How long will we have to tolerate blatant racism? How much longer will overt disrespect for our new president go on without any retribution? When I come across reports like this one, I can’t help but ask myself why, in this (supposed) progressive event in our country’s history, our joy must be consistently peppered with death threats and monkey metaphors. A quick glance backwards demonstrates the ineptitude of many presidents gone by-M-A-N-Y. Yet even though our current commander and chief is a Harvard grad, the first African American to become president of the Harvard Law Review, and a devoted community activist, since his victory we have not been allowed to enjoy our moment. Yes, this is OUR moment. Perhaps that the issue at hand; the authentic opportunity to upset the status quo-the (im)balance of white power. Yes, that must be it, because nothing else make sense. After all, it wasn’t us (brown people) that wanted a mediocre “C” student wannabe warlord for a president. We didn’t choose the one that lied to ALL Americans when he started this latest war. Sure, he had some folks of color backing him-no doubt those that have self colonized and actually believed that they were “accepted” by the white majority- but that is another conversation.
Have you ever thought about how many Presidents actually cared about people of color? If you decide to take an inventory I think you might be surprised at how far back the imbalance of power goes, and the rhetoric embodied to cover up what was really going on. Now I’m no pundit to be sure, but as someone trained in linguistics and rhetoric, I can certainly read between the lines. And for those who decry the “historical moment” needs to be considered and the “good intentions” involved shouldn’t be overlooked, allow me to remind you where good intentions lead, and that we live in a capitalist society where the bottom line has and will always trump all intentions-good or bad.
Now for white folks, what I am about to suggest will probably not be surprising or create feelings of dismay. But for those of us that understand the subtle nuances of oppression, this brief timeline of events might give you food for thought:
Thomas Jefferson: He is said to have been the greatest of all presidents. There is no question that he was an intelligent man to be sure, but how can an adulterer who fathered 7 children with (slave) Sally Hemings, whom he did not free until they were 21 years of age, be a model to follow? Add to this the fact that he endorsed slavery and Indian removal when the Indians were found to be uncivilized”. He was intent on total and complete assimilation, with the final result being the complete abolishment of cultural traditions, indigenous language(s), and of course, native religious ideology.
The Monroe Doctrine (12/2/1823): A short little diddy that prevented Europe from colonizing any part of the United States, because any further attempts on the part of Latin America to conquer any more land would be seen as an act of aggression. The Old World and the New World were to remain apart. Okay, that’s straightforward enough. But what do those of us that happen to be brown in this New World do when we are the ones being colonized, exploited, and forcibly assimilated? In layman’s terms-we can mistreat the people of color here (in the U.S.), but don’t you try it! The Doctrine was never legally enforced (except by Britain), but as metaphors go, they took the idea and ran with it, especially with respect to Puerto Rico & Vieques.
Andrew Jackson: This guy was a veritable firecracker! During the first Seminole War, he took on the Indians he wanted removed, and when charged (by Monroe) with the responsibility of preventing escaped slaves ( is this an oxymoron of sorts?) from going to Spanish Florida, he thought the best way to do that would be to terminate them. And the best part about THIS is that the orders given by Monroe were so carefully constructed rhetorically that he (Monroe) could deny culpability to any of Jackson’s misinterpretations. Of course, Jackson wasn’t president yet, but this was one hell of a start!
The Ostend Manifesto (1854) was a secret document created by Franklin Pierce to secretly acquire Cuba from Spain, and also dealt with the expansion of slavery. here’s a surprise: it was linked to the Monroe Doctrine and was probably the catalyst in the Spanish American war. Oh wait! This is how Puerto Rico became a colony in the first place….
Do you see a trend? We have been at the lower end of the political power pole since the beginning. Now that we have someone that might actually represent us we clearly pose a threat. Finally, let’s not forget what happens to fair minded presidents.
Who has gained from our colonization, exploitation, lack of success, and slavery? NOT US. And that’s why we should be more aware of what is being said and the rhetoric utilized not only to say it, but to hide it. Monkey metaphors don’t hide the true meaning of what is being said, and despite the historical pattern of oppression, none of it is funny. Now it’s your turn to read between the lines-as often as you think you need to.
