ID, Please!

The Memphis Flyer's latest cover story focuses on new requirements for voters. Beginning on January 1, 2012, all voters will be required present a government-issued photo ID at the voting booth. Last month, Mississippi also passed a new constitutional amendment that requires government-issued photo IDs to be presented by all voters.

To many this may seem rather trivial. In fact, many friends that I have discussed it with have replied, "What's the big deal?" The Flyer's story highlights some of the key points. I grew up in Mississippi and have worked at the voting booths both during the 2008 General Election and local elections last August. The first time I worked there I was shocked to see that so many of the voters were elderly blacks. The fact that most of the voters were black should not be surprising. My home county is 70% black. Furthermore, in 1990 it was the second poorest county in the country in terms of percentage living under the poverty line. A large gap existed between wealthy white farmers and the black majority. In fact, for a time in the 1980s it was referred to as "America's Ethiopia." Things have improved significantly with the growth of the casino economy but the Mississippi Delta still remains an area with high levels of poverty. The highest levels are among black citizens - who make up the vast majority of the Delta's population. This is similar to Memphis.

My point is that, particularly in this part of the country, the demographics are characterized by high percentages of blacks, who therefore make up a large part of the electorate. Furthermore, the highest percentages of those who live in poverty are blacks.

The connection between poverty and obtaining government-issued photo IDs is simple. In order to obtain a government-issued photo ID, one has to go to a driver's license office. Driver's license offices are often quite a distance away. For example, the nearest office to my hometown is 1 hour south of town in Clarksdale, MS. For those who don't have transportation it's ridiculous to expect them to somehow make this trip. For those who work it's even harder. Our country already has woefully low voter turnout. Why pass these requirements? There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud anywhere in America, at all. It only disenfranchises poor voters, who more often than not are going to vote for the Democratic candidate. In TN, the new voter requirements were passed by a state legislature that is overwhelmingly Republican. This seems like an extension, albeit to a weaker degree, of disenfranchisement efforts during Jim Crow. After all, in some sense this is a poll tax. This IDs cost money to obtain. If government-issued photo IDs are going to be a requirement then citizens should be able to obtain these IDs at their voter registration locations.

Rhodes Greek Life

Roughly 50 percent of Rhodes students, myself included, participate in Greek Life. One of the first things I noticed upon going through rush freshman year was the predominantly white male Greek population. Soon after I began pledging and getting to know the men who would eventually become my fraternity brothers I learned that one of the senior brothers in the house was in fact the first African Americans to ever join the house. In almost a century of existence, the presence of racial diversity remained absent. While I obviously cannot speak for other participants in the Rhodes Greek system, I am still amazed by the racially homogenous nature of our school’s fraternity houses. I have talked to that particular brother on this subject, and he did indeed identify an underlying racial tension that the idea of Greek life as a whole creates. He explained to me that the idea of becoming part of an institution that was founded in the era of slavery made things difficult. I specifically recall a piece of our dialogue in which he referred to fraternities as a white institution. These immediately prompted me to ask, “then why did you join?” The succinct nature of his response and relaxed tone fit perfectly with his words. “Because I can,” he said.

While his response made perfect sense to me at the time, it has only lead me to further question the white-dominated nature of Greek life at this school. In a comment on a separate post a student proposed the idea of equal consideration of all races in Greek life, but in my time here, I have not witnessed or even heard of any events that would lead me to believe that that isn’t already the case. That being said, I am one member of one house, so my perspective is a bit limited here. The absence of an explanation for this situation reminded me of Beverly Tatum’s book, Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race. Her explanation of the question presented in the title, that this stage of life is often when blacks come to establish their racial identity, provided some sense of closure, but I’m not sure it answers everything. Why is the population of the Greek system at Rhodes so incredibly racially homogenous? Does, as my friend explained to me, the roots of these institutions play a role, or does Tatum’s explanation provide everything we need here?

