Flowers & Race

[malaise]

9. That poem speaks volumes

The definition of racism that I used in graduate school was borrowed from others. In summary we saw
racism as an ideologically constructed view that the white race is physically, morally, intellectually and culturally superior to other races. But it is the race relations established and promoted at the superstructural level (at home and abroad) that reinforces racism. If the system prevents me from participating because of my race, it is racist.

If anyone doesn't want her/his son to marry someone from another race, that person is displaying prejudice or discrimination, but not racism. And the truth is there is way less prejudice and discrimination today. On the other hand, if anyone deprives another of employment, education, opportunity/access, etc., based on race or ethnicity, then it is racism.

In reality many many folks are not racist, but global foreign policy is racist to the core and so is domestic policy in many countries. To change thinking will require fundamental changes in both foreign policy and domestic policy across the globe. This means fundamental changes in how we exchange goods and relate to other countries/peoples. Until we destroy and abandon the old racist imperialist approach to development, our planet will remain in deep trouble.

Selassie was right

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie%27s_address_to_the_United_Nations,_1963
<snip>
The goal of the equality of man which we seek is the antithesis of the exploitation of one people by another with which the pages of history and in particular those written of the African and Asian continents, speak at such length. Exploitation, thus viewed, has many faces. But whatever guise it assumes, this evil is to be shunned where it does not exist and crushed where it does. It is the sacred duty of this Organization to ensure that the dream of equality is finally realized for all men to whom it is still denied, to guarantee that exploitation is not reincarnated in other forms in places whence it has already been banished.

As a free Africa has emerged during the past decade, a fresh attack has been launched against exploitation, wherever it still exists. And in that interaction so common to history, this in turn, has stimulated and encouraged the remaining dependent peoples to renewed efforts to throw off the yoke which has oppressed them and its claim as their birthright the twin ideals of liberty and equality. This very struggle is a struggle to establish peace, and until victory is assured, that brotherhood and understanding which nourish and give life to peace can be but partial and incomplete.

In the United States of America, the administration of President Kennedy is leading a vigorous attack to eradicate the remaining vestige of racial discrimination from this country. We know that this conflict will be won and that right will triumph. In this time of trial, these efforts should be encouraged and assisted, and we should lend our sympathy and support to the American Government today.

Last May, in Addis Ababa, I convened a meeting of Heads of African States and Governments. In three days, the thirty-two nations represented at that Conference demonstrated to the world that when the will and the determination exist, nations and peoples of diverse backgrounds can and will work together. in unity, to the achievement of common goals and the assurance of that equality and brotherhood which we desire.

On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Ababa Conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson:

that until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned;

that until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation;

that until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes;

that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race;

that until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained.

And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed;

until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will;

until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven;

until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.