Racism Rising?

Daily Kos has an important post that we all need to think about.  While the post has received some attention, we really need to make certain that this possibility is fully investigated.

We are all familiar with the serious problems of direct, confrontational racism.  The kinds of racism which is inescapable in the harm it causes.  Racism that is deeply embedded into our culture from violence and assumptions of supremacy.  There are increasingly -- though -- forms of racism that rise which are more hidden and obscure.  I do not mean the company refusing to hire someone because they write a code, such as AA (short hand for "All American" which means white) on the form.  No, this is the kind of racism that transcends institutional racism.

More and more often people in American society hide ugly racism by believing they are doing the right thing for a cause that justifies their actions.  They know they cannot come right out and use words or phrases that were harmful in the past and remain a stain today.  They do not seem themselves in a negative light and frequently say (over and over) that they do not "hate" anyone.

Oh no, this kind of racism comes with the recognition of the need to hide the true intent. For example, one would never call a candidate "uppity" (which has a clear code when used again people of color).  Instead you say "whinny" or "demanding." But these words are but nothing more than mere old fashioned racism dressed up in a new suit.  And the ends do not justify the means.

Or of course,  someone who harbors or uses racism to advance their causes may talk openly when they are around people that they feel comfortable with.  This so-called Backstage racism is present in our lives as many of us face it with co-workers, colleagues, even unfortunately some family and friends whom we often believe that we can change (and I, for one, will never give up trying to change them). 

This Backstage racism has come to the light of day on occasion. Sometimes it is recognized for what it is and sometimes not. A few examples can help us.  It occurred most dramatically during the O. J. Simpson case when there were manipulated photos of Mr. Simpson that was used by Time Magazine:

And racial manipulation most often occurs to create an impression that while not entirely negative does play on a form of racial reasoning:

Notice the young man in the back? (over the woman in white sweatshirt's shoulder)  He is  not there.  He's not even a student of that university.  The makers of the magazine added him.

 

Now, we are faced with a serious dilemma of possible Backstage racism this political season:

Yes, it is what it appears to be.  There may be evidence that some members of the Clinton campaign may have manipulated photos of Barak Obama in order to make him appear darker.  One has to wonder who thought this was a good representation of the Illionis senator?  But accuracy is not the intent with the final two pictures, is it?

We need to know if these pictures are accurate representations of what some in the campaign have made?  We need to know if there is an effort to attack Senator Obama by using this less obvious form of racism.  Pay attention to pictures of Obama that run in newspapers and magazines.  Keep an eye on the lighting that is used on him from television coverage. 

There are some continued discussion at KOS that there was not any conscious manipulation, that screen capture darkens the image.  Perhaps, but that does not necessarily explain why consistently darker images were used -- why some members of the campaign did not more carefully screen what was used.  Campaigns screen everything and consider the representations and repercussions, do they not?  We must continue to be vigilant about racism.

And we need to remember that racism comes in many forms.