Cracker

[Were it not for Shusli making me aware of the Russell talking about matriarchy and alleged Dr., Dr. Laura talking about n***ers, I would have not been aware of these things. Thank you Shusli!]

When I hear the likes of Russell Means or any other male wielding their penis of privilege talk about matriarchy, I don't put a whole lot, if any, weight into their arguments because they don't invite the voices of women to join in. Women are commonly oppressed by the male populace ALL OVER THE WORLD! Thus, when I hear men talking about matriarchy, I don't think they have any idea what they are talking about unless they balance it with the voices of WOMEN! If I want to hear about matriarchy, I'll ask my wife, Shusli. Shusli, do you wish to say anything about matriarchy?

In discussions of racism, hearing folk like Dr. Laura, a WHITE woman, profess her expertise on the subject, I'd have to say she is full of shit. Why? Because she didn't talk with, discuss with, allow the voices of people of color to express their experiences, cultural and/or personal, in the discussion of racism. Dr. Laura used the n-word 11 times on a recent show.

Listening to this program, I wasn't as disturbed as much by Dr. Laura using the n-word as much as her BLATANT display of her institutional racism. A woman of color phoned in to discuss how she hates getting racist comments by a friend of her white husband. "Black people like doing this. Black people like doing that," are the types of comments her husbands friend made. Laura stated that the woman was "hyper sensitive." Laura said she didn't think that its racist for the friend to constantly make comments about race in her presence. Laura, to the best of my knowledge, is what a former mother-in-law of mine (also white) called "cracker white."

Laura also made these comments to the caller. "Don't N double A CP me." "If you are that hyper sensitive about color, and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry out of your race." Don't NAACP me? Is she stating that the NAACP is hyper-sensitive to race? Don't marry out of your race if you don't want to be forced to deal with institutional racism! Shit! Shusli and I have to deal with the institutionally racist EVERY DAY, and we're both Indians! Hyper-sensitive? Tell me, Cracker white types, all about the crushing oppression you have felt throughout history because of the color of your skin.

Black folks have been lynched because they are Black. Blacks were enslaved because they are Black. Blacks don't get jobs and housing or loans at times EVEN TODAY because they are Black. Their opinions on race are dismissed by many such white folk as alleged Dr., Dr. Laura, because they are Black. When it comes to race, white folk simply do not want to talk to people of color about it. That would make them feel uncomfortable. Make them feel guilty. Chip away at their sense of superiority and privilege. Well, at least a cop ain't gonna shoot you in the back, LET ALONE arrest you for riding the subway while white, leaving a bar while white, driving while white.

But, I guarantee you that white folk will get up in arms about my use of the word Cracker. They will call me racist. They will start screaming, "WHAT ABOUT ME?! WHAT ABOUT ME?!" I'll ask, where were you during the Jena Six issue? Where were you during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath? Where were you during the NUMEROUS racist cop shootings of Black folk? Have you ever heard that old saying, "The silence was deafening"?

Louis CK, a white man, says in his comedy routine, and I paraphrase, you can't call me a name about my race and make me feel bad. He called me a cracker. Wow! That really ruined my day.

Alleged Dr., Dr. Laura said she told her good Black friend and body guard when choosing basketball teams for a game that "white men can't jump, I want you on my team." I have recently seen the movie, "To Kill a Mockingbird." There is a scene in there when a white man tells a Black man to get Atticus, the lawyer, from the house of a Black family. "Boy, go tell that lawyer I want to see him." The adult Black male obliges and goes inside without complaint. Having faced similar shit as far as racism, I'd have to say that it is possible that Laura's Black friend and bodyguard depends upon her for his living. He could probably get a job elsewhere, but would still have to face such racism if he continues protecting white folk. Thus it is possible that he doesn't call her on her racism because he doesn't want to make waves that may cost him his job and possibly her friendship, if he considers her a real friend. Let me give you an example of what I am talking about.

About 3 years ago, I had to ride along with a white guy at my work because he lost his airport badge and I had one. First thing that racist POS says to me, and I kid you not, "Like I always say, give a nigger a fur coat and he thinks he's King Kong." This came out of nowhere and for not particular reason as it was the first words he shared with me on our journey together. My first thought, which I never spoke was, "I left my hatchet in my car. I must kill this man, but I left my hatchet in my car." Thinking it is one thing, doing it another altogether. (I spent our three days together telling him current racist events as well as explaining women's rights as he turned out to be misogynist as well, and what I know of the oppression of women as I couldn't actually hack the man to death with a hatchet and not worry about losing my job). Having experienced such racism in the past and when bringing it to the attention of others being told to put up with it as it puts my job on the line, I kept my mouth shut, did not tell my bosses, etc. Why? Because white folk don't like talking about racism and will get rid of that which brings it to their attention. Example: Laura cutting off the woman of color to express her personal superiority toward the woman in her knowledge of the field of racism. Me bringing racist issues to the table at my job can get me in more trouble than the Cracker's making racist comments. Thus, I truly wonder what Laura's body guard really feels about those racist comments made by that cracker boss of his. Maybe alleged Dr., Dr. Laura, should read "The Help."

As far as Black comedians, etc., using the n-word, I'm fine with it. It is like reclaiming the power that word has had on them for so long. That word that proclaimed them as lesser beings. That word that was a tool to continue their oppression, like the whip. To me, Black folk that use the word are reclaiming its power for their own use. I also understand how many Black folk who do not use the word feel that it is a continued oppression of their people even when it is used by their fellow Black folk. Dr. Laura has no right to use the word as she has absolutely NO understanding of the historical oppression nor the current conditions of oppression suffered by Black folk at the hands of her fellow white folk and their supporters.

That said, I have recently listened to the book, "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee. The book is told from the point of view of Scout, a little girl, in 1930's Alabama. Her father, Atticus, is a lawyer defending a Black man charged with raping a white woman. Although the evidence overwhelmingly proclaims his innocence, he is found guilty. Sissy Spacek read the book and did a fantastic job. (Dill, one of the child characters in the book, Harper designed after Truman Capote, her childhood next door neighbor and life long friend.)

The racism and oppression Black folk have had to put up with is terrifying, and something white folk do not want to face up to, let alone face up to the oppression currently enacted by their race and their supporters against Black folk. "WHAT ABOUT ME?! WHAT ABOUT ME?!"

Call me crazy (but don't call me "chief"), but if I'm gonna talk about racism against Blacks, I'm gonna discuss it with Black folk. I'm gonna discuss it with non-Blacks who have an understanding and possibly witnessed racism against Black folk and have been activists on behalf of Blacks and are supported by Black communities. I'm gonna discuss it with non-Blacks who are ignorant, but most of them seem to think their ignorance gives them a knowledge more vast than that of the races whom experience racism.

Same with matriarchy. I'm gonna discuss matriarchy with women. Male experts don't mean shit to me unless they share with me the voices of women and invite the voices of women into the conversation as well. I am no expert on matriarchy because I AM A MAN! I am capable of having an understanding and being supportive, but if I claim to be an expert on the subject, I am full of shit!

Dr. Laura, alleged Dr., is resigning from her show. This is her last year of offering crappy advice to the masses who believe that she is something she claims to be. She may be out a few bucks, but I'm sure she will continue to have a career in spouting her BS to folk somewhere in some other medium. People seem to have a tendency to believe that a-holes like her have something real to offer. Why? I don't know. But who am I to tell folk not to believe in such BS artists like her and so damned many others, most of whom are MEN!