But there is still
macho sexism in white culture that says women really want sex when
they say no, that women who enjoy sex are sluts, and that men who
pressure women and get sex are "the man" and worthy of accolades.
Stirring America's melting pot
by Carl Pwccaman, Unknown News
Oct. 28, 2003
Years ago we had OJ. Many blacks, for a while, presumed that he was
innocent and that cops weren't doing a good job of finding the real
killer, and the policeman Furman's apparent racism was used to allege a
conspiracy against OJ. A lot of people wondered just what would be
gained by framing OJ, and a lot of people wondered just what the hell
sense the defense's explanation of another killer was supposed to mean,
and a lot of those people were white.
But the OJ racial divide could
be
explained easily enough at the time, as a big blow, a big case out of
nowhere, that startled people about an icon and role-model, one who
even
crossed over into comedies with Leslie Nielson, who was charged with
murder. Yes we know that disputes happen and that most people are
killed by either their spouse, a family member, or person they know
very
well, and that no other candidate fit that description, with evidence
against them, in the OJ case, and the concept of a drug-involvement
that
had nothing to do with OJ, didn't win a lot of people over. But the
whole planted glove theory, etc., is always a possible conspiracy
defense. People tried to sort through evidence and theories, many
people never had to weigh a court case like that before. And racism is
a hot issue.
But we also had Mike Tyson charged with rape. And a lot of people were
supporting him. You get the impression from some black people, that
he's great. And when they are challenged they say he is worth
defending, for some reason or other claiming that he really didn't rape
anyone. Then, years later, he bites off Hollyfield's ear in a fight.
Some people still love Hollyfield.
Yet today, it seems that a significant number of black people who
previously defended OJ, have decided to move over to seeing OJ as
guilty, or at least you hear more black people saying/implying he was
guilty. You also hear black comics make fun of Tyson or OJ, more
often.
The only reason why I bring it up is because of the appearance created by
these phenomenon — increased racial tension in America. And right now
Kobe Bryant is accused of rape.
Last night, on Comedy Central's "Tough
Crowd", the issue came up of people giving Kobe a standing ovation
recently. Nick DiPaolo expressed outrage, by going off into a racially
reactionary vision of California being anti-white, dominantly Latinos
who hate whites, and blacks, ala welcome to the new America. Keith
Robinson called DiPaolo a racist, which he had coming — I mean the guy
was all over on xenophobic reaction and racial defensiveness instead of
the issue at hand. But Robinson also threw out the label racist to
Colin Quinn, who was agreeing with some of what DiPaolo said. And
Robinson had previously stood up and applauded, giving a standing
ovation to Kobe, as Colin introduced the issue.
The interesting thing to note is that Colin's agreement consisted of
the opinion that if Kobe was white, he wouldn't have been given a
standing ovation, because all these issues do get to be racial in this
country. Those insights may very well be true. But there is still
macho sexism in white culture that says women really want sex when
they say no, that women who enjoy sex are sluts, and that men who
pressure women and get sex are "the man" and worthy of accolades.
The
inconsistencies don't stop the appeal of such sexist attitudes. Yet
there are whites who are more concerned about this rape case because it
was a black man charged with raping a white woman. And in the past,
the
rampant racist fantasy was that black men were just out to rape white
women, hence the joke to that effect in "Blazing Saddles", when the
black sheriff was trying to lure the Klansman, he said "where
are
all the white women at?"
Perhaps a combination of defensiveness over
the racist charges of the past, a sexist culture that permits,
encourages, or applauds at least some forms of rape, and a denial about
the fact that there is some serious evidence against Kobe, is all
combining, in Black culture, while the old stereotypes are asserting a
fascination, as moral indignation at denial and defenses of Kobe, are
combining, in White culture.
But a couple of women calling into Larry
King one day about a week or so ago (who sounded white to me) were
implying that the alleged rape victim was asking for it, making it up,
was "loose" so couldn't have been raped, etc.
Our society is sick. And to turn this issue into an excuse for racism
or sexism, or to give a standing ovation to Kobe, is disgusting. And
these things will fuel the divisions and hostilities, in America.
We try not to whine too much or too loudly, but we are poor and this site eats a lot of money and time. We couldn't do it without the help of our volunteers. And for those who can't afford the time, giving just a buck or two can make all the difference and keep Unknown News alive.
