What is at the bottom of the problem between black people and white people in the United States? It’s that the white people don’t want to share power with the blacks. The attitude is so strong that after a war and continuous legislation over the last 150 years to make things equal there is still a power differential between blacks and whites.
Why are the whites so reluctant to share power? What are they – I should say we – so afraid of?
Despite scientific evidence that proves there is at best an infinitesimal genetic difference between black and white – race is considered more an environmental adaptation than genetic difference anymore, -- despite the example of many fine black people who have contributed to the progress, safety, and well-being of our great nation, despite the example of Harold Washingtons who are able to suppress centuries of resentment and are able to treat blacks and whites fairly, we still have the power differential.
There is probably a fear, a legitimate fear, that if blacks were granted power there would be many who would try to take too much, to make up for generations and generations of maltreatment and suppression. Some would. It’s probably why so many white folk have such a hard time with rap music: it glorifies symbols of power that the black people have been denied throughout their history in this nation. Unfortunately it is often angry, and the symbols are base things like brutal language, sexual dominance, and money-grubbing. It revels in the pure exercise of power – guns and purchasing power and such – without much regard for the sanctity of life and spirit, but I suppose it should be expected when a people have been told for centuries that they’re not valuable and have been treated as expendable.
Black people have been demonized in our nation as dirty, smelly, uneducated, and violent. Some fit the description, some don’t. Some white folk fit the description, some don’t. But the point is, what is the need to demonize a people? It is the apparently very human need, borne of insecurity, to feel better about oneself and to retain the tentative grasp on power one has. This is the most basic reason for not sharing power: one fears the loss of control and possible resulting harm.
The solution, then, is contained in the description: if insecurity is the problem then security needs to be instilled. This would be a two-part effort, and both need simultaneous cultivation. One part is individual security for both blacks and whites, and the other is collective security for all. And it’s not a matter of sharing money or other symbols of power; it’s the power that comes from the cultivation of mature spirit, instilling principles of responsibility, trust, respect, and so forth. Heck, Boy Scouts learn to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Are adults able to learn such things? We need strong, capable, fair, loving leaders to guide us. Guidance is key; shouting, demanding, and legislating haven't solved the problem.
Should we engage in this task there will be little need to demonize foreign Islamists, gooks, wops, krauts, or any other national, religious, or ethnic group while we turn the scope on ourselves and work at healing within. Until we learn to share equitably we haven’t graduated from Kindergarten and have no business pretending to be a world leader.
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from the Shooting Sunset dictionary:
Moustache (n): the worst part of blowing one's nose.
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