Duality in "The Help"

The Face the Nation special that featured Rice also showed a well-known author of the bestselling novel The Help, Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, MS and wrote about the odd relationship that white Southern children have with their black housekeepers. Stockett mentions the bonds that are created between the children and their nanny, but how in time they are slowly weakened due to the kids eventually developing the same belief system as their parents and the rest of Southern society. When we read Diane Nash’s essay “Inside the Sit-Ins”, one part in particular stuck out due to the connection I immediately drew with Nash’s words and the story line of The Help. Nash describes her first encounters with the Jim Crow laws and how complying with these guidelines and restrictions she felt a tremendous psychological impact being placed upon her. She continues by adding that it is the restrictions that extend into all aspects of southern African-American’s life that causes the biggest impact; when they fail to comply to these restrictions, violent actions are threatened to their family. In my opinion, Nash inadvertently critiques black Southerners when saying that each time that they use one of these segregated facilities that they are in fact testifying to their own inferiority and they are only creating a dueling self-concept within themselves. The idea of double identity is clearly portrayed within Stockett’s novel; you see Minny and Abilene, the two main black figures within the novel, depicted as one person at the home where they work at and at their own home with their own children.

The relationships depicted in The Help are not uncommon from true stories, I know that at one point in the book my mom had to stop because she felt that it hit too close to home. My mom was born in Mississippi and when her family moved to Texas my grandmother and father started working every day. This left my mom being raised by her housekeeper; she helped her with her homework, made her meals, and taught her everything that most moms would teach their daughters. In the book, Stockett portrays this relationship in the most accurate light. These nannies taught the children of the families they worked for everything thing they taught their own children, in hopes that this would delay some of the beliefs and habits assumed by Southern white society. These maids saw the truest aspect to these white families of privilege; they validated their previous beliefs that these families are no different than the families within the black communities. However, the one major difference pointed out was the role of the parents, these nannies were the only support or attention some of these children were receiving. It was the words that Abilene spoke to Mae Mobley, the girl she took care of, every morning and every night: “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”. It was these words that were repeated to her family, friends, and even to herself in times of vulnerability when apart of the white community. In my opinion, when the maids wrote a novel compiling all their stories, whether good or bad, it was a variation of a non-violent protest. Depicting the actions and behaviors of these white families that trust them enough to take care of their children, but they do not even treat them as human beings. You saw the struggle of these women who had to be a mother to two families, nurturing both equally and everyday facing the adversities that the Jim Crow south brought upon them. They had to have dual self-identities in order to survive and they developed a tough skin through their self-appreciation which allowed them to function within white society without faltering.

The stories of these women being told within today’s generation allows for younger American’s to get a glimpse into a society that they did not experience or could not quite understand. Stockett’s characters allowed for the public to identify with the story line; whether someone was from the South or not they received the message that we are all people and there is not a whole lot that actually separates us. What I found most interesting was the dual identities within white society as well. The ability for these families to completely trust these women with everything and at the same time not even allowing them to use the inside bathroom was shocking. Many of these adults were one person inside their home and another person when in society and they felt the need to portray an image that went with Southern society. The reaction that this movie and book has gotten within our society today makes me think that as a whole our society thought we have came a long way; but after reading and hearing these stories they did not realize to the extent of the problem. In my opinion, many people regardless of race use the dual-self concept mechanism to help them survive adverse conditions they face within society. While they are submitting to inferiority according to the society, to themselves they show no insecurities of who they are or where they come from.

What’s wrong with BLACK Girls? Do you believe the STERERO-TYPES?

Though I grew up in what you guys have learned as “the hood” or “the ghetto,” I have never allowed it to limit any aspect of my life if I had any control over the matter. Throughout my life, I have dated mainly black boys/men, but I was never scared to venture out and date other ethnicities. So, when I became a student at Rhodes, my main motive was not to date a “white-boy” because my education was first at-hand, but I just wanted to become better acquainted with some. But to my surprise, the white guys at Rhodes really didn’t acknowledge my presence let along look at me, but it was totally different with a white female. So, I knew they were attracted to girls, but I guess something was wrong with BLACK girls like me. Though I was disappointed, I was more intrigued to why they acted this way. It was if they feared trying something different, or just simply didn’t like how black girls looked. So, I took it upon myself to ask a few white guys how they felt about black girls, and they all responded in a very similar fashion. Some thought we were “crazy,” some believed that our brothers/family would harm them, and some even felt intimated by our “blackness.” These truly amazed me because it validated the fact that they believed the stereotypes of black women, and how we are portrayed in the media, etc. I couldn’t completely blame them for their beliefs because maybe that’s how they were raised or they were never given the opportunity to get to know a “black girl” on that level. Who knows? I became angry at the fact that even after some of them had been surrounded by black girls as fellow students, they still ignored our beauty, feminism, and the fact that we were women as well. I hate that some men feel this way about black women because though there are some who embody such stereotypes, there still are many black women who are extraordinary. In addition, I have been exposed to stereotypes about white men such as “they are corny and lame,” “they can’t dress and have no swag,” and “they are “shaky.” I never let those beliefs interfere with me becoming acquainted and learning the true essence of a white male because I think ignorance is the greatest self-destruction. Though I have yet to date a white guy, I am glad I took the initiative to ask them “Hey, what’s wrong with a black girl?”

