So what's bugging me right now is the subject of "institutional racism" as portrayed in the media in regards to a comparison between the new first lady, Michelle Obama, and the first lady of talk, Oprah Winfrey. Apparently, an innocent blog comparison between the two, written in praise of Michelle's galloping global success, became an overnight pariah for all things institutionally racist.
The issue?
Well, we obviously can't just go around, blatantly comparing two influential black women, now can we? Such a thing is concretely indicative of the seething hotbed of undercurrent racism that still flows through the veins of everyone Caucasian.
Wait, whaaaaat?
So as a biracial woman, who grew up in the South (Georgia, to be exact), I get racism.
I get that it is a very alive, very potent, evil.
I get that tolerance and acceptance of all persons and cultures and races should be the order of the day, and we should lovingly educate and correct (in brotherly love) those for whom it is not...
My point, however, is that I think we may be so hyper-vigilant and overly-conscious of our none-too-distant history of hatred and ignorance that we are creating racism where there is none, or where only misunderstanding dwells. We are so quick to point the finger at a "racist" incident, that I'm afraid we may be launching a modern day witch hunt. Not to mention trampling all over our first amendment rights as well.
