, may I note a Woman-of-Color, at last found the “you know what’s” to start the process of removing the flag from the state’s capitol grounds and relegating it to its rightful place in a museum. She’s forcing politicians to act, and with that swift and at-last, enlightened action, there’s yet-another reason why 9 individuals didn’t give their lives for nothing.

Wal-Mart is removing the Confederate flags from its stores . . . yes, it’s that commonplace mainstream in some areas of this nation . . . entrenched hatred and ignorance. Deep-down in Mississippi “push is coming to shove” and the flag is being debated . . . a-change is comin’!

Look here, undeniably the Confederate flag embodies and symbolizes much much more than merely down-home Southern pride and traditions. The Johnny Reb’ battle flag Roof embraced reflects the Confederate mindset behind the Angry White backlash we see manifesting itself in a vast-array of manners; from former Confederate states like Texas recently entertaining the tratorius notion of seceding from the union, again: To the support seen for rampaging policemen in Cleveland, Staten Island and Ferguson. Roof represents both the White Citizens Council (Klansmen in Suites) and the Republican TEA Party – he, they, all of them share philosophical ground with populist like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mike Savage, Governor Scott Walker, Senator Ted Cruz . . . Dare I say this is “mainstream” White America.

Mental illness and an abundance-of guns aren’t the lowest-common denominators in this social equation – America’s Cancer is this historical blind-hatred held for Blacks by Whites.

How is it we Black folks can continue to take the “High” road . . . “turn the other cheek,” forgive cold-blooded killers hiding in churches and behind police badges . . .? How is it we “sub-human” Black folks embody so-very much humanity in what surely appears to be an somewhat inhuman world?

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