Self-Segregation & the Cult of Victimology

We have examined the two categories of views that emerged during the Civil Rights movement. On one hand, there were the order theorists, the most well-known of whom is Martin Luther King Jr. We know that order theorists believe in a common value system among Americans. The injustice of racial discrimination is not embedded in American institutions, but rather the root of all-evil can be found in the practice of segregation. For order theorists, the solution to racial inequality is relatively simple: discontinue racial segregation. Conflict theorists, on the other hand, feel that there is a deep-seated corruption within the institutions. These theorists, such as Malcolm X, feel there is a need to completely re-structure the nature of America’s institutions. Both of these views indicate external factors of responsibility for racial inequality in America. Clearly segregation was not the only issue, for racial tension remains in the Post-Civil Rights era. Lawrence Bobo and Camille Charles discuss the persistently alarming rates of housing segregation, job discrimination, and political discrimination the article “Race in the American Mind”. So does this mean that the conflict theorists are correct? It’s hard to tell. Not only do tensions exist externally, but also there is still a great deal of internal hostility. Considering racial attitudes in America, Bobo and Charles shed light on the negative views on the other race held by both African Americans and white Americans.

John McWhorter introduced an interesting idea in his article “Losing the Race.” He discusses what he calls the cult of victimology, which he claims is the fostering and nurturing of an unfocused brand of resentment and sense of alienation from the mainstream. Under the cult of victomology, African Americans “treat victimhood not as a problem to be solved but as an identity to be nurtured.” I think this internal perpetuation can be seen in many individual instances of self-defense. For instance, people can explain a bad grade by claiming a teacher dislikes them. Or someone suffering from depression will pity himself or herself because they think everyone’s against them. But is it possible for an entire race to play the victim? Do you think this is a self-defense mechanism? Or is it possible that many African Americans don’t always feel the desire to integrate with other races?

I definitely saw instances of resistance and resentment in my middle school and high school. But this came from all directions—it was as if there were racial cliques. What are some of your experiences with self-segregation?

Like Toy Soldiers: A Rapper's Critique of the Hip-Hop Community

A previous blog post discussed Eminem’s role within the hip-hop industry and how a white male became one of the most influential artists in music today. In the beginning of his career he portrayed the image of the dominant male both sexually and psychically, but it has been his most recent albums that we have seen a shift within his lyrics and context. As we saw in Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, his protégé 50 Cent, called out Ja Rule for not being ‘hip-hop’. It was this confrontation that led me to Eminem and his music and one of his songs in particular, “Like Toy Soldiers”. When this song was released in 2005, it laid in the wake of the aftermath of the long heated battles of Dr.Dre vs. Suge Knight and 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule. Eminem mentions both fueds within his lyrics, portraying these disagreements as something that should never have happened.

The lyrics of the song depict an industry and environment that is a mirror image of the problems mentioned within Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes. The song begins with a sample taken from the 1989’s song “Toy Soldiers” and the title theme of the 1972 film The Hot Rock. I find the film selection interesting because this 1972 film depicted the lives of men running away from the police all in attempt to steal a gem from a museum. One of these men had just been released back from jail when he began his newest criminal adventure. This continuous life of crime and violence has been repeatedly been seen and heard throughout the lyrics and videos of hip-hop artists since the late 1980s. Eminem stands up to this violence and places himself in a vulnerable position that would constitute him to not be a man by definitions set by hip-hop standards. The first lines of the first verse read as follow:

