How white politicians use dog whistles to divide us -- and what white folks can do about it
St. Louis has earned a progressive moniker over time: We have Democratic-majority governing bodies, high-profile progressive leaders, and innovative, progressive initiatives. However, St. Louis has long been — and continues to be — one of the most segregated cities in the country. This deep divide is visible in our neighborhoods, schools, and elections.
The weekend before the recent St. Louis primary election, I went door-to-door with my team at NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, talking to voters across the city about the upcoming election. During one of my conversations, I asked a middle-aged white woman in South St. Louis if we could count on her support for Tishaura Jones for mayor. She told me that, actually, she liked Treasurer Jones the least of the three candidates. When I asked why Jones was her last choice, she answered: “Because I think she has wild hair, and I don’t like to look at it.”
This comment stunned me, not just because it’s preposterous to choose your mayoral candidate based on their appearance (for years, research has shown women candidates are judged more for their appearance) but because of her comfort in sharing with me, a stranger, a judgment so clearly rooted in racism. There is no question that comments about a Black woman’s hair have nothing to do with her hair.
But this isn’t about one comment. This comment is a manifestation of the racist rhetoric perpetuated throughout the election by white candidates and local media. It’s indicative of what we as white progressives have encouraged and allowed.
Read more: https://themissouritimes.com/how-white-politicians-use-dog-whistles-to-divide-us-and-what-white-folks-can-do-about-it/
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