I'm supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure

Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders

I ain't never supposed to show it, my crew ain't supposed to know it

Even if it means goin' toe to toe with a Benzino it don't matter

I'd never drag them in battles that I can handle unless I absolutely have to

I'm supposed to set an example

I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em

Eminem is acknowledging the fact that he is a leader not only to his friends, but to his fans and followers as well. He also, in my opinion, states what every male hip-hop artist, black male, or any male in general believes in the stereotypical role of a man. That a ‘true man’ does not show his emotions to anyone only showing his strength, even to the people closest to him. The last line of the excerpt leads into Eminem speaking about 50 Cent and Ja Rule’s public battle; stating that he tried to stop it and that it has gone to levels that it should never have reached. He makes inferences about the role of loyalty within the gansta hip-hop community at the onset of an altercation. He states that he has never once mentioned the rappers who had crossed Dre and how he never would because that is a situation he has no part in.

And I'm so caught in it I almost feel I'm the one who caused it

This ain't what I'm in hip-hop for, it's not why I got in it

That was never my object for someone to get killed

Why would I wanna destroy something I help build

It wasn't my intentions, my intentions was good

I went through my whole career without ever mentionin' Suge

And that was just out of respect for not runnin' my mouth

And talkin' about something that I knew nothing about

Plus Dre told me stay out, this just wasn't my beef

I found this song very interesting due to the complete honesty within the lyrics regarding him and the hip-hop community he identifies himself with. He calls out the issues that spark tragedy and violence within the music and questions if these feuds are even necessary. As I researched this song I found that they classified it as conscious hip-hop due, to its message that strays away from the traditional messages found in most of today’s top hip-hop songs. With that idea in mind I wanted to see where this ranked against other hip-hop songs of 2005 within America as well as Europe. It was interesting to see that within Europe “Like Toy Soldiers” peaked at #1, while America’s charts showed a completely different evaluation and #34 was the highest position the song obtained. Could Eminem’s critique of hip-hop be receiving a backlash of support from the hip-hop fans and community? “Disco Inferno” and “Candy Shop” songs whose videos were reportedly almost pornographic by some journalists topped “Like Toy Soldiers” on American charts. When comparing the societies of Europe and the US, I couldn’t help but wonder if the violence depicted in the media and American’s social acceptance of this hip-hop community had anything to do with the support of this song. Did Americans and the American gangsta hip-hop community not want to hear this protest against the previously accepted norms?

"Race Blind"

When watching the interview on CBS with Condoleezza Rice, I started thinking about what it might mean to be “race blind,” and the idea of race as a whole and how it fits in to societies, not just here in the United States. When Rice states that America will never be “race blind,” she’s absolutely right – but being “race blind” isn’t just about the differences between whites and blacks. There is a fine line between compensating for the prejudices that exist or the discrimination that has already occurred and in fact OVER-compensating, but how far does the guilt (for slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, discrimination, etc) play into the dynamics of society today? For example, my parents might not feel personally guilty for the mistreatment or discrimination of African Americans during the time they were growing up, but on a number of occasions they have expressed regret and shame over how their parents reacted to the civil rights movement. (My mom grew up in a suburban Nashville community and my dad grew up partially in rural Arkansas and partially in an area outside of Nashville. Both sets of grandparents were especially racist toward African American individuals and families in both their urban and rural communities, respectively).

Another question I found myself asking – do we really want to be “race blind”? Don’t get me wrong – I don’t want a company to (just as an example) choose one man over another to fill an employee position simply because one of them is black or Hispanic or Asian and the one they choose is white. I don’t want to be given advantages or priority over someone else simply because I’m white and they might not be. Basically, race shouldn’t be a cause for prejudice or discrimination, and I think this is what Rice was talking about when she used the term “race blind.” But I also don’t think we need to be blind to race as a whole – race is something that sets us apart from one another, but it also gives us cause and reason to celebrate our differences culturally, historically, etc. Our society should focus on seeing differences other than race (cultural, social, historical, and the like), but also recognize that race plays into all of those categories (and all the ones I couldn’t think of off the top of my head) and that we should celebrate them as well.

Just in case, here is the link that Professor McKinney sent via email, with the video and the news article included: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3460_162-57330615/condi-rice-u.s-will-never-be-race-